The Dawson journal., 1883-11-29
ANEiEIREss' STRANGE LIFE
Legally Married to "a Woman
Several Years Her Senior.

New York Special
The remarkable story recently pub
lished in the World of two women
being legally married, one of whom
was for years disguised in male attire,
appeared to have originated in the
State of Pennsylvania, bnl an inter
esting art of the romance occurred in
Abingdon, one of the most Puritanic
towns within fifteen miles of Boston.
Here lived Col, Aaron Hobart and
Benz. Hobart, the latter a noted law
yer. They were brothers and infu-
entail men.
Among the children born to Co.
Hobart was daughter, Maria, who
received fine education, and was
brought up in refinement, with every
luxury at her command. She fell in
love with young farmer, by name
Daniel Perry, and was married to
him much against the wishes of her
parents. The match proved unfor-
tunate for her, she being naturally of
high spirit and of very sensitive
nature and unable to help the hard
toiling farmer. He was prudent aud
did not give his wife the comforts in
life to which she had been customed,
and her unhappy life rendered her
almost insane.
Maria finally deserted her home
and was fonnd one morning behind a
pile of wood in the town of Rock
land, Mass. clasping to her bosom a
newborn babe. The child was nam
ed after its mother, Maria Perry, and
was taken care Of BY friends until the
mother died. She grew up beauti-
full girl, but when about II years old
she seemed to have an inclination like
her mother to wander al out She
would be gone for weeks and then
return. Finally she went away and
when heard from was in the State Of
Pennsylvania.
A few years later she returned to
Arlington with husband whom she
introduced as Joe Lobdell, and visit
ed her uncle, Benjamin Hobart. She
was kindly received, and her husband
was hired to do work about the place.
One day suspicion fell upon the mind
OF Lawyer Hobart that Joe was a
woman in disguise, which, on inves
tigatlon, proved to be the fact, and
the old man was SO indignant that
he caused her arrest. She was inn
prisoned for four months, during
which time Maria visited her and
carried delicacies to her. At length
neighbors in the vicinity of the law
yer's home prevailed upon him to
have the young woman released.
When she came out Of prison she liy-
ed with Maria again.
AT that time the estate of Maria S
mother was settled by e. B. K. Cur
ney, of South Hanson, and the share
which fell to Maria was real estate
valued at several thousand dollars
This property she has not claimed,
but is still i'll Pennsylvania leading
her curious and mostremarkabe life,
although "Joe,' her "husband, is at
present in the Willard Asylum for
the Insane. Benjamin Hobart, her
uncle, died two years ago.
Maria has brother named Daniel
Perry, q prosperous business man in
South Arlington. She is now about
40 years old, while "Joe,' her curl
Gus husband" is few years her
senior. The Abingdon people believe
that ''Joe" was the mother of child
that isnow living, and that 'Joe' an d
Maria were married indue form by a
Justice of the Peace of Wayne copn-
ty, Pa, he being ignorant Of the fact
that they were both women Sever
al letters written by Maria are in the
possession of Abingdon people, which
show her to be an educated and ac-
cOmplished woman.