Wife selling in the Black Country.

[Jimmy]

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/Fea ... y-secrets/

"A man named George Hitchinson brought his wife, Elizabeth Hitchinson, from Burntwood, for sale, a distance of eight or nine miles. They came into the market between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, the woman being led by a halter, which was fastened round her neck and the middle of her body.

"In a few minutes after their arrival she was sold to a man of the name of Thomas Snape, a nailer, also from Burntwood. There were not many people in the market at the time.

Lichfield St Michael.
Marriage date 29 Oct 1827.
George HITCHINSON.
Elizabeth DERRY.
Witness 1 George MATHER.
Witness 2 Ann HITCHINSON.
Notes Witness 2 signs (X).

1841. Burntwood, St Michael Lichfield.
Thomas Snape 28. Nailer.
Elizabeth Hutchinson 30.
Arthur Hutchinson 13.
Henry Hutchinson 11.
Frederick Hutchinson 9.
Richard Hutchinson 6.
Hannah Hutchinson 2.

HITCHINSON, HANNAH DERRY.
GRO Reference: 1839 S Quarter in LICHFIELD UNION Volume 17 Page 63.

[Jimmy]

Burntwood Christ Church.
Burial date 07 Aug 1842.
Elizabeth HITCHINSON.
Person age 34.
Burial person abode Burntwood.

[Jimmy]

Staffordshire Farewell, St Bartholomew.
Baptism date 25 Jul 1830.
Henry HITCHENSON.
Father George HITCHENSON.
Mother Elizabeth.
Person abode Of Gentleshaw.
Father occupation Labourer.
Notes Minister Henry BINFIELD.

[Jimmy]

1851. Burntwood.
Thomas Snape 39. Unmarried. labourer.
Richard Hitchens 14.
Hannah Hitchens 11.
All born Burntwood.

1861. Meg Lane, Burntwood.
Arthur Hitchinson 32. Ag lab.
Emma Hitchinson 27.
William Hitchinson 6.
Frederick Hitchinson 2.
Arthur Hitchinson 3/12 Son
Thomas Snape 36. lodger. bricklayers labourer.

LANE, WILLIAM blank.
GRO Reference: 1854 J Quarter in LICHFIELD UNION Volume 06B Page 327.

HITCHENSON, ARTHUR LANE.
GRO Reference: 1861 M Quarter in LICHFIELD Volume 06B Page 348.

Burntwood Christ Church.
Marriage date 23 Aug 1857.
Arthur HITCHENSON. full age. bachelor. labourer. Burntwood. George HITCHENSON. Labourer.
Emma LANE. full age. spinster. Burntwood. Joseph LANE. Labourer.
Witness.1 Henry HITCHENSON.
Witness.2 Sarah HARRISON.

[Jimmy]

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/Features/2022/06/22/wife-selling-and-other-black-country-secrets/

So Hannah was the daughter of Thomas Snape and Elizabeth Hitchinson,

HITCHINSON, HANNAH DERRY.
GRO Reference: 1839 S Quarter in LICHFIELD UNION Volume 17 Page 63.

Lichfield St Michael.
Marriage date 10 Apr 1859.
Charles WRIGHT. full age. Miner. Burntwood. Samuel WRIGHT. Labourer.
Hannah SNAPE. 20. Burntwood. Thomas SNAPE. Labourer.
Witness 1 John SANDERS.
Witness 2 Ann SANDERS.
Notes Bride and Groom sign (X).

1861. Burntwood.
Charles Wright 22. coal miner. Longdon, Staffs.
Hannah Wright 21. Burntwood.
Julia Wright 1. Daughter. Chorley, Staffs.

WRIGHT, JULIA SNAPE.
GRO Reference: 1860 J Quarter in LICHFIELD Volume 06B Page 358.

[grangers14]

[Jimmy]

I wish I had sold mine.

[Northern Lass]

moved to Historical section.

[gardener]

Thanks Jimmy! Funny coincidence, I had decided I should read the Mayor of Casterbridge, and that starts with some bloke auctioning off his wife at market. I wonder how common it was.