Livingston County, Kentucky Divorces 1830s and Earlier

 The following entries on divorces comes from the Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Order Books. Details of the divorce are found at the Kentucky Dept for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). For information on ordering a copy of the case file, fill out the required form HERE .  I see several well known Livingston County names. Do  you see them, too? 

The first name below is the plaintiff and the second name is the defendant. For example, Elizabeth Bull is the plaintiff or complainant and Isaiah Bull is the defendant.

OB = Order Book    OB H, p. 233 refers to Order Book H, page 233.

Bull, Elizabeth vs Isaiah Bull.  6 Sep 1831. (OB G, p. 461) Defendant not an inhabitant of this Commonwealth & failed to appear to answer complainant’s bill. If defendant does not answer complainant’s bill, same will be taken as confessed. 14 Jun 1832. (OB H, p. 12) Cause dismissed 6 Mar 1835. (OB H, p. 233) 

Carmon, Catharine vs George Carmon.  6 Sep 1831. (OB G, p. 461) Plaintiff filed amendment to her original bill. Cause continued. 14 Jun 1832 (OB H, p. 11) Defendant failed to answer bill & taken as confessed against him. Plaintiff divorced from defendant & to recover her costs from him. 14 Sep 1832. (OB H, p. 35)

Freeman, Margaret vs William Freeman.  Defendant is non-inhabitant of Kentucky.  Appears he abandoned plaintiff (Margaret) without cause about 3 years ago and never returned and has not contributed to her support. Margaret released from bonds of matrimony. Defendant to pay costs.  7 June 1837. (OB H, p. 417; case file at KDLA)

Glass, Francis vs Diona Glass. Defendant filed answer to the bill. 11 Sep 1834. [OB H, p. 191] Appearing Diona Glass had abandoned her husband for more than 3 years before filing her original bill on this cause. Complainant divorced from Defendant & restored to all privileges of a single person. Complainant to pay all costs of this suit. 7 Mar 1835. (OB H, p. 245)

Goodwin, Harriet G. vs Philip H. Goodwin. Divorce granted & each person restored to all privileges of an unmarried person. 3 Sep 1828. (OB G, p. 193)

Hodge, Blount vs Eliza Hodge. This day this cause came to be heard … the defendant abandoned complainant & remains apart & separate from complainant. Therefore ordered & decreed that bonds of matrimony be dissolved, set aside and null & they are hereby divorced. Both restored to all rights of a single person. 12 Sep 1834. (OB H, p. 201)

Lee, Matilda vs James Lee. Granted 17 Sep 1817. He is a non-resident. (OB E, p. 244)

Leming, Charlotte vs Samuel M. Leming. Cause continued. 4 Sep 1828. (OB G, p. 206) Suit Dismissed 3 Mar 1829. (OB G, p. 228)

Lillard, Matthew vs Frances Lillard. Divorce filed Caldwell County, but case filed with Livingston County cases at KDLA. Cause dismissed. 6 Jun 1835. (OB H, p. 279)[1]

Linthicum, Mary vs Rice Linthicum. Divorce filed 5 Jun 1828. Continued. (OB G, p. 175). Defendant filed answer to complaint. 4 Sep 1828. (OB G, p. 201) Divorce granted 3 Mar 1829. Each party to pay their own costs. (OB G, p. 221) [2]

Marvell, John R. vs Sally Ann Marvell. Divorced 8 June 1827. (OB F, p. 428, OB G, p. 25)

Owen, Alfred vs Anna Owen. Divorce granted & marriage contract set aside. Complainant to pay costs of the suit. 3 Jun 1829. (OB G, p. 271)

Phillips, John vs Sally Phillips. Granted 20 June 1815. Defendant hath left bed & board of complainant for 3 years from 20 Dec 1810.  (OB E, p. 75)

Phillips, Mark vs Harriet G. Phillips. Divorce. Defendant filed answer to complainant’s bill. 8 Sep 1835. [OB H, p. 297] Defendant abandoned complainant on 26 Jun 1832 with the intention of abandonment and has ever since lived separate from complainant & for term of 3 years before filing on complainant’s bill. Therefore decreed by court that complainant is divorced from defendant. Complainant to pay costs. 9 Sep 1835. (OB H, p. 302)

Robertson, Phillippina vs Alexander Robertson. Divorce filed 3 Mar 1835. (OB H, p. 207) Deposition of Peter Jones filed. Defendant abandoned complainant about 5 years ago. Divorce granted complainant who is also granted all rights of a femme sole. Defendant to pay costs. 8 Jun 1836. (OB H, p. 395)

Simpson, Jane vs Vinson B. Simpson. Dismissed without prejudice to either party. 7 Sep 1827. (OB G, p. 75)

Tucker, Martin vs Elizabeth Tucker. Divorce. Defendant not an inhabitant & failed to appear. 4 Sep 1828. (OB G, p. 206) Divorce granted and parties to pay their own costs. 3 Mar 1829.  (OB G, p. 231)

Wyatt, Delila vs John Wyatt. Divorce. Defendant non- inhabitant. Ordered to appear at next term of court. 5 Mar 1824. (OB F, p. 199) Continued 7 times until the evidence was brought before a jury, who found the Defendant hath left the Complainant with the intention of abandonment for more than 2 years before the commencement of this suit. Bonds of matrimony that existed between the parties to be dissolved and complainant restored to advantages and privileges of a femme sole. 6 Sep 1826. (OB F, p. 415)

 

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[1] Case File A1986-289, Livingston County Equity, Ordinary and Commonwealth Cases Mar 1842-June 1842, Box 63, Matthew Lillard vs Frances Lillard, Kentucky Dept for Libraries and Archives [KDLA].

[2] See Crittenden County Case File #72, Rice Linthicum vs Mary Linthicum: Divorce. 30 Jul 1856, Crittenden County OB D, p. 55.

Published 19 Nov 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/