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==== General Assumptions (Pre-Civil War)<br>Only Use Until Have Information to the Contrary ==== | ==== General Assumptions (Pre-Civil War)<br>Only Use Until Have Information to the Contrary ==== | ||
'''Marriage'''<br>• Couples usually married in the bride’s town.<br>• Couples usually lived in the groom’s town.<br>• Couples usually were married within one year before the first child was born.<br>•Before motorized transportation:<br>–A man without a horse usually courted women within three miles of where he lived.<br>–A man with a horse usually courted women within six miles of where he lived.<br>• People usually were in their 20s when they married for the first time.<br>• If a person was listed as older than 30 when married, there is a good possibility he/she had a previous marriage.<br>• A woman usually married a man about the same age or a little older for her first marriage. For later marriages, the age difference was greater. She seldom would marry a man more than 1-2 years younger.<br>• A man usually married a woman close to his age for his first marriage. For later marriages, he often married a woman much younger than he was.<br>• When a woman married, her husband became the owner of all she possessed. | '''Marriage'''<br>• Couples usually married in the bride’s town.<br>• Couples usually lived in the groom’s town.<br>:• Couples usually were married within one year before the first child was born.<br>:•Before motorized transportation:<br>::–A man without a horse usually courted women within three miles of where he lived.<br>::–A man with a horse usually courted women within six miles of where he lived.<br>:• People usually were in their 20s when they married for the first time.<br>:• If a person was listed as older than 30 when married, there is a good possibility he/she had a previous marriage.<br>:• A woman usually married a man about the same age or a little older for her first marriage. For later marriages, the age difference was greater. She seldom would marry a man more than 1-2 years younger.<br>:• A man usually married a woman close to his age for his first marriage. For later marriages, he often married a woman much younger than he was.<br>• When a woman married, her husband became the owner of all she possessed. | ||
'''Children'''<br>• The first child was often born near the town where its parents were married.<br>• A child was usually christened in the same town where it was born.<br>• Usually when two children in the same family have the same name, the first child died or was very sick before the second child was born.<br>• Usually there are about 1.5 to 2.5 years between births of children in a family. A larger span of years may indicate:<br>Death of a baby<br>An unknown child<br>Death of a first spouse and a remarriage<br>• Parents often named their children after their parents, siblings or themselves.<br>• Puritans and Congregationalists did not have godparents for their children.<br>• A woman usually had children when she was between the ages of 18-45.<br>• A man usually had children when he was between the ages of 18-60. | '''Children'''<br>:• The first child was often born near the town where its parents were married.<br>:• A child was usually christened in the same town where it was born.<br>:• Usually when two children in the same family have the same name, the first child died or was very sick before the second child was born.<br>• Usually there are about 1.5 to 2.5 years between births of children in a family. A larger span of years may indicate:<br>Death of a baby<br>An unknown child<br>Death of a first spouse and a remarriage<br>:• Parents often named their children after their parents, siblings or themselves.<br>:• Puritans and Congregationalists did not have godparents for their children.<br>:• A woman usually had children when she was between the ages of 18-45.<br>:• A man usually had children when he was between the ages of 18-60. | ||
'''Death'''<br>• A person was usually buried soon after death, except when the ground was frozen in winter.<br>• The person who gave the information about the deceased for an obituary, tombstone, certificate, etc. may not have known the real facts about the deceased. | '''Death'''<br>:• A person was usually buried soon after death, except when the ground was frozen in winter.<br>:• The person who gave the information about the deceased for an obituary, tombstone, certificate, etc. may not have known the real facts about the deceased. | ||
'''Migration & Immigration<br>'''• People often traveled with and/or settled near relatives, friends or people from the same town.<br>• People moved more often than we think.<br>• Until roads & railroads improved, people usually traveled on or near water.<br>• For new settlements, people preferred living near water.<br>• People usually migrated to the West, but sometimes they went back East.<br>• When immigrating to America, colonial family members usually came together. For later immigrants, the father of a family might come first, then the rest of the family. | '''Migration & Immigration<br>''':• People often traveled with and/or settled near relatives, friends or people from the same town.<br>:• People moved more often than we think.<br>:• Until roads & railroads improved, people usually traveled on or near water.<br>:• For new settlements, people preferred living near water.<br>:• People usually migrated to the West, but sometimes they went back East.<br>:• When immigrating to America, colonial family members usually came together. For later immigrants, the father of a family might come first, then the rest of the family. | ||
'''Activities'''<br>• Before the Civil War, most free men owned land and usually farmed it. <br>• Men usually acquired land soon after moving to a location.<br>• In colonial times, men aged 16 to 65 probably were in the militia.<br>• People often did not pay attention to boundaries (state, county, etc.) when deciding where to marry, farm, etc. | '''Activities'''<br>:• Before the Civil War, most free men owned land and usually farmed it. <br>:• Men usually acquired land soon after moving to a location.<br>:• In colonial times, men aged 16 to 65 probably were in the militia.<br>:• People often did not pay attention to boundaries (state, county, etc.) when deciding where to marry, farm, etc. | ||
'''Religion'''<br>• The Congregational Church was the main church in New England.<br>• The Anglican Church was the main church of the Southern states.<br>• The Presbyterian Church was strongest in:<br>- Mid-Atlantic states<br>- Southern states<br>• Quakers were strongest in:<br>- Pennsylvania near Philadelphia<br>- New England<br>- Mid-Atlantic states<br>- Southern, especially North Carolina<br>- After the Revolution, many went to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.<br>• The Baptist Church is strongest in the mid-Atlantic states and the Southern states<br>• Methodist Church: By 1850, about 1/3 of American Protestants were Methodists. From 1820 to 1920, Methodism was the largest Protestant denomination. | '''Religion'''<br>:• The Congregational Church was the main church in New England.<br>:• The Anglican Church was the main church of the Southern states.<br>:• The Presbyterian Church was strongest in:<br>::- Mid-Atlantic states<br>::- Southern states<br>:• Quakers were strongest in:<br>::- Pennsylvania near Philadelphia<br>::- New England<br>::- Mid-Atlantic states<br>::- Southern, especially North Carolina<br>::- After the Revolution, many went to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.<br>:• The Baptist Church is strongest in the mid-Atlantic states and the Southern states<br>:• Methodist Church: By 1850, about 1/3 of American Protestants were Methodists. From 1820 to 1920, Methodism was the largest Protestant denomination. | ||
'''People from: Usually were:<br>'''Scandinavian Lutheran<br>Northern Germany and northern Switzerland Lutheran<br>Southern Germany and southern Switzerland Roman Catholic<br>The Netherlands Dutch Reformed Church<br>Latin America, Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy Roman Catholic<br>Greece Greek Orthodox<br>Russia Russian Orthodox | '''People from: Usually were:<br>'''Scandinavian Lutheran<br>Northern Germany and northern Switzerland Lutheran<br>Southern Germany and southern Switzerland Roman Catholic<br>The Netherlands Dutch Reformed Church<br>Latin America, Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy Roman Catholic<br>Greece Greek Orthodox<br>Russia Russian Orthodox | ||