“Against the Good Widdow No Harme We Doe Know:” Examining Aristocratic and Gentry Widows' Roles and Influence in England F
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, History, Department of Department of History 8-2019 “Against the good Widdow no harme we doe know:” Examining Aristocratic and Gentry Widows’ Roles and Influence in England from 1500-1650 Alyson D. Alvarez University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historydiss Part of the European History Commons, and the Women's History Commons Alvarez, Alyson D., "“Against the good Widdow no harme we doe know:” Examining Aristocratic and Gentry Widows’ Roles and Influence in England from 1500-1650" (2019). Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, Department of History. 92. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historydiss/92 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, Department of History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. “AGAINST THE GOOD WIDDOW NO HARME WE DOE KNOW:” EXAMINING ARISTOCRATIC AND GENTRY WIDOWS’ ROLES AND INFLUNCE IN ENGLAND FROM 1500-1650 by Alyson D. Alvarez A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major: History (Women and Gender Studies) Under the Supervision of Professor Carole Levin Lincoln, Nebraska August 2019 “AGAINST THE GOOD WIDDOW NO HARME WE DOE KNOW:” EXAMINING ARISTOCRATIC AND GENTRY WIDOWS’ ROLES AND INFLUNCE IN ENGLAND FROM 1500-1650 Alyson D. Alvarez, Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 2019 Advisor: Carole Levin This dissertation explores how English aristocratic and gentry women utilized their widowhoods to actively craft their personal image as well as influence and alter their communities. Free from the common law principles of coverture, English widows gained new legal autonomy. Additionally, many affluent women received substantial inheritances at the deaths of their husbands thus providing them with the financial freedom. While widowhood offered English women new independence, it was also accompanied by a multitude of expectations. Sixteenth and seventeenth century authors and scholars developed and perpetuated specific conduct deemed appropriate for widows. The behaviors for created for widowed women contributed to their negative depiction in popular culture. Knowing the expectations and the popular representations of widows helps to better understand the opportunities and challenges these women encountered. Although widows remained burdened by numerous societal expectations and traditions these women challenged generalizations and demonstrated personal agency and capability. Women utilized their widowhoods to fashion their own identities and legacies by the commission of art and charitable endowments. In creating their own legacies through the patronage, philanthropy, and bequests widows actively contributed to their communities. iii Acknowledgments I sincerely hope in the future that I can help to guide and inspire in students in the same manner that I received during my time as a graduate student. From professors’ academic advice to the gentle words of encouragement from family and friends, this dissertation is a result of immeasurable support from many individuals. I am indebted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and History Department for continually providing the opportunities for me to research and write. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Othmer Fellowship allowed me to focus on my graduate courses as I began thinking about and preparing for this project. Additionally, The Marguerite C. and Clare McPhee Memorial Fellowship, awarded by UNL History Department, was instrumental in allowing me the time to complete this dissertation. The financial support and personal experience that I gained from my involvement with the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program also played a significant role in my ability to work on this project. Completing this dissertation without my advisor, Carole Levin, would have been impossible. Dr. Levin’s constant optimism and encouragement has been immensely influential in my graduate career, as she worked endlessly to help me improve my scholarship. From the first day that I met Dr. Levin she has been more than just an attentive and generous mentor, she has also been a wonderful friend. I am very thankful to my committee Amy Burnett, James Coltrain, Jessica Coope, and Julia Schleck. They have not only guided me on this project, but have also graciously provided me the with their time and mentorship throughout my time as a graduate student. The knowledge and feedback that I have received during my time in their courses has been invaluable to my education. I wish that could adequately thank my friends and family for their never-ending encouragement. I owe many thanks to so many friends for taking time to discuss my ideas and work with me. I want to thank Catherine Medici-Thiemann and Courtney Herber for carefully reading my drafts. My parents, Angelo and Cindy Alvarez, not only provided unending support as I pursued my education, but modeled dedication and hard work. My sisters’ continual reassurance helped me as I sought to balance all aspects of iv my life. I am beyond grateful to my brother, whose memory inspired me to persevere during the long days. I could not dream of chasing my dreams without my husband, Daniel, and daughter, Josephine. I remain eternally grateful for Daniel’s steadfast faith in me. As I reflect on the time I took to complete this dissertation, I could not feel more blessed to have had the opportunity to work every day with my Josephine Ida by my side. v Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..1 Historiography………………………………………………………………....….5 Chapter 1: Expectations of Widows …………………………………...………….........17 Chapter 2: Representations of Widows ……………………………………………........46 Historiography of Literary widows……………………….……………………..47 Remarried Widows in Ballads ……………………………………………….….52 Cautionary Tales for Widows in Ballads……………………………………...…64 Chapter 3: Authority and Challenges of Widowhood…………………………………...76 Rights of Widows……………...………………………………………………...81 Fighting for Inheritance………………………………………………………….87 Problems with Male Kin ………………………………………………………...92 Widows Challenged by Sons……………………...……………………………..96 Chapter 4: Widows’ Patronage and Charity………………………………………...….106 Widows’ Patronage …………………………………………………………….107 Widows’ Charity………………………………………………………...……...116 Chapter 5: Widows’ Wills……………………………………………………………...130 Widows Awarding Heirs…………………………………...……………..........135 Widows Charitable Bequests………………………………………………..….140 Widows Helping the Poor………………………………………………………146 Widows Helping Women……………………………………………………….154 Chapter 6: Conclusion ……………………………………………………………….…160 Epilogue: Widows in North American British Colonies……………………………….165 vi Historiography of Early Colonial Women……………………………………...167 Widows in Massachusetts and Connecticut………………………………….…175 Widows in Virginia …………………………………………………………….180 Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………….184 1 Introduction In her 1619 will, Margaret Hawkins, widow of Sir John Hawkins, stated that £800 was to be given towards the maintenance of a free school in Keinton. Hawkins’ will also specified monetary gifts were to be awarded the poor of the parishes of Keinton, Amelly, Hereford, Debtford, Woodford, Chigwell, Essex, and S. Dunstan. Only after Hawkins stipulated how her money should be distributed for charitable causes, did she award any of her estate to specific members of her family.1 Margaret Hawkins’ donations are not unique from the endowments of other wealthy widows in England, as many of these women made efforts to continue supporting specific charities and individuals through their bequests. Hawkins’ will reveals that English widows were able to contribute to their communities through financial support. By closely examining the lives of widows like Margaret Hawkins we can better understand how early modern widows influenced their communities. English aristocratic and gentry widows, although burdened by numerous societal expectations and traditions, actively engaged and participated with their communities. Affluent women challenged negative generalizations concerning widows by demonstrating personal agency and capability during their widowhoods. English women utilized the legal and economic autonomy most women gained when they became widows to alter their personal, communal, intellectual, and religious surroundings through patronage and charity. This analysis explores how English widows defied expectations and stereotypes and actively fashioned their image and actively contributed to their communities. 1 Margaret Hawkins, 'Wills: James I (1603-25)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, ed. R R Sharpe (London, 1890), pp. 730-751 https://www.british- history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp730-751. 2 Under the common law principles of coverture, when women married, they lost a number of their legal rights, as man and wife were viewed as one person, and that person was the husband.2 The concept and customs of coverture were legally solidified in statutes passed in the reign of King Henry VIII.3 As widows, women gained back their full legal status, which awarded them more legal autonomy. Under English common law, widows