This must have been a common practice as several of my Colonial Virginia
ancestors married widows. In one case that I just uncovered one of my
ancestors, married a much older man. He had children her age, and died
leaving her a young widow. She then married again, and bore several children
by her second husband.  At first the records were confusing because her
second husband was friends with her step children, who were her age.  When
she married the second time, her property went to the second husband (this
was around 1770).  In fact these families of Mulattoes intermarried
extensively over several generations.

Also in Elizabeth City an older ancestor married his wifes sister, after her
death.  He had children the age of his second wife (her nephews),  and they
had children. When he died his young widow married again, and her husband
took control of the estate (this was around 1773). They continued along
these lines, keeping money and property in the community.

It is all very interesting.

Anita














































































































































































































AMAZON.COM PURCHASE SITE - NOTES AND DOCUMENTS OF FREE PERSONS OF COLOR :
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1411603338/qid=1097778584/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8775456-1855815?v=glance&s=books

BOWDENS' OF POPES CREEK WEBSITE:
http://www.orgsites.com/ca/mpbwdnfnd/index.html

"The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its
people" African Proverb.




----Original Message Follows----
From: Henry Wiencek <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history

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