Tennessee Divorces, 1797-1858

Abstracts of 750 divorces, statewide, taken from legislative petitions and acts. Complete index with over 3000 entries.

Divorce was a last resort for unhappily married persons in the early 1800s because of the ensuing shame, embarrassment, and ostracism. Nevertheless, when a marriage could no longer be tolerated, a divorce was sought, either through the courts, or by petitioning the Tennessee General Assembly for a decree. 

The petitions abstracted for this compilation account for only a small number of the divorces which were requested during 1797-1858. The others were brought before the superior courts between 1799-1809, then from 1809-1835 in the circuit courts, and since 1835, either in the circuit or chancery courts. There are many legislative divorce petitions which haven't survived, or else haven't as yet been processed, and thus aren't available for study.   

Book #: J-B1481

ISBN: 9781596414815