The Commoners There were two types of commoners

The Commoners • There were two types of commoners who made up all of the Middle Ages work force. • The Serfs & The Freeholders

The Serf • The Serf was considered property of the Manor • They were granted rights to farm part of the Manor’s pastures, they did not actually own it • As property, the Serf could never leave the Manor and were expected to work on the Lord’s Demesne • Had to donate 2 3 days per plowing, planting, weeding, or harvesting

The Serf II • The land that the Serf would farm was a strip within the Manor • These strips were passed on within Serf families from generation to generation • Serfs had to turn over a percentage of the produce they grew on the land to the lord • They were able to sell any produce left over after they fed their families & paid the lord – this still wasn’t a lot of $$, and there wasn’t always produce left over…

The Freeholder • The Freeholder, while like a Serf in terms of their responsibility to the Lord, had different rights than the Serf • The Freeholder owned a small part of the land, of which they paid rent. • The Freeholder was often someone who lived/owned the land before the Feudal System arrived • They were only required to pay rent when on the Manor land, what does this mean? • They were free to go as they pleased…

Living Arrangements • The Commoners often lived in small, one bedroom houses, and slept on low beds made of straw • This was also the bed of choice for most great lords and ladies • The houses were quite small, no more that 9 to 10 metres (30 ft) long and 3 to 4 (12 ft) metres high

Working Arrangements • Men worked the fields; ploughing, planting, etc. • Often from dawn to dusk, and in cooperation with their neighbours – this was the “law of the manor” • Women also work the fields, but the majority of their time was spent around the home keeping her family fed and clothed • They wove cloth, made clothes, brewed beer, baked bread, cooked meals, preserved meals for the winter, and cared for the children. • Grandparents were seldom available to care for the children (most people died too young) • Women also gathered firewood and hay. They were also called upon to cure sickness.