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 Philipp Jacob Raicher:
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| Philipp Jacob Raicher birth 1 May 1737 film 4137289 page 374 |
Translation by Robert Seal:
On the 1st of May 1737, a little son of Fridrich Wilhelm Raichert, bathhouse operator, and his wife Margaretha Barbara, was born (in)to the world and the following day thereafter was holy baptized and was named Phil[ipp] Jacob. Baptismal sponsors are Frans Christoph Heinrich Beck, pastor, and Miss Jacobina Creglingerin, [and] Simon Cammerer and his wife Elisabetha.
My comment: Regarding the first baptismal sponsor Frans Christoph Heinrich Beck, pastor: From the list of Graben pastors you provided, Pastor Beck's tenure in Graben was 1738-1757. But in this record from May 1737, he is identified as a pastor. Also, your list states that the second forename is "Christian" but this is the second time we have seen this second forename recorded as "Christoph". Just some "food" for thought.
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| Philipp Jacob Raicher burial 14 July 1737 film 102078348 page 444 |
Translation by Robert Seal:
On the 14th of July 1737, in the evening between 4 and 5 o'clock, Philipp Jacob, little son of Friedrich Wilhelm Reichert, bathhouse operator/barber and juryman, and his wife Margaretha Barbara, died, who 3 days thereafter on the 16th of the cited month was buried with sound, singing, and a sermon. Age: 2 months and 14 days.
My comment: "Abends" = in the evening, but I am interpreting the time as between 4 pm and 5 pm in the late afternoon.