ABSTRACT
InaSwisschurchonAugust22,1837,EllenSearsmarriedPaulDaniel GonzalveGrandd'Hauteville. 1ShewaseighteenandonaEuropean tourwithherwealthyBostonfamily.Hewastwenty-fourandthe eldestsonofaminorSwissnoble.Themarriageunraveledrapidlyover chargesofmistreatment,brokenpromises,failedduties,andmeddling mothers-in-law.2Pregnantandunhappy,EllensecuredGonzalve'spermissiontosailhomeinthespringof1838.OnSeptember27,1838, shegavebirthtoaboyandnamedhimFrederick.Gonzalvedemanded thathiswifeandsonreturntoSwitzerland;Ellenrefused.Inthespring of1839,hesailedforAmericatoretrievehisfamily.WhenEllenheard ofhisarrival,shegrabbedFrederickandfled.Whileshehid,thecouple negotiatedbywayoflawyers.3Ayearlater,thecouple'sfightover theirchilderuptedintoahighlypublicizedhabeascorpustrialthat beganonMonday,July13,1840,beforeathree-judgepanel.4
