Case ID: wright_1/html/0426-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BY THE COURT.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PORTAGE COUNTY,
    SEPTEMBER TERM, 1833,
    JUDGES — LANE AND WEIGHT.
    THOMAS S. BIGELOW v. LYDIA S. BIGELOW.
    A forced marriage — dissatisfaction—the natural fruits of it.
    Where a man uses undue means to coerce a child of fourteen to marry him, against her declarations that she has no love for him, and the advice of friends, he will not be divorced for her absence amongst her friends, without clear and decided efforts to win her affections and induce her to live with him.
    Divorce. Cause, wilful absence. It appeared in proof, that in 1827, the complainant, then about-years old, was married to the defendant, then about fourteen years old. She was unwilling to marry Mm, and said she could never love him; but by his procurement, she was coerced into the marriage. They lived together a few months, when she left him, went to her friends in Massachusetts* and refuses to live with him longer. He treated her well while they were together, and once made an effort to induce her to return; she told him she had no affection for him, and never could live with him. He was cautioned before the marriage that he never would he happy in a marriage so procured, but persisted.
    
      Lyman for the petitioner.
   BY THE COURT.

This man seems to have used undue and improper means to compel a child to marry him against her own will, and the advice of his friends, and now, while reaping the natural reward of his efforts, he has become dissatisfied, and desires a divorce. Without some more and decided attempts to gain the affections of his wife, and at reconciliation, we consider it óur duty to deny him a divorce. Let the hill be dismissed.