Most likely tbc , it was a mass murderer back in those days . I still don’t understand why no one else in the gang got tuberculosis due to beeing in Arthurs presence and lacking any proper hygiene or decent healthcare . It was very infectious . But no one got sick for some strange reasons . In the real world they wouldn’t even need the pinkertons , just let nature do its work and the Whole gang would be gone in no time

@Roel The allmighty You’d be surprised, pulmonary tuberculosis mainly spreads through airborne droplets (released through coughs or sneezes) coming in contact with the eye or mouth. That’s why, although present pretty much everywhere, Tuberculosis was especially widespread in cramped, inhumane slums. The gang’s camps are quite hygienic, with much open space and Ms. Grimshaw monitoring. Additionally, Arthur always seem coughing into his arm.

However, I’m sure at least someone caught it, but it isn’t uncommon for the disease to remain dormant for many years, if not indefinitely (notice how Arthur never coughed or exhibited any symptoms until after Blessed Are the Peacemakers, where Arthur was strung up, malnourished and poisoned - perfect kind of traumatic experience that could weaken the victim’s immune system enough for TB to become dangerous).

Seriously, if every person who caught TB manifested the lethal symptoms, the human race would have died out a long time ago.

It’s true that TB can become active due to a traumatic situation. With Abigail, John’s death could’ve caused that, but I doubt she’d be ill for three years. It could easily be dormant “latent TB” for that time, but not active.

I also think that lung cancer is unlikely. She didn’t smoke much (if at all), especially compared to others in the gang. That’s not to say that lung cancer will never happen for non-smokers, but it’s much less likely. Cancer generally is a possible cause of her death, however. I’d guess it’d either be that or disease, but I still doubt that the latter would be something she had symptoms of in 1911, which isn’t certain in itself.

There were many deadly diseases at the turn of the century . Spanish flu , typhoid , cholera . armadillo got basically destroyed by one disease after the other . don’t forget that people more often than not did die premature , and Abigail would be in her late 30 s in 1914 . People were considered old at that age, and looked old . Arthur for example , he was 37 !! I would have believed late 40s as well

@Roel The allmighty Arthur was 36. Also, I think the S{anish flu was a bit too late to be considered the turn of the century.

She'd lost many other loved ones before him, but managed to stay strong. No doubt that would've been a lot harder on her though.

Most likely she got sick imo. The tuberculosis outbreak lasted for years after 1914 and wasn't curable until around the 40s. The flu and pneumonia also killed tens of millions of people around that time.

I think just because she cough didnt mean she had TB or any other desease i think she just died of depression she died while sleeping

A lot of users speculate TB. People say that she coughs a lot during the ranch chapter but all the ambient NPC’s have that same coughing sound in Red Dead Redemption. It’s not like she’s unique in doing it. I highly doubt it was intended to hint at a disease.

My theory is that with the heartbreaking loss of her husband and the stress of running the ranch he built her her and with their only living child growing up to be an angry bitter young man, I think she and Jack at some point got into a big argument about their situation and Jack slowly turning out like his father, an argument that put lots of strain on Abigail's already broken heart…