Maria Salome Raicher 1748-1749

Maria Salome Raicher was born 26 Feb 1748. Maria died 12 May 1749. She lived just 1 year 2 months 16 days.

Death seen as natural

If a woman died after the birth of a child (this was a dangerous process because of infections), her younger sister stepped in as new wife, or replacement. The husband (here farmer in the country) absolutely needed a wife to look after the children and farm house (cooking etc.). So he normally got remarried a second, or third time within a few months; later a one year period was recommended. Often these wives were widows themselves. So there was constant giving births and dying on the farms, similar to what happened in the stable with the animals. Death was seen as natural. Only medicine and hygienic measures lowered the infant and childhood mortality rate. However, there were very bad pestulenza waves in the 17th century in our regions. Many villages lost 30 to 40% of the population. (Peter Bertschinger)

Documents related to Maria Salome Raicher:

Maria Salome Raicher bap 26 Feb 1748 birth 3 Mar
film 102078348 page 375

Translation by Robert Seal:

1748. On the 26th of February a little daughter of Friedr. Wilhelm Raicher, local citizen, juryman, and bathhouse operator/barber, from his wife Margretha, was born into the world, so thereafter was baptized and named Maria Salome, Baptismal sponsors are myself F. Ch. H. Beck with my wife Margretha Barbara; and Jo. Friedr. Negelein, local innkeeper at the sign of the crown, with wife; and Jo. Simon Cammerer with wife.

 

Maria Salome burial 13 May death 12 May 1749 
film 102078348 page 504

Translation by Robert Seal:

On the 12th of May 1749, the conceived little daughter of Friedr. Wilhelm Raicher, bathhouse operator/barber and juryman, from his wife Margretha, named Maria Salome, died from the pox, and thereafter on the following day with the sound of bells, singing, and a sermon was buried. Age: 1 years, 2 months.

My comment: The cause of death was "variolerum" = smallpox or other pox disease.