Is 'Abraham' the clue? |
In the 17th Century, several factors contributed to the limited movement of people in England, and here are some of the key reasons:
1. Political Instability: The period was marked by significant political turmoil, including of course the English Civil War (1642-1651). That conflict between the monarchy and Parliament created an environment of fear and uncertainty, making people hesitant to travel far from their homes.
2. Economic Pressures: Many individuals faced economic hardships due to heavy taxation and other burdens imposed by the monarchy. This financial strain made it difficult for people to afford significant travel or relocation.
3. Social Structures: The rigid social hierarchy of the time often kept people tied to their local communities. Many were bound by obligations to landowners, and we know that many Lovelocks will have been Agricultural workers falling into just such situations, or were part of a close-knit community that discouraged long-distance movement.
4. Fear of Violence: Towards the end of the century the memories of civil strife and the potential for further conflict still made people wary of venturing into unfamiliar territories. The fear of violence and instability often outweighed the desire for exploration or migration.
5. Limited Transportation: The infrastructure for travel was so under-developed compared to today. Roads were often in poor condition, travel could be slow and dangerous, and there was no significant nation-wide system of travel, all of which further discouraged long-distance movement.
All of these factors combined to create an environment where many people chose to stay close to home rather than venture far afield or did not have the luxury of that option open to them.
So what can that suggest to us in the case of the Lyneham Line?
The forename of Abraham is not a common one for Wiltshire Lovelocks, especially in the 17th Century. At present the progenitors of the Lyneham Line are Abraham Lovelock and Priscilla Greenaway, who married in Wroughton on 15 July 1689. We have no direct evidence to point to Abraham's origins, however we do know from the Wiltshire Family History Society transcriptions that an Abraham, the son of Thomas, was baptised in the church of Holy Cross, Ramsbury on 20 June 1664. If they are one and the same his age at marriage would not be inconsistent with the practices of the time.
Ramsbury and Wroughton are less than 10 miles apart as the crow flies, so could Abraham from Ramsbury have perhaps moved that short distance, possibly in a change of jobs? It would in any case have been an easily walkable distance for someone used to walking as we presume our early agricultural labouring ancestors were.