In May 1826 a woman was put up for auction at Brighton market, with a halter around her neck.

She was brought by a man for a sovereign and four half crowns. Her husband kept her elder child, but threw in a younger child as a make-weight.

The sale was duly entered in the Brighton market register, and the purchaser paid a shilling to the auctioneer for his trouble, and another shilling for the halter. The Brighton Herald reported that the woman seemed perfectly happy to be sold and went off with her new master with the child in her arm.

Source: The Brighton Herald May 1826.