| On February 22, 1789, a rather unusual marriage ceremony took place in the Field Mansion up on Newfane Hill. During the ceremony, the bride, Hannah Ward, was completely naked." Oddity Odyssey: A Journey Through New England's Colorful Past by James Chenoweth |
Before forming visions of a Lady-Godiva type procession, we should get the rest of the story.
A lineage book entitled “Ward Family: descendants of William Ward: who settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639” (Andrew Hanshaw Ward, 1851) mentions (descendant) William Ward in the supplements, on page 239 .The book says William “was styled Captain, and subsequently Colonel.” It says he was granted a township, which was named Wardsborough, and that he died in Canada (date unknown) where he had gone to procure a load of furs. And then it says “Of Col. Ward, but little more is known.”
Hannah the widow desired to remarry, and her intended was Major Moses Joy. However, William Ward's untimely death had left Hannah encumbered by the estate's unpaid debt, and the law of the times stated that any man who married a widow would become liable for any debts owed by the deceased husband's estate.
Everything Hannah owned, right down to the clothes on her
back, were part of the old husband’s estate, which debt Major Joy would have to
assume, should he come into contact with any property once owned by William. So Hannah simply decided to get married naked, to avoid bringing anything old to the new marriage.
In a mansion atop scenic Newfane Hill Hannah entered the ceremonial room clad in worn, threadbare clothing. She was accompanied by one attendant, who with Hannah entered an empty adjacent closet and closed the door. Within the closet, Hannah removed her clothes and handed them to the attendant, who then left the closet. Hannah extended one bare arm through a hole in the closet door, which was grasped by groom Moses Joy, and thus the ceremony was conducted by Rev. Taylor (Hezekiah?)
When the ceremony was over, clothing was passed into the closet, and bride Hannah emerged, in new, elegant attire.
Moses and Hannah lived happily ever after.
Comments
Post a Comment