1. Blossomfield U3A Family History Group Marriage Love Sex pre 1800 Dr Helen Castor's Medieval Lives series The history of marriage until Henry 8th Family and Local History Handbook 13 page 18 Newspaper cuttings about what went on inthe 1800's

2. 1066 This was before the church had control of marriage William the Bastard in1065 became......William the Conqueror in1066 Things had changed by the time his son died

3. 1135 Matilda, only surviving legitimate child over 20 illegitimate children Matilda declared successor Church's rules determined who could inherit the throne

4. 1100's Powerful movement for reform Church defined marriage and (tried to) control sex However, this was difficult as a couple only had to exchange vows to be married - hard to prove (later) and police

5. 1200's The Church could not change the principle of consent, and probably did not want to It could introduce rituals and encourage couple to have marriage solemnized by priest in public.

6. 1300's Missals were copied and distributed to priests These contained instructions for worship throughout the year Banns had to read on 3 successive Sundays Secret marriages were impossible

7. 1400's Statutes stated sex outside marriage was a mortal sin - public flogging Marriage built families (e.g. nouveau riche could marry into the establishment to cement their place in society) (e.g. Royalty) Consummated marriage reflected Christ's union with the Church - priests would take couples to the marriage bedroom and bless them

8. what if a couple changed their minds? Problem = 'til death do us part' Church courts dealt with marriage disputes One third of all cases at York involved marriage 60 to 70% of these tried to prove the marriage was invalid in the first place...the story of Agnes Huntingdon

9. Prince Arthur... and Catherine of Arragon... and Henry 8th... and Anne Boleyn. New English religion Centuries before divorce was possible for everyone 1500's

10. INTERMISSION

11. the 1700's Sexist and class-ridden society It may be the dream, to marry someone young and beautiful......but what could compare with a widow that came with property!

12. News inthe papers... Miss Polly Wright - £15000 Widow Shugborough - £5000 Mr. Horsmanden

13. The Court of the King’s Bench gave Judgment against some persons committed “for seducing a young Lady of 16 Sentences of those responsible: – The husband! – the Son of a Noble Person – two Men Servants – a maid Servant

14. An 18th Century 'civil partnership' At a quarter sessions of the peace, held at Somersetshire, Mary Hamilton, otherwise Charles, otherwise George Hamilton...

15. Cross dressing from London... A young woman dressed in man’s cloaths... for marrying an old woman. The old woman was possessed of £100... but the old lady proved too knowing.”

16. Gay men early 1700's, sodomy got 6 months and were pilloried later in the century, sentences got heavier, sometimes offenders were executed. Richard Baggs...

17. Spanish Fly – love powder

18. Criminal Conversation (adultery) Jos. Jacob Sherring Joseph Molineux

19. Finding Love Mary Honywood

20. Silver Threads Adam Turnbull Agnes Milbourn Mrs Dewel James Jobson