{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"11684814","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/11684814","state":"Virginia","county":"Henry","location_type":"County","file_day":20,"file_month":12,"file_year":1848,"filing_court":"Legislative","result":"referred to Committee for Courts of Justice","enslaved_count":1,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":3,"repository":"Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia","abstract":"Lucy W. Norman seeks a divorce from her husband, James B. Norman.  Lucy Norman informs the court that she and James Norman were married in 1844, by which marriage James became the \"undisputed owner of a large estate of lands and negroes.\"  After a year of reasonable marital harmony, Lucy explains, her husband became prodigal, dissipated in his habits, and violent.  He exhibited indifference toward her, she further adds, and brought a female servant to sleep in the conjugal bedroom, finally abandoning his wife entirely to live with \"said woman of color.\"","subjects":[{"subject":"Divorce"},{"subject":"Domestic violence"},{"subject":"Interracial relationships"},{"subject":"Abandonment "}]}]}