A 1660 Tragedy

I regularly encounter fascinating tidbits of social history during research. An entry in the parish register of the tiny village of Birten in Germany on 31 Jan 1660 reports that an entire farm burnt down in the middle of the night, with 4 horses, 2 cattle, an old man, 3 sheep, a pig and the entire furnishings and contents. Another inhabitant died the following day of their severe injuries and was buried Feb 4 with the entire community in tears and consoling their spouse.