RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_001.jpg

Tine vs. Dick Divorce Petition Documents

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:17:51 PM

Added description

Description

Tine vs. Dick Divorce Petition Documents Collection

Overview

This collection comprises digitized court documents from the New Haven County Superior Court, dated February 2 1789. It contains the original petition for divorce filed by Tine, a Black woman from Wallingford, against her husband Dick, who resided in Cheshire. The materials include the petition itself, a summons to Dick, and the court’s order granting the divorce. The documents are presented as high‑resolution JPEG and TIFF scans, each accompanied by OCR‑derived text for searchability.

Background

The files are part of the Connecticut State Library’s New Haven County Superior Court (NHSC) holdings, specifically the “Black, African American, and Indigenous History” (BAAI) subset. They are indexed under the NHSC BAAI Cases Papers Subject field, which catalogs cases involving Black and Indigenous individuals. The collection reflects early legal proceedings involving African Americans in colonial Connecticut, illustrating the intersection of race, law, and gender in the late 18th century.

Contents

  • Petition for Divorce – Tine’s written request, citing abandonment and adultery, signed February 2 1789. OCR text includes the line “Fine a Negro. Woman Pr for Divor Petition Granted Feb 1789 Divorce.”
  • Summons to Respondent – Directed to the constable of Cheshire, ordering Dick to appear before the Superior Court. OCR captures the summons’ formal language.
  • Court Order – The Superior Court’s decision granting the divorce, dated the same day.
  • Supporting Documents – Brief excerpts referencing Capt. Miers Mier (Tine’s former master), clerk Oliver Stanley, constable Andw Hurd, and attorney Woodruff.
All items are scanned in both JPEG and TIFF formats, with accompanying OCR metadata to aid digital research.

Scope

The collection covers a single legal proceeding in 1789, situated within New Haven County (Wallingford and Cheshire). It focuses on divorce litigation involving a Black woman, thereby contributing to scholarship on African American legal history, gender relations, and colonial Connecticut jurisprudence. The materials are excluded from broader court archives but are fully integrated into the NHSC BAAI subject index for researchers seeking cases related to Black and Indigenous individuals.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@tine:person {full_name: "Tine", race: "Black", gender: "female", role: "petitioner", residence: @wallingford}

@dick:person {full_name: "Dick", role: "respondent", residence: @cheshire}

@capt_miers_mier:person {full_name: "Capt. Miers Mier", role: "former master", residence: @wallingford}

@oliver_stanley:person {full_name: "Oliver Stanley", role: "clerk"}

@andw_hurd:person {full_name: "Andw Hurd", role: "constable"}

@woodruff_attorney:person {full_name: "Woodruff", role: "attorney"}

@new_haven_county:place {type: "county", country: @united_states}

@wallingford:place {county: @new_haven_county, country: @united_states}

@cheshire:place {county: @new_haven_county, country: @united_states}

@new_haven:place {county: @new_haven_county, country: @united_states}

@connecticut_state_library:organization {type: "state library", location: @new_haven}

@nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject:concept {description: "Subject-index field for New Haven County Superior Court files concerning Black, African American, and Indigenous cases and papers"}

@tine_vs_dick_collection:document {title: "Tine vs. Dick Divorce Petition Documents", creator: @tine, institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1789_02_02, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce", "African American history", "Legal documents", "New Haven County", "Wallingford", "Cheshire"], description: "Collection of divorce petition documents from the New Haven County Superior Court involving Tine, a Black woman, and Dick, her husband. The documents include the petition for divorce and related court papers dated February 1789.", place: ["New Haven County", "Wallingford", "Cheshire"]}

@file_pinax:file {filename: "pinax.json", type: "Metadata (PINAX)", id: "01KBM1C4T0FGD45NT2610JKJ14", title: "Tine vs. Dick Divorce Petition Documents", creator: @tine, institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1789_02_02, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce", "African American history", "Legal documents", "New Haven County", "Wallingford", "Cheshire"], description: "Collection of divorce petition documents from the New Haven County Superior Court involving Tine, a Black woman, and Dick, her husband. The documents include the petition for divorce and related court papers dated February 1789.", place: ["New Haven County", "Wallingford", "Cheshire"]}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_001_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_001.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR", ocr_text: "Fine a Negro. Woman Pr for Divor Petition Granted Feb 1789 Divorce"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_002_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_002.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR", ocr_text: "Petition of Yimw Negro Petition Granted"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_001_tif:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_001.tif.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_002_tif:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_002.tif.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_005_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_005.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR", ocr_text: "To the Honorable Superior Court to be held at New Haven in & County on the last Tuesday Janu one of in'th February\n\nThe Petition of Tine a Negro Woman of Wallingford formerly the Servant of Capt. Miers Mier of Wallingford but now she humbly sheweth that on the 16th day of October 1772 that about twenty years since she was lawfully joined in marriage with one Dick their Servant to said Mier, with whom she lived for many years in the faithful discharge of all the Conjugal Duties, but for occasion unknown to your petitioners the said Dick became unions & his affections were alienated from your petitioners about twelve years since & he left your petitioners for another woman with whom he hath lived in a State of Puttery ever since in Cheshire in said County & hath in fact committed Puttery, she therefore prays your Honor to grant her a Bill of Divorce from the said Dick & release her from all the afores' obligations to said Dick & she as in duty bound shall ever pray dated in Cheshire this 2nd Day of February 1789.\n\nTine"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_006_jpg:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_006.jpg.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR", ocr_text: "To either Constable of Cheshire in New Haven County\n\nGreetings,\n\nBy authority of the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded to summon said Dickinson mentioned in the foregoing Petition to appear if he be cause before the Superior Court to be held in New Haven aforesaid on the last Tuesday save one of instant February to show reasons if any he have why the prayer contained in the foregoing Petition should not be granted hereof. I act not but due return made me dated in Wallingford this 2nd Day of February, 1789.\n\nOliver Stanley Jct. Pro!\n\nCheshire Feb'r 7th 1789 when I read this Petition & citation on the hearing of the within Named Dick\n\nJust Andw Hurd Constt t.\nof Cheshire\n\nSec 1789\nWoodruff Atty"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_005_tif:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_005.tif.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_006_tif:file {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_006.tif.ref.json", type: "Image/Asset with OCR"}

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick:document {title: "Petition of Tine for Divorce", date: @date_1789_02_02, petitioner: @tine, respondent: @dick, place: @new_haven_county, description: "Petition filed by Tine, a Black woman, seeking a divorce from Dick, her husband, citing abandonment and adultery."}

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_001_jpg

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_002_jpg

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_001_tif

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_002_tif

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_005_jpg

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_006_jpg

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_005_tif

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> contains -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_006_tif

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_timevsdick_005_jpg -> contains -> @petition_of_tine_vs_dick

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick -> filed in -> @new_haven_county {when: @date_1789_02_02}

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick -> mentions -> @capt_miers_mier

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick -> mentions -> @oliver_stanley

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick -> mentions -> @andw_hurd

@petition_of_tine_vs_dick -> mentions -> @woodruff_attorney

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> indexed by -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @divorce

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @african_american_history

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @legal_documents

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @new_haven_county

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @wallingford

@tine_vs_dick_collection -> subject -> @cheshire

Metadata

Files (8)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_001.jpgJPEG
348.36 KB
OCR Text

Fine a Negro. Woman Pr for Divor Petition Granted Feb 1789 Divorce

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_002.jpgJPEG
375.24 KB
OCR Text

Petition of Yimw Negro Petition Granted

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_005.jpgJPEG
430.69 KB
OCR Text

To the Honorable Superior Court to be held at New Haven in & County on the last Tuesday Janu one of in'th February The Petition of Tine a Negro Woman of Wallingford formerly the Servant of Capt. Miers Mier of Wallingford but now she humbly sheweth that on the 16th day of October 1772 that about twenty years since she was lawfully joined in marriage with one Dick their Servant to said Mier, with whom she lived for many years in the faithful discharge of all the Conjugal Duties, but for occasion unknown to your petitioners the said Dick became unions & his affections were alienated from your petitioners about twelve years since & he left your petitioners for another woman with whom he hath lived in a State of Puttery ever since in Cheshire in said County & hath in fact committed Puttery, she therefore prays your Honor to grant her a Bill of Divorce from the said Dick & release her from all the afores' obligations to said Dick & she as in duty bound shall ever pray dated in Cheshire this 2nd Day of February 1789. Tine

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_TimevsDick_006.jpgJPEG
383.11 KB
OCR Text

To either Constable of Cheshire in New Haven County Greetings, By authority of the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded to summon said Dickinson mentioned in the foregoing Petition to appear if he be cause before the Superior Court to be held in New Haven aforesaid on the last Tuesday save one of instant February to show reasons if any he have why the prayer contained in the foregoing Petition should not be granted hereof. I act not but due return made me dated in Wallingford this 2nd Day of February, 1789. Oliver Stanley Jct. Pro! Cheshire Feb'r 7th 1789 when I read this Petition & citation on the hearing of the within Named Dick Just Andw Hurd Constt t. of Cheshire Sec 1789 Woodruff Atty

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:17:51 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:43:33 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:39:13 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:29:55 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Divorce_Petition_Documents"

Parent

01KBKZYA75W6A35ZKR4CADP3CJ

No children (leaf entity)