Page 170 - Upland Families, Elites and Communities

Sandro Guzzi-Heeb

M.-Geneviève Balet J.-Georges arl Etienne Tochet
 pre ss  ∞ A.-Geneviève  pr ss 
∞ J.-Joseph Paulet
Darbellay-Chirurgi  pre ss 

(*) (*) (*) (*)
J. Joseph arl Pierre-Jos. arl J.-Michel arl Gaspard-
( sca)  pr bs  ∞ Angèle Tochet Emmanuel arl
∞ M.-Egyptienne ∞A.-Sophie Balet  pre ros  ∞ A.-Cécile Lattion
Darb-Chirurgi ∞A.-Marie Riche  pre bs 
( ros, sca)  pre bs 

Amélie Darb-Chirurgi Chlotilde Darb-Chirurgi Gaspard-Joseph arl
∞ Modeste Darb-Ber ∞ Bernard-Emm. Frossard  pr bs 
 pr bs   pr bs , scr bs
Figure 5.1 The Group Arlettaz (arl) 4 from Liddes and Offices in the Confraternities,
1790–1860
Notes Acronyms: $ – membership in a confraternity; pr – prior; pre – prioress;
scr – secretary; bs – Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament; ros – Confraternity
of the Rosary; sca – Confraternity of the Scapular.

cased an exemplary sexual discipline. We know from earlier studies that
sexual indiscipline and illegitimacy often appeared as particular attitudes
of specific families and kin-groups influenced by secular and partly anti-
clerical ideas.
In fact, during the eighteenth century no visible sexual scandal, not
even any detectable sexual infraction, can be found for the officers of local
confraternities: a systematic analysis of the lists of officers for the years
1765–1775 shows no significant result. The situation changed, however, in
thecourseofthenineteenth centurywhenillegitimacyandprenuptialcon-
ceptionfiguresroserapidlytohigherlevels.Intheyears1840–1850,confra-
ternities were slowly losing control even over their officers. In this period
6 persons, 3 women and 3 men, among the officers of the local confrater-
nities have (had) an illicit sexual relationship. Marie Beth appears to have
had an adulterous relationship, and François-Joseph Darbellay’s child was
born the day of its parents’ wedding. In most cases, however, we are deal-
ing with women and men who were active in the confraternity during a
short period and abandoned the devout society after their illicit sexual in-
tercourse. One case, however, is different. Marie-Julienne Darbellay and
Georges-Joseph Meilland married in 1836, and their first child was born
only four months after wedlock. The prenuptial conception was therefore

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