Day 12b: Sunday: Cemetery and Martigny-le-Comte

The cemetery at Saint-Bonnet-de-Veille-Vigne holds many Daubard relations. It is well kept, even the very old parts. Most of the graves have a stone cover on which are displayed ceramic flowers, marble or bronze plaques with messages from loved ones, and other remembrances.

Bernard pointed out some of the older Daubard graves, including a double stone of two Daubards, each age 20, who were killed in World War I -- one in the battle of the Somme (1916) and the other in the battle at Ardennes (1914). Their bodies were later brought home and reinterred here.

Many ancestors are buried here.

 We formed a caravan and traveled from the cemetery to Martigny-le-Comte, the ancestral village closest to the Dobards of Louisiana. The sign in the town center welcomes visitors and lists the benefits of the area:

• Tranquility, Greenery, Fresh air
• Hiking trails
• Hills and woodlands
• Pastures and grasslands
• Church with a 12th century bell tower
• Castles
• Primary and nursery schools
• Restaurant - Tourist cottages - Post office

It identifies the village of 509 inhabitants as being in Charolais country. (Click on the photos to enlarge.) The village reached its peak of about  two thousand residents in 1826. It has declined steadily since then.

Old postcards offer aerial views of the town a half century or more ago. In truth, it hasn't changed very much.

 

The church dates from the 12th century, but has undergone a reconfiguration. The older part of the church, beneath the bell tower, is now behind the altar.

This door is part of the old church.

Some of the original paint is visible in the older part of the church. This is currently a storage area.

 

The "new" part of the church, in use today, is of a simple design. The wall was once part of the old church. The sanctuary, where the pews are, is part of the "new" section.

In his research, Bernard discovered that Denis Daubard (1674-1739), the father of Millien (the ancestor who emigrated to the Louisiana colony), is buried within the church, beneath the current altar. Why he received this honor is not known. Bernard brought flowers in remembrance of this common ancestor and wrote a bit of poetry that touches what was an emotional moment:  

• For an instant time stands still
• The hearts of Lloyd and Bernard
• Beating in unison, tense
• The souls of the ancestors are ready
• It is never too late
• They are all there, they wait. 
• 
  
• Millien, Saint Luc, Pierrett, Jeanne,
• Esmiland, Pierre, Jean, Anne,
• Edgar, Mary, Lloyd Walter, Gabrielle,
• Claude Marie, Benoit, Daniel.
• 
  
• They are the soul, the soul of Daubard
• Hearts are finally calm
• The grave of space and time combine
• Destiny is completed, time moves on.

 [My apology to Bernard for what is certainly a rough translation. You can read the original on his website: http://levoyagedubaronnais.skyrock.com/ ]

 

The village of Martigny-le-Comte lives up to its billing on the welcome sign. I took these photos as I circled the church (which seems to be in the dead center of the town).

The hotel and restaurant (marked on one of the postcards above) is across the street from the church.

From here we set off to the ancestral home of Millien Daubard, the ancestor who emigrated to the Louisiana Territory in the mid-1700s.

For a moment time stands still

The hearts of Bernard and Lloyd,

Beating in unison are tense

The soul of the ancestor is ready

It is never too late.

They are all here, they waited:

Millien, Saint Luc, Pierrette, Jeanne,

Esmiland, Pierre, Jean, Anne,

Edgar, Mary Lloyd Walter, Gabrielle,

Claude Marie, Benoit, Daniel.

 

They are the soul the soul of Daubard

Their hearts are finally calm.

The grave of time and space fills,

Destiny is accomplished.