Gender, property and succession in the early modern English aristocracy: the case of Martha Janes and her illegitimate children

Worthen, Hannah; McDonagh, Briony; Capern, Amanda

Abstract

This article addresses the boundaries of female power within early modern aristocratic families. It examines the family arrangements of Lord Emmanuel Scroop whose marriage to Elizabeth Manners was childless. The research sets out to uncover Lord Scroop’s relationship with his servant, Martha Janes, and the property litigation pursued by Janes on behalf of their four illegitimate children whom Lord Scroop left his family estates to. The article sheds light on the hidden histories of bastardy and property within aristocratic families. It investigates how Janes and her children ultimately played a central role in the succession strategies of Lord Scroop, and considers how much importance aristocratic men attached to the concept of a legitimate male bloodline. The objective is to shine a light on economic and legal relationships in aristocratic families and reveal the relative—and relational—power an unmarried woman could gain through maternity.

Citation

Worthen, H., McDonagh, B., & Capern, A. (2019). Gender, property and succession in the early modern English aristocracy: the case of Martha Janes and her illegitimate children. Women's History Review, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2019.1696414

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 18, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 28, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 28, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 12, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 29, 2021
• Journal: Women's History Review
• Print ISSN: 0961-2025
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-583X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2019.1696414
• Keywords: Early modern women; Gender; Illegitimacy; Inheritance; Property; Aristocracy,; Servants; Family; Litigation; Maternity
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3316590
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09612025.2019.1696414
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rwhr20; Published: 2019-11-28