Margaret, Jean B, Ann: Am I supposed to join the RI archives for $35.00 per
year in order to obtain the free search? I am in the Central Plains in
Tulsa waiting patiently to my request for the divorce papers of Marvel
Pollock & Jeremiah W. Pollock. I had no response at all to my inquiry and
am quite certain that I followed the correct procedure. My email was never
returned to me, so I assume it went through last March.
I have no problem paying for a membership if I knew which area to sign
up for. I do not wish to join the wrong section. LOL. It will be some
time before I can ever travel to beautiful R.I.
I still think the divorce papers will indicate who her children were and
will establish or eliminate Marvel as a mother of John Pollock. The mother
may be Jeremiah's first wife. I need the info for DAR purposes.
You all have been so helpful, and I hope someone can direct me down the
correct path. This has concerned me for two months.
If the archives(a)courts.ri.gov is not the answer, should I write to South
Kingstown Vital Records? Exeter Town Clerk?
Sincerely, Suzanne Pollock Hough
----- Original Message -----
From: "M. E. Potter" <potter(a)inch.com>
To: <RIGENWEB-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: [RIGENWEB] Pollock Murder -- The Scoop
Hi Jean,
All of the following are from the same source, "Early American Newspapers,
Series I, 1690 to 1876" available to members on the NEHGS website.
First, the following popped up (in case you don't already know this):
From the Rhode-Island Republican, Vol.. 13, Iss. 27, pg. 4, 1821-10-03:
"WASHINGTON, ss. -- Supreme Judicial Court / October term, A. D. 1820. /
WHEREAS Marvel Pollock of Exeter, in the county of Washington, wife of
Jeremiah W. Pollock, now residing in parts unknown, has this day filed her
petition, in my Office, praying, for certain reasons therein stated, that
the bonds of matrimony subsisting between her and the said Jeremiah, may
be dissolved. Notice is hereby given to the said Jeremiah, to be and
appear, if he see fit, before the Honorable Supreme Judicial Court to be
holden, at South-Kingstown, within and for the county of Washington, on
the second Monday of October, 1821, to shew [sic] cause why the prayer of
said petition, ought not to be granted. / JOHN SEGAR, Clerk. / South
Kingstown, Aug. 18, 1821 [S.12]"
[If you don't already have the divorce papers, you can get them, free of
charge, by emailing <archives(a)courts.ri.gov> ]
From the Norwich Courier, Vol. III, Iss. 42, pg. 3, 1825-01-19: "Trial
for Murder. -- On Wednesday last, came on the trial of Adonijah Bailey,
aged 80 years, for the murder of Jeremiah W. Pollock, at the Superior
Court, holden at Brooklyn -- Judges Peters and Brainard presiding. The
jury retired about 20 minutes, and returned with a verdict of GUILTY. / We
understand that the counsel for the prisoner have in arrest of judgment on
the ground of one of the jurors not being a freeholder, and petitioned for
a new trial on account of the misdirection of the Judge."
From the Middlesex Gazette, Vol. XL, Iss. 2044 , pg. 2, 1825-01-26:
"DOMESTIC. / On Wednesday last, the trial of Adonijah Baily [sic] for the
murder of Jeremiah W. Pollock, commenced at Brooklyn, in the county of
Windham, and terminated on Friday evening. So much interest had been
excited, that before the trial commenced, the town was thronged with
people from all parts of the County. The Hon. Judge PETERS presided at the
trial. When Bailey was brought in to plead, great anxiety was manifested
to witness the solemn scene. The prisoner was brought in by the Sheriff
and his deputies, and as he approached the bar of justice, at the age of
79, halting with infirmity, every soul present seemed deeply affected,
exoept [sic] the prisoner, who though attentive was unmoved. The case was
conducted on the part of the State, by Col. JUDSON, State Attorney,
assisted by Wm. P. CLEAVELAND, Esq.; and on the part of the prisoner by C.
GODDARD, and J. EATON, Esquires. / The testimony disclosed the most cruel
and awful murder that has taken place in the State of Connecticut for many
years. The substance of the testimony was as follows: -- / Pollock had for
some weeks been at work at Baileys, in the town of Sterling, and on the
23d of Oct. last, Pollock was missing: search was made from day to day for
the body, until Nov. 3d when it was found buried, one foot deep, eight
rods from the place where Bailey and Pollock had been at work. On taking
the body from the ground, it appeared that four wounds were made on the
back part of the head, cut through the scull [sic] with an axe. Eight
witnesses testified that Bailey said he was with Pollock, making shingles
until 11 o'clock on the 23d of Oct. when Pollock went away, to go to a
neighbouring store, and that he, Bailey, stayed to work till late dinner
time, and immediately returned and continued work there all day. Traces of
blood were discovered from the shingle place, to the place where the body
was found, and a fire had been kindled with a view to burn up the bloody
shavings, but many were found partly consumed and others covered up, all
this within 30 rods of Bailey's house. Bailey was asked whether there was
any fire on the spot on the day Pollock was missing, repeatedly said there
was none, could not have been any, as he was in a situation to know, being
there all the time. It was then proved beyond all doubt that a fire was
seen to be kindled around the shingle place about 2 o'clock P. M. which
remained to burn some time. On searching Bailey, a note and order
belonging to Pollock were found in his possession. Pollock's trunk was
found open, and all its contents taken out, and some papers belonging to
Pollock were thrown into the fire, and identified, some of them were taken
off by a witness before consumed. When Pollock was last seen he had money
with him and Bailey was destitute of any, until after Pollock's death,
when he passed money at the store, to a considerable amount. Pollock's
pocket-book and watch have never been found. One witness swore that about
10 days before Pollock was murdered, Bailey said 'that he or Pollock
should die soon.' After Bailey's arrest and while under the care of the
officer he tried to bribe his keepers and get away from them. -- These
together with many other circumstances rendered his case entirely
hopeless. After a protracted trial of three days, the cause was committed
to the Jury, who returned a verdict of GUILTY. / The next day the prisoner
was set at the bar to receive sentence, and being asked whether he had any
reasons why sentence of death should not be pronounced, the prisoner
replied with perfect coolness, that 'he had none, for he was willing to
submit to the law.' / Judge Peters then proceeded in a most solemn and
impressive manner to conclude the scene. The sentence was pronounced, and
the execution is to take place the 2d Wednesday of June next. -- N. L.
Advocate."
From the Rhode Island American, Vol. XVII, Iss. 35, pg. 2, 1825-01-28:
"At a recent term of the Supreme Court of Connecticut in Windham county,
Adonijah Bailey, aged eighty years, was convicted of the murder of
Jeremiah W. Pollock, and sentenced to be executed on the 8th of June next.
It is stated that the testimony disclosed the most cruel and awful murder
that has been committed in Connecticut for many years."
From the Middlesex Gazette, Vol. XL, Iss. 2062, pg. 3, 1825-06-01: "On
the night of the 24th inst. Adonijah Bailey who was sentenced to be
executed on the 8th day of June next, for the murder of Jeremiah W.
Pollock, evaded the sentence of the Judge by hanging himself, during the
silence of the night in the dreary mansion of the Goal [sic], without any
one to assist him. He made his rope of bandages which he took from his
sore leg, and attached one end of it by a nail to the hinge of the door,
and the other part of the rope round his neck, he was found hanging with
his knees nearly to the floor, when the Goaler [sic] entered his room in
the morning, the body was interred on Thursday. / Since his death we
understand the Gaoler has found many papers in the room where he was
confined which contain his confession of many black crimes, and among
which, is the murder of Jeremiah W. Pollock, he has confessed how and in
what manner he committed the bloody deed but not the cause, all of which
will soon appear in a pamphlet containing also his trial. -- Brooklyn
Obser."
Perhaps you can track down that pamphlet, if it was ever actually
published. Maybe a local historical society would have a copy.
Regards,
Margaret
At 07:49 AM 3/15/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Gang,
>Here is another murder nightmare that I have in my genealogy. Maybe one
>of
>you that have all this access to these great books can find something.
>I certainly would appreciate it...
>Jeremiah Wilson Pollock is my 5th gr grandfather..B 1769 Wakefield...died
>23
>Oct 1824 Sterling, CT
>Per Arnold...Jeremiah Wilson Pollock was a postal carrier and Whig
>Also he was murdered in Sterling, Ct. as was his brother 2 months prior.
>Wonder if the murders are related.
>
>Sincerely, Jean B
>
>
>==== RIGENWEB Mailing List ====
>The RI Archives
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ri/rifiles.htm
>RIGenWeb Archives Search
http://www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/ri/risearch.html
At 07:49 AM 3/15/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Gang,
>Here is another murder nightmare that I have in my genealogy. Maybe one
>of
>you that have all this access to these great books can find something.
>I certainly would appreciate it...
>Jeremiah Wilson Pollock is my 5th gr grandfather..B 1769 Wakefield...died
>23
>Oct 1824 Sterling, CT
>Per Arnold...Jeremiah Wilson Pollock was a postal carrier and Whig
>Also he was murdered in Sterling, Ct. as was his brother 2 months prior.
>Wonder if the murders are related.
>
>Sincerely, Jean B
>
>
>==== RIGENWEB Mailing List ====
>The RI Archives
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ri/rifiles.htm
>RIGenWeb Archives Search
http://www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/ri/risearch.html
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