Case Name: Joseph Coombs and Jerusha his Wife versus Robert Williams
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1818-09
Citations: 14 Tyng 243
Docket Number: 
Parties: * Joseph Coombs and Jerusha his Wife versus Robert Williams.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 224–224

Head Matter:
* Joseph Coombs and Jerusha his Wife versus Robert Williams.
In the trial of an action, upon a promise to a feme sole, brought by her husband and herself after marriage, it is not competent for the defendant to prove the illegality of the marriage; such matter being wholly in abatement

Opinion:
Assumpsit on a promissory note made by the defendants to the said Jerusha when sole, and the plaintiffs aver their intermarriage since the date of the note. At the trial on the general issue, before Putnam, J., the defendant offered to prove that the said Joseph had a former wife living when he married the said Jerusha. The judge rejected the evidence; and the question being brought before the whole Court, they were of opinion with the judge at the trial; the matter offered to be proved being wholly in abatement,
Scanlon vs. Wright, Suff. March T. 1833, Mss