Whether or not the disgrace shortened the life of Mother Sewall we shall never know; but the fact is recorded that she died on October 23, 1717.  There follows a rather lengthy silence concerning Sam’s affairs, and at length on February 24, 1718, we note the following good news:  “My Son Sam Sewall and his Wife Sign and Seal the Writings in order to my Son’s going home.  Govr.  Dudley and I Witnesses, Mr. Sam Lynde took, the Acknowledgment.  I drank to my Daughter in a Glass of Canary.  Govr.  Dudley took me into the Old Hall and gave me L100 in Three-pound Bills of Credit, new ones, for my Son, told me on Monday, he would perform all that he had promised to Mr. Walter.  Sam agreed to go home next Monday, his wife sending the Horse for him.  Joseph pray’d with his Bror and me.  Note.  This was my Wedding Day.  The Lord succeed and turn to good what we have been doing...."[271]

Is it not evident that at least in some instances women in colonial days were not the meek and sweetly humble creatures so often described in history, fiction, and verse?

VIII.  Marriage in Pennsylvania

If there was any approach toward laxness in the marriage laws of the colonies, it may have been in Pennsylvania.  Ben Franklin confesses very frankly that his wife’s former husband had deserted her, and that no divorce had been obtained.  There was a decidedly indefinite rumor that the former spouse had died, and Ben considered this sufficient.  The case was even more complicated, but perhaps Franklin thought that one ill cured another.  As he states in his Autobiography: 

“Our mutual affection was revived, but there were no great objections to our union.  The match was indeed looked upon as invalid, a preceding wife being said to be living in England; but this could not easily be prov’d, because of the distance, and tho’ there was a report of his death, it was not certain.  Then, tho’ it should be true, he had left many debts, which his successor might be call’d upon to pay.  We ventured, however, over all these difficulties, and I took her to wife Sept. 1st, 1730."[272]

Among the Quakers the marriage ceremony consisted simply of the statement of a mutual pledge by the contracting parties in the presence of the congregation, and, this being done, all went quietly about their business without ado or merry-making.  The pledge recited by the first husband of Dolly Madison was doubtless a typical one among the Friends of Pennsylvania:  “’I, John Todd, do take thee, Dorothea Payne, to be my wedded wife, and promise, through divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving husband, until separated by death.’  The bride in fainter tones echoed the vow, and then the certificate of marriage was read, and the register signed by a number of witnesses...."[273]