Shelby County, Indiana
Civil Records
Mary Copeland
vs
William Copeland
Libel for divorce,
B432,
Filed February 7th 1845,
J. Vernon Clerk,
Aug 26, 1846,
No 22 Chancery
Civil Records
Mary Copeland
vs
William Copeland
Libel for divorce,
B432,
Filed February 7th 1845,
J. Vernon Clerk,
Aug 26, 1846,
No 22 Chancery
State of Indiana }
Shelby County } Shelby Circuit Court
February Term 1845
To the Honorable the Judges of the Shelby Circuit Court in Chancery sitting
Humbly complaining represents unto your Honours your Oratrix Mary Copeland that she is now and has been for more than two years last past a resident of said County of Shelby - that the maiden name of your Oratrix was Mary That on or about the day of in the year 18 your oratrix was legally joined in the State of Ohio in marriage to one William Copeland whom your Oratrix makes defendant to this bill of complaint and with whom your Oratrix lived and cohabited from the time of said marriage until the day of August in the year 1844 and during all that time your Oratrix practiced and performed for and towards her said husband all the duties of an affectionate wife - yet notwithstanding such proper and dutiful conduct of your Oratrix during all the time as aforesaid your Oratrix represents that the said William Copeland (her husband) dur- ing the last fifteen years while she so lived with him behaved and conducted himself toward your Oratrix and treated her in a cruel and inhuman manner and that his conduct has been such as would render it unsafe and improper for your Oratrix to live with him. That the said William frequently during that time abused your Oratrix using towards her language of the most improper threatening to take the life of your Oratrix and beating and striking her with his fists and repeatedly accusing your Oratrix of being a thief and so maltreating threatening and abusing her that your Oratrix was under great fear and apprehension of her personal safety for several years
And your Oratrix would further represent that during the last ten years while your Oratrix so William he was in the habit of drinking spirits and liquors and of getting and being intoxicated
And your Oratrix further showeth that she was the Mother of several children by said William that being unwilling to leave said children she continued to live with said William while he treated her in said cruel and inhuman manner until all of said children with the exception of one were married that during said time his conduct having rendered it unsafe and improper to live with him at several times your Oratrix was compelled to leave him and returned to him only when said William promised to her to behave and conduct himself in a proper and becoming manner
That on or about the day of August in the year 1844 your Oratrix being unwell at the time he said William threatened your Oratrix to beat and strike her with his fists and accused her of being a thief and so conducted himself that your Oratrix was obliged to flee for safety from said William and take refuge with her relatives and friends.
In tender consideration of the premises your Oratrix prays your Honours to grant and decree in her favour a divorce and total disposition of their bonds of Matrimony now subsisting between your Oratrix and the said William Copeland and also that your Honours decree a proper & sufficient alimony for the future support of your Oratrix out of the estate of the said William and that your Oratrix may have such other and further relief in the premises as to your Honours may seem just
May it please your Honours to grant in favour of your Oratrix a proper writ of subpoena notifying the said William Copeland to be and appear before your Honours in this Honorable Court on the first day of the next term to answer the complaint of your Oratrix herein and to stand to and abide such order and decree as your Honours shall make in the premises
and your Oratrix will ever pray
Mary Copeland
Lander Solicitor for Complainant
Lander Solicitor for Complainant
_____________________________________________
Mary Copeland vs William Copeland
Copy of Bill & Summons
Returnable 4th Monday of February 1845
February 8th 1845
J. Vernon, Clk
No 22 Chancery
Lander Atty of Complt
Shelby County February term 1845
Copy of Bill & Summons
Returnable 4th Monday of February 1845
February 8th 1845
J. Vernon, Clk
No 22 Chancery
Lander Atty of Complt
Shelby County February term 1845
[The above statement by the complaintant, Mary Copeland, is repeated verbatim]
State of Indiana Shelby County
The State of Indiana to the Sheriff of Shelby County Greeting. You are hereby Commanded to summon William Copeland to personally and appear before the judges of the Shelby Circuit Court on the first day of their next term to be holden at the Courthouse in Shelbyville on the fourth Monday of February 1845, then and there to plead answer or demur to the allegations and charges contained in the above and foregoing Bill of Complaint of Mary Copeland pending in said Court on the matter and things therein contained will be heard & determined in his absence & decreed upon accordingly
And have you then there this writ, Witness Jacob Vernon Clerk of said
Shelby Circuit Court and its seal the 7th day of February
AD 1845
AD 1845
Received this writ Feb 7th 1845
I have Executed this writ on the within named
Defendant February 8th 1845
Alexander Miller Sheriff
Sheriff fees{ 97 cents by Wm. G. Capp Deputy
Sheriff fees{ 97 cents by Wm. G. Capp Deputy
_____________________________________________________
William Copeland ans subpa Mary Copeland
Returnable 4 Monday of February 1845
Witnesses
Wm Shadley
John Lemasters
Austin Coleman
Thos Thompson
Buckner Caudel
The State of Indiana, Shelby County, ss.
The State of Indiana to the Sheriff of Shelby County, Greeting:
You are hereby Commanded to Summon
William Shadley, John LaMaster, Austin Coalman, Thomas Thompson, Buckner Caudell
To personally be and appear before the Judges of the Shelby Circuit Court, on the first day of the next term, to be holden at the Court House in Shelbyville, on the fourth Monday of February 1845 to testify on behalf of the Defendant in a certain cause therein pending, between
Mary Copeland Plaintiff and
William Copeland, Defendant
William Copeland, Defendant
and herein they may not fail at their Peril. Have you then there this writ.
Witness Jacob Vernon, Clerk of said Court, this 5th
day of February 1845
Jacob Vernon
Clerk
Clerk
_________________________________________________________________
William Copeland ans}Subpa Mary Copeland
Returnable 4th Monday of February 1845
State of Indiana, Shelby County, ss
The state of Indiana to the Sheriff of Shelby County, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to summon George McMahan, Christopher C Green, William Morris James Stafford, David Eads, Isaac McCarty, Richard Swinford, Washington Mitchel, James Harrell, Joseph Hauk, Edward Copeland, Susan Lemasters
To personally be and appear before the Judges of the Shelby Circuit Court on the first day of the next term, to be holden at the Court House in Shelbyville, on the fourth Monday of February 1845 to testify on behalf of the Defendant in a certain cause pending, between
Mary Copeland - Plaintiff and
William Copeland - Defendant
And herein they may not fail at their Peril. Have you then there this writ,
Witness, Jacob Vernon, Clerk of the said Court, this 8th day of February 1845
J Vernon
Clerk
Clerk
______________________________________________________________
Mary Copeland vs William Copeland, Precipe
Filed February 7th 1845 J Vernon Clk
State of Indiana}
Shelby County }
Mary Copeland }
vs } Libel for divorce
William Copeland }
The Clerk will please issue process in this case for William Copeland to appear and answer to this bill of complaint a libel for divorce wherein Mary Copeland is the libellant and William Copeland defendant
Lander
Solicitor for Libellant
_______________________
Divorce: William Copeland VS Mary Copeland
Granted Feb. 23, 1850
_______________________
Contributed by from Barb Huff
