His Own Wedding

During one of his parties he rode on horseback to Boston and back, 75 miles in six hours to buy a bag of lemons for punch. Believe it or not. In a moment I'll tell you about the man who officiated at his own wedding.

Richard Bellingham was Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the year 1641 he married Penelope Pelham, the thing which made the ceremony more than a little unusual was that he performed the marriage ceremony himself. Naturally, his act was a violation of the law.

However, he could not be brought to trial. The reason for this was he was also Chief Justice of the Community and would preside over his own trial. Believe it or not.