Genealogy Chat

Hi

My 3xgreat grandfathers first wife died of "Phthisis, years certified" in Nov 1863. I believe my ggggrandad was having an affair with my ggggran by then as they had their 1st child shortly afterwards.

I wondered why the exact number of years wasnt given on the death cert? Unless it had been for several years and the doctor couldnt remember?

2 and a half years before she died, her son died aged 13 months of "Atrophy, 2 months certified" in March 1861. Atrophy means wasting away so I assume that it is similar to TB but do you think that her baby's illness could have started her TB or something?

Thanks

Ben

Why not google for info on the disease?

I think Ben it must be more likely Mum would have given the baby an illness like TB. As Reg said, have a google and read up on it to get a clearer idea.

My nan knew a woman in the 1920's who suffered from TB. The only time the symptoms disappeared was during pregnancy.
She had many sickly babies who died and miscarriages over the years but it kept the TB at bay until the onset of the menopause.

Thanks I have googled the illness and found that the TB did go away during pregnancy. But my ancestors 1st wife was about 42 or 43 when she died and had TB for years so was past her fertile best. No wonder why her hubby found comfort in a much younger woman. He was a servant and a lot of illegitimate births were because the parents were in service together. Once the previous wife died he was free to wed again and wed a few months later then they christened their firstborn.

Maybe the doc didn't know how long she had TB so just put "Years" meaning she must have had it for at least 2 years if it said "years"

Ben