Catharine Lowry petitions for alimony from her estranged husband, Johnston Lowry. She cites that shortly after their marriage in 1817 her said husband "commenced abusing your Oratrix in the most shameful and outrageous manner." She avers that his cruelty has been continuous and that this year her husband, with "the fixed and settled purpose of taking the life of your oratrix," locked the door and began "a series of abuse," whereby he whipped her "with a cowhide in the most unmerciful manner literally cutting your oratrix to pieces;" dragged her by her hair and threatened to put her in the fire; attempted to shoot her with his gun; compelled "his negroes to strip your oratrix of her clothes which were covered" with her blood; and gave "two loaded guns to two of his negroe fellows and directed them to shoot any white person who should attempt to approach." Noting that Johnston was jailed but now is free, Catharine fears that he will try to sell his property, worth $12,000 (including 4 slaves valued at $4000), and that he will leave the state. The petitioner therefore prays that her husband be restrained from leaving the state and from selling said property and that he "may be decreed to pay to your Oratrix a certain sum of money per annum by way of alimony."
Result: Granted pro confesso.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
