Got this from another list. Thought others might like to see it. Boy it is a new one on me! Mary Platte Co., Wyoming Subject: Smock Wedding, unusual English custom that make it way to America Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000 13:31:49 MDT Subj: History 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. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.