But the most interesting court appearance was in 1682 when John was summoned to court on 25h Oct to hear his wife's complaints against her husband... John denied the charges and thought them unreasonable but did confess in court that he never entertained the love and respect for his wife and neither afforded her the countenance in his house due for man to wife. John had banished Elizabeth from his home some 2-3 years earlier. Elizabeth was rewarded one bed and furniture, all wearing apparel and yearly for time to come 300 pounds meat, 3 bushels corn, 100 pounds tobacco, during her natural life. This quite possibly is the first divorce on American soil!!10917

(John Tennyson) appears to be a man of means as the inventory shows he owned Delft china place settings, and apparently was not illiterate as his inventory included two Bibles and several books. At the time of his death he had, among other items, several parcels of land, two slaves and could afford a serving maid who is mentioned in his will.10917

John Tennison Will dtd 20 Dec 1682 St Mary’s Probate 8 Feb 1682 Book 4 Pg 16:17668
Image # 01499 Liber 4 folio 16 Wills10056
Eld son John Tennison, personalty in addition to property already given to him
Son-in-Law, William Cheshire and Mary, his wife, personalty
Son, Matthew Tennison, personalty
Henry Fernely, personalty
Sons Justinian and Absalom, ext, plantation and all other land; in event of death of either without issue, survivor to inherit deceased’s portion
Test: Jno Buttler, Vincent Mansell, Wm Goddard, Thos Parker

General Index of Wills of St Mary’s Co MD 1633-190028760 (Him?)
Pg 118 Dec 20, 1682 Tennison, John, Liber PC # 1 Folio 111

Md Indexes Probate Records Colonia 1634-177710056
Name Date County
Image # 01498 Tennison, John 1683-5 St Marys Lib 8 fol 91 Inv; fol 483 Acct

John Tennison Will dtd 20 Dec 1682 St Mary’s Probate 8 Feb 1682 Book 4 Pg 16:17668,20184
Henry Fernely, personalty (Who is this?)