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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016
The aim of this paper is to examine the evidence from a number of charity schools, for attitudes towards the childhood of the ‘poorer sort’ in the early eighteenth century. Conventionally it has been claimed that lack of affection, and even brutality, characterized the relationship between parents, especially fathers, and their children. Lawrence Stone, in particular, has promoted the view that, as a result of the very high mortality rate among children until the late eighteenth century, parents did not invest much affection in them in order to insulate themselves from the sorrow resulting from their likely deaths before reaching adulthood. This view was also taken by Ivy Pinchbeck and Margaret Hewitt. They pointed out the formality of address seen in letters between children and parents of the upper classes, and suggested that cruelty to children and flogging was commonplace at all levels of society. These views have been challenged by Linda Pollock, who has suggested that, when examined carefully, the evidence suggests that, from the sixteenth century at least, nearly all children seem to have been wanted, loved, and cared for. She claims that the majority of children were not subject to brutality, and that physical punishment was used relatively infrequently and as a last resort. Pollock suggests that from the eighteenth century onwards parents were much concerned with ‘training’ a child in order to ensure that he or she absorbed correct values and beliefs and would grow into a model citizen.
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8 For the role of the SPCK as a ginger group promoting the establishment of charity schools (among a number of other activities) see Unwin, Robert, ‘The Established Church and the schooling of the poor: the role of the SPCK 1699-1720’, in McClelland, Vincent Allen, ed., The Churches and Education: Proceedings of the 1083 Annual Conference of the History of Education Society of Great Britain (Leicester, 1984)Google Scholar.
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14 This and subsequent information relating to the Norwich Charity Schools is derived from NNRO, Late Diocesan Box 1 P125D, Charity School Minute Book 1711-1761.
15 King’s Lynn Borough Archives, KL/C7/13, Hall Book 1731-1761.
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37 NNRO, P 125 D, Norwich Charity School Minute Book 1759-1811.
38 Inscription on monument to Edward Colston, died 1721, in south aisle of All Saints.’ Bristol.
39 Sir John Cass Foundation Archives, 1B/2/1A St Botolph’s Aldgate Charity School, Rough Copy of a Minute Book 1701-1764.
40 Sir John Cass Foundation Archives, 1B/5/10 Order Book and Minute Book of the Charitable Society of St Michael’s Cornhill 1711-1732.
41 Guildhall Library MS 1775, Minute Book of Cordwainers Ward and Bread Street Schools 1716-1727.
42 NNRO, MS 17607 38D Diss Charity School, List of Subscribers 1715.
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