Serious as was the matter of the mere courtship, the fact that the dowry or marriage portion had to be considered made the act of marriage even more serious.  The devout elders, who taught devotion to heavenly things and scorn of the things of this world, nevertheless haggled and wrangled long and stubbornly over a few pounds more or less.  Judge Sewall seems to have prided himself on the friendly spirit and expediteness with which he settled such a matter.  “Oct. 13, 1729.  Judge Davenport comes to me between 10 and 11 a-clock in the morning and speaks to me on behalf of Mr. Addington Davenport, his eldest Son, that he might have Liberty to Wait upon Jane Hirst now at my House in way of Courtship.  He told me he would deal by him as his eldest Son, and more than so.  Inten’d to build a House where his uncle Addington dwelt, for him; and that he should have his Pue in the Old Meeting-house....  He said Madam Addington Would wait upon me."[235]

Not only was provision thus made for the future financial condition of the wedded, but also the possibility of the death of either party after the day of marriage was kept in mind, and a sum to be paid in such an emergency agreed upon.  For example, Sewall records after the death of his daughter Mary:  “Tuesday, Febr. 19, 1711-2....  Dine with Mr. Gerrish, son Gerrish [Mary’s Husband], Mrs. Anne.  Discourse with the Father about my Daughter Mary’s Portion.  I stood for making L550 doe; because now twas in six parts, the Land was not worth so much.  He urg’d for L600, at last would split the L50.  Finally, Febr. 20, I agreed to charge the House-Rent, and Differences of Money, and make it up L600."[236]

II.  Judge Sewall’s Courtships

The Judge’s own accounts of his many courtships and three marriages give us rather surprising glimpses of the spirit and independence of colonial women, who, as pictured in the average book on American history, are generally considered weak, meek, and yielding.  His wooing of Madam Winthrop, for instance, was long and arduous and ended in failure.  She would not agree to his proffered marriage settlement; she demanded that he keep a coach, which he could not afford; she even declared that his wearing of a wig was a prerequisite if he obtained her for a wife.  Mrs. Winthrop had been through marriage before, and she evidently knew how to test the man before accepting.  Not at all a clinging vine type of woman, she well knew how to take care of herself, and her manner, therefore, of accepting his attentions is indeed significant.  Under date of October 23 we find in his Diary this brief note:  “My dear wife is inter’d”; and on February 26, he writes:  “This morning wondering in my mind whether to live a single or a married life."[237]