Maiden name on inscription
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- Posts: 24
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- Location: Australia/Tasmania.
Maiden name on inscription
"In memory of Mary Bogue wife of David Howie" So read the inscription on Mary's grave. This couple were married by a Presbyterian Minister in Tasmania in1850, Mary drowned in 1851 and David went missing at sea in 1859. Can we deduce anything about Mary's family from this inscription. For example, does the use of a wife's maiden name on an headstone imply class? Thank you.
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- Location: Scotland
Re: Maiden name on inscription
There is no implied class here and a wander around any Scottish graveyard of that era would provide the evidence of that.
Under Scots Law & Traditions a woman retained her maiden name after marriage and simply adopted her husbands name for her use. Although they married in tasmania it was in a Presbyterian ceremony and it would be fair to assume that in their society the Scottish traditions were upheld.
This is distinctly different from the English based system where a woman's surname was changed to that of her husband on marriage
Under Scots Law & Traditions a woman retained her maiden name after marriage and simply adopted her husbands name for her use. Although they married in tasmania it was in a Presbyterian ceremony and it would be fair to assume that in their society the Scottish traditions were upheld.
This is distinctly different from the English based system where a woman's surname was changed to that of her husband on marriage
~RJ Paton~
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:44 am
- Location: Australia/Tasmania.
Re: Maiden name on inscription
Thanks Falkyrn, a very clear answer to an old legend that the couple were living together, unmarried!