Prairie du Rocher in Randolph County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1743 - Common Ground Established in Prairie du Rocher

Photographed By Thomas Smith, September 10, 2022

1. 1743 - Common Ground Established in Prairie du Rocher Marker

Inscription.
The Common field system was a practice that French Settlers brought with them that still has a lasting effect today. It was an agricultural system that consisted of farmland and pasture for animals that was communally owned by the village. Inhabitants had to mutually agree upon restrictions such as when to let animals graze and when to take in the crops. The size of the portion of common fields assigned to each villager was dependent on the size of his family. The Common Grounds exist to this day.

Historical Relevance
1734 - St. Anne's Church was built near Fort de Chartres.
1735 - Ste. Genevieve was founded by settlers from the Illinois country.
1753 - Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod.
1754 - Soldiers from Fort de Chartres joined French forces to capture George Washington and his troops in Pittsburgh.

Coutume de Paris / le Code Noir
Women and Free Blacks had the same rights and responsibilities as other French inhabitants. They were allowed to own land and carry on trade for themselves.

If a woman remarried after becoming widowed, the second husband had no right to her estate if the second marriage ended in divorce.

By 1849, all blacks in Prairie du Rocher were free, years before the Civil War.

Common

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Grounds is the last evidence of self-government by the inhabitants of Prairie du Rocher. To this day the profits from the Common Grounds helps to fund the Prairie du Rocher School.

⚜️ Since cooperation was essential in making the common field system sustainable, this system lent itself to less violence and a tendency to settle disagreements. ⚜️

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1743.

Location. 38° 5.181′ N, 90° 5.864′ W. Marker is in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, in Randolph County. Marker is on Market Street north of Court Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 Market St, Prairie du Rocher IL 62277, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1818 - Changes in Government Local and State (here, next to this marker); 1778 - Third Flag To Fly Over Prairie du Rocher (a few steps from this marker); 1722 - Village of Prairie du Rocher is Formed (a few steps from this marker); 1763 - Treaty of Paris Affects Prairie du Rocher (a few steps from this marker); 1867 - Abraham Lee from Prairie du Rocher Wins Lottery (a few steps from this marker);

Photographed By Thomas Smith, September 10, 2022

2. 1743 - Common Ground Established in Prairie du Rocher Marker

1951 - Archaeological Dig Unearth Archaic Artifacts (within shouting distance of this marker); 1889 - First Phantom Funeral Sighting Documented (within shouting distance of this marker); Palmier's Hall & Cafe (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prairie du Rocher.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2022, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 15, 2022, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 2. submitted on October 4, 2022, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.