The Virginia Gazette

From Barnetly near Coney Hatch, we have the following remarkable Account. An honest industrious Man, who keeps a Public House there, has the Misfortune to have a meer Termagant to his Wife, whose Tongue is seldom or ever at rest, but daily threatening the Destruction of her Husband: And on Saturday last, her Passion seemed to be more violent against him than ever, who to avoid her Fury, quitted his House with great Precipitation, and betook himself to an adjacent Wood for Shelter, where he lay in Jeopardy all that Night, and the greatest Part of the next Day; towards Evening he stole from his Cover, and with great Deliberation, tho' not without some Terror approached his Habitation, in Hopes his Wife's Passion was a little appeased; but to his great Mortification, so soon as she had Sight of him, she flew at him, he fled with redoubled Rage. so that the poor Man was chased to quit the Field a second Time, and took Refuge in a Barn, which his Wife perceiving, took no further Notice 'til Night came on, and well knowing there were many different Sorts of Combustibles in the Barn, the fiend privately went with a concealed lighted Candle, and set Fire to it, in hopes at once to gratify her Fury by her Husband's perishing in the Flames, but happily for him he escaped thro' a Hole on the opposite Side. The Barn being on Fire, of Course brought the Neighbours together, as well to enquire the Cause, as to endeavour to extinguish it when She, like a true Fiend, ingenuously told them, that she had set it on Fire herself, with a Design to destroy her Rogue of a Husband, who had taken Shelter there.