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Friedrich von Alefeld

Søgård, 1623 – Copenhagen, 17 Jul 1686

7 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 1623

    Born in Søgård

  2. 1659–1672

    2 children are born

  3. 17 Jul 1686

    Dies in Copenhagen

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 2

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Søgård.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1620s · Friedrich is born in Søgård

In the news1619–1620

Plague kills 7,000 in Copenhagen

An outbreak of plague in Copenhagen between 1619 and 1620 resulted in 7,000 deaths.

Getting around

Eight-day travel to Hamburg

In 1624, the post route between Copenhagen and Hamburg took 8 days, with a weekly coach service carrying mail and passengers.

In the news1627–1629

Occupation of Jutland brings hardship

Foreign armies occupied Jutland from 1627 to 1629, forcing farmers to quarter soldiers, pay heavy contributions, and suffer from plague and livestock loss.

Daily life

Open fires and smoky kitchens

Many farmhouses lacked chimneys, relying on open fires on the floor with a smoke exit hole in the roof, which made cooking smoky and eyes sore.

What people wore

High value of silk fabric

In 1550, a carpenter stole a piece of red silk camlet fabric valued at 20 rigsdaler, illustrating the high financial value of textiles at the time.

Music

Payment customs for public musicians

Musicians were paid set fees for performances at public events, but they often received extra coins when a plate was passed among the guests.

At the table

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Ordinary families in Denmark drank beer throughout the day, including children, because fresh water was often not available or unsafe. An adult was expected to consume at least twelve barrels of beer annually.