Archdiocese of New Orleans Sacramental Records, v6, 1796-1799, p67: Interment Record [79 yrs old, b. 1719, native of Toison in Poitou in France] France, Poitou-Charentes, Département Vienne 86 [<1790 Poitou, Touraine, Berry], Toison The Poitou-Charentes region is on the west coast of France. It includes the Atlantic port of La Rochelle which made it an important maritime region. During the French Revolution the areas of Poitou, Touraine & Berry were consolidated into the department of Vienne with the capital being in Poitiers. The Swiss regiments were an important part of the French king's military establishment. Thousands of Swiss troops died defending Louis XIV and are buried beside the king & his family in Paris. Today, Swiss troops guard the Pope at his palace in the Vatican. Below is an except from a website about the Swiss troops in France during the period of Pierre Courturier. It is translated using google. ~Bonnie <http://pfef.free.fr/Anc_Reg/Unif_Org/Mouillard/mouillard_L2c06.htm> Nov 14, 2008 CHAPITRE VI, INFANTERIE ÉTRANGÈRE, RÉGIMENTS SUISSES In addition to the national infantry, recruited as we have seen in previous chapters, King maintained regiments of foreign mercenaries. A crucial distinction must be drawn between the Swiss regiments and other foreigners. The Swiss soldiers serving under treaties called capitulations, between the King of France and the Swiss cantons, giving the king the right to make regular lifted in Switzerland, while German soldiers, Irish, Italian recruit without approval or against the will of their sovereign. The capitulations were treaties of alliance defensive renewed for three centuries, the most important are: the perpetual peace in 1515 and 1521, the treaties of 1672, from 1698 and most recently on May 9 1715, which we give further analysis as complete as possible. These treaties, extremely advantageous to France, providing border security in the east, whose possession was still recent in 1715. The cantons, in effect, allowed the king to ease the passage of its troops with weapons not only providing troops for huge auxiliary, but should prevent by force any army of France through Switzerland. In 1734, Marshal of Berwick, being in Swabia, would be turned by the Imperial whose purpose was to enter Franche-Comte by Belfort and Montbéliard, when the cantons respectable gathered an army that prevented the maneuver (Zurlauben). In return, these treaties gave the Swiss, who wanted to engage in trade or industry in the Kingdom, privileges and benefits to considerable say to the editor of the Encyclopaedia "that the condition for the Swiss in France is much better than subjects of the king. " 7 regiments served under the treaty of alliance, renewed on May 9 1715 ... One regiment was maintained outside the capitulations, the regiment Karrer, then Hallwyl, assigned to service at sea and whose colonel was the sole contractor to the king as the head of a body franc. The Convention of the 1st September 1752 is quite good to be briefly discussed here. The regiment knight Hallwyl above Karrer continue to serve hearth Wednesday composed of five companies, two in Santo Domingo, one in Martinique, one in Louisiana, the company Colonel remained in Rochefort, set at 300 men including officers, the Chevalier de Hattwyl had the ability to maintain 150 supernumeraries. Colonel proposes and the king accepts the subjects can be appointed officers. The Colonel is free to make any commitments for his regiment in its sole control. The king will pay 16 pounds per man per month now more than 35 bonus pay, etc.. Etc. The king will give 700 pounds annually for compensation of a clothing store in Rochefort, and so on. The exploitation of that regiment will be for the knight Hallwyl which is responsible to pay the debts incurred by the Chevalier de Karrer its predecessor. Detachments of soldiers will pass and free food. board vessels. It is lawful to take free company by 6 women married to soldiers, etc.. Etc. The term of appointment is completed, the king will make a concession of land to every soldier who wants to remain as a farmer in the colony and further undertakes to provide annually for 3 years 100 pounds after the first year of establishment . Every Swiss soldier, who would not benefit from the preceding article, will be entitled to free passage to return to Rochefort where he will receive one month's pay to its landing. Commissioners wars will be obliged to receive complaints of soldiers and will be entitled to their just claims. Signed:ROUILLÉ.