Thanks very much, Ann. While one case does not a law make, you have reinforced what I thought concerning the jurisdiction of Colonial courts in VA. I will chase down the question and reveal what I find; it might be of interest to many.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ann Blomquist
To: Paul Drake ; [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: Divorce in colonial Virginia
Here is the text of the Buckland divorce from the Northampton County VA court record book, Volume 7, folio 16:
Whereas Mary Chillcocke (als Buckland) hath petitioned the Court for a Bill of divorce from her husband Richard Buckland; who hath lived from her many yeares, & continued in an adulterous life; which case the Court examininge & findeinge by ye Cirtiffict from Mr. Edm: Scarburgh; Mr Tho: Johnson & Mr Richard Vaughan who examyned ye sd Buckland & found by his confession made to them; that ye sd Buckland had lived in adultery wth Mary Russell a longe tyme; & had a male bastard by her for wch cause divorce is by Lawe to bee granted; The Court therefore have ordrd that ye sd Mary Cilcocke bee hereby declared to bee divorced by lawefull authoritye & consequentlye to dispose of herselfe in marriage att her discretion And that the sd Richard Buckland be whipped & banished out of this county of Northampton. Recorded 20th Septembr 1655 p Edm: Mathewes Clir Cur.
[source: Mackey, Howard and Marlene Groves. Northampton County VA Record Book, Volumes 6 and 7-8 1655-1657. Picton Press, 2002.]
I descend from Richard Hanby's first marriage to Elizabeth Gethings(?). Hanby married (2) Mary Chilcott, (3) Elizabeth (surname unknown).
Ann Blomquist
Orlando, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Drake
To: Ann Blomquist
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 8:12 PM
Subject: Re: Divorce in antebellum America
Hi, Ms. Ann. Have you a citation to that court order, please?
----- Original Message -----
From: Ann Blomquist
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 7:08 PM
Subject: Divorce in antebellum America
I am certain the county courts could grant divorces because my ancestor Richard Hanby (Hamby) married divorced Mary Chilcott Buckland in August 1655 in Northampton County VA. She was granted a divorce from her husband of ten years by the Northampton County Court that year. Richard Buckland also married again-- he married widow Charity Coulson in Sep 1660 in Northampton Co VA (and then proceeded to cause her problems, too).
Ann Blomquist
Orlando, FL
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