Getting a divorce in 1813 in North Carolina was tough ...
The Petition of John O'Quin of the County of Wayne humbly represents:
That your Petitioner about Eight or Ten Years ago in the Town of Wilmington, in Company with sundry Others who were disposed to spend the evening in a Convivial Manner (after having recourse to the inebriating liquors as an impetus to their actions), repaired to a House in the Town where the Occupants were of the Female sex, and notorious for their Prostitution.
Your Petitioner being then in the prime of life, and of a disposition rather Volatile, he did not hesitate to become One of the company, and expatiated freely on the Subject of Matrimony. He did not believe that any scandal would result from such conduct, as a Jusice of the Peace was in Company with him, and his sole object was the Acquisition of knowledge to enable him the better to discriminate between women of Virtuous and Vicious habits.
He further states that, But a short time had elasped, before the inebriating liquors proved absolutely predominent; and your Petitioner became Utterly insensible of the Transactions of the Night.
Your Petitioner further States that in the morning when he awoke, to his inexpressible mortification, there lay by his side a Huge Mass of Creation, purporting to be of the Female sex, who called herself Mary Jackson, whose uncouth appearance indicated that she was formed by Nature in a rude and ranting frolic, and whose touch alone was amply sufficient to recoil the feelings of the most profilgate wretch in society.
Your Petitioner further States that he hastily arose from his bed, and enquired into the cause of her intrusion upon his repose, When he was informed that a Justice of the Peace who was in his Company in a fit of intoxication had joined them together as Man and Wife, and at a time when your Petitioner was utterly insensible of the whole transaction. Upon this information he precipitately retired, with pungent feelings of grief, and Alas! when too late, protested against the proceedings of that Fatal Night.
This fortuitous Occurrence has proved as destructive to the repose of your Petitioner, and has excited as much consternation among his friends, as was experienced by the Trojans, upon the introduction of the Grecian Horse into Troy.
Your Petitioner further States, that he is firmly impressed with the belief that if none of the fair sex were ornamented with features and forms more enchanting than this Mary Jackson, Procreation would certainly cease and be forgotten.
Your Petitioner further States, that the said Mary Jackson has gone off as a Prostitute to Canada with the Troops of the United States--and it is as reasonable an expectation that a Camel can go through the eye of a needle or the Leopard change his skin as to believe that the said Mary and your Petitioner will ever dwell together. And as our Moral and Civil institutions require that all contracts (if Obligatory) should be entered into with the free and full consent of both parties, He prays the interposition of your Honorable Body on his behalf, and hopes that the Marriage aforesaid may be absolutely abrogated as an act of your Honorable Body. And he as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
Signed John O'Quin. (Undated but referred to committee by the Senate on 24 Nov. 1813; read and rejected in the House on 25 Nov 1813).
The Petition of John O'Quin of the County of Wayne humbly represents:
That your Petitioner about Eight or Ten Years ago in the Town of Wilmington, in Company with sundry Others who were disposed to spend the evening in a Convivial Manner (after having recourse to the inebriating liquors as an impetus to their actions), repaired to a House in the Town where the Occupants were of the Female sex, and notorious for their Prostitution.
Your Petitioner being then in the prime of life, and of a disposition rather Volatile, he did not hesitate to become One of the company, and expatiated freely on the Subject of Matrimony. He did not believe that any scandal would result from such conduct, as a Jusice of the Peace was in Company with him, and his sole object was the Acquisition of knowledge to enable him the better to discriminate between women of Virtuous and Vicious habits.
He further states that, But a short time had elasped, before the inebriating liquors proved absolutely predominent; and your Petitioner became Utterly insensible of the Transactions of the Night.
Your Petitioner further States that in the morning when he awoke, to his inexpressible mortification, there lay by his side a Huge Mass of Creation, purporting to be of the Female sex, who called herself Mary Jackson, whose uncouth appearance indicated that she was formed by Nature in a rude and ranting frolic, and whose touch alone was amply sufficient to recoil the feelings of the most profilgate wretch in society.
Your Petitioner further States that he hastily arose from his bed, and enquired into the cause of her intrusion upon his repose, When he was informed that a Justice of the Peace who was in his Company in a fit of intoxication had joined them together as Man and Wife, and at a time when your Petitioner was utterly insensible of the whole transaction. Upon this information he precipitately retired, with pungent feelings of grief, and Alas! when too late, protested against the proceedings of that Fatal Night.
This fortuitous Occurrence has proved as destructive to the repose of your Petitioner, and has excited as much consternation among his friends, as was experienced by the Trojans, upon the introduction of the Grecian Horse into Troy.
Your Petitioner further States, that he is firmly impressed with the belief that if none of the fair sex were ornamented with features and forms more enchanting than this Mary Jackson, Procreation would certainly cease and be forgotten.
Your Petitioner further States, that the said Mary Jackson has gone off as a Prostitute to Canada with the Troops of the United States--and it is as reasonable an expectation that a Camel can go through the eye of a needle or the Leopard change his skin as to believe that the said Mary and your Petitioner will ever dwell together. And as our Moral and Civil institutions require that all contracts (if Obligatory) should be entered into with the free and full consent of both parties, He prays the interposition of your Honorable Body on his behalf, and hopes that the Marriage aforesaid may be absolutely abrogated as an act of your Honorable Body. And he as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
Signed John O'Quin. (Undated but referred to committee by the Senate on 24 Nov. 1813; read and rejected in the House on 25 Nov 1813).
