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| The Parsonage of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich. Constructed 1831. (Image Credit: Jeffrey Bingham Mead) |
Who
would have thought that one of the most scandalous weddings in Gilded
Age America took place in Greenwich, Connecticut, specifically, in the
parlor of the Second Congregational Church's parsonage?
The parsonage of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich was constructed in 1831.
For the first time ever, news of this wedding was featured on the Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons Show Podcast.
This event was never featured in any of the published histories of the Town of Greenwich, or of the Second Congregational Church.
That also changed on Friday, February 14, 2025.
Details of the wedding ceremony for Perry Belmont and Mrs. Jessie Robbins Sloane were first featured in the Saturday, May 6, 1899 edition of the Greenwich Graphic.
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| Greenwich Graphic: May 6, 1899. Page 1. |
The wedding made front page news.
It turns out that Mrs. Sloane was divorced for only a few hours when she and Mr. Belmont were married in Greenwich.
News of this controversial wedding does not appear in any of the published histories of the Second Congregational Church, nor of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut.
The text of that story is shared here. I've included related links with background materials.
I've included the text of other related news stories in chronological order. I wish to express my thanks to Christopher Shields, archivist, Greenwich Historical Society.
Historically yours,
Jeffrey Bingham Mead
THE BELMONT WEDDING
MADE A STIR IN GREENWICH FRIDAY EVENING
Some Facts and Incidences in Connection with the Marriage Not Before Made Public.
The Change in Time a Surprise.
All the world knows that Perry Belmont and Mrs. Jessie A. Sloan were married by Dr. Barrows at the Congregational Church parsonage on Friday evening of last week.
Many of the various accounts have been written and comments made concerning the affair. It is really a matter which ought not to concern any but the contracting parties, but their large wealth and prominence, and the divorce decree but a few hours before the marriage, have caused much more interest in the matter than was anticipated.
THE GRAPHIC knew of the contemplated wedding Thursday, as it was then designed to perform the ceremony on Saturday morning, there seemed to be but small chance of obtaining a full and complete story. When, however, it was concluded to have the ceremony performed on Friday evening, the possibility of securing a report brightened, and careful arrangements to that end were made, but too late to get into last Saturday's paper.
For some weeks it had been the impression in New York that a divorce was about to be granted, to be followed at once planned marriage to Mr. Belmont,As the probable place of marriage.
On Friday E afternoon at 2:38 arrived a man from Mr. Delancy Nicholes office who is believed to have been Cornelius Sullivan. He had been here the evening before and had arranged some of the wedding details. Is very's orders for carriages at the station, first attracted the attention and arriving up town is frequent and lengthy messages by telegraph and telephone intensified the public interest in the man. It was clear that something unusual was about to happen. He passed the time between his arrival and 7 o'clock o'clock in the Law office of Frederick Hubbard, on the street, and at Dr. Barrow's house. At 6 o'clock he dined at Lockwood's, your Hubbard was in New York but the stranger had employed a Surrey to meet
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