Preconceptions

[SteveT]

Prior to embarking on this stupidly addictive/frustrating journey we call genealogical research, I developed preconceptions about pre-Victorians. Don't ask why because I couldn't tell you, but I assumed no one travelled more than a few miles and that all my ancestors lived within a 10-20 mile radius of each other Hey-ho, we live and learn, has anyone else held similar preconceptions prior to undertaking research?

SteveT

[MarkCDodd]

I wish my Ford. Cutler and Homer families had moved more than a few miles in the last 400 years

I thought the life span would be much shorter than today.

Certainly in England, my Black Country relatives had the men croaking mostly in the mid 50's to early 60's if they worked in a mine or foundary.

The women for the most part were living well into their 80's and many were seemingly spritely in their 90's.

My Shropshire Dodd families were living, both men and women, well into their late 70's barring "accidents", as they were farmers.

In Australia the early Victorian pioneers are interesting to compare to their cousins who stayed in England.

It seems that avoiding death by Typhoid was the biggest hurdle.

Accidents that would not have been fatal in the UK were deadly in Australia due to lack of immediate medical facilities in many places.

But overall, the men certainly lived longer than their UK cousins and the women seemed to thrive.

They average ages of death due to desease was quite comparable to today.