[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Deaths

[gpvjem]

Delores:
    I have been working on Lodz Trinity records for some time,  I have noticed that some families in the parish had an extremely high death rate for the children born to them over the years, others were markedly more fortunate.  The cause of death is not given in the death records but I can not help but wonder, was it because of poor nourishment, poor water or unsanitary conditions suffered by some families?
    To get to your question.  The deaths recorded in Lodz Trinity parish for the year 1846 numbered 258 however the number jumped to 391 in 1847 and to 434 in 1848 dropping again to 276 in 1849.  I have not taken time to count the number of children's deaths versus mature adults  in those years, but I think it may be safely assumed that the vast majority of the deaths are those of children as is the usual case.  It is quite possible that there was an "epidemic" of some sort in central Poland, particularly during the years of 1847 and 1848.
    In talking to others at the recent Calgary convention who have done similar extraction work as I, we were in agreement that there was a disproportionate number of early deaths of children born out of wedlock.  This raises more speculation and another question.  Why was this the case? 

John Marsch

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  I have some family members listed with birth dates and death dates as
  follows:
  January 18, 1844 - Feb 27, 1848
  May 15, 1846 - Mar 6, 1848
  Abt 1849 - Jul 25, 1851
  Jan 6, 1849 - Jul 25, 1851
  Mar 11, 1851 - Aug 6 1851

  All of these children were born in Przysypka, Wloclaewek, Bydgoszcz, Poland,
  with the first 2 this is also listed as place of death.  The last 3 are
  listed as having died in Mariopol, Kutno, Lodz, Poland.  The mother of these
  children died the next year Jan 19, 1852 at about age 38.  There are 11
  recorded live births.

  My question is, was there some diseases that were prevalent at this time
  period, or greater political unrest.  If someone could shed some light on a
  possible reasoning for all of these deaths in such a short time span, would
  be greatly appreciated.

  Thank you
  Delores Stevens

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