In the news1649
Execution of King Charles I
King Charles I was publicly executed for treason, marking the first time a monarch was beheaded by his own people.
1640 – 1705
5 facts1 source
1640
Born
21 Dec 1657
A daughter is born
1705
Dies
She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1649
King Charles I was publicly executed for treason, marking the first time a monarch was beheaded by his own people.
Getting around
Transport via packhorses
Travelers often used packhorses to transport goods, and humble passengers sometimes rode on packsaddles between baskets.
In the news1642
Beginning in 1642, the English Civil Wars caused approximately 200,000 deaths and led to heavy weekly taxes to fund the fighting.
Daily life
Candles and open fires lit homes
Lighting and cooking relied heavily on fire: people used candles for light and open fires for cooking. Many houses were built close together and often of wood, increasing the risk of fire.
What people wore
Identical left and right shoes
Women's shoes had no distinction between left and right feet at this time. Both were identical.
Music
Psalm Books as Treasured Possessions
Commoners and nobility alike cherished psalm books, which were sometimes bound with bibles and could be easily carried in a purse due to their small size.
At the table
Ordinary diets centered on pottage
For poorer people, pottage (a thick vegetable stew) was a main food, alongside bread and vegetables. This diet left many lacking vitamins and iron, and hard times meant hunger when prices rose.