Contributor - Connie Moretti at CWMoretti@aol.com
© 1998
Source: Sumner County Court Minutes, September 1828, pages 220-221, Salt lake Film #467461
Note from Connie:
This is a very long case . . . I think the testimony runs to15-20 pages . . .
Sally WILLIS by her next friend etc.Vs Petition for Divorce, Final Decree Caleb WILLIS
Be it Remembered that upon this day came on the above cause to be heard upon the petition or amended, the answers and proofs in the cause, when it appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court that the parties have both been Citizens of Sumner County and State of Tennessee, more than one year next before filing the petition in this cause and that they
[page 221] were married about the time and place mentioned in the petition and it further
appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the Said defendant has treated the Complainant in a
very Cruel & harsh manner, Since their Said Marriage, and it also appearing that Said Defendant
has within the last two of three years committed adultery with a certain Mrs. JINNINGS. It is
further Ordered adjudged and decreed, that the Marriage between Said Parties be & the Same is
hereby dissolved and set aside and a final Divorce is decreed between them. And it is further
ordered and decreed that the possession & Custody of the Children of Said Marriage be and shall
Remain with the Complainant. It is further ordered adjudged and decreed that all the Right title
claim & Interest in possession of Reversion which the said Caleb WILLIS had in & to the land &
other property described in a deed of trust executed by said WILLIS to said Complainant bearing
date and Registered in Book page be divested out of said Defendant, and Vested in the Said
Complainant, her heirs & assigns forever and it is further ordered adjudged and decreed by & with
the consent of both parties, that the said Complainant shall pay all the cost of this cause except the
costs of the defendants witnesses, which it is ordered he shall pay & that Executions under or at
Law for the Same.