1839-1842
1840-1842
1839-1841
1831>-1841
1842
.770
.825
.807
.887
1.013
3.200
2.837
3.874
3.7G7
4.284
2.209
2.397
2.995
2.658
3.590
130
121
124
113
99
31
35
2G
27
23
45
42
33
38
28
This interesting statement shows that in England, a less proportion of ma^
riages and deaths takes place than in either of the states mentioned. France
exceeds her in births. In Russia, the proportion of each is very large, exceeding
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 76
by nearly 25 per cent those of England. It has been said, that in wann countries
marriages take place earlier, and births and deaths are more numerous ; but the
Russian returns do not seem to confirm its truth. It would be interesting, if we
had the means of making a similar statement respecting each State in our
confederacy.
Marriages. — ^The age of the parties at marriage is an important element to
be recorded. Some haye objected to give it from a desire for <' fictitious youth,"
from false ideas of delicacy, or a misapprehension of its importance ; and in other
cases it has been omitted through the carelessness of those whose duty it was to
make the records. The consequence has been, that in a portion only of the
returns has the age been stated. Better results, it is hoped, will be produced in
future. Abstracts of these returns are presented in five tables, pages 38 to 40,
constructed in such a manner as to present the ages of the parties in a very inter-
esting view. It appears that 9,682 persons were married and returned the last
year, of whom the ages of 6,852 are stated~d,422 males and 3,430 females ; and
2,830 are not stated — 1,419 males and 1,411 females. The condition of the par-
ties was as follows : —
Marriages in which both parties were married for thie first time, . 3,490
" the man was married for the first time and the woman not, 113
" the woman was married for the first time and the man not, 490
" both parties had been married before, . . . 194
" the condition of the parties was not stated, . . 664
Total, * . . . . 4,841
G. R. Porter, Esq., an eminent English statistician, in a recent work quoted in
the American Almanac for 1846, says "the rapid growth of the population of the
United States is not attributable to the great duration of life, but arises from the
number and fruitfulness of marriages, aided in a considerable degree by emigra-
tion." It is important to know whether this be true or false. Knowing the^agt
ai mcariagej and instituting a comparison with other countries, are the means of
arriving at the truth. The Belgian returns, and the report of the last census of
Ireland, afibrd the means of doing it in relation to those countries. Those of
fingland do not It is, however, proposed to alter the Registration law there, so
as to require it The last report of the Registrar General has the following sen-
sible remarks on this subject: " It is not a little remarkable, that although the
increase of population and the influence of early and late marriages on the wel-
fare of nations, have for the whole of the present century occupied public atten-
tion, and been made the basis of theories which have guided or biased legisla-
tion, no provision has yet been made for determining the simplest fundamental
facts — the foundation of all reasoning on tlie subject — such as the ages at mar*
riage, the ages of mothers, of children, the numbers of married and single per^
sons at the several periods of life. Upon many of these pointi the greatest
ignorance prevails, writers on population depending on rough approximations^
derived from scanty, imperfect, and often erroneous data, because the censuses
and registers have not yet been taken and abstracted upon a comprehensive and
well-considered plan."
These are the views of those who proposed to have inserted in the MssMcbu^
setts Register the age of the parties at marriage ; and if farther reasons wereb
Digitized by VjOOQIC
76
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
necessary to show its importance, they will appear from the facts already ob-
tained, some of which are presented in this* report
The following table, (/) containing those marriages only, where both parties
were married for the first time, and whose ages are stated, is compiled from the
Massachusetts returns of 1845, and the Belgian returns of 1841.
(f)
AOE.
Number of penons married in
To lO/WO married, there were in
Massachusclls.
Be]g^iam.
Massachusetts.
Belgium.
Males.
Females
Males.
Females
Males.
Females
Males.
Females
Under 20,
53
690
757
2685
198
2583
312
1105
20 to 25,
1308
1422
4530
6966
4897
5324
1864
2867
25 to 30,
952
446
9420
8067
3564
1670
3877
3320
30 to 35,
247
79
5497
3841
925
296
2262
1581
35 .to 40,
81
17
2488
1719
303
64
1024
707
40 to 45,
17
14
1000
653
64
52
412
269
45 to 50,
8
2
340
225
30
7
140
93
50 to 55,
5
1
137
76
19
4
56
31
55 to 60,
,
,
56
27
,
,
23
11
Over 60,
•
•
72
38
•
•
30
16
2671
2671
24,297
24,297
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
Average age, 25.84 22.69 29.47 27.43
The Belgian tables give the marriages *< under 21." Our tables give them
^ under 20," which will make a slight difference in the proportion at that and the
subsequent age, but in no other. It appears from this table, that while in Massa-
chusetts, to every 10,000 of all ages, 4,897 males and 5,324 females are married
between the ages of 20 and 25; in Belgium only 1,864 males and 2,867 fenudes
out of the same number, are married at those ages. The average age in Massa-
chusetts of the males was 25.84 and the females, 22.69, while in Belgium the males
averaged 29.47 and the females 27.43. This average age shows a difference of 3.63
years in the males, and 4.74 in the females. This is the result of the marriages
in which both parties were married for the first time. I will next present a view
of all the marriages, whatever the condition of the parties. And in the table (g) is
given the ages of 506,652 males, 522,205 females, when married, taken from the
last census of Ireland.
This table shows that in Massachusetts 40.59 per cent of the males were be*
tween the ages of 20 and 25 at marriage, while in Belgium the proportion was
only 15.65 per cent The proportions at the other ages differ very materially.
Those married under and over 25 will appear by the comparison exhibited in
table (A,) next page.
These remarkable results show that the proportion of males married under 25
was even greater in Massachusetts than in Ireland, and tlie proportion of females
aras nearly as large ; and both were more than double those of Belgium.
The number of marriages in 1842 and 1843, is given in the reports, without-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
77
gpecifymg the month in which they took place. In 1844 and 1845, they occorred
in the different monthd as represented in table (t,) next pag^.
This statement shows that the seasons have considerable influence on the
number of marriages, varying from 461 to 1,379 in 1844, and from 544 to 1,305
in 1845. The average namber eac;h month was 347 in 1844, and 401 in 1845.
The month in which the smallest number occurred was July, and that in which
(g)
Age.
Belgimn.
Ireland, 1830—1840.
Males.
Females
Males.
Females
Males.
Females.
Under 20,
20 to 25,
25 to 30,
30 to 35,
35 to 40,
40 to 45,
45 to 50,
50 to 55,
55 to 60,
Over 60,
56
1389
1093
371
175
115
85
48
31
59
738
1587
602
201
117
92
43
23
18
9
774
4677
10,067
6527
3636
2037
934
512
310
402
2831
7421
9082
4928
2791
1477
753
357
126
110
44,267
165,664
145,531
76,349
36,415
17,525
10,074
5,396
5,431
•
153,312
209,758
98,465
34,812
14,752
6,122
2,942
1,183
859
3422
3430
29,876
29,876
506,652
522,205
Age.
To 10^ married, of all conditioos, ther« were
Under 20,
20 to 25,
25 to 30,
30 to 35,
35 to 40,
40 to 45,
45 to 50,
50 to 55,
55 to 60,
Over 60,
164
4059
3194
1084
511
336
248
140
91
173
2152
4627
1755
586
341
268
125
67
53
26
259
1565
3370
2185
1217
682
313
171
104
134
948
2484
3040
1G50
934
494
252
119
42
37
873
3270
2872
1507
719
346
199
107
107
•
2936
4017
1886
667
282
117
56
23
16
•
10,000
10,000
10,00
10,000
10,000
10,000
w
iH
Males.
Females.
Under 25
Over J5.
Under 25.
Over 25.
Massachusetts, - -
Ireland, - - - -
Belgium, - - -
42.23
41.43
18.24
57.77
58.57
81.76
67.79
69.53
34.32
32.21
30.47
65.68
Digitized by VjOOQIC
78
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.
the largest number occurred, November^— the month of the annual retam of the
New England festival. Thanksgiving. Many families meet together on that day
to congratulate the newly formed marriage connexions.
Births.—- The number only of the births is given in the Reports of 184*3 and
1843, without distinction of sex, or the months in which they took place. In 1844
and 1845, the sex and time of birth are specified. It appears that
/nl844.
The whole number of births returned, were .... 14,646
Of which the male births were 7,344
*' the female births were 6,991
311
/nl845.
16,664
7,798
7,694
177
96.08
105.04
61.23
97.44
108.62
60,66
49.36
" the births in which the sex is not stated, were
Of those in which the sex was known, the females were to
100 males,
" " " the males to 100 females,
" " " the males to 100 both sexes,
" " " the females to 100 both sexes, 48.77
This shows that there are more males than females bom ; and the proportions
are nearly the same as occur in other parts of the world. The months of the
year in which they took place, appear in table (/,) next page.
These observations are not sufficiently extensive to form any very correct opin-
ion on the subject ; but, so far as they go, they do not show that the seasons have
any perceptible influence on the number of births, as is stated to be the fiict
in some parts of the worid. The average number each month was 1,209 in 1844,
and 1,380 in 1845.
In 1644 there was 1 case of twin births to 123 c
" 1845 " I tt t( ^Q 129
" 1844 " 1 " triplets to 7261
« 1846 " 1 " " to 16,444
" 1844 " 1 " qaadrupleto to 16,623
" 1846 «* no case of "
(i)
of birth.
MOKTH.
Number of Mar-
riages in
To 10^)00 Marriages,
there were in
1844.
1845.
1844.
1845.
January, - -
February, - -
March,- - .
June, - - -
July, - . -
August, - -
September, -
October, - -
November, -
December,
Specified, - -
Not specified, -
Total, - -
337
264
264
429
429
325
192
229
284
442
575
399
414
270
262
474
465
336
263
286
419
538
629
464
809
633
633
1029
1029
780
461
549
681
1060
1379
957
859
560
544
983
965
697
546
593
869
1116
1305
963
4169
106
4820
21
10,000
10,000
4275
4841
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
79
It would be interesting and important to know the average number of chil-
dren bom to each marriage in Massachusetts. Our returns are, however, not
sufficiently full to allow us to make even a safe comparison as to the proportion
the births bear to the marriages, deaths or population. I venture the opinion
that the number of births to a marriage here, is greater than in England ; but that
the number here is not as great now as it was 30 or 40 years ago.
"The births registered in England are in proportion to the population one
seventh part more numerous than in France, and one seventh part less than in
Prussia. To 3,525 inhabitants 100 births are annually registered in France, 113
In England, 133 in Prussia, 136 in Austria, 151 in Russia. The small number of
births in France is not accounted for by any difference in the proportion of the
persons married, who are, in fact, more numerous in FrancTe than in any other
country firom which I have been able to procure returns. It appears that 100
French wives had 14 children, 100 Prussian wives 21 children yearly ; or, in other
terms, 717 wives bore annually 100 children in France, 152 children in Prussia.
If the births are divided by the annual marriages that took place seven years be-
fore, there were 3.33 births (in wedlock) to a marriage in France— 4.05 to a mar-
riage in Prussia, and 4.34 to a marriage in Austria; 4.26 to a marriage in Eng-
land, and if a correction be made for first marriages, 4.79 to every two persons
married. The total annual births in England, divided by the persons married
seven years before, give on an average 5.12 children to every two persons mar-
ried ; and as many illegitimate children are the ofl&pring of married persons be*
fore, during or afler marriage, the number of children to every two persons mar-
ried in England must be between 4.79 and 5.12, or little short of Jive, about three
of which attain the age of marriage to replace the two parents and those who
have no o&pring ; the surplus swelling the number of the ezistmg inhabitants of
the island) or flowing in of emigration."
Month.
Number of Births in
In 10,000 Births,
there were in
1844.
1845.
1844.
1846.
January, - -
February, - -
March, - - -
as? : : :
June, - - -
July, - - -
August, - -
September, -
October, - -
November, -
December,
Specified, - -
Not Specified,
Total,- -
1170
1210
1239
1230
1144
1134
11G4
1350
1282
1206
1195
1192
1335
1295
1512
1452
1013
1063
1235
1350
1314
1324
1235
1238
806
834
854
847
788
781
802
930
883
831
823
821
869
843
984
945
659
692
804
878
855
661
604
806
14,516
130
15,366
198
10,000
10,000
14,646
15,564
Digitized by VjOOQIC
80
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
Deaths. — ^It has been stated that the number of deaths returned was 7,642.
not including the still born, and 8,715 including them. They occurred in the sev-
eral counties as stated in the subjoined table, {k) We have arranged the
counties so as to admit of being easily grouped together ; the 4 western in one
division, the 4 middle in another, and the 5 southern in another, if desired.
Counties.
Popalation,
1840.
Deaths.
Male.
Female.
Not Specified.
Total.
Berkshire, - -
Franklin, - - -
Hampshire, - -
Hampden, - -
Worcester, - -
Middlesex, - -
Essex, - - -
Norfolk, - - -
Plymouth, - -
Bristol, - - -
Barnstable, - -
Dukes, - - -
Nantucket, - -
41,745
28,812
30,897
37,366
95,313
106,611
94,987
53,140
47,373
60,165
32,548
3,958
9,012
218
143
168
239
696
734
705
298
228
336
211
28
64
252
182
210
254
824
750
772
333
243
369
184
23
70
18
6
17
16
7
22
27
26
13
14
13
2
•
488
331
395
509
1527
1506
1504
657
484
719
408
53
134
641,927
4068
4466
181
8715
The returns fall so far short of the actual number, that a comparison of the
proportion they bear to the population would be fallacious. Accuracy in this re-
spect can be attained only after the Registry Law shall have been amended and
the records and returns perfected. I am inclined to the opinion, from an exami-
nation of several of the returns last year, which appear most correct, that if the
whole number of deaths in the State had been stated, it would not have amounted
to more than 1 in 57 of the living. This proportion may, however, be found to be
incorrect by full and autlientic data.
An interesting view of the proportion of deaths in the two sexes may be given,
embracing the abstracts for the four years. (I)
(I)
Ybar.
Deaths.
Of those whose sex was known,
there were
Whole
Number.
Male.
Female.
iNot stated
To 100 Deaths of both
sexes.
Females to
100 Males.
Males.
Females.
1842
1843
1844
1845
7496
8305
8338
8715
3329
3684
3712
4068
3693
4261
4173
4466
474
350
453
181
47.41
46.37
47.08
47.67
52.59
53.65
52.92
52.33
110.93
115.66
112.41
109.78
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
81
It has already been BhowD that more males than females are bom. Frofkn the
above statement it appears that fewer males than females die. A compaiison
can be instituted between them only in the last two yean, since in the first two
Reports they are not both specified.
(m)
Lf
To every 10,000 males
Showing a
Boni.
Died.
cunereiice ot
1844
1845
9508
9744
11,241
10,978
1733
1234
^ It may be asked, what becomes of this difiference ? The answer is principally
found in the greater number of males than females, which the State furnishes to
people other parts of the Union, and to traverse the world. From the census
of New York city, just published, it appears that 16,086 of its inhabitants were
bom in New England ; and throughout all the Western States, New England men
are found. It would be an exceedingly interesting inquiry, how many emigrants
have been furnished each year by Massachusetts. And if a good system of
Registration had been in operation, we should have been able to show it We
should have been able to show how many have gone hence to spread the whole-
some influence of the land of their birth in other States and other regions. If
every 10,000 births furnish 1,250 emigrants, the 25,000 births which have been
estimated to take place in the State annually, would furnish ovor 3,000 to spend
the remainder of their lives in other lands than that of theu- nativity.
The in/lvmee of the ataaona over the number of deii«ha is universally acknowr-
edged to be great ; but it varies according to pla*«» age> disease, and other cir-
cumstances. It is highly important to know Aow far all these influences effect
the health of the people. The following i^&cts (table (n,) next page) compiled
from the returns afford a general illustrp^on of the matter.
This table shows a great difference in the mortality of the different months of
the year. It will be perceived th^ the smallest number of deaths generally occurs
in May and June, and the gr^satest number in August and September, varying
this year, in those montb'i from 582 in every 10,000 to 1092. A particular
examination of the other months will be of interest By dividing the year into
quarters, the followiu^ proportion per cent will appear.
1842.
TF»n/«r—Jat>. Feb. March, . 26.63
SpTing^-Ayti\i May, Jane, . 22.81
Summer— July, Aug. Sept . . 26.14
Auhmvr-Ocl, Not. Dec. . 26.42
Hie ages at death make one of the most important elements in vital statistics.
Combined with the ages of the living, they give us the means of measuring the
^alue of life, and estimating the comparative health enjoyed by persons in differ-
ent places and under different circumstances. In proportion as the average shall
be high or low, will a people of similar ages of the living be healthy or nu-
ll
1843.
1844.
1846.
22.16
23.82
24.70
26.03
21.21
20.41
29.28
28.80
29.86
23.63
26.17
26.03
Digitized by VjOOQIC
82
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
healthy. In the fint place, I will present for each connty the number returned at
each age specified for the year 184«'>. (o) The counties are so arranged that those
who choose may maJse the divisions of the State, as before suggested. Whether
any such divisions may hereafter be adopted, will depend on the facts elicited by
future investigation.
Number of Deatlu
1.
In every 10,000 Deaths, there 1
were in 1
MoffTH.
1
1842.
1843.
1844.
1845.
1842.
1843.
1844. j 1845. 1
January,
608
563
641
682
820
687
795
789
February,
6-27
608
635
690
845
742
787
798
March, •
740
645
645
763
998
787
800
883
April, .
Miy, . .
711
635
577
697
959
775
715
807
495
753
592
563
667
919
734
651
June, .
486
663
542
504
655
809
672
583
July, . .
487
654
584
706
657
798
724
817
August,
620
844
821
928
836
1030
1018
1074
September, .
757
901
918
946
1021
1100
1138
1095
October,
806
726
757
838
1087
686
939
970
November, .
527
627
639
651
711
765
792
753
December, .
552
575
715
674
744
702
886 1 780
Soecified, .
Not specified,
7416
8194
8066
8642
10,000
10,000
10,000 10,000
132
147
184
•
•
•
•
Total, .
7548
8341
8250
8642
•
•
,
,
Average,
618
682
672
720
833
833
633
833
(o)
AOK.
,
i
1
i
i
.M
M
S
•s
1
11
•a
b
X
i
1
1
i,
k
S
-a
1
II
Under 1,
68
33
59
78
275
30fcJ
237
105
62
141
66
46
1478
lto2,
' 34
11
22
48
119
138
1^
53
38
58
31
13
697
2 to 5,
47
25
32
39
142
135
13bl
43
48
50
30
9
739
5 to 10,
18
9
10
20
55
61
70
23
25
37
19
7
354
10 to 20,
36
23
20
48
109
84
112
49I
35
40
25
11
592
20 to 30,
70
51
68
64
168
175
143
71
42
64
67
12
995
30 to 40,
41
31
33
38
134
142
110
53
51
51
28
12
704
40 to 50,
26
25
27
39
80
91
95
29
20
38
28
10
508
50 to 60,
23
27
29
26
104
74
79
37
25
41
23
11
500
60 to 70,
30
26
21
29
92
84
88
47
44
42
18
20
541
70 to 80,
45
34
36
35
114
80
142
56
55
50
42
16
705
80 to 90,
25
20
21
31
67
62
87
45
36
41
20
7
462
90 to 100,
5
4
8
6
25
15
18
6
6
5
7
2
107
Over 100,
468
319
2
388
•
•
2
•
1
•
1
«
Specified,
Not spec'd,
501
1484
1451
1452
618
467
659
404
177
H38R
13
'
7
6
38
41
37
22
16
56
4
5 254
ToUl,
481
328
395
507
1522
1492
1489
640
483
715
408
1728643
Aver, age.
S0.89
57.5
35.59
29.81
29.42
26.48
30.66
32.22
34JM
28.38
31.06
30.23 X.26
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
83
A careful examination and analysis of the ages in each county, will show
some difference in the average duration of life, so far as ascertained by the aver-
age age at death. I will not, however, attempt this analysis at this time, but
present the aggregate returns of deaths for the whole State during the four years,
1842 — 1845, for each specified age, and the proportion they bear to 10,000 of all
»ges.(p)
(P)
Acs.
Number of Deaths.
To every 10,000 Deaths there were
1842.
184S.
1841.
1845.
1842.
1843.
1844.
1845.
Under 1, - -
1 to 2, - -
2 to- 5, - -
5 to 10,- -
10 to 20, - -
20 to 30,- -
30 to 40,- -
40 to 50, - -
50 to 60,- -
60 to 70,- -
70 to 80,- -
80 to 90,- -
90 to 100, -
Over 100,- -
Specified, - -
Not specified, -
Total, - -
808
466
637
351
493
854
555
526
474
540
649
491
137
5
1052
553
679
446
496
882
648
525
488
603
767
531
122
6
1250
542
556
333
532
839
655
478
434
602
751
576
137
4
1478
697
739
354
592
995
704
508
500
541
705
462
107
6
1157
667
912
502
706
1222
794
753
679
773
929
703
196
7
1349
709
871
572
636
1131
8:31
673
626
773
984
681
156
8
1626
705
723
433
692
1091
852
622
564
783
977
749
178
5
1762
831
881
422
706
1186
839
606
596
645
840
551
128
7
6986
510
7798
507
7689
561
a388
254
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
7496
8305
8250
8642
One of the first ideas presented by this table, is the remarkable Increase of