Document: Marriage notice of P.T. Barnum to Charity Hallett, 1829
November 18 1829 (Date manufactured/created)
Framed newspaper notice announcing the marriage of Phineas Taylor Barnum to Charity Hallett. The announcement was published in the November 18, 1829 issue of the Republican Farmer, Bridgeport, Connecticut. The marriage took place ten days before, on November 8, 1829. The grooved wood frame and decorative mat were likely created in the 1880s or 1890s, long after their marriage, perhaps by a descendant who came across the page and wanted to preserve it as a memento. It may have been done soon after Barnum's death in 1891. The mat was cut with a small rectangular window that allows the viewer to see a portion of the Marriages and Deaths column in which the announcement appears. Under "Married," it reads, "In New York, Mr. Phineas T. Barnum, of Bethel, to Ms. Charity Hallett, of Greenfield." The decorative mat features ornamental calligraphy in black ink accented with white and grey paint. Flourishes decorate the banner-like heading, "Republican Farmer." Each side of the mat features an oval medallion formed by the curved formation of the lettering, with the centers reserved for a single word or number. On the left, the oval surround to "1829" reads "Bridgeport Conn." at the top, and "Wednesday Nov 18th" at the bottom. On the right side the lettered oval surrounds the word "Marriage," with "Containing" at the top, and "Notice Of" beneath. Below the mat window, there are three lines reading, "Phineas Taylor Barnum. And Charity Hallett. Sunday Nov 8th 1829." Decorative flourishes with black with white detailing fill each of the four corners. The notice was not clipped from the newspaper, instead the full page was saved and folded to a size that fits in the frame under the decorative mat. Of particular note among the news stories and advertisements on the back side is an ad for the sale of 5000 slaves by R. C. Canfield.
Charity Barnum nee Hallett (October 28, 1808 - November 19, 1873) was the first wife of Phineas Taylor Barnum. They met in Bethel, Connecticut, where she worked as a tailoress. The couple was married on November 18, 1829; she was aged 21, he aged 19. They had four daughters, three of whom lived to adulthood. Although the two were devoted to one another for many years, Charity was a quieter presence than her husband, and apparently preferred home life to travel. As her husband achieved international fame and great wealth--and also suffered major financial setbacks--their differing outlooks and interests became more marked. By inclination she did not seek the limelight; in addition, she suffered from ill health for many years. She died on November 10, 1873, and was buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
This item was donated to the museum at the bequest of Arleen Seeley, a descendent of Charity and P. T. Barnum. This framed clipping was likely passed down in the family, and was probably framed with the decorative mat in the late 1800s, perhaps in the early 1890s around the time of Barnum's death.
Charity Barnum nee Hallett (October 28, 1808 - November 19, 1873) was the first wife of Phineas Taylor Barnum. They met in Bethel, Connecticut, where she worked as a tailoress. The couple was married on November 18, 1829; she was aged 21, he aged 19. They had four daughters, three of whom lived to adulthood. Although the two were devoted to one another for many years, Charity was a quieter presence than her husband, and apparently preferred home life to travel. As her husband achieved international fame and great wealth--and also suffered major financial setbacks--their differing outlooks and interests became more marked. By inclination she did not seek the limelight; in addition, she suffered from ill health for many years. She died on November 10, 1873, and was buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
This item was donated to the museum at the bequest of Arleen Seeley, a descendent of Charity and P. T. Barnum. This framed clipping was likely passed down in the family, and was probably framed with the decorative mat in the late 1800s, perhaps in the early 1890s around the time of Barnum's death.
AN 2007.002.036