Inquest on Suddon and Coeke, 1748 Collection

Overview

This collection comprises the digitized record of an inquest held in Milford, Connecticut, in July 1748 concerning two Negro men, Suddon and Coeke. The material is a single legal document preserved by the New Haven County Superior Court and now housed in the Connecticut State Library. It is presented as scanned images (JPEG and TIFF) of the original record, which is written in English and dated July 1748.

Background

The inquest was conducted by the New Haven County Superior Court, a judicial body that maintained court records for the county. The Connecticut State Library has undertaken a project to digitize and index these records, particularly those involving Black, African American, and Indigenous individuals. This collection is part of that effort, reflected in its inclusion in the NHSC BAAI Cases Papers subject database. The record provides a rare glimpse into the legal treatment of enslaved or free Black persons in colonial Connecticut.

Contents

The collection contains two digitized files: a JPEG and a TIFF scan of the original inquest record. The document is titled “Record of Inquest on Suddon & coeke, a Negro man, old & trembling. July 1748, Milford.” It records the proceedings, participants, and findings of the inquest. The images preserve the original handwriting, layout, and any marginalia, allowing researchers to examine the text directly. No additional documents, such as related case files or correspondence, are included in this collection.

Scope

The material covers a single event—an inquest in Milford in July 1748—focused on two Black men. It is geographically limited to Milford, Connecticut, and temporally confined to the month of July 1748. The collection is relevant to studies of colonial legal history, African American history, slave records, and inquest procedures. It does not include broader court records, subsequent legal actions, or personal histories beyond the inquest itself.