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Home » Neighbourhood and Community » Birth, Marriage and Death » Bundling

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  • This essay was written by Dr Richard Williams, a surgeon in Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth and its full title reads 'Observations on parturition amongst the poor in the upper district of Cardiganshire'. Dr Williams begins his essay by giving a brief account of the history of Wales and the county of Cardiganshire before going on describe, in fascinating detail, not only the ways in which women gave birth but also their courting habits and living conditions. He is very critical of the moral standards of the peasantry but is more tolerant of some of their customs. Further background information on Dr Richard Williams, as well as a full transcript of the essay, is provided in Emyr Wyn Jones, 'Medical Glimpse of Early Nineteenth Century Cardiganshire, 'National Library of Wales Journal' (1966), pp. 253-275. The first page reads as follows:
An essay on childbirth amongst the poor of north Cardiganshire, c. 1837, folio 1r [image 1 of 23]
  • Transcription: ...The Effects of Education, Disease and the general habits of occupation to which the Poorer Classes are more particularly subjected. In no Country in the World is Chastity so little valued as in Wales and the loss of their Virtue is to be ascribed more to the continuance of rude and barbarous Customs than to any innately bad or corrupt feelings in the female mind. At a very early age, a youth attaches himself to a Young Girl, they keep Company together. He is her acknowledged lover and future Husband. He accompanies her to all Places of Amusement, to the Public Houses and to the Fairs on every Holiday. They play together on the Beds which are to be found in every Parlour in the sight and with the approbation of their Mutual friends and Relations and are allowed to be alone after the Family have retired to rest. Most of the Cottages and old Farm Houses in the County consist of but one area divided with apartments by slender frames...
An essay on childbirth amongst the poor of north Cardiganshire, c. 1837, folio 5r [image 3 of 23]
  • Transcription: Partitions formed by articles of furniture as Chests of Drawers, Kitchen Dressers and Wardrobes. When the Female becomes pregnant by this immoral practice of Bundling the Man to whom she swears the Child is expected to marry Her but as this formerly sacred obligation is not now in modern days always performed the natural consequence is that more illegitimate Children are born in Wales than in any other part of the Kingdom. When a Marriage is decided upon that good old usage the Bidding still prevails and is attended with the most happy and beneficial effects. Notwithstanding the too frequent occurence of illegitimate Birth Instances of Infanticide are extremely rare so much so that during a very long and extensive acquaintance with this part of Wales I have not known of more than four or five suspected cases at the time written. This fact may be easily accounted for on the Principle ...
An essay on childbirth amongst the poor of north Cardiganshire, c. 1837, folio 13r [image 8 of 23]
'Tales and Traditions of Breconshire' edited by Stanley Jackson Coleman (1956) [page 3, image 3 of 12]