Whilst Leeds, in the 18th century, was busy booming and growing and becoming the great city it is today the people of the area had to get on with their daily lives.

We can look back at the ordinary people of Leeds through the eyes of two newspapers of the time. The 'Leeds Mercury', later merged into the Yorkshire Evening Post, and the 'Leeds Intelligencer' provides fascinating glimpses of the lives of ordinary people.

Presented here, with the original spellings, are some clippings from the newspapers on the subject of marriage.

 First, we need to have a wedding.

On the 19th October 1779 we read that.....
' a couple went to the parish church, in this town, in order to be married with licence, but when the Minister came to ask,

'Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband?' she immediately replied, 'I wean't', and ran out of the church amidst a vast number of spectators'

 Having got a wife, keeping her seems to have been as problematic as today. As a husband was financially responsible, legally, for his wife's debts a wayward wife could prove something of a liability.

Major Bradley seems to have had problems as this notice in the 'Intelligencer' illustrates....
'Whereas Martha, the wife of Major Bradley of Quarry Hill, near this town, hath eloped from her husband without any just cause for so doing; This is therefore to caution and warn all Persons from harbouring or trusting her, or giving her the least encouragement on my Account, as I am determined not to pay any Debts she may contract after the date of this Advertisement. This is the Fourteenth Time she has left her husband.'
One wonders what the major would have thought of credit cards!

 The modern, western, housewife declares she is worth a great deal of money to her household. It may be interesting to revive a quaint custom!

On the 19th November 1776 it was reported....
'we hear from Pontefract, that on Tuesday last, one John Nutt, of that place, a labourer, sold his wife to one Ryder, a stay-maker there, for five shillings, and publickly delivered her at the Market Cross in a halter, when all persons seemed perfectly satisfied.'

This seems to have been a common practice of the age. Refinements included the 'Try Now - Buy Later' system.....

On 15th December 1778 it was reported....
'Yesterday se'nnight a stuff-weaver in this Town sold his wife to a porter for two shillings and sixpence and delivered her in a halter; but the porter, not liking his bargain, returned her soon after to the great mortification of the husband.'

I suppose he will have to buy her a Christmas present after all!