Marblehead, ninth of July in the year 2005

Auction and Marriage (Marblehead)

It was a grim morning for Private Bausk, as he perished in battle leaving behind his beautiful, inconsolable wife. Mrs. Bausk, now returning to maiden name, Kim Nuttall, would need to find a husband soon to avoid being shipped back to England by the British Command as was the custom.

To not leave the newly widowed Dame Kim Nuttall defenseless in the world, an auction was hastily organized. An auction?! For a woman?!!! Indeed, this was a common colonial manner in which to marry off a widow with the monies raised going to that widow.

In the protected bowl of Fort Sewall, Marblehead, Colonel Paul O'Shaugnessy performed the auctioning. Many of the local townsfolk sat in a semi-circle, much like amphitheatre seating, to watch. Both Provincials and British Regulars bid fiercely for the honor of the widow's hand in marriage.

Bidding started at 5 pence and quickly escalated. Real drama occurred when a mariner proposed a bid of several Spanish Galleons. Galleons, it was pointed out that were stolen. Stolen, no less, from the pockets of the poor widow's dead husband's body! British Regulars quickly stepped in to seize the scoundrel and place him in the fort's prison.

Just when the bidding seemed over, a sprite voice piped up. It was Serjeant Woolf of the 4^th, a handsome and charming man. All could tell that Dame Nuttall was pleased. Fortunately, his bid was unmatched, so the lady was his. On to the marriage!

Within two hours, a Deacon was found. Master Serjeant Peter Kondrick Peter Kondrick arrived by sail to administer the wedding vows. The ceremony opened with joyous song. Private Benny Belvin gave away the bride while the King's Own stood behind the couple in full dress uniforms. The crowd clapped as the couple was pronounced man and wife.

And, of course, they lived happily ever after!