Rhode Island Oath Documents Collection, 1743
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:12:32 PM
Added description
Description
Rhode Island Oath Documents Collection, 1743
Overview
The Rhode Island Oath Documents Collection, 1743 is a small archival set of legal‑oath records produced on August 6 1743. It is held by the Connecticut State Library and contains a single extant document—a divorce oath involving Phineas Moses and Sarah Eberly. The record is preserved as both a high‑resolution JPEG and a TIFF scan, allowing scholars to examine the original parchment and its transcription.Background
In the mid‑18th century, colonial courts in New England required parties to swear oaths in the presence of a Justice of the Peace before proceeding with civil matters such as divorce. The document in this collection was witnessed by John Gill, a Justice of the Peace, and was executed in Chilford, Connecticut, though the parties were also identified as residents of Newport, Rhode Island. The collection reflects the legal practices of the time and the cross‑jurisdictional nature of colonial governance.Contents
The collection contains:- Divorce Oath (RG003NHSCBAAIPSDivorceMorgan025) – a parchment oath sworn by Phineas Moses and Sarah Eberly, both of Chilford, Connecticut, declaring their marital status and the circumstances of their divorce. The oath is witnessed by John Gill and includes a notarized statement of the parties’ residence in Newport, Rhode Island.
- Digital reproductions – a JPEG image and a TIFF file of the original oath, providing both a quick‑look and a high‑resolution archival copy for detailed study.
Scope
The collection is narrowly focused on a single legal oath dated August 6 1743. It covers the geographic areas of Newport, Rhode Island, and Chilford, Connecticut, and addresses the legal category of divorce. The collection does not include other oath documents, court transcripts, or related legal filings; it is limited to the one divorce oath and its digital images.Entities
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Entity Relationships
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Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax -> documents -> @rhode_island_oath_documents_collection:collection {title: "Rhode Island Oath Documents Collection, 1743", created: @date_1743_08_06, creator: [@phineas_moses, @sarah_eberly], institution: @connecticut_state_library, subjects: ["Oaths","Legal documents","Divorce","Newport (Rhode Island)","Chilford (Connecticut)"], place: [@newport_ri, @chilford_ct]}
@phineas_moses:person {full_name: "Phineas Moses"}
@sarah_eberly:person {full_name: "Sarah Eberly"}
@john_gill:person {full_name: "John Gill", role: "Justice of the Peace"}
@connecticut_state_library:organization {full_name: "Connecticut State Library"}
@newport_ri:place {city: "Newport", state: "Rhode Island", country: @united_states}
@chilford_ct:place {town: "Chilford", state: "Connecticut", country: @united_states}
@divorce_morgan:document {type: "Divorce oath", date: @date_1743_08_06, parties: [@phineas_moses, @sarah_eberly], location: @chilford_ct, witness: @john_gill}
@phineas_moses -> made oath -> @divorce_morgan {when: @date_1743_08_06}
@sarah_eberly -> made oath -> @divorce_morgan {when: @date_1743_08_06}
@divorce_morgan -> witnessed by -> @john_gill {role: "Justice of the Peace"}
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_morgan_025_jpg -> image of -> @divorce_morgan
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_morgan_025_tif -> image of -> @divorce_morgan
@nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject:concept {description: "Subject index field for New Haven County Superior Court files concerning Black, African American, and Indigenous individuals"}Metadata
Files (2)
RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Morgan_025.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Connecticut Ct Chilford Augt 6th 1743 Then personally appeared Phineas Moses & Sarah Eberly both of Chilford Ct of Lawfull age, and Made To solemn Oath that the above named Phineas Moses & Sarah Eberly Citizens in the hearing of the witness named Phineas Moses & Sarah Eberly Mother & Son Shoemakers in Newport on Rhode Island, on the Bay of July last and none other. Delivered by J. Moses Both a true Copy of the Oration Before me John Gill Justice of Peace Oath for Ph. Moses
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:12:32 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:26:13 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:36:08 AM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:31:03 AM · View this version
"Reorganization group: RhodeIsland_Oath_Documents_1743"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)