From the Derby Mercury, 2 August 1781
A very singular and affecting Case is now depending in the Court of Chancery, which was in part argued on Friday last before the Chancellor of Lincoln’s Inn Hall.
One of the Guardians of a young Lady, whose Name was Grierson, from Manchester, and lately at boarding School in Battersea, 16 Years old, and a Ward of the Court, brought on a Suit against a young Gentleman of the Name of Williamson, a Captain in the Navy, for marrying the young Lady at Gretna Green, in Scotland, and thereby incurring a Contempt, for which he was finally committed to the Fleet Prison: When the Sentence was passed, the young Lady (who was in Court, standing near her Husband, and whose Beauty and unaffected Modesty captivated the Eye at least of every Spectator) fainted away, and which she was with Difficulty recovered, when she immediately fell into strong Fits, in which Condition she was carried off; such an unusual Picture of Distress drew Tears from every Eye: The Judge on the Bench was observed two or three Times to dry his Eyes. His Answer to the Enquiry was, “he knew not whether such Marriages were agreeable either to the Laws of Earth or Heaven;” and therefore referred it to the Master of Chancery for Enquiry.
On Friday Evening several of the most eminent Counsel waited on the Lord Chancellor at his House setting forth the lamentable Situation of the young Lady, whose Life is despaired of; who declared, that he wished most sincerely to relieve the distrest Couple, and if they would point out a Mode, in which it might be done consistent with the Duty of an equitable Judge, he would most willingly adopt the Measure.
The Consequence of this was, an Order on Saturday Morning that the Captain would be restricted to the Rules of the Fleet Prison, and that his Lady be with him, till a Messenger who is sent to Scotland, arrives with an Account of the reality of the Marriage.
Mrs. Williamson continues to lie dangerously ill without Hopes of recovery.
Her Guardians are, by her Father’s will — her Mother, a Friend, and an Uncle: One of the relations, who is the next Heir, in case of the Lady’s decease before him, is the Apellant of this Business; the other two Guardians have shewn no Aversion to the Match, the young Officer’s Character appearing to be irreproachable.
The story continues in the Ipswich Journal, 18 August 1781:
The petition of Capt. Thomas Thomasson, captain in his Majesty’s 96th regiment of foot, stated, “that by an order of Court of the 3rd inst. He was committed to the prison of the Fleet for a contempt of Court, and in which place he still remained in custody of the warden. That at the time he went for Gretna Green in Scotland, he was totally ignorant of the said Catherine being a ward of the court; that the marriage ceremony was performed by a person,whom he was informed, and believed, is a clergyman in holy orders.”
The petition of Elizabeth Grierson, mother to the young lady, stated, “I had upon a committment being ordered, Cath. Grierson, the petitioner’s daughter, was so much afflicted, that she fell into a fit before she left the court, and continued in a succession of fits for several hours. That about 4 in the afternoon, having recovered her senses, she was about 7 in the evening of the 3rd inst. delivered to the petitioner; at her lodgings in the Strand, soon after which she became delerious, and continued to during the greatest part of the night, and had a return on the 4th inst, which continued for 3 hours, so that the petitioner feared fatal consequences might attend her child. That she is satisfied a marriage has actually taken place between the said Thomasson and her daughter. The petition concluded with praying to have Captain Thomasson discharged, as the most probable means of relieving her daughter and herself from their present severe distress.” His lordship then directed the petition of Capt. Thomasson to stand dismissed. The Lord Advocate, it is said, has declared the marriage to be legal agreeable to the laws of Scotland; the Lord Chancellor seems to have his doubts about it.
The story concludes in The Hibernian Magazine, December 1781:
The petitioner [Mrs Grierson] therefore hoped his lordship would upon the circumstances stated in the master’s report, deem the marriage to be valid, and would discharge him out of custody, he submitting to execute any settlement he court might please to order; and therefore prayed it to be referred to the master to approve of a proper settlement to be made on Catherine Grierson, the infant, the petitioner agreeing to execute the same, or such other as might be approved of by the court, and in the mean time to discharge the prisoner Thomasson from his commitment, in order to effect a marriage according to the laws of this country.
After hearing counsel on behalf of the petitioners, his lordship was pleased to order that Thomas Thomasson should be discharged from confinement, said, if the practice of running away with wards continued, the court must punish more severely.
His lordship advised the mother to have the gentleman and lady again married, and he took occasion to observe, that it was a matter of doubt in him mind how far the crossing over from one side of a brook to the other, and immediately returning, legalised those Scotch nuptials. The re-union, however, of this happy pair gave great satisfaction to the persons present.
On Tuesday, November 6, was married, at St. Bride’s church, capt Tho. Thomasson, of the 96th regiment of foot, to Miss Grierson. This marriage was in consequence of the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, the gentleman having married the lady before in Scotland.
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