Social mobility, marriage and kinship among some gentry and yeoman families of Wantage Hundred, c.1520-c.1670
The core of this thesis is the study of 12 gentry and yeoman families resident in Wantage Hundred between 1522 and 1670. Particular attention will be paid to the 4 main strategies of land acquisition, marriage, office-holding and education that could be adopted by each family group for advancement. In conjunction with this the pattern of social mobility within the families will be examined to determine what if any influence such strategies had on social status. The desire for any social elevation will be analysed to examine the notion that all yeoman were actively striving towards a gentry status, and that the gentry themselves were looking towards an aristocratic title. The actual title of 'gentleman' and 'yeoman' will be examined and their usage in this area analysed, and in particular the way the titles became accepted for merchants and tradesmen. The terms 'open' and 'closed' originally used to define nineteenth century parishes have been applied to Tudor and Stuart England. This hypothesis has been used to suggest that a resident gentry family could regulate the inflow of new families and could effectively 'close' the parish to outside influences and stifle any upward social movement by the local yeoman
Aubertin-Potter, Norma Ann Rose
History
Social mobility, marriage and kinship among some gentry and yeoman families of Wantage Hundred, c.1520-c.1670. The core of this thesis is the study of 12 gentry and yeoman families resident in Wantage Hundred between 1522 and 1670. Particular attention will be paid to the 4 main strategies of land acquisition, marriage, office-holding and education that could be adopted by each family group for advancement. In conjunction with this the pattern of social mobility within the families will be examined to determine what if any influence such strategies had on social status. The desire for any social elevation will be analysed to examine the notion that all yeoman were actively striving towards a gentry status, and that the gentry themselves were looking towards an aristocratic title. The actual title of 'gentleman' and 'yeoman' will be examined and their usage in this area analysed, and in particular the way the titles became accepted for merchants and tradesmen. The terms 'open' and 'closed' originally used to define nineteenth century parishes have been applied to Tudor and Stuart England. This hypothesis has been used to suggest that a resident gentry family could regulate the inflow of new families and could effectively 'close' the parish to outside influences and stifle any upward social movement by the local yeoman
social_mobility marriage kinship among gentry family hundred core_study gentry family resident hundred particular_attention_pay main strategy land acquisition marriage office_holding education could adopt family group advancement conjunction pattern social_mobility within family examine determine influence strategy social_status desire social elevation analyse examine notion actively strive towards gentry status gentry look towards aristocratic title actual title gentleman examined usage area analyse particular_way title become accepted merchant tradesman term open closed originally use define parish apply tudor stuart england hypothesis use suggest resident gentry_family could regulate inflow new family could effectively close parish outside influence upward social_movement local