Women, marriage and property in wealthy landed families in Ireland, 1750-1850 / Deborah Wilson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilson, Deborah, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Upper class women--Ireland--History--18th century.

Upper class women.

Upper class women--Ireland--History--19th century.

Right of property--Ireland--History--18th century.

Right of property.

Right of property--Ireland--History--19th century.

Marriage--Economic aspects--Ireland--History--18th century.

Marriage.

Marriage--Economic aspects--Ireland--History--19th century.

Marital property--Ireland--History--18th century.

Marital property.

Marital property--Ireland--History--19th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 233 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : distributed in the United States exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Until recently, women featured in the historiography of the landed class in Ireland either as bearers of assets to advantageous matches or as potential drains on family estates as a result of long widowhoods. Drawing on a range of sources from the papers of landed families, including settlements, wills and personal correspondence, this book challenges established notions and provides fresh insight into the place of these women. It seeks to contribute to existing historiography by looking beyond the dynastic and economic concerns that dominate the current history of the Irish elite. The book looks at women's experiences of property and power in twenty landed families between 1750 and 1850, and outlines the statutory developments that impacted upon the distribution of family property in Ireland. It considers how women were provided for by family settlements and examines the legal, social and familial factors that influenced the experience elite women had of property. Individual examples are employed to demonstrate the similarities and differences between women in this class, and to illustrate how the experience women had of property in this period was more complex than their legal and social status might suggest.

Contents:

Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Tables; Abbreviations; Glossary of legal terminology; Introduction; 1. Women, marriage and statute law in Ireland; 2. Provisions made for women and childrenin family settlements; 3. Women and legal guardianship; 4. Single women and property; 5. Married women and property; 6. Widows and property; Conclusion; Appendix AFamily biographies; Appendix B Select biographical index of women; Appendix C; Appendix D Guardians and executors, 1767-1855; Appendix E; Appendix F Types of property bequeathed todaughters and younger sons, 1771-1836; Appendix G

Select bibliographyIndex

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 24 Apr 2026).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781847797216

1847797210

9781781703328

1781703329

9781847793577

1847793576

OCLC:

818847498

Publisher Number:

2027/heb07372 hdl