{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"21285624","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/21285624","state":"North Carolina","county":"Guilford","location_type":"County","file_day":30,"file_month":1,"file_year":1856,"filing_court":"Superior","end_day":0,"end_month":0,"end_year":1858,"ending_court":"Superior","result":"granted","enslaved_count":0,"fpoc_count":9,"total_people_count":12,"repository":"North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina","abstract":"Free woman of color Jane Milton seeks a divorce from her husband Elisha Milton, who sold three of their children for a term of years to support his drinking habit.  In addition, he beat her severely.  He \"fell upon her with a walking stick, on which he had a large Buckhorn handle or head, and abused her by beating her over the head & legs & shoulders in a most shameful & disgraceful manner.\"  She was unable to walk for nearly a month.  Now he has their only daughter and is living in adultery with another free woman of color.  She seeks a divorce, and \"all the rights & privileges of a feme sole -- according to the laws of this state.\"  It is unclear whether Elisha Milton actually sold his sons as term slaves or whether he placed as indentured apprentices.","subjects":[{"subject":"Adultery"},{"subject":"Divorce"},{"subject":"Domestic violence"},{"subject":"Testimony (FPOC)"},{"subject":"Apprenticeship\/Indenture (FPOC)"},{"subject":"Drunkenness"},{"subject":"Assault"},{"subject":"Whipping"},{"subject":"Abandonment "},{"subject":"Term slavery"},{"subject":"Property owners (women)"}]}]}