The data used for this book were entered onto a relational database. The database has two main tables. One (‘Couple’) has biographical information about the married couples, and the other linked table (‘Conflict’) has details about the types of marital difficulties experienced by these couples. As a result, the first table contains 1,403 married couples, and the second 1,583 instances of conflict, because some couples experienced more than one type of difficulty. There are nine additional related tables. ‘Secondary Complaints’ categorises secondary grievances and is linked to the ‘Conflict’ table. The other eight are linked to ‘Couple’: ‘Types of Informal Intervention’, ‘Type of Goods Conveyed’, ‘Sum Bound Over’, ‘Sureties for Wife-Beaters’, ‘Role of Children’, ‘Reason for Adultery’, ‘Context of Adultery’ and ‘Lovers’ Status/Occupation'.

Evidence about other couples' marital difficulties was collected and used in the book, but not entered onto the database because not enough information was available about them or their conflict. For example, accounts and reports of attempted or actual wife/husband murder in newspapers. When these couples are discussed, it is stated in the references that they are not included in the database.

The data was derived from the following sources (see bibliography for information about archives):

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS

All matrimonial and correction cases from:

1. Durham: UOD DDR/EJ/CCD/3 (1678 and 1716–1868); UOD DDR/EJ/PRC/2 (1608–1853)

2. Oxford: Mss.Oxf.dioc.papers c. 91–c. 101

3. York: CP.H/2446–6009 andCP.I/1–3122 (1663–1800); Cons.CP and Chanc.CP (1800–1990); Trans.CP, indexed in W. J. Shiels, Ecclesiastical Cause Papers at York: Files Transmitted on Appeal 1500–1883, Borthwick Text and Calendar, 9, (1983);

4. […]