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BERTAULT, Jacques

BERTAULT, Jacques

Male 1626 - 1672  (46 years)

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  • Name BERTAULT, Jacques  [1] 
    Birth 9 Jun 1626  Essars, Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Differentiator husband of Before the King's Daughters; Fille a Marier, Michelle's side, hanged for murder 
    Immigration Yes 
    Occupation Locksmith 
    Religion Catholic 
    Death 9 Jun 1672  Cap Diamant, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • hanged for murder of his son-in-law
    Person ID I18063  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

    Father Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F13354  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family BANNE, Marie Gillette,   b. 1632, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Jun 1672, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 40 years) 
    Marriage 27 Jul 1653  Trois-Rivieres, Les Chenaux, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. BERTAULT, Suzanne,   b. 18 Dec 1657, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 May 1739, Varennes, Lajemmerais, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. BERTAULT, Élisabeth-Isabelle,   b. 22 Jan 1659, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Mar 1736, Repentigny, L'Assomption, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. BERTAULT, Jeanne,   b. 26 Mar 1660, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Dec 1698, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 38 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. BERTAULT, Jacques,   b. 25 Nov 1654, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1666, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 11 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. BERTAULT, Nicolas,   b. 26 Feb 1662, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1672, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 9 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    +6. BERTAULT, Marguerite,   b. 21 Dec 1655, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Nov 1687, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 31 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F13084  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 9 Jun 1626 - Essars, Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 27 Jul 1653 - Trois-Rivieres, Les Chenaux, Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Jun 1672 - Cap Diamant, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Used to indicate a murder    		Used to indicate a murder

    Documents
    Bonne-Gillette-Murderer-Trial-Execution-1672    		Bonne-Gillette-Murderer-Trial-Execution-1672

    Albums
    Murderous & Murdered Ancestors    		Murderous & Murdered Ancestors (5)
    Uncovering the stories of our ancestors sometimes reveals a tapestry of diverse and sometimes startling narratives. Among these, we occasionally encounter tales that are both shocking and disturbing, shedding light on the darker aspects of our family's past. These stories, which include instances of ancestors who were victims of murder or, conversely, those who perpetrated such acts, offer a stark reminder of the complex and often challenging lives led by those who came before us.

  • Notes 
    • The Tragic Tale of the Bertault Family:

      In 1672, in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, a family was ensnared in a desperate situation that led to a harrowing series of events. At the heart of this story were Gillette Bonne, her husband Jacques Bertault, and their young daughter Elizabeth.

      Elizabeth, at the tender age of 12, was married to Julien LaTouche, a man 18 years her senior. This union, marked by a significant age gap, soon turned into a nightmare for Elizabeth. LaTouche, known for his heavy drinking, subjected Elizabeth to physical abuse and failed to provide for her basic needs. Elizabeth often found solace and sustenance at her parents' home, escaping the torment of her marital life.

      Witnessing their daughter's suffering, Gillette Bonne and Jacques Bertault were driven to a state of desperation. In an attempt to rescue Elizabeth from her abusive husband, they resorted to a drastic and fatal measure. With what appeared to be Elizabeth's tacit approval, they poisoned Julien LaTouche. However, when the poison did not yield the intended result, they resorted to killing him by beating him with a garden hoe

      The murder of Julien LaTouche led to the arrest and trial of Gillette Bonne, Jacques Bertault, and Elizabeth. The trial revealed the extent of the family's turmoil and the desperate measures they took.

      Gillette Bonne and Jacques Bertault were sentenced to death by hanging, but their punishment was to be preceded by a public act of penance. They were required to beg for forgiveness on the church steps, a symbolic gesture of atonement for their crime. As further punishment, Jacques Bertault was subjected to having his arms and legs broken. This brutal punishment was not only inflicted upon Jacques but was also a psychological torment for his wife and daughter, who were forced to witness it.

      After this spectacle, Jacques was hanged, followed by the hanging of Gillette Bonne. Elizabeth, spared from execution due to her young age, was subjected to the traumatic experience of witnessing the execution of both her parents.

      This story is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of life in New France and the extreme measures to which individuals were sometimes driven in the face of desperation and despair. It paints a vivid picture of life and justice in 17th-century Canada, and the murder and subsequent trial marked a significant moment in the region's history.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1896] Peter J. Gagne, Before the King's Daughters: The Filles a Marier, 1634-1662, (Name: Quintin Publications; Location: Pawtucket, RI; Date: 2002;), Banne, Gillette, pages 55-56.


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