1694 French Estate Labourers’ Names and Wages, Signed by One Du Destre

France. Good with no dust jacket. 1694. Ephemera. On offer is an intriguing list of names on a document dated to France, 1694.The manuscript is principally a listing of nearly 5 dozen names with sums of money listed for each one. Considering the length of the list and the fact that the amounts are identical for groups of them, it is reasonable to assume that these may be wages due to labourers. One group is paid 1 livre tournois, 5 sols each while the other is paid 1 livres, 8 sols each. Several individuals received 3 livres. It is signed “Du Destre”. At the time, a livre tournois was worth approximately USD20.00. The nominal day wage for a labourer or farmer was approximately .75 livres. This list suggests that these were labourers, quite possibly on an estate and that this is part of an accounting record. For a social or economic historian, this manuscript is an excellent, first-hand example of the economic circumstances that labourers experienced in late-18th century FranceThe manuscript is a single sheet folded in half to make 4 pages, measuring 9.75 inches by 7.25 inches. The paper has feathering around the edges due to age. The handwriting is not very legible. The document bears the date “1694”. ; Manuscripts; 9.75" x 7.25"; 4 pages; Signed by Author .