annie
December 9th, 2007, 07:23 PM
"Widowed May Not Mean Widowed
Don't assume that "wd" means widowed in the census. There were many more divorces in the nineteenth and early twentieth century than one would guess. However, many women listed themselves as "widowed" rather than divorced; and men would list themselves as "single." The women would typically have children with them, so could not easily state that they were "single." Many times the men did not have the children, so they could more easily call themselves "single" without much question. Do not count the former spouse dead until you find a death record. I have found this situation several times in my family lines.
Tom Humphrey
Jacksonville, Alabama"
Don't assume that "wd" means widowed in the census. There were many more divorces in the nineteenth and early twentieth century than one would guess. However, many women listed themselves as "widowed" rather than divorced; and men would list themselves as "single." The women would typically have children with them, so could not easily state that they were "single." Many times the men did not have the children, so they could more easily call themselves "single" without much question. Do not count the former spouse dead until you find a death record. I have found this situation several times in my family lines.
Tom Humphrey
Jacksonville, Alabama"