Rockingham County, N.C. - MISC - Thomas and Polley BENTON Divorce Petition


--------------------------------------------------------

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free
information on the Internet, material may be freely used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit 
or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain 
the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of 
the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of 
this consent.

---------------------------------------------------------

Compiled by MS LOUISE T OVERTON <DFGM43A@PRODIGY.COM>
_________________________________________________________

Thomas BENTON of Rockingham and Stokes Counties Prays for Divorce From
Polley (WRIGHT) BENTON.

N.C. General Assembly Session Records
Nov-Dec 1813
Box 2

Petition of Thomas BENTON of Rockingham County states that when he was
about eight years of age, his parents departed this life leaving your
petitioner and three sisters in a helpless and forlorn situation.
Eventually your petitioner was put to live with a certain Willis PRUITT 
in Stokes County, whose severe treatment while young caused your 
petitioner to feel constrained and repugnant to comply to the mandates 
of said Willis. When your petitioner became seventeen years of age, the 
said Willis through insinuations and threats compelled your petitioner 
to intermarry with a certain Polley WRIGHT, a step-daughter of the said 
Willis, "who then lived in this family and who was only about fourteen 
years of age. Your petitioner at the time of his intermarriage was 
entirely ignorant of the views and nefarious schemes of the said Willis 
PRUITT. Your honorable body will better conceive than I can express the 
surprise and indignation I felt when I came to learn that the whole trick 
had been planned and played off.  Your said petitioner for the sole 
purpose of gitting the Estate of the said Polley (which was considerable) 
into the hands of the said Willis, which at length he has done." The said 
Polley from the first night of their marriage absolutely refused to bed 
and cohabit with your said petitioner, nor have they lived together, 
nor is there any prospect that they ever will. It has been upwards of 
four years since the said marriage took place in which said time the said 
Polley has been delivered of a child which your said petitioner entirely 
disowns." The said Polley "hath entirely devoted herself to every evil 
and shameful practice of a common prostitute. Your petitioner deems it 
unnecessary to go any further into a detail of a subject as disagreeable 
to himself as it must be unpleasant for you." Prays for a law to divorce 
him from the said Polley. 

Ninety Four citizens of the counties of Rockingham and Stokes certify
that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are believed to be 
true and that the said Thomas BENTON has always supported a good character 
and that he is justly entitled to the clemency of the Legislature.

Divorce REJECTED!