In the news1846–1847
Hunger crisis of 1846-1847
A severe potato blight caused a major hunger crisis across Europe, leading to unrest in Prussian markets and bakeries.
Greiz, 28 Mar 1846 – Greiz, 19 Apr 1902
7 facts3 sources
28 Mar 1846
Born in Greiz
17 Dec 1887
A daughter is born
19 Apr 1902
Dies in Greiz, aged 56
He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Greiz.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1846–1847
A severe potato blight caused a major hunger crisis across Europe, leading to unrest in Prussian markets and bakeries.
What people wore
Festive attire and heated ruffles
For feast days, women wore black cashmere or silk dresses with a white ruffle at the collar that was permanently set into waves using a heated iron.
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.
In the news1842
Prussia introduced new laws enabling greater freedom of movement and settlement for individuals not dependent on public relief.
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.
In Europe1845–1852
Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.
Getting around
Difficult and slow travel by stagecoach
Traveling by stagecoach in Prussia was often grueling and uncomfortable due to poorly maintained, unpaved roads and cramped, unsprung carriages. A journey from Berlin to Königsberg, spanning 565 kilometers, typically took ten to eleven days by post coach.