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From: Susan Casey <>
Subject: [SXP] Re: SUSSEX-PLUS-D Digest V02 #41 - advice please?
Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 09:18:02 -0400
References: <200202010946.g119kQO15086@lists5.rootsweb.com>


In my experience, it was actually fairly common to have vast
differences in ages of a married couple even in the 19th and 18th
centuries. With the death rate being so high, including child-birth
related deaths, I have often seen men marrying women who were quite a
number of years younger following the death of a first wife. When you
consider that people tended to marry late in the 18th or early 19th
century ages differences, especially on a second marriage, can be much
more than 12 years! One of my HOLLOWAY ancestors married for the first
time when he was about 30 years old; his first wife subsequently died
and when he remarried at the age of 46 I'm fairly certain his 2nd wife
was only in her early 20's or perhaps even younger. I also have another
HOLLOWAY whose first wife died at the age of 48 and he subsequently
married the friend of one of his daughter's! Lest you think I hail from
a long line of dirty old men, bear in mind that having large families
was not only common but probably important in those days so it was
important for a man to choose a wife capable of bearing children, no
matter what his age. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Susan
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

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