Drucilla Secrest seeks a divorce from her estranged husband, Tyra Secrest, whom she married in 1833, and custody of their seven children. For the first seven or eight years, Tyra Secrest treated her well except during occasional drunken bouts, but in the last six or seven years, he became so abusive that several times she was forced to leave the house. Drucilla reports that recently Tyra "has got into habits of almost Constant drunkenness--and has got to abusing his Children in a wanton & cruel manner." A "man of fine estate," Tyra has threatened "to take his negroes off" so as to prevent Drucilla "from getting alimony out of the same." He owns at least eleven slaves and has "disposed of two of said negroes," whom he received from Drucilla's father's estate. He also has "a large estate coming to him from the estate of his father who has lately died." Drucilla seeks writs of attachment and injunction to prevent Tyra from "running off or disposing of his property." She also asks the court to enjoin her father's executors from paying her $1000 inheritance to her husband.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
