Divorces, Separations and Annulments in Missouri, 1769 to 1850 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781556136955)

The discovery of a divorce or separation in the family history can provide genealogists with the keys to such problems as missing spouses or large gaps in the ages of the children of a couple. Such a discovery prompted this author to assemble these interesting records in the hope of helping other researchers solve their own family mysteries. The result is a valuable research aid, which is also entertaining to read: "Eloped from my bed and board on the last day of January 1846 my wife Edith Rennolds without my consent. I have repeatedly gone after her and kindly implored her to return ... but she only laughs and mocks my feeling invitation."

Divorces were unheard of, under both Spanish and French rule. The only solution for an unhappy couple was a legal separation. However, after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the injured party in a marital dispute could petition for divorce by proving adultery, desertion, or habitual drunkenness.

Information in this book has been skillfully abstracted from Missouri territorial, state, and county newspapers, as well as from records and petitions from the lower courts of the legislature, and the Supreme Court. The main sources for the newspaper abstracts were the Missouri Gazette and the Missouri Republican, but twenty-five other newspapers are cited. The author has retained the colorful colloquialisms of the original notices, and all entries are listed in an easy-to-read, chronological format. Thorough newspaper references provide volume, number, and date, and a helpful surname index is included. The final section of this book contains records of bigamy cases from 1818 to 1845.