California Christmas Wedding of 1853

© Craig and Franklin MacDonald, Ph.D.

"The rainy season was on once more

The rain all day was steady

When Christmas Eve was ushered in

Up there in Rough and Ready."

The Winter rains fell steadily, making it impossible to hunt for gold in the rivers until the waters went down. Despite their misery, it was Christmas Eve and the miners streamed into town to witness riches of another sort—the much-anticipated wedding of Jean and Joe. Jean was sweetheart to them all and Joe, the popular son of the blacksmith.

The marriage of Jean and Joe was the talk of the town and everyone lent a hand to make sure this would be a momentous occasion in Walling Hall. Miners worked all day planting candles in metal spikes that stuck in the wall, making the wedding site bright and festive. Others labored away, preparing a barbecue of venison, curried sausage, sweet potatoes, bread, pudding and apple pie. Nothing was too good for Jean and Joe!

The wedding was set for 8, the feast thereafter.

"At 8 o'clock the candles beamed

The hotel bell was rung

And soon the hall was crowded

With miners old and young.


"John Saunders played a Wedding March
Upon his violin

And in the wedding party came

Amidst an awful din."

Preacher Jones turned to face the beaming couple, then suddenly whispered into Joe's ear. The startled groom shrugged. Soon, the anxious crowd learned Joe didn't have a license, now required by the state. The minister called for volunteers to get the license by riding to the County Clerk's home, several miles away in Nevada City. Two lumberjacks volunteered and set out in the pelting rain to save the night. Much later, the soaked heroes returned to the triumphant cheers of the gathering and proudly handed an envelope to the clergyman.

The wedding was about to begin again, on what now had become Christmas morn.

"The preacher tore the envelope apart

The license for to scan

Then clutched his throat in agony

Much like a crazy man.

"For the license that was issued

Instead of one to wed

Was simply for a hunter's use

To shoot big game instead!"

Apparently the clerk had been drinking and filled in the wrong license. The impatient, standing-room only crowd grew very restless and began to shout, "Get on with it!"

Sensing the growing hostility, Preacher Jones did, and ended the ceremony by pronouncing the couple "man and wife."

(I guess you could say that was a real "Shotgun Wedding!")

(The poetry used in this story was written by George Morrill, a 19th Century resident of Rough and Ready, 4 miles west of Grass Valley.)