working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

CRAFTS AND TRADES CRAFTS AND TRADES 163succeeded each other from 1575 to 1635 shows thatthe business was acquired by marrying the printer'swidow, bv purchase from her, and also by descent,Four women are mentioned :-William Ellis boundto Mrs. East, a printer's widow who, having left thetrade many years was brought up in the art of printingby Mr. Fletcher upon composition. Mrs. Griffynhad two apprentices, Mrs. Dawson had three apprenticesand Mrs. Purslow two apprentices.' Anotherlist made in 1630 of the names of the Master Printersof London gives twenty-one men and three women,namely-Widdow Alde, Widdow Griffin,and " WiddowSherleaker lives by printing of picture^."^ In 1634the names of twenty-two printers are given, amongwhom are the following women-''Mr. WilliamJones succeeded Rafe Blore and paies a stipend tohis wife . . . . neuer admitted.Mistris [ ] Alde, widdowe of Edward Alde[who] deceased about 10 yeeres since, (but shekeepes her trade by her sonne who was Ra[lph]joyners sonne) neuer Admitted, neither capable ofAdmittance.Mistris [ ] Dawson widow of John Dawsondeceased about a yeere since [he] succeeded his vnkleThomas Dawson about 26 yeers since . . . neveradmitted neither capeable, (she hath a sonne aboutrg yeares old, bredd to ye trade).Mistris [ ] Pursloe widdow of George Pursloewho succeeded Simon Stafford about 5 yeeres since[she was] never admitted neither capeable. (haviland,Yo[u]ng and fletcher haue this.)Mistris [ ] Griffin widdow of Edward Griffin[who] succeeded Master [Melchisedeck] Bradwoodabout 18 yeeres since [she was] never admitted neither- - - -- - _ _- _ - -_ __-_ _IS P D., cccxiv., 127., I'eb. 1636.2 ILld, clxuv , 45, NOV. 12, 163c.capable. (she hath a sonne.) (haviland, Yo[u]ngand fletcher have this yet).'Men as well as women in the list are noted as" never admitted neither capable of admittance."Whether these women took an active part in themanagement of the business which they thus acquiredor whether they merely drew the profits, leaving themanagement to others, is not clear. From the notesto the above list it would appear that they oftenfollowed the latter course, but elsewhere women arementioned who are evidently taking an active partin the printing business. For example, an entryin the Stationers Register states at a time when Marshand Vautrollier had the sole printing of school books" It is agreed that Thomas Vautrollier his wife shallfinish this present impression which shee is in handwithal1 in her husband's absence, of Tullie7s Epistleswith Lambini's annotation^."^After his death Vautrollier's widow printed one bookbut immediately after, on March 4th, 1587-8, theCourt of Assistants ordered that " Mrs. Vautrollier,late wife of Thomas Vautrollier deceased, shall nothereafter print any manner of book or books whatsoever,as well by reason that her husband was noeprinter at the time of his decease, as alsoe by the decree'ssette downe in the Starre Chamber she is debarredfrom the same." This order is inexplicable, as otherprinters7 widows exercised their husbands' business,and Thomas Vautrollier's name is duly given in theorder of succession from Master Printers. Possiblythe business had been transferred to her daughter,who married Field, their apprentice. Field diedin 1625, his widow continuing the bu~iness.~' Arber, Transcrzpt, Vol. 111, add, 701.' Stopes (Mrs. C. C.) Shakespeare's Warwrckshrre Contemporarter, p. 7.S Ibtd, p. 8. (Some authorit~es state that I;leld married the ~v~dow, others thedaughter of Vautrollier.)