de Argences, Normandie, France, arrived before 1650

Fille à Marier per Gagné for David D9:

Gillette Banne was born about 1636 in Argences (arrondissement of Caen, diocese of Bayeux), Normandy, daughter of Marin Banne and Isabelle Boire or Bour. She came to Canada in or before 1649.

About 1649, Gillette married Marin Chauvin dit Lafortune in Trois-Rivières. Marin is from Le Mesnil in the parish of Saint-Médard-de-Réno (canton of Tourouvre, arrondissement of Mortagne, Perche. [Two men named Marin Chauvin that could possibly be the one here were bantized at Saint-Médard. The first was baptized 24 February 1609. the son of Jean Chauvin (mother's name omitted). The second (and more likely one) was baptized 16 March 1625, the son of Nicolas Chauvin and Catherine Piedears] On 08 March 1648 in Tourouvre. notary Choiseau drew up an enlistment contract for Marin to go to New France in the service of Noël Juchereau. Pierre Juchereau acted as agent on behalf of his brother, enlisting Marin for three years at the salary of 40 livres per year, with an advance of 10 livres. This low salary may be due to the fact that Marin was an unskilled laborer.

Gillette and Marin had a daughter, Marie, who was baptized 08 September 1650 at Trois-Rivières. She was to be their only child. for Marin Chauvin died at Trois-Rivières some time before 07 June 1651, when Monsieur d'Ailleboust granted Gillette ⅓ of an arpent in the town site of Trois-Rivières, between Sébastien Dodier on the southwest and the palisade on the northeast, on the condition that she build a house and have it re-enclosed with a good fence.

In 1653. Gillette married Jacques Bertault in Trois-Rivières. Neither spouse could sign the marriage contract drawn up 27 July by notary Ameau. A locksmith, Jacques was born about 1626 in Les Essars (arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon, diocese of Luçon), Poitou, the son of merchant Thomas Bertault and Catherine Coulonne. He and Gillette had six children. Son Jacques was baptized at Trois-Rivières 25 November 1654. followed by Marguerite (21 December 1655) and Suzanne (18 December 1657).
Élisabeth-Thérèse was baptized 23 January 1659. followed by Jeanne (29 March 1660) and Nicolas (26 February 1662). Gillette Banne was confirmed 22 May 1664 at Trois-Rivières. Sadly, son Jacques died some time before the 1666 census.

Daughter Élisabeth married Julien Latouche on 12 August 1671. While Élisabeth was a mere 12 vears old. her husband was 30. Latouche was unsuccessful at farming his land at Trois-Rivières, and Jacques and Gillette often had to send food to the couple or have Élisabeth come eat with them. What is more, Latouche allegedly beat Élisabeth. The beatings and failure at farming were both apparently the result of heavy drinking on the part of Latouche. And so, with the apparent knowledge and complicity of their daughter, Gillette and Jacques poisoned their son-in-law Julien Latouche.

Both Gillette Banne and Jacques Bertault were sentenced to death by the criminal court of Québec City for the murder of their son-in-law. They appealed to the Conseil Souverain. Elisabeth was also found guilty of the crime, but did not appeal to the Conseil Souverain. The Council rejected the appeal and sentenced Gillette and Jacques to be hanged. Before the hanging, they were to have a rope attached to their necks and be lead "nu en chemise" with a torch in their hands to the doors of the church, where they were to kneel and beg forgiveness for their crimes to God and the King. They were then to be hanged upon scaffolds set up in the Grande Place in the haute ville. In addition, Jacques was to have his arms and legs broken with a rod, which Gillette and Elisabeth were forced to witness before Gillette's execution. After his execution, Jacques body was to be displayed on a wheel at the Cap-aux-Diamants to serve as an example. All three were collectively sentenced to a fine of 60 lives, half to be paid to the Récollets to pray for the repose of the victim's soul and half to the King, with the remainder of their property to be confiscated by the State. And so Gillette Banne and Jacques Bertault were executed in Québec City at four o'clock in the afternoon on 09 June 1672.

Given her age, the Conseil Souverain took pity on Élisabeth and only sentenced her to make a public apology and to be a witness to the execution of her parents. The Council also decreed that the surplus of the confiscated property (after court costs) would be given to Nicolas and Jacques Bertault, minor children of Gillette and Jacques.

https://robertberubeblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/les-devancieres-les-filles-et-les-femmes-a-marier-the-precursors-or-the-filles-a-marier-girls-to-be-married/

Les Devancières (les filles et les femmes à marier) : The Precursors or the Filles à Marier (Girls to be Married):

Around 1649, this 13-year-old girl left France as a “devancière” (precursor) or a “Fille à marier” (mariageable girl) to settle in New France. In 1649 she married Marin Chauvin, a native of the parish of Saint-Médard de Réno near Mortagne in Perche, France. Gillette is 13 and Marin 24 at the time of their marriage. Marin died on June 7, 1651 in Trois-Rivières. Gillette is widowed at 15 years old.

Hanged, along with her second husband Jacques for poisoning her abusive alcoholic son-in-law in Trois Rivieres, Québec.7

https://robertberubeblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/...derous-mother-in-law/

NOUVELLE-FRANCE 1672: Gillette Banne a Murderous Mother-in-Law …

Gillette Banne (1636-1672) daughter of Marin Banne and Isabeau Boire was born around 1636 in the village of Argences, in the bishopric of Bayeux in Normandy, France. Around 1649, this 13-year-old girl left France as a “devancière” (precursor) or a “Fille à marier” (mariageable girl) to settle in New France. In 1649 she married Marin Chauvin, a native of the parish of Saint-Médard de Réno near Mortagne in Perche, France. Gillette is 13 and Marin 24 at the time of their marriage. Marin died on June 7, 1651 in Trois-Rivières. Gillette is widowed at 15 years old.

Their only child named Marie Chauvin was born on September 8, 1650 in Trois-Rivières. We are the descendants of Gillette Banne and Marin Chauvin by this daughter Marie who married Rollin Langlois in a first marriage and our ancestor Jean Baptiste Denoyon in a second one.

A map of Trois-Rivières dated June 1663 reveals that Gillette owns land in Trois-Rivières. She is called Gillette Baume, widow of Chauvin. The land owned by Gillette is on the top right of the maps!

On July 27, 1653, Gillette married in a second marriage, Jacques Bertault son of Thomas Bertault and Catherine Coulonne in Trois-Rivières. Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne own their own farm.

Gillette and Jacques become parents of six children: Jacques, Marguerite, Suzanne, Elisabeth, Marie Jeanne and Nicolas. Of course, Marie Chauvin is a part of this family.

At the age of 14, Marie Chauvin married Rollin Langlois on November 25, 1664.

At 13, Marguerite Bertault married Denis Veronneau, on January 6, 1668.

At 12, Élisabeth Bertault, married Julien Latouche on August 12, 1671.

At 14, Suzanne Bertault married Jean Hiesse on September 24, 1671.

The children Jeanne and Nicolas are still at home at the weddings of 1671. The son Jacques died young, before the census of 1666.

It seemed that everything was going well for this family until the day that Elisabeth Bertault married the soldier Julien Latouche.

Julien Latouche originally from La Rochelle arrived with the Carignan Salières regiment in 1665. After the dismissal of the troops in 1668, Latouche decided to settle and he married Élisabeth Bertault on August 12, 1671 in Trois Rivières. In the eyes of his father-in-law Jacques Bertault, Latouche seemed to be a good husband for his daughter. The mother-in-law, Gillette Banne was against this marriage but Bertault made the wedding arrangements with Latouche when Gillette was absent helping a neighbor who had given birth to a child. On her part, the young Elizabeth did not desire Bertault but she did not wish to contradict her father, so she agreed to the union.

Latouche a thirty years old man is a lazy, alcoholic, jealous, and mostly a violent man! According to his wife, Latouche had drunk so much alcool that he became physically disabled and not able to work. The young Elizabeth was a victim of his abuses. Moreover, she had to beg for food from her parents, without a doubt, because of his laziness or his intoxication. Elizabeth became desperate and wished to see him dead especially when he would beat her! Jacques Bertault aged 46 and Gillette Banne aged thirty-six try to help their daughter and even try to get her out of this predicament. All their initiatives became failures. In the eyes of Gillette, her daughter did not like Latouche and he was a very violent man.

May 15, 1672

Jacques Bertault, Gillette Banne and their daughter Elisabeth, cross the river by canoe to work on the Bertault farm. Julien Latouche is also crossing it with Jean Gauthier in the same place. Upon seing them, Latouche told them that he would visit them the next day.

May 16, 1672

It was not determined when the three decided to kill Latouche. Knowing that Latouche should visit, Gillette Banne decided to prepare a soup by adding a few leaves of a plant that killed pigs. At dinner, the soup was served to Latouche, who ate the meal. Alas, Latouche felt no discomfort. It was a failure! One must imagine the anguish experienced by the members of the Banne-Bertault family during this meal! And also, the desperation of failure!

May 17, 1672,

On Tuesday, one hour after sunset, Gillette visits her son-in-law in the barn and says, “Now you’re a nice son-in-law!” Latouche is surprised by this comment and he reacts in a negative way and so the battle began! The insults are followed by blows and Gillette and her son-in-law are a fighting match. Gillette yells for help but her daughter Elizabeth is unable to move. Jacques Bertaut hears the cries and enters the barn. He tries to separate his son-in-law and his wife but he does not succeed. Latouche bites his mother-in-law. He kicks her. She defends herself well. He pulls her hair. Bertaut is now part of the battle. All of a sudden, Gillette grabs the hoe and hits Latouche on the head. She hits him a second time. Shaken Latouche shouts at the top of his lungs that everyone was killing him. To silence him, Jacques Bertaut gives him several more blows. With each stroke, there was more and more blood. Julien Latouche died in the barn.

During this fight that became a murder, a neighbor Jean Gauthier, his son-in-law, Louis Petit and a neighbor referred to as Bourgainville heard the cries. During his testimony Gauthier stated that Latouche was screaming: “Ah! My God, I am dead, you are killing me, you will be hanged!” Gauthier added that he had heard the cries for more than an hour and a half. He also heard the blows made by the one who was hitting the victim. Also, Gauthier was able to discern the voice of Gillette Banne who yelled on several occasions: “Kill him! “

To hide the scene of the crime, the three murderers decided to throw the body in the river.

May 18, 1672
Latouche’s friends, Gauthier and Petit accompanied by Pierre Pépin decided to go look for Latouche in order to confirm their suspicions. They crossed the river in hopes of finding his body. On that same day, Gillette Banne and her daughter Elisabeth ran away and hid in the woods.

May 19, 1672
Latouche’s friends went to the Bertaults’ barn. When they witnessed the scene of the crime, they were shaken because of the quantity of blood everywhere. They found the hoe, socks and other objects covered with blood, and they also found a man’s teeth. If they had had any doubts in their mind about what they had heard the previous evening, the sight of what was in front of them eliminated them. They informed the authorities and Jacques Bertault was arrested! The properties and belongings of the Bertaults are seized and an inventory is drawn up.

May 20, 1672
A preliminary investigation was made before Louis de Godefroy, the fiscal attorney in Trois-Rivières. The first witness heard was Nicolas Bertault, the ten-year-old son, who recounted the departure of his parents the previous Sunday, to go to their home; the return of his mother and sister who had then escaped to the woods on Wednesday; and the arrest of his father by two soldiers who had led him and put him in irons. Nicolas reveals that on one occasion he had heard his mother repeat that she would kill Bertault and heard Gillette tell his father that Bertault had to be killed on the river. He stated that he had hearsay of the fact that his sister Elizabeth wanted her husband deceased.

During his first interrogation Jacques Bertault proclaimed his innocence and claimed that he did not know where Latouche was. Questioned about blood throughout the barn, he replied that it was the blood of the sturgeons that he had taken on the line of the sieur de la Vallière. When asked if he had ever threatened Latouche, he replied no, and then stated that he did not want to comment further. After the interrogation Bertault was confronted with every person who had testified against him, one at a time. In each case, with the exception of his son, Bertault replied that he knew that each of the witnesses wished him harm.

May 21, 1672
Gillette Banne and Elisabeth Bertaut are found in the woods near Trois-Rivières and are arrested! During her interrogation Gillette revealed more information about the brutal murder.

Gillette Banne stated that Latouche had beaten her daughter (Elizabeth) to the point that she bled, that she and her husband had come to the assistance of their daughter, and that a quarrel had ensued, resulting in a fight. Latouche had struck Gillette and had seized her by the collar and had pulled some of her hair out. She had hit Latouche with a spade in order to help her husband and with the intention of putting an end to the struggle. She said that Latouche fell on the spot. She added that during the melee, she and her husband were bitten by Latouche and she showed her fingers as proof. She believed that Latouche was only shaken, so the three returned to their home. Half an hour later, they returned to the barn and found him dead and dragged his body into the river.

In her testimony, Elizabeth corroborated that of her mother. The only gap, she maintained that Latouche died outside the barn.

Later that day, Bertault and his wife were confronted and Gillette’s deposition was read in front of both. Bertault was asked to explain the difference in the testimony. He replied that he did not want to say anything until his wife had been questioned, and for that reason he had refused all the testimony given by the witnesses. He further admitted that Gillette’s testimony was true.

After this investigation, the three accused were taken to Québec, where the inquiry was entrusted to the Intendant Talon. Prosecutor Penseret made a request to swear and interrogate the prisoners once again. He then handed over the case over to sieur Chartier, lieutenant-general of civil and criminal matters.

June 1, 1672

Mr. Chartier proceeded to examine the accused, beginning with Élisabeth Bertault. After having told him how the murder had taken place, he asked her several questions. She confirmed that she did not like Bertault. She revealed that she would rather be dead in his place. She stated that she did not participate in the killing. Elisabeth maintained the innocence of her parents and insisted that her parents defended themselves in a battle against Bertault.

June 3, 1672
Jacques Bertault was questioned again. By this time he had serious doubts as to whether his self-defense story would be valid and he was also aware of what the punishment was for murder. Seeing himself denounced by his wife, he tried to blame his wife for the murder of their son-in-law. In addition, he accused her of attempting to poison Latouche. He stated that he hit Latouche less than ten times and that he was following his wife’s wishes. It is evident that Bertault is a weak man and a coward.

The same day, Gillette Banne was also questioned after her husband. She confirmed that she had tried to poison Latouche. She said her husband had come to help her daughter and then she came to help. She admits to having given the first blow, but that the blow had not shown any blood. “Then, I hit him again on the head and he fell to the ground. I do not know how many times he (Bertault) hit him, but after many blows Latouche died.”

Towards the end of her interrogation, Gillette Banne admitted that they murdered Julien Latouche maliciously and knowing that he was dead, the three of them threw him into the river. She added that they had discussed getting rid of him because he mistreated their daughter and was a worthless person.

In spite of the contradictions in certain details, it became evident that Latouche was killed by his father-in-law and his mother-in-law,. The young wife had witnessed the murder of her husband, and did not seem much affected by it, since she helped them drag his body to the river.

June 8, 1672
The fiscal attorney rendered his verdict. He stated that the three prisoners should be executed and that no indemnity be made for Elizabeth because of her age, as she was also involved in the murder.

Members of the Court MM. Juchereau, De la Ferté, Ruette Dauteuil, de Bermen, Duquet, de Rochebelle and Simon Denis showed no pity for Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne, but in spite of the prosecutor’s petition, they were merciful to Elizabeth because of her age. (13 years)

The Court therefore declared Jacques Bertault, Gillette Banne and Élisabeth Bertault to have been guilty and should be convicted of the said crimes of imprisonment and murder committed on the person of the said Julien Latouche for reparation and the said:

“Bertault, Banne, and Elizabeth, to be taken from the prisons of this jurisdiction by the executioner of the high justice, led with a rope to the collar, a torch in hand to the front door of the parish church of the city. And there the said Bertault, his head bare, and in his shirt, worn to the belt and the said naked women in their shirts to the waist, to beg forgiveness of God, to the King and for justice of the said crimes by them committed, then led by the executioner to the scaffold, which will be set up for this purpose in the public square of the upper town, with a cross of Saint-André on which will be laid Jacques Bertault lying down to receive a sharp blow (metal bar) on the right arm, then strangled and after his death another blow will be given to his left arm and he will be hit on each thigh. The said Gillette Banne will be hung and strangled on the gallows that will be set on the said place, and the said Élisabeth Bertault will witness the executions, with a rope to the collar (around the neck) as stated and after the executions the body of the said Jacques Bertault will be placed on a wheel in the usual area on Cap aux Diamants, to remain and serve as an example. Moreover, let us condemn the said Bertault his wife and his daughter with one hundred pounds of fine for the seigneurs (lords) of this country, and for the dependants, the surplus of their property retained and confiscated to whom it belongs”.

On appeal by Bertault and his wife of the above sentence to the Sovereign Council , the court modified the verdict so that Bertault and his wife were sentenced to sixty pounds of fine: “one half to the Récollet Fathers to pray to God for the repose of Julien Latouche and to the dependants, the surplus of their property acquired and confiscated to the King making the said council hand over to Nicolas and Jeanne Bertault, the so-called “children of the said Bertaut and Banne” the surplus of the said fine, together with the said confiscation”.

The sentence was delivered in the morning and on the same day, June 9, 1672, at four o’clock in the afternoon, Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne were executed in the square of the upper town, Elizabeth attended the execution of her father and mother, with a rope around her neck, according to the sentence.

I do not know if our ancestor Marie Chauvin and her half-sisters (except Elisabeth) and brother were present at the death of her mother and stepfather in Québec. Marie lived in Boucherville with her husband Jean-Baptiste Denoyon and two children.

Would this occur today?