PETITION FOR DIVORCE FRANCES P BERRYMAN THOMPSON VS WILLIAM THOMPSON Writ Box Z, p 1 Georgia - Madison Co To the Honorable the Supreme Court of said Count & State The petition of Frances P Thompson formerly Francis P Berryman herewith your petitioner influenced by the love and affection for one William Thompson intermarried with ths said William Thompson by which he became the husband of your petitioner in the Eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty and that for and during the period of about months thereafter lived happy and contented with her said husband that at the expiration of that time your petitioner began to discover that the love and affections of the said William had become entirely estranged from her and that his general conduct was wholly derogatory to that duty and behaviour which he owed to your petitioner as a kind affectionate and law3ful husband that the siad William has at times and on various occasions ill used insulted and abused your petitioner in the most outrageous manner by the most vexatious conduct so as to manifest a total disregard of his duties and the rights of your petitioner insomuch that this continually heaped upon your petitioner became too insufferable to be born by her from one who instead of being her companion and protector had refused for months to associate or cohabit with her or discharge any of the duties incident to the matrimonial state but forcibly compelled your petitioner to leave his house and explictly forbid he ever returning any more thereby casting your petitioner upon the world without a home and without the means of support. And that this said William on various occasions and at divers times before and after seperating from your petitioner did contrary to his marriage vows cohabit with other women and that he lived for a long time and as your petitioner believes is still living and cohabiting with other women in an adulterous unlawful manner and that he even bring them into his house for the purpose of having illicit sexual intercourse with them and for the purpose of ill use in and abuse your petitioner in the most outrageous manner your petitioner notwithstanding such unmerited undutiful and improper conduct and of this said William her husband bore it all as patiently as she could consistently with her natural rights from a sincere wish to conceal his manifest improprieties in the hope and expectation that by further manifestations of her love and affection in king to her said husband that he might be induced to reform and alter his conduct and carriage and behave towards your petitioner with becoming and affectionate regard that your petitioner had used every means in her power to deserve and merit the love and affection of the said William and hath never acted towards him in such a manner as could or ought to have alienated his regard or produced such impropriety of conduct on his past towards your petitioner but the siad William nothwithstanding this kind and dutiful conduct of your petitioner and of the desire to live with him in this state w;hich they contracted to live together as man and wife did on or about the Eighteenth day of January in the year of our Loard one thousand eight hundred and forty-two forcibly compell your petitioner to leave his bed and board and hath since refused and still doth refuse to permit your petitioner to return and live with him as he is in duty-bound to d but continues separated from her in opposition to this obligtation and by him to your petitioner as a kind and affectionate husband all of which conduct of the said William your petitioner complains and even tkhis is to her peace and comfort that is a total desolution of the marriage contract should be made between the said William and your petitioner wherefore your petitioner prays that may requiring the said William Thompson in person or by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for said county - then and there to answer your petitioner libel for and absolute divorce Henry P Strickland Proctor for Libellant Georgia - Madison County To the Sheriff said County - Greeting Frances P Thompson vs William Thompson ) Libel for Divorce The defendant William Thompson is hereby required personally or by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for said County on the second Monday in March next there and then to answer the Plaintiff in and action of Libel for an absolute Divorce for in default then of the court will proceed as to justice shall assertain Witness the Honorable Garnet Anderson Judge of one said Court this 11th day of February 1842. Rufus M Merony CLK February 12th, 1842 This a true copy of the within on William Thompson personally Wm W Power Sheriff ------------------------------------------------------------------ Francis P Thompson vs William Thompson Libel for Divorce The Complain and having dismissed her said action. It is therefore ordained that the Officer of the Court do recover of the Plaintiff & Complainant this sum of Dollars and cents for their costs in said cas and the plaintiff be in Gabriel Nash ATT Sept 15th 1842 Deft & this Officers of this court Recorded 21st January 1843 Rufus M Meroney CLK ----------------------------------------------------------------- P 228 (didn't get the book) Rule Absolute (1845?) It appearing to the Court that Francis Thompson widow of William Thompson deced is willing to keep and maintain the minor children of said decd at a resonable compensation. It is ordered that Joel Thompson the Adm of said Decd pay to said widow fifty dollars out of said estate together with the rent or income of the same from the first of January last and let her keep in possession & live on the plantation whereon the decd died. The profits of said plantation together with the sum above directed to be all that said Frances Thompson is to have for keeping said children untill they shall respectively become of age. ---------------------------------------------------------------- P 207 (didn't get the book - or page 206) of the Estate of Nelson Thompson Decd praying that the Administrators Bond of the siad William Thompson Decd be delivered to the said James S Kackett for the purpose of commencing suit on siad Bond It is ordered that the Clerk of the court of Ordinary of Madison County deliver the administrators Bond of the said William Thompson to the said James S Hackett or his attorney retaining in office a true copy of the Bond of the said William Thompson adm. on the Estate of the said Nelson Thompson decd. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Rule Absolute whereas Alfred McDuff Guardian of Melissa M. Thompson, Nancy Thompson, Eliza A Thompson, Elizabeth C. Thompson & Syntha M Thompson complaining of the conduct of Joel Thompson administrator of the Estate of William Thompson Decd praying that the administrators Bond of the said Joel Thompson be delivered to the said Alfred McDuff Guardian as aforsaid for the purpose of commencing suit on said Bond It is ordered that the clerk of the court of Ordinary of Madison County deliver the administrators Bond of the said Joel Thompson to the said Alfred McDuff or his attorney retaining in Office a true copy of the Bond of the said Joel Thompson adm on the Estate of William Thompson Decd. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History Of Madison County Georgia, Paul Tabor, 1974 p 142 - In 1842 William Thompson was shot and killed by Philip owned by George Bragg with Levi, slave of William Thompson assisting. Both were found guilty of murder and were hung for it. I was looking for some records about this but couldn't find them. Instead I found where Frankie filed for divorce. Wouldn't it be interesting to know all that happened.