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By:

Niki Beck

Lana Whittleton

Sarah Panovka

Juliana Beal

  • two people introduced, then dance
  • technically not a part of courtship, but could help set it off

Period 3 English2H September 4th, 2015

Marriage in 18th Century England

Choice of spouse was critical!

Parents controlled children’s ability to marry before the age of twenty-one.

The choice of a spouse in the Regency Era had much more to do with money, rank, and economic and social advancement than with anything else, such as personality. This was especially unfortunate for women since a woman's personal property was transferred automatically to her husband on marriage, and was therefore in his control.

Parents controlled children’s ability to marry before the age of twenty-one.

The choice of a marriage partner was extremely important and determined one's status.

The consequences of those who did not listen to their parents were severe; either permission would be withheld or parents would take them out of their will. That did not happen often though because young people rarely courted far from their social class.

The Importance of Status

The Purpose of Marriage:

How is the purpose of marriage in the 18th century different than today?

Courtship: The Formal Road to Marriage

A status essentially controlled the amount of happiness one would have in life, including with children.

The main goal for women would be to marry, and that would be easier arranged if one was economically or socially well off.

The purpose of marriage was for security for oneself, and one's family, future and current. Security not only for survival, but also mainly in status: economic and social.

For the upper class, or those in positions of power, marriage was a right. For the lower class, however, marriage was a privilege, one that had to be worked very hard for.

Step 2:

Formal Walks

Step 5:

Engagement

Step 1:

Meeting at Social Events

Step 3:

Continued Contact

Step 4:

Proposal

Name the 5 steps of a relationship.

Lower Class

Upper Class

  • church suppers
  • sunday service
  • holiday balls
  • multiple events hosted throughout "the season"
  • April-July

Marriage was security.

  • couple walks together in public
  • must walk apart - cannot touch at all
  • no hand-holding, etc.
  • couple must stay in touch
  • must confirm their mutual attraction

Optional: Dancing

  • by now, man is introduced to woman's family and social group
  • man must ask girl's father for permission to marry
  • proposal: can be verbal or in a letter
  • woman does not have to immediately accept
  • woman's mother hosts engagement announcement dinner
  • purpose: groom meets bride's entire family
  • next - bride meets groom's family
  • engagement ring given to woman by man
  • woman can also get fiancée a ring, but unnecessary
  • more public and private intimacy allowed
  • hold hands
  • unchaperoned walks
  • kiss
  • be alone during the day

Formal Introduction

  • woman formally introduced to a man by a mutual friend
  • allows them to begin speaking to each other
  • allows couple to continue the courtship process

Weddings

Quote from Text

What are banns?

You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is an angel (40.60)

/ polygamy

  • Weddings in the 18th Century were very simple

  • Took place in a church or chapel

  • Were between 8am and 12 noon

  • License had to be purchased

Coming Out Ritual

Wedding Invitations and Announcement

Attendance

Bride's Attire

  • personal, handwritten letters

  • sent to family members that were invited

  • letters also sent to people who were not invited just to announce the marriage

  • sometimes marriage was announced in the newspaper (very good for social statuses)

Debutante's Ball

  • weddings were very small and private

  • attended only by close family (brides parents, unmarried sister(s)+cousins)

  • no friends were at weddings

  • townspeople would stand outside church to see the clothes and "wish the couple luck"
  • dress was normally best church clothes

  • dress was often other colors besides white

  • veils had not come into style yet so sometimes flowers were worn in hair

  • bonnets were also worn

Ceremony

  • banns(public announcement of marriage) were read

  • sign their names in the vestry on the parish marriage registry

  • wedding breakfast (celebratory meal)

  • sometimes couples would leave for a honeymoon (if they could afford it)

Wedding Breakfast

  • happened around the age of 17 or 18

  • a girl's education had been completed

  • she was ready to be debuted

  • "she was officially on the marriage mart"(available for arranged marriage)

Daily Life

  • singing and musical lessons

  • read literature

  • learned languages like French

  • manners/etiquette were learned

  • learned to converse and when to be quiet

  • not allowed out of her house alone

Debutante's Day

Mother's Influence

What are the differences in parental influence on marriage today versus the 18th century?

11am: woke up

12 noon: ate breakfast in her dressing room

1-3pm: went to a concert or to the park

8pm: ate dinner and then went to the opera

10pm-5am: attends 3-4 parties

  • first few years she would be watched by her mother at social gatherings

  • used her mother’s invitations

  • not allowed out of her house alone

  • danced with men that were chosen for her

  • attended debutante balls with her mother

Works Cited

Marriage Customs and Courtship

The Marriage Act of 1753

Lord Hardwicke- announced to House of Parliament the need to recognize marriage under the church

  • Also called: Lord Hardwicke's Act, or The Clandestine Marriage Act of 1753

  • 21 years of age without parental permission

  • Married in Church, by a minister

  • Banns or license

Fleet Prison

  • Royal Assent- 1754
  • March 26, 1754- 217 weddings
  • become legally married before law enforced

Purpose and Effects

Course of Action for the Rebels of the Marriage System

Differences in Requirements

Ceremony & Service

Purpose:

  • to reduce
  • Bigamy
  • Embezzlement
  • Enticement

Effects:

  • difficult to marry outside of social class
  • make "improper" marriage illegal
  • Blacksmiths "Anvil Priests"
  • ritual of two metals held over anvil
  • Location
  • 2 miles past border
  • Not Costly
  • "a wee dram or a few guineas"
  • License
  • Flee to another country
  • Gretna Green

Scotland-

  • without permission-
  • boys- 14 yrs girls- 12 yrs
  • married by declaration
  • 2 witnesses- no priest necessary

England-

  • without permission- 21 yrs both
  • married by priest, Church
  • priest, Banns
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