The Proper Way to Terminate a Victorian Courtship

The Proper Way to Terminate a Victorian Courtship

We’ve seen the financial, legal, and emotional costs of a courtship gone wrong and culminating in a suit for breach of promise. In Victorian America, where such a consequence was possible if not common enough (to scare a young swain or two), advice of how to break up an unhealthy courtship–or cancel a planned wedding–must have been given by mothers, fathers, society matrons, and “Dear Abby’s” of the day. Indeed they did! This article includes quotes from 3 era-specific books published during the time period.

Victorian American Romance and Breach of Promise

Victorian American Romance and Breach of Promise

The more I study historic details of America’s past, the more I realize I don’t know–such as the common practice of suing for breach of contract when a young swain’s courtship derails and no marriage results. I was fascinated by newspaper accounts of settlements upon jilted brides, the dollar amounts sued for, common beliefs of the time period about courtship in general. Who knew courtship in nineteenth century America was such a legal risk?

Victorian Leap Year Traditions Part 2

Victorian Leap Year Traditions Part 2

YES. LEAP YEAR ROMANCES REALLY DID OCCUR!

Some Leap Year engagements credited to poor behavior of young men in the other three out of four years. Thus Ladies’ Leap Year Clubs and Men’s Leap Year Clubs passed resolutions of how to best protect and support one another through the difficulties. Rules for Leap Year parties, and more!

Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 3

Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 3

A man with two wives (neither knows about the other) seeks yet two more, entirely to swindle them of their means. This 1899 tale is so well worth reading.

Franks, as he presents himself on the West Coast, in the middle of defrauding women through multiple marriage agencies is scammed, himself, by a wealthy widow in demand of a expensive courtship.

Amateur historians will find myriad details worth noting, such as the communication of chiefs of police, use of the term “dead beat,” laws on the books, and so much more.

Courtship, Old West Style

Courtship, Old West Style

The ritual of courtship in the days of the American Old West is very different from today’s dating. Courtship used to always mean an intention to marry–if the couple found they were indeed as compatible as they believed. Courtship followed specific rules and standards, even in the less-than-stuffy western territories and states. I provide a list of courtship rituals that are an intrinsic part of the fabric of the American West history.