[TexasFreeper2009]

men historically had FAR greater lifespans than women.

If you have ever done any geneology research you would see it clearly, where one guy outlives two or three wives and has multiple children with each one. (of course the constant childbirth are the primary reason the women were dying)

[Verginius Rufus]

One of my ancestors, a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson, had 21 children by 3 wives--the youngest child was about 5 years old when he died at the age of 78. 18 of his children were alive at his death--a very good ratio for those days.

My great-grandfather was married three times--had 7 children by my great-grandmother, who died of cancer at the age of 41. He divorced the last wife--not sure if the second marriage ended with death or divorce. He told his sons, "Only get married one time."

Samuel Johnson knew of a man who had a long and unhappy marriage. Soon after his wife's death, the man married again. Johnson's comment was that that was the triumph of hope over experience.