{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"11684008","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/11684008","state":"Virginia","county":"Nansemond","location_type":"County","file_day":14,"file_month":12,"file_year":1840,"filing_court":"Legislative","result":"bill drawn","enslaved_count":0,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":1,"repository":"Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia","abstract":"Bryant Rawls seeks a divorce from his wife, Rachel, who, after twelve years of marriage and three legitimate children, gave birth to a \"colored child ... begotten by a negro.\"  His wife abandoned him shortly afterwards, Rawls claims, and he is now caring for his own children and has placed the \"mulatto\" baby with a free black family.","subjects":[{"subject":"Adultery"},{"subject":"Divorce"},{"subject":"Interracial relationships"},{"subject":"Abandonment "},{"subject":"Illegitimacy "}]}]}