Prince George William of Great Britain

1717–1718

Born: 1717, St James's Palace
Country of birth: Kingdom of Great Britain, today United Kingdom
Died: 17 Feb 1718, Kensington Palace

facts: 10
sources: 1
images and files: 0

Facts and their sources

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Birth1717, St James's PalaceProbableDisputed1 competing claim1 source
Death17 Feb 1718, Kensington PalaceProbableDisputed1 competing claim1 source
Eventinfant deathConfirmed1 source
ParentGeorge II of Great BritainConfirmed1 source
ParentCaroline of AnsbachConfirmed1 source

A life in time

1717
Born · St James's Palace
Birth, St James's Palace
17 Feb 1718
Died · Kensington Palace
Death, Kensington Palace

What was it like?

The world around St James's Palace, 1717: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

Ordinary people aimed to own at least two complete outfits, saving the better set for Sundays and holidays to demonstrate respectability.

Known for

In their life

infant death

Fashion

Around 1725–1749

Maintaining two outfits for respectability

Ordinary people aimed to own at least two complete outfits, saving the better set for Sundays and holidays to demonstrate respectability.

Around 1725–1749

Stays used for comfort, not restriction

While working women wore leather or canvas stays for comfort and practicality, they did not restrict their breathing or movement.

Music

Around 1725–1749

Cost of musical instruments for amateurs

While professional instruments like harpsichords were expensive, costing 35 to 50 guineas, amateur musicians could purchase violins for £2 to £3 or an oboe for less than £2.

Around 1725–1749

Masked performers singing for eggs and beer

Groups known as pace-eggers would travel from house to house wearing masks and fantastic costumes, singing and dancing in exchange for rewards like eggs and strong beer.

Getting around

Around 1725–1749

Common travel by foot, horse, or wagon

Most ordinary travel was done on foot, by saddle horse, or via hired pack-horse carriages, with horse-drawn wagons serving as a slow but cheap option for poorer travelers. Passenger stagecoaches were also available, though they were often uncomfortable and suffered from poor road conditions.

Around 1725–1749

Costs of pack horse transport

Transporting goods by pack horse cost about 5 shillings for 112 pounds of weight carried over 100 miles. Summer travel was generally cheaper and faster than in the winter months.

Daily life

Around 1725–1749

Cooking meat with animal power

To roast meat, some households relied on boys called 'Jacks' or even specially trained dogs to turn the heavy kitchen spits.

Around 1725–1749

Lighting homes without modern matches

Candles were essential for light as there were no matches; people used flint and steel to strike a light, and brass candlesticks with snuffers were common household items.

Food

Around 1725–1749

Beer was common for all classes

Beer was a standard drink even for children, with working men often receiving an allowance of up to a gallon per day as part of their wages. Midday dinner for workers typically consisted of bread, beer, and cheese or fatty bacon.

Work

Around 1725–1749

Agricultural labor was the most common occupation

The most common job in the 18th century was agricultural labour, where workers, their wives, and children performed seasonal tasks like harvesting and weeding. Agricultural labourers often lived in tied cottages and were hired annually at Martinmas fairs.

Around 1725–1749

Laborers earned extra pay as night watchmen

St. Paul’s Cathedral labourers could earn extra money by working as night watchmen, which paid 12d per shift after 1700, equivalent to more than half of their standard daily wage. A typical day for construction labourers involved physically demanding tasks like demolition or digging, often lasting until it was too dark to see.

News and letters

Around 1725–1749

Cost of sending a letter

Postal charges for a single-sheet letter were 3d for distances under eighty miles and 4d for distances over eighty miles.

Around 1725–1749

Efficient London local mail service

The London penny post was so efficient that letters could be delivered across the city multiple times a day for a penny.

Family

Parents

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.