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)
Documents related to Johann Christoph Raicher:
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| Johann Christoph Raicher bap 8 Aug 1754 film 102078348 page 393 |
8. August 1754 wurde Friedr: Wilhelm Raicher Gerichtsverwandten und Baader, ex uxore Margaretha Barbara nata Weidmännin ein Söhnlein zur Welt gebohren, so darauf getauft und Johann Christoph genanndt worden. Gevattern sind Ego Franz Chr: Heinr: Beck pastor hujus loci cum mea uxore Margaretha Barbara und Jaccob Friedr: Negelein Bürger Cronenwirth u: Metzger cum uxore Mina Jacobina.
Translation:
On 8 August 1754 a little son of Friedrich Wilhelm Raicher, juryman and barber, was born into the world by his wife Margaretha Barbara née Weidmann, so thereafter was baptized and named Johann Christoph.
Baptismal sponsors are myself Franz Christian Heinrich Beck, pastor in this place, with my wife Margaretha Barbara and Jaccob Friedrich Negelein, citizen, innkeeper at the sign of the crown, and butcher with wife Mina Jacobina.
Hi Kent, you have probably noticed that the record just below this one is for Pastor Beck's first child Johann Georg. You may want to start a separate request for the translation.
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| Johann Christoph burial 13 Aug death 12 Aug 1754 film 102078348 page 514 |
Translation by Robert Seal:
On the 12th of August 1754, the little son of Friedrich Wilhelm Raichert, local juryman and bathhouse operator/barber, from his wife Margaretha Barbara, née Waidmannin, named Johann Christoph, died from cramps and fever, and thereafter the following day with the ringing of bells and the reading of the service was buried, at the age of 3 days.My comment: Note in the left margin that the surname is "Raichertin" which is the female form of the surname "Raichert". This is the burial of a male child, thus the surname in the left margin should be: Raichert.