(Still in Hesse.)
In the Eighteenth Century, sheep became the most important farm animal in Hesse. The Landgraves held the rights to sheep "folding" on any land not otherwise being cultivated. Many villages had been granted rights to maintain flocks, but creation of a new sheep fold could only be done by the express permission of the State Exchequer. Sheep owners had to pay annually for the right to maintain their flocks, which might take the form of tax money, mutton, or pasture fees. Even butter, cheese, and sour sheep's milk had to be provided in specified amounts to the Landgrave or other granting Lord. At the base of this complicated pyramid was the sheep herder, who was looked down on by society in general. Shepherds would accompany their flocks around the pastures, some with huts on wheels that allowed them to carry along a bed, a bench, and perhaps a small stove.
Every year before the feast of St. Peter (February 22), a survey was made of the number of sheep being held so a basis for taxing the herds could be established. No animal could be sold prior to this animal census. A certain number of lambs and sheep were taken by the Landgrave's shepherds each spring for his own flocks. After being fattened on the Landgrave's pastures, sheep would be slaughtered in the fall to provide the court with mutton. In 1735, one Landgrave's share in such sheep amounted to 1,700 head, which were brought from around the Landgraviate and pastured near Kassel.
Well over 200,000 sheep were being held across Hesse by the second half of the Eighteenth Century, when sheep holding reached its greatest extent. Communities often were at odds over access to the same pastures. By the close of the century a noticeable fall-off was under way.
The wool trade has been described as a gold mine for the Hessian poor living in marginal areas along hills and mountains. Spinning took place in homes, and the resulting sales of thread brought much-needed cash to many a family. Wool was easier to work into yarn or thread than flax was. (These were the two main sources of fabric for the lower classes.) The wool was first carded to loosen the fibers and to make it easier to spin. Spinning twisted the fibers together to form a knot-free thread, and the foot-powered wheel left both hands free to feed the fibers. Hessian wool goods were shipped down the Rhine River and sold internationally. Master wool weavers employed thousands in Frankenberg, Hersfeld, and other areas of upper and lower Hesse.
Flax weaving was another means pursued by the lower income folk to earn additional wages. The entire family could participate in this with harvesting, retting, separating the tow, and spinning the thread. Even twelve year olds could master the wheel. In the winter, the whole family might be working on flax from the break of light to the evening darkness.
(05 Feb 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.