Dear Susan,



It has been some time that I have dealt with midwives in the historical record, but finding them or following them through a period or over a career is difficult, unless you have a situation like your where the woman is identified as being engaged in that profession, and you have corroborating evidence as you do.  My understanding is that licensure and tracking are later 20th century developments.  I'll have to look back at my sources to suggest some texts that address midwifery at least in part, but you may be interested in the following master's thesis: https://theses.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04272007-142756/unrestricted/cmthesiscopy7_11.pdf





Best of luck

John



-----Original Message-----

From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susan Hines

Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 5:28 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Midwives in Shenandoah Co. VA 1870-1915



I've been lurking on this listserv a while but it occurred to me that I might use this resource to gain some insight into the above.



My great, great, grandmother, Sarah Harshbargar Lightfoot (1839-1912) supported her family, at least in part, through the practice of midwifery in New Market, VA. She first claimed "midwife" as her occupation on the census of 1900. However, there is no reason to suspect that she was not practicing as a midwife prior to that date. In fact, an excerpt from Mattie Bushong Good's diary indicates that "Aunt Sarah" was not available when she went into labor and that her mother Mary helped her " as well as Aunt Sarah or anyone else" when she gave birth on Jan. 27, 1900.



The fact that she uses the honorific "Aunt" may indicate that Sarah presided over Mattie's own birth in 1877. The families were neighbors, and even a quick look through the diary reveals weekly, if not daily, interactions between the Lightfoot and Bushong families over the years.



My question has to do with any state or local engagement or oversight of the work of midwives in Shenandoah County, prior to licensure. For example, when called to deliver babies of the very poor, did midwives received recompense from the state or local government? If such records exist, would they be among those left by the Overseers of the Poor or some such entity?.Where would they be located now?



Ironically, as both an undergrad and a grad student I did research on 19th century midwives. At that time, I wasn't aware of Sarah's profession, which her daughter noted on Sarah's death certificate. However, it does mean I am familiar with the historical literature, including the efforts of physicians to take over the realm of birth--something many women may have welcomed. Given the plenitude of doctors in New Market before and after the Civil War--e.g. the famous Henkels, and the less renown Rices, I'm sure Mattie could have had a doctor. While Mattie's birthing mother preference is interesting, I would like to know if midwives and doctors who aided the poor might have left some trace on the public record.



Thank you in advance for any help,



Susan Hines



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