Married in Washington County, in 1836, Sarah Debose testifies that during her eight years as the wife of James Debose she endured "the grossest, cruel and brutal and violent trespass and treatment." She claims that her husband slandered her good name, whipped her, drew "a deadly weapon" and threatened to kill her, and abandoned her without providing for the care or education of their three children. He also committed "the abominable crime of adultery" with Martha Hainsworth, a married woman to whom he later gave three hundred dollars. Sarah lost one eye to an infection, and is "afflicted" in the other; she is destitute and asks for an injunction prohibiting her husband from disposing of his property, including a tract of pine land near Mobile, and a slave and her daughter. She also requests that he pay her a monthly allowance, and, for the time being, be confined to jail.
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: University of South Alabama Archives, Mobile, Alabama
