Orange County, NC - COURT - Hardiman Duke to Mary Wallis,
			    Rejected Request for Divorce
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N.C. General Assembly Sessions
29 Nov 1811
Box 3

Mary DUKE of Orange County, North Carolina sheweth that she 
intermarried with Hardaman DUKE of the same county in 1789. For 
causes unknown to your petitioner, said husband left her and "never 
lived one day with her". He soon after associated himself with 
another woman and has had chldren by three or four other women. Since 
that time, your petitioner thus finding herself thrown friendless 
upon the world without fortune or friends -save an old and infirm 
mother-was taken under the care and protection of one Claborn PARRISH 
with who she has lived ever since--that your petitioner has ever lived 
with the said Claborn upon terms of the greatest harmony and happiness. 
That they have felt that mutual esteem and friendship for each other 
which subsists in the more near and dear relationship of husband and
wife----that they have raised a large family of children. Some of whom 
are married  and settled in the world. That since the year 1789 your 
petitioner and the said DUKE have lived in the same community 
completely destitute of all feelings subsisting between man and wife. 
In fact as utter strangers to each other. Your petitioner further states 
that she has lately been presented by the Grand Jury of Orange County 
for living with the said PARRISH, contrary to an act of assembly passed 
in 1805 to the unspeakable mortification of your petitioner and her 
children. Some of whom as before stated are married into Respectable 
families. Your petitioner prays that the affidavits herewith sent may 
be received by the General Assembly as proof of the allegations sent 
forth in the petition and that your honorable body will take into 
consideration the ....hardship of the situation of your petitioner and 
that you will grant to her prayer an act divorcing her from her husband 
the said Hardaman DUKE that she may be enabled to intermarry with the 
said Claborn PARRISH whom she has ever loved as a husband---and your 
petitioner with Claborn PARRISH prays that the children may be called
PARRISH and in every respect legitimated."

A deposition by James WALKER and William ROBARDS and a deposition by
Benjamin BULLOCK--both depositions signed in Granville County, NC 
support the petition of Mary DUKE.

A certificate by Micajah BULLOCK, dated 2 Dec 1811, states that about 
the time set forth in the petition..."I married Hardiman DUKE to Mary 
WALLIS at Granville Court House and in about ten days I believe, I 
heard the said DUKE had parted from his wife and I never heard that 
they lived together since"

"Divorce Rejected"