Mary A. Murphy asks for a divorce from her husband, James Murphy, a native of Ireland. He has committed adultery with several women and has at least one illegitimate child. She further complains that he is now "almost continually drunk." In the past he has "beaten her with blows, and stripes- which while she bore them with ill suppressed emotions of fear and anguish- have caused her blood to flow streaming at her feet." Once, he threw her out of the house forcing her to find shelter in icy weather. She now fears for her life as he keeps "about his person, and in his house pistols and other dangerous weapons." The petitioner further complains that her husband frittered away her property, including six slaves that she acquired from the estate of her father. She is now entitled to one-fourth of some forty slaves or more upon her mother's death. Mary informs the court that James holds twenty-five or thirty slaves and real estate valued at ten thousand dollars, whereby he is a "wealthy but profligate and licentious husband." She prays the court will grant her a divorce, a maintenance allowance, and protect her interest in the slaves in her mother's estate.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Halifax Circuit Court Building, Halifax, Virginia
