In the news1781
Abolition of Serfdom Controls in 1781
In 1781, Emperor Joseph II issued the Serfdom Patent, granting peasants the legal right to marry, move, and seek education without lordly permission.
Kassel, 14 Oct 1786 – Vienna, 14 Mar 1853
8 facts2 sources
14 Oct 1786
Born in Kassel
14 Mar 1853
Dies in Vienna, aged 66
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kassel.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1781
In 1781, Emperor Joseph II issued the Serfdom Patent, granting peasants the legal right to marry, move, and seek education without lordly permission.
What people wore
Men’s Sunday Black Coat
Working men typically wore a simple black coat called a Rock for their Sunday attire, which was usually fastened with hooks rather than buttons.
Getting around
Slow speeds on poor road networks
Stagecoaches traveled at a walking pace of only 4 to 5 km/h, stopping every 15 to 30 kilometers at relay stations to change horses and passengers. Due to the poor conditions of the roads, these journeys were often exhausting and prone to accidents.
In Europe · 1789–1799The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.
In the news1785
In 1785, the Emperor decreed that every community must have a state-certified midwife and doctor to prevent epidemics.
Music
Instruments used by common people
Ordinary people commonly played instruments like the fiddle, clarinet, horn, bass, hammered dulcimer, and bagpipes at dances and festivals. Occasionally, other instruments such as the harp, bassoon, oboe, flute, hurdy-gurdy, jew's harp, and zither were also used.
Daily life
Cooking on open hearths without ovens
Ordinary people typically relied on open fires or basic hearths without ovens for cooking, as these were common in the region before the introduction of modern stoves around 1800. Daily meals were seasonal and often consisted of dairy products, grain-based dishes, and limited meat, with lard being used extensively.