Marie Roux, de Belle Etoile

More information about Marie can be found on the First Fifty Years website: http://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/g11/p11814.htm

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"widow of Jean Roux of La Motte d'Aigues and daughter of Pierre Jourdan and Jeanne Marque"

Source: Harry Booyens, Pierre de Cabrières and Pierre de Belle Etoile (PDF), e-Family.co.za

NARRATIVE:

"Marie Jourdanne, was formerly the wife of Jean Roux, a farm worker of La Motte-d’Aigues and the son of Pierre Roux and Perrine Despine. In 1677 he had inherited a third share of his parents’ estate, the other portions going equally to his brothers Daniel and Etienne. The inheritance included buildings, vines, orchards and livestock. Jean Roux died before the close of 1683. In his will of October 14 of that year he left his house, goods and farm animals to Marie, “sa tres bien aymee fame (sic)”.151 In subsequent family settlements we learn that Marie Jourdanne had a brother-in-law Daniel Cavallier,152 a name which appears in the Lourmarin records, where there were clear links between the Roux, Cavallier and Furet families.153 Claire Cavallier (Cavalliere), who died at Lourmarin in January 1705, was refused Christian burial, “estant morte de mort subite, et nayant donne auparavant le devoir chatolique (sic)” (Boucher, M. French Speakers at the Cape. Pretoria. UNISA, 1981 p 187)

By 24 October 1685 the Intendant of Provence advises Louis XIV's Minister of State, Louvois, that, with the exception of the counties of Seyne, Manosque [on the Durance east of Bastide des Jourdans], and “some villages in the Val d'Aigues”, all of Provence will be Catholic. In terms of the Edict, one has to either convert or leave the country. Those who do not convert are sentenced to forfeit their property and row in the galleys (in the case of men) or be thrown in prison (in the case of women). The children of the converted shall have to be educated in the Catholic religion. We now look at events in the villages themselves. In the week following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the individuals with whom we are concerned all abjure their faith...

1. On 22 October 1685 Pierre Jourdan “Cavalier” of Cabrières d'Aigues and his family, including son Pierre Jourdan de Cabrières, abjure their faith in Cabrières d'Aigues in front of Notary Lafourest. It is from this event that we know their respective ages.

2. On 23 October 1685, at La Motte d'Aigues, it is the turn of Marie Jourdanne, daughter of Pierre Jourdan “Carretier” of Belle Etoile and the widow of Jean Roux. With her are her three daughters Jeanne, Marie and Margarite.

3. At the very same event, immediately following Marie on the list, we find Daniel Roux (42), his wife Magdalene Jourdanne (38), the eldest daughter of Pierre Jourdan “Carretier” of Belle Etoile, and their two daughters Jeanne and Marie. Based on the grouping, these two families shared a home by 1685. It appears that Daniel Roux is the brother of the late Jean Roux.

4. At St. Martin de la Brasque, 500 metres from Belle Etoile, we find the abjuration of Jeanne Bret(te), widow of the late Barthèlemy Jourdan, and her two daughters Isabeau and Jeanne between 23 and 27 October 1685.

5. Immediately following that of Jeanne Brette, we find the abjurations of Jeanne Marque, widow of the late Pierre Jourdan “Carretier” and of her youngest sons, Jean and Pierre. Here too, the two families probably all live in the same household. This is no doubt the home in Belle Etoile where the late eldest son of Pierre Senior, Barthèlemy (husband to Jeanne Brette), must have been in command until his death. [Booyens p4-5]