Your post was so interesting! Thank you for taking the time to share. Fred "Nannette W. Serra" wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 8:08 AM > Subject: [OKROOTS] SMOCK WEDDING > > > This came from another list and I thought it was interesting. > > 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 > >