ANNIE CORNELL FAIRFAX COUNTY FILES DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HARVEY CORNELL CHANCERY RECORD 1911
In the circuit court for Fairfax County, Virginia. ANNIE CORNELL, complainant, vs. HARVEY CORNELL, defendant, depositions.
The testimony of ANNIE CORNELL, and others, take before me, WILLIAM H. GAINES, a commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court for Alexandria County, Virginia, at my office at the Court House of said County, on the 23rd day of September, 1911, between the hours of 9 o’clock A.M., and 5 o’clock P.M., to be read as evidence on behalf of the complainant, in the suit of ANNIE CORNELL vs. HARVEY CORNELL, now pending in the circuit Court for Fairfax County, Virginia, pursuant to notice hereto attached.
ANNIE CORNELL, a witness of lawful age, being first duly sworn, desposes and says:
Q. Please state your name?
A. ANNIE CORNELL.

Q. When and to whom were you married?
A. I was married to HARVEY CORNELL on the 3rd day of February, 1903, in the County of Fairfax.

Q. Where were you born?
A. I was born near Little Washington, Virginia.

Q. State how many children were born of this marriage.
A. Two children were born of this marriage, NELLIE M. CORNELL, born March 6th, 1906, and FLORENCE C. CORNELL, born September 2nd, 1908.

Q. How long did you live with your husband after you were married?
A. My husband left me in august, 1907. We lived together in Fairfax until 1903, in April, and then we moved to Maryland and lived there until 1907. He then left me and came back to Fairfax and has lived there ever since.

Q. what was his treatment of you during the time you were married?
A. He would leave me three or four nights at a time and I would not know where he was. Some of the time he supported me and part of the time he failed to contribute anything toward the support of myself and the children, and during the time that he failed to support me I was compelled to go out and work myself and my children.

Q. But what was his treatment to you in regard to cruelty?
A. During the first part of August, 1907, my husband beat me and struck me in the mouth and forced me to leave my home. His treatment was such that I was afraid to stay with him in the house at the time when he was abusing me and beating me.


Q. Stated other times that the defendant, your husband, abused and beat you.
A. During the first part of August, just previous to my being driven away by him, he struck me and beat me and slapped me in the mouth and told me to leave home and never come back and told me that I did not have anything in the house and told me to leave.

Q. How long has it been since you heard of your husband?
A. The last time I saw him was Thanksgiving, but I have not lived with him or cohabited with him, and he has not contributed to the support of myself since he drove me from his house in the early part of August, 1907.

Q. Since 1907 what have you done to support yourself?
A. Since the time that my husband drove me from his house I have been compelled to support myself by working in the kitchen.

Q. Did you do any act, previous to your being driven away by your husband to cause him to so roughly treat you and drive you away.
A. No sir. I have always been a dutiful wife and have tried to make my husband happy.

Q. what has been your character since you have been driven away in 1907?
A. I have always remained true to my marital vows and have done no act unbecoming a wife or lady.

Q. Where did you and your husband last cohabit as man and wife?
A. We last cohabited and lived together as man and wife in Fairfax County, Virginia, and my husband now lives and resides in Fairfax County for more than one year.

Q. Do you consent to have the commissioner sign your name to your deposition?
A. I do.
ANNIE CORNELL

SOURCE: Fairfax County, Virginia, Plt. Annie Cornell, Deft. Harvey Cornell, Chancery Record 1911-016