For the information of all, notice - with her permission - this example that Ms. Katherine has supplied. ----- Original Message ----- From: Katharine Harbury To: Paul Drake Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:29 AM Subject: RE: Divorce On the subject of pre-Revolutionary War separations and divorces, I would like to add two comments- 1. While cases like the 1655 example were rarely granted, I have seen such examples elsewhere in Virginia. More commonly found are petitions to the courts by severely abused and desperate wives in fear of their lives. While divorces were not granted, these courts often agreed to grant their wishes for a permanent physical separation from their husbands. These wives either found lodging with their relatives, worked as servants for others, or worked in some lady-like employment to support themselves. Only a few judges were insensitive enough to insist that the wife return with court-appointed men to work on a reconciliation and extract "promises" from the spouse to behave better. 2. The following is another example of a couple who dissolved their marriage in June 1766 as found in Prince William County Deed Book Q, 1763-1768, pp. 404-406. The terms of the separation and handling of the properties were clearly spelled out: "...Whereas a Marriage hath been sometime past had and solemnized Between said Henry Willson and Sarah Thorn, Widow of William Thorn deceased, And Whereas Henry Willson in consideration of the said Marriage and the sums of money which he hath had and received or is to have and receive of the effects and Estate of his said Wife which she had a right to or might claim as her Thirds Dower or Childs part of hr first former Husbands Estate lands and effects or hath a Legal right or had acquired between the death of her First Husband and Intermarriage with said Henry Willson and for making a provision for his said Wife, Sarah, for her maintenance and livelihood having by mutual consent separated and parted from each other and from this time forward as much as in them doth lye do mutually absolve and Desolve their marriage vows, Conjugal dutys, contracts, obligations and Engagements as man and wife having finally and forever Separated and parted looking upon neither as any part of the others care, charge or Family..." [Sarah also received back all the estate/effects she possessed before her marriage to Henry Willson. She also relinquished any claims on Henry Willson's estate/effects, even if she survived him.]