THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 3 GENERATIONS PER CENTURY.
- The average for men to marry was 24. They rarely married before age 16.
- The average for woment to marry was 20. They rarely married before the age 16.
- First marriages were usually between couples near the same age. Women generally outlived
their husbands, but older widowers frequently married much younger women who had never been married before.
- Birth generally occurred between 2 year interval between births grew slightly. Child bearing
usually ended around age 45.
- Families and neighbors usually migrated together from their previous location. Women rarely
traveled alone.
- Men usually married women from their neighborhood, but if a seemingly "strange' woman turns
up, check the man's former home. Often men returned to their prior residence to find a wife.
- If you can't find an older parent, chances are he/she "went west" with a son.
- If you have a male ancestor born around 1840, strongly considered Civil War Service.
- If your ancestor has a virtue name (eg. Patience, Charity, Silence) consider a New England
heritage.
- Children were often named for grandparents, both male and female.
- Frequently middle names or even a first name was the mother's or grandmother's maiden name,
espically if the name was repeated through several related families.
