17th Century Ceremonies: Marriage Laws As early as 1632 the law provided that except in case of necessity, the marriage ceremony should be performed inside of a church and that it should take place between the hours of eight in the morning and twelve midday, and afterwards followed by a lively fusillade and a large expenditure of powder. The reason for this law is the fear of trouble with the Indians. Source: Randolph Mss., Vol. III, p. 210. 17th Century Ceremonies: Runaway Marriages During 1673, Maryland couples were somehow obstructed from marrying because of the large number which fled into Virginia for the ceremony. All they had to do was cross the river. In 1662, a citizen of Northampton County ran off with Elizabeth Charlton, a girl only twelve years of age and heiress of one of the most conspicuous families on the Eastern Shore. At the time, she was staying at the home of Captain Jones, where she was receiving her education. The marriage occurred on the other side of the bay where they had fled in a sail-boat. Source: Northampton County Records, Vol. 1657-64, p. 158. 17th Century Ceremonies: Quick Remarriage The loss of a spouse prompted a re-marriage. Instances of persons having been married three times was not unusual. Because there were few women in the colony, as soon as the funeral celebration commenced, prospective suitors needing wives plotted their courtship. Gifts were made to the daughters in the form of land. It was customary for him to insert in the deed conveying the gift, a clause providing for what should be done with the gift in the event she should become a wife before she reached her sixteenth year. Women who had not yet passed their twelfth year were considered immature. Most women were married at such an immature age that they became broken in health, and after bearing from ten to twelve children, died, leaving their husbands to marry again and surround himself with a second brood. Often, a very young wife was left widowed for several years, and if endowed with beauty, charm or a fine plantation, she soon consoled herself by marrying a second or third time. So great was the haste in some instances that the second husband was granted the probate of the will of the first. In 1696, Rev. James Boulware of Essex County obtained a judgment against Edward Danneline for fees which were due him, not only for having performed the marriage service of Mr. and Mrs. Danneline, but also for having preached the funeral sermon of John Smith, the first husband of Mrs. Danneline. Source: Essex County Records, Orders, 11 June 1696 17th Century Ceremonies: Wedding Festivities A witness in a case which was tried in York County in 1656 testified that upon his arrival to the home of Thomas Bushrod, he was surprised to find his tobacco crop in a neglected condition. "Mr. Bushrod," said he, "what do you mean by suffering your tobacco to run up so high; and why do you not top it? Bushrod replied that his overseer had gone to a wedding without his consent and he knew not how to help it. Source: York County Records, Vol. 1657-62, p. 125. 17th Century Celebrations: Guns Fired over the Grave George Jordan of Surry County expressly forbade guns to be fired over his grave and directed that his executors permit no drunkenness to disgrace the occasion. In his last will and testament, he wished a "good and decent funeral". Source: Surry County Records, Vol. 1671-84, p. 295. The genealogist obtains a knowledge of the history of the area, peculiar bequests of his ancestors, etc. when he examines the details in the last will and testament. 17th Century Ceremonies: The Funeral Colonel Richard Cole of Westmoreland County directed in his last will and testament that the minister who should be chosen to conduct the services at his grave should wear gloves and a love scarf; the pall-bearers, who were to embrace the leading citizens of the county, were to be similarly dressed; whilst the remainder of the company present were to wear gloves and ribbons. Source: Westmoreland County Records, Vol. 1655-77, p. 186. Sally Rolls Pavia [email protected] List Owner: [email protected] Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index "Our Soldiers are one of our greatest assets!"