Debbie This posting is of great interest. I am not a direct descendant of Seth Dean but have an interest in a Seth DEAN b. 8 September 1723 in Lebanon and died 1786 in Colchester and who married Sarah_______. Is the Seth in this court case one in the same? Or is it his father, Seth married to Anne Skinner? I know you are looking for more info about John Dean. From an email I saved from a year or so ago the following: "Seth Dean, the second son, sold his land in Lebanon about 1730 and moved to Colchester with his wive, Ann, and their children probably about 1733. The earlier children are listed as baptized in Lebanon in the church records there. The birth of John is not found in the vital records or church records. I think he was born about 1733, from his date of death and age at death on his headstone in the old cemetery in South Canaan. It was probably at the time Seth and Ann were moving, and they never got around to it. With Ann's father being a Deacon in the Cburch, John must have been baptized, and a record of it may still exist somewhere. The children following John are listed as baptized in Colchester (Church records)." and "Joseph Dean, a son of Seth and Ann, was mentally defective and unable to take care of himself. When the family moved again in 1745, probably to Salisbury, Joseph was left behind in Colchester. Colchester paid for his care for about two years. In time this resulted in a case in court, Colchester claiming that Seth and Ann had been residing in Hebron, and that Hebron should have paid for his upkeep. There was considerable testamony during the trial regarding the activities of Seth and Ann from about 1739 to about 1745. The interesting thing is that Seth is said to have been away from town for a year at a time twice, and had probably gone up to Salisbury. One person said that Seth had a pair of show shoes he said he obtained in Salisbury. In 1753, Seth and Ann returned to Colchester. Seth was ill and died two months later. After his death, the Salisbury town tax rolls show that Seth owed property taxes there. Evidently his absences from Colchester were to purchase and possibly clear and build a dwelling on land is Salisbury." I wish I could help you with your questions regarding John, but the above is all I have. If anyone has more info on these court cases, I hope they will share it. Jan