Tutors, Godparents and Trustees of Orphans in rural Society of the first half of 19th
Century Cover Image

Poručníci, kmotři a zástupci osiřelých dětí ve venkovské společnosti první poloviny 19. století
Tutors, Godparents and Trustees of Orphans in rural Society of the first half of 19th Century

Author(s): Markéta Skořepová
Subject(s): Social history, 19th Century
Published by: Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
Keywords: Godparenthood; tutelage; orphaned children; country;19th Century

Summary/Abstract: The article strives to compare the institution of godparenthood and tutelage on the exampleof 1056 orphaned children in years 1785-1855 in Nový Rychnov region based ona premise that both functions were aimed at guaranteeing upbringing of the orphans andits representatives ought to substitute in a way the deceased parents. The research provedthat the godparents only rarely took over the legal liability for their godchildren, howeverboth groups of the representatives of orphaned children were characterised by similarfeatures. There prevailed persons living in the closest surroundings of the orphans, in bothcases these were often close relatives, mostly the siblings of their parents. The cousinshipof the tutors had been preferred already in the Early Modern Age; the familiarization ofgodparenthood has been perceived as one of the characteristic features of the change ofrelationships in the 19th century. During christenings the godfather and godmother actedas equal partners who in overwhelming majority of cases formed a married couple. However,only the mothers, or respectively sisters of the orphans could become their womentutors. In case of unrelated tutors there were usually appointed representatives of localgovernment or reputable neighbours. Among spiritual relatives there slightly prevailedpersons of social status similar to the parents of a particular child. Only several familieschose habitual godfathers from locally well-known people. The parents’ selection of godparentsusually served to deepen existing friendships; the elective godparenthood throughwhich each child had a different godparent was rare. The siblings of one family used tohave also the same tutor.

  • Issue Year: 17/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 69-84
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Czech