Duplin County, NC - Court Records File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitted by Grace Williamson Turner. Source: General Assembly Session Records, November 1801-December 1801. Box 1. To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina The petition of John Winders of Duplin county humbly Sheweth: That your petitioner intermarried in August 1799 with a certain Martha Turnage, with whom he lived until December 1800, when without cause on his part, a Seperation took place between them, that his wife of her own free will, left him, and by all means in her power has, and yet continues to injure him, both in property and reputation, by doing the most mischeovous and ill intended things her mind is capable of Suggesting. Under these considerations, he prays your honorable body, will take his case into consideration and grant him relief by passing a Law, securing to him his property, which she is greatly lessening, and to her such as she has or may hereafter acquire, or such other relief as may by you be thought proper and just, and he as in duty bound will pray &c John Winders _______ A Bill for the relief of John Winders of Duplin County Whereas it is represented to this General Assembly, that Martha Winders wife of John Winders of Duplin County, hath of her own free will left her Husband, to his great distress and manifest injury. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that from and after the passing of this act, the said John Winders shall not be answerable for any debt hereafter contracted by the said Martha his wife; nor shall the said Martha Winders have any right or title of dower, or otherwise, in any estate of the said John Winders, or which he may hereafter acquire. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the said Martha Winders shall be entitled to and possess in her sole right, all such estate, either real or personal, as she now hath or may hereafter acquire, by purchase or otherwise, in as full and ample manner as if she the said Martha Winders had never been married, free and clear from the claim and claims of the said John Winders, or his creditors; and the said Martha Winders shall and may have full power to sue for and recover in any Court having cognizance thereof, from the said John Winders or any other person or persons, any property or estate to which she may be entitled, in the same manner as if she the said Martha Winders had never been married to the said John Winders, any law, custom or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. On reverse: A Bill for the relief of John Winders of Duplin County. In Senate Novem'r 26th 1801. Read & refered to the Committee of divorce and alimony By order M. Stokes, clk In the House of Commons 27 Nov'r 1801 read & ref'd by the Senate By order J Hunt Mr. Watkins __________________________________________________________________________ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. __________________________________________________________________________