So far, according to this source René Bertraud was. He was listed as 14 years old, from Chapelle-Bassemer (Loire-Inférieure, now Loire-Atlanique), in the index of the ‘Tribunal of Nantes’ found in Louis M. Prudhomme’s dictionary Volume ll.
Is that really true? Fourteen years old seemed too young to be believed. René Bertaud’s information needed to be verified by a baptism and a death record that confirms date of birth and date of death. In the Tibunal of Nantes index, says, René Bertaud , from Chapelle-Bassemer. So if that information is true, the baptismal record should be found there.
The baptism record was found in Chapelle-Bassemer shows his true year of birth : 1780, which would make him 13 years old instead of 14 at time of his death in 17 Dec 1793 (27 frimiare an 2)
René-Pierre Bertaud
Baptized: 30 Mars 1780
Father’s Name: René Bertaud
Profession: marchand tonnellier
Mother’s Name: Renée Pauline Boutems
Godparents: Pierre Goguet and Perrine Bertaud
René Bertaud was shot to death on the orders of that despicable Jean-Baptiste Carrier who committed atrocities against those he deemed enemies. (Carrier was eventually executed for those hideous crimes).
Catholic World provides a brief commentary on the book “Correspondence of Jean-Baptiste Carrier during his mission in Brittany (a region in France) 1793-1794″ collected, translated and annotated by E.H. Carrier. Could those 4 children executed be the 4 I’ve listed below
I could not find a death record of René Bertaud, only a burial one from the parish of Notre-Dame in Chapelle-Bassemer.. It documents his burial on 19 Dec 1793, two days after his execution on 17 Dec 1793. The index of the Tribunal of Nantes index records his age as 14, but the math from both documents says differently. The burial record also gives us additional information as his parent’s names René Bertaud and Appoline Boutems, and of his profession, possibly what he was executed for: soldier ( soldat de l’armée Catholique).
So, at this time, I think we can confidently say René Bertraud was the youngest recorded person executed in the French Revolution..
Look at the other young teenagers executed in Nantes. They were all executed ton he same day. Look for their baptism and death/burial records to confirm the age and all other vital information.
| René Bertaud | Tribunal of Nantes Index: René Bertaud, age 14 lives in Chapelle-Bassemer, executed 27 frimaire an 2 (17 Dec 1793) | Baptismal Record: René-Pierre Bertaud baptized: 30 Mars 1780, born in Chapelle-Bassemer | Real Age at death: 13 years old |
| Julien Peigné | Tribunal of Nantes index: Julien Peigné, age 14 lives in Chapelle-Bassemer, executed: 27 frimaire an 2 (17 Dec 1793) | Baptismal Record: Julien Peigné baptized: 10 Jul 1779, born in Chapelle-Bassemer | Real Age at Death: 14 years old |
| Louis Jacques Guillocheau | Tribunal of Nantes index: Louis Guillocheau, age 13, lives in Chapelle-Bassemer executed 27 frimaire an 2 (17 Dec 1793) | Baptismal Record: Louis Jacques Guillocheau, baptized: 21 Feb 1778, born in Chapelle-Bassemer | Real Age at death: 15 years old |
| René Charon | Tribunal of Nantes Index: René Charou age 13, lives in Chapelle-Bassemer, executed 27 frimaire an 2 (17 Dec 1793) | Baptismal Record: René Charon baptized: 16 May 1778, born in Chapelle-Bassemer | Real Age at death: 15 years old |
Lesson here? Always use multiple sources to confirm information if all possible
the resources you should bookmark:
- Louis Marie Prudhomme’s two volume dictionaries of names condemned to death Volume 1, Volume 2
- Rathelot’s Collection’s 2 volume death extracts of Conspirators, executed in Paris
- Geneanet.org
- FamilySearch.org
- Online list of France’s Department Archives
- Google Books
- Gallica Digital Library
*