The Massachusetts Gazette September 6, 1773 Gazette Simeon Walker marital discord ad via OldNews by MyHeritage
Known collectively as marital discord ads, an unusual type of advertisement describing details about a husband and wife's marriage often appeared in newspapers in the United States as early as the 1700s.[1] While most ads were taken out by an abandoned husband and used basic, formulaic language ("My wife ________, who has left the care and comfort of my board and bed, I am no longer responsible for or debts or her actions."), some ads were also taken out by the "posted" wife listing her grievances against the husband.
While the appearance of these ads greatly declined in the 1920s once women had secured the right to vote in the United States, they do still appear in newspapers as late as the 1980s.
The goal of marital discord ads was not to air a couple's "dirty laundry" but to serve as a legal notice. Married women were viewed as chattel or property for legal purposes as well as by society. Married women at the time of these ads usually could not own property or the home where they lived, and were seen as duty bound to take care of their husbands and children. This meant running a household through a variety of chores including ensuring the "bed and board" for the husband's "comfort."
Husbands could be held responsible for any items or services purchased by the wife and billed to the husband. In addition, a husband was often responsible for his wife's behavior which included any damage to property or injuries to persons.
While the motives for a husband to post his wife were obvious, a subsequent post by a wife was often seen as scandalous but did, in fact, serve a good purpose. In the 18th and 19th centuries, obtaining a divorce, especially with a wife as the plaintiff, was a difficult process. If she could prove abandonment or abuse by the husband - often detailed in a marital discord ad - the process could be accelerated and the wife had a better chance of winning. In addition, the wife would want to win the sympathy of the community especially if she had children to care for and perhaps was already seeking a new husband.
Whether these postings or notices legally absolved the husband of responsibility for the wife's debts and actions is debatable. But the ads themselves are valuable to genealogists since most records depicting marital discord, including divorce proceedings, were sealed or kept private.
Types of marital discord ads
New York Evening News August 13, 1810 Thomas and Elizabeth Dick marital discord ads via OldNews by MyHeritageRunaway spouse or elopement notices
Announcements of divorce proceedings
Marriage separation notices
Warnings or postings about a spouse no longer being financially responsible for the other spouse
Personal ads airing grievances about a spouse
Genealogical research value of marital discord ads
Due to the lack of availability and access to the legal records documenting marriage separation or divorce, discovering a marital discord ad might be the first indication of "trouble at home."
These ads not only list the names of the wife and husband as well as their location, they also may list names of other relatives or witnesses. Occasionally lists of assets and property are included in the ads.
In addition, these records can place a person in a specific location and time frame outside of census enumeration years.
Locating marital discord ads
The Boston Post January 10, 1854 Sarah Jones marital discord ad via OldNews by MyHeritage
Marital discord ads appeared in newspapers, usually near the legal notices and personals.
Historical newspapers are available both online and for in-person research at archives, libraries, and repositories. Use these search terms along with the name of the husband and wife:
"runaway wife"
"wife left"
"no longer responsible"
"wife" + "debts"
"board and bed"
"care and comfort"
In addition, when locating a marital discord ad posted by a husband, review subsequent issues of the same newspaper to see if the wife has posted her own notice.
The information from a marital discord ad can also be useful in explaining unusual United States Federal Census records for the couple. During the 19th century especially, a woman would often list her marital status as "widowed" even though the couple were separated or divorced. This was often due to the social stigma of a marriage ending in separation or divorce. However, it also common to still find the husband alive and listed in the census living with another woman and even listed as married. Search for the husband in the same town or county as the "former" wife.
