Rare court records show how poor women pioneered foster care in 1600s

Vital role looking after destitute children gave these women unusual degree of power for the time, say researchers

In June 1697, at a sitting of the quarter session court in Preston, Lancashire, a widow called Alice Brewer submitted a petition in which she demanded to be paid her due.

Brewer, described as “very poor, old and necessitous”, had been caring for 12 years for a “poor distressed child” called Anne Helme, which entitled her to a small annual payment from the local parish authorities. But the promised 40 shillings a year had dwindled as Anne grew older and had now stopped altogether.

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