The Dangers of Eighteenth-Century Life

EDMOND WILLIAMSON, Births and Deaths in an English Gentry Family (1709–1720)

Little is known of Edmond Williamson. He lived in Bedfordshire, one of the “Home Counties” surrounding London. The mere fact that he was literate and kept a diary suggests that he was a man of means, as does his mention of the servants present at his wife’s childbirths. Despite their brevity, his diary entries reveal that proximity of death was a central fact of life, even in the lives of the relatively affluent. Three of Williamson’s seven children died at birth or shortly afterward, and a fourth succumbed to smallpox before the age of three. Williamson’s wife died as well, just a month after the birth of her last child. As you read the diary excerpts, think about the light they shed on eighteenth-century family life.

1709

March 29. My wife fell into labor and a little after 9 in the morning was delivered of a son. Present: aunt Taylor, cousin White, sister Smith, cousin Clarkson, widow Hern, Mrs. Howe, midwife, Mr[s]. Wallis, nurse, Mrs. Holms, Eleanor Hobbs, servants.

April 4. He was baptised by Doctor Battle by the name of John. . . .

[April] 16. The child died about 1 o’clock in the morning.

1711

Sept. 17. My said wife was delivered of a son just before 4 in the morning. Present: Mrs. Thomas Molyneux’s lady and maid, Mrs. Mann, midwife, Margaret Williamson, nurse, Susan Nuthall, servant.

Oct. 4. He was baptised by Mr. Trabeck by the name of Talbot after my grandmother’s name. Sir John Talbot and John Pulteny esquire were gossips [godfathers], with my sister Smith godmother. . . .

1713

June 9. About 8 at night my said wife began her labor.

[June] 10. Half an hour after 1 in the morning was brought to bed of a son. Present: Mrs. Molyneux, Mrs. Bisset, Mrs. Mann, midwife, Nurse Williamson, Susan Nuthall and Betty Ginger, servants.

[June] 30. Baptised by Mr. Mompesson of Mansfield by the name of Edmond. . . .

1715

March 7. My said wife was brought to bed of a daughter 10 minutes before 6 in the morning. Present: Mrs. Molyneux, Mrs. Mann, midwife, Nurse Williamson, Mary Evans, Mary Cole and Mary Wheeler, servants.

[March] 29. Was baptised by Dr. Mandivel, chancellor of Lincoln, by the name of Christian.

1716

March 9. My wife was delivered of a daughter at 7 at night. Present: aunt Taylor, Mrs. Molyneux, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Mann, midwife, Mary Smith, nurse, Jane Kensey, and Mary Wheeler, servants.

[March] 31. Was baptised by Mr. Widmore, the reader of St. Margaret’s, by the name of Elizanna. . . . Registered in St. Margaret’s, Westminster, as all the rest were.

April 27. Died, was buried in the new chapel yard in the Broadway.

1718

Jan. 21. [Mrs. Williamson:] I was brought to bed of a son about 2 in the morning, Mrs. Mann, midwife, nurse Chatty, dry-nurse, present; Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. White and Mrs. Molyneux, Jane Beadle; servants: Mary Wells, Jane Griffith, Edmond Kinward. He was baptised by Mr. Widmore, reader of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, by the name of Francis. . . .

1719

Feb. 21. [Mrs. Williamson:] I was brought to bed of a son between 6 and 7 in the evening, Mrs. Mann, midwife, nurse Chatty, dry-nurse; present: aunt Taylor, Mrs. Molyneux and Jane Beadle; servants: Rebecca Shippy, Betty Hall and Mathew Dowect.

March 7. He was baptised by Mr. Widmore, reader of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, by the name of William. . . .

[Undated]. Died and buried at Hadley.

1720

June. My wife brought to bed of a daughter, but the child did not live a minute.

July 21. My wife died and was buried at Isleworth.

Sept. 9. [Francis] died of the smallpox at Nurse Ward’s.

From Edmond Williamson, “An Account of the Birth of My Children by My Second Wife (1709–1720),” in The Past Speaks, 2d ed., ed. Walter Arnstein (Lexington, Mass.: D. C. Heath, 1993), 2:33-34.