As property, women like Mary Mendame were not only their husbands’ concern but wards of the entire community. Their trespass was a trespass against their husbands, God, and law and order itself. And a man trespassing with such a woman was violating more than his individual vow to goodness and to his own wife, if he had one—he was tramping all over his neighbor’s possession while demeaning a social contract. But whether he was married or not, he was somewhat freer to indulge.
