Wife Sales

Great article from Katherine Mangu-Ward at Reason about a recent paper related to wife sales in 18th and 19th century England.  While the paper is directed to the economics of this practice, there are some tantalizing quotes and references that indicate the existence of original source material.  Moreover, since these appear to have involved at least some public auctions (see below quote), it seems likely that such sources exist.  Further information available here!


"“Let be, yer rogue. I wull be sold. I wants a change.”"
—  
         Mattie, an unhappy wife, to her husband, c. 1830.1