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 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html