CAPTAIN SAMUEL FISH OF GROTON vs. JONATHAN AND ELIZABETH EDGECOMB OF NEW LONDON
CAPTAIN SAMUEL FISH OF GROTON vs. JONATHAN AND ELIZABETH EDGECOMB OF NEW LONDON
New London, Connecticut court case of Captain Samuel Fish of Groton vs. Jonathan and Elizabeth Edgecomb.
(The document – spelling as written)
A Superior Court holdson att New London March ye 25th 1712
Capt Samll Fifh of Groton Plantoff verfus John Edgcomb of New London and Elifabeth Edgcomb his wife Defendts.
In an Action of ye Capt demanding two hundred pounds Damage with Coft of Suit. Upon Pleas in Barr of ye Action exhibited to ye Superior Court in September laft was by Order of ye sd Court continued to this Court.
Upon confideration of the Defendts Pleas in Barr of ye Action and peticularly That ye Defend be who is fued to anfwer ye Plantiff in Damages for that ye sd Elizabeth Edgcomb had fraudulently fold ye Plantiff a certain Tract of land out of which ye Plantiff was ejected by a judgment of Court ____ not brought in by Vouchor to maintain ye Title of ye sd Land fold by ye sd Elizabeth Edgcome to ye Plantiff.
Refolve That ye Action fhall not proceed.
It is Confidered by this Court That ye Defendants John Edgcome and Elizabeth Edgcome fhall recover of ye Plantiff Samll Fifh his Coft of Suit which is allowed to be two pounds three Shillings and ten pence money and that execution be granted for ye fame att ye Suit of ye Party
Vora Copia _____
Jonth Law Clerk
The verso of the doc reads 'Judgement Fish & Edgecom' Doc is on very good condition for its extreme age- a very rare item
Johnathan Law
In 1698, Law established a law office in Milford. Initially serving as a justice of the peace and of the quorum for New Haven County in May 1709, he was then named Judge of the County Court of New Haven County and Assistant Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court.
In May 1709, Law became a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum for New Haven County, later being named Judge of the County Court of New Haven County and Assistant Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court. He was elected Deputy to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1706 and served several terms until 1717. He was governor of Connecticut bertween 1741 – 1750. As a war time governor he sent Connecticut troops to join the combined forces of New England to capture Nova Scotia from the French during King George's War.
Samuel Fish
Captain Samuel Fish, the second townsman (of Groton), (1656 – Feb. 27, 1733) was a captain in the French and Indian wars and for many years prominent in the affairs of the town. He owned a large farm situated on both sides of the present New London road and in 1695 built the house now standing on the Chesebrough farm northwest from the Lower Mystic Cemetery.
Jonathan and Elizabeth Edgecomb.
The document being offered solves the case between the defendants Jonathan and Elizabeth Edgecomb in a suit that Captain Samuel Fish of Groton (1656-1733, King Philip's War veteran) brought alleging that a sale of land to him was legal and he held the deed to it. Captain Fish was supposed to produce a paper record of the deed alleging he had ownership of the land, but he failed to at the hearing and had to pay court costs of two pounds three Shillings and ten pence money. Interesting enough this court case can be found on pgs 311-312 of THE RECORDS OF THE NEW LONDON COLONY FOR 1712.
Sources: Museum of Connecticut History; Records of the New London Colony (pg. 311-312); Allegra Di Bonaventura – FOR ADAM’S SAKE. A FAMILY SAGA IN COLONIAL NEW ENGLAND.
Document measures 9 x 14 ½ inches and very legible. Paper seperation, folds, overall in vg cond.