RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Inquests_Quemany_001.jpg

Inquest on Quommong (Quenmaney) 1748

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:20:42 PM

Added description

Description

Inquest on Quommong (Quenmaney) 1748 Collection

Overview

This is a digitized collection of legal documents from the New Haven County Superior Court, dated July 9 1748. It records the formal inquest into the accidental drowning of a young Black man named Quommong (also spelled Quenmaney) who was found dead in Milford, Connecticut. The collection includes the original writ of summons, the jury list, and the sworn findings of the inquest, all preserved as high‑resolution JPEG and TIFF scans.

Background

The case is part of the Connecticut State Library’s NHSC BAAI project, which focuses on Black, African American, and Indigenous history in New Haven County court records. In the 18th‑century colonial legal system, a jury of twelve “able and discreet” men was convened to determine the cause of death. The writ was issued by Justice of the Peace John Fawler and addressed to the constables of Wilford, directing them to summon the jury and report the findings. The inquest concluded that Quommong was accidentally drowned in the water at a dock in Wilford.

Contents

  • Writ of Summons (original, addressed to Wilford constables; dated July 9 1748).
  • Jury List (names of the twelve jurors, including William Pickett, Tho Gibb, Samuel Ouattamens, and others).
  • Inquest Findings (sworn statement declaring accidental drowning; dated July 9 1748).
  • Supporting Documents (high‑resolution scans of the writ and findings in both JPEG and TIFF formats).
  • Metadata (creator list, subjects, place, and provenance information).

Scope

The collection covers a single legal event in Milford, Connecticut, on July 9 1748. It is relevant to scholars of colonial legal history, African American history, and local history of New Haven County. The documents provide insight into 18th‑century inquest procedures, the treatment of Black individuals in colonial courts, and the administrative practices of the New Haven County Superior Court. The collection does not include any subsequent legal actions or personal records of Quommong beyond the inquest.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

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

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

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

@quommong:person {race: "Black", gender: "male", died: @date_1748_07_09, death_cause: "drowning", death_location: @milford, also_known_as: "Quenmaney"}

@john_fawler:person {role: "Justice of the Peace", jurisdiction: @new_haven_county}

@jw_fawler_constable:person {role: "Constable", jurisdiction: @wilford, also_known_as: "John Fawler"}

@william_pickett:person {full_name: "William Pickett"}

@tho_gibb:person {full_name: "Tho. Gibb"}

@samuel_ouattamens:person {full_name: "Samuel Ouattamens"}

@stephen_caldwell:person {full_name: "Stephen Caldwell"}

@cl_bennet:person {full_name: "Cl. Bennet"}

@james_davidson:person {full_name: "James Davidson"}

@john_miles:person {full_name: "John Miles"}

@john_mervin_jnr:person {full_name: "John Mervin Jnr."}

@leslie_mallib:person {full_name: "Leslie Mallib"}

@joshua_conwell:person {full_name: "Joshua Conwell"}

@joseph_bryan:person {full_name: "Joseph Bryan"}

@miles_mervin:person {full_name: "Miles Mervin"}

@willm_jullitt_the_gill:person {full_name: "Willm Jullitt The Gill"}

@sam_l_dratt_junr:person {full_name: "Sam'l Dratt Junr."}

@stephen_baldwin:person {full_name: "Stephen Baldwin"}

@charles_bennett:person {full_name: "Charles Bennett"}

@quincy_davidson:person {full_name: "Quincy Davidson"}

@john_mott:person {full_name: "John Mott"}

@lewis_mullett:person {full_name: "Lewis Mullett"}

@joshua_rowell:person {full_name: "Joshua Rowell"}

@jos_bryen:person {full_name: "Jos. Bryen"}

@miley_mervin_junr:person {full_name: "Miley Mervin Junr."}

@inquest_quommong_1748:event {date: @date_1748_07_09, location: @milford, subject: "death investigation", type: "Inquest"}

@writ_of_summons:document {type: "Writ of Summons", date: @date_1748_07_09, author: @john_fawler, addressed_to: @wilford_constable, subject: @quommong}

@inquest_quommong_1748:event -> involved -> @quommong

@inquest_quommong_1748:event -> overseen by -> @john_fawler

@inquest_quommong_1748:event -> summoned by -> @jw_fawler_constable

@inquest_quommong_1748:event -> had jury -> [@william_pickett, @tho_gibb, @samuel_ouattamens, @stephen_caldwell, @cl_bennet, @james_davidson, @john_miles, @john_mervin_jnr, @leslie_mallib, @joshua_conwell, @joseph_bryan, @miles_mervin, @willm_jullitt_the_gill, @sam_l_dratt_junr, @stephen_baldwin, @charles_bennett, @quincy_davidson, @john_mott, @lewis_mullett, @joshua_rowell, @jos_bryen, @miley_mervin_junr]

@inquest_quommong_1748:event -> documented by -> @writ_of_summons

@file_pinax -> documents -> @inquest_quommong_1748:event {type: "metadata"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baaai_ps_inquests_quemany_001_jpg -> contains OCR -> @writ_of_summons

@file_rg003_nhsc_baaai_ps_inquests_quemany_002_jpg -> contains OCR -> @inquest_quommong_1748:event

@file_rg003_nhsc_baaai_ps_inquests_quemany_001_tif -> image of -> @writ_of_summons

@file_rg003_nhsc_baaai_ps_inquests_quemany_002_tif -> image of -> @inquest_quommong_1748:event

Metadata

Files (4)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Inquests_Quemany_001.jpgJPEG
380.57 KB
OCR Text

To either of ye Constables of Wilford Greeting: Wheresoever information being made to the John Fawler, one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace in and for ye County of New Haven, on ye 9th day of this Instant July, that the body of one Negro man called Quenmaney is found dead on Dony Bayes, in ye water at a place called Dock in Wilford, in ye County aforesaid, in his Majesty's name you are hereby Required to Summon twelve able and discreet men to serve as a Jury of Inquest to enquire of the cause and manner of ye death of him called Quenmaney, who are to present a true bill or bill under their hands unto some Assistant or Justice of ye Peace of their Judgment of cause and manner of his ye Lemmody! death, if thereof shall you not end make Returns of this writ with your oaths therein Endorse, Dated in Wilford July 12th Anno Dom 1748 John Fawler Justice of Peace Wilford July 9th. Anno Dom 1748 There of within writ was served on willm Jullitt The Gill, Sam'l Dratt Junr., Stephen Baldwin Charles Bennett Quincy Davidson, John Mott, John Mervin Junr., Lewis Mullett, Joshua Rowell Jos. Bryen & Miley Mervin Junr. by Reading of it in their hearing. JW. Fawler Junr Constable of Wilford A True Copy of ye Original writ and affixed Done by ye Constable Jsp JW Fawler Justice of Peace

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Inquests_Quemany_002.jpgJPEG
354.45 KB
OCR Text

We the subscribers being summoned & sworn according to law to make inquiry into the cause of death of Quommong a young negro man & having well considered thereof declare that it appears to us all he was accidentally drowned; Dated at Milford July 9, 1748. William Pickett Tho. Gibb Samuel Ouattamens Stephen Caldwell Cl. Bennet James Davidson John Miles John Mervin Jnr. Leslie Mallib Joshua Conwell Joseph Bryan Miles Mervin gov

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:20:42 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:52:20 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:41:09 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:34:36 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Inquest_on_Quommong_1748"

Parent

01KBKZYZZKTKG30ZDQRDBDC9Q8

No children (leaf entity)