Women's agency in early modern Britain and the American colonies: patriarchy, partnership and patronage

General introduction

How and where were marriages solemnised?

What was marriage? What was its purpose?

Finding a partner among the landed aristocracy

Making marriages among women of the professional and the middling sorts

Attitudes to marriage

Patriarchy

Partnership and separation

Mistress of the household : what wives did all day

Mothers

Wives and property

Widows and widowhood

Women's formal and informal education

Women and religion

Contemporary culture : print and non-print, public and private

Women's cultural lives : participation.

Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Preface; Dedication; Abbreviations; 1 General introduction; PART 1 Marrying: an active proposition; Introduction; 2 How and where were marriages solemnised?; 3 What was marriage? What was its purpose?; 4 Finding a partner among the landed aristocracy; 5 Making marriages among women of the professional and the middling sorts; PART 2 Experience of marriage; Introduction; 6 Attitudes to marriage; 7 Patriarchy; 8 Partnership and separation; 9 Mistress of the household: what wives did all day; 10 Mothers; 11 Wives and property.

12 Widows and widowhoodPART 3 Culture and religion: women's preparation for and participation in contemporary culture; Introduction; 13 Women's formal and informal education; 14 Women and religion; 15 Contemporary culture: print and non-print, public and private; 16 Women's cultural lives: participation; Bibliography; Glossary; Subject index; Index of proper names.