Besovede Qvindfolks Børn som døde findis: Relasjonelt og sosialt utgangspunkt for barnedrapstiltalte i Hordaland 1642–1799

Abstract

Abstract Records from the district court jurisdiction of Nordhordland, Sunnhordland and Hardanger and Voss reveal 43 women accused of infanticide during the period 1642–1799. Most of these mothers were unmarried maids, often with small resources and limited social networks. They were often pregnant with married men, and several with their masters, or their masters sons. The purpose of this article is to investigate how differences and similarities in the social status and relationships amongst the accused of infanticide effected the course of action in these cases. In addition to investigating infanticide cases from the mentioned jurisdictions, the findings will be compared to other related research, both Norwegian and international.