Experiencing Jacobitism : The Standish Family from personal beliefs to international networks 1688-1770.

Fleming, Cameron and Barber, Sarah and Murrieta-Flores, Patricia (2026) Experiencing Jacobitism : The Standish Family from personal beliefs to international networks 1688-1770. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

Jacobitism is an ideology taken seriously by scholars of the eighteenth century. Many studies have focused on the experience of elements of Jacobite expression: this study looks to comprehensively account for the ‘Jacobite affect’ in the Standish Family of Standish, near Wigan. Roman Catholic and loyal to the crown over the Seventeenth Century, the ideological path to Jacobitism looks clear for the family. What their experience of the ideology, of the rituals, mores and experiences that came with Jacobitism is less clear. This thesis seeks to explore the lived experience of Jacobitism and what maintained the ideological connection over three generations. Drawing mostly from the family archives of the Standish Family, it becomes clear that meanings of objects, ritual and even the management of the family archive differed not only over time but depending on different contexts. This thesis looks at experience and ideology as expressed in contrasting social settings, starting with the internal world and then drawing out to the family, the local area and the international sphere. This social model of Eighteenth Century politics is made richer by the often contradictory nature of separate spheres’ tastes and mores as well as aims and goals. this leads us to consider the longevity of aspects of Jacobitism in new light. The standish family returned to action with different methodologies over time but also shared ideological similarity over the same period. It was experienced differently in different social settings. Moreover, this thesis gives an account as to why a Jacobite family seemed to lose its long term loyalties, and what these shifted into; a point of much debate amongst scholars. This thesis finds that belief was slow to change and even slower to collapse. The changing social and political landscape led to innovation around partaking political activities and experiences but strong continuity in motivation and ideological belief.