http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/john_clary_fornicator Comments for "John Clary, fornicator" en http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/john_clary_fornicator <!-- Begin check for Blog Icon --> <!-- End check for Blog Icon --> <!-- Begin check for Teaser Toggle --> <div class="field-item"> <p>John Clary was expelled for fornicating with his stepdaughter.</p><p>A Quaker from Virginia, he moved to Perquimans County in 1776 and became proprietor of a toll float bridge across the river—a position that made him locally important.</p><p>His second wife was a widower three times over and had a daughter, Leah Toms, according to William S. Powell&#39;s <a href="http://uncpress.unc.edu/books/t-667.html">&quot;The Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.&quot;</a></p><p>In 1808, Clary was convicted of fornication with his stepdaughter and fined, but he was elected to the House of Commons in 1809 nonetheless. Not everyone was happy, though:<br /> </p> <blockquote> <p>His reception in the legislature was cool, and following the introduction of a resolution proposed that the house &quot;free itself from the contamination of grossly impure and unworthy characters,&quot; Clary resigned and went home to vindicate himself.</p> </blockquote> <p>In December, Clary was re-elected by an even larger margin and returned to the House triumphantly. It was a short-lived win. </p><p>More after the jump.</p> <div class="node-blog-teaser-footer"> <div class="node-blog-teaser-readmore"> <a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/john_clary_fornicator"><img src="http://projects.newsobserver.com/sites/8830.newsobserver-drupal-projects.apps.prod.nandomedia.com/themes/nao/images/dome_read_more.gif" width="74" height="23" border="0" /></a></div> <div class="node-blog-teaser-comments">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/john_clary_fornicator#comment"><img src="http://www.newsobserver.com/images/front_new/icon_discussion.gif" width="11" height="7" border="0" /> Comments (0)</a> <!-- If permissions, display edit link at end of teaser --> <!-- End edit link code --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- End check for Teaser Toggle --> <!-- BEGIN AUDIO ATTACHMENT CODE --> http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/john_clary_fornicator#comment expulsion history John Clary Leah Toms Under the Dome William S. Powell Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500 ryanteaguebeckwith 3753 at http://projects.newsobserver.com