Were gunshot marriages common in the old days too?

[Anonymous]

A couple years after my grandpa's death, I stumbled upon old things and his journals. I find the shocking discovery (base on what he wrote) that he only married my grandma because she got pregnant in their relationship. They were both in their early 20's.

Then grandma's father (great-grandfather) stepped out of the house and told her that he'll brb and will just have a talk with her boyfriend, just a talk. It wasn't just a talk. He was described as a very tall cop, owner of gun and riffles. He was protective of his daughter (grandma). He meant business.

The man threatened to go after him himself if he bailed out and didn't marry his daughter. So grandpa was pretty much pressured into it. Eventually he came to accept it, was ok with it and understand how that man felt after their 2nd child was mom. Were this type of marriage aka gunshot marriages common in the old days?

[abc3643]

Often, they didn't have to result with that.
That's what my grandparents did...

My paternal grandmother and grandfather were coworkers in a bank. She was married. However, around age 23 or 24, she became a widow in 1927. I don't know any details after that other than they got married in August 1930 and my uncle was born 5 months later in January 1931.

Now that I think about it, I need to talk to my mom...
My maternal grandmother was a widow too when she married my maternal grandfather. However, my grandmother did have a son from her first marriage. That son was born in 1925 when my grandmother was 19. However, my uncle - my mother's full brother - was born in May 1928 when my grandmother just turned 22. I believe she was already married to my grandfather (he's a Sr. and my uncle is Jr.), but I don't know when my grandparents got married. So, it is easily conceivable that she became pregnant before marrying my grandfather.

So, I won't say "gunshot marriages" were common but marriages in which the wife was already pregnant were common. Indeed, it is only in the last generation or two that people are fucking like bunnies and not giving a shit about getting married. Someone my age - and I am born in 1963 - would feel compelled to marry a woman if I got her pregnant and she was going to keep it.

[Guy13]

Great story and history. I think people choose single parent over marrying these days⁉️

[TrueConfection]

Yep. There was a gunshot wedding in my family too. A relative of mine. The couple is still together and they are grandparents now.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. It’s a bit extreme.