How Wives Cared for Their Husbands in 1700
Sweety Karlak
In 1700, daily life was rural, labor-intensive, and governed by strict social hierarchies. Wives’ care was focused on household management, practical support, and emotional steadiness, often expressed through duty and devotion rather than verbal affection.
1. Emotional Support Through Stability
Wives provided reassurance and comfort primarily through actions:
Maintaining a calm and orderly household
Supporting husbands’ work in farming, trade, or crafts
Offering quiet encouragement and practical advice
Emotional care was subtle and rooted in reliability.
2. Managing the Household Was Paramount
Wives were responsible for running the domestic sphere:
Cooking all meals from scratch
Cleaning, mending clothing, and preserving food
Overseeing children’s upbringing and daily routines
The household was the central space of care and organization.
3. Cooking & Meal Preparation as Daily Devotion
Food preparation was a key form of expressing love:
Baking bread, preparing stews, and preserving food
Planning meals to support family nutrition and energy
Ensuring husband’s favorites were included when possible
Meals reflected attentiveness, effort, and domestic skill.
4. Quality Time Centered on Family Life
Entertainment and connection were primarily domestic:
Sharing meals and evenings together
Participating in family rituals or quiet music
Supervising children’s play and basic education
Presence and attention were primary ways to nurture relationships.
5. Health & Wellbeing Through Domestic Care
Wives contributed to family health by managing:
Nutrition and daily sustenance
Cleanliness and sanitation in home life
Rest and recovery for husbands after labor
Health care was practical, preventive, and hands-on.
6. Appreciation Expressed Through Actions
Love and acknowledgment were mostly practical:
Keeping a comfortable and organized home
Attending to husband’s clothing, meals, and needs
Supporting social or work-related responsibilities
Consistent effort often conveyed care more than words.
7. Household Planning & Coordination
Wives managed domestic logistics:
Budgeting food and household supplies
Scheduling chores, farm tasks, and children’s routines
Maintaining order and planning for family stability
Partnership was often expressed through competence and reliability.
8. Everyday Romance Through Routine
Romantic gestures were modest and practical:
Preparing favorite foods or treats
Maintaining a hospitable home
Providing quiet attention and support
Love was shown through dependable daily action.
9. Supporting Husbands’ Work-Life Balance
With husbands often engaged in physically demanding labor:
Wives maintained the home to reduce stress and interruptions
Managed household and farm responsibilities efficiently
Provided practical and emotional support to sustain work outside
Domestic stability allowed husbands to focus on their labor.
10. Creating Stability & Family Cohesion
Wives reinforced resilience and continuity:
Managing crises calmly and efficiently
Maintaining routines and domestic order
Supporting emotional and practical family life
Marriage and family life relied on consistency and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Were gender roles strict?
Yes — wives handled domestic work and childrearing, husbands managed labor and provision.
2. Was emotional support common?
Yes, mostly expressed through reliability and domestic attentiveness.
3. Did cooking serve as care?
Absolutely — meals were central to family wellbeing and devotion.
4. Were wives involved in planning?
Primarily domestic, including children, food, and household routines.
5. Did wives help reduce stress for husbands?
Yes, by keeping a stable, organized, and supportive home.
6. Were romantic gestures frequent?
Small, practical, and routine rather than expressive or performative.
7. Did wives encourage health?
Yes, through food, cleanliness, and domestic oversight.
8. How did wives show appreciation?
Through attention to household duties, meals, and family comfort.
9. Was quality time prioritized?
Yes — through shared domestic presence, family rituals, and daily care.
10. Which habits lasted beyond 1700?
Practical care, emotional support through actions, attentiveness, and domestic partnership.
