Jacques Aimable Poulain - vicar sentenced to death

Appointed vicar 1786 in the Esteville branch of the parish of Touffreville, the municipal officials asked him on Sunday, February 13, 1791, to take the civic oath. Not wanting to sign the minutes, it was concluded that he refused to take the oath.

His last act in the parish of Esteville was a baptism celebrated on August 19, 1792.

His trace is found in the list of clerics attached to the landing of the emigrants at Quiberon in 1795, organized by England in order to raise the west of France and defeat the revolution.

These troops were made up of French emigrants who had fled the revolution, prisoners and some English and Chouan troops. The British ships brought the weapons and equipment. The first fighting took place on 23 June 1795 and ceased with the victory of the Republican troops on 21 July 1795.

Among these prisoners were seventeen clergymen, including Jacques Aimable Poulain. Thirteen were sentenced to death on 27 July 1795 (9 thermidor year III), including Bishop Le Hercé of Dol.

On August 2, 1795 (15 thermidor year III) Jacques Aimable Poulain appeared before the military commission in Vannes. He stated that he had left France in September 1792, in accordance with the law of 16 August which banned the insermented and obliged them to leave the territory within a fortnight. He denied that he sought to harm the prosperity of the Republic and claimed that he was a priest in the Royal Louis regiment. The commission then granted him a reprieve.

But on August 13, 1795, he appeared again. This time he was sentenced to death and then shot.

His name appears on the list of General Louis Lemoine, who was responsible for managing judgments and executions. 713 were shot, including Jacques Aimable Poulain, vicar of Esteville.