In fact, just as in England in our own day,[865] it was "deemed most plebeian, almost vulgar, to be married by publication of the banns for three Sundays in church, or posting them according to the law, as was the universal and fashionable custom in New England." This notice from a New York newspaper, dated December 13, 1765, will show how widespread had been the aversion to the publication of banns:
"We are credibly informed that there was married last Sunday evening, by the Rev. Mr. Auchmuty, a very respectable couple that had published three different times in Trinity church. A laudable example and worthy to be followed. If this decent and for many reasons proper method of publication was once generally to take place, we should have no more clandestine marriages; and save the expense of licenses, no inconsiderable sum these hard and depressing times."
For another reason the times became more "hard and depressing" and banns more economical, perhaps more patriotic, as Mrs. Earle further shows by an extract from Holt's New York Gazette and Post-boy for December 6, 1765:
"As no Licenses for Marriage could be obtained since the first of November for Want of Stamped Paper, we can assure the Publick several Genteel Couple were publish'd in the different Churches of this City last Week; and we hear that the young Ladies of this Place are determined to Join Hands with none but such as will to the utmost endeavour to abolish the Custom of marrying with License which Amounts to many Hundred per annum which might be saved."[866]
The character of the governor's license may be seen in the following sample, issued in 1732:
"By his excellency William Cosby, Esq., Captain general and governor in chief of the provinces of New York, New Jersey, and territories thereon depending, in America, vice-admiral of the same, and colonel in his majesty's army, &c.
"To any Protestant Minister:
"Whereas there is a mutual purpose of marriage between Jacob Glenn of the City of Albany, merchant, of the one party, and Elizabeth Cuyler of the same city, spinster, of the other party, for which they have desired my license, and have given bond upon conditions, that neither of them have any lawful let or impediment of pre-contract, affinity, or consanguinity to hinder their being joined in the holy bands of matrimony; these are therefore to authorize and empower you to join the said Jacob Glenn and Elizabeth Cuyler in the holy bands of matrimony and them to pronounce man and wife."[867]
A goodly store of folklore relating to wedding customs among the Dutch and English of New York has been gathered by Vanderbilt, Earle, and other writers. There was no lack of feasting and pastime. As in the fatherland, maypoles were set up before the door in honor of newly wedded pairs. The fashion of "coming out bride," "that is the public appearance of bride and groom, and sometimes of entire bridal party in wedding array, at Church the Sunday after the marriage," was observed with due pomp and splendor. Collections for the parish poor or to build a church were received from the guests on the bridal day; and bumpers of "sack-posset" seem to have been as keenly relished by the worthy burghers of New York as by good old Samuel Sewall and his Massachusetts brethren.[868] At wedding time there was "open house" and plenty of feasting; but the festivity does not appear to have reached the excess practiced by the Pennsylvania Friends.[869] Hannah Thompson, wife of the secretary of Congress, while residing in New York in 1786, wrote to John Miflin, of Philadelphia, that the "Gentleman's Parents keep open house just in the same manner as the Brides Parents. The Gentlemen go from the Bridegrooms house to drink Punch with and to give joy to his Father. The Brides Visitors go In the same manner from the Brides to his Mothers to pay their Compliments to her. There is so much driving about at these times that in our narrow streets there is some danger. The Wedding-House resembles a bee-hive. Company perpetually flying in and out."[870]