Case of the Deserted Wife

Over on Google Books, I located the following story of Ollie Roberson in a 1915 publication titled “The Lawyers Reports.” It is a listing of court cases from across the country.  The entire book is freely available and can be downloaded as a PDF.

On page 691 begins a description of Nevada vs. Ex Parte George Oliver Roberson for “extradition — abandonment of wife– act not within jurisdiction.”  The legal proceeding was for a writ of habeus corpus to secure his release from custody after being taken in on an extradition warrant.  The application was filed June 5, 1915.  Roberson stated that he was unlawfully imprisoned by two Nevada policeman and Sheriff J.C. Crawford of Martin County, NC Sheriff Crawford was there to pick him up as a Martin County jury had determined that in 1913 “Ollie” unlawfully and willfully abandoned his wife, Lucy, and their child.

However, Lucy testified that the marriage never really worked out and they’d both made plans to leave each other apparently.   She testified that they were married the morning of June 30, 1913 in Martin County. That same day, the took the train to Raleigh where they lived together until December 17, 1913.  On that day, Ollie went to Hamlet NC and the next day Lucy returned back home to her parents.  Lucy testified that her mother had sent her money a week before Ollie left because it was her intention to return home, and Ollie had secured a physician for her since she was expecting a child.  Ollie would end up in Nevada for school where he was enrolled as a student.  Both were young during all this, the report stating that Ollie was a minor when they married.

The writ was issued.  Check out the report – it’s quite interesting.

NC State Archives Flickr Photostream

The NC State Archives has a Flickr photostream. While I could only locate a few pictures relevant to Martin County, this is a great resource to check if you’re researching other areas of NC.  The images are great quality and cover a wide variety of topics.  And, even if there is nothing there you find interesting today, you can always subscribe to the Flickr feed to stay aware of updates as they make them. 

Some images I did find include this one below of the Hardison BBQ business near Jamesville. 

hardisonbbqHardison BBQ Business. Digital image. NC State Archives Flickr Photostream. 27 Nov. 2008 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/north-carolina-state-archives/>.

Dictionary of North Carolina Biography

According to an index created by the Olivia Raney Local History Library in Raleigh, NC, the following individuals of Martin County are included in the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography

  • Bryan, Henry H. (d. 1835)
  • Hassell, Cushing Biggs (1809-1880)
  • Hassell, Sylvester (1842-1928)
  • Martin, Joseph John (1833-1900)
  • Ross, James (1801-1878)
  • Ross, Reuben (1776-1860)
  • Roulhac, Joseph Blount Gregoire (1795-1856)
  • Spruill, Frank (Franklin) Shepherd (1862-1937)
  • Whittlesey, Sarah Johnson Cogswell (1824 -1896)
  • Wilson, James Lewis (ca. 1760 – 1802)
  • Yellowley, Edward Clement (1821 – 1885)
  • Cherry, Annie Moore (1891 – 1976)
  • Armstrong, Frank Alton, Jr. (1902 – 1969)
  • Everett, Reuben Oscar (1879-1971)
  • Chance, William Claudius, Sr. (1880-1970)
  • Biggs, Asa (1811-1878)

I’ve already started pages for a few of these on the Biographical Profiles page of the site. You can use WorldCat.org to find this book in a library near you.