A Brief History of Widowhood and Aging in Early Modern Europe

In glancing at European history, age is seldom discussed. In feudal society through the years of early capitalism, people rarely saw what we would consider old age today. Between the 1540’s and 1800 the life expectancy in England was thirty-five years of age (Thane, 2003). This figure is not an entirely accurate portrayal of the realities of the time, as there were a number of infant deaths that dragged the life expectancy well below average (Thane, 2003). For those ‘fortunate’ enough to see long lives, there were significant challenges. Age has always, and continues to bare consequence on an individual’s place in society.  

The gender of an individual was a defining point in their status as they approached late life. Social status relied heavily on land ownership (Seccombe, 1992). A woman rarely owned land, unless it was a gained through dower rights following the death of her husband (Seccombe, 1992). Many men had wills and retirement contracts written up through the church. These documents outlined the division of labour expected of their sons in the care of their widowed mother. If the mother remarried or passed away, the sons would take ownership of the land if they had met expectations set by their fathers (Seccombe, 1992). Even if a woman came to possess land, she could be forced to remarry later in life. It was expected that widowed women remain pure (free of sexual relations) until she was remarried. Women would often be chastised for failing to do so (Seccombe, 1992). 

    

In England, the aged were cared for, to an extent, by English poor laws (Thane, 2003). From 1597-1948, the aged and the poor were protected by the state through poor laws comprised of public taxation. Many elderly people were provided for through the state, and many others through the charity of the church. The church provided money, clothing, food, medical aide, and some degree of assistance (Thane, 2003). It is important to note however, that until fairly recently, there was no golden age in which care was offered to the elderly (Thane, 2003). Only the ill and the destitute were ‘cared for’. Despite age, if an individual was perceived as ‘fit to work’ they could be rejected from any of the services available and they would be left to fend for themselves.

Many people approaching old age, along with the widowed and the disabled, found themselves in workhouses (Thane, 2003). A number of others would do light jobs in the community. There were many jobs primarily performed by the elderly in early modern Europe. Older men would be seen mending roads, grounds keeping, or attending to minor jobs on a farm. Women would often offer care-giving and domestic services (Thane, 2003). Many people worked well into age, as it was expected that they do so until they could no longer.

Aging in early modern Europe presented a number of challenges. The wealthy were typically cared for to a greater extent as they aged. The poor, on the other hand, had little access to assistance and were primarily left to fend for themselves, working well into old age. Age seemed to bare little consequence on the place of an individual in society; if anything, it made life significantly more difficult.    

                                                                                                                           -Kayla                      

References

Seccombe, Wally. (1992). A millennium of family change: feudalism to capitalism in northwestern Europe. Verso. London, England.

Thane, P. (2003). Social histories of old age and aging. Journal of Social History, 37 (1), 93-111.  DOI: 10.1353/jsh.2003.0163. Retrieved from: http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/journal_of_social_history/v037/37.1thane.html