Hamilton, Mary (1705–?)

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Hamilton, Mary (1705–?)

English cross-dresser. Born 1705 in UK; married to 14 women.

Dressed as man and married 14 women; once her gender was revealed, had charges brought against her by 14th wife, Mary Price (exact nature of charges apparently remain unclear); though court did not find her guilty of bigamy (which under the law presupposed heterosexual unions), was found to be "an uncommon notorious cheat" and sentenced to be whipped in the towns in which she had made marriages (Taunton, Glastonbury, Wells, and Shipton-Mallet).

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