Old English Social Life as told by the Parish Register: Gender in the Parish Registers

Although in modern times we accept that some people change genders during their lifetime, or simply cross-dress, whether for enjoyment or due to their preferred sexual orientation, it's not something we tend to think about too much in the case of our ancestors.  However, people were still people back then, with the same thoughts and desires.  You can sometimes see entries in the Parish Registers of men dressed as women and women dressed as men - and people who lived their entire lives dressing as the other gender openly within their community.

I've recently picked up a copy of "Old English Social Life, as told by the Parish Register" and on page 250 is such an entry referring to the burial of a Mr Russell.  The Parish Register of Streatham, in April 1772, records the following entry:

"Russell. - N.B. this person was always known under the guise or habit of a woman and answered to the name of Elizabeth as registered in this parish Nov. 21st 1669, but at death proved to be a man."

A full account of this character is given under the head of "Streatham Worthies" in Mr Frederick Arnold's "History of Streatham".  It appears from the entries in the parish registers that his father, John Russell, had three daughters and two sons - William, born in 1668, and Thomas in 1672; and it is probably that the above person (commonly known as 'Betsy the Doctress') was one of these. Lysons tells that, in the course of his wanderings, this eccentric individual 'attached himself to itinerant quacks, learned their remedies, practised their calling, and that this knowledge, combined with his great experience, gained for him the reputation of being a most infallible doctress.'  In his disguise he was a very convivial old lady, it being his practice to treat his companions at the village ale-house.

A similar case bearing on our subject is reported to have happened early in the present century.  The person who acted as parish clerk, and was always dressed as a man, and had, moreover, been married to a woman some time before her death, was found at her decease to be a woman. And in the register of St Bodolph, Aldgate, under July 17, 1655, we find this entry:

'William Clark, son of John Clark, a soldier, and Thomasine, his wife, who herself went for a souldier, and was billetted at the Three Hammers, in East Smithfield, about seven months, and after was delivered of this child . . . She had been a souldier by her own confession, about five years, and was some time Drummer to the Company.'

There are more instances within the book, which is a fascinating read to pick up and put down on a whim. Perfect bookcase fodder!