Rachel O'Shal was born in 1813 at
Ohio. She married
Adam P. Shigley at
Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, on 26 February 1835. Rachel O'Shal and
Adam P. Shigley were divorced on 17 February 1852 at
Tippecanoe Co., Indiana; Rachel O'Shel Shigley divorced her husband, Adam P. Shigley after Adam abandoned her and their five surviving children after 18 years of marriage.
The following is the original divorce complaint brought before the Tippecanoe Co. Circuit Court during the February 1852 term by solicitors Chafin and O'Brian representing Rachel Shigley.
"To the Honorable Isaac Taylor, Judge of said Court in Chancery Setting:
Humbly complaining showing unto your Honor, your Oratrix Rachel Shigley now and for many years, a resident of said county that about eighteen years since she intermarried with one Adam P. Shigley (who your Oratrix prays may be made defendant herein) and lived with him as a dutiful, faithful and affectionate wife until the 14th day of October 1851. When the said Adam, without any cause or fault whatever on the part of your Oratrix abandoned her and fled from the State of Indiana. That he took with him one Sabrina Turner, the wife of one of his neighbors, a woman about twenty eight years of age, and a woman of infamous character, and with whom, as your Oratrix has since learned, the said defendant had long been maintaining illicit and adulteress intercourse and you Oratrix expressly charges that the said defendant is guilty of adultery with the said base woman, Sabrina Turner, with whom he eloped as aforesaid, and left the State of Indiana with the intention as your Oratrix believes and charges of never returning. That even should he return his treatment and infidelity to her have been such as to render it utterly impossible that she could ever be reconciled to live with him again. Your Oratrix further shows unto unto your Honor that during the 18 years she has been the wife of the said Shigley, she has from him thirteen children all of whom have died in childhood except five who are now with your Oratrix, viz. Mary Jane, age 16 years; Barbara E., aged 12 years; Hester A., 5 years; Deborah A., 3 years and George W., aged one year.
These five helpless children are dependent upon your Oratrix for sustenance, and like her are abandoned by this cruel and unnatural husband and father. Your Oratrix further shows unto your Honor, that the time she was married to said Shigley, neither she nor he was possessed of much property. That at the time said Shigley left aforesaid he was the owner of 93 acres of land in Tippecanoe County and of some personal property and money; that he took with him his horse and buggy loaded with his possessions and all the money he could raise. That she believes there are some debts due and owing against the said Shigley. That she fears he will sell and dispose of all his property and thereby bring our Oratrix and her children to great want.
In consideration of this state of facts your Oratrix says that the bonds of matrimony now existing between your Oratrix and said defendant be declared dissolved. That she be permitted to have the care and custody of her said said children who she tenderly loves and that to enable her to support them she be permitted to enjoy the personal property now in her possession and that she may have a decree for alimony against she defendant, in such case as to your Honor may deem proper, and for such other and further belief as Equity and good conscience may require."