Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Connery

William W. Connery v Harriet/Hattie A. Shetters Connery (Journal 12 p304 - 24 June 1884; Roll 40 Box 133 case number 1278 - 4 Mar 1884)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 22 October 2021)

 

The couple was married on 20 Nov 1881 in Medina, Lenawee Co, MI.  William told the court that Harriet had falsely represented herself as virtuous and physically competent to marry.  He said she was not chaste or virtuous and that she was at the time of the marriage pregnant by another man.  He will not cohabit with her and wanted a divorce.  The Bryan Democrat, 23 Apr 1884, published his notice for a divorce, which was later granted.

 

William Connery was born c1841 in MI, the son of Henry and Amy Whitlock Connery of the Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI area.  William was listed in the 1850 Hudson Federal Census as William 9 MI with parents.  In the 1870 Medina, Lenawee Co, MI Federal Census William is living with his mother and stepfather, Wallace Humphrey as William 26 NY.  He married Clara Farst on 15 September 1872 in South Wright, Hillsdale Co, MI and they were enumerated in 1880 Medina, Lenawee Co, MI as William 37, Clara 35 with kids Frank 15 and Bernice 2; Frank was probably Clara’s son.  Clara died in 1880.  After William’s divorce from Hattie he married Della Wheeler on 23 December 1890 in Kalamazoo, MI and by the 1900 Pine Grove, Van Buren Co, MI Federal Census he was William 59 MI.William died in 1903 and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale Co, MI; note his birth year on his stone states 1836.

 

Harriet A Shetters, born June 1858 NY, was the daughter of David and Caroline Shetters.  She was listed with her parents in the 1870 Fayette, Hillsdale Co, MI Federal Census as Hattie 10 NY.  At the time of her marriage to William she was 20 and he was 38.  After the divorce Hattie married Sylvester Myers on 15 May 1884 in Decatur, Van Buren Co, MI.  They were listed in the Decatur, Van Buren Co, MI Federal Census and on 3 June 1902 she filed a divorce complaint against Sylvester, stating she had four children; however, that filing was canceled.  Sylvester died in 1909 and Hattie later married Alexander Height.  Hattie died on 30 December 1938 and was buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Decatur.

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