Elisabeth was the third child of Johann Wendel Scholl and Augusta Raicher. She was born 18 January1775 and died 31 May 1776 with the burial date of 2 June 1776.
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. Common diseases were dysentery, malaria, diphtheria, flu, typhoid, smallpox and leprosy. (Wikipedia)
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)
Documents related to Elisabetha Scholl:
Translation by Robert Seal:
On the 17th of January [1775] in the morning after? 3:00 am was born and on the 18th of the same month was baptized: Elisabetha.
Father: Johann Wendel Scholl, the local citizen.
Mother: Augusta, née Raicherin.
Baptismal witnesses: (1) Friderich Negelin, the local citizen, master butcher, and innkeeper at the sign of the bear, and (2) his wife Jacobina, née Bitrolfin. (3) Johann Georg Cammerer, the local citizen and master blacksmith.
Right margin: + [died].
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| Elisabetha Scholl born 18 Jan 1775 Graben film 102078348 page 568 |
On the 17th of January [1775] in the morning after? 3:00 am was born and on the 18th of the same month was baptized: Elisabetha.
Father: Johann Wendel Scholl, the local citizen.
Mother: Augusta, née Raicherin.
Baptismal witnesses: (1) Friderich Negelin, the local citizen, master butcher, and innkeeper at the sign of the bear, and (2) his wife Jacobina, née Bitrolfin. (3) Johann Georg Cammerer, the local citizen and master blacksmith.
Right margin: + [died].
Pastor: The Graben Pastor who made this record was J. J. Ritter.
Translation by Robert Seal:
On the 31st of May [1776] at night at 10:00 pm [died] and on the [2nd] of June [1776] was buried: Elisabetha.
Father: Johann Wendel Scholl, the local citizen.
Mother: Augusta, née Raicherin.
Age: 2 years, 4 months, 14 days.
Translation:
Elisabetha Scholl Augusta Reicher and Johann Wendel Scholl, death 2 June 1776, 2 years 4 months 14 days
The Graben Pastor who wrote this record was J. J. Ritter.
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| Elisabetha Scholl death 2 June 1776 film 4137289 page 853 |
On the 31st of May [1776] at night at 10:00 pm [died] and on the [2nd] of June [1776] was buried: Elisabetha.
Father: Johann Wendel Scholl, the local citizen.
Mother: Augusta, née Raicherin.
Age: 2 years, 4 months, 14 days.
Translation:
Elisabetha Scholl Augusta Reicher and Johann Wendel Scholl, death 2 June 1776, 2 years 4 months 14 days
The Graben Pastor who wrote this record was J. J. Ritter.