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To the Honorable the General Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin.
Your petitioner Reuben Hurlbert now and for three years last past - a resident of the Town and County of Waukesha Wisconsin Territory would respectfully beg leave to call the attention of your honorable body to the following facts set forth in this petition to wit.
Your petitioner, Reuben Hurlbert whose age is about fifty three years was on the 16th day of August AD 1816 duly and lawfully married to one Hannah Moore then a resident of the Town of Lyma[illegible] Ontarionow Luringston County State of New York whose age is forty nine from which time aforesaid up to the 5th day of November AD 1838 your petitioner lived with the said Hannah in the strict observance of all the duties required by the marriage covenant. Your petitioner would further represent to your honorable body that the said Hannah Hurlbert without any provocation on the part of your petitioner was constantly in the habit of having & holding illicit connection with other men to with with one John H. Bill, Ezekiel Gilbert, and William Gardan; with whom she committed the crime of adultery. And your petitioner further represent to your honorable body that the
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said Hannah Hurlbert was constantly in the habit while she lived with your petitioner of leaving her house and family and would be gone a week at a time totally neglecting her family for no other purpose than that she might enjoy the society of other men leaving the whole care of the family upon your petitioners hands this same course was pursued by the said Hannah untill she became a common prostitute and entirely neglected her family so that the whole care of the family was left on his hands.
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your Honorable body that the bonds of matrimony between him and the said Hannah Hurlbert may be dissolved and a bill of divorce granted him and in fine that he may be restored to all things which he has lost by reason of his said covenant as your petitioner in duty bound will ever pray.
Waukesha January 24th 1848 Reuben Hurlbert
Wisconsin Territory Waukesha County
Reuben Hurlbert
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the above petitioner being duly sworn under oath depose and say that all the facts set forth in the foregoing and above petition and signed by me are substantially true.
Reuben Hurlbert
Subscribed and sworn to before me January 24th 1848 Mess Hawkins a notary public in & for the county of Waukesha
Wisconsin Territory Waukesha County SS
Harmony Hurlbert being duly sworn under oath depose and say that I am the daughter of Reuben & Hannah Hurlbert who are mentioned in the above petition and am well acquainted with the facts stated in the above petition in relation to my mothers having illicit connection with the individual with the individuals therein mentioned viz John Bill Ezekial Gillet and William Gordan & I believe they are substantially true I further state that my father Reuben Hurlbert has lived a life of sorrow and of suffering in consequence of the conduct of my mother Hannah Hurlbert ever since my earlyest remembrance.
Harmony A. Hurlbert
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 24 day of Jany 1848 Messrs Hawkins Esq. a notary public in & for the county of Waukesha
