During colonial times women also had the role of wife and mother. This role was extremely important and was the glue that held the family together. The first English women that traveled to colonial America came to be aids and wives to the men (Searle, 2007). It was soon realized that the men greatly outnumbered the women. Wives were needed to stabilize the colony and home life. Letters were sent to England asking for one hundred “maids young and uncorrupt” to be sent to the American colonies to become wives (Jester, 2008). The women who traveled to the American colonies to become wives were promised to have their passage paid if they married a male colonist (Jester, 2008). The colonies did not have a problem with arranged marriages, since the family unit was so vital to their survival.
It was believed in the colonies that “it is not known which be the most necessary, man or woman” (Jester, 2008). Men and women both had their responsibilities that worked together to keep the family and colonies alive. Throughout the years of colonization the wifely duties became burdensome and numerous; however they happily assumed the tasks required of a wife. One of the main roles of a wife was that of home executive which included managing servants, clothing the family, feeding the family, care for family sickness, supervise spinning, weaving, garment making and general maintenance of the home (Jester, 2008). When women married they lost most of their freedom. Husband and wife were considered “one person at law” that was to be controlled by the husband (Warber, n.d.). A married woman in the American colonies had no control over possessions during her husbands’ life. The woman was not allowed to hold land in her name, any property that she owned at the time of marriage became property of the husband (Jester, 2008).
Marriage did not seem very enjoyable for women due to the lack of freedom. However, in letters between husband and wife there is evidence that the wife was highly respected, and her advice was often asked for. The wife did have some influence on her husband (Jester, 2008). However, their role was still of a domestic nature. Colonial women typically married for social and economic reasons (Portland, 2001). Pressure to marry came from the colony both socially and economically. Men and women both felt pressure to marry at young ages. Girls as young as the age of thirteen or fourteen were often married. If a woman was not married by the age of twenty-five she was socially humiliated (Portland, 2001). There was economic pressure to marry as well because it was easier to survive as a family than as a single person. The man and woman worked together as husband and wife to survive. The man did the hard outdoor labor such as hunting and building while the woman did the house work such as preparing food, sewing, and cleaning (Twin Cities, 2004). As a married couple life was much easier and pleasant.
Divorce was typically unheard of and very rarely sought (Sage, 2007). However, as the death rate in the colonies was very high, remarriages were typical and frequent of both men and women (Jester, 2008). Widowed women were typically remarried within a year if not sooner (Portland, 2001). It was common for the grief of a widow to be very short lived. Suitors would begin pursuing her as early as the day of the funeral (Jester, 2008). This happened because women were in such short supply in the colonies, and they were necessary to survival and comfort (Sage, 2007). It was not unheard of for men to be married two or three times, this was mostly due to the hardship women faced in frequent child birth (Holliday, 1960). It was typical for women to be married three or four times. When a woman remarried the land and possessions that she inherited from her deceased husband became the property of her new husband immediately (Jester, 2008). The property held in the widows’ name was typically large pieces of land, slaves, and young children. These properties were difficult for a widow to manage alone, causing remarriage to a neighbor to come quickly (Jester, 2008).
It was believed in the colonies that “it is not known which be the most necessary, man or woman” (Jester, 2008). Men and women both had their responsibilities that worked together to keep the family and colonies alive. Throughout the years of colonization the wifely duties became burdensome and numerous; however they happily assumed the tasks required of a wife. One of the main roles of a wife was that of home executive which included managing servants, clothing the family, feeding the family, care for family sickness, supervise spinning, weaving, garment making and general maintenance of the home (Jester, 2008). When women married they lost most of their freedom. Husband and wife were considered “one person at law” that was to be controlled by the husband (Warber, n.d.). A married woman in the American colonies had no control over possessions during her husbands’ life. The woman was not allowed to hold land in her name, any property that she owned at the time of marriage became property of the husband (Jester, 2008).
Marriage did not seem very enjoyable for women due to the lack of freedom. However, in letters between husband and wife there is evidence that the wife was highly respected, and her advice was often asked for. The wife did have some influence on her husband (Jester, 2008). However, their role was still of a domestic nature. Colonial women typically married for social and economic reasons (Portland, 2001). Pressure to marry came from the colony both socially and economically. Men and women both felt pressure to marry at young ages. Girls as young as the age of thirteen or fourteen were often married. If a woman was not married by the age of twenty-five she was socially humiliated (Portland, 2001). There was economic pressure to marry as well because it was easier to survive as a family than as a single person. The man and woman worked together as husband and wife to survive. The man did the hard outdoor labor such as hunting and building while the woman did the house work such as preparing food, sewing, and cleaning (Twin Cities, 2004). As a married couple life was much easier and pleasant.
Divorce was typically unheard of and very rarely sought (Sage, 2007). However, as the death rate in the colonies was very high, remarriages were typical and frequent of both men and women (Jester, 2008). Widowed women were typically remarried within a year if not sooner (Portland, 2001). It was common for the grief of a widow to be very short lived. Suitors would begin pursuing her as early as the day of the funeral (Jester, 2008). This happened because women were in such short supply in the colonies, and they were necessary to survival and comfort (Sage, 2007). It was not unheard of for men to be married two or three times, this was mostly due to the hardship women faced in frequent child birth (Holliday, 1960). It was typical for women to be married three or four times. When a woman remarried the land and possessions that she inherited from her deceased husband became the property of her new husband immediately (Jester, 2008). The property held in the widows’ name was typically large pieces of land, slaves, and young children. These properties were difficult for a widow to manage alone, causing remarriage to a neighbor to come quickly (Jester, 2008).