Life Under The Stuarts

Historical context remains a foundation to those genealogist who are trying to climb out those tree branches.  Tudor tradition had established one historical corridor through which our ancestors walked.  The Stuart period resulted in multiple changes in the religious, political, social, and colonial mindsets. [Many of our ancestors crossed the great pond during this period.]  The following text discusses many of these developments.  Multiple authors present a series of topics such as "Poetry" [Chap. VIII], "Theatre" [ Chap. IX], and "Art" [Chap. XI] which is often not included in other texts covering this period.

The book was first published in 1950, by Falcon Educational Books, Ltd, London.  It has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.  Only 170 pages, it is a good overview of many aspects impacted during this transition period in our ancestors life time.

Drums and Trumpets

Unity and tolerance seem like good ideas.  However, from the first Stuart King (1603) to the death of a great granddaughter (1714) , this was certainly not the case.  The following book by Kirsty McLeod gives an overview of this turbulent time.  For my own Jones family tree climbing, exploring this period of conflict, became a necessary tool to break though a few of those brick walls. [Inigo Jones ended up being a member of the family tree!]

The first American edition was 1977, published by Seabury Press, NY.  It discusses the life in court, town, and country during the reign of "The House of Stuart".  Chapter topics include "Courtly Life", "Town Life", "The Growth of Puritanism", the "Civil War", "The Commonwealth",  and "Life After The Restoration".  It was in this period of conflict that many of my Jones family survived to pass down that Y-chromosome DNA.

Life in Stuart England...a transition period for many, and a difficult time for the genealogist to sort through the branches.  A helpful text it is.

A New Beginning

The Tudor era ended 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I.  A new beginning it was with the Stuarts.  The Welsh line of descent was replaced with a Scottish line of descent, and a new millennium was turning its page in history. 

A Scottish king [James VI] was to become an English king [James I].  This historical context is discussed in the book by David Harris Willson, my copy of the paperback shown above.  First published in 1956, it was republished as an Oxford University paperback in 1967.  It contains 22 chapters [only 464 pages] as it interweaves the story of transition during this new millennium.  Context, context, and more context is presented.  Religious, political, and social issues are at a new beginning.

For those whose ancestors first came to the colonies [Virginia and Plymouth Companies and all that] it was certainly a new beginning for them.  This book is a foundation.