The following message was received today and I thought it would be of
interest to someone on the genealogy lists.........
Hello Everyone:
I recently came across the following genealogical tidbit
from a family history book that had come into my
possession and thought I would share it with the list.
The source will follow the text.
THE SMOCK WEDDING
“One of the more unusual customs that came to America was the
SMOCK WEDDING. Under English common law if a widow remarried
and brought any of her late husband’s property to the marriage, the new
husband became liable for any and all the debts of the previous husband.
Women owned nothing in their own right, and this included their clothing.
So it became the custom for indebted widows to get married in their
underwear, or smocks.”
“The SMOCK WEDDING was tripple-fold. It was a bankruptcy proceeding;
it was a marriage ceremony; it was an investiture because the bride then got
a new wardrobe from her new husband”.
“In theory the ceremony was held for all to see, on a public highway. But in
practice many smock weddings were indoors.”
“When Major Moses JOY married Widow Hannah WARD of Newfame,
Vermont, in 1789, she was stark naked. She was in a closet, her hand
extended through a hole cut in the door. Then she put on a fine set of
clothes
and emerged from her closet in style, to the general admiration of the
assembled”
Source:
Ancestors and Descendants of LEWIS ROSS FREEMAN with related families
By Patty Barthell Myers Penobscot Press 1995. Page 626
Florence (“Patty”) B. Myers may be reached at 15 Campden Circle, San Antonio,
TX 78218. If anyone has Ms. Myers email address I would be interested in
receiving it.
The best to you all.
Harold Oliver
Director
America’s First Families
mailto:firstfamilies@linkline.com