Wife selling

Throughout the 1800s there was barely a year without a newspaper report of a court case involving the sale of a wife. It seems that some people believed that if a wife were taken to market on market day with a halter (or sometimes a rope) around her neck the transfer was legal. It happened all over the UK; for example, West Lutton 1801; Wrentham 1802; Sheffield 1802; Ireland 1806; Hull 1810; Leominster 1818; Selby 1827; Honiton 1828; Bridlington 1828; Liverpool 1829; Banbury 1831; London 1832; Lancaster 1832; Bath 1833; Portsmouth 1833; West Riding 1837; Bardford 1838; Bridlington 1838; Witney 1839; Bradford 1839; Wisbech 1840; Leeds 1844; Stockport 1851; Bodmin 1853; Bury 1854; Thirsk 1855; Devonport 1856; Stonehouse 1856; Bradford 1858; Dudley 1859; Selby 1862; Newland 1862; Merthyr Tydfil 1863; Armagh 1864; Liverpool 1864; Chester 1864; Wolverhampton 1865; Hull 1868; Blackburn 1868; Bristol 1871, and so on ...

Prices ranged from a shilling to £150. Punishments included a month's hard labour, a £5 fine.

The magistrates and newspaper reporters expressed disgust at the lower classes' behaviour and ignorance, and were particularly shocked to find the wife herself perfectly satisfied at the arrangement.