;.753-?5;9 -90 /4;5/1 + -><1/?> ;2 2-857B -90 659>45< 59 >1A19?119?4 /19?@=B /;@9?B 0@=4-8 /JRKSTKOG 5SSC - ?JGSKS >UDNKTTGF HPR TJG 0GIRGG PH <J0 CT TJG @OKVGRSKTY PH >T" -OFRGWS %*)) 2UMM NGTCFCTC HPR TJKS KTGN KS CVCKMCDMG KO =GSGCREJ,>T-OFRGWS+2UMM?GXT CT+ JTTQ+##RGSGCREJ!RGQPSKTPRY"ST!COFRGWS"CE"UL# <MGCSG USG TJKS KFGOTKHKGR TP EKTG PR MKOL TP TJKS KTGN+ JTTQ+##JFM"JCOFMG"OGT#%$$&'#&*() ?JKS KTGN KS QRPTGETGF DY PRKIKOCM EPQYRKIJT OBLIGATION AND CHOICE. ASPECTS OF FAMILY AND KINSI-IIP IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY COUNTY DURHAM A thesis submitted for the degree of Ph.D. by Christine Issa Department of Modern History University of St. Andrews December 1986 a. ABSTRACT The thesis seeks to explore alleged differences in kinship and family relations within County Durham, an area of wide geographical, social and economic diversity. A study of recognition that reveals that kinship ties were narrow and fell into a distinctly English pattern, a pattern which appears independent of considerations of wealth. Only the life cycle appears to have influenced patterns of recognition. Wider kin also appear to have been of limited importance as a source of support, with individuals preferring to rely upon the aid of neighbours and members of the nuclear family. This relatively narrow 9attern of recognition and support stands in sharp contrast to the strong ties formed within and through the nuclear family. The detailed study of inheritance, marriage and conflict not only reinforces the earlier findings concerning the limited importance of wider kin but also suggests that strong and specific ties of obligation and expectation governed relationships formed within the nuclear family. Such findings suggest the need to revise the assumption which regard English society as being highly 'individualistic'. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS FIGURES AND TABLES II PREFACE VI INTRODUCTION I I The Theoretical Perspective The Area of Study: County Durham 9 14 Sources and Approach References 21 PART 1: OBLIGATION AND CHOICE: THE KINSHIP UNIVERSE CHAPTER 1: THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT 2.5 The Availability of Kin: Geographical and Social Distance 25 29 County Durham: The Forces of Change Chester-le-Street: The Forces of Industrial Change 42 Sedgefield: The Forces of Agricultural Change 64 Stanhope-in-Weardale: The Forces of Social and and Economic Stability 83 Conclusion: Expected Results References 100 CHAPTER 2: THE RECOGNITION OF KIN 108 The 'New Social History': Implications for the 108 Study of Kinship 111 Terminology and the Recognition of Kin 116 The Effective Recognition of Kin 135 Wealth and the Recognition of Kin 149 The Life Cycle and the Recognition of Kin Conclusion: A Matter of Choice 164 References 169 CHAPTER 3: THE ROLE OF KIN 173 The Relative Importance of Kin: The Choice of Executors and Supervisors 173 Choice and the Availability of Kin 183 A Position of Trust: The Appointment of Tutors and Guardians 195 The Relative Importance of Neighbours: Debt and Credit 207 214 Conclusion: The Narrowness of Recognition References 215 a. CHAPTER 4: CONFLICT, EXPECTATION AND THE RECOGNITION OF KIN 219 Testamentary Cause Wills: An Expression of Individual Choice? 219 The Range of Expectation 1: Who Contested Wills? 240 The Range of Expectation 2: The Nature of Conflict 2.53 Conclusion: The Limits of Expectation 267 References 269 PART 2: OBLIGATION AND CHOICE: THE NUCLEAR FAMILY CHAPTER 5: OBLIGATION WITHIN THE NUCLEAR 273 FAMILY: INHERITANCE Obligation Under the Law 275 Who made Wills? 289 303 Inheritance Strategies Provision for Widows: The Strategies 307 340 Conclusion: The Principal Bequest Provision for Children: The Strategies 342 Primogeniture: The Conditional Bequest 368 The Desire for Equity 378 Conclusion: Available Options 391 References 396 CHAPTER 6: KINSHIP AND MARRIf\CE Marriage: The Freedom to Choose 412 Source Material 422 Obligation and Choice in Marriage: Moralistic Advice 426 Obligation and Choice in Marriage: Personal Definitions 428 Conclusion: The Importance of Context 459 References 462 CONCLUSION 467 References 480 BIBLIOGRAPHY 481 S. ABBREVIATIONS Brit. Mus. British Museum N.C.L. Newcastle upon Tyne Central Library Pal. and Dip. Department of Palaeography and Diplomatic, University of Durham P.R.O. Public Record Office 31. Fam. i-list. Journal of Family History Gen. Mag. Genealogical Magazine FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1.1 Annual totals of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Chester-le-Street, 1583-1678. Figure 1.2 Nine year moving average of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Chester-le-Street, 1583-1678. Figure 1.3 The 'Social Pyramid' of the parish of Chester-le-Street as indicated by the Hearth Tax Return of Lady Day 1674. Figure 1.4 Annual totals of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Figure 1.5 Nine year moving average of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Figure 1.6 The 'Social Pyramid' of the parish of Sedgefield as indicated by the Hearth Tax Return of Lady Day 1666. Figure 1.7 Annual totals of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1609-1699. Figure 1.8 Nine year moving average of baptisms, burials and marriages within the parish of Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1609-1699. Figure 5.1 Proportion of testators with wealth below £50 broken down by life cycle, 1580-1699 Figure 5.2 Proportion of testators with wealth over £200 broken down by life cycle, 1580-1699 Table 1.1 Population growth by households, 1563-1674. Table 1.2 Population growth within the parish of Chester-le-Street, 1563-1736. Table 1.3 Distribution of wealth: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 1.4 Distribution of wealth over time: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 1.5 Changes in the composition of the Bishopric Manor of Chester-le-Street, 1 588-1 647. Table 1.6 Population growth within the parish of Sedgefield, 1563-1736. Table 1.7 Distribution of wealth: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 1.8 Distribution of wealth over time: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 1.9 Comparison of the composition of the Bishopric Manor of Sedgefield, 1588-1647. III Table 1.10 Population growth within the parish of Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1563-1736. Table 1.11 Distribution of wealth: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 1.12 Distribution of wealth over time: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1 699. Table 2.1 The recognition of kin within the parishes of Stanhope- in-Weardale, Sedgefield and Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.2 The recognition of kin: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.3 The recognition of kin: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.4 The recognition of kin: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.5 The recognition of kin: change over time: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.6 The recognition of kin: change over time: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.7 The recognition of kin: change over time: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.8 Kinship and the distribution of wealth: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.9 Kinship and the distribution of wealth: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.10 Kinship and the distribution of wealth: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.11 Kinship recognition and the distribution of wealth: Stanhope- in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.12 Kinship recognition and the distribution of wealth: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.13 Kinship recognition and the distribution of wealth: Chester- le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.14 Wealth and the range of kinship recognition: Stanhope- in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.15 Wealth and the range of kinship recognition: Sedgefield, 1580- 1699. Table 2.16 Wealth and the range of kinship recognition: Chester- le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.17 Obligation to the nuclear family and the acknowledgement to wider kin: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. a. Iv Table 2.18 Obligation to the nuclear family and the acknowledgement of wider kin: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.19 Obligation to the nuclear family and the acknowledgement of wider kin: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.20 Life cycle and the recognition of kin: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.21 Life cycle and the recognition of kin: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.22 Life cycle and the recognition of kin: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.23 Comparative analysis of wealth distributions and the life cycle: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.24 Comparative analysis of wealth distributions and the life cycle: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 2.25 Comparative analysis of wealth distributions and the life cycle: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 2.26 Life cycle and the range of kinship recognition: Stanhope- in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 2.27 Life cycle and the range of kinship recognition: Sedgeliel6, 1580-1699. Table 2.28 Life cycle and the range of kinship recognition: Chester- le-Street, 1580-1699. Table 3.1 The appointment of executors, 1580-1699. Table 3.2 Range of kin appointed beyond the nuclear family as executors: 1580-1699. Table 3.3 Range of kin appointed beyond the nuclear family as supervisors, 1580-1699. Table 3.4 The percentages of kin and non-kin performing the role of witnesses: 1599-1680. Table 3.5 Change over time: the percentage of kin and non-kin acting as witnesses. Table 3.6 Percentage of kin and non-kin acting as witnesses by decade: Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1580-1699. Table 3.7 Percentage of kin and non-kin acting as witnesses by decade: Sedgefield, 1580-1699. Table 3.8 Percentage of kin and non-kin acting as witnesses by decade: Chester-le-Street, 1580-1699. V Table 3.9 Witnesses: the range of kin, 1580-1699.