Spessart Roots - A History of the People of a German Forest
Desperate conditions led to a person accepting the bondage of serfdom. Once a person accepted serfdom, his offspring in perpetuity were subject to the same bonds. Most farmers and industry workers in Spessart Forest were serfs.
Serfs Paying Rents and Fees to Overlords
Life as a Serf:
Until the early 19th century, most common people in the Spessart were in some kind of bondage, particularly farmers. Most were serfs, bound to the land where they were born and forbidden to move to another location without permission. A person could not marry without permission of the local authorities, who granted approval based on the applicant’s ability to support a family… Other factors affecting permission included whether both parties were of the same social class, and the applicant’s trade. If there were too many shoemakers or other tradesmen, denying them permission to marry would prevent the siring of sons following in those trades.
When a lord or territorial ruler needed soldiers or guardsmen, recruiters went to the villages, impressing young unmarried men. A recruit’s expectations were horrible food, poor pay, and sharing crowded beds. A common soldier was forbidden to marry while in service.
Until the early 19th century, most common people in the Spessart were in some kind of bondage, particularly farmers. Most were serfs, bound to the land where they were born and forbidden to move to another location without permission. A person could not marry without permission of the local authorities, who granted approval based on the applicant’s ability to support a family… Other factors affecting permission included whether both parties were of the same social class, and the applicant’s trade. If there were too many shoemakers or other tradesmen, denying them permission to marry would prevent the siring of sons following in those trades.
When a lord or territorial ruler needed soldiers or guardsmen, recruiters went to the villages, impressing young unmarried men. A recruit’s expectations were horrible food, poor pay, and sharing crowded beds. A common soldier was forbidden to marry while in service.