Life expectations of the widows and orphans of freemen in london 1375-1399

Local Population Studies

Volumn , Issue 57, 1996, Pages 18-29

  Megson, Barbara ^a  

^a GIRTON COLLEGE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ADOLESCENT; ARTICLE; CHILD; FEMALE; HISTORY; HUMAN; INFANT; LIFE EXPECTANCY; NEWBORN; PRESCHOOL CHILD; UNITED KINGDOM; WIDOW;

ADOLESCENT; CHILD; CHILD, PRESCHOOL; FEMALE; GREAT BRITAIN; HISTORY, MEDIEVAL; HUMANS; INFANT; INFANT, NEWBORN; LIFE EXPECTANCY; WIDOWHOOD;

DOCUMENTARY SOURCE; FOURTEENTH CENTURY; FREEMEN; HISTORICAL STUDY; LIFE EXPECTANCY; MEDIEVAL DEMOGRAPHY; ORPHANS; WIDOWS;

UK, ENGLAND, LONDON;

EID: 0030299077     PISSN: 01432974     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (37)

1. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
2. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
3. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
4. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
5. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
6. Contractions used: CLB (A-K), R. R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Letter Books (A-K), (London, 1899); CP&M, A. H. Thomas ed., Calendar of Pleas and Memoranda, (Cambridge, 1926-43); PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Public Record Office); Co. Hu., R.R. Sharpe ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London 1258-1688, (London, 1889); L. Com., Commissary Court of London (Guildhall Archives); L. Arch., Archdeaconry Court of London (Guildhall Archives).
7. S. Thrupp, The Merchant Class of Medieval London, (Michigan, 1961).
8. B. Hanawalt, Growing up in Medieval London, (Oxford, 1993).
9. John Coterelle: will Co. Hu. (I) 599 1349.
10. Unless required to do so, by her husband's will, a widow could assume the right of guardianship without appearing at Guildhall for five years after his death. CLB K, 5 footnote.
11. CP&M 1381-1412, 29-31: Membr. 16 and 17.
12. One third to the widow, one third to be divided between the testator's young children, and the remainder, known as 'the testator's third', could be left in personal bequests, including gifts to the church for masses and charitable works.
13. For example, Adam Haket, Bowyer, left over £750 and John Gilbert, Painter, about £900.
14. If, however, known older children are added in, the figures become: 10 families with four living children, six with five, two with six and one with eight.
15. E. Clarke, 'City Orphans and Custody Laws in Medieval London', American Journal of Legal History, 3 (1990), 168-87.
16. M. Rawcliffe, 'Margaret, Lady Philpot', in C. M. Barron and A. F. Sutton eds, Medieval London Widows, (London, 1994), 85-98.
17. CLBC 36-37, 'Charter of Henry III to the widows of London'. For a full examination of the status of the London widows, see Barron, 'Introduction', in Medieval London Widows. 13. Case of Lucy Bretforde, CLBG 250 (fo. ccxxxiv b). That of Idonea Pynchon CP&M 1381-1412 201 (Roll A 32, Membr. 5).
18. CLBC 36-37, 'Charter of Henry III to the widows of London'. For a full examination of the status of the London widows, see Barron, 'Introduction', in Medieval London Widows. 13. Case of Lucy Bretforde, CLBG 250 (fo. ccxxxiv b). That of Idonea Pynchon CP&M 1381-1412 201 (Roll A 32, Membr. 5).
19. Will of John Pynchon, L. Com. I 263 ans 263v. 1392.
20. I. Chabot, 'Widowhood and Poverty in late Medieval Florence', Continuity and Change, 3 2 (1985), 291-311; P. J. P. Goldberg, 'Marriage, migration, servanthood and life-cycle in Yorkshire towns of the Middle Ages: some York cause paper evidence', Continuity and Change, 12 (1986), 141-69.
21. I. Chabot, 'Widowhood and Poverty in late Medieval Florence', Continuity and Change, 3 2 (1985), 291-311; P. J. P. Goldberg, 'Marriage, migration, servanthood and life-cycle in Yorkshire towns of the Middle Ages: some York cause paper evidence', Continuity and Change, 12 (1986), 141-69.
22. The widows who married a third time were: Maud Andrew/Vyne/Constantyn; Matilda atte Mylne/ Wakelee/Dallyng; Dionisia Claverynge/Hatfelde/Olney; Margaret Hothom/Sibille/Grace. One married four times: Margaret Berlyngham/Philpot/Fitznichol/Bamme.
23. Geoffrey Patrik, scrivenor, in his will (Co. Hu. (ii) 147-8) made the dower of his widow, dependent on her not remarrying, perhaps to ensure the care of their 'idiot' daughter, Cecelia.
24. C. M. Barron, 'Medieval Women in Southern England', Reading Medieval Studies, 15 (1989), 48.
25. Rawcliffe, 'Margaret Philpot', 85-98.
26. Thrupp, The Merchant Class, 200; T. Arnold ed., The English works of Wiclif, vol. III (1869-71), 199.
27. Thrupp, The Merchant Class, 200; T. Arnold ed., The English works of Wiclif, vol. III (1869-71), 199.
28. A discrepancy still evident in 1552. See S. Rappaport, Worlds within Worlds, (Cambridge, 1989), 51.
29. Richard Cok (d. 1397), CP&M 1381-1412 255, 268; William Lynne (d. 1421), PCC 52, 54 MARCHE; Thomas Herkestede (d. 1424), L.Comm. 3 123v.; John Prynce (d. 1421), CLB I 255; William Wyght (d. 1409), CLB I 80.
30. Agnes Cok; her indenture recorded CP&M 1364-81 219 (Roll A21 Membr. 8).
31. John, son of John de Gartone (d. 1362), was aged nine years when his father died and had already been married with his father's consent; CLB H 52. John Costantyn was married to Philippa Peche, his guardian's daughter, during his minority and succeeded in obtaining an annulment when he came of age; CLB H 16, 102, 293.
32. The families of John Nedham (1391/2) and William Pursere (1390).
33. Orphans' Wills proved in PCC: John Godyn (1463) and William Lynne (1421). Husbands of the orphan girls with wills in PCC: William Danvers (1439) married Johanna Leget; Richard Forster (1411) husband of Idonea Knyghtcote; John Sybille (1401) whose wife was Margaret Gylle; John Barley (1409) who had married Dionisia Sutton and John Longe (1460) whose widow has been Matilda Adam. See also Thrupp, The Merchant Class, chapter 5.
34. Thomas Aleyn, mercer and husband of Margery Knyghtcote.
35. See endnote 22, above.
36. William Clerk (Carmelite); John Frensshe (Merton Abbey); Thomas Goldyngham (Croxton Abbey, Leics.); William Hake (Augustinian); Hentry Thomlyn (Monastery at Lewes); Matilda Toky (Kelbourne Priory).
37. CLB H 431.