Wife selling

Wife selling was a legal way of getting divorced in England in the 1700s and 1800s. It was a way for a husband to get rid of his wife without going to court. This was done by taking the wife to a market or fair and announcing that he was selling her. Any man who wanted to buy her could bid money on her, and when the husband accepted a certain amount of money, he would give her away to the new owner and they would be legally married.