Rudolf and Elisabetha Sidler had two children die within three days of each other in May 1774. Anna Barbara b 21 Jan 1771 died 14 May 1774. She was 3 years 3 months 23 days old. Johannes Sidler b 25 Oct 1773 died 17 May 1774. He lived 6 months 22 days. Both children were buried in the Ottenbach Kirche yard. Pastor Rudolf Hamberger entered deaths in the Parish record and presided at the funerals. The pastor died 2 years later. What a time in the Sidler household!
Translation of death record:
Title Fäble (weakness - death cause):
(sie starben) an den Wilden Blattern (Swiss term for Pocken –or small pox - very contagious, especially among kids)
Second Translation
an den Kinder Blattern, meaning of the children's death from measles.
Life expectancy
Second Translation
an den Kinder Blattern, meaning of the children's death from measles.
Life expectancy
Average life expectancy at birth for English people in the late 16th and early 17th centuries was just under 40 – 39.7 years. However, this low figure was mostly due to the high rate of infant and child mortality; over 12% of all children born would die in their first year. With the hazards of infancy behind them, the death rate for children slowed but continued to occur. A cumulative total of 36% of children died before the age of six, and another 24% between the ages of seven and sixteen. In all, of 100 live births, 60 would die before the age of 16. A man or woman who reached the age of 30 could expect to live to 59. [Thomson Gale, 'Infant Mortality' (1998)]
Food shortages and insecurity were leading concerns in the 18th century, especially in Europe, and these were exacerbated by reduced harvests yields. Disease was another leading cause of death, with rats and fleas being the common carriers of disease, specifically plagues, during this era. (Wikipedia)
Common diseases were dysentery, malaria, diphtheria, flu, typhoid, smallpox and leprosy.
Documents related to Anna Barbara Sidler:
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| 1771 Anna Barbara birth 21 January film 8014328 page 528 |
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| 1774 Anna Barbara Sidler burial 14 May 1774 3 years old Ottenbach page 690 |
Translation:
Title Fäble (weakness - death cause):
(sie starben) an den Wilden Blattern (Swiss term for Pocken –or small pox - very contagious, especially among kids)
Second Translation
an den Kinder Blattern, meaning of the children's death from measles.
Second Translation
an den Kinder Blattern, meaning of the children's death from measles.
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| 1774 Johannes Sidler death 17 May 3 days after his sister, film 8014328 page 690 |
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| Sidler and Hegetschweiler Temple Record by Julius Billeter, page 49 - 50 |