| Abstract [eng] |
This dissertation analyzes illegitimate children as a social group of the 18th century Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The study sees illegitimate birth as a phenomenon of social history, so the legal truth that defines who should be considered illegitimate was less important. Therefore, the concept of illegitimate child in the study was defined in a broader social context. The study included not only children clearly identified in the sources as illegitimate, but also those who: 1) were baptized as illegitimate, but were later legalized through marriage; 2) were legalized through marriage within 8 months before baptism (premarital pregnancy); 3) foundlings. The research is based on surviving baptism, marriage and death records of the Vilnius and Samogitian parishes. Research questions include the number of baptized legitimate and illegitimate children (and its variations), the seasonality of baptism (birth rate), and the comparison of distribution by gender and given names. Additionally, the circumstances of illegitimate conception and childbirth are also discussed. The study also provides an analysis of the social status and place of residence of mothers, fathers and godfathers of illegitimate children. Based on this analysis, the kinship, social and geographical connections between mothers, fathers and godfathers are also reviewed. Finally, assumptions are made about the presumed life scenarios of illegitimate children immediately after baptism, by analyzing the prevalence of premarital pregnancy in parishes, cases of parental marriages after the child’s baptism and death records of illegitimate children. |
