Homicides of Adults in Connecticut, 1751-1770
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1752, JuneSTAMFORD, FAI
CT
Class: probable
Crime: HOM
Rela: UNK [NONDOM]
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: [0]
HOM: unknown person m. unknown man
Weapon: stabbed in the throat with an edge tool
Circumstances: body of murdered man found
Inquest: y
Indictment?
Term?:
Court proceedings: fled
Source:
1) Fairfield Co. Superior Court Files, Pprs by Subject, 17111798: Inquests, Box 613, at CSL.
Return, June 10, 1752: summoned to view dead body of a man lying at Rocky Neck Point in Stanford, viewed the corps and heard the evidences and are of opinion "that the sd body was murdered by a Stab in the throte with an Edge tool."
To JP Jonathan Maltbie [Back of document]: to Super Ct in Frfld Aug 1752
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Victim: ___
Ethnicity:
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
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1753, July 12Stonington, NL
CT
Class: certain
Crime: HOM\SUI
Rela: MARiTAL WIFE by HUSB
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:early a.m.
Days to death: 0
HOM: Sam Sawes m. his wife Mary Sawes and then hanged himself
Weapon: struck her with an ax, almost cutting off her head
Circumstances: it occurred "by the wigwam" in the monring "about Sun Two Hours High"
Inquest: y, murder-suicide verdict
Indictment? n
Term?:
Court proceedings:
Source:
1) New London Co. Superior Court Files, papers by Subject, Inquests , NZ, Box 135, at CSL.
Summons: To constable of Stonington, "There being Two Persons, namely Sam Sawes an Indian Man and Mary Indian Woman now Lying Dead in sd Ston'n at Indain town By A Wigwam who are Supposed to be Murthered." Summon at my Dwelling house in sd town 12 able and discreet men....July 12, 1752, Simeon Minor, JP
Return, 7/12: ...enquire into manner of death of SS and Mary his wife Indians belonging to Stonington now lying Dead before us....find "that the sd SS This Morning about Sun Two Hours High with an ax worth 45/ murdered the sd Mary his wife in sd Ston'y by the wigwam by Striking her Several Blows with sd ax which Cut her head almost of from her Body by which Blows she Instantly Dyed" "and Further we make Presentment That the sd SS Imediately after he had Comitted sd Murther by Killing his Wife Hanged him Self on a Chestnut tree about Three Rods from the sd Wigwam ...with a Mattump worth 20/ By which Hanging he was Suffocated and Dyed Imed'y". Jurors: Israel Hewit, Benjamin and Walter Hewit, Nathan Carry, Andrew Frink, Elisha Avery, Wm Fanning, Jos Ayer, Matthew Barns, Oliver Grant Jr., Tho kople, Tho Hall
Newspaper:
Census:
Genealogy:
Accused: Sam Sawes
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status: m. Mary
Children:
Occupation:
Town:Stonington
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Victim: Mary Sawes
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:f
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status:m. Sam
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Town:Stonington
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1753[at sea]
GOVT
Class: do not count
Crime: HOM / at sea
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Intox?:
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HOM: James Haney m.
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Term?:
Court proceedings: the case was handled by the General Assembly
CHECK: same person? BURGLARY: James Henning, transient, at New Haven, 10/3/1767 at night, b&e shop of Michael Todd in New Haven & stole L. 30 cash & 1 piece of linen. pG. branded, ear off, 15 stripes, L. 8.1.6 costs. // New Haven Sup. Ct. special court, 10/27/1767: v. 19: back).
Source:
Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 11: 208-9. (c. 75 - 84:) many docs v. 5 (C&M, ser.
1): depositions of men on board & Q&A by Haney.
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Genealogy:
Accused: James Haney
Ethnicity:[Irish]
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Victim: ___
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1753, Dec. 1Branford, NH
CT
Class: certain
Crime: HOM
Rela: NONDOM
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: 0
HOM: Nathaniel Ashbo (aided and abetted by Hannah) m. Mike Tomek
Weapon: struck, stabbed, and pierced the left side of MT's body with a knife. d. 12/1. inst.
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment? NA: yes, murder. "of his own meer malice fortho't w/f & made an assault on body" of MT "with a wicked intent to kill & murder - whereby" MT "was mortally wounded & thereof instantly died." Hannah: ignormus -- bnf for "aiding and assiting" NA in the murder of MT -- "discharged & set at liberty."
Term?: 2/1754t -- New Haven
Court proceedings: NA: pNG. fNG by jury. To pay costs: L __. Ex. gr. 3/5/1754.
Source:
Sup. Ct., New Haven: 2/1754t: XI: 59
Newspaper:
Census:
Genealogy:
Accused 1: Nathaniel Ashbo
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Occupation:
Town:Branford
Birthplace:"Native of this Country"
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Accused 2: Hannah
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:f
Age:adult
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Town:[Branford]
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Victim: Mike Tomek
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Town:Branford
Birthplace:"Native of this Country"
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1754NL
CT
Class: possible
Crime: HOM
Rela: RELATIVE UNK by UNK
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
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HOM: Moses Sesuch m. Jonathan Sesuch
Weapon:
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment? no. bnf, ignoramus, for murder.
Term?: 9/1754t: New London
Court proceedings: to pay costs: L 7.11
Source:
Conn. Sup. Ct. records, 9/1754t: New London
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Genealogy:
Accused: Moses Sesuch
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Victim: Jonathan Sesuch
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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1756, Jan. 16Farmington, HAR
CT
Class: probable
Crime: HOM
Rela: [NONDOM]
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: 11?
HOM: Akusk m. Jonathan Shawen
Weapon: assault, Akusk "fell upon Him struck him and Stampt on his head," so that the victim was much brused and wounded and his skull bone was cracked
Circumstances: at the house of Akusk in Farmington
Inquest: y, at Farmington, dated Jan. 27, 1756: find that on 1/16 Jonathan being at Akusk's house, Akusk there fell upon him, struck him [as above]... and "we find his skull bone was cracked..." which wounds were the cause of death
Indictment? ind. for murder.
Term?: 3/1756t: Hartford
Court proceedings: pNG. fNG by jury. to pay costs: L 13.8.10
Source:
1) Conn. Sup. Ct. records, 3/1756t: Hartford
2) Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut -- on sale of dft's real estate to pay court costs.
3) Hartford Co Superior Ct. Files, Inquests, c. 17111849, Box 100, at CLS.
Farmington, Jan. 27, 1756: JS now lies dead at house of Elijah Weamzey[?} in Farmgton, viewed body and examined evids bro't before us, find that on 1/16 Jona being at the house of Akusk Indian in sd Farmgton and "that the sd Akusk there fell upon Him Struk Him & Stampt on his head whereby the sd Jona was much Brused & wounded we allso Find that his Scull bone was Cracked & that the Blood was Settled in a Considerable quanty [sic] upon his Brains within the scull Bone, which wounds & Bruses Receved as Aforesd we Do Judge to be the Cause of the sd Jonathans Death" Jurors: Giles and Wm Hooker, Robt Poret, nehemiah Lewis, Ebenezer And[?], Jehiel Parmele, Stephen Dorchester, Tho Cowles, Elijah Porter, James and Hezi: Wadsworth, james Cowles
Ret'd verdict to Joseph Hooker, JP
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Genealogy:
Accused: Akusk
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Town:Farmington
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Victim: Jonathan Shawen
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:[adult]
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[1757]NL
CT
Class: possible
Crime: HOM
Rela: UNK [NONDOM]
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death:
HOM: Peter Tivommuss m. an unknown Indian
Weapon:
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment? bnf for murder: ignoramus
Term?: 3/1757t: Norwich
Court proceedings: to pay L 8.16.0 costs. Put to service to pay the costs.
Source:
Conn. Sup. Ct. records, 3/1757t: Norwich
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Genealogy:
Accused: Peter Tivommus
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:m
Age:adult
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Victim: ___
Ethnicity:
Race:Ind
Gender:[m]
Age:[adult]
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Organizations:
1757, Dec. Stratford, FAI
CT
P
FIX date: M last week
Class: certain
Crime: HOM
Rela: NONDOM SOLDIER by SOLDIER
Motive: QUARREL
Intox?:
Day of week:M
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: 0
HOM: Alexander Frazer (sergeant in the regular army) m. sergeant in the regular army
Weapon: hatchet, d. short while after
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment? yes, for murder.
Term?: 2/1758t: Fairfield
Court proceedings: pNG. fNG.
Source:
Conn. Superior Court records 16: 385. Col. Simon Fraser was sworn in as an interpreter for the dft., "being duly scilld in ye Speech & Language of ye North Britons."
Newspaper:
BG 1/2/1758: HOM in CT: Stratford, CT, last M, 2 sergeants in the Regulars "having some hot Words together, one gave the other such a mortal Blow with a Hatchet, that he died in a short Time after."
Census:
Genealogy:
Accused: Alexander Frazer
Ethnicity:Scots
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:spoke Gaelic, not English
Marital Status:
Children:
Occupation:sergeant in the regular British army in a company of grenadiers
Town:
Birthplace:b. Scotland
Religion:
Organizations:
Victim: unk. person
Ethnicity:
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status:
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Occupation:sergeant in the regular army
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Birthplace:
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Organizations:
[1759]Stamford, FAI
CT
Class: certain
Crime: HOM
Rela: NONDOM
Motive: UNK
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death:
HOM: Elijah Seely m. a soldier of the 48th regiment
Weapon: gun
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment? yes, for murder
Term?: 2/1759t: Fairfield
Court proceedings: pNG. fNG by jury. costs paid.
Source:
Conn. Sup. Ct. records, 2/1759t: Fairfield
Newspaper:
Census:
Genealogy:
Accused: Elijah Seely
Ethnicity:[English]
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:
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Occupation:
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Birthplace:
Religion:
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Victim: ___
Ethnicity:
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:
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Occupation:soldier in the 48th regiment
Town:
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Organizations:
1759, Feb. 10Simsbury, HAR
CT
P
Class: certain
Crime: HOM
Rela: RELATTIVE MOTHER by SON
Motive: prob MENTAL ILLNESS
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: 0
HOM: Roger Humphrey m. Thankful Humphrey (his mother)
Weapon: flintlock gun. Shot her with a lead bullet. Mortal wound, 3" long, 6" deep, on upper side of left breast & through her body. d. inst.
Circumstances: at the house of Benajah Humphrey
Inquest:
Indictment? yes, murder. "with Force and Arms made an Assault" on TH & did "feloniously traiterously wilfully & of his Malice forethoguht shoot and wound" TH. Mortal wound.
Term?: 6/1759t: Hartford.
Court proceedings: pNG. fNG by jury. [blank page thereafter]
NOTE: RH was probably found not guilty by reason of insanity
Source:
Sup. Ct. -- Hartford, 6/1759t: 16: 319.
File: indictment only.
Newspaper:
Boston Newsletter Feb, 10, 1759: wife of Benajah of Simsbury was shot and killed by her son Roger while "disordered in his head" [Source: Index to Obituaries in the Boston Newspapers, II, 553]
Census:
Genealogy:
RH: son of Benajah and Thankful Humphrey of Simsbury
Source: Conn. Historial Society Collections, IX (Hartf, 1903), pp. 173-4: Roger Humphrey served from Mar. 28 to Aug. 9 1757 in the 3rd Company (Major Payson's Co.) of Col. Lyman's Regiment in the FR & Indian Wars campaign of 1757. Other Humphreys who served in same company were: Silvanus, served 3/28-11/29; Noah, the 2nd Lieutenant, served 2/23-10/23; Elisha Humphrey, served 8/9-11/11
Accused: Roger Humphrey
Ethnicity:[English]
Race:m
Gender:w
Age:adult
Literate:
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Children:
Occupation:
Town:Simsbury
Birthplace:
Religion:
Organizations:
Victim: Thankful Humphrey
Ethnicity:[English]
Race:w
Gender:f
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status:m. to Benajah
Children:yes, at least one son, Roger
Occupation:
Town:Simsbury
Birthplace:
Religion:
Organizations:
1759, Apr. 9Stafford, TOL
P
CT
Class: certain
Crime: HOM / SUI
Rela: MARITAL WIFE by HUSBAND
Motive: DEPRESSION
Intox?:
Day of week:
Holiday?:
Time of day:
Days to death: 0
HOM: Elisha Dyer m. Mary Dyer
Weapon: hom: // sui: hanged
Circumstances: at ED's house, where MD & ED both lay dead
Inquest: Same Jury of 12 men: April 9, 1759: We were summ'd about death of MD, now lying Dead befor us: having viewed MD and heard the Evids produced and considered the Circums. "we are all agreed that the sd MD was wilfuly and premedately murdered by her husband Elisha Dyer of sd Stafford without the assestance of any other person or persons whom so ever" // Same Jury of 12 men: 4/9/1759, Summ'd to dtermine death of ED: are all agreed he "Did wilfuly and premadately handeged himself without" assistance...... "
Indictment?
Term?:
Court proceedings:
Source:
Source: Hartford County Superior Court files, Inquests, Box 100, at CSL
Date of inquest:4/9/1759
Coroner or j.p.:
Town of inquest:Stafford
Location of inquest:both Mary Dyer and Elisha Dyer lie dead at ED's house
Newspaper:
BGAZ 5/7/1759 (M): dtl NH 4/28: HOM DOM WIFE / SUI in CT: Mr. Dyer of Stafford, CT, & his wife "had lived together some Years without having any Children, which seem'd to occasion some little Distaste between them. He was somewhat violent in his Temper, and frequently discovered a natural Moroseness of Disposition, which however, he kept under a tolerable Restraint; she had much of a Religious Turn, and ws recokon'd a Woman of remarkable Piety. They lived together reputably, and he as one of the Select men of the Town. He lately fellunder the Suspicion of having stolen some Hay from some of his Neighbours; several of them met at his House on Sunday evening, the 7th Instant, in order to clear up and accommodate the Affair. The Circumstances appear'd very suspicious againsthim, his Wife seem'd to join with the Rest in the Suspicion. He show'd a gloomy Displeasure, and utter'd some unkind Reflections upon her Barrenness -- in the Evening's Conversation, she said she had the Night before, had a very remarkable Dream; her Husband asked what it was? She replied, she had dreamed she was in Paradise, and had been greatly delighted there; well, said he, your Dream shall be verified before Morning. The Neighbours took no Notice of the Speech at that Time, but retired and left the Man and his Wife alone, there being no other Person in the House.
The next Morning, one of the Neighbours having Business with Mr. Dyar, went to the House, and finding the Door shut, knock'd, but heard none sitrring.--He stay'd till late in the Forenoon, and the Doors continuing shut, he went again and after knocking, and hearing No body, open'd the Door and went in; when being frighted he run out and called his Neighbours, several of themw ent back with him into the House. They found the Man and his Wife both dead. She was lying in a Corner of the Room, murdered in a most cruel and shocking Manner: She seemed to have been beat to death with a Maul, supposed to have been made for the Purpose the Evening before; her Flesh especially about the Neck and head, appear'd beaten almost to a Jelly, her Skull broke all to Pieces, her Blood and Pieces of her Brain was despater'd upon the Wall all round the Room, and also upon the Ceiling, she seem'd to have been dragg'd all over the Room, and beaten even after she was dead; the Gold Beeds of her Necklace were beaten into the Flesh on her Neck, and one of the Drops of her Ear-Ring was buried a considerable Way under her Jaw. -- The Man after this horrid Fact, probably intended to have gone off: He took out a Sheet and some head Clothes, and laid on a Table near his his [sic] Wife, which seem'd as if he intended to have wrap'd her in the Sheet. The Print of his Bloody Hand appear'd on the Sheet, on the Clohtes he pack'd up, and several other Things in the Room; and it appears, that after the Fact, he went into Bed, where he likewise left his Print in Blood; and whether he could not bear the Horror of his own Conscience, or over slept himself, so as to despair of escaping, is uncertain, but he had fastened a Cord to the Ceiling near the Side of the Bed, in which he hang'd himself, one of his Legs being on the Bed, in a kneeling posture, the other off, and his Body leaning forward. His Scull was broke, and the Maul lying by him, so that it appear'd, before he bore upon the Cord to strangle himself, he broke his Scull with the Maul."
Census:
Genealogy:
Accused: Elisha Dyer
Ethnicity:[English]
Race:w
Gender:m
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status: m. Mary
Children:
Occupation:
Town:Stafford
Birthplace:
Religion:
Organizations:
Victim: Mary Dyer
Ethnicity:[English]
Race:w
Gender:f
Age:adult
Literate:
Marital Status: m. Elisha
Children:
Occupation:
Town:Stafford
Birthplace:
Religion: