Kaliszanie I połowy XIX w. wobec choroby i śmierci w świetle zachowanych testamentów i inwentarzy pośmiertnych

Abstract

Kalisz Citizens of the First Half of the Nineteenth Century in the Face of an Illness and Death in the Light of the Preserved Documents – Post-mortem Wills and Properties’ Inventories In the first half of the nineteenth century numerous ilnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and tumours or cardiac diseases caused death among Kalisz citizens. They were usually treated by local pysicians. Unfortunately, the ill person did not always make a recovery. Death was always a devastating tragedy for the family. More or less spectacular funerals were organised for the dead who were buried in Kalisz at denotative graveyards, where their burial place was commemorated with a tombstone. After completing all the mourning rituals, in the presence of the family members, the notary read out the last will of the deceased and made an inventory of all o the possessions and belongings of the deceased at properties’ inventory. The assets and properties were shared by the heirs on the basis of that inventory. It was not uncommon that the testator donated a lot of money to either charity or religious institutions.