Note 402 — Chapter XII · OBLIGATORY CIVIL MARRIAGE IN THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES

Acts and Resolves, I, 61. On this act Judge Sewall makes the following characteristic entry in his Diary: "Nov. 4, 1692. Law passes for Justices and Ministers Marrying persons. By order of the Co[=m]ittee, I had drawn up a Bill for Justices and such others as the Assembly should appoint to marry: but came new-drawn and thus alter'd from the Deputies. It seems they count the respect of it too much to be left any longer with the Magistrate. And salaries are not spoken of; as if one sort of men might live on the Aer. They are treated like a kind of useless, worthless folk."—5 Mass. Hist. Coll., V, 368. The marriage fee was fixed by this act at three shillings.