The Court of Orphans oversaw child guardianship in London for almost six centuries until its decline in the eighteenth century. As ‘orphan’ in the City was defined as fatherless, the mothers of these orphans played a critical role in the Court, acting as executors, guardians, and financial managers. Despite this, tracing women through the Court of Orphans’ records is incredibly difficult.
Focusing on the seventeenth-and-eighteenth-century Court of Orphans, this talk discusses how the City’s record-keeping practices have obscured women in the record, and how researchers can overcome this to learn more about their lives.
- 20% discount for SoG members
- Part of the Researching 17th Century Ancestors with Else Churchill | SoG course. Book the full course to access all the talks.
- Not included in Gold Membership.
- Recording available to everyone who books until 20 August 2026.
Click here for information about our events. Contact events@sog.org.uk if you have any questions.
About the Speaker
Jess Ayres
Dr Jessica Ayres is a historian and archive professional specialising in the early modern history of London, with a specific focus on women, and institutional record-keeping. She completed a PhD entitled Women in London’s Court of Orphans, 1660-1720 at the University of York in 2023, and has worked at The London Archives since 2022.
