Case Name: Rebecca Blodget v. William Thornton
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1827-05
Citations: 3 Cranch 176
Docket Number: 
Parties: Rebecca Blodget v. William Thornton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 3
Pages: 176–177

Head Matter:
Rebecca Blodget v. William Thornton.
Upon a writ of dower, the marriage may be proved by parol evidence of cohabitation as man and wife.
Writ of dower. Verdict for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the Court, whether parol evidence of cohabitation as man and wife, is sufficient to prove the marriage.
Mr. C. C. Lee, for the defendant,
contended that the marriage can only be proved by the certificate of the bishop, or of the clergyman who married them.
The following authorities were cited by Mr. Lee. Jackson v. Claw, 18 Johns. 346; William v. Gwyn, 2 Saund. 45; 1 Phil. Ev. 262; Starkie, 939; Birt v. Barlow, Doug. 172; Morres v. Miller, 1 W. Bl. 632.
Mr. R. S. Coxe, (contra:,) cited Birt v. Barlow, Doug. 172; Morres v. Miller, 4 Burr. 2058 ; Bayard’s Peake, 88. See also Woodfall’s Landlord and Tenant, 402; Henry St. George Tucker’s notes to 1 Bl. Com. 440, n. 3.

Opinion:
The CouRT (Morsell, J., absent,) ordered the judgment to be entered for the plaintiff.