NYC-ROOTS-L Archives

From: Melvin Wright <>
Subject: [NYC] widowhood/remarriage
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 20:36:37 -0700

Joe has asked some interesting questions:

The question I ask is subjective in nature. I realize that. However; the

combined research experience of members from this list just may offer
clues as to the practicality and feasibility of a situation having
occurred when it did.

A young couple with few resources, arrive in NYC ca. 1793 from
Alsace-Lorraine. There is some evidence the husband dies in NYC Aug.
1795. His wife gives birth to their first child sometime during the next

month. Where and with whom mother and child stayed is not known.
--Maybe she stayed with friends. Were there other members of the family
here?

Mother remarries in April 1797...almost 20 months after becoming a
widow, and 19 after having given birth to her first child.

Wasn't it the goal in situations such as these, for a family to place a
high priority on finding a new husband (usually a widower with children)

for their recently widowed daughter, sister, niece etc. ? Did not
economic realities spur this pursuit? These were not well-to-do folk.
---Was the rest of the family here or still in Europe? Economic
realities would/could spur the widow to seek another marriage.

Was there a "normal" grieving time observed prior to remarriage?
-----When economic situation is considered, what's 'normal'. My
gggrandmother married 4 months after her husband died. She had two
little children to support. And she lost the farm to boot [forclosed].

Was mother not considered to be a "proper" wife so soon after
childbirth?

Or, did it all boil down to a matter of supply and demand?

-----I think many of these second marriages were a matter of necessity.
Widow with small children needed a husband, and widower with small
children needed a wife. My husband's ggrandfather had 5 children when
his wife died in childbirth. He found a widow with 2 small children. I
think it happened more often than one would think.

My 2 cents. ;-)
Marilynn

Your opinions are welcomed!

This thread:

• [NYC] widowhood/remarriage by Melvin Wright <>