Source:  General Assembly Session Records, November 1801-December 1801.  
         Box 1.

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina
          The petition of John Winders of Duplin county humbly Sheweth:
That your petitioner intermarried in August 1799 with a certain Martha Turnage, 
with whom he lived until December 1800, when without cause on his part, a 
Seperation took place between them, that his wife of her own free will, left him, 
and by all means in her power has, and yet continues to injure him, both in 
property and reputation, by doing the most mischeovous and ill intended things 
her mind is capable of Suggesting.
          Under these considerations, he prays your honorable body, will
take his case into consideration and grant him relief by passing a Law, securing 
to him his property, which she is greatly lessening, and to her such as she has 
or may hereafter acquire, or such other relief as may by you be thought proper 
and just, and he as in duty bound will pray &c
                                                  John Winders
_______

A Bill for the relief of John Winders of Duplin County
          Whereas it is represented to this General Assembly, that Martha
Winders wife of John Winders of Duplin County, hath of her own free will left her 
Husband, to his great distress and manifest injury.
          Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that from 
and after the passing of this act, the said John Winders shall not be answerable 
for any debt hereafter contracted by the said Martha his wife;  nor shall the said 
Martha Winders have any right or title of dower, or otherwise, in any estate of the 
said John Winders, or which he may hereafter acquire.
          And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the
said Martha Winders shall be entitled to and possess in her sole right, all such 
estate, either real or personal, as she now hath or may hereafter acquire, by 
purchase or otherwise, in as full and ample manner as if she the said Martha 
Winders had never been married, free and clear from the claim and claims of the 
said John Winders, or his creditors;  and the said Martha Winders shall and may 
have full power to sue for and recover in any Court having cognizance thereof, from 
the said John Winders or any other person or persons, any property or estate to 
which she may be entitled, in the same manner as if she the said Martha Winders had 
never been married to the said John Winders, any law, custom or usage to the 
contrary notwithstanding.

On reverse:  A Bill for the relief of John Winders of Duplin County.  In
             Senate Novem'r 26th 1801.  Read & refered to the Committee of divorce 
             and alimony By order    M. Stokes, clk

In the House of Commons 27 Nov'r 1801 read & ref'd by the Senate
By order
   J Hunt
               Mr. Watkins





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