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Surprised to read that in 1810 women (almost all of whom were spinsters and widows) made up approximately one third of the holders of British government debt; a figure which rose to almost half in 1840 (largely because of the increased variety of investment opportunities that 1/
had arisen in the meantime). On average women’s holdings were smaller than those of men, but they still made up 23 percent of the total in 1810 rising to 32 percent in 1840. (By my calculation that means more than £150 million and £220 million respectively). 2/
Most individual holdings were relatively small with the average holding for women being £3662 in 1810 rising to £4894 in 1840 (although falling interest rates meant that this did not mean an increased yield - in fact the income would have fallen from about £175 to just under 3/
£150, although this was offset by falling prices.
By 1840 spinsters funded 19 percent of the British National Debt, with widows providing a further 13 percent.
By the 1850s there were even guides marketed explicitly to women investors. 4/
By 1840 spinsters funded 19 percent of the British National Debt, with widows providing a further 13 percent.
By the 1850s there were even guides marketed explicitly to women investors. 4/
All this from David R. Green and Alastair Owens ‘Gentlewomanly Capitalism? Spinsters, widows, and wealth holding in England and Wales c1800-1860’ Economic History Review vol 56 no 3 2003 p 510-36.
