1. “Lonely Colonist Seeks Wife: The forgotten History of America’s First Mail Order Brides Marcia Zug

2. Jamestown Brides Threats to success of colony – Unmarried men not interested in settling, wanted to acquire wealth & return home Reversed immigration – 40-50 men living in Powhatan’s village Perceived as a security threat Lord Bacon, Founding member of the Virginia Company – Actively recruited & provided incentives for women (1612) 90 women arrived (1613) 50 women arrived 1691 passed a law to prohibit white-Indian marriages

3. “Founding Mothers” Vs. White Slave Recruits “received…upon good recommendation” – Poor, but not desperate – No prostitutes, criminals or beggars – Chosen to immigrate – Colonists had to pay 120-150 pounds of tobacco to the Virginia Company of London Incentives: – Petticoats, caps, apron, two pairs of shoes, six pairs sheets – Free transport, free good and shelter until they married – Promise to be married to freemen and those capable of support – Granted married households first servants

4. Scarcity of women 1620’s 6:1 1630’s 3:1 Women enjoyed increased legal and social position relative to their non-colonial sisters Breach of Promise, while normally not allowed in England, women had more leeway intially in Virginia Choice of marriage

5. Feme Covert England – Feme Covert – Could not hold property in their own name – Could not alter, dispose of property without husbands consent (even their own inheritance) – Could not make wills of appoint executors without their husbands agreement – All moveable property became their husbands with marriage

6. Chesapeake women/relaxed coverture MD, VA, SC Virginia House of Burgesses, petition July 31, 1619 – Request that parcels of land be allotted for males and their wives Question of equal distribution More dower & inheritance rights – Executrixes of late husbands estates – Frequently provided more than 1/3 share of estate as required under dower law – Femme-sole trader – married women obtained this status Right to sue, conduct business, be sued, enter into contracts, sell real property and have power of attorney in absence of husbands

7. Filles Du Roi/ The Kings Daughters New France Male colony, 75% reversed migration (1600s) Married native women – matrilocal Early 1600s encouraged white-Indian marriage – Fostered assimilation – Creation of French citizens – 1627 incentive to naturalize converted native women, could go to France and acquire property with rights of inheritance without any request or declaration to become naturalized – Dowry fund of several thousand livres to provide dowries for prospective native brides

8. Policy Change Intermarriage perceived as security threat – Filles du roi – recruited to save the colony 1663 - matchmaking program (800) women – Ages 12-25, healthy, suitable for procreation – Free and marragiable – Voluntary immigration/poor and orphaned, educated – 1670 15 demoiselles or aristocratic women volunteered Incentives: – Fee transport, when married provided a sgnificant dowry (50 livres, 100 livres, 600 livres) – Cost of transportation, recruitment and dowry 12, 570-33,000 livres – 82% pre-marital agreements stipulating material terms of the marriage – Could refuse a suitor and chose who they married – 4% chose never to marry – Indentured servants sometimes allowed to break contract in order to mary

9. Coutume du Paris French legal system used to protect womens rights Imported to New France In absence of a contract, all of the married couples assets, earning and debt were held jointly Marital contracts: women reserved some or all of the dowry & personal proterty

10. Louisiana’s Pelican Girls &Casket Girls Colonial population decline Men absorbed into native nations 1701 founder of colony, Iberville requested Brides: – Casket girls believed to be a myth – Pelican Girls (20)1704 Voluntary immigration Lied to about conditions & prospects/forced to stay Married against their will – 1713 Forced/coerced immigration “corrections girls” Prostitutes and criminals