Women and marriage in the eighteenth century : evidence from the London church courts, 1730-1780
This thesis examines the meaning of marriage for women in the eighteenth century by considering what actually constituted 'marriage' from both a legal and a social perspective. The thesis argues that evidence from the church court records suggest an overall continuity in social standards and practice in relation to marriage, despite the introduction of the Hardwicke Marriage Act in 1753. Whilst the Act played an important role in redefining the standards by which men and women were legally able to resolve their domestic disputes, it did not have a corresponding impact (at the same time) on social practice. For this reason, this thesis asserts that the standards represented in court after 1753 should only be read as evidence of a specific legal culture of marriage, and problematises the consequence of interpreting court evidence as an indicator of social change. The thesis draws together the evidence of premarital disputes, adultery, domestic violence and testamentary causes to examine attitudes towards marriage over the course of the eighteenth century. It finds that the first half of the century was characterised by disputes relating to the legal definitions of marriage, but later cases focused more on personal
Smith, Heather
Women and marriage in the eighteenth century : evidence from the London church courts, 1730-1780. This thesis examines the meaning of marriage for women in the eighteenth century by considering what actually constituted 'marriage' from both a legal and a social perspective. The thesis argues that evidence from the church court records suggest an overall continuity in social standards and practice in relation to marriage, despite the introduction of the Hardwicke Marriage Act in 1753. Whilst the Act played an important role in redefining the standards by which men and women were legally able to resolve their domestic disputes, it did not have a corresponding impact (at the same time) on social practice. For this reason, this thesis asserts that the standards represented in court after 1753 should only be read as evidence of a specific legal culture of marriage, and problematises the consequence of interpreting court evidence as an indicator of social change. The thesis draws together the evidence of premarital disputes, adultery, domestic violence and testamentary causes to examine attitudes towards marriage over the course of the eighteenth century. It finds that the first half of the century was characterised by disputes relating to the legal definitions of marriage, but later cases focused more on personal
women marriage evidence london church_court examines mean marriage woman consider actually constitute marriage legal social perspective argues evidence church_court record_suggest overall continuity social standard practice relation marriage despite introduction marriage act whilst act play_important_role standard men_woman legally able resolve domestic dispute correspond impact time social_practice reason assert standard represent court read evidence specific legal culture marriage problematises consequence interpret court evidence indicator social_change draw_together evidence dispute adultery domestic violence testamentary cause examine attitude_towards marriage course find characterised dispute relate legal definition marriage later case focus personal