by Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent
Being February – the traditional month of Valentines, chocolates and roses – this potentially heart-warming 1817 tale of the quest for love – or at least matrimony – may be just what Cupid ordered. Perhaps it was powered by the same urge that drives today’s many dating websites, but this young man’s solicitation via the printed page skipped the romantic hors d’oeuvres and went directly for the main course.
New Bern’s newspaper of the day, The Carolina Federal Republic, picked the item up from a New York journal where the lovelorn writer had sent his hopeful communiqué along with a dollar to cover the printing charge.
“Please to insert the inclosed [sic] advertisement in your paper, three times at least,” he wrote. It was headlined “Wanted a Wife” and it read:
By a gentleman of respectable connections, who entertains the most exalted ideas of connubial felicity; but has remained till now a bachelor, owing to the difficulty of meeting with a suitable partner for life.
He is about thirty, without any personal defects – enjoying a sound health – can boast of being sober, steady and industrious – of having a mild temper, a sensible heart, a cultivated mind, and a good moral character; he has a moderate competency, and some prospects of acquiring a fortune; he received a liberal education, which was improved by travel and useful achievements. He conceives that he could make a wife happy but wishes to be made happy by her in return, and he considers the following qualifications requisite:
She must be from 15 to 25, of mild temper, and healthy constitution, rather pretty and willing to please. She must have received a good female education, have respectable parents, or be an orphan, and be able to bring in at least the prospect of a small addition of fortune, or an equivalent substitute.
Such young ladies, if as yet disengaged and willing to secure a good husband, or parents anxious to form a desirable family connection, will please apply by letter to ALBERT ZEDER, through the post-office, when suitable explanations may ensue, previous to any positive engagement.
While our throbbing pulses return to normal, let us recap. Mr. Zeder sought a young, pretty, educated, mild-tempered woman who was willing to please, and had a little do-re-mi to go along with all that. While dreaming, dream big, we always say. We have no way to know if our man found his Juliet, but, as this optimistic Romeo proved 201 years ago, hope springs eternal.
Craven County native Eddie Ellis is a journalist, writer and historian. He’s the author of New Bern History 101 and other works about the area’s rich heritage.
More at edwardellis.com