1792 French Revolutionary Order of Estate Forfeiture After Mass Emigration

On offer is fascinating document from the early days of the French Revolution with a mysterious connection to Benjamin Franklin, one of the great Founders of the United States.

The document relates to the forfeiture of an estate and its subsequent auction. It describes the steps taken by the local Directoire du District (District Executive Council) of the Department of Cher in central France to auction off a particular property. The President of the District Council at the time was Pierre-Antoine-Jean Remond. He had an interesting connection with Benjamin Franklin, which is described below.

Following the French Revolution of 1789, there was a mass emigration of French nobles and members of the wealthy upper classes to neighbouring countries as wholesale bloodshed and terror spread across the country. However, by 1792, this emigration swelled to a tidal wave of thousands fleeing for their lives. In November, 1791, the French government passed a law ordering all emigres to return to France by January 1st, 1792 or their lands and properties would be confiscated.

It is likely that this document refers to the auction of such a property. It describes the bidding process in part:

... apres plusiers criees et publications ledit article a ete porte par Monsieur Gabard a quinze cent livres , a deux mille livres pour Monsieur Moune, a deux mille vingt cinq livres par Monsieur Gabard et attendu qu'apres plusiers publications et criees, il ne s'est presente aucune enchere, nous avons, ce requerant le Procureur-Syndic fait allumer un premier feu, pendant lequel le disarles de a ete portera deux mille trois cent livres par Monsieur Moune a deux mille trois cent vingt cinq livres par Monsieur Gabard.

[Translation: ... after several calls and publications, the said amount was brought by Mr. Gabard to fifteen hundred pounds, to two thousand pounds for Mr. Moune, to two thousand twenty five pounds by Mr. Gabard and whereas after several publications and shouts, there was no bidding, we have, the plaintiff, the Public Prosecutor has lit a first fire, during which the dispute was brought two thousand three hundred pounds by Mr. Moune, to two thousand three hundred twenty five pounds by Mr. Gabard.]

However, another person entered the bidding and his efforts were recorded thus:

... ne s'etant presente aucune enchere, Nous Administrateurs susdits, ce consentent le Procureur-Syndic, avons declare le dit Monsieur Boutet dernier encherisseur et adjudicaire definitif dudit article. En consequence lui avons adjuge les fonds, plein propriete de possession dd la dite terre

[Translation: ...having not been presented any bids, we, the aforementioned Directors, with the consent of the Public Prosecutor's Office, have declared Mr. Boutet the last bidder and final winner of the said article. Consequently, we have awarded him the funds, full property of possession of the said land.]

Ladite adjudication est faite en outre aux clauses et conditions suivantes, savoir:

1. De prendre ladite terre circonstances et dependances dans l’etat uu elle peutetre actuellement, avecs toutes les servitudes locales dont elle peutetre legitimement tenu: san, par ledite adjudicaire, pouvoir pretendre aucune diminution, ni exercer aucuns recours ou guarantie pour raison de reparations, degredations, quotite, circonstances, defaut de mesure, ou pour quellequ’autre pretexte que ce soit, prevu ou non prevu, exprime ou non exprime au present.

[Translation: In addition, the said award shall be made under the following terms and conditions, namely:

1. To take the said land, circumstances and dependencies in the state in which it may presently be, with all the local easements of which it may legitimately be held: without, by the said adjudicator, being able to claim any reduction, nor to exercise any recourse or guarantee by reason of repairs, degradation, share, circumstances, lack of measure, or for any other pretext whatsoever, foreseen or not foreseen, expressed or not expressed in the present.]

No further mention is made of Moune or Gabard. 

As previously mentioned, the President of the District Council, which auctioned off belongings of those who fled France and did not return, was Pierre-Antoine-Jean Remond. His connection with Benjamin Franklin is as follows:

Remond was born in Switzerland and came to Bourges in 1784 as Master of Water and Forest. He became an important local figure. After the Revolution, he was elected to the Estates General in Paris in 1789. Being appointed President of the District Council after the Revolution would seem a natural evolution for him. He was also the founder of the first Masonic Lodge in Bourges. Franklin was living in Paris as Ambassador of the United States and there is correspondence between Franklin and Remond referred to in the Encyclopaedia of Bourges.

For a historian, this is a superb original document that not only relates to a dark and tumultuous time in the history of France but also connects with one of the most important figures in the founding of the United States.

This document is written on parchment. This 4-page document is formed by folding a single sheet of parchment in half, resulting in a document that measures 12.0 inches by 8.25 inches. The parchment is in excellent condition with some wear marks and darkening along the edges. The document has been printed with blanks left to fill in relevant details.