Family Structure in the New England and Chesapeake Societies
During the seventeenth century, in response to the change of; environment, social structure, family nature and society itself the diversities in the New England and Chesapeake cultures grew immensely. Some differences proved to be too much of a challenge for some and prosperous for others.
New England families kept the traditional family structure known as a nuclear family, consisting of the head of the household, the father, mother and their children. The religious traditions carried over from England by these families were easier to practice because of the support of immediate family. This helped keep their godly connection from home intact. Life expectancy was high, making families larger and produced elders that could help guide the youth and keep alive the original traditions. Men and women were likely to see their seventieth birthday in New England as opposed to back in Europe where they were highly unlikely to become middle aged. Clean drinking water, moderate climate, and the large amount of land provided for living halted the spread of dangerous diseases which helped contribute to a longer life span. Because people were able to live longer, they were able to have more children leading to a more balanced gender ratio. If a single male were to migrate alone, he would need to find a spouse otherwise, the challenges he would face would prove to be almost impossible. The gender ratio made it easier for a single male to find a spouse and create his own nuclear family. To sustain a full family a male must build a house in which he could raise his many children and tend the land they lived off of, continuing to contribute to the family. The home was also the work place, the goal was to have enough land in order to feed the family and to produce a surplus to be sold or traded for items that could not be produced at home. Families prospered from a large number of children because of the labor they provided to the farm. Typically a couple would have as many
New England families kept the traditional family structure known as a nuclear family, consisting of the head of the household, the father, mother and their children. The religious traditions carried over from England by these families were easier to practice because of the support of immediate family. This helped keep their godly connection from home intact. Life expectancy was high, making families larger and produced elders that could help guide the youth and keep alive the original traditions. Men and women were likely to see their seventieth birthday in New England as opposed to back in Europe where they were highly unlikely to become middle aged. Clean drinking water, moderate climate, and the large amount of land provided for living halted the spread of dangerous diseases which helped contribute to a longer life span. Because people were able to live longer, they were able to have more children leading to a more balanced gender ratio. If a single male were to migrate alone, he would need to find a spouse otherwise, the challenges he would face would prove to be almost impossible. The gender ratio made it easier for a single male to find a spouse and create his own nuclear family. To sustain a full family a male must build a house in which he could raise his many children and tend the land they lived off of, continuing to contribute to the family. The home was also the work place, the goal was to have enough land in order to feed the family and to produce a surplus to be sold or traded for items that could not be produced at home. Families prospered from a large number of children because of the labor they provided to the farm. Typically a couple would have as many