A woman's place

I have just signed the petition to have mothers names included on marriage certificates, something I feel very strongly about.  In this day and age it is ludicrous that mothers are not included - not just to help the family historians of the future but far more importantly to recognise we are just as significant as our spouses - and in many cases it is the mothers who are primary carers in their children's lives.

Having done that I was then reading the Sussex Advertiser from the 8th July 1851 and came across the following entry:

Distressing case:- At the termination of the magisterial proceedings, a poor

woman named Martin appealed to the Bench under the following 

circumstances - She stated for months past she had been a martyr

to the ill-treatment of her husband.  She had been married for 15 years

had had several children and yet he not only refused to contribute

to their support but would frequently beat her in the most unmerciful

manner; the last time had had done so having been on Friday week.  Her

object was to preserve herself from his ruffianly attacks and she therefore

sought the advice of the Bench.  Mr Deane said that the proper course

would have been to have obtained a summons against the man after

the assault on the day mentioned by the woman.  So long a time had

now elapsed that the only suggestion he could make was that she had

better let him do it again (laughter).

Unbelievable!  Well, they were only 'ruffianly attacks', that doesn't sound too bad at all. At least once the Bench had stopped laughing and enjoying themselves they did agree to bring her husband in front of them to answer for his conduct.

I guess Mr Deane would not be in favour of mother's being given equal billing on the marriage licence!