Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-09
From the Bridgewatera Journal.
Historical Sketch.


Mr.. EDITOR In an old work enti-
tied Historical Collections of Virgin
ia" we find the following description
of the weddings in the early history of
the Valley, which we present rs possibly
a readable sketch for our modern brides
and bridegrooms of this more modern
period. The description is by DIR. Jo-
seph Doddridge, an Episcopal clergy
man.
For long time," says the writer,
'safter the first settlement OF. the coun :;
try. the inhahitants married. young.
There was no di4tinctiOn Of fAhK, and
very little of fortune. On these ae-,
counts the first impression of love re-
ap,ted in marriage; and a family estab-
lishment cost but little labor and moth
ing else.
A description of wedding, from the
beginning to the end, will serve to
shoY the manners of cur ferefathers.
and mark the grade of civilization
which succeeded to their rude state of
society in the course of few years. At
an early period the practice of cele-
brating the marriage at the home of the
bride began, and, it should seem, with
great propriety. She also had the
choice Of the minister to perform the
ceremony. a Wedding engaged the at
tention of the whole neighborhsod, and
the frolic was anticipated by old and
young with eager expectation. This is
not to be wondered at when it is told
that a wedding wes almost the only
gathering which was not accompanied
with the labor of reaping, log rolling,
building cabin or planning some scout
or campaign. In the morning of the
wedding day the groom and his attend
ants assembled at the house of his father
fog tte purpose of reaching the house of
the bride eTpectant, by noon, which
was the usual tims OF celebrating the
nuptials, which, for certain, must taks
place before dinner. Let the reader inn
ag!ne an assemblage of people without
store, tailor or mantuamaker within
a hundred miles, and IN assemblage of
horses without blacksmith or saddler
within an equal distance. The gentle
men dressed in shoe packs, moccasins,
leather breeches, leggins, linsey hunt
ing shirts-all homemade. The ladies
dressed in linsey petticoats and linsey
or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes and
stockings, and buckskin gloves, if any.
If there were any buckles, rings, but
toms or rutfles they were relics of old
times; family pieces from parents or
grandparents. The horses were clm
parisoned with old saddles, old brides
or halters, aud pack saddles with q bag
or blanket thrown over them rope or
string as often constituted the girth as a
piece of leather. The march. in double
file, was often interrupted by the mar
rowness and -obstructions of the horse
paths, as they ere called, for there were
no roads and these difficulties were Of
ten increased, sometimes by the good
and sometimes by the ill will of neigh
bors, by falling trees and feing grape
vines across the way. Eofnetimes an
ambuscade was formed by the wayside
and an unexpected discharge of several
guns took place, so as to cover the we'd
ding party with smoke. Let the reader
imagine the scene which followed the
discharge; the sudden spring Of the
girls and the chivalric hustle of their
partners to save them from falling.
Sometimes, in spite OF all that could
be done, to prevent it, somo were
thrown to the ground. If q wrist, ei-
bow or ankle happened to be sprained it
was tied with handkerchief and little
more was said or thought about IT. An
other ceremony commonly took place
before the party reached the house OF
the bride, after the pr actiee OF making
whiskey began, which was at an early
period. When the party were about a
mile from the place of destination two
young men would single out to run for
the bottle; the worse the path the more
logs, brush and deep holiows the hetters
as these obstacles afforded an opportuni-
ty for the greater display OF intrepidlty
and horsemanship. The English fox
chase, IN point of danger to the riders
and their horses, is nothing to this race &c
for the bottle. The start was anpounced
by an Indian yell logs, brush, muddy
hollows, hill and glen were speedily
passed by the rival ponies. The bottle
was always filled for the occasion, SO
that there was no use for judges Ior
the first who reached the door was pre-
sented with the prize, with which ne re-
turned in triumph to the company. Cn
approaching them he announced his VIC
tory over his rival by shrill wnoop.
At the head of the troop, he gave the
bottle first to the groom and his attend
ants and then to each pair in SUCCESSION
to the rear of the line, giving eacA q
drain, and then putting the bottle II tne
bosom of his hunting shirt, TOOK MS
station in the company.
The ceremony of the marriage pre-
ceded the dinner, which was sHDstan-
tial back.Woods feast OF heef, PofK'