In 1787, Ambrose Walden married Betsey Taylor of Fauquier County, and lived with her until 1798, "during which period" he "endeavored by every means in his power to render happy the woman whom he had selected and flattered himself with accomplishing so desireable an object." He would have persisted in these endeavors, Walden claims, had he not, in 1798, "detected her in an illicit amour" with a man in the neighborhood. Now, nine years later, he seeks a divorce. Related documents reveal that Walden may have been diagnosed as being insane and that, as early as 1804, a court of law had reviewed a property settlement whereby a trust was to be created for the use of Betsey Walden. The property under review included seven slaves.
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
