Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-11-28
AN HElRESS' STRANGE LIFE.

Legally Married TO Woman Several Years Her
Senior-Her Husband" Now in an Insane
Asylum and Property Waiting for Her in Massa-
chusetts.
boston SPECIAL to the New York WorldJ
The remarkable story published in the
World Of two women being legally mar
rIed, one of whom was for years disguis-
ed III male attire, appeared to have orig
mated in the state of Pennsylvania, but
an interesting part of the romance &C
CURED 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
lawyer. They were brothers and infu-
entail men.
Among the children born to Col. Ho-
bart, was a daughter, Maria, who re-
ceived fine educa ton, and was brought
up In refinement, with every luxury at
her command. She fell in love with a
young farmer, by name Daniel Perry,
and was married to him much against
the wishes of her parents. The match
proved unfortunate for her, she being
naturally of high spirit and of a very
sensitive nature and unable to help the
hard-toiling farmer. He was prudent
and did not give his wife the comforts in
life to which she had been accustomed,
and her unhappy life rendered her al
most insane.
Maria finally deserted her home and
was found one morning behind pile of
wood in the town of ROckland, Mass.
claspmg to her bosom q newborn babe.
The child was named after it's mother,
Maria Perry. and was taken care of by
friends until the mother died. She
grew up beautiful girl, but when
about seventeen years old she seemed to
have an inclination like her mother to
wander about. She would be gone for
weeks and then return. Finally she
went away and when heard from was i'll
the state of Pennsylvania.
A few years later she returned 10 Alb
ington with husband whom she intro
duced as Joe Lobdell, and visited her
uncle, Benjamin Hobart. She was
kindly received, and her hunsband was
hired to do work about the place. One
day suspicion fell upon the mind Of
Lawyer Hobart that Joe was q woman
in disguise, which, on investigation,
proved to be the fact and the old man
was so indignant that he caused her ar
rest. She was imprisoned for four
months, during which time Maria visited
her and carried delicacies to her. At
length neighbors in the vicinity of the
lawyers home prevailed upon HIM to
have the young woman released. When
she came out of prison she lived with
Maria again.
At that time the estate of Maria 8
mother was settled by E. d. K. Quincy,
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 in
Pennsylvania leading her curious and
most remarkable life, although, "Joe,"
her husband" is at present in the
Willard Asylum for the Insane. Ben
iamin Hobart, her uncle, died two years
ago.
Maria has brother named Daniel
Perry, a prosperous business man in
South Arlington. She is now about 40
years old, while "Joe," her curious
husband" is few years her senior.
The Arlington people believe that joe
was the mother of child that is now
living and that "Joe" and Maria we're
married in due form by justice of the
peace of Wayne County, Pa, he being
ignorant of the fact that they were both
women. Several letters written by
Maria are in the possession of Arlington
people which show her to be an edu-
Gated and. accomplished woman.