In the news1613
First Swedish population census conducted
To pay a huge ransom to Denmark to recover the Älvsborg fortress, Sweden conducted one of its first population censuses in 1613.
Nyköping, 27 May 1616 – Durlach, 14 Aug 1662
9 facts3 sources
27 May 1616
Born in Nyköping
1645–1651
4 children are born
14 Aug 1662
Dies in Durlach, aged 46
She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Nyköping.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1613
To pay a huge ransom to Denmark to recover the Älvsborg fortress, Sweden conducted one of its first population censuses in 1613.
Getting around
Forced walking speed for mail
Mail carriers were expected to walk at a brisk pace of 10 km every two hours, and failing to maintain this speed could lead to penalties including imprisonment on bread and water.
In the news1618–1623
Between 1618 and 1623, Germany suffered the Kipper and Wipper economic crisis, where rulers debased coins by reducing silver content, causing rapid inflation. This made it impossible for people with fixed incomes, such as teachers and pensioners, to afford basic living expenses.
Daily life
Church-led education and daily labor
For ordinary children, education was primarily the responsibility of the church to enable reading the Bible and catechism, often taught by a parish clerk, as most children did not attend formal schools. In rural areas, children as young as 10-12 years old spent their days far from home herding animals or assisting parents with labor, such as fetching water and wood.
What people wore
Essential belt accessories
Women often carried keys to the farm on their belts, while both men and women kept leather pouches and knives attached to them.
Music
Wedding music outside the church
In peasant society, wedding marches were played by musicians to accompany the wedding procession to church, but they were rarely allowed to play inside the church building itself.
At the table
Beer as a daily beverage
Ordinary families frequently consumed beer daily, with some individuals drinking three to four liters each day due to limited access to pure water.