This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Barnes Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1894/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Occasionally, modern researchers make the mistake of speculating that an ancient marriage might have been dissolved by divorce rather than death. However, divorce statutes which allowed for courts to grant divorces were adopted in many states only in rather modern times. The more ancient means of obtaining divorces in many states was to apply to the state legislature for a private bill to be enacted dissolving a marriage. Exemplary of the more ancient approach is the statutory enactment of the Kentucky legislature on February 22, 1834, of a bill characterized as Chapter 452 "An ACT for the benefit of Amelia S. Barnes". Both for the purposes of instructing researchers as to the more ancient procedure and to share the genealogical details of one such act, I have transcribed the statutory enactment below: "Chapter 452. -- An ACT for the benefit of Amelia S. Barnes Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That the marriage contract existing between Amelia S. Barnes and her husband Nathan Barnes, be, and the same is hereby dissolved and disannulled as to the said Amelia, and that she be restored to her maiden name, Amelia S. Roper. [Approved February 22, 1834]" See: Acts Passed at the Forty Second Session of the General Assembly for the Commonwealth (Frankfort, KY: Albert G. Hodges, 1834), Page 683 http://books.google.com/books?id=7Cc4AAAAIAAJ&dq=Rope&pg=PA638#v=onepage&q=Roper &f=false * * * Note 1: Amelia ROPER is shown to have married Nathan BARNES on 13 Sep 1825 in Fleming, Kentucky. See: "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWB2-1H4 : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Nathan Barnes and Amelia Roper, 13 Sep 1825; citing Fleming, Kentucky, reference p23 l5; FHL microfilm 344015. Note 2: Immediately following the divorce granted by the legislature, Amelia S. ROPER is shown to have remarried John HOLLINGSWORTH on 23 Apr 1834 in Fleming, Kentucky. See: "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWBL-62Y : accessed 13 Apr 2014), John Hollingsworth and Amelia S. Roper, 23 Apr 1834; citing Fleming, Kentucky, reference Bk B p102; FHL microfilm 344015. Note 3: Based solely on LOCATION, it seems most likely that Amelia S. ROPER is closely related to Judge William P. ROPER, of Fleming, Kentucky, son of Shadrach ROPER, of Powhatan, VA. Judge ROPER died on 18 Aug 1833. Amelia may be a daughter of Judge William P. ROPER, but this should be treated as a speculative ascription which needs to be confirmed by additional primary records research. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>