Hello Liz Check the time of year, the marriages took place. At that time Catholic marriages didn't take place normally, during Lent. Lent is a liturgical six week period prior to Easter. It begins in mid to late Feb. Another possible reason. They had found young men eager to marry them shortly after arriving and they too were equally eager to marry and make their position more secure. Also, check if the young men travelled out with them. If so, then they would have married as soon as they had secured work and a place to live. So many possible reasons, and I am just guessing. Janet might come up with something interesting.