‘As Man and Wyfe Ought to Doe’: Reconsidering Marital Separation in Early Modern England

This analysis of petitions from the Lancashire Quarter Sessions submitted by unhappy wives uncovers evidence of women who separated from their husbands illegally between 1660 and 1700. When informally separated, women could turn to JPs to formalise their marital situation. Petitionary evidence also shows that the concept of desertion should be redefined, as many spouses did not completely separate. These petitions demonstrate that authorities could sanction informal separation if peace was maintained. Overall, this article studies separated wives when their legal position was precarious, and illustrates how new sources can help explore the history of marriage in early modern England..