Family Life in England and America, 1690-1820, vol 1

This four-volume collection of primarily newly transcribed manuscript material brings together sources from both sides of the Atlantic and from a wide variety of regional archives. It is the first collection of its kind, allowing comparisons between the development of the family in England and America during a time of significant change. Volume 1: Many Families The eighteenth-century family group was a varied one. Documents attest to religious and racial diversity, as well as the hardships endured by the poor and working classes, such as widows, orphans and those born outside wedlock. Fictive families are also examined alongside more traditional family units bound by blood or law.

Rachel Cope, Amy Harris, Jane Hinckley

Multiple Families Berkeley Seymour, Will, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (1744); Jane Seymour, Will, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (1762-1770); John Joseph Hornyold, The Real Principles of Catholicks Or, a Catechism for the Adult. Explaining the Principal Points of the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the Catholick Church (1749), excerpt; John Romans, Estate papers (1766); Ward Hallowell, Licence [sic] to Change His Name to Ward Nicholas Boylston (1770); Anna Letitia Barbauld, Hymns in Prose for Children [1781] excerpts; Admiral Sir John Lindsay, Will (1788); A W Rumney, ed. From the Old South-Sea House, being Thomas Rumney's Letter Book, 1796-1798 (1914), excerpts; Jane Davis, Letters from a mother to her son, on his going to sea: and a letter to Capt. S. By an inhabitant of Congleton. Dedicated, by permission, to Sir Richard Hill, Bart., M.P. [1799], excerpt; Esther Cox, Correspondence with Mary Chesnut, 1805-1810; Joshua Lovejoy, Correspondence, 1817-1819 Religious Diversity Haselbury Plunknett, Somerset, parish registers, 1690s, 1754, 1813; R Nelson, An earnest exhortation to house-keepers, to set up the worship of God in their families (1739), excerpt; Joseph Weyman, Probate dispute (1730); [Anon.], A persuasive to family religion: and the obligation Christian parents are under to the religious education of their children. With A Collection of some Texts of Scripture for the Use of Children. By the author of The advantages of closet religion. To which is added, some forms of prayer [1736], excerpt; Abbe d'Ancourt, The Lady's Preceptor. Or, a Letter to a Young Lady of Distinction Upon Politeness. Taken from the French of the Abbe D'Ancourt, and Adapted to the Religion, Customs, and Manners of the English Nation (1743), excerpt; David A M Muir, An humble attempt toward the revival of family-religion among Christians [1749], excerpts; Sarah Ryan to Mary Fletcher, Letter, April 1762; C Annesley and P M Hoskin, Archbishop Drummond's Visitation Returns, 1764 (1997), excerpt; William Tennet III, On the Dissenting Petition, Delivered in the House of Assembly, Charleston, S.C. , Jan 11, 1777; Recusant Returns Diocese of York, 1780; Cheap repository tracts for Sunday reading. To which are added, some prayers for individuals and for families (1800), excerpt; Zina Baker Huntington Correspondence, 1808-1813 Racial Diversity Berney Family, slave lists (1748); Dido Elizabeth Belle, Baptism record, 20 November, 1766; Dido Elizabeth Belle and John Davinier, Marriage bond, 6 November, 1793; Moore Family Bible, 1819-1856 and Moore Family Notes, 1770-1950; Adolph B Benson, ed., Peter Kalm's Travels in North America: The English Version of 1770 (1937), excerpts; Phillis Wheatley, Poems on various subjects, religious and moral. By Phillis Wheatley, negro servant to Mr. John Wheatley, of Boston, in New England [1773], excerpt; Vick family letter of emancipation, 1789; Clara Reeve, Plans of education; with remarks on the systems of other writers. In a series of letters between Mrs. Darnford and her friends (1792), excerpt; Susannah Cullen and Gustavus Vassa, Marriage certificate, 17 April, 1792; Olaudah Equiano, The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by himself [1794], excerpts; -----, will, 1797; Anna Maria Vassa, epitaph, 1796; John Beall, Will, 1801; [Anon.], The Woman of Colour: A Tale (1808); John Williams and Elizabeth Williams, his wife, and their children: brief notes concerning their settlement case with a note in different handwriting 'Negro - slave, wife and child' (1818); Catherine Sedgwick, Letter to Frances Sedgwick, 1807; Elizabeth 'Mumbet' Freeman, Epitaph, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988; Zenon Trudeau papers, probate and slaves, 1797-1799; Lancaster, Pennsylvania Clerk of Courts, Returns of Negro and Mulatto Children and Index of Slaves; James Dolbeare, Records on Indians, slaves and indentured servants (1685-1745) Poor Diocese of Exeter visitation records, Stockley Pomeroy, 1744; Thomas Sharp, An apology for the annual collections made towards the support of clergymens widows and orphans, within the counties of Durham and Northumberland. Being a sermon preached at the yearly meeting of the sons of the clergy at Newcastle upon Tyne, ... on Thursday the 23d of October 1746 (1746), excerpts; Eric Guest Nellis and Anne Decker Cecere, The Eighteenth-Century Records of the Boston Overseers of the Poor (2007); Haselbury-Plucknett, Somserset, Removal orders and bastardy bonds, 1730-50; Dorset, England, Parish Poor Law Records, Stoke Abbott Parish, 1700-1820; John Sibley, Settlement examination, Dorset, 1753; Parish Apprenticeship Indentures, 1693-1753; St. Ann's Parish, Albemarle County, Virginia, Vestry Book, 1772-1785, and Overseers of the Poor Accounts, 1786-1809; Hints for the institution of Sunday-Schools and parish clubs, for the benefit of the poor. Chiefly intended for the Middle Ranks, Whose benevolence may induce them to attend to these useful institutions. To which are added, some rules for a female society, as established in York. By the author of the Poor Child's friend (1789), excerpts; Ashton in Makerfield Poor Census (1816) Fictive Families J Cotton, Josiah Cotton memoirs, 1726-1756; Society of Friends, Buckingham Monthly Meeting, Men's Minute Books, 1735-1798, Women's Minute Books, 1670-1822; Sarah Ryan, Letter to Mary Fletcher, April 1762; John Drayton, Correspondence with James Glen, 1769-1775; Articles to be observed and kept by all the members of the Benevolent Female Society, begun December, 7th, 1789. And now held at the house of Mr. T. Warton, in Dagger-Lane, Kingston-Upon-Hull [1790], excerpts; C Reeve, Plans of education; with remarks on the systems of other writers. In a series of letters between Mrs. Darnford and her friends (1792), excerpt; H Coleridge, ed., Letters of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1895), excerpts; George Dillwyn, Correspondence, 1781-1815; Rachel Wilson, letter to R Jones and H Cathrall, 1770; Rebecca Jones, Memoir and letter to Edward Cathrall, 1782; Mary Fletcher, Account of Sarah Lawrence, Methodist minister, 1801; Elizabeth Bentley, Genuine Poetical Compositions, on Various Subjects [1791], excerpt; Female Society and Female Association of Pennsylvania, Minutes, 1805-1815; Articles of association of the Female Hospitable Society, 1814