The Georgia legislature, without any real precedent, granted Georgia's first
divorce in 1793.  The state constitution of 1798 required a divorce law to
be enacted and the first in a series of such legislation was passed on Dec.
1, 1802.  Divorces under these early acts were tried before local Ga. Co.
superior courts and if approved by jury there, still had to be approved
individually by the Ga. Legislature.  Beginning with act of Dec. 5, 1806, in
total divorces" the party whose improper or criminal conduct shall authorize
such divorce, shall not be permitted to marry again during the life of the
other party: or would be guilty of bigamy.  Eventually the legislature
became swamped with petitions for final divorces.  With the constitutional
amendment of 1833 the legislature attempted to get out to the divorce
situation by allowing divorces to be granted after approval by 2 local
superior court juries.

The divorce related petitions continued to appear before the legislature,
however.  Many of the guilty parties in the divorces petitioned for the
right to remarry legally and many married women requested the right to own
property or to conduct business without divorcing their husbands.  An act of
Oct. 5 1868 removed all penalties and restrictions imposed by divorces and
the State Constitution of 1868 supposedly made Ga. the first state to extend
feme sole to all of the state's married women.

To access these records check with the Georgia Department of Archives.
(Contributed by Margie Daniels)


Divorces from Taylor County Superior Court Records

APPLICATION
pg 239
Oct 1856
Sarah Jacobs
Vs
Philip Jacobs	Libel for Divorce
It appearing to the court by the reurn of Sheriff that def't does not reside in this county 
and it further appearing that he does not reside in this state on motion prdered that said 
def appear and answer at the next term of this couret or that the case be…pl'f allowed to 
proceed




FINAL DECREES

pg 205 1856 April Term
Pinkney Jones
vs
Mary Jones	LIBEL FOR DIVORCE
Authorize a total divorce. William R. Miller, Foreman


Bryant Jones
vs
Bethena Jones  LIBEL FOR DIVORCE
Authorize a total divorce.  Wm R. Miller, Foreman

pg 217
John W. McCullers
vs
Mary McCullers	LIBEL FOR DIVORCE
Authorize a full divorce

pg  261
Sarah Jacobs
vs
Philip Jacobs	LIBEL FOR DIVORCE
Authorize a full divorce

April Term 1858
pg 316

Archibald Hobbs
vs
Leonard Ann Hobbs  Libel for divorce
It appearing to the court by the return of the Sheriff that the defendant does not reside in county and it is further appearing that she does not reside in this state. It is on motion ordered that said defendant appear and answer at the next term of court or that the case be considered in default and pl'f allowed to proceed.

pg 316
Mary Ann Foster
vs
George W. Foster	LIBEL FOR DIVORCE
It appearing to the Court from the return of the Sheriff that the said George W. Foster is not to be found. It is therefore ordered that Service on said Foster be perfected by publication in the Columbus Enquirer, a public gazette in said state for the space of three months next ensuing of this Court.

April 1858
Mary Ann Foster
vs
George W. Foster	LIBEL FOR DIVORCE	
Order at last term of court to perfect service by publication in one of the public gazettes of the state for 3 months. and it appearing said note has been published, ordered that said service be made and passed.
Total divorce granted.


April 1858
pg. 367
	William Page
vs
Sarah E. Page		Libel for Divorce
Authorize a total divorce.

April 1859
pg  367
Elizabeth Wilson vs Benjamin R. Wilson   Libel
Jury find that sufficient proofs have been referred to our consideration to authorize a total divorce
(Oct Term - A.J. Colbert, Foreman total divorce)


Mary Ann Foster vs George W. Foster  Libel for divorce
Jury find that sufficient proofs have been referred to our consideration to authorize a total divorce

pg 369
William Page vs Sarah Page
Jury find that sufficient proof has been referred to authorize a total divorce. April 6, 1859.

pg. 402  Oct Term 1859
Louisa Denson vs Burrel M. Denson Libel for divorce
Pln'f allowed until next term of court to perfect said service.

Mary Ann Taylor vs Thomas Taylor Libel for divorce
Plt'f allowed until next term of court to perfect said service.


pg410
Sarah Pare vs Jacob Pare Motion for temporary alimony and expenses of debt for divorce, $100 for use of Attorney



(to be continued)