----- 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 >