Letter from François Frachon to... (1840)

NRA-L-000614 / 1840

Letter from François Frachon to Pélagie Frachon, 1840-02-09

François Frachon writes to his sister Pélagie about their father's health, Benjamin Perron's bankruptcy, the regiment at Saumur, Fontevrault and Angers, family deaths and the wish for more letters.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000614

NRA-L-000614 image 1 showing an unfolded French family letter combining handwritten letter text, the delivery address, postal marks, folds, sealing evidence and complete physical paper edges. — **Image 1**Address panel, postal evidence and letter text on the unfolded sheet.

NRA-L-000614 image 2 showing an unfolded French family letter with continuous handwritten text, visible folds, retained annotations and complete physical paper edges. — **Image 2**Letter text and closing on the unfolded sheet.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000614
Date: 1840-02-09
Original date: Saumur le 9 février 1840
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: François Frachon
Recipient: Mademoiselle Frachon
Places: Saumur / Annonay, Ardèche
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; 2 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000614.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle Frachon
à Annonay

Address panel

English translation

Miss
Miss Frachon
at Annonay

Letter text - Image 1

Original transcript

Saumur le 9 février 1840

Ma bonne petite Sœur

Je reçus il y a deux ou trois jours la lettre
de mon père et je te prie de l'en remercier, j'y vois
avec plaisir que vous vous portez bien, et
j'espère que le bien être que mon père dit
éprouver continuera, mais je te prierai d'avoir
bien soin de lui, et de nous remplacer auprès
de lui, c'est une tâche qui est peu pénible
pour toi, et dont sans doute tu te chargeras
bien volontiers quand bien même elle te
serait [penible], étant aussi avenante et
caressante que tu l'es.
J'ai appris avec plaisir que personne
de la famille n'était pour rien dans la
faillite de M. B.n Perron. Il est
heureux encore qu'on ne perde que 30 ou
40 pour 0/0, il était à craindre que ça ne

Letter text - Image 1

English translation

Saumur, 9 February 1840

My dear little sister,

I received my father's letter two or three days ago, and I ask you to thank him for it. I was glad to see from it that you are all well, and I hope that the improvement my father says he feels will continue. But I ask you to take good care of him and to stand in for us beside him. This is not a very onerous task for you, and one that you will no doubt willingly undertake, even if it were [onerous], since you are so obliging and affectionate.

I was glad to learn that no one in the family had any interest in Mr Benjamin Perron's bankruptcy. It is fortunate that the loss is only thirty or forty per cent; there was reason to fear that it would not

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

finit pas aussi bien, mon père ne me disait pas
si c'était lui qui (Mr Bon) qui était chargé
de la liquidation ou si c'était des syndics.
Il n'y a ici que 2 compagnies de mon Régiment
les grenadiers et la première compagnie, trois
autres sont à fontevrault, petit village à une
heure de Fontevrault à la maison centrale pour
garder 4 ou 5 000 détenus, le reste du Bon c'est
à dire 3 autres compies et le chef de Bataillon sont
à Angers avec l'Etat major du Régiment.
Si comme le disait Pierre Colonjon, il doit
venir ici, qu'il se dépêche, car dans Quatre mois
je n'y serai plus, devant aller à Beaupréau le
1er juin, où tout le Bataillon sera réuni.
J'ai vu les jeunes gens que dont il m'avait
parlé; mais je ne les voit que très rarement
ceux ci étant très occupés et n'ayants pas
un instant à eux.
Je n'ai vu le colonel qu'une fois le
jour de mon arrivée à Angers le 1er Xbre
nous l'attendons tous les jours ici.
Depuis longtems ma bonne mère ne m'a écrit
elle sait pourtant que j'aime ses lettres, et les
tiennes, vous me feriez plaisir de m'en écrire un
peu plus souvent à moi, et toi de m'écrire un

plus souvent ne s'amuta quand c'en
serait que pour me dire que tu m'aimes toujours
et que tu ne m'oublies pas. pour moi je pense
toujours à vous et voudrais bien être avec
vous, mais il faut bien subir sa destinée, je
suis loin, mais je suis toujours là près, et je crois
toujours promener avec toi, quoique cela je
suis bien content non d'être loin mais de te savoir
bien portante ainsi que toute la famille.
J'ai appris avec peine la mort de Mr
Chardon, je te serais obligé d'exprimer à la
tante Lucie la part que j'y prends et je ne
crains pas de t'en charger, sachant que je ne peux
pas mieux choisir que toi.
J'ai écrit à mes frères il y a près d'un mois
et je n'ai pas encore reçu de lettre de vincent depuis
que je suis ici.
Adieu ma bonne petite Pélagie il ne
me reste plus que la place de te dire que je t'aime
bien, embrasse bien pour moi le père, la bonne mère.
ton frère
F. Frachon
Sergent Fourrier au 30e de ligne 2e Bon 1ere Cnie (Saumur (Maine et Loire)

Documentary page 2

English translation

end so well. My father did not tell me whether Mr Perron himself was in charge of the liquidation or whether it was being handled by the trustees.

Only two companies of my regiment are here: the grenadiers and the first company. Three others are at Fontevrault, a small village an hour away, at the central prison, guarding four or five thousand detainees. The rest of the battalion—that is, three other companies and the battalion commander—is at Angers with the regimental staff.

If Pierre Colonjon is to come here, as he said, he should hurry, because in four months I shall no longer be here: I am due to go to Beaupréau on 1 June, where the entire battalion will be reunited.

I have seen the young men he told me about, but I see them only very rarely, since they are very busy and do not have a moment to themselves.

I have seen the colonel only once, on the day I arrived in Angers, 1 December. We expect him here every day.

My good mother has not written to me for a long time, although she knows how much I like her letters—and yours. You would both give me pleasure by writing a little more often, and you especially, even if only to tell me that you still love me and have not forgotten me. For my part, I always think of you and would very much like to be with you, but one must submit to one's fate. I am far away, yet I am always close to you, and I imagine myself walking with you. In spite of that, I am glad—not to be far away, but to know that you and all the family are well.

I was sorry to learn of Mr Chardon's death. Please tell Aunt Lucie how deeply I share her loss. I do not hesitate to entrust this to you, knowing that I could choose no one better.

I wrote to my brothers nearly a month ago, and I have still received no letter from Vincent since I have been here.

Farewell, my dear little Pélagie. I have only enough room left to tell you that I love you dearly. Give father and good mother a warm embrace for me.

Your brother,
F. Frachon
Quartermaster Sergeant, 30th Line Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 1st Company, Saumur (Maine-et-Loire)

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Military service
Bankruptcy
Health and illness
Frachon Family Correspondence

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