L&T Archive 1998-2003

patroness

In S&S at the end, JA tells us that Marianne has found herself, at nineteen, "entering new duties, placed in a new house, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village."

What does it mean to be patroness of a village?
Was every "lady" of an estate presumed the patroness of the village in that estate?
What were her duties?

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patroness
Lady of the Manor
A cautionary tale for would-be heroines!
Patronesses