Smith, Jane

Port Elizabeth
Dec 4 1821
To His Excellency
Sir R. Donkin
Governor & Commander
of the Forces & &

The Humble Petition of Jane Smith
Wife of Wm. Smith Settler
Humbly Sheweth

That Petitioner is the Lawful Wife
of Wm. Smith, Mason, a Settler, that Petitioner
has been Married to the said Smith, upwards of
twelve Years, during which period she cannot
say she has enjoyed that happiness expected in
the married State her Husband being much
addicted to drink, in which state, he treats &
ill treats her in such a manner that her
life is in danger.
Petitioner humbly begs leave to annex
A Copy of her Husbands acknowledgement of
his conduct upon a former occasion in presence ‚
of the Gentlemen whose Names are thereto
affined as a confirmation of her Statement

That your Excellencys Petitioner is a
Milliner and Mantle Maker, and capable
of carring an honest livelihood without becoming
a burthen to the Colony _ .
Your Petitioner is reluctantly compelled
to solicit your Excellency would be graciously
pleased to grant her a Pass to proceed
to Cape Town & from thence to England, as she
cannot any longer live with her Husband
who on the Evening of the 27 November last
in a State of intoxication beat her & would
were it not for the interference of Mr
Nicholas Hitge & his Wife have stabbed
her with a Knife which he then had in
his hand _
And your petitioner as in Duty
bound will ever pray &

Jane xmark Smith

Witness
John Carter

Port Elizabeth
Apl 23_ 1820
I Wm Smith do acknowledge that
I have too often behaved improperly
to my Wife and ill treated Her; which
she never deserved, is a Virtuous. good
& well behaved & Wife affectionate Wife
to me. I have in presence of the undersigned
Gentlemen acknowledged my Error, am sincerely
sorry for it & promise if now forgiven,
never to behave ill towards her again,
and I do agree if ever she have cause
of Complaint against me, that I will
Renounce all claim to all & every thing
I am possessed of except my Weaving apparel
Wm Smith
his
XMark
Witness
John Craig
J. Laylock
J. Evatt