Sheldrake Point http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11784small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11784.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11785small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11785.jpg MILLIKEN STATION on Cayuga Lake http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11786small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11786.jpg Cayuga Lake and point north of Taughannock (Is this Camp Barton) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11787small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11787.jpg Onondaga Valley http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11756small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11756.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11757small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11757.jpg ONONDAGA LAKE OUTLET AND BARGE CANAL http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11758small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11758.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11760small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11760.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11761small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11761.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11762small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11762.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11764small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11764.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11765small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11765.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11766small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11766.jpg Onondaga Lake and Outlet view south http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11763small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11763.jpg Paines Creek http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11782small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11782.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11783small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11783.jpg

Does anyone have a copy of the book "Maine Biographies" by Harrie B. Coe? It is excerpted from "Maine Resources, Attractions and its People: A History" If you do and would do a look-up for George ELLIOTT (various spellings for Elliott), I would appreciate it very much. If there are other Elliott given names I would like to have them, too. I'm trying to find the names of my 4 great grandfather's parents as well as any BEARS as that is the maiden name of my 4 great grandmother, Eleanor. Thank you Morrene W North Dakota

Hi Sonja, we're spoken before but I'm not sure if we ever made a connection. My Melvin Brown is the one buried in the Ledyard Cemetery - behind the church. ( born 1772 ) married to Polly Salisbury. There is another Melvin Brown in my family - one of Melvin's brother's sons - who moved to Hinckley, Medena County, Ohio. I bought the Images Book of The Erie Canal and noticed a photo of the boat the Melvin Brown - I've been aware of the Cayuga Boat Melvin Brown but never was sure if there could have been a connection. I searched on line and found the info I shared in my original post about wife Majory Keeler Brown - Interesting she was a music teacher - that's what I do also. I believe that my Melvin Brown & Polly had the following children: Horace Brown born abt 1810 - moved to Lodi, Seneca County - married Elizabeth Neal Mary Brown married Johnson - who MAY have died in the Civil War and later we think McDowell Parvis Austin Brown unmarried Grace C Brown married Zadock J. Brown .... **** Synthia Brown married Rice Elizabeth Brown married Sawyer (they are parents of Bezalial Sawyer & Pulaski Sawyer - Pulaski moved to Nebraska) I believe that this is the Melvin Brown who opened the store in Sherwaod ca. 1808 **** Zadock Brown - Grace C Brown's husband - was a grandson of Melvin's brother. A Brown Family Bible - now in the Middleburgh, NY Library - is the source of much of my early Brown information. My Melvin is the son of Josiah & Lois Chapman Brown. He was born in No. Salem area of NY Westchester County. The Grace C. Brown Will & the Parvis Austin Brown pettition for probate are the source for much of what I've got on Melvin's children. Of late - I've been made aware of a book Lucinda or the Mourner of the Mountain. Which chronicals a story of Lucinda Manvill - Saratoga and a Melvin Brown - who had Scipio connections at that very early 1800 period of time and perhaps lived in Marcellus, Onondago. An interesting and strange story - I haven't listed all of the information that comes from the Grace Brown will - I think I may have shared it with you in the past. My thought - Melvin seems to be a commonly used name in this family - Is there any chance the Melvin Brown - of this boat ca. 1902 - had ancestors related to mine ? Mark

Melvin Brown is a family name in my line of Browns who also lived in Auburn in the mid 1800s. What era are you talking about? Sonja

I was searching for ANNESLY which is probably a typo. Your refference makes sense in the context. Many thanks! bill Susan Kastan wrote: >Hi, Bill -- >Good question! Don't know the answer, but here's a clue: > >(William Annesley) Description of William Annesley's New System of > Naval Architecture (1818). > >This book is listed under: >XVIII. Shipbuilding >(See also Steamboats and Steamships) > >in: >Sources Cited in >The rise of New York Port [1815-1860] >by >Robert Greenhalgh Albion, with the collaboration of Jennie Barnes Pope >© 1967 Northeastern University Press >Reproduced 2001 with permission of the publisher > >Bibliography available at: >http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/becites/genealogy/immigrant/83027190.refs.html > >The book is a classic and terrific, by the way! Tons of information... >Susan > >Bill Hecht <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >>See page 60, 3rd paragraph from the bottom of the page. >> >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg >> >>it is from >>The TOURIST for 1834 (Erie Canal Guide) >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11943small.jpg >><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11943small.jpg> >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11944small.jpg >><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11944small.jpg> >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11945small.jpg >><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11945small.jpg> >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11946small.jpg >><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11946small.jpg> >>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg >><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11947small.jpg> >> >> >> > >__________________________________________________________________ >Switch to Netscape Internet Service. >As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register > >Netscape. Just the Net You Need. > >New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer >Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. >Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp > > >==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== >Going on vacation? Unsubscribe from NYCayuga-L by sending a message >to [email protected] (or NYCayuga-D-request.com if you >receive the digest) with just the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) > >============================== >Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for >ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > > >

Hi, Bill -- Good question! Don't know the answer, but here's a clue: (William Annesley) Description of William Annesley's New System of Naval Architecture (1818). This book is listed under: XVIII. Shipbuilding (See also Steamboats and Steamships) in: Sources Cited in The rise of New York Port [1815-1860] by Robert Greenhalgh Albion, with the collaboration of Jennie Barnes Pope © 1967 Northeastern University Press Reproduced 2001 with permission of the publisher Bibliography available at: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/becites/genealogy/immigrant/83027190.refs.html The book is a classic and terrific, by the way! Tons of information... Susan Bill Hecht <[email protected]> wrote: >See page 60, 3rd paragraph from the bottom of the page. > >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg > >it is from >The TOURIST for 1834 (Erie Canal Guide) >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11943small.jpg ><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11943small.jpg> >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11944small.jpg ><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11944small.jpg> >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11945small.jpg ><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11945small.jpg> >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11946small.jpg ><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11946small.jpg> >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg ><http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11947small.jpg> > __________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Netscape. Just the Net You Need. New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp

See page 60, 3rd paragraph from the bottom of the page. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg it is from The TOURIST for 1834 (Erie Canal Guide) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11943small.jpg <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11943small.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11944small.jpg <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11944small.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11945small.jpg <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11945small.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11946small.jpg <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11946small.jpg> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Espringport/pictures119/11947small.jpg>

I also would appreciate a PDF file on dating old photos. Thank You, Alice Morton [email protected]

BROWN TRANSPORTATION SCRAPBOOK at Cay Co Historians office http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures75/brownweb/ R. Mark Brown wrote: >Does anyone know if there are any relatives or source where I might >learn more about this Brown family below ? > >Regarding: Melvin T. Brown - (Melvin P. Brown in the Images book) > >The following is from the Rootweb - Springport site ... > >The Melvin Brown mentioned in the Steamship article lived in Union >Springs. >His wife, Marjory Keeler Brown, who went to school at Oakwood Seminary, >taught choral singing at Union Springs High School. They >lived at the north end of Grove Street in Union springs in a house that >was razed. It was Mrs. Brown who wrote the school song with >Mrs. Margaret Pimm Getman. > >Near Cayuga's deep, blue waters >Stands the school we love so well. >With the clear pond close beside it. >Trees and grounds and sweet-tones bell. > >USHS, speed the echoes, >Ringing at that thy call. >USHS, Alma Mater. >Loved the best of all. > > >==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== >Going on vacation? Unsubscribe from NYCayuga-L by sending a message >to [email protected] (or NYCayuga-D-request.com if you >receive the digest) with just the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) > >============================== >Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. >New content added every business day. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > > >

Does anyone know if there are any relatives or source where I might learn more about this Brown family below ? Regarding: Melvin T. Brown - (Melvin P. Brown in the Images book) The following is from the Rootweb - Springport site ... The Melvin Brown mentioned in the Steamship article lived in Union Springs. His wife, Marjory Keeler Brown, who went to school at Oakwood Seminary, taught choral singing at Union Springs High School. They lived at the north end of Grove Street in Union springs in a house that was razed. It was Mrs. Brown who wrote the school song with Mrs. Margaret Pimm Getman. Near Cayuga's deep, blue waters Stands the school we love so well. With the clear pond close beside it. Trees and grounds and sweet-tones bell. USHS, speed the echoes, Ringing at that thy call. USHS, Alma Mater. Loved the best of all.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11735small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11735.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11736small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11736.jpg ravine on east side http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11740small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11740.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11742small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11742.jpg ravine view west http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11743small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11743.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11744small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11744.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11745small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures117/11745.jpg

Would appreciate if you could send me the PDF file on dating old photographs. Thanks Judy, Charlie -----Original Message----- From: Judy Landauer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:20 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Dating old photos Dear listers If anyone would like information on dating old photographs I can send a PDF file entitled "Photography as a Tool in Genealogy" to whomever wants one. I found it on a photography site a few years ago but it look like they've removed it now. This file explains the difference between ambrotypes, tin types, etc. and includes original price, the date range that they were produced, how they were packaged, etc. etc., and TONS of other info that would help a person decide just what kind of picture they have. Because of this file, I was able to solve the mystery of why I had a cardboard-backed photo of a 80 year old ancestress who died in 1855! Turns out it is a rare Calotype, which are only found now in museums. They were produced from 1845-1855 (approx). The problem with them is that the image faded quickly and now most images are only ghostly shadows of the original. I scanned it and ran it through photoshop elements, which worked wonders to bring back a lot of the details of the original. If anyone would like a copy of this file, please let me know and I will send it to them. Judy Richard & Judy Landauer [email protected] AIM: judylandauer ______________________________

Hello! I saw your posting on the Cayuga Co. board about your Mary LENAHAN. In researching my GARVEY family of Co. Kerry, Ireland, I found a sister (Ellen) of my Patrick Garvey who married a James Lenahan. All I know about James is that he was born about 1825 in Ireland and died Dec. 15, 1866 in Wisconsin. I've been told Ellen's oldest brother Timothy Garvey settled in Cayuga Co., likely in the 1840-1850s, before moving on to Washington Co., Wisconsin where the rest of the Garveys lived. Since my James Lenahan had this Cayuga Co. tie as well as the Co. Kerry connection, I wondered if he might be related to your Mary Lenahan. Incidentally, my Garveys were from the Listowel area of Co. Kerry. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Hope to hear from you when you have a chance! Bonnie Hartmann Laguna Beach, California ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sister Susan O'Connor, CSJ" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 3:58 AM Subject: [NYCAYUGA] RE: O'Connor & Lenahan, Burns (Byrnes in Ireland) in Cayuga County 1860- > > FAMILY OF: Mary Lenahan (November 17, 1793 - February 15, 1881) and Peter > O'Connor (Abt. 1780- Bef. June 13, 1865) This Family came from Tralee, > County Kerry, Ireland to Cayuga County before 1860. They stayed pretty > much > in the local area. > > FAMILY OF One OF THEIR SONS: Anne Byrns (June 4, 1822 - November 23, 1896) > and Michael O'Connor (September 1825 - May 20, 1908) Murtaugh Burns, > Ann's > brother, lived in Auburn in 1900; his wife was Nellie. > > Sister Susan O'Connor, CSJ [email protected] > > > > > > ==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== > Going on vacation? Unsubscribe from NYCayuga-L by sending a message > to [email protected] (or NYCayuga-D-request.com if you > receive the digest) with just the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > > > > ==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== > Have you visited the NYGenWeb project home page lately? > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11943small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11944small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11945small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11946small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures119/11947small.jpg

If you want an organized week of family history research and festivities please contact THE CAYUGA COUNTY OFFICE OF TOURISM at: [email protected] And let them know that there are a lot of folks out there that do travel to Cayuga and surrounding counties for family research. If you have already written to this list PLEASE send again to the above email. Squeeky Wheels Thanks bill hecht

Dear Judy, Hmm, it seems my family, poor & the well off ,did not follow these standards of life expectancy, and with many being farmers, I know they had many long years of work, although I believe many received their lands land from military service or inheritance. I do want to believe they married, not just for partnership, but also for love & companionship. I believe their long life spans which their descendants are NOT matching are due to the fact they most likely did not smoke, drink (many were Quakers or very religious) and they ate no refined foods & had less environmental stresses. If they could survive without acquiring one of of the numerous contagious diseases, influenza, measles, & smallpox, etc., they were basically healthy & long lived. Life spans varied, but in Cayuga County alone: Charles Brown was born in 1774 & lived to 1861...87 years young when he died in Owasco. He did marry 3 times, but with the first wife, Ann Christian, she born in 1782-1844, at age 62, he was married about 35+ years and she had 11 children, all lived to adulthood & married, I don't know if she lost any children. He then married a Leah unknown, & then a Polly unknown, who was his widow in 1861. Ann Christian's parents follow & are buried in Christian family plot in Throop, Cayuga County, NY: John Christian, born 1 November 1753, died 9 January 1835, age 82 years old at death, was also in the Revolutionary War. He married Jane Brower, born 22 February 1755, died 14 March 1813. Age 58 at death. They also had 11 children & all survived to at least marry. In my Denison & Tainter lines I also note longevity and long marriages. Daniel Tainter born in Erie County, NY in 1839 lived until 1922, served in the Civil War, married in 1865 and was married to his FIRST wife until he died in 1922, he died at age 83 & was married 57 years and they had 4 children. His father, Benjamin Tainter of Batavia, NY was born in 1751 & died in Batavia in 1822 at age 77, his widow Hannah Norton died in 1825 at age 70+. My Decker's of New Jersey lived into their 80's, Alexander Decker was b. in 1789 & d. 1870, age 81 & his wife Keziah Adams was b. 1795 & d. in 1881, age 86, so.... Captain George Denison was born 1620 & lived 74 years, he died in 1694. However, in the 1900's their great grandchildren & great great grandchildren have been lucky to live past 75 years of age. Some dying of cancer, my 2 siblings died, one at age 46 & the other at age 55, both from cancer, with only me left. Just sharing & wondering why my family is going in reverse?! Marilyn (Brown) LeVeque -------Original Message------- From: [email protected] Date: 03/14/05 11:12:43 To: [email protected] Subject: [NYCAYUGA] Colonial America Marriages The life expectancy of a colonial was short. As many as 50% of all women died in childbirth or from childbed disease. The infant mortality rate was also high. If a child could reach the age of eleven, they stood a better chance at survival. Individuals in their forties and fifties during the 17th century were considered "old." Statistics peering back to the 18th century indicate the average life expectancy was the age of 45! For families of consequence, marriage was viewed as a business transaction, love not being made a part of the arrangement. Love was saved for affairs outside of the marriage contract. Marriage, on the other hand, was the institution in which legitimate heirs were produced, a title obtained or additional monies and properties achieved. The children of poor families had an easier time selecting a mate. Property and money didn't play a role in their decision. Love could be taken into the equation when it came to spouse selection. A marriage in colonial America could be viewed as an absolute partnership with the man and woman having a specific role to fulfill. A man's sphere of influence was in the area of war, politics, and business. Although women did not have a legal right to property ownership, they could hold influence over the running of the internal affairs of the home. A high stationed, literate wife would be expected to handle basic accounting and management affairs within the household. The overseeing of servants in the higher classes also demanded her time in addition to her other traditional duties including child rearing and sewing. When death took a spouse, little time was put aside for mourning Within four weeks of a spouse's passing, the surviving spouse might remarry. The challenges of day-to-day living demanded that a partnership always be in place. Early marriage was typically not done for immigrants to Colonial America. Immigrants did not enter into being indentured* until the age of 21. As such, it might be five to seven years before they could marry. For ladies living in the South during this period, they could marry as young as fourteen. (*indenture: a written agreement or contract which an apprentice is bound to service.) The wealthy aristocracy of the Southern colonies arranged marriages of their offspring. A young man simply did not go off on his own and begin a courtship without attending to business first. Restrictions existed on the inheritance a couple received if they married without the permission of their parents. As such, a young man approached his father first before soliciting his attentions to a local girl. If a young man's father approved of the match, he would write a letter to the girl's father outlining the financial particulars of the match. Upon receipt of a letter from the girl's father approving the match, including his own financial tribute, the couple could commence with their courtship.Courting took place in the typical places: dances, church, and visiting the young girl's home. Everyday Life in Colonial America: From 1607-1783, Dale Taylor Writer's Digest Books, 1997 Judy Neu Springwater, NY ==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== Going on vacation? Unsubscribe from NYCayuga-L by sending a message to [email protected] (or NYCayuga-D-request.com if you receive the digest) with just the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx

Pat, Thanks so much for the offer. Please, do send me the PDF file on dating old photographs. Susan -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [NYCAYUGA] Dating old photos << If anyone would like a copy of this file, please let me know and I will send it to them.>>

The life expectancy of a colonial was short.   As many as 50% of all women died in childbirth or from childbed disease. The infant mortality rate was also high.   If a child could reach the age of eleven, they stood a better chance at survival.   Individuals in their forties and fifties during the 17th century were considered "old."  Statistics peering back to the 18th century indicate the average life expectancy was the age of 45! For families of consequence, marriage was viewed as a business transaction, love not being made a part of the arrangement.   Love was saved for affairs outside of the marriage contract.   Marriage, on the other hand, was the institution in which legitimate heirs were produced, a title obtained or additional monies and properties achieved. The children of poor families had an easier time selecting a mate. Property and money didn't play a role in their decision.  Love could be taken into the equation when it came to spouse selection. A marriage in colonial America could be viewed as an absolute partnership with the man and woman having a specific role to fulfill.   A man's sphere of influence was in the area of war, politics, and business.   Although women did not have a legal right to property ownership, they could hold influence over the running of the internal affairs of the home. A high stationed, literate wife would be expected to handle basic accounting and management affairs within the household.   The overseeing of servants in the higher classes also demanded her time in addition to her other traditional duties including child rearing and sewing. When death took a spouse, little time was put aside for mourning. Within four weeks of a spouse's passing, the surviving spouse might remarry.   The challenges of day-to-day living demanded that a partnership always be in place. Early marriage was typically not done for immigrants to Colonial America.   Immigrants did not enter into being indentured* until the age of 21.   As such, it might be five to seven years before they could marry. For ladies living in the South during this period,  they could marry as young as fourteen.  (*indenture: a written agreement or contract which an apprentice is bound to service.) The wealthy aristocracy of the Southern colonies arranged marriages of their offspring.   A young man simply did not go off on his own and begin a courtship without attending to business first.   Restrictions existed on the inheritance a couple received if they married without the permission of their parents.   As such, a young man approached his father first before soliciting his attentions to a local girl. If a young man's father approved of the match, he would write a letter to the girl's father outlining the financial particulars of the match.   Upon receipt of a letter from the girl's father approving the match, including his own financial tribute, the couple could commence with their courtship.Courting took place in the typical places:  dances, church, and visiting the young girl's home. Everyday Life in Colonial America: From 1607-1783, Dale Taylor Writer's Digest Books, 1997 Judy Neu Springwater, NY

Pat, I found one article online that suggests that in New England the average age at first marriage for males was 25-26 while for females it was 18-20 (see http://www.usigs.org/library/research_aids/sue_recipes/recipe13b.html). I did an analysis* of my own data and came up with an average of 24 for males and 21 for females. This data includes 112 males and 113 females born between 1700 and 1800 for whom I have both a birth date and marriage date. Of these 5 of the males and 17 of the females were under the age of 18. Roger Phillips *I tried 3 different genealogy programs before I could find one - Family Tree Maker - that could give me the age at first marriage. I then exported the data to Excel to analyze it. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:29 PM Subject: [NYCAYUGA] marriage age - mid to late 1700s > Does anyone know the age range for first marriages > during the mid to late 1700s in New England and > New York? Was 16-18 too young, especially for males? > > Thank you. > Pat Orman > Fountain Hills, Arizona > > > ==== NYCAYUGA Mailing List ==== > Have you visited the NYGenWeb project home page lately? > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > >

Does anyone know the age range for first marriages during the mid to late 1700s in New England and New York? Was 16-18 too young, especially for males? Thank you. Pat Orman Fountain Hills, Arizona