Around the world1825–1830
The first passenger railway
In England a steam locomotive pulled the first public train in 1825; within decades railways crossed every continent.
Bad Hersfeld, 9 Jan 1820 – Knauthain, 21 Feb 1877
9 facts2 sources
9 Jan 1820
Born in Bad Hersfeld
21 Feb 1877
Dies in Knauthain, aged 57
She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Bad Hersfeld.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
Around the world1825–1830
In England a steam locomotive pulled the first public train in 1825; within decades railways crossed every continent.
At the table
Potato schnapps among common men
Potato schnapps was a popular and widespread drink among common men in East Prussia, so much so that some would sell their last chicken to afford it.
What people wore
Saving fabric with the Magsachte patch
Women saved money on expensive fabric by sewing a hidden patch of coarser linen, called a Magsachte, onto their dresses where it would be covered by an apron.
Getting around
High cost of travel
A short stagecoach trip from Berlin to Magdeburg cost four Taler, which was nearly the entire monthly wage of a village schoolteacher.
What it cost
Marriage requirements and net worth
To obtain permission to marry, a couple often needed to prove a minimum net worth of 100 to 200 guilders.
Music
Daily castle tower music in Königsberg
City tower musicians performed chorales daily from Königsberg's castle tower, such as 'Ich weiß mein Gott, daß all mein Tun' at 11 am and 'Nun ruhen alle Wälder' at 9 pm.
Daily life
Child labor and rudimentary schooling conditions
Children in rural areas were often tasked with labor, such as preparing and binding daily bundles of fuel for the household fire, a chore that frequently left their hands bleeding. Schooling was frequently held in the teacher's house, where the teacher was often a poorly paid local craftsman.