History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay QuintéCanniff, William
History
History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay Quinté
Canniff, William
Ontario -- History; Quinte, Bay of (Ont.)
In the region of the Bay, were some who had in previous days, lived in
comfort, and had not wanted all that belonged to the well-to-do
inhabitants along the Hudson, and at New York. In some cases, these
families brought with them the fine clothes that had adorned their
bodies in former times. Not only was it difficult for them, in many
cases, to get some one to perform the marriage ceremony; but to the
female, especially, it was a grave matter how to adorn the bride with
that apparel which becomes the event. In those cases where rich clothes,
which had been used by parents, were stored away, they were brought
forth, and by a little alteration, made to do service; but by and by
these relics of better days were beyond their power to renovate, and
like others, they had, if married at all, to wear the garb mentioned by
Roger Bates, or some other plain article; a calico print, bought of a
pedlar, or a calamink, or linsey-woolsey petticoat, or a woolen drugget,
were no common luxuries in the wilderness home. An old lady who is still
living, tells us that she was married in 1807, and wore the
last-mentioned; and was thought very extravagant indeed. A venerable
lady, a native of the Bay, and now well-nigh eighty, remembers to have
attended a wedding about the year 1708, up the river Moira. She was
living with her uncle, Col. C. The wedding was one of some importance,
as both parties were well-to-do. There was but a path along the banks of
the river, and they went on horse back. At that time riding on horseback
was a common practice, not a single person merely, but in couples. It
was no unusual thing to see man and wife riding along together, also
brother and sister, and as well lovers. The guests to this wedding all
came on horse back, generally in pairs. They assembled early in the
forenoon, and the happy pair were soon united. The bride’s dress was
unusually grand, being of lawn; the two bridesmaids graced the occasion
by being dressed in muslin. She bears a distinct recollection of the
entertainment. The banquet was crowned with a majestic chicken pie, in a
pan capable of holding some twelve quarts; by roast goose, and with pies
and cakes of all sorts, in abundance. The bride’s father was the deacon
of a church, and did not allow dancing, but the afternoon and evening
were spent in joyous mirth and jovial “plays” in connection with which
forfeits were lost and redeemed. But, however much these plays may have
degenerated in recent days, they were then conducted with purity of
thought, and innocence of soul. The party did not break up the first
day. Half of the company repaired to the house of the groom’s father,
where beds were arranged for them. In the morning they went back to the
scene of the wedding, upon the banks of the river, which at this point
is particularly attractive. After breakfast, the young people, with the
newly married pair, set out for the front, to the mouth of the river.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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