Wills, like wills and letters of dowry, were another way of contributing movable and immovable property to the marriage. Being a much more widespread practice than dowry deeds, their information is of great importance. From the set of wills studied for the Sierra de Alcaraz (province of Albacete) in the 18th century, we found that in around 35-45% of the cases the contracting parties had contributed something to the marriage. Of the total cases, 41.3% had brought no more than 500 reales, a small figure compared to the average: 3,566 reales. In terms of gender, women contributed more frequently than men, but their value was lower than that of men (averages of 2,687.5 versus 5,170.9 reais). The differentiation between men and women was also determined by what they contributed; while men tended to give tools linked to agricultural work (tools, chickens, small livestock or grain), women’s goods corresponded to the domestic sphere (clothes, frying pans, beds…). Affective relationships within the family were evident when the kinsmen helped their maidens with goods. In the same way, friends could contribute to the dowry of the woman, although these cases were more widespread the higher the social and economic status of the bride’s family.
Collection: Statistics
Project: 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe.
Chronology: XVIII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Statistics
Format: Table
Source: García González, F. (2000). Las estrategias de la diferencia. Familia y reproducción social en la Sierra. (Alcaraz, siglo XVIII). Madrid: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, p. 164.
Language: Spanish
Date: 2000
Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)
Copyright: ©Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación ©Francisco García González ©Seminario de Historia Social de la Población
Abstract: Transmission of wealth via wills reflecting parental affinities and social clientelism. A distinction is also made between inherited property according to sex.
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