Blazon of the La Roque Lords of Le Theil

Realization N. Esnault

180 fires in 1789 ( 700 inhabitants) - Representatives: Lemoine de la Durandiére to advise of King Ledge - Louis Guillaume Hellouin, Notary.

Situation 1865

Considerable and Storekeepers 1870 1895 1914

1901: 519 inhabitants

1906: 471 inhabitants - 157 households(houseworks) - 185 houses (census)

Situation 1908 - Elections of May 10, 1908

140 registered - 113 voters - only ones the men had the right to vote

Elected in order of bulletins: I. Leplanquois - V. Anger - J.B. Hardy - J.B. Lemarchand - F. Bizé - E. Boutrois - H. Leplanquois - H. Guillouet - H. Marie - N. Esnault.

885 Ha - 213 inhabitants - 24 in Km2 ( 1990 ) - 239 in 1999

Situation in 2001

Voters: 184

Mayor: Mr Peltier

Mr Peltier, mayor surrounded with his assistants and with the ancient mayor

The new council

Transfer of competence.

Councillors Blin, de La Bigne, Dupont, Hamel, Maupas, Morel, Nové, Rio, Stéphant, Vincent.:

Secretary: Nathalie Esnault

Opened city hall: Tuesday 10h / 12h - 14 / 16h Saturday 10 / 12h - 14 / 16h - Phone . 02 31 68 53 05

Municipal bulletin to Read

Events committee: Mrs BLIN

Noel 2001

Mrs BLIN, Pére Noel and children of the municipality

List Marriages 1639 / An 1 - no previous state - civilian in 1900 (A.D. 14)

Of a surface of 885 ha, Theil of Latin Tillia, because of the big number of lime trees being on its territory, is bordering of Vassy at the noon, Pierre on the West, Estry in the North. The former(ancient) road Henry (road of Vassy to Aunay) separates him east of La Rocque. His borders with La Rocque were fixed by prescription of February 27, 1828. The municipality was named Saint Martin du Theil before 1789. Left air photo is of the municipality

Brooks (State of 1855):

1 - Allière takes its source there, makes turn 1 mill with wheat, forms of another branch coming from Estry, also makes it go 1 mill to wheat; pass on Presles where she makes walk 1 mill with wheat; on Burcy where she makes 1 woolen spinning mill turn when there is some water, on Vaudry and throws itself into the Vire to Neuville after a course of 18,609 m.
2 - On their borders of Theil and Vassy is born Vaumousse's brook which passes on Pierres and throws itself into Allière in the junction point with Pierres whom it divides of Theil, having made turn 2 mills with wheat. Courts 6.000 m.
3 - Theil sees being born the brook of the source Brunet which throws itself into that of Vaumousse. Courts 2.400 m.
4 - Courtout's brook which throws itself into Allière after a course of 2.580 m, made turn a mill in Clémentière.

In this time a rural nurse was in charge of watching brooks and municipal roads which should be suitably maintained. This post was abolished in 1914.

During the One hundred years war and the English occupation its population should go down to 24 fires in 1428 to raise to 170 fires in the 17éme century.

From the administrative point of view, Theil depended, before the revolution, on the sergenterie of Le Tourneur and the notary's practice of Vassy, the bailliage of Ledge, the majority and estate management of Caen. She is a part of Vassy's canton, and community of municipalities.

The Lords bosses

In the state of the nobility of 1640 it is noted for the parish:

- Bertrand de la Bigne, rider, old man without possessions.

- Henri du Guey, rider, Mr. of Hubert, man of sword without fortune.

- Roque-Mesnillet, 3 young people in state to take weapons, rich, sons of the governor of Honfleur.

- Nicolas de la Bigne, rider, owner of the Bigne, died in 1637, (a gravestone fixed in the church calls reminds it, married to Françoise de Mésenge. Died without children, his sisters inherited from the fief of Bigne, Marie marries of Julien Vaumousse and Suzanne marries of Blaise Hellouin sold Bigne on June 18, 1640 to Jacques de Marguerie, baron of Vassy.

- Georges de la Roque du Theil, 3000 pounds of pension, 1 son.

- Mr. of Tourlaville, unmarried.

- Georges de la Basonnière, 1 son.

- Jean de la Roque, Mr. de Mesnillet, the ancient nobility ( 1598 ).

- Louis Georges de la Roque, rider, Lord of the parish.

The church

The church of Theil is placed under the word of Martinmas and Saint-Eloi. She presents some old parts: the mouldings of the western door which could be of the XVéme century, the rests of a door arched in toriques mouldings, in the South, in the side wall of the nef, the bow had full round arch of the chapel below the bell tower. The other parts of the building and the bell tower, which is at the top of the nef and ended there batière, are modern.

The tradition wants that the church of the parish was, during several centuries, in the locality Vieux-Theil, not far from the source which gave its name to the village of Belle Fontaine, with this legend: this church collapsed. His cracked walls collapsed on all sides and it was necessary to think of repairing it. One put himself in the work, but pointlessly. What one made during day was opposite night by a mysterious force and the next day the scattered materials gisaient on the ground. Finally one grew tired and one built a new building in the center of the current village of Le Theil.

Tithes were perceived by the prieuré of Saint Beard in Auge, then by the Jesuits of Caen following the donation of Robert de Gouvix in 1207. The priests were named by the monks, the Lord boss and of La Bigne what caused numerous lawsuits on behalf of these last ones.

Until 1905, year of the separation of the church and the state (law Combs) what should cause violent incidents, there was an council of factory which managed the maintenance of the building and the accounts of which were accepted without any problem by the City Council.

The Priests

In 1635 Charles du Guey, then Gabriel Le Gueu died in 1708, Guillaume Debieu died in 1708, Nicolas de la Roque died in 1726, then Nicolas Philippe considered friendly of the chicane, showing itself requiring with his parishioners what caused two lawsuits, in the first one concerning the tithes of sarrazin the priest was condemned, in the second further to the fire and the plunder of the presbytery, it was the parishioners who were condemned to pay off their priest, in 1740 the priest was relegated to a convent, died in 1742, then François David and Gilles Heutte born in Proussy known for his activity during the Revolution replaced in 1792 by Dumont. One of them predecessors was Nicolas Chauvé or Chanu doyen de Vire in 1605 and one of the most remarkable men of the region. On March 16, 1794 the inventory of the church by the municipality indicated 3 marcs 3 ounces of silver objects, 45 pounds (22,5 kg) of copper and miscellany consisting of cross, encensoirs and candlesticks. There were 10 woolen screeds, 12 pinafore dresses and the silk banner. The bell put down in the district of Vire weighed 600 pounds (300 kg).

For the record: 1 ounce = 30gr59 - 1 marc = 8 ounces - 1 gros(main part) = 1/8 ounce

In the cemetery is a Calvary built by Millières's family ennobled following a marriage, and gravestones of Hellouin de la Bigne and Huillard d' Aigneaux from whom one of the downward last ones Louis Médéric died on April 8, 1899 in his castle of Le Theil, and which, according to the press of time, was hardly regretted by the inhabitants.

The school building and the city hall builds in 1880 (archives of the City hall)

There is a Calvary, a private property, one of the highest of the constructed blue and pink granite region in 1880 by Jill Legrix following an epidemic of bovine typhoid (foot-and-mouth disease).

The Castle

The seigneurial manor house, originally the Clod Gouvix, had been réédifié in the XIIIéme century, after dismemberment of Gouvix's fief, more in the North, in the valley, on the place of the current castle. It contained numerous rooms and in appendices a delivery for coach It was surrounded with staves full of water which still existed in 1619. Buildings of exploitation rose all around to exploit the lands which in this date included 130 acres among which the farms of Clémentière and Durandière as well as a part of the wood Dufy. This manor house renewed for a marriage by 1760 preserved until 1929, property of the family Huillard d' Aigneaux, should undergo some damages due to the war in 1944, serve temporarily as school, to end in ruins for lack of interview(maintenance) of the owners. Acquired recently, it was reconstructed in the identical.

The Revolution

Faithful to the directives of his bishop, Mgr. de Cheylus, Gilles Heutte refused to take the institutional oath, and would have should abandon his cure in July, 1791, but he stayed in the country with the Chouans at the risk of his life, hidden at friends and he did not stop administering the sacraments. A priest to jureur was elected to replace him, by the voters of the district of Vire, to exercise his ministry in the parishes of Le Theil and La Roque, with place of residence in Le Theil. It was Mr O. Dumont: his taking office gave place to some confusions and rebellious shouts, but it proceeded nevertheless to the baptisms, the marriages and the burials from July 19, 1791 till December 27, 1792. It does not seem that he had of vicar, but occasionally he appealed to his jureurs colleagues of the neighborhood. Churches were going to be closed in the catholic cult and Mr. Dumont believed to owe, to prove his public-spiritedness to put back his letters of prêtrise to the district of Vire - but in 1795, he came to demand them, with 24 of his colleagues in particular Me Dubosq cleaned out by Chênedollé.

One of most warmly new supporter of law and order was Louis Lemoine born in the village of Durandière, he was to advise the bailliage of Vire. His two sons were religious in 1789 as their uncle cleaned out by Presles, the first one Joachim Thadée, known under the name of Lemoine du Gassel of the name of a meadow to Truttemer le Grand was a vicargeneral of Périgueux, graduate and doctor in Sorbonne. In the revolution he based the society of the friends of the constitution with Vire, where it(he) took advantage of it to buy the possessions of Maisoncelles's clergy Jourdan, elected an administrator of the Calvados, a president of the local administration, the member of the agreement from September 11, 1792 and the Cinq-Cents until 1798 and member of the Legislative Body until 1806. Sub-inspector of the lottery to Meaux in 1809, inspector in Amiens in 1814, disappeared then without leaving of tracks.

His brother Pierre Louis Lemoine who was a canon of the congregation of France, took the oath of the civil constitution of the clergy, elected by the district of Ledge cleaned out by Truttemer where he had severe troubles, he should die in Ledge after his marriage, stockbroker..

Jean Jacques Calbris been born in 1755 in Theil, having studied at first medicine, then become a vicar to Radon near Alençon and having refused the constitutional oath took refuge with Theil in his family. Denounced by members of this one, he was stopped and imprisoned to Vassy, freed he took refuge with wood surrounding Radon during some months. Stopped again, he was driven in Alençon, judged and guillotined on May 2, 1794 as fireproof priest.

The Terror were spent but neither the peace, nor the safety had returned for all that to Le Theil. Chouans' bands, a company of which parked in the municipality, crossed the country, worsening the persons and the possessions of all those that they suspected of sharing the republican ideas. The numerous victims of these fights were buried in an ancient career of schist being near the village, the cemetery being too small. In February, 1795 they attacked, in their house of La Bigne, the brothers Hellouin of a family of rich farmers and notaries, who had bought in 1790 lands belonging to the church for 14.200 pounds, of which the one, Louis Guillaume the notary, was a mayor of Le Theil who resigned. Both brothers who had taken Hellouin de la Bigne's name defended themselves and one of their aggressors was killed. Louis Guillaume or Gabriel died September 23, 1831 after some disputes with Louis Huillard d' Aigneaux in 1825 about the road of Bigne, his gravestone still exists next to that of his wife buried with her son-in-law, Doctor of Law, judge with Ledge..

Next year, in April, 1796, the count of Frotté came to Theil with a troop and met there a republican column, attacked him, killed him several men and put her in crushing defeat then he destroyed the state registers of the municipality, regularly held for the year 1. - manuscript Madelaine

The cheeky eloquence of our ancestors had given a nickname to the inhabitants of the Theil. One said by speaking about them: the grinders of Theil. Lowpaid, the grinder was the artisan who sharpened tools and tools sharp edges or sharp. One found in Theil of these modest artisans, going from village in village to exercise this industry in which they were past bosses, then returning at the time of the ploughings to cultivate their earth.

The inhabitants were not always pleasant, in 1860 , the abbot Ferdinand François Heuzé born in Vire on March 6, 1827, vicar to Montchauvet since 1852 was named cleaned out by the Theil, what displeased strongly certain inhabitants who would have preferred their vicar. The abbot Heuzé was welcomed in stony knocks, his offices boycotted during some months and decked out by a nickname " beats yhe viettes ". The situation should however improve rather quickly, in his death on May 30, 1914 he was unanimously regretted.he was replaced by the abbot Raguenet then got by Le Theil.

Contemporary period

In the years 1940/1945 businesses and artisants following ones:

Grocers: Madelaine, Marie, Saillard - Coffees(cafes): Berthaud, Bouillière ( 1946 ), Saillard - Quincailler: Saillard - Baker: Lucas ( Rapanakis) - Bourrelier: Masson - Hairdresser: Prével - Needlewomen: Buffard, Leplanquois, Trochu - Wax: Leplanquois - Electricity: Riou - Carpenter: Lefresne - Cooker: Lefresne - Carpenters: Besnier, Quéruel - Miller: Lemoine - straw Roofer: Snare - Sawmill: Vaugeois - Washerwomen: Blais, Marguerite, Burel - Taupier: Marguerite - Service stations: Rapanakis, Saillard

A wooden room was built in 1945 by establishments Mariani to serve as canteen to the masons of the company. At the end of the important alteration works of the village, several houses having been totally destroyed, the church, schools and the presbytery. It was put back in the municipality which should use it as school canteen following a leg of industrial Mr Blais-Mousseron in Paris and the former mayor of La Rocque, village hall for some sessions of cinema, balls, and different meetings then resold to a private individual. It was situated in the place of the new parking, near a magnificent chestnut tree which had the misfortune to serve as noticeboard telling the actions in 1944 of some candidates city council men, these were never elected, but the tree was brought down at once. 1983 was also interesting year.

At the same time existed also two schools, among which one, called the small school, was a gift of a single schoolteacher and her sister which lived, Marie Geneviève been born to Montbertrand 14 in 1845, died on June 5, 1901 in Le Theil, her sister Victoire Geneviève, the schoolteacher in Le Theil, been born in 1841 to Montbertrand, died there on November 13, 1913. The mayors of time, Hardy and Sicot then their successors should consider that this gift was normal matter because nothing for this donation. It will be necessary to wait for 2002 so that this house carries the name, not of both sisters, but that of a local artist.

Closed, she was rented, very badly maintained during decennies, put on sale and in front of the hostility of the biggest part of the inhabitants, transformed into village hall which carries Raymond Dommergue's name local artist recently disappeared.

Victims 1914/1918:

- E. Aumont - E. Besnier - L. Besnier - a hour. Blais - V. Blais - J. Brisset - V. Burel - E. Cochard - V. Daligault - Has. Delarchand - G. Dernemenil - G. Duval - J. Fauvel - E. Hellouin - Has. Larchand - Has. Lechatellier - G. Lefresne - Has. Leplanquois - Has. Michel - Has. F Siquot-. Siquot - E. Tirard.

Servicemen 1939/1945:

- J. Dumaine - R. Griault - R. Hamel - R. Lucas - V. Queruel - G. Ruault.

Civil on 1944: - E. Blais.

Indochina: H. de la Bigne

Algeria: J. G. de la Bigne.

Legends

The legend attached to the Bush to the Prior (Village of Prieurté). In this place one saw at night walking during long hours the body of a man without head, dressed in a surplice and holding the hand a lit candle and the flame of which resisted to winds and to storm. This bizarre spectre said nothing to the passer-bys. An evening, one of these more fearless than the others, arms itself with holy water and splashed with it, by crossing itself, the ghost who at once stopped and began speaking: for what do you ask me? What I make here does not look at you - I ask for nothing to anybody cross your road and the mysterious being resumed its walking.

The priest of Saint Rémy de Lacy had knowledge of the fact and one evening he approached the spectre which immediately stopped. The conversation undertook, it lasted for a long time. Several persons had accompanied the Priest: they stayed aside, too far doubtless to hear the exchanged comments because anybody have never known them. The Priest kept his secret. What is certain, it is that the ghost did not return.

- In the wood Dufy a spectre roamed ceaselessly at night on the border of the wood. When a passer-by was near he made him sign emphatically join him, attracted it in undergrowth and suddenly disappeared in smoke.

In the bridge of the Lande a laitiche appeared at the passer-by under the shape of a big white roe deer. She was incensed against a house, making roar the guard dog every night. To get rid of it, one resolved to attack him with instruments sharp edges. Hurt the white dress disappeared leaving places to bare girl which was finished at once and buried in a pit with apple trees. None of the apple trees planted in this place since grew normally.

Near the shanty Vaumousse, a roe deer dressed the aspect of a big white dog. One day of battery of sarrazin, a more or less tipsy inhabitant made strong kill the roe deer with his plague. Meeting it, he pursues it and returns at him enchanted. Hardly slept him heard knocking violently in his door, getting up he went to open and lives the roe deer sat on sound behind whom looked at him by roaring, saying to him " I spend it to you for this time, but does not return to it ", and she disappeared.

- The village of Tellerie had an unbearable ghost. He was other one than a Mr. of the Tellerie himself, unpleasant man in his lifetime and even after his death, who the same day of his burial and after its funeral, was found sat in the corner of its fire and who since this moment did not stop playing one thousand tours to his heirs, to their domestics and to their neighbours, until the day when the Priest du Theil, dressed in the shawl, manages to exorcise him.

More recently, the cider which was particularly alcoholic in the municipality, should give place to some events funny or dramatic as these two inhabitants of the village who fought in 1900 in knocks of boards entrainant the death of one of them or the gravedigger of the municipality sleeping in the heart of the pit which it had dug and which he needed to wake in the exit of a funeral to put it the coffin, and this farmer worried by a difficult calving which cut the neck of its cow....

There is some decennies, the hunting in the piterne in wood during the autumn evenings got some shudders to the young farm labourers.

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