Mary Wright & Thomas Benton 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 getting 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!  Willis Pruett, Thomas Benton and wife Mary, of Stokes Co, sold 22 acres on both sides of Joils Creek, Rockingham, NC, Mary Wrights part of her father, Joshua Wright Desc, estate, Lot 1 bordering Walker and Dilworth. Witness: J Farrington, John Vernon and Alex Tate. (Rockingham Bk O, p 419) Please place in the Subject Line: WEBPAGE-HISTORY 
|