[Deposition of Samuel Whittelsey]

Slavery Collection, 1709-1864

1749-09-10

Two-page deposition of Samuel Whittelsey of Wallingford, Connecticut, describing a meeting between Reverend Mr. Joseph Noyse [Noyes] of New Haven [Connecticut], and Mr. Wharam Mather of South New Haven [Connecticut], where Mather asked for prayers because "the Devil had made some trouble among his Negroes." Whittelsey testifies that Mather suffered loss of memory and the he "never saw a man so broken." Note on verso, "Opened in Wendham [Windham] Superior Court - Sept. form 1749, pr. Wm. [William] Pitkin Assist."

nyhs_sc_b-06_f-01_001
Mss Collection - Slavery Collection

Depositions--Connecticut
Slavery--Connecticut
Amnesia

Depositions

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Samuel Whittelsey of Wallington in the County of New Haven and Colony of Connecticut of lawfully age, testifieth [sic] and saith [said] , that being at the house of the Rev. M. Joseph Noyse in New Haven , M . Wharam Mather of So. New Haven while he was able to walk about came into the house of the said M. Noyse while I was there and asked M. Noyse prayers; for the devil had made some trouble among his Negroes for words (or words to that effect) where upon, M. Noyse asked the said M. Mather questions (as I then supposed to let one see how much he was broken) concerning Northhampton, concerning M. Stoddard, concerning his own mother and was [this] very minute particularly with the said M. Mather an [a] totally ignorant concerning all those things an [and] a new born infant, that the said M. Noyse Indeavourd [endeavored] by various methods to bring them to the said M. Mather rememberance , whereupon I then Thought, and have often since said , that I never saw a man so broken and lost to all memory as he the said M. Mather appeared to me broken. , [Signed] Samuel Whittelsey , [in another hand] New Haven County , Wallingford, 6[?] of September Anno Dom 1749 The Rev. Samuel Whittelsey above deponent appeared in person, and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition. The adverse party not written 20 miles, so neither notifee [notified] nor present at the caption hereof. , Jurat. […] Jus. [Justice] Law , [on back] Opened in Wendham [Windham] Superior Court, Sept. form 1749 , [signed] Wm. Pitkin Afrish