What was a dowry?
A dowry was the wealth that a woman brought
to her marriage. The dowry could take different forms: land;
farm animals, such as cows or chickens; furniture, such as a
feather bed, which was considered a luxury. The dowry was given
by the father of the bride to the married couple, unless the
bride had wealth of her own from a previous marriage. Marriage
was an economic partnership. A father could insure his
daughter's future by providing her with a large dowry to
attract suitors with the potential to provide his daughter with
a comfortable lifestyle.
© Illinois State Museum
31-Dec-96