Frances Ann Barrett seeks a divorce from her estranged husband, James Barrett, with whom she has an infant child named Laura. Frances informs the court that James has been "cold, neglectful, disagreeable and unkind" for a large portion of their marriage, and especially since she became pregnant; in fact, he "would not wait upon" her as "her afflicted condition required." After their child was born, he told her that "nothing would afford him more pleasure" than her leaving him. He has threatened to choke her and "made his hand filthy and then angrily struck her three times with his fist on her head." She also has reason to believe that James intends to commit "adulterous practices" with a slave named Dilcy, who belongs to a neighbor. Frances herself brought to the marriage two slaves, whom she inherited from her grandfather, Nehemiah Dowell. The eldest slave, Cinda, has recently given birth to another child. The slaves are currently "under the care of her uncle," Anderson Paschal. She fears, however, that James, who has possibly moved to Texas, may "remove" them "and thus leave her distressed and pennyless." She asks the court to issue writs of attachment and injunction to protect her property. Finally, she seeks custody of their daughter and asks "that her name be changed to her maiden name."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
