Deaf and Dumb Weddings

[Sue Mackay]

Thought this might be of general interest

From the South African Commercial Advertiser
Saturday 17 April 1852
A DEAF AND DUMB BRIDE
A motion was brought before the District Court on the 23rd instant for rule to compel the Rev H. PEARSE, Wesleyan Minister, to marry a private of the 45th Regt, to a woman deaf and dumb. Objection to the rule being granted was urged by the counsel of defendant on two grounds. 1 That the marriage of the parties had been prohibited by the Colonel of the regiment. 2 That Mr. PEARSE refused to marry them because they were not members of his congregation. The Recorder, in his judgement, noticed first the prohibition of the colonel, and after discussing the law of the case, gave it as his opinion that the parties were quite eligible for matrimony, and that no officer in Her Majesty’s service was competent to interfere between a subordinate and his civil privileges. The second point, which he pronounced of great importance, he considered at great length; and after showing that each minister of the different denominations was bound by law to perform on behalf of all persons, voluntarily or otherwise, under his charge, the several duties pertaining to his office; that it could not be expected that a person of the Roman Catholic persuasion should be at liberty whenever he might feel disposed to make a tool of any Protestant Minister; that the member of the flock must look to the pastor of the flock, and moreover that where a chaplain to the regiment was appointed, that he must be regarded as under obligation to perform the duties required by the regiment. That whether there was a chaplain here was not for him to enquire at present, but as the man was on the official record entered as an Episcopalian, and the parents of the woman as Roman Catholics, that Mr. PEARSE could not be compelled. The rule refused, and the application charged with costs.

Apropos of the above is the following from the Derbyshire Advertiser.
EXTRAORDINARY MARRIAGE SCENE: Married, Dec 8 at the Parish Church, Preston, Thomas REED to Maria CARNLEY. The bride and bridegroom were both deaf and dumb, natives of Preston, and formerly pupils of the deaf and dumb school of that town. The Rev S.F. PAGE, incumbent of St.Paul’s Church, who has taken much interest in the deaf and dumb school, performed the ceremony. Mr. WILSON, late master of the school, officiated as interpreter. Three groomsmen and three bridesmaids, all deaf and dumb, attended on the occasion, and there were also present a deaf and dumb couple who had been married about ten years ago at the parish church.

[v.wells]

What an amazing little story Sue It must have been quite extraordinary in that era for such a marriage to take place. That the legalities were over-turned in the couple's favour shows the values of civil human rights even then.

[AnnB]

How strange Sue - we have just transcribed the following from the North Devon Journal of the 9th November 1854 -

8th inst, in our parish church [Barnstaple], by the Rev. H. Luxmoore, Mr George COOK, late of Ilfracombe, to Miss Eliza POPE, of this place. The ceremony was rendered more than usually interesting by the circumstance that the bride and bridegroom, as well as the bridesmaid were all deaf and dumb.

Best wishes
Ann

[British Viking]

Whilst fascinatingly interesting, these days if you called anybody Deaf and Dumb you'd get hung, drawn and quartered....wait a minute, we don't do that now do we? (thankfully!)