Depositions Regarding Negro Lot Relations in Brockway Divorce Case
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:11:42 PM
Added description
Description
Depositions Regarding Negro Lot Relations in Brockway Divorce Case
Overview
This collection comprises four contemporaneous depositions taken in 1758 and 1798 as part of the divorce proceedings of Samuel and Margaret Brockway in the New Haven Superior Court. The depositions are preserved as scanned JPEG and TIFF images (RG003NHSCBAAIPSDivorceBrockway008–020) with accompanying OCR text. They are held by the Connecticut State Library and are in the public domain.Background
The depositions were recorded in Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, under the supervision of Justice of the Peace Matthew Justice of Peace. They were produced during a period when slavery and interracial relations were legally and socially contested. The case was part of the library’s New Haven County Superior Court (NHSC) “Black, African American, and Indigenous History” (BAAI) project, which seeks to illuminate the experiences of Black and Indigenous individuals in 18th‑century Connecticut.Contents
- Deposition of John Warner (1798) – Testimony about Margaret Brockway’s increasing distraction and alleged sexual relations with Lot, an enslaved Black man.
- Deposition of Elizabeth Barnes (1758‑08‑30) – Accounts of Margaret’s mental distress, alleged self‑harm, and claims of sexual encounters with Lot.
- Deposition of Elizabeth Barnes (1758‑08‑25) – Similar testimony, emphasizing the presence of Lot and the husband’s indifference.
- Deposition of Hannah Cook (1758‑08‑25) – Testimony questioning Margaret’s conduct and expressing a wish for a Black child.
Each deposition is accompanied by a scanned image and OCR‑extracted text, providing both primary visual records and searchable content.
Scope
The collection covers the period 1758–1798, focusing on the Brockway divorce case. It includes only the depositions related to allegations of mental distress, interracial sexual relations, and slavery involving Lot. The material is limited to the New Haven Superior Court docket and does not include related court filings, judgments, or ancillary documents. The collection is valuable for scholars of early American legal history, slavery, and gender studies.Entities
(loading...)
Entity Relationships
(loading...)
Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax:file {filename: "pinax.json", type: "Metadata (PINAX)"}
@brockway_divorce_depositions:collection {title: "Depositions Regarding Negro Lot Relations in Brockway Divorce Case", created: @date_1758_08_25, institution: @connecticut_state_library, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce","Mental Health","Interracial Relations","Slavery","Legal Depositions","18th Century","New Haven County"], description: "Collection of depositions related to the divorce case of Samuel and Margaret Brockway, involving allegations of mental distress and relations with Lot, an enslaved Black man.", place: @waterbury}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @brockway_divorce_depositions
@connecticut_state_library:organization {full_name: "Connecticut State Library"}
@connecticut:place {country: @united_states}
@new_haven_county:place {state: @connecticut}
@waterbury:place {county: @new_haven_county, state: @connecticut}
@john_warner_junior:person {full_name: "John Warner, Jr.", residence: @waterbury}
@sarah_warner:person {full_name: "Sarah Warner", residence: @waterbury}
@samuel_brockway:person {full_name: "Samuel Brockway"}
@margaret_brockway:person {full_name: "Margaret Brockway"}
@elizabeth_barnes:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Barnes", residence: @waterbury}
@hannah_cook:person {full_name: "Hannah Cook", residence: @waterbury}
@lot:person {status: "enslaved", race: "Black"}
@matthew_justice_of_peace:person {title: "Justice of the Peace"}
@new_haven_superior_court:place {county: @new_haven_county, state: @connecticut}
@deposition_john_warner_1798:document {date: @date_1798_08_30, deponent: @john_warner_junior, location: @waterbury, court: @new_haven_superior_court, justice_of_peace: @matthew_justice_of_peace}
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30:document {date: @date_1758_08_30, deponent: @elizabeth_barnes, location: @waterbury, court: @new_haven_superior_court, justice_of_peace: @matthew_justice_of_peace}
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25:document {date: @date_1758_08_25, deponent: @elizabeth_barnes, location: @waterbury, court: @new_haven_superior_court, justice_of_peace: @matthew_justice_of_peace}
@deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25:document {date: @date_1758_08_25, deponent: @hannah_cook, location: @waterbury, court: @new_haven_superior_court, justice_of_peace: @matthew_justice_of_peace}
@case_brockway_divorce:event {type: "divorce", parties: [@samuel_brockway, @margaret_brockway], year: @date_1758}
@deposition_john_warner_1798 -> mentions -> @lot
@deposition_john_warner_1798 -> mentions -> @margaret_brockway
@deposition_john_warner_1798 -> mentions -> @samuel_brockway
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30 -> mentions -> @lot
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30 -> mentions -> @margaret_brockway
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30 -> mentions -> @samuel_brockway
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @lot
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @margaret_brockway
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @samuel_brockway
@deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @lot
@deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @margaret_brockway
@deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25 -> mentions -> @samuel_brockway
@deposition_john_warner_1798 -> part of -> @case_brockway_divorce
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30 -> part of -> @case_brockway_divorce
@deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25 -> part of -> @case_brockway_divorce
@deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25 -> part of -> @case_brockway_divorce
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_008_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_008.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_008_jpg -> image_of -> @deposition_john_warner_1798
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_015_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_015.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_015_jpg -> image_of -> @deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_30
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_018_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_018.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_018_jpg -> image_of -> @deposition_elizabeth_barnes_1758_08_25
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_020_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_020.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_brockway_020_jpg -> image_of -> @deposition_hannah_cook_1758_08_25 Metadata
Files (8)
OCR Text
The deposition of Mr. John Warner, junior of Waterbury, of lawful age is as follows: I have for several years last past looked upon Margaret Brockway to be a distracted person, and for a year last past I have observed that her distraction hath been increasing. About a year ago Samuel Brockway told me that Lot viz his Negro had had to do with her sundry times; but that after wards he has lain with her on the same bed, and that he could freely forgive her if she would do well for the future, and he blamed the Negro more than the woman saying the Negro knew better but that she was a poor colored creature and was to be pitied. Mrs. Sarah Warner, wife to the above Defendant, agrees to the above deposition exclusive of those words, and for a year last past I have observed that her distraction hath been increasing. Waterbury in New Haven County, August the 30th A.D. 1798, then personally appeared Mr. John Warner, junior and Sarah Warner and gave Oath to the truth of the above deposition, the adverse party being cited but not present before the Revd. Matthew Justice of Peace.
OCR Text
The Deposition of Elizabeth Barnes of Lanesfall age is as followeth Viz. I have this several years last past thought and believe that Margret Blackway hath been Crosse Distressed or not but the use of her Reason at least one half of her time, And sometime in October last past she ran away and lay out all night it being Saturday night and on the Sabbath many of the people were Gathered together to seek for her but news came that she was found, And she told me that when she went away she intended to Kill her self, but then thought that she had rather others would kill her, and so sat down under the fence and slept and when she awoke she was afraid to think that she he had slept there where she might have been torn to pieces by Wilde Beagrs. And she told me that one night her Husband was from Home and the Negro Came to bed to bet and had todo with her before she knew who it was, and soon after her husband Came home and Came to bed and she told him what the Negro had done, but he did not regard it at all but immediately had todo with her himself, this she told me her husband being present and made little or no answered. And as I remember the first time that I saw Samuel Blackaway he told me that he had a poor distressed Crosse Wife Waterbury in Newhaven County August the 30th & 1758 then just equally appeared Mrs Elizabeth Barnes the above Deponent and gave Oath to the truth of the above Deposition and Mrs Elizabeth Cristie and Mary Road gave oath to that part of the Deposition included in Crochik 1 the adverse party being Sited but not present Before Me. Pho: Matthewy Justice of Peace. New Haven Sup Court May 1758 This deposition was the papers brought before me by Jef Gethin
OCR Text
The Deposition of Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes of Waterbury, of Lawfull age is as followeth Viz Margaret Wife to Samuel Brockway told me that Lot Negro man to said Brockway had had to do with her sundry times meaning in a way of carnal copulation; and she told me that one certain night she had fits all night and in the night she fell down upon the hearth and unbuttoned her coat and there prostituted her body to said negro; at the same time she told me that she wished that there was witnesses she would have to do with lot now that she might get rid of her husband; at another time she told me that she really thought that her husband bought said negro for that purpose. Q - Was the child now with Mary sit Brockway born of her body? A - Yes. Q - Do you look upon the child to be a mulatto? A - Yes. Waterbury in New Haven County August the 25th A 1758 Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes the above Dependant personally appeared and gave oath to the truth of the above deposition before Me Thos Matthews Justice of Peace. N.B. The parties were both present.
OCR Text
The deposition of Hannah Cook of Waterbury of lawful age is as followeth Viz: I asked Margaret Brockway, how she could do as she had done in having to do with the Negro, and dishonesty go in so doing? And she laughed at what I said and told me that she wished that she had a black child then. Q - Do you think that Margaret knows what she does in a general way? A - Yes and she generally will give a rational answer. Waterbury in New Haven County August the 25th A 1758 then personally appeared Hannah Cook the above deponent and gave oath to the truth of the above deposition before me Gho:c Matthews Justice of Peace. N.B. The parties were both present. New Haven Sigs. Comt August Term 1758 The above deposition was delivered into court by the Deputy own hand Jeff G. Patten Clerk
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:11:42 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:25:00 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:35:24 AM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:28:28 AM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Depositions_Regarding_Negro_Lot_Relations"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)