A man with seven wives, with seven sacks, with seven cats, with seven kittens

As I Was Going to St. Ives

As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits.
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were going to St. Ives?

This rhyme is a riddle

Can you tell me how many people were going to St. Ives?

Show Answer

The answer to the riddle is a bit of a conundrum. Let’s break it down:

1 Man
7 Wives
343 cats
2,401 kits (kittens)

That is a total of 2,801 and there was only 1 man.

The answer to the riddle is used to help improve logical thinking in children… and adults!

Since he met them whilst he was going to St. Ives, they were going the other way.

Only 1 man was going to St. Ives!

Good job!

Listen as male American:

Listen as female British:

Listen as told in a story:

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Posted in All Rhymes, Animals, Counting & Learning, People & Characters, Traditional, Travel & Places

Tagged cat, counting, kitten, riddle, St Ives, wife

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Meaning

This rhyme is a classic riddle that encourages logical thinking and careful listening. While the listener might be tempted to tally up all the kits, cats, sacks, and wives (yielding a very large total), the correct answer is generally considered to be “one”—the narrator—since the others were simply encountered on the road and not stated to be going to St. Ives.

Origin

The earliest written versions date to around 1730, appearing in British manuscripts and later published as a riddle in the late 18th century. The rhyme references the real town(s) of St Ives in Cornwall or Cambridgeshire, England, both plausible destinations in nursery rhyme history.

Time Period

First documented in the early 18th century, with popularization through oral tradition and print throughout the Victorian era. It remains a common classroom and parlor riddle today.

Why It Became Popular

Its mathematical structure, memorable cadence, and riddle formulation make it ideal for educational settings and family entertainment. It encourages listeners to solve problems and think critically.

Structure and Style

Meter: Rhythmic, suitable for recitation
Rhyme Scheme: Typically AABCCB
Line Count: Seven lines (riddle version)
Style Notes: Riddle rhyme, narrative, cumulative structure

Themes

Logic and careful listening
Problem solving
Riddles and oral tradition
English geography and travel

Language Notes

Uses repetition and accumulation to encourage tallying and mental calculation. The language is simple but designed to mislead and provoke analysis.

Moral or Lesson

Promotes analysis and attention to detail, showing that careful listening often precedes good problem-solving.

Historical or Cultural Notes

The rhyme draws on centuries-old English poetic and logical tradition, and references multiple real locations called St Ives, both market town and port. Its unique cumulative challenge makes it a classic riddle rhyme.

Notable Variants

Earlier versions may use “nine wives” (not seven) or feature different animals/bags, but preserve the trick answer at the end.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Appears in rhyming anthologies, classrooms, and puzzle books. Also referenced in films and popular culture for its famous riddle structure.

Suggested Activities

Logic Challenge: Have students write or solve similar riddle rhymes
Math Game: Calculate the total if everyone was going to St Ives
Mapping Project: Research real towns named St Ives and locate them on a map
Art: Illustrate the “man, wives, sacks, cats, kits” scene

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