Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne are most notable for murdering their son-in-law, but their story is more complicated than that. I recently discovered that they are one of my many French Canadian ancestors and learning about their story has shocked and saddened me. Join me as I explore the tragic tale of Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne.
Gillette Banne’s History
Gillette Banne was born in Argences, Normandie, France, in 1636, and came to New France around 1649 when she was about 13 years old as a Filles à Marier. That same year, she married Marin Chauvin dit Lafortune in Trois-Rivières and had one child, Marie Chauvin. Unfortunately, he died around 1651, leaving Gillette a young widow.
Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne’s Family
In July 1653, Gillette Bertault married Jacques Bertault, a locksmith, in Trois-Rivières. They had six children together: Jacques Bertault, Marguerite Bertault, Suzanne Bertault, Élisabeth Bertault, Marie Jeanne Bertault and Nicolas Bertault. Because they had four daughters, it was up to Bertault to arrange their marriages. One of these marriages that he arranged ended up being particularly bad.
Élisabeth Bertault’s Marriage
Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne’s third daughter Élisabeth married Julien de la Touche when she was 12 years old while he was 30. These age differences were common during this period of French Canadian history. However, the age difference wasn’t what caused problems in the relationship. Julien was a farmer and wasn’t particularly good at it, which meant Jacques and Gillette often sent the couple food or had Élisabeth eat with them. Even worse, Julien was a drunk and would abuse his young wife.
Due to Julien de la Touche’s mistreatment of their daughter, Bertault tried to talk to his son-in-law about his behaviour but, despite Julien’s promises to change, he never followed through on that commitment.
The Murder of Julien de la Touche
After an incident where Julien de la Touche severely beat Élisabeth, Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne decided to take drastic action. With Élisabeth’s knowledge, the two attempted to poison their son-in-law with a plant that settlers used to kill dogs. They put the plant in his soup, but it did not work.
The following day, Banne visited Julien while he was in the barn and proceeded to insult him, saying, “Now there’s a nice son-in-law!” He snapped back at her questioning why he wasn’t considered nice. Banne then picked up a hoe and hit him, resulting in a struggle between the two. She called for her husband who intervened on behalf of his wife. The situation escalated further as Julien grabbed Bertault’s hair and yanked it, leading Bertault to strike him with the hoe. With Banne’s urging, Bertault continued to hit Julien with the hoe, resulting in his death. However, not before he let out numerous screams.
Later, Bertault and Banne attempted to conceal the evidence by dragging Julien’s lifeless body to a nearby river and throwing it into the water, but it was too late. Jean Gautier and Louis Petit heard the commotion coming from Bertault’s barn from the other side of the river and recognized Julien de la Touche’s voice. They accused Bertault of killing him and warned that he would be hanged for his actions.
Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne’s Punishment
Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne along with their daughter Élisabeth were convicted of murdering Julien de la Touche. The criminal court of Québec City sentenced Bertault and Banne to death for the crime. Élisabeth was found guilty but was spared the death penalty due to her age. Instead, she had to make a public apology and witness her parents’ execution.
Bertault and Banne’s execution was a complete spectacle. Townspeople were present to witness their punishment.
After they were removed from Quebec’s prison, ropes were placed around their necks and they were brought to the parish church where they had to kneel and beg God for forgiveness. Bertault was sentenced to be hanged on St. Andrew’s cross on a scaffolding in the main square. Afterward, an iron rod was used to break his arms and legs.
Both his wife and his daughter were forced to watch this.
After his execution, Bertault’s body was displayed on an execution wheel at the Cap-aux-Diamants to serve as an example. Banne was also hanged, but she was exempt from having her limbs broken with an iron rod and having her body displayed on an execution wheel afterward.
My Relation to Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banne
I am related to Jacques Bertault and Gillette Banned through my mother. I descend from their daughter Marguerite.
- Jacques Bertault (1626 – 1672) and Gillette Banne (abt. 1636 – 1672)
- Marguerite Bertault (1655 – 1687) and Denis Véronneau (1634 – 1730)
- Marguerite Véronneau (1677 – 1740) and Jacques Reguindeau (1673 – 1750)
- Louis Reguindeau (1701 – 1775) and Charlotte Quintal (1704 – bef. 1741)
- Jacques Reguindeau (1724) and Marie Charlotte Pilet (1731 – 1762)
- Charlotte Reguindeau (1759 – bef. 1828) and Louis François Villers (1747 – 1826)
- Josephe Marie Villers (1782 – 1834) and Laurent Reaume I (1771 – 1820)
- Genevieve Reaume (1804 – 1848) and Edouard Bondy (1801 – 1850)
- Eli Bondy (1827 – 1894) and Marguerite Baron (abt. 1832 – abt. 1898)
- Joseph Elie Arno Bondy (1858 – 1909) and Amelia Isabella Brush (1864 – 1935)
- Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973)
- Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
- Martha Grondin (Born 1950) and Gary Willis (Born 1946) – my parents
Do you want to know more about the earliest settlers in New France? Check out New France’s Founding Families and Their Fascinating Stories.
Stunned is the first response to this story of our shared ancestor. Raises so many questions. And what of the children left behind…who raised them and how long did that trauma wander through the generations?
Ann
Hi Ann!
This did cross my mind, especially for the daughter who not only witnessed the murder but also her parents’ execution. She remarried twice, but I imagine she must have been especially traumatized. My ancestor, Marguerite Bertault, was already married when her parents were executed. She was married at the age of 12.
I’ve heard from an Indigenous person that it takes seven generations to heal from trauma, so I can imagine that this trauma affected many generations of the family.
Suzanne is my ancestor.