Rebecca Dykes represents that she received a divorce from James H. Dykes in 1858 and that "a commissioner was appointed for the purpose of ascertaining the property owned by the said Jas H. Dykes in this county after the payment of his debts, which property the court intended to decree your oratrix for alimony." She recounts that Dykes had been in debt "whereby a great deal of his personal estate and nearly all of the negroes which were owned by him" were sold. She notes that the commissioner returned his report, whereupon the court "absolutely" awarded her two tracts of land "during her life." The petitioner insists, however, that the said Dykes owned "an additional tract of 18 acres or thereabouts," which adjoins the two other tracts mentioned in the said report. She states "that the said 18 acre tract is the only one of the said three tracts which has any growing timber upon it and hence it becomes so valuable in connexion with the enjoyment of the other two tracts." The petitioner therefore prays that "a decree be rendered giving your oratrix for alimony the said 18 acre tract during her life that it may help support her and her helpless family."
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
