In the news1709–1710
The Great Winter of 1709
The Great Winter of 1709 brought extreme cold and severe famine to France, marking one of the century's worst economic crises.
27 Dec 1718 – 12 Aug 1806
5 facts1 source
27 Dec 1718
Born
1750–1755
2 children are born
12 Aug 1806
Dies, aged 87
He lived through 10 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 news1709–1710
The Great Winter of 1709 brought extreme cold and severe famine to France, marking one of the century's worst economic crises.
What people wore
Aprons as Occupational Markers
On working days, both men and women typically wore aprons, which often became stained by their specific occupations, such as printing or butchery.
Getting around
Regulated river transport fares
For river travel, fares were strictly regulated and often posted on metal plates attached to the masts of the boats to prevent overcharging.
In Europe · 1701–1714War of the Spanish Succession. Europe’s powers fought for thirteen years over who would inherit the Spanish throne; a Bourbon kept it, and Britain gained Gibraltar.
In the news1716
John Law established the Banque Générale in 1716, which later issued paper bank notes guaranteed by the king to stimulate the economy.
Music
The Pocket-Sized Teacher's Violin
To make professional dance lessons convenient at home, masters used the pochette, a small, boat-shaped violin that could be easily carried in a pocket or sachet.
Daily life
Limited and irregular primary education
Primary schooling was rare, especially for girls, and often conducted irregularly by the local priest or his vicar. Education was limited to the basics of reading, writing, and the catechism.