| Brits sell wives |
EasyNews, UseNet made Ea .. |
| ::darkshadows:: (blood@thirsty.net) |
2008/04/22 10:46 |
Is it true that until the mid 1850's British husbands could sell their
wives?
Until the first Divorce Court was established in 1857 it was common
practice for men to trade their unwanted spouses like any other
possession.
Before the Divorce Court was established, the only legal way of
disposing of an unwanted spouse was by Act of Parliament. This process
in modern day values).
This sum was far beyond the means of most people. But it was firmly
established in the popular mind, particularly in the poorer areas like
the West Midlands, that a wife could be bought and sold in the same
way as any other good or service.
In Staffordshire, for example, the custom of wife selling followed a
fairly rigid pattern. A man in search of freedom took his wife to
market, with a length of rope attached to her neck. He paid a toll
that gave him the right to sell merchandise, then paraded her around
the market extolling her virtues. Interested males would then bid for
her in a general auction.
Once a bid was accepted the husband would hand over the toll ticket as
proof of ownership, and the trio would then retire to the inn and seal
the deal with a beer or two. Despite the lowly position of the wives
in these transactions, most accepted the custom as a satisfactory way
of ending an unhappy marriage.
In many instances the sale was agreed by mutual consent before the
auction commenced. However, it was accepted practice that the
formality of the market place auction would always be conducted.
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