PETITION FOR DIVORCE, in Obion County Circuit Court.

Monday, November 8th, 1830. – (Elizabeth Lane by her next friend, John L. Dorsey vs. Trudence Lane, petition for divorce)

This day came the Plaintiff by Council and it appearing to the Court that a subpoena had been issued to the Sheriff of Obion County against the Defendant on which the return of the Defendant was not found.

The Defendant was called to come into court and plead, answer or demur to the Complainant’s petition, or it would be taken as confessed and set exparte for hearing came not. It was therefore ordered by the court that the said petition be taken as confessed and set exparte for trial at next court.

Tuesday, November 9th, 1830. – (Elizabeth Lane by her next friend, John L. Dorsey vs. Trudence Lane, petition for divorce)

This day came the Complaintaint by council and the Defendant was called to come to court and plead, answer or demur to the Complainant’s Bill of Complaint.

Court adjourned until tomorrow morning, 9 o’clock.

Wednesday, November 10th, 1830. – (Elizabeth Lane by her next friend, John L. Dorsey vs. Trudence Lane, petition for divorce)

This day came the Complainant by Council of the Defendant was called to come into court and plead, answer or demur to the petition in this cause.

On motion it is ordered that publication be made in the “Nashville Republican,” a paper published in the town of Nashville, Davidson County, three successive weeks for the Defendants to appear at next court and plead, answer or demur to the petition in this court, or it will be taken as confessed and set for hearing at next court, exparte.

Thursday, May 12th, 1831. – (Elizabeth Lane by her next friend, John L. Dorsey vs. Trudence Lane, petition for divorce)

This day came on the above cause to be heard exparte when it was made to appear to the court that the Complainants petition was filed and subpeona issued more than fifteen days previous to the November Term, 1830, of this court, that the subpoena was returned not found, that the Defendant was called on three different days of said term to come into court and plead, answer or demur to the Complainants bill, came not and that publication was made in the Nashville Republican, a paper printed in Nashville three successive weeks for the Defendant to plead, answer or demur to the Complainants bill at May Term, 1831, of said court, or the same would be taken as confessed and the same set for trial exparte at said court, came not, and it was further made to appear to the court by evidence, that the said Trudence Lane had wilfully and maliciously absented himself from the said Elizabeth Lane for more than two years prior to the filing the petition in this cause, without any just decree and does hereby order, adjudge and decree that the bonds of Matrimony between the said parties be dissolved and they restored to all the rights and privileges of single persons, except that of intermarrying with each other. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed by his Honor that John L. Dorsey the next friend at this petition pay the costs of this suit, and that execution issue as in cases at law.

P. W. Humphreys.