Extra Credit Questions

[AussieMick]

I see that I have written that there were 3 children left when Thomas Lincon went wife-searching ... of course Abraham's brother Thomas (born 1812 or 1813) had died after only living a few days. So , it was just Abraham and Sarah in that 'home' surviving a long, cold, dark winter.


this is really extraordinary. Thanks very much.
This, IMO, would have been extremely character forming. Obviously, and Im sure all here are aware, sudden death was an issue for everybody in those days. Much more than it is now, I suggest. But to be without adult family support for over year would I think be very unusual. What was going through their minds ? That their father would never return?

For 2 young children to be left to their own devices for over a year ( Ok, friends and neighbours would have maybe provided some support).

As an aside I see that D.H. Donald in 'Lincoln' fails to specify that Thoma sLincoln was away for over a year and his children , more or less, were fending for themselves. In fact Donald suggest that Thomas Lincoln was only away for a very brief period. As I say, extraordinary.