Letter from Mayor C. Raynaud to... (1857)

NRA-L-000062 / 1857

Letter from Mayor C. Raynaud to Monsieur Chabrier, March 14, 1857

The mayor of Aigueperse informs Monsieur Chabrier that his mother drew number 135 in the cantonal military conscription lottery and that he is therefore expected to be safe from service.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000062

NRA-L-000062 image 1 showing an addressed wrapper to Monsieur Chabrier with circular postal cancellations. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000062 image 2 showing an administrative letter on departmental stationery dated 1857, with its signed closing. — **Image 2**Administrative letter and signature.

NRA-L-000062 image 3 showing the reverse of the wrapper with several circular postal cancellations. — **Image 3**Reverse with postal cancellations.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000062
Date: 1857-03-14
Original date: Aigueperse, le 14 mars 1857
Type: Official correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: C. Raynaud, Mayor of Aigueperse
Recipient: Monsieur Chabrier [principal addressee]
Places: Aigueperse, Puy-de-Dôme, France / Chaudenay, Haute-Marne, France
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Administrative letter and signature; Reverse with postal cancellations; 3 digital images.
Signature: C. Raynaud
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000062.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Chabrier ouvrier scieur de long chez mr
pierre chassagne mr scieur de long
a Chaudenay près langres Canton
de fay-billot (haute marne)
a Chaudenay.

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Chabrier, pit sawyer working for Mr.
Pierre Chassagne, master pit sawyer,
at Chaudenay near Langres, Canton
of Fay-Billot (Haute-Marne)
at Chaudenay.

Administrative letter and signature

Original transcript

DÉPARTEMENT
du
PUY-DE-DOME.

VILLE D'AIGUEPERSE.

No.

Aigueperse, le 14 mars 1857

Votre mère qui a tiré votre numéro
aurait bien du vous écrire, faute par elle de
l'avoir fait, je viens vous en donner avis.
Le nombre de conscrits du canton
était de 147. Votre mère a tiré
le no. 135 ainsi vous pouvez vous regarder
comme sauvé il est sur qu'on y ira
pas à ce numéro.
Votre mere habite aigueperse et
est mariée avec un nommé Moulin
cantonnier, demeurant à aigueperse.
Veuillez agréer mes respects
Le maire
C Raynaud

Administrative letter and signature

English translation

Department of Puy-de-Dôme
Town of Aigueperse
No.
Aigueperse, 14 March 1857
Your mother, who drew your number, really should have written to you; as she failed to do so, I am writing to notify you.
The number of conscripts for the canton was 147. Your mother drew no. 135, thus you can consider yourself safe; it is certain that they will not go up to this number.
Your mother lives in Aigueperse and is married to a man named Moulin, a road worker, residing in Aigueperse.
Please accept my respects,
The mayor
C. Raynaud

Discovery Terms

Military conscription
Family correspondence
Aigueperse
Chaudenay

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Historical context What number 135 meant 3 sources

A number that could decide military service

Under the French recruitment system established by the law of 21 March 1832, only part of each annual class was required for active service. Young men drew numbers within their canton, and the contingent was filled in numerical order: the lowest numbers were exposed to call first, while sufficiently high numbers escaped it. Chabrier's number, 135 among 147, placed him close to the end of the draw. This is why the writer could reassure him that the call would almost certainly not reach him.^{[1, 2, 3]}

Evidence and limits

The letter records the draw and its expected consequence, but it does not give the canton's final quota or a later administrative decision confirming Chabrier's exemption. The explanation therefore clarifies the mechanism and the writer's confidence without claiming a surviving final service record.^{[1, 2, 3]}

Sources & evidence (3)

Primary source · manuscript Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000062, letter to Monsieur Chabrier, 14 March 1857. View the archive record Records a cantonal draw of 147, Chabrier's number 135 and the writer's assurance that the call would not reach so high.
Official archival record Service historique de la Défense, GR XS 456, records concerning the law of 21 March 1832 on army recruitment, 1832-1865. View the archival notice Confirms the governing 1832 recruitment law and its contemporary administrative guidance.
Official institutional history Assemblée nationale, 'Les fondements du service militaire universel', historical presentation of French recruitment laws. Read the historical overview Explains that the 1832 system used drawing of lots and that favourable numbers exempted men from service.

Reviewed 2026-07-30 · Context version 1.0

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