Part Two of the divorce records between Peter McQueen and Elizabeth Freeland is the order of announcement and summons for the newspaper, in hope of drawing Peter McQueen to answer to Elizabeth’s accusations in the divorce petition. What I find funny is that Elizabeth states that she believes Peter resides “west of the Mississippi River”, probably in Arkansas, but the announcement is placed in the newspaper in Paulding, Jasper County, Mississippi, which is a town southwest of Lauderdale County and southeast of where Peter actually was (that’s an entirely different post, but really, stay tuned because this is going to get interesting, I promise!).
The below is transcribed exactly. My favorite part of this is “ones” for “once”.
The State of Mississippi
Lauderdale County
Circuit of said County exercising Chancery jurisdiction Special Term July A.D. 1838
Elizabeth McQueen vs Peter McQueen
Bill for divorce
It appearing to the court that the defendant in this case is a non resident of this State, on motion of the plaintiffs counsel it is ordered that unless the said defendant shall appear & plead and answer or demur to the plaintiff’s said bill for divorce on or before the first day of the next term of this court to wit on or before the third Monday of November next, the matters and things set forth in the said Bill will be set down for final hearing and a decree made thereon and it’s further ordered that a copy of this order be published in the Eastern Clarion, a newspaper published in the town of Paulding ones a week for six successive weeks before the next term of this court.
Test-
James Keeton Clerk
