In Champagne

As I traced my French family, it brought us to Voillecomte in the Champagne district. Great to know where my drinking problem comes from. 😂

Anyhow…we spent a lovely day today heading out first to Voillecomte where we stopped in at the local council office. Sadly their cemetery records only go back to the 19th century.

I walked through the cemetery. There are many abandoned graves with notices on them that the council will be reclaiming them if no one comes forward. I could read some of the headstones so it was impossible to determine where our rellies were buried, if they were there.

I must say that it was so nice to be in the village. It’s little. Like Belli Park, nothing in town. Not even a dinner. Just the town hall.

We then drove on to Wassy. Another village where one rellie was buried. We went into the church there and it was stunning! Found the cemetery, a short drive away. Sadly again we couldn’t locate any graves from the period we were looking for. A kind man told us that this would have been the only cemetery during this period.

Off we went back to Voillecomte as the Mayor was going to open the church for us to look inside. I absorbed myself in the moment, imaging my rellies being there for baptisms, weddings, funerals, mass on Sundays…. I felt at home.

We then drove to another village, Brinne-le-Chateau. Another rellie, was born and lived there. We learnt that Napoleon had trained there and came back to visit. Did my rellies know him?

Wassy and Brinne-le-Chateau were slightly bigger villages than Voillecomte. The latter is where I felt most at home.

Whilst I sit in our camp grounds, I feel so much peace. The land of one side of my family and I feel at home. I’ve been driven here and feel enveloped in my history. For those who know of my mixed heritage, you may appreciate knowing who you are and where you come from is so important to your being. I am being right now. That Paul loves this area means alot to me too!!

Not such exciting pictures today, but images to share with you where I come from. Just one of the many places.Leggi altro