Peggy
08-07-2005, 6:21 AM
Hi,
Anyone ever come across an instance of this interesting custom?
Peggy
From the Marriage Register of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, New York; 1699: ALLERT HENDRICKSEN PLOEG, j.m., born and resid. in Kingstouwn, and RACHEL PIER, widow of ARIE FRANSSEN, born in Amsterdam, and resid. here.
On the margin of this entry is the following: ---"In the presence of Ariaan Roos, Geesje Pier, Maria Nucella, and Mary Singer, was Rachel Pier, with her chemise over her clothes, married to Albert Hendrickse Ploeg, by me [Domine] Nucella."
Note: This curious custom, occasionally practiced in Great Britain and America, was based upon an erroneous belief that a widow, when married in this manner, relieved her new husband from all responsibility for debts contracted by the first husband.
Anyone ever come across an instance of this interesting custom?
Peggy
From the Marriage Register of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, New York; 1699: ALLERT HENDRICKSEN PLOEG, j.m., born and resid. in Kingstouwn, and RACHEL PIER, widow of ARIE FRANSSEN, born in Amsterdam, and resid. here.
On the margin of this entry is the following: ---"In the presence of Ariaan Roos, Geesje Pier, Maria Nucella, and Mary Singer, was Rachel Pier, with her chemise over her clothes, married to Albert Hendrickse Ploeg, by me [Domine] Nucella."
Note: This curious custom, occasionally practiced in Great Britain and America, was based upon an erroneous belief that a widow, when married in this manner, relieved her new husband from all responsibility for debts contracted by the first husband.