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John Freeman

Kensington, 5 Dec 1804 – Zurich, 26 Aug 1866

6 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

  • Born5 Dec 1804, Kensingtonnot verified1 source
  • MarriedSophie de Blonaynot verified1 source
  • Died26 Aug 1866, Zurichnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 5 Dec 1804

    Born in Kensington

  2. 26 Aug 1866

    Dies in Zurich, aged 61

Family

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Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

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

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

The 1800s · John is born in Kensington

In the news1801

Mechanical spinning machines introduced in 1801

In 1801, the first mechanical spinning machines were installed in St. Gall, marking an early step in the mechanization of the Swiss cotton industry.

What people wore

Essential wardrobe of working women

Working-class women commonly wore a shift, a petticoat, and a versatile bedgown, often accessorized with a neck handkerchief, an apron, and a cap for indoor wear.

Getting around

Walking was the primary travel method

For most ordinary people, walking was the primary mode of transport, as stagecoaches and hired horses were often too expensive. Pedestrians typically traveled at an average speed of 3 mph, rarely exceeding 20 miles in a single day.

The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.In Europe · 1803–1815

The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.

Ruedi33a · CC BY-SA 4.0

In the news1802

The Stecklikrieg civil war of 1802

In 1802, the Stecklikrieg, or War of Sticks, broke out as a civil conflict involving federalist rebels against the government of the Helvetic Republic.

Music

Festival rewards

Festival participants like pace-eggers often went from house to house singing and dancing, hoping to be rewarded with items such as eggs and strong beer.

Daily life

Cooking and Baking Habits

In some households, families without a private oven sent their bread and cake mixes to a local bakery, marking them with their initials to identify them. Cooking ranges heated by coal were used, with water heated in kettles hung over the fire or in boilers behind the coal fire.