RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Inquests_Cush_001.jpg

Inquest Documents for Cush, 1722

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:19:59 PM

Added description

Description

Inquest Documents for Cush, 1722

Overview

This collection comprises the surviving records of the 1722 inquest into the death of an Indian named Cush, found in Goshen Brown’s well in New Haven County, Connecticut. The documents were compiled on 25 April 1722 and include the jury’s verdict, a cost breakdown, and ancillary notes. They are held by the Connecticut State Library as part of the New Haven County Superior Court Files (NHSC) and are catalogued under the Black, African American, and Indigenous History (BAAI) project.

Background

The inquest was conducted under the authority of the Crown, reflecting the colonial legal framework of early 18th‑century Connecticut. The jury, sworn before the court, consisted of local notables—Thomas Talboys, Geo Heaton, James Talboys, Joseph Talboys, Capt. Munroe, Capt. Preston, Mr. Isaac Goulds, Mr. Jonathan Mather, Lt. Molo, Mr. Jeremiah Mather, Mr. John Brown, and Joseph Dickinson—along with a foreman and witnesses. The case illustrates the intersection of colonial law, Indigenous peoples, and local community practices.

Contents

  • Verdict (25 April 1722): Declares that Cush died either by falling into the well or by suffocation.
  • Cost Breakdown: Itemized expenses for warrants, service, town fees, burial, and jury remuneration.
  • Witness Statements: Names of witnesses and jurors, including a jury foreman.
  • Photographic Records: High‑resolution JPEG and TIFF images of the original paper documents, preserving the handwritten text and marginalia.
  • Metadata: Digital descriptors (title, creator list, date, language, subjects, place) and provenance information linking the collection to the NHSC BAAI database.

Scope

The collection covers a single legal proceeding in April 1722, situated in Goshen, New Haven County (near New Haven and New Hartford). It focuses on the death investigation of an Indigenous individual, providing insight into colonial judicial processes, community involvement, and the economic aspects of inquests. The materials are primary sources for scholars studying early Connecticut history, Indigenous‑colonial relations, and the legal treatment of Native peoples in the 18th century.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@inquest_documents_cush_1722:collection {title: "Inquest Documents for Cush, 1722", creator: [@thomas_talboys, @geo_heaton, @james_talboys, @joseph_talboys, @capt_munroe, @capt_preston, @mr_isaac_goulds, @mr_jonathan_mather, @lt_molo, @mr_jeremiah_mather, @mr_john_brown, @joseph_dickinson], institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1722_04_25, language: "en", subjects: ["Inquest", "Death investigation", "Indian", "Cush", "Goshen Brown", "Well", "Verdict", "Suffocation", "Drowning", "Legal documents", "New Haven County"], description: "Collection of inquest documents related to the death of an Indian named Cush, found dead in Goshen Brown's well in 1722. Includes the verdict and associated costs.", place: [@goshen, @new_haven_county, @new_haven, @new_hartford]}

@thomas_talboys:person {full_name: "Thomas Talboys"}

@geo_heaton:person {full_name: "Geo Heaton"}

@james_talboys:person {full_name: "James Talboys"}

@joseph_talboys:person {full_name: "Joseph Talboys"}

@capt_munroe:person {full_name: "Capt. Munroe", role: "captain"}

@capt_preston:person {full_name: "Capt. Preston", role: "captain"}

@mr_isaac_goulds:person {full_name: "Mr. Isaac Goulds"}

@mr_jonathan_mather:person {full_name: "Mr. Jonathan Mather"}

@lt_molo:person {full_name: "Lt. Molo"}

@mr_jeremiah_mather:person {full_name: "Mr. Jeremiah Mather"}

@mr_john_brown:person {full_name: "Mr. John Brown"}

@joseph_dickinson:person {full_name: "Joseph Dickinson"}

@cush:person {ethnicity: "Indian", role: "deceased"}

@goshen_brown:person {full_name: "Goshen Brown"}

@goshen_brown_well:place {named_after: @goshen_brown, part_of: @new_haven_county, type: "well"}

@new_haven_county:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}

@new_haven:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}

@new_hartford:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}

@connecticut_state_library:organization {full_name: "Connecticut State Library"}

@verdict_1722_04_25:document {type: "verdict", content: "death by falling into the well or by suffocation", date: @date_1722_04_25}

@cost_breakdown_1722_04_25:document {type: "cost record", details: "To warrant and listing costs - 0.1.8; To serving it on Geo Molo and Curmer 0.1.6; To town 0.0.8; To signing grave and burying to the Indian 0.0.0; To Mother's Beal &c. To officer and others 0.5.0", date: @date_1722_04_25}

@file_pinax:file {type: "metadata", format: "PINAX", related_to: @inquest_documents_cush_1722}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_inquests_cush_001_jpg:file {type: "image", format: "jpg", ocr_text: "April 25, 1722. Thomas Talboys, Geo Heaton, ...", related_to: @inquest_documents_cush_1722}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_inquests_cush_001_tif:file {type: "image", format: "tif", related_to: @inquest_documents_cush_1722}

@nhsc:organization {full_name: "New Haven County Superior Court Files", abbreviation: "NHSC", type: "record group", institution: @connecticut_state_library}

@baai:concept {full_name: "Black, African American, and Indigenous", abbreviation: "BAAI", context: "CT State Library project focusing on Black, African American, and Indigenous history"}

@nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject:concept {description: "Subject index field for New Haven County Superior Court Files – Black, African American, and Indigenous cases and papers", related_project: @nhsc, focus: @baai}

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> includes -> @cush

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> documents -> @verdict_1722_04_25

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> documents -> @cost_breakdown_1722_04_25

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> located at -> @goshen_brown_well

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> part of -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject

@inquest_documents_cush_1722 -> created by -> [@thomas_talboys, @geo_heaton, @james_talboys, @joseph_talboys, @capt_munroe, @capt_preston, @mr_isaac_goulds, @mr_jonathan_mather, @lt_molo, @mr_jeremiah_mather, @mr_john_brown, @joseph_dickinson]

Metadata

Files (2)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Inquests_Cush_001.jpgJPEG
494.42 KB
OCR Text

April 25, 1722. Thomas Talboys, Geo Heaton, James Talboys, Joseph Talboys, Capt. Munroe, Capt. Preston, Mr. Isaac Goulds, Mr. Jonathan Mather, Lt. Molo, Mr. Jeremiah Mather, Mr. John Brown, Joseph Dickinson, a jury foreman - &c had sworn to enquire of the cause and manner of the death of an Indian called Cush, found dead in Goshen Brown's well, returned the following verdict (for wideness under oath, having been published to go to examination). Upon inquiry by the jury of inquest this 25th April, 1722, for our sovereign Lord the King, upon the body of an Indian called Cush who was found dead in the well of Mr. Goshen Brown, it is our opinion and judgment of God came to his end and was admitted by falling into said well, or by suffocation. April 25, 1722. Being Saturday and the 9th day of each pass we neglecting to sift about 3p. - ing a great deal, a warrant was given forth to propr men to bring him, if he might not be a vagrant nor taken up by bups. To warrant and listing costs - 0.1.8. To serving it on Geo Molo and Curmer 0.1.6. To town 0.0.8. To signing grave and burying to the Indian 0.0.0. To Mother's Beal &c. To officer and others 0.5.0 Thomas Talboys, Geo Heaton, James Talboys, Joseph Talboys, Capt. Preston, Goshen Howard, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Jonathan Mather, Francis Brown, witnesses, Caleb Hodgins and Isaac Goulds a jury foreman and sworn Apr. 30, 1722. To inquire into the cause and manner of the death of John Howard of New Haven in the country of New Hartford. 4 witnesses &c. Jeremiah Mather, Capt. Samuelson, Geo Heath, and Sam'l Peck were summoned and sworn. Apr. 30. The aforesd jury returned this verdict unto the subscriber present. The inquiry of inquest impannelled on behalf of our sovereign Lord the King on the body of John Howard entirely dead, but of opinion that he came to his end by drowning or suffocation cold in especially wetting of a foot on the 29th day of this instant 1722. True copies of the records compared Sept. 6, 1722. Jepis Fees. To the jury - 1.4.0. Forfunds for the jury 0.1.4. For one able summoning jury 0.1.20 To his attendance on 5. - 0.2.0 To justice swearing 6 widmen and 1 man for fear and receiving 0.6.0 To certificatons - 0.2.0 Total 2.4.14 Warren Mather of price. Warren Mather of price If the law will allow. Warren Mather

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:19:59 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:49:31 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:40:35 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:32:08 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Inquest_Documents_Cush"

Parent

01KBKZYYDHYASVDBTDAFZBGQYJ

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