Elizabeth Hamilton seeks a divorce and alimony from her estranged husband, Alexander C. Hamilton, with whom she is "not willing on account of fear to live with ... any further." She recounts the events of a particular evening where Alexander "seized her round the neck & choked her," took a chair "& struck it down upon the table," and followed her out of the house and "slapped her jaws violently." She also charges Alexander "with adultery on at least one instance." She seeks to protect her interest in eight slaves, whom she brought to the couple's marriage; by an 1843 decree of the court, the couple holds said slaves for their "use & benefit ... during their joint lives." In the event that Elizabeth dies before her husband, the court also directed that the slaves be divided between Alexander and Elizabeth's father, Joseph Hassell. Alexander has purchased Hassell's interest in the slaves and currently retains them. Elizabeth asks the court to direct the sheriff to seize the slaves "until the final hearing" of the court.
Result: Granted; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
