The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-06
HLST0RLCAL CURIOSITY.

A HISIOhICAL CChIOOAA -
The CornhM Magazine, in most entertain
ing article, entitled "Fleet Parsons and Fleet
Marriages" gives some curious facts respect
ing the clandestine weddings which brought
the Fleet into such notoriety during the last
century. The writer of the paper has derived
his facts principally from the unofficial regis
ters in which the Fleet marriages were re-
corded, and being undoubtedly truthful IN all
respects, the article is of much value as well
AS interest. Some of the entries in these old
records appear much more like memoranda
than a register of marriages, and are very sim
gular and amusing. We have, for instance,
such entries as the following
July Q744) Is. Came man and woman to
the Green Canister, he was an lrishman AMI
Taylor to bee married. Gave Mr.. AshWen Is.
but would have 5s. went away and aoulsed Mr
Ashwell very much, told him he was Thlet
and ! was worse. Took this account because
should not say they was married and not regis
tered. NIB. The Fellow said Mr.. Warren was
Nav 2stn l742. Thomas Tin worth of Lowton
In Essex b & Sart: Jane Palmer ditto Sp.
Halt married went away lhe had 4s) to fetch
more money. Saide he had q hundred Pound
lett by his father, his uncle had it in his hands
took this account because She should not come
and say they were married and not Registered
October II. l743. Michael Hickey OF st.
GATHERINGS by the Tower Mariner Il Br. & Eliza
beth Hudson-7s. only. NIB. These were Half
married ye day before.
0745) June 4. John Greenruf of Farnham
Royal in Bucks sawyeL w. & Martha Brook
well of do w. Ash. d.y. These people was with
as In the June Before and the man forced her
away Halt Done because he would not pay.
4;s (Ash).
Court of West: & Betty Rushworth Do. B. q Sp.
The Cock. Married at o'clock in the Morning.
Behay'd Rudely.
Chrstms Day at night Late about the Hour
of IL came to Mr.. Alders 1889 John Newbury
Gent and Maria Dions and q 3rd person. Gave
-(the sum here indicated is not intelligible)-
behaV'd Rudely told me that my Gown ought to
be strpt of my Back.
John and Elizabeth August 3Oth 1897. at Mr..
Sandy's the Fleet He said he belonged to the
sea, and had his own hair.
December 18th 1888. About ye Hour of 10 in
We Evening there came men and One woman
to Mr. Burnfords. The man yt was married
appeat'd by Dress as Gentleman of fortune and
ye woman Ut. was married like Lady OF
Quality, ye Man yt came with em seemed to me
to be Tayler who sd. he knew Mr. BID very
well " Re likewise. The Gentleman would not
pay but in mean and scandalous manner, he
offered d. q went Down stars and Down ye
Court came back Again pd. e. IN all and went
away without telling of their names. NIB. He
sd. he had Xn. Names viZ.:-John Skinner u
ye GentewomaD sd. her name was Elizabeth
NIB Ye Gentlewoman when married had on a
houred Silk Round Gown q after she was mar
rIed she pulls of her t1owerd Gown u under
meath She had Large full Black Silk Gown on
Il went away in ye same. Ye other was wrapt
up. BID Absent.
174l. May ye 18th 1741. certain man with
a spOtt in one eye a Snnament coat And young
woman with. Pritty Genteel face and Appear
ance came TO Mrs. Crooks and were Married she
had on Linnen Gown the Man sd. his Name
was Edward. But would not tell who be was
only vt he came from Spitaldeld. The young
woman sd. her name was Ann More of ye same
Parish.
Oct: 174l. Robt - Mary at Newmarket
married. Poold of his coat because it was
Black, said he would not be married in that coat
Tor VI. Reason pd. Is. 6.
Essex Hush. Br. d Mary Westaby Do. Sp. NIB.
Vile Behav'd the fellow would not say with this
ring thee wed &c. Parish affair. Bull Garter.
(The "Bull and Garter' was a noted tavern in
the Fleet. The signs of some other taverns
often alluded to in the registers were "The Two
Fighting Cocks and Walnut Tree" "The Green
Canister" THE Noah's Ark" Jacks Last
Shift" "The Shepherd and Goat" 'The
i724 November 81. Richard Akerman, Turner
of Christ Church Batr. & Lydia Collit at Mrs.
Crooks. N. B. They Behav'd very Viely, IL
attempted to run away with Mrs. Crooks gold
ring.
(Mrs. Crook was the proprietor of the mar
riage-house, and let her ring, it seems, for the
purpose of the marriage ceremony
9th Noybr. 1745. Timothy Floyd. Ellis Love
as under. She most vile wicked abusive
WOOIndn. NO: zl4. ASH. N ana all 10 pay IS: o.
Clerk and Reglstr. 4: part copy.
(Ehe subjoined extract shows that the Flee
marriages were not always contracted BY youna
took place at Mr.. Lilly's "Hand and Pen" anc
was solemnized by Mr., Ashwell, whom we hav,
before mentioned.)
1746. Jan. 9. Jno. Smith Gent servt. of st.
Marylebone wr. Il Ann Page WV. He so years
she n both fresh and in perfect senses. Ash.
These and many more extracts are giver
from the old Fleet records which evince {
queer state of morals in that famous locality
and an odd conception of matrimony. Thi:
state of affairs continued till 1853, when Lore
Harwicke's Marriage Act came into operation
The records from which the above extracts are
name were purchased by the English Govern
ment in 1921, and are now preserved at the
Office of the Register where they are
open to search upon the payment of small fee
MUNCHA USENISILS.