Nancy Anderson Hughes seeks a divorce and alimony from her husband, Samuel Hughes, who has "struck her with a cow hide whip and also repeatedly with his fist." Hughes charges that "said Samuel also frequently cursed and abused her in the grossest language and falsely charged her with want of chastity before marriage." She further confides that her husband "has repeatedly told her since their marriage that he has had sexual intercourse with the women both slaves and others of ill fame." Hughes believes that Samuel's "cruel & inhuman treatment ... towards her renders it unsafe & improper for her to cohabit with him." The petitioner confesses that she is fearful that her husband will remove or waste his personal property, thereby depriving "her of her just claim for a support & maintainance of her self & children unless prevented by the timely interposition of your Honor." Hughes therefore prays that said Samuel "be enjoined from selling or in any way disposing of" his land and slaves; that "the bonds of matrimony between said Samuel and your oratrix may be disolved or that they be seperated from Bed and board forever and that said Samuel may be decreed to make suitable support & maintaince for your Oratrix and her said Children."
Result: Granted pro confesso; dismissed.
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Repository: Williamson County Courthouse, Franklin, Tennessee
