I know listers have all probably heard this story but thought there may be a few out there that had not and may enjoy!!! AN ACCOUNT OF A MOST DISGRACEFUL TRANSACTION - 1811 "A person (for a man I cannot call him) of the name of Ralph Mulkins, led his lawful wife into our streets on the 28th ultimo, with a rope round her neck, and publicly exposed her for sale; and, shameful to be told, another fellow, equally contemptible, called Thomas Quire, actually purchased and paid for her on the spot, sixteen pounds in money, and some yards of cloth. I am sorry to add, that the woman herself was so devoid of those feelings which are justly deemed the most valuable in her sex, agreed to the base traffic, and went off with the purchaser, significantly hinting, that she had no doubt her new possessor would make her a better husband that the wretch she then parted from. This business was conducted in so public a manner, and so far outraged all laws human or divine, that a Bench of Magistrates, consisting of Mr. Cox, the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, and Mr. Mileham, had it publicly investigated on Saturday last, and lal the odious circumstances having been clearly proved, and even admitted by the base wretches themselves, the Bench sentenced this no-man to receive 50 lashes, and put to hard labour in irons in the gaol gang at Sydney for the space of three calendar months; and the woman to be transported to the Coal River for an indefinite time. The public indignation at so gross a violation of decency was most unequivocally expressed, by the acclamations with which th esentence was received by a numerous concourse of people who assembled to know the event of so extraordinary and unprecendented business." Source: Sydney Gazette, 14 September 1811 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Nichols" <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> To: <AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 05 December 2002 15:06 Subject: [H,H,HV] Sale of a wife > I know listers have all probably heard this story but thought there may be a > few out there that had not and may enjoy!!! > > AN ACCOUNT OF A MOST DISGRACEFUL TRANSACTION - 1811 > "A person (for a man I cannot call him) of the name of Ralph Mulkins, Hi Michelle Was this in one of the books on the Hawkesbury area apart from the Sydney gazette ?? Pretty I have read it before I have been trying to find out about a similar occurrence that happening in 1803 when Israel RAYNER allegedly sold his wife Elizabeth to Henry BALDWIN for a large black pig and 6 bushels of wheat This apparently was in a book written by a Roderick BEST called 'The Early Colonial Family ' and is on p 57 . Too date I have been unable to unearth any copy of this book Roderick BEST was co author of the book ' Where 1st Fleeters lie " . Quite a few copies of that about . A few weeks ago I happened to mention this to someone when it hit me that this ref I have was anything but a primary record ! I got this from the SAG a few years ago . Have emailed them a few days ago Earlier this week I was out at State Records, Kingswood, and this was on my list of things to find about but they had no records of any such goings on ???? Anyway Henry & Elizabeth went on to found a dynasty . Nearly all their children had unusual names ...Arlette, Harvest, Bemarr, Wynn, Virgo , Wellow , Dido & Tulip etc . Tulip is my son in laws gt x3 gtgrandmother Has anyone come across any other wife sales ?? bye Marg Morters Beautiful Central Coast of NSW Australia