Death seen as natural
If a woman died after the birth of a child (this was a dangerous process because of infections), her younger sister stepped in as new wife, or replacement. The husband (here farmer in the country) absolutely needed a wife to look after the children and farm house (cooking etc.). So he normally got remarried a second, or third time within a few months; later a one year period was recommended. Often these wives were widows themselves. So there was constant giving births and dying on the farms, similar to what happened in the stable with the animals. Death was seen as natural. Only medicine and hygienic measures lowered the infant and childhood mortality rate. However, there were very bad pestulenza waves in the 17th century in our regions. Many villages lost 30 to 40% of the population. (Peter Bertschinger)
Document related to Catharina Barbara Scholl:
 |
| Catharina Barbara birth 22 Mar 1717 Graben film 4137289 page 324 |
Translation by Robert Seal:
Date: born on the 22nd [of March 1717] and baptized on the 23rd of March [1717].Child: Catharina Barbara. + [died].
Parents: Matthaeus Scholl, citizen and tailor at this place, Eva.
Baptismal sponsors: Christoph Keller, citizen and baker, with his wife Maria Catharina. Hanß Jörg Waibel, innkeeper at the sign of the swan, at the present time a widower. Barbara Schuhmacherin, butcher's wife.