IVORY FAMILY LINE

The Ivory family was a prosperous and well educated one. They lived primarily in Offley, Hertfordshire, England; but various members established themselves in other nearby parishes.

One learns a great deal from the wills and other legal documents left by the members of this family. Most of the men were well educated and appeared to educate their daughters as well. Their wives, like so many women of their time, by and large were not so fortunate. Their wills are not so cogently written and are signed with "her mark" ­ usually a cross written in the space next to her name. Most of the men were Yeomen and property owners and their higher status in English society can also be marked by the fact that members of this family usually died of illness or old age ­ seen by the fact that they had time to write their wills in the months before their deaths. No deaths from accidents or disasters which befell those who made their livings in a far less safe and comfortable manner. In addition, they understood and would use the legal system for disputes which could not be decided with civilized discussion. Not just in England, but in Lynn, Essex co., MA in New England.

I have seen the ruins of a 16th century Yeoman's cottage in Gloucestershire, England. The entire cottage would fit within the living room of a comfortable American suburban home. It was, at best, two or three rooms. One of my traveling companions (who had studied this period of English society) assured me that this was a good sized cottage for a Yeoman of the day. I cannot imagine raising a family of 6 or more children in such close quarters...and to have that be considered a "comfortable Middle Class life".