The first trial by jury ever held in Rock County in a court of record took place; the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff with damages of $242 and costs.

The evidence

• “The Court adjourned sine die. The next term commenced on the 20th day of April, 1840 ; a grand and petty jury were summoned, and on Tuesday, the second day of the term, the first trial by jury ever had in Rock County in a Court of Record took place. It was the case of " E.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/10-rock-county-ch04-early-maps-courts-railroads.md, PDF p. 360 / book p. 364

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources

  

• “D. Blodgett," occurred at the third term of the court, which convened April 20, 1840, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff, his damages being assessed at $242 and costs of suit. The men serving on this jury were Ezekiel Brownell, George W.”

  1908-brown-rock-county/32-courts-and-legal-profession.md, Vol. 2, PDF p. 209 / book p. 713

  Brown, William Fiske, editor. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of Its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, Up to Date. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Co., 1908. 2 vols. archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon01brow, archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources