Petition of Sarah Townsend asking for a divorce

Petition of Sarah Townsend for Divorce from Samuel Townsend

Mr. Billings Referred to Mess Street, Childs, & Billings

To the Honorable the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin

The petition of Sarah Townsend of the County of Iowa in said Territory respectfully sheweth.

That in the year 1828 she was lawfully married to one Samuel Townsend and lived with him and faithfully performed all the duties of a wife untill some time in the year 1832 since which she has been seperated from her said husband:

That for a number of years Previous to her sepparation from her said husband, he was confirmed and habitual drunkard, so much so that he totally neglected making any provision for the support of his family, and having wasted his means by idleness and intoxication, your Petitioner by her own labor and industry supported the family including three children for about the whole period previous to the time of the final sepperation.

That the said Samuel Townsend not only entirely neglected all the duties of a husband and a father, but treated your Petitioner with great unkiness and even cruelty, and finally in the year 1832 at the Town of Mineral Point, in the aforesaid county and Territory where they then resided, he drove your petitioner by force from his home and compelled her to leave him, since that time your Petitioner has resided at the Town of Mineral Point and a part of the time where she now resides, at Centerville in said county and has kept with her two children the fruit of her unfortunate marriage, and has during all that time supported both them and herself, by her own labor, without any other aid or assis[tance]

[assis]tance, your Petitioner would further state, that the habits of the said Samuel Townsend have been of such a Gross and Profligate Character and confirmed by such a length of time, as to preclude all hope of reformation, so as to render it even bearable for your Petitioner of a wife: your Petitioner therefore Prays that an Act may be Passed dissolving the Marriage Contract between her and the said Samuel Townsend, and restoring her to all the rights and privaleges of an unmarried woman. An additional reason for granting this prayer, is the fact, that to obtain redress by an application to the proper Judicial tribunal, is doubtfull if not altogether impracticable and your Petitioner is poor and unable to defray the expences of carrying on a Judicial investigation of the case.

Sarah Townsend her mark x

Territory of Wisconsin Iowa County SS

This day Personly appeased before me Joel T. Landrum an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Sarah Townsend and subscribed and swore to the facts set forth in the foregoing Petition. Given under my hand and seal this 20th day of November A.D. 1838.

Joel T. Landrum J.P.

Henry Boyers Deposition

Territory of Wisconsin County of Iowa

Henry Boyers being duly sworn on his oath says he has been acquainted with Samuel Townsend also with his wife Sarah Townsend since some time in the Spring of eighteen hundred and thirty two some time in the fall of the same year they Separated was known to many abuses by the said Townsend towards his family also a neglect on his family also a neglect on his part to support his wife and children. I further know of her having to support herself or children from that time to the present rendered by him. I know him to be a regular drunkard an very abusive and burdensome when he is intoxicated.

H. Boyers

Sworn to and subscribed before me Wis. 21st day of Nov. AD 1848

Joel T. Landrum SS