Brockway Divorce Case Documents Collection

Overview - What this is (form, dates, scope)

This collection consists of legal records and testimonial materials from a 1758 divorce case involving Samuel Brockway and Margaret Smith in New Haven County, Connecticut. The materials span August–September 1758 and include depositions, sworn testimonies, court appearances, and official notations from justices of the peace and court clerks.

Background - Relevant context about creation/provenance

The records originate from the New Haven County Superior Court during its August 1758 term. The case centers on Samuel Brockway and his wife Margaret Smith, with supporting documentation provided by witnesses such as Joseph Brockway (Samuel’s relative), Elizabeth Royce, and others. The court records were generated by local officials, including Justice of the Peace Josiah Rogers and Clerk G. Arthur, reflecting colonial legal procedures for marital disputes.

Contents - What's in it, key subjects and details

The collection includes:

• Depositions: sworn statements from witnesses like Elizabeth Royce (August 25, 1758) and Joseph Brockway (August 23, 1758), detailing the 1743–1744 marriage of Samuel Brockway and Margaret Smith by Reverend Jonathan Merrick in Hartford.
• Testimonies: Accounts verifying the marriage and Margaret Smith’s mental capacity, including a question-and-answer exchange with Elizabeth Royce.
• Court records: Notations of appearances, dates, and official seals from justices (e.g., Gho Matthews) and clerks (e.g., G. Pithin).
• Geographic references: Locations including Brantford, North Brantford, Hartford, Waterbury, and New Haven County.

Scope - Coverage (dates, geography, topics, what's included/excluded)

Dates: August 23–September 1758. Geography: Focused on New Haven County, Connecticut, with connections to Hartford and surrounding towns. Topics: Divorce proceedings, marriage validation, colonial legal practices, and testimonial evidence. Included: Firsthand accounts of the marriage, sworn depositions, and court administrative records. Excluded: Final court rulings or post-1758 developments, as the collection captures only the documentation phase of the case.

The materials provide insight into 18th-century marital law, witness protocols, and the role of religious figures in marriage ceremonies.