Mary Strain asks that her husband be compelled "to settle upon your oratrix an adequate maintenance for her self during life and provide for the support of his infant son." Strain charges that her husband William "soon after their marriage wantonly commenced abusing and illtreating" her. She cites that William "had in his possession a negro Wench to whom he gave the Keys and deprived your oratrix of all authority in the family and endeavoured to make her subservient to the said Wench who being protected and encouraged by her master became very insolent and insulting to your Oratrix." The petitioner confides that she "made her escape from the House of her husband in order to save her life." She now states that "she has good reason to fear and verily believes that the said William will remove himself and property to foreign parts and leave your Oratrix and child solely dependent on the benevolence and charity of her friends." The petitioner therefore prays that she be granted an "adequate maintenance" and that William be compelled to give "good and sufficient security ... that he will not depart from the State himself nor remove his property without the same untill the final Decree of this honorable Court."
Result: Partially granted.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
