This was a reflection of traditional values that our Founding Fathers adhered to. Believe it or not, it was once absolutely not allowed or at very least very frowned upon for unmarried men and women to live together. If that were still the case, imagine how much better society would be today!
I respectfully disagree. During the westward expansion women were difficult to find and women who lost their man were very likely to ‘hook up’ with any man who would. There were few “ preachers’ in the neighborhood. There were few neighborhoods. Many ancestorial trees have lapses in them.