In the early days, many planters died young. What do you think happened when so many women found themselves widows?

Answer 1

It is because planters died young, that there were not many women in the British colonies in the New World. The only women who were in the colonies were wives of older men who survived to the cold and hunger. There were very few single, or widowed women in the New World. This is because the British encouraged whole families to settle the New World instead of single individuals (such as the Spanish did).

To answer your question, IF there was a widow, then she would take on other jobs to secure a living, or marry another man in order to secure living for her children.