The term 'grass widow' refers to a divorcee. So in fact they may not have been lying at all. They just left out the adjective. ________________________________ From: Margaret Toole <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tue, April 24, 2012 10:59:46 AM Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California > > The second issue is one I have seen on several occasions in the late > 19th > and early 20th centuries. The heads of household, women in particular, > would lie to a census taker that they were widowed when in fact they > were > divorced to avoid the stigma of divorce and the gossip of neighbors. > Census > takers were not always discrete. How many of you have seen this in > your own > research? > > Again, many thanks > > Paul > Hi Paul. My husbands ggrandmother said she had been "married" a second time to cover up the fact that she had an illegitimate daughter. Her husband died of the flu in 1918 and in 1920 she was a housekeeper for two men. She had a daughter shortly thereafter. By 1930 she was no longer Jennie COLLINS but Jennie BARNES. I have found no sign of Mr. BARNES. Margaret ----------------------------------------- NORCAL ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ Enter NORCAL. Browse by month. Or click the "Search all archives" link to search by keyword. ----------------------------------------- To post a message to the NORCAL mailing list, send an email to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I was told when I was a boy that a "grass widow" was a woman that was once married and that she had been turned out to graze. Al Larson 160 Daggett Creek Road Boise, ID 83716 E-mail [email protected] Blog: http://allarsonphotography.com > Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:10:52 -0700 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California > > The term 'grass widow' refers to a divorcee. So in fact they may not have been > lying at all. They just left out the adjective. >

A "grass widow" is someone who's husband has taken off and they have no idea where he is. I have also seen "grass widowers" mentioned. NO formal divorce just POOF gone. And many times they do remarry and are happy in the second marriage. Susan Boise, Idaho, USA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mildred Starr Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 1:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California The term 'grass widow' refers to a divorcee. So in fact they may not have been lying at all. They just left out the adjective. _______________________________ From: Margaret Toole <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tue, April 24, 2012 10:59:46 AM Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California > The second issue is one I have seen on several occasions in the late > 19th > and early 20th centuries. The heads of household, women in particular, > would lie to a census taker that they were widowed when in fact they > were > divorced to avoid the stigma of divorce and the gossip of neighbors. > Census > takers were not always discrete. How many of you have seen this in > your own > research? > > Again, many thanks > > Paul > Hi Paul. My husbands ggrandmother said she had been "married" a second time to cover up the fact that she had an illegitimate daughter. Her husband died of the flu in 1918 and in 1920 she was a housekeeper for two men. She had a daughter shortly thereafter. By 1930 she was no longer Jennie COLLINS but Jennie BARNES. I have found no sign of Mr. BARNES. Margaret

I've also seen the term used, tongue in cheek, to describe husbands whose families spent the summer on the central California coast rather that tough it out in the pre air conditioning days of the Central Valley. ________________________________ From: Mildred Starr <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 2:10 PM Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California The term 'grass widow' refers to a divorcee.  So in fact they may not have been lying at all.  They just left out the adjective. ________________________________ From: Margaret Toole <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tue, April 24, 2012 10:59:46 AM Subject: Re: [NORCAL] George Thomas b. 1887 California > > The second issue is one I have seen on several occasions in the late > 19th > and early 20th centuries. The heads of household, women in particular, > would lie to a census taker that they were widowed when in fact they > were > divorced to avoid the stigma of divorce and the gossip of neighbors. > Census > takers were not always discrete. How many of you have seen this in > your own > research? > > Again, many thanks > > Paul > Hi Paul.  My husbands ggrandmother said she had been "married" a second time to cover up the fact that she had an illegitimate daughter.  Her husband died of the flu in 1918 and in 1920 she was a housekeeper for two men.  She had a daughter shortly thereafter.  By 1930 she was no longer Jennie COLLINS but Jennie BARNES.  I have found no sign of Mr. BARNES. Margaret ----------------------------------------- NORCAL ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ Enter NORCAL.  Browse by month. Or click the "Search all archives" link to search by keyword. ----------------------------------------- To post a message to the NORCAL mailing list, send an email to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----------------------------------------- NORCAL ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ Enter NORCAL.  Browse by month. Or click the "Search all archives" link to search by keyword. ----------------------------------------- To post a message to the NORCAL mailing list, send an email to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message