Alan Crosbie: Sex and Sin in 17th Century Lancashire

 

 

In the 17th Century the authorities sought to suppress what they regarded as inappropriate or immoral behaviour: adultery, fornication and the consequent problem of illegitimacy were of great concern. Cases where criminality or the Poor Law were involved would be dealt with by the Quarter Sessions and the Church courts had authority in matters of morality, marital disharmony, legal separation or annulment. Archive material relating to Lancashire and some cases specific to Ormskirk will be discussed.