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 Matthias Scholl:
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| Maria Barbara Schollin birth 004137289 page 317 birth |
Child: Maria Barbara, born 4 July and baptized 6 [July].
Parents: Martin Suß, "Weidgesell", Anna.
Baptismal sponsors: Peter Keller, head man of the village/appointed mayor, with wife; Joachim Holtz, hunter, with wife.
My comments: Note that in this record, the father's surname "Suß" does not have an umlaut on the "u". The occupation of "Weidgesell" was new to me. I found several definitions at the online site Wörterbuchnetz: a hunter employed to supervise and shoot game; hunting assistance.
Note: that one of the baptismal sponsors is a hunter so perhaps father and sponsor hunted together or at least knew each other as fellow hunters in Graben.
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| Johann Matthias w father Christoph birth 22 Oct 1754 film 4137289 page 484 |
On the 22nd of November 1754, a little son of Christoph Scholl, citizen and farmer, from his wife Barbara, née Süssin, was born (in)to the world, so thereafter was baptized and named Johann Matthias.
Baptismal sponsors are Jo[hann] Sim[on] Cammerer, citizen and farmer, [and] Ulrich Rols?/Rolf?, citizen and tailor, with their wives.
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| Maria Barbara Schollin death 004137289 page 604 |
On the 22nd of November 1754, a little son of Christop Scholl, citizen and farmer, from his wife Barbara, née Süssin, was born (in)to the world, so thereafter was baptized and named Johann Matthias.
Baptismal sponsors are Jo[hann] Sim[on] Cammerer, citizen and farmer, [and] Ulrich Rols?/Rolf?, citizen and tailor, with their wives.
Notes: It appears the Pfarrer Francs Christian Henr. Beck wasn't quite sure of her first name.
When was Barbara born?
Robert Seal: Given that Maria Barbara (Süß) Scholl died on 5 Dec 1754 at the age of 41 years, 5 months, and 1day, her birth would have been on or close to 4 July 1713.
So it is unlikely that Maria Barbara Süß born in Untergrombach on 28 Feb 1723 is the same person which is the current thought on FS.
Translated abstract by Robert Seal:
Deceased: Johann Matthias Scholl.
Died: 24 Sep 1755, 5:00 pm.
Buried: the following day, 25 Sep 1755, with sound, singing, and a sermon.
Cause of death: "Gichtern" = epilipsy, convulsions.
Age: 10 months, 2 days.
Father: Christop Schollen, citizen and widower.
Mother: Maria Barbara Süssin.
My comments: "Gichtern" has other meanings as well as those above, including gout, gouty cramps, and attack of pestilence.
I assume "sound" refers to chiming of bells.
Note: Since the father is identified as a widower in this record, this means that the mother died between this child's birth on 22 Nov 1754 and his death on 24 Sep 1755. Are you able to confirm the mother's death in this time frame?
Notes: It appears the Pfarrer Francs Christian Henr. Beck wasn't quite sure of her first name.
When was Barbara born?
Robert Seal: Given that Maria Barbara (Süß) Scholl died on 5 Dec 1754 at the age of 41 years, 5 months, and 1day, her birth would have been on or close to 4 July 1713.
So it is unlikely that Maria Barbara Süß born in Untergrombach on 28 Feb 1723 is the same person which is the current thought on FS.
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| Maria Barbara Schollin death 004137289 page 604 |
Very good, Kent -- you found the mother's death record, about two weeks after her last child was born.
Translation Robert Seal:
On the 5th of December 1754, Anna Maria Barbara Schollin died from childbed fever, the wife of Jo[hann] Christop Scholl, citizen and farmer. She was buried on the 3rd day thereafter with sound, singing, and a sermon.
On the 5th of December 1754, Anna Maria Barbara Schollin died from childbed fever, the wife of Jo[hann] Christop Scholl, citizen and farmer. She was buried on the 3rd day thereafter with sound, singing, and a sermon.
Age: 41 years, 5 months, 1 day.
My comment: childbed fever = puerperal fever or puerperal sepsis.
My comment: childbed fever = puerperal fever or puerperal sepsis.
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| Johann Matthias Scholl death 24 September 1755 film 4137289 page 606 |
Deceased: Johann Matthias Scholl.
Died: 24 Sep 1755, 5:00 pm.
Buried: the following day, 25 Sep 1755, with sound, singing, and a sermon.
Cause of death: "Gichtern" = epilipsy, convulsions.
Age: 10 months, 2 days.
Father: Christop Schollen, citizen and widower.
Mother: Maria Barbara Süssin.
My comments: "Gichtern" has other meanings as well as those above, including gout, gouty cramps, and attack of pestilence.
I assume "sound" refers to chiming of bells.
Note: Since the father is identified as a widower in this record, this means that the mother died between this child's birth on 22 Nov 1754 and his death on 24 Sep 1755. Are you able to confirm the mother's death in this time frame?