Francis Ludenum, "at the advanced age of near sixty years," laments that he "has to labour for the maintenance of an insane wife and seven children." Ludenum, a free black, states he was "held in slavery until he was near forty years old, was therefore deprived of all opportunity to accumulate any property whatsoever for advanced age." He cites that his wife "has been insane for more than four years" and has been "a continued and heavy expence, such an expence, that your petitioner with all the industry, frugallity and care that he can use, will not long be able to meet." Ludenum therefore prays that "your honours to take his case under your wise considerations, and grant him a divorce from his insane wife."
Result: Denied.
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Repository: Delaware State Archives, Dover, Delaware
