LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS-L Archives

Archiver > LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS > 2001-03 > 0983486228


From: "Martyn Parsons" <>
Subject: Re: [LEI] BIRDS of Freeby, Leicestershire (1500's and 1600's)
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 22:37:08 -0000
References: <3.0.6.32.20010228103543.00887c50@cecasun.utc.edu> <000801c0a268$ad9203e0$20c668d5@tinypc>


The movements of this family during this period are not likely to be
anything to do with the Black Death.

The "black death" arrived in Leicestershire in 1349 and by 1354 the
population in the city was beginning to recover. Leicester's tax records
reveal very
little drop in taxpayers in the period from 1336 - 1354, however, out of
247 new taxpayers in 1354 only 92 came from Leicestershire and Rutland
and their borders whilst the remaining 155 came from as far afield as
Northumberland, Dublin, London and even Lisle.

For the rural peasantry the black death was exploited to it's full
potential breaking the feudal yoke as labour was scarce. Depopulation of
areas of rural Leicestershire in the 15th and 16th centuries was more to
do with the wool trade which fuelled the enclosure movement lead by the
great religious houses. Leicester by this time had achieved "Staple"
status.

The crown did not by and large demand the forfeiture of catholic lands
during this period. On the reformation in 1660 however many commonwealth
supporters lost both their lives and their estates. Charles II extracted
vast amounts from these people to purchase pardons and, as wealth was
land, many estates were sold or forfeit in default.

The movement of this family was more to do with consolidation of wealth.
This social class, (lower classes would not arrange marriages), were
preoccupied with the preservation of family wealth and influence.
Younger sons would be married into wealthy families elsewhere and each
marriage would bring with it property, so the families spread far and
wide. From the middle ages a large proportion of all property
transactions recorded were peripheral to marriage settlements.

The network of the landed classes was an ancient one stemming from the
Norman invasion. William was careful not to give his supporters to much
land in one place preferring to spread their assets far and wide to make
it difficult for rivals to set up power bases.


Martyn Parsons

E-Mail Website http://www.mdlp.co.uk

1 Beverston Road, Gospel Oak
Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 0DE, England
Tel:- (44) [0]121 556 3480



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