Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

struggled as a market centre, Bidford always served the surrounding countryside in
medical matters, boasting both surgeons and chemists. 203
Socially surgeons were on a
par with the clergy or sons of gentry families, as was Harvington’s ‘doctor of
physicke’. 204
At the other end of the scale, many labourers must have resorted to their
local wise-woman for herbs and other cures. Rather more acceptable to the church
authorities were the likes of Elizabeth Sale, licensed to practise midwifery. 205
The role of
women as child-minders and carers is underplayed; even the 1851 census only lists a
couple of ‘nurses’ in this zone. 206
Before 1800 only a couple of military men appear in the local records. Robert
Freeman of Long Marston, a poor soldier, was to be removed in 1750, while Thomas
Martin was described as a captain. Another member of Martin’s family was appointed
sheriff of Worcestershire. 207
Before 1750 many gentlemen acted as stewards and
attorneys, but are often not described as such. As the eighteenth century progressed, the
busier climate for land transactions created work for professionals such as John Clark and
203 WoRO, probate of John Walker, Bidford, surgeon/gentleman, 1704, £65-0-10. He had been presented
for practising while unlicensed, but then subscribed to the thirty-nine articles and gained his licence.
(WoRO, BA2697/1). He also had a hat-shop. WoRO, marriage licence of William Harbidge, Bidford,
yeoman, June 1753, was witnessed by Charles Potter, Bidford, apothecary. Grundy’s Worcester Royal
Directory 1794 lists a surgeon called Stuart in Bidford, while a deed names Albert Outhwaite as surgeon in
1797. (SCLA, DR57/16). Pebworth also had a surgeon in Stuart times. (GlosRO, probate of Thomas
Willis, Pebworth, surgeon, 1673, (no inventory).) Before 1750 the surgeons were sometimes referred to as
‘chirurgeons’, while chemists were called apothecaries before 1800. An alternative term after 1800 was
‘druggist’.
204 TNA, PCC probate of Margaret Harward of Harvington, spinster, 1733, mentions Kempe Harward,
‘doctor of physicke’. He may have practised elsewhere rather than in Harvington.
205 WoRO, BA2697, diocesan subscription book, concerning Elizabeth Sale, Salford Priors.
206 WaRO, Bidford 1851 census also lists a ‘carewoman’. (Although this could be a variant of charwoman,
which is sometimes rendered as ‘chairwoman’ hereabouts.)
207 TNA, PCC probate of Robert Martin, Pebworth, esquire, 1787, mentions his brother Capt. Thomas
Martin. It is not known whether Thomas Martin was in the navy or the army. Berrow’s Worcester Journal
16 Feb. 1764 announced the appointment of Robert Martin as sheriff of Worcestershire.
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