Litchfield County American Revolutionary War-era court records
2010-373-0
Scope and Contents
The Litchfield County American Revolutionary War-era court records primarily relate to Connecticut residents who failed to muster when warned with their respective Connecticut military units. There is a small, but significant, group of case files, land seizure records, and miscellaneous documents. The records cover the period 1774-1781, centering on the years of 1777 through 1779. The records are arranged in two series and include summonses, depositions, executions, dockets, and other documents. Series 1, American Revolutionary War soldier records, 1777-1779, is the largest series (2 lin. ft.). For each defendant, there is a summons, detailing the company to which the defendant was assigned to report and often a description of the mission the company undertook in the defendant's absence. In some cases, there is a letter, deposition, or similar document providing an explanation for the defendant's absence. Series 2, Other records, 1774-1781, consists of the three sub-series. The first, Cases, 1774-1781, includes 20 criminal and civil cases (2 folders). Most of the cases involve disputes over land or debts. Several cases are more sensational. In Governor and company v. Buell, the defendant is accused of using force to defy an order that he and 39 other Litchfield households provide a blanket for the military's use. Governor and company v. Moss involves a complaint that Moss used force to obtain "carnal knowledge of the body of Lois Colver." In Hall v. Bartholomew and Bartholomew, a married couple is accused of "the uttering of scandalous and defamatory words" describing licentious behavior on the part of the plaintiff. In State v. Hicock, Hicock Jr., Squire, Squire, Squire Jr., Skeel, Hicock Jr., Han, Hicock, Hicock, Squire, Squire, Hicock, Thorp, and Bates, the defendants are accused of assembling "in a tumultuous and riotous manner to rescue Truman Skeel out of the hands of Frederick Bunnel, a Continental officer," and others. The second sub-series, Land seizures, 1777-1779 (1 folder), documents residents accused of siding with the British forces who had their land taken from them as a result of Connecticut law. The third sub-series, Other papers, 1778-1779 (1 folder), consists of dockets and a fragment.
Dates
- created: 1774-1781
- Other: Date acquired: 03/12/2010
Creator
- Connecticut. County Court (Litchfield County) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Extent
1.25 Linear Feet
3 document boxes other_unmapped
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Litchfield County American Revolutionary War-era court records primarily relate to Connecticut residents who failed to muster when warned with their respective Connecticut military units. There is a small, but significant, group of case files, land seizure records, and miscellaneous documents. The records cover the period 1774-1781, centering on the years of 1777 through 1779. The records are arranged in two series and include summonses, depositions, executions, dockets, and other documents.
Source of Acquisition
Donor unknown.
Method of Acquisition
Found in collection.
Other Descriptive Information
This collection was processed with support from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). This collection was previously titled Litchfield County Summonses, American Revolution and Litchfield County Summonses, Land Seizures.
Subject
- Connecticut. County Court (Litchfield County) (Organization)
- Title
- Litchfield County American Revolutionary War-era court records
- Author
- Leith Johnson
- Date
- 03/12/2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)
archivist@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org