Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Cousins

In the seventeenth century the term “Cousin” was used much more loosely in comparison to contemporary times. There was little regard for whether people were first or second cousins, or if they were once or twice removed. 'Cousin' also developed into a term of reference or address for people among the same generation. It became interchangeable with the all-purpose word kinsmen. These groups intermarried for so many generations that the web of cross-cousinhood became dense and universal to the point that the word lost its meaning entirely.

During the 17th Century the genrty were well known for taking an interest in their kinship lines. Considerable stress was put upon these ties for social, political and economic purposes. These family relationships were beneficial as they gave links and leverage beyond their local community structure. . More over, kinship lines created and contributed to a great sense of belonging among the gentry.

To some, the importance of kinship ties eventually diminished as society modernized from its traditional 17th and 18th Century ways. Economic and urban growth, industrialization, developing individualism, and social and geographical mobility were some of the main factors contributing to the decline of kinship importance . However, some historians have argued that during these times the importance of kinship actually increased as these connections became more important, which contributed to an increase in migration.