Amy GOMELDON

Name: Amy GOMELDON I0005

Born: ca. 1649

Baptised: 1649 St Peter le Poer, Middlesex

Parents: William GOMELDON Elizabeth SANDERS

Died:

Occupation:

Amy Gomeldon of Sellinge was married to Arthur Poulter, 24 Aug 1672¹. Apparently he had died by 1680 and she was a widow when, under the assumed name of James Howard, she courted Arabella Hunt, the celebrated court musician. James Howard and Arabella Hunt were married at St Marylebone church on 12 September 1680, with Arabella's mother and two female neighbours as witnesses.
Arabella and "James" lived together for about six months "at bed and board" in the Haymarket, London, then separated, at which point Arabella sued for annulment in the London consistory court on the grounds that "James Howard" was in fact a cross-dressing widow named Amy Poulter, née Gomeldon. The suspicion was raised that Amy was of "double gender (being usually called a hermaphrodite)", but examination by a jury of five midwives confirmed that she was a "perfect woman in all her parts". The marriage was annulled on 15 December 1682 on the grounds that two women could not contract a valid marriage with each other. Both parties were declared free to remarry, so long as they married men.
1: www.familysearch.org

Name:	Amy GOMELDON	I0005
Born:	ca. 1649
Baptised:	1649	St Peter le Poer, Middlesex
Parents:	William GOMELDON	Elizabeth SANDERS
Died:
Occupation:
Amy Gomeldon of Sellinge was married to Arthur Poulter, 24 Aug 1672¹. Apparently he had died by 1680 and she was a widow when, under the assumed name of James Howard, she courted Arabella Hunt, the celebrated court musician. James Howard and Arabella Hunt were married at St Marylebone church on 12 September 1680, with Arabella's mother and two female neighbours as witnesses. Arabella and "James" lived together for about six months "at bed and board" in the Haymarket, London, then separated, at which point Arabella sued for annulment in the London consistory court on the grounds that "James Howard" was in fact a cross-dressing widow named Amy Poulter, née Gomeldon. The suspicion was raised that Amy was of "double gender (being usually called a hermaphrodite)", but examination by a jury of five midwives confirmed that she was a "perfect woman in all her parts". The marriage was annulled on 15 December 1682 on the grounds that two women could not contract a valid marriage with each other. Both parties were declared free to remarry, so long as they married men. 1: www.familysearch.org

Date Event Place Reference

10 Jul 1649 Baptism of Amy GOMELDON, child of William & Elizabeth St Peter le Poer, Middlesex IGI

Date	Event	Place	Reference
10 Jul 1649	Baptism of Amy GOMELDON, child of William & Elizabeth	St Peter le Poer, Middlesex	IGI

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