The History of Old Age in England, 1600–1800

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General Editors: Lynn Botelho and Susannah R Ottaway
Volume Editors: Anne Kugler and Ingrid Tague

What did it mean to be old in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century England? Historians researching the historicity of the aging experience have to search for references hidden within a wide range of sources relating to poverty, religion, the family or medicine. This eight-volume reset edition brings together selections from medical treatises, sermons, petitions, legal documents, parish records, almshouse accounts, private letters, diaries and ballads, to investigate cultural and medical understanding of old age in pre-industrial England.

Amidst the social, cultural, religious and demographic upheavals of seventeenth-century England, the position of the elderly was unclear. They were a venerated head of family, yet were expected to work until they died; they were worthy objects of charitable aims, yet a continued belief in witchcraft made them threatening.

By contrast, the eighteenth century and the Enlightenment witnessed a growing conviction that old age was a distinct stage of life, which could be defined numerically and managed scientifically by medical and political means. New ideas emerged about retirement, the end of constant labour, and the social role of grandparents.

All of the material presented in this edition is rare and difficult to access. Much of it exists only in manuscript form and is previously unpublished.

This edition will be essential for those studying and researching Social and Economic History, History of Medicine, Historical Sociology and Gerontology.

• Draws from a wide variety of source material, much of it previously unpublished
• Manuscript material is drawn from both major holdings and local archives in the US and the UK
• Volume 7 is dedicated to the diary of Lady Sarah Cowper, a significant account of aging at the beginning of the eighteenth century
• New editorial material includes a general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes, endnotes, and a consolidated index in the final volume

Sample pages

• Volume 1: Ballads and Broadsides
• Volume 1: Ballads and Broadsides editorial notes
• Volume 4: Household Listings
• Volume 4: Household Listings editorial notes

Contents

Volume 1

Literature
‘A Charme Ffran: Beaumont’, in Commonplace Book (1630); Joseph Hall, ‘Youth and Age’, ‘Maides and Widowes’, ‘Defence of a Bald Head’, ‘The Olde Man’s Song’ and ‘A Widdowe that is Rich and Woundrous Olde’, in Commonplace Book (c. 1650); Theophilus Alye, ‘On a Childlesse Woman’ and ‘On a Toothlesse Woman’, in Commonplace Book (1679–1716)
Ballads and Broadsides
By the Merry Landes Date (1635); Robert Guy, The Merry Old Woman: or, This is a Good Old Woman this is a Merry Old Woman (1640); Walter Pope, The Old Mans Complaint: or, The Unequal Matcht Couple (1650); The Jealous Old Dotard: or, The Discovery of Cuckoldry: a Pleasant New Song (1680); William Farthing, The Old Mans Complaint as Followeth (1680)
Proverbs
James Howell, Paroimiographia Proverbs, or Old Sayed Sawes and Adages in English (or the Saxon toung) Italian, French and Spanish whereunto the British, for their Great Antiquity, and Weight are Added (1659)
Medicine
Thomas Cogan, ‘Of the Age of the Partie’, in The Hauen of Health (1584); Simon Harward, Simon Harwards Phlebotomy: or, A Treatise of Letting of Bloud (1601); Leonardus Lessius, Hygiasticon: or, The Right Course of Preserving Life and Health unto Extream Old Age (1634); Lud. Cornarus, ‘A Treatise of Temperance and Sobriete’, in Leonardus Lessius, Hygiasticon: or, The Right Course of Preserving Life and Health unto Extream Old Age (1634); Nicholas Culpeper, Galen’s Art of Physick … Translated into English, and largely commented on (1652); Johann Jacob Wecker, Arts Master-Piece or, The Beautifying Part of Physick (1660)
Books, Essays and Pamphlets
John Smith, The Pourtract of Old Age wherein is contained a Sacred Anatomy both of Soul and Body, and a Perfect Account of the Infirmities of Age incident to them both (1666); A Word to the Aged (1667)
Sermons and Spirituality
Fulk Bellers, Abrahams Interment: or The Good Old-Mans Buriall in a Good Old Age (1656); The Life and Death of Damaris Page that Great, Arch, Metropolitan (Old Woman) of Ratcliff High-Way (1669); John Hart, Christ’s First Sermon, or, The Absolute Necessity, Gospel Duty and Christian Practice of Repentance (1676); A Relation of the Last Words and Departure of that Antient and Honourable Woman Loveday Hambly, of Trigangeeues, in the Parish of Austell in the County of Cornwal (1683); Patrick Ker, ‘Meditation IV. Of Old Age’, in The Map of Man’s Misery: or, The Poor Man’s Pocket-Book being a Perpetual Almanack of Spiritual Meditations: or Compleat Directory for One Endless Week (1690)
Biography
John Taylor, The Old, Old, Very Old Man: or, The Age and Long Life of Thomas Par (1635); The Old Mans Life Renewed by Heavenly Providence ([1657]); Archbishop Sancroft’s Notebook (n.d.)
Petitions and Legal Documents
'Petition of Sir Thomas Holland to the King to Appoint Some Other in his Place as High Sheriff on Account of his Weakness and Old Age' (n.d.)

Volume 2

Literature
Richard Bulstrode, ‘Of Old Age’, in Miscellaneous Essays (1715); Thomas Brown, ‘Mr. Brown’s Horace’, ‘To a Gentleman that Cut off his Hair … in his Old Age’, ‘A Catch’, ‘Laconics; or, New Maxims of State and Conversation’ and ‘To My Lady . . . . . . that Marry’d an Old Decrepid Widower’, in The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown (1744); Samuel Johnson, ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Old Age’ (1750), in The Beauties of the Rambler, Adventurer, Connoisseur, World, and Idler (1787); George Saville Carey, Three Old Woman Weatherwise, an Interlude ([1788]); Mr Addison, ‘Old Age’ and ‘On Youth’, in A Collection of Interesting Anecdotes, Memoirs, Allegories, Essays, and Poetical Fragments (1793)
Ballads, Broadsides and Ephemera
A Comical and Diverting Courtship, which Lately Happened between an old Woman of Fourscore and Fifteen, and a Youth about Nineteen, With whom she was Married ([1700–99]); ‘An Epitaph on Bona Fide, Here Lies an Old Man of Seventy-Seven’, in Pills to Purge State-Melancholy (1718); The Deluge: or, Cautious Old-Woman. A Tale (1723); The Age and Life of Man; or, A Short Description of his Nature, Rise and Fall, According to the Twelve Months of the Year ([c. 1750]); ‘Lancashire John’ and ‘The Old Woman Spinning of Time’, in Lancashire John’s Garland ([c. 1750]); Jacob Easterbrook, ‘On Life’ and ‘The Mistletoe – A Christmas Tale, By Laura Maria’, in A Copy of Verses, Humbly Presented to all my Worthy Masters and Mistresses of the City of Bristol ([1761]); The Felton Garland. Containing Three Excellent New Songs ([c. 1760]); The Wanton Virgins Frighted: With the Spy’s Down-Fall from the Tree-Top ([c. 1760]); The Age of Man, Displayed in the Several Changes of Human Life ([c. 1775]); The Old Woman Cloathed in Grey ([c. 1775]); The Chearfull Old Maid (n.d.); The Honey Moon (n.d.); The Age of Man, Compared to all the Months in the Year ([c. 1790]); The Cuckold’s Cap Garland (n.d.); Beneath This Stone Lies Catherine Gray. An Epitaph on an Old Woman Who Sold Earthen Ware at Chester ([c. 1800]); George Alexander Stevens, The Description of a Wonderful Old Man ([c. 1800]); ‘The Age of Man’, in An Excellent Garland ([c. 1800])
Medicine and Prolongevity
Nicholas Robinson, A New Method of Treating Consumptions, Wherein all the Decays Incident to Human Bodies, are Mechanically Accounted for (1727); The Best and Easiest Method of Preserving Uninterrupted Health to Extreme Old Age (1748); [John Hill], The Old Man’s Guide to Health and Longer Life ([c. 1750]); ‘Doctor Adelphi’, Sung, in a new Piece, at the Patagonian Theatre, Exeter Change, The Words by Robt Dighton ([c. 1770]); Remarks on the Final Cessation of the Menses (1775); John Bexley, Fifty-Four Years the Canterbury News-Carrier ([1788]); The Art of Preserving Beauty (1789); William Brodum, A Guide to Old Age, or a Cure for the Indiscretions of Youth (1799); An Essay on the Most Rational Means of Preserving Health, and Attaining to an Advanced Age (1799); A Dialogue between Life and Death ([c. 1800]) ; Isaac James, Bookseller, Tea-Dealer, and Undertaker ([c. 1805])
Sermons
John Graile, Vigorous Longevity; or, A Good Old Age, and the Best Way, both to Attain it; and to Improve it (1720); Samuel Hebden, The Best Way to Provide Against Old Age and to Prepare for Death (1739); Jacob Isaac, Religion Alone the Cause of Happiness in Old Age (1787)

Volume 3

Conduct Books
[James Cleland], The Scottish Academie, or Institution of a Young Noble-Man (1611); Matthew Griffith, Bethel: or, A Forme for Families (1633); Daniel Touteville, St. Pauls Threefold Cord (1635); Richard Baxter, Compassionate Counsel to All Young Men (1681); James Kirkwood, A New Family-Book; or, The True Interest of Families (1693); James Kirkwood, Advice to Children, bound with A New Family-Book; or, The True Interest of Families (1693)
Letters and Personal Correspondence
The Right Honorable Richard Earle of Carbery his Advice to his Sonn (1651); Sir Francis Fane, Commonplace Book (1655/6)
Books, Essays And Pamphlets
A Twofold Treatise (1632); A Spiritual Journey of a Young Man (1659)
Ballads and Pamphlets
The Unnatural Grand Mother (1659); The Old Mans Complaint against his Wretched Son ([1658–64]); The Fathers Good Counsel to his Lascivious Son ([1670]); The Ungrateful Son ([c. 1672]); A Hundred Godly Lessons ([1674–9]); A Most Excellent Ballad of an Old Man and his Wife ([1678–81]); The True Lovers Happiness or, Nothing Venture, Nothing Have ([1692]); The Unfortunate Couple; or, The Unkind Father ([c. 1700])

Volume 4

Literature and Essays
Samuel Catherall, Cato Major. A Poem (1725); [Daniel Defoe], Chickens feed Capons, or, A Dissertation on the Pertness of our Youth in General (1731); John Asgill, A Postscript to Asgill’s Essay upon Charity ([1731]); John Fielding, The Universal Mentor (1763); Instructions for the Conduct of Females, from Infancy to Old Age (1788); The Female Aegis; or, The Duties of Women from Childhood to Old Age, and in Most Situations of Life, Exemplified (1798); Thomas Bernard, Comforts of Old Age (1818)
Ballads, Chapbooks and Broadsides
The Falling Out ([1718]); The Old Man, his Son, and the Ass: A Fabulous Tale (1723); [John Galliard], Tho’ Envious Old Age Seem in Part to Impair Me ([c. 1726]); Low Down in the Broom ([c. 1770]); The Old Man, his Children, and the Bundle of Sticks. A Fable ([c. 1776]); My Grandmother’s Cot, a New Ballad ([c. 1780]); The Slighted Father: or The Unnatural Son Justly Reclaimed ([1780–1810]); ‘An Old Woman Clothed in Grey’ ([c. 1800])
Legal Documents
Exchange of Letters from Dr Lloyd, the Vicar of Puddletown, Dorset, and his Lawyer concerning a Dispute over Vicarial Tithes (1777); Sarah Dibben’s Settlement Examinations, along with Testimony from her Son Melchizedeck and his Wife (1776); Selected Wills from Dorset, Essex and Yorkshire (1701–88)
Household Listings
Revd Henry Dawnay, Account of the Inhabitants of Piddletown Parish (1724)
Personal Papers
Some Account of ye Life &C. of John Fryer & of Severall of his Relations. Written by Himself (1715); ‘Diary of Thomas Smith of Shaw House’ (1721), in J. A. Neale (ed.), Charters and Records of Neales of Berkeley Yate and Corsham (1906)

Volume 5

Religious Obligations
T Sheafe, Vindiciae, or A Plea for Old–Age (1639)
Statues, Legal Documents, Petitions, And Instructions
Anon., An Ease for Overseers of the Poore Abstracted from the Statutes, allowed by Practise, and now Reduced into Forme, as a Necessarie Directorie for Imploying, Releeuing, and Ordering of the Poore (1601); Statutes of the Realm; An Abstract of the Paten Granted by His Majesty for Erecting a Corporation for Relief of the Poor Widows and Children of Clergy-men (1678); George Meriton, A Guide for Constables, Churchwardens, Overseers of the Poor, Surveyors of the High-ways, Treasurers of the County-stock, Masters of the House of Correction, Bayliffs of Mannors, Toll-takers in Fairs &c a Treatise briefly Shewing the Extent and Latitude of the Several Offices, with the Power of the Officers therein, both by Common Law and Statute, according to the Several Additions and Alterations of the Law (1679); Thomas Boyce, To the most Powerful in Authority, to Unloose the Bonds of Cruelty and Oppression of an Aged Industrious Person without Work or Friends (1697)
Proposals
Pieter Corneliszoon Plockhoy, A Way Propounded to Make the Poor in these and other Nations Happy... (1659); Anon., Good News for the Poor (1674); Anon., Penalties by Several Statutes upon Justices of the Peace, Constables, Churchwardens, Overseers of the Poor, and other Officers that Neglect their Duty, Necessary to be Known to Them and Others (1693); R D, Bread for the Poor (1698); M D, A Present Remedy for the Poor (1700)
Parish Records
Craftield Churchwardens’ Accounts
Charity Records
Records of Roger Reede’s Charity, Romford, Essex (1614–1616, 1636–1640, 1677–1681); Accounts and Minutes of Braintree Charity Feoffees (1553–1733)
Almshouse Accounts
Accounts of Saffron Walden Almshouse (1524–1610); Letter Concerning the Admission of a Poor Woman to the Almshouses written by Mary, Dowager Lady Petre (1680); Theophilus Alye, Commonplace Book (1679–1716): Orders to be Observed by such Almesmen and Women
Ballads
As I walk’d by an Hos--pi---tal, I heard an Old Woman Cry (1685); Anon., The Tryal of Patience (1687)

Volume 6

Legal Documents And Commentary
Statutes of the Realm; Joseph Shaw, The Practical Justice of Peace, and Parish and Ward–Officer (1756); Thomas Gilbert, A Bill Intended To Be Offered to Parliament, for the Better Relief and Employment of the Poor and for the Improvement of the Police of This Country (1786)
Workhouses
John Cary, An Account of the Proceedings of the Corporation of Bristol (1700); Thomas Cooke, Work-Houses the Best Charity (1702); An Account of Several Workhouses for Employing and Maintaining the Poor… (1725); Edmund Gillingwater, An Essay on Parish Work-Houses (1786); Ovenden Workhouse Accounts (c.1773–1803) (Manuscript); Ovenden Workhouse Day Book
Poor Law Accounts
Selections from the Parish Registers, Overseers Account Books and Vestry Minutes of Terling, Essex; Puddletown, Dorset; and Ovenden, Halifax, West Yorkshire (c.1693–1800)
Charity Records
Rules and Orders to be Observed by the Members of an Amicable Society (1776); Durham County Record Office, Strathmore Papers, Charity List (1764) (Manuscript); Rules, Orders and Regulations of the Friendly Society Called the United Brothers (1804)
Political Documents
William Cobbett, The Parliamentary History of England (1813); The Parliamentary Register (1775–1804)
Treatises on Poor Relief
A Method Concerning the Relief and Employment of the Poor (1699)*; Laurence Braddon, Particular Answers to the Most Material Objections Made to the Proposal Humbly Presented to His Majesty for Relieving, Reforming, and Employing all the Poor of Great Britain (1722); John Vancouver, An Enquiry into the Causes and Production of Poverty (1796); Thomas Ruggles, The History of the Poor (1797)

Volume 7
Volume editor: Anne Kugler

Hertfordshire Public Record Office Panshanger, Diary of Lady Sarah Cowper (25 July 1700– 30 September 1716)

Volume 8

Selected Letters of Lady Isabella Wentworth; Commonplace and Memo book kept by George Boddington (1646–1719); Devotional Journal of Sarah Savage (1714); Memoirs of the Life of that Learned Antiquary Elias Ashmole (1717); Guildhall, ‘Depositions, Briefs and Documents Relating to a case brought against The Amicable and Brotherly Society (founded 1738) by Bowman Brown’; The Diary, Meditations and Letters of Mr Joseph Williams of Kidderminster (1783); Diary of Peter Oliver Junior (1791) (Manuscript); Memoirs of the Life and Gallant Exploits of the Old Highlander, Serjeant Donald Macleod (1791); Hannah Ball, Memoirs of Miss Hannah Ball, of High Wycomb, in Buckinghamshire (1796) Papers of Cornelius Ashworth, Farmer and Weaver of Ovenden

Related titles

• Narratives of the Poor in Eighteenth-Century Britain

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