|
a.
|
Note: ife, Sarah, and the following children: Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth, John, Susannah, Samuel, Prudence, & Joseph. ARNOLD & BEAMAN: VRRI The following was submitted to the author by Paul A. Saunders of Matthews, NC: John Saunders, the eldest son of our immigrant ancestor, Tobias, served as Justice of the Peace in Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island, as did his father. Both men officiated at several weddings, but John had one wedding which was quite unusual. It was described thusly in 'The Narragansett Historical Register', Vol. I, 1882-83: 'A SINGULAR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. -- To all people to whom it may concern: this may certify you that Nathaniel Bundy, of Westerly, took ye widow Mary Palmister of said town, in ye highway, with no other clothing but shifting, or smock, on ye evening after the 26th of April, 1724; and was joined together in that honorable estate of matrimony, in ye presence of John Coles, Peter Crandall, James Coney, Moses Downing, George Stillman, Mary Crandall, Mercy Hill; and was so joined together as above said, ye day and year above mentioned Per me, JOHN SAUNDERS, Justice !Registered ye 29th day of April, 1724. Per JOHN BABCOCK, Town Clerk' Nelson Byron Vars, author of 'Records of Tobias Saunders And His Descendants', has this to say about the subject: 'Of this seemingly very strange ceremony I have learned of four, one in South Kingstown, two in Westerly, one in Hopkintown [sic] -- the record of one I found in Westerly I copied and sent to the Newport Historical Magazine and was published. But I have never seen published any explanation of the strange ceremony. 'Therefore I will give such information as I have received, believeing it to be correct. The law was in substance this -- If a married man died leaving a widow and unpaid debts, the man who should marry her became responsible for the first husband's debts. But a way of escape was provided, if they would comply with the requirements, which were as follows: That the bride-to-be (widow) should be married in the public highway, with no other clothing on but her shirt; thereby representing 'in the figure' that she was a poor wanderer without any home or friends, utterly destitute. It was also required that the ceremony should be performed where at least three roads met -- that is, at the corners of the roads, showing still further in the figure that she had come thus far and was now at a loss which road to take. She is there met by a man, who seeing her destitute and friendless condition, offers to marry her and take her to himself and his home. 'As above stated, it was required to be where three roads met, that is at least three corners. But if that was not convenient, then it was provided that the bride-to-be (widow) should walk across the road back and forth at least 4 times, thereby representing the four corners of the road.'
Note: In his will, dated 24 Feb 1743/44 and proved 30 Apr 1746, he mentions a w
|
