Rare collection of 17th-century petitions gives voice to England's early foster carers
Recent PhD candidate in Early Modern British History draws on surviving petitions to reveal how women fought for their rights
Today, the UK faces a major retention and recruitment crisis in foster care, and carers in different parts of the country continue to campaign for higher funding.
Having studied the experiences of foster carers in the 17th century, Cambridge historian Emily Rhodes argues that these struggles have a long history and that England’s early foster carers had more authority than we might expect.
Rhodes – who has just completed her PhD on petitioning by mothers in England and Wales – studied a rare collection of surviving petitions submitted to the Lancashire quarter sessions courts from 1660–1720.
In a study published in The History of the Family journal, Rhodes reveals the experiences of 38 women who cared for non-kin children for their parish. Traditionally, this work has been called ‘boarding’ or ‘tabling’ but Rhodes says:
“These women provided such a vital role that when they weren’t paid enough or at all, they had enough authority to approach their county justices, powerful men, and successfully argue their case.”
“Today’s foster carers and the rest of society should know that even 350 years ago this role was essential and respected in society, and that women had power in the system. Every social safety net relies on determined individuals, we all need to remember that.”