More Livingston County, Kentucky Divorces

 The following divorce citations were found in the Livingston County Circuit Court Order Books (court minutes) after earlier entries were published. Allow for variance in spelling names. The order books are sometimes hard to read due to poor handwriting, fuzzy filming and soiled or stained pages.  It was also difficult to use the index, if there was one. Sometimes “Divorce” was written after the names or sometimes “Pet. Eq.” was written. More often the only clues were the identical surnames of the plaintiff and defendant (i.e. “Dallas vs Dallas”)  This resulted in skimming through the entire order book and making a list of possible divorces. 

If the names look familiar, order the case file from the Kentucky Dept for Libraries and Archives    KDLA     The cost is reasonable ($15 for out of state residents and $10 for Kentucky residents)  and a credit card can be used for speedy delivery. Divorce case files often provide quite a lot of information, especially if the parties were not natives of Livingston County.

CirCt OB = Circuit Court Order Book

 Ames, Fisher vs Zulania Ames. Divorce granted 28 June 1855. Plaintiff to pay costs and $10 allowed to the attorney appointed to defend defendant to be taxed as costs. (CirCt OB O, p. 142)

 Baynes, E.J. vs Mary Baynes. Divorce granted 26 Aug 1862. Plaintiff to pay costs. (CirCt OB P, p. 437)

 Biggs, W.J. vs M.J. Biggs. Divorce filed 30 Aug 1860; granted 5 Mar 1861.  (CirCt OB P, pp. 117, 279)

Champion, Nancy vs Berry Champion. Divorce granted 25 Sep 1841.  (CirCt OB K, p. 283)

Coker, A. vs M.D. Coker. Petition for divorce 27 Aug 1862. Dismissed. (CirCt OB P, p. 473)

 Dallas, Jubal vs Martha Dallas. Petition for divorce 27 Aug 1860 (CirCt OB P, p. 99) At least three of the Dallas children were living with families in Sangamon County, Illinois on the 1870 census.

Gwinn, John vs Barbara Gwinn. Divorce granted 10 Jan 1857.  (CirCt OB O, p. 394)

 Hinton, Eliza A. vs Hugh A. Hinton. Divorce granted 27 Aug 1862. Plaintiff’s name changed to Eliza A. Ferguson, that being her maiden name. (CirCt OB P, p. 466)

 Hooper, Laban L. vs Elizabeth Hooper. Divorce granted 21 Aug 1861. Each party to be restored to all property which came through or by them which has not been expended.  (CirCt OB P, p. 315)

 Irving, David vs Eliza H. Irving. In Chancery (for divorce) filed 19 May 1847.  Defendant not an inhabitant. Defendant warned to appear and answer complainant’s bill on or before 1^st day of ensuing term f court.  (CirCt OB M, p. 160) Defendant did not appear and appearing that she has abandoned her husband & deserted him and continues to live separately from him for more than 1 year previous to filing of this petition. Plaintiff granted divorce and to be restored to all rights, privileges & immunities of an unmarried man. 16 May 1848. (CirCt OB M, p. 351) [1]

  Leftridge, Mary vs Joseph Leftridge. Divorce granted 10 Jan 1857. (CirCt OB O, p. 394)

  Markham, M.H. vs J.T. Markham. Petition dismissed 25 Aug 1860.  (CirCt OB P, p. 89)

  Marley, James vs Sarah J. Marley. Divorce granted 7 Jan 1859. Plaintiff to pay costs. (CirCt OB O, p. 618)

 Monroe, Robert vs Mahala Monroe. Divorce granted 24 Aug 1860.  (CirCt OB P, p. 85)

 Powell, L.A. vs G.W. Powell. Petition for Divorce 1 July 1859. By agreement of parties, defendant to pay plaintiff’s attorney $25 and to the officers of the court their fees and suit dismissed. (CirCt OB O, p. 665)

 Reeves, Redding vs Ailcey Reeves. Granted 10 Jan 1857. Plaintiff to pay costs.  (CirCt OB O, p. 394)

Snow, Martha A. Snow vs John N. Snow. Divorce granted 26 Aug 1862. Property of plaintiff consisting of “three Negroes, a buggy and horse and all other property that she has, including land and personalty adjudged to her.” Plaintiff to have custody, care and education of the child, Elizabeth E. Snow, and plaintiff to recover her costs. (CirCt OB P, p. 437)

Stewart, Samuel vs Virginia Stewart. Divorce granted 10 Jan 1857.  (CirCt OB O, p. 394)

Stringer, John vs Margaret Stringer. Divorce petition of plaintiff dismissed 19 Aug 1861; answer of defendant’s cross petition continued. (OB P, p. 312)  Cross Petition: Divorce granted M.A. Stringer 28 Aug 1862. Each party to be restored to all property not disposed of at commencement of this action. M.A. Stringer to recover from John Stringer her costs; $25 allowed for her attorney’s fees. (CirCt OB P, p. 474)

Tanner, Lucinda vs John Tanner. Filed 13 Dec 1855. Plaintiff warned to appear 17 Dec 1855. Dismissed 3 July 1856 (CirCt OB O, p. 198, 219, 325)

Wadley, Philip vs Louisa Wadley. Petition for divorce. On motion of plaintiff, ordered petition be dismissed 4 July 1856. (CirCt OB O, p. 331)

Williams, Ludicia vs W.W. Williams. Divorce granted 10 Jan 1857, Plaintiff to recover her costs expended and $10 attorney’s compensation.  (CirCt OB O, p. 393)

 

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[1] Two days after David Irving filed the petition for a divorce from his wife, he filed his intent to become a citizen of the United States. A native of Scotland, he came to the United States from Lanarkshire, Scotland on or about the 20^th of July 1831. The intent to become a citizen is found in Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book M, p. 170. The naturalization intent was filed 21 May 1847.

Published 14 Jan 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/