When was it published?

August 12, 1737 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News August 12, 1737

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What sub-type of article is it?

Marriage Scandal, Family Dispute

Q: What keywords are associated?

Chatham Marriage, Wealthy Farmer, Servant Girl, Family Rage, Social Scandal

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

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What is this article about?

In Chatham's Hundred of Hoo, a 60-year-old wealthy farmer married a 15-17-year-old poor servant girl on Friday last, enraging his daughter who nearly attacked the bride en route to church, sparking local scandal over the status mismatch.

Clipping

OCR Quality

100% Excellent

Full Text

They write from Chatham, that on Friday last, in the Hundred of Hoo, a very wealthy Farmer, 60 Years of Age, was married to a poor Servant Girl, 15 or 17 Years of Age. A Daughter of the Farmer's who is married, and lives in that Neighbourhood, was so enraged at the Marriage, she could scarce be prevented from falling on her Mother-in-Law, as she was coming to Church. The Meanness and Indigence of the Bride, and the Wealthiness, Credit, and Reputation, in which the Bridegroom has hitherto liv'd, is what makes this Match more surprizing, and furnishes the unmarried young Women of that Parish with Scandal, Infamy and Reproach, against the lucky poor Girl.

What sub-type of article is it?

Marriage Scandal Family Dispute

What keywords are associated?

Chatham Marriage Wealthy Farmer Servant Girl Family Rage Social Scandal

Where did it happen?

Chatham, Hundred Of Hoo

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Chatham, Hundred Of Hoo

Event Date

Friday Last

Outcome

the marriage caused scandal and reproach among the unmarried young women of the parish; the farmer's daughter was enraged and nearly attacked the bride.

Event Details

A very wealthy farmer, 60 years old, from the Hundred of Hoo in Chatham, married a poor servant girl aged 15 or 17. The farmer's married daughter, living nearby, was so enraged that she could scarcely be prevented from attacking her new mother-in-law on the way to church. The contrast between the bride's meanness and indigence and the bridegroom's wealth, credit, and reputation makes the match surprising and scandalous.