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. (Wikipedia)
Document related to Johann George Scholl:
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| Johann Georg Scholl b 6 July 1723 film 4137289 page 337 |
Translation by Gina Palmer:
On the 6th July a son was born to Mattheus Scholl, the tailor and Eva
his wife, and afterwards baptized and was named Johann Georg; Godparents:
Wendel [Munck] and Margareta his wife. Johann Lind, unmarried son of
Velten Lind. Elisabetha, unmarried daughter of Christoph Schumacher, the
local butcher.
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| Georg Matthias Scholl death 24 sep 1723 film 102078298 page 420 |
Translation by Annette Adams:
On the 24 7br [September] 1723 Joh. Georg Mathias Scholl, the son of the
tailor and his legitimate son, died. Bells were rung, and a sermon
provided at his burial. He was 2 months old, 2 weeks, and 3 days.