I am creating a spreadsheet of battery convictions and punishments, currently for Plymouth Colony (for which Court Orders are online) and I found this saucy suit:
Att this Court, Elizabeth, the wife of John Williams, appeered with
complaint against her husband, the said John Williams , for his great abusive
and vnaturall carryages towards her , both in word and deed, in defaming her
in rendering her to bee a whore, and by persisting in his refusing to performe
marriage duty unto her according to what both the law of God and man
requireth, which more at large appeereth by a writing under her hand.
He was no longer feeding her, either. The court gave her permission to go to the home of friends until
he shall apply himself unto her in such a way as she may be better satisfyed to return to him again,
RECORDS OF PLYMOUTH COLONY: COURT ORDERS VOL. III 1651-1661 125
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