More Resources for Genealogical Research in the Pays de Vaud

For my own purposes, I have made rough indexes and in some cases partial transcripts of a number of interesting documents. Please let me know if you find something that is helpful for your own research. I may be able to send you images from the original documents. Check this page often, I will be adding more information as time permits. All catalogue numbers refer to the Archives Cantonales Vaudoises (ACV) unless otherwise specified. (AVL=Archives de la Ville de Lausanne.)

The importance of the terriers for genealogical research can hardly be overstated. The terriers were compiled by commissaires appointed for this purpose. The commissaires were often appointed in pairs, and one of them was usually from outside the area for which the terrier was to be created, thereby minimizing conflicts of interest. As a result of the division of properties over many centuries, the number of parcels that had to be described was enormous, with the result that many of the terriers are huge volumes, sometimes exceeding 1300 folios, written on both sides. The amount of work involved in producing such a volume was formidable, sometimes extending over a period of several years. There would have been many months of preparation as well, in gathering and reviewing all of the source documents, interviewing the current owners of the various parcels, etc. See recent news about the terriers at the ACV!

In view of the complexity of the task, executed with only a quill pen, it is not surprising that the terriers contain errors, or at least inconsistencies. For purposes of genealogical research, the possible existence of errors means that it is necessary to cast a very wide net, examining as many terriers as possible for the districts of interest. It is also advisable, whenever possible, to check the terriers of other districts, since so many families owned property in unexpected locations. The ACV has a series of volumes that help to locate the terriers that include property in each commune. Additional terriers might exist in the archives of neighboring cantons, as well as the archives of the various communes.

When research conditions are favorable, it may be possible to use the terriers to trace at least some families back through several centuries. In other cases, the information in the terriers could be combined with information in the registers of the notaries. In a few cases, the terriers mention the dates of testaments or marriage contracts that are now lost.

Most of the terriers have at least a rudimentary index of personal names, and some have an index of place names as well. The indexes are not always complete. A comparison of the index entries with the titles and text of the individual "reconnaissances" shows that the index entries often omit the names of other parties who share an interest in a particular property. Also, the index entries sometimes do not use the same spellings as those found in the body of the document.

Because of the way the terriers were compiled—by human hands suject to distraction and boredom—it is necessary to evaluate them with the same care that would be used for any other source that whose accuracy has not been verified. In effect, while some parts of the individual "reconnaissances" could be regarded as primary sources, attested by the parties who were present when the documents were written and speaking of matters about which they were likely well informed, other parts are secondary sources. That is, those sections that concern prior ownership of property are usually based on other, much earlier documents, and are therefore not primary sources. Among the ways that the terriers can be evaluated are the following:

• The ownership of a particular parcel should be reported the same way in all the reconnaissances that cite it as a neighboring property. That is, each time the property is cited, the current ownership should be identical.
• Each time a prior reconnaissance is cited by date and by the name of the commissaire who compiled it, the names of the parties should match. We found many cases in some terriers where the paraphrases of a prior reconnaissance were drastically different. In one terrier (1622), we found at least four versions relating to the Monod family, each claiming to name the parties to a single reconnaissance from 1570. Sometimes the nature of the error is obvious, in others it defies explanation. In such cases, the original of the prior reconnaissance must be found, or else the information must be ignored entirely.
• When comparing individual parcels, it is sometimes helpful to pay attention to the amounts of the "cense" that are due, as well as the description of the parcel and the parties involved. People could own multiple parcels in a single "lieu-dit", with similar or even identical descriptions.
• For the frequently encountered situation of joint ownership of a parcel (the key word for this situation is "indivis"), the amounts of the "cense" that are owed by each of the owners must add up to the correct total for the entire parcel. The shares of the individual owners will normally be listed in separate reconnaissances. It is important to locate the reconnaissances that account for all the shares, and then to understand the nature of the division. Divisions into thirds, fourths, etc. may have implications for understanding the relationships of the owners.
• It is necessary to cast a very wide net. The patchwork of feudal titles had the consequence that an individual might own parcels in the jurisdictions of several different Seigneurs or other entities. Since not all the terriers have survived, and since not all of them are equally informative, the clues needed to untangle complicated families will not always be found where they are expected.
• During the centuries when terriers were in use, family names sometimes changed. Later compilers sometimes used the current family name when citing an old reconnaissance. Aliases ("dit" names) are often encountered, but they are not always used consistently. In the 15th and 16th Centuries, aliases were sometimes based on the name of the wife: when Claude Mayor of Ballens, resident of Mollens, married Mermette Mathey, he became known as Claude Mayor alias Mathey, and his descendants were frequently known as Mayor dit Mathey. With close reading, the terriers will often reveal the origins of aliases and name changes.
• Genealogical conclusions should be based on as wide a selection of evidence as possible, and explanations should be sought for any citations that seem inconsistent. Where possible, conclusions from the terriers should be supplemented with other sources wherever possible.

1. Indexes, summaries, and extracts from terriers ("Grosses de Reconnaissances", compilations of land records) for various areas, but mostly near Aubonne.
   • Ad 34, Rentier for the priory of Etoy, 1512.
   • Ff 41, Noble fiefs of the Evêché de Lausanne, 1511.
   • Ff 42, Crissier à cause du prieuré de Lutry, 1499.
   • Ff 43, St. Saphorin, Lutry, Cully, grosse pour l’Abbaye de Montheron à cause de ses biens et revenus, 1515.
   • Ff 76, Prieuré de Lutry, 1538.
   • Ff 76 bis, Prieuré de Lutry, 1538.
   • Ff 84, Chapels and confraries of the “grand église” of Lausanne, 1541.
   • Ff 90, Lausanne à cause de la Châpitre, 1546.
   • Ff 93, Lausanne, noble fiefs of the former Evêché, 1551.
   • Ff 108, for Noble Jaques Cerjat in the area around Cully, 1570.
   • Ff 112, Lausanne, property of the former Evêché, 1571 to 1590's.
   • Ff 145, Lausanne, rentier pour Leurs Excellences circa 1600.
   • Ff 166, Priory of Lutry, Evêché de Lausanne, and parish of Lutry, 1620.
   • Ff 186, Priory of Lutry etc., 1630 (mainly at Villars-Mendraz).
   • Ff 289, Abbaye de Romainmôtier, property at Crissier, 1599.
   • Fg 6, Priory of Romainmôtier, 1424.
   • Fg 27, Noble fiefs of Romainmôtier, 1493.
   • Fg 52, Priory of Romainmôtier at Mollens etc., 1536.
   • Fg 62, Morges and surrounding villages (?), 1545 (?).
   • Fg 102, Conseigneurie de Lussy, 1590.
   • Fg 105, Rentier pour les chappelles de Cossonay, circa 1595.
   • Fg 111, Noble fiefs of Morges, 1599.
   • Fg 125, Mollens, property formerly held by the priory of Romainmôtier, 1608, commissaire Etienne Mayor.
   • Fg 132, Abbaye du Lac de Joux, 1624.
   • Fg 159, Ballens, for the Baron of Aubonne, 1678.
   • Fg 171, Reconnaissances for Gabriel Monod relating to the dowry of his wife, at Apples, circa 1700.
   • Fg 264, Seigneurie du Rosey, 1527.
   • Fg 273, Mont-le-Grand and surrounding area, répertoire to a lost (?) terrier, 1540-1542.
   • Fg 283, Mollens for the noble de Mont family, undated, possibly about 1550 or earlier.
   • Fg 294, "Compte particullier des censes" for the Barony of Rolle at Bière, circa 1590.
   • Fh 9, Aubonne, noble fiefs, 1507, commissaire Brasier.
   • Fh 17, Gimel for the noble de la Porte family, 1552.
   • Fh 25, Noble fiefs of the Barony of Aubonne, 1576.
   • Fh 31, Similar to Fh 34, but covering different areas; we copied and transcribed only the sections for Ballens, Mollens, and Bussy.
   • Fh 34, Bougier-St.Martin, Trévelin, and Gimel, circa 1585, apparently compiled by Etienne Favre. Classified as a quernet, this enormous volume lacks headings and dates, but it does contain abundant genealogical information, especially about the old families of Gimel. The transcript is nearly complete, but still needs editing.
   • Fh 38, Gimel, "grosse de reconnaissances" for the de Martine family, 1583, commissaire Etienne Favre.
   • Fh 39, Saint Livre, "extraits des censes pensionnaires" regarding property at St. Livre that was sold by Jean Grivel to Their Excellencies of Bern in 1717. The "reconnaissances" were copied from earlier terriers.
   • Fh 53, property dependent on the Château d'Allamand, about 1614, partial index and analysis.
   • Fh 63, Gimel en faveur de Benjamin Valier, 1682.
   • Fh 130, Confrérie d'Aubonne, 1477, commissaire Pierre Gos.
   • Fh 133, Abbaye de Bonmont, 1490.
   • Fh 136, Seigneurie d'Aubonne, copies of diverse reconnaissances, 1490-1499.
   • Fh 137, Château d'Aubonne, 1506, commissaire Jean Brassier.
   • Fh 141, City and hospital of Aubonne, 1514, commissaire Cuinssins.
   • Fh 143, for de Vergy, Seigneur de Champvent, 1521, commissaire Louis Challet.
   • Fh 144, Aubonne à cause de la conseigneurie, 1522, commissaire Louis Challet.
   • Fh 146, vicinity of Aubonne and Rolle, for the de Costable family, 1534, commissaire Louis Challet.
   • Fh 149, vicinity of Aubonne, property from the former priory of Etoy, now held by Their Excellencies of Bern, 1537.
   • Fh 150, Aubonne, 1577.
   • Fh 152, Aubonne, 1560-1578.
   • Fh 153, Château d'Aubonne, 1564, commissaires Tripod and Dunant.
   • Fh 155, Aubonne "à cause de cures", 1566, commissaire Dunant. Fh 154 is nearly an exact duplicate of this volume.
   • Fh 156, properties formerly belonging to the "cures" in the area of Aubonne, now property of the Baron of Aubonne, 1567, commissaires Dunant and Tripod.
   • Fh 158, property that was formerly dedicated to the support of the Messe de Purgatoire for the city of Aubonne, 1573, commissaire Barbier. A nearly complete but rough transcript of the entire register.
   • Fh 159, property formerly dedicated to the Confrérie du Saint Esprit at Aubonne, 1573, index and partial transcript.
   • Fh 160, Château d'Aubonne, 1575, commissaires Dunant and Favre.
   • Fh 161, property formerly dedicated to the support of the chapels of the church at Aubonne, now belonging to the Baron of Aubonne, 1577, commissaire Etienne Favre.
   • Fh 162, property of the former piory of Etoy, 1580, commissaires Marquis and Favre.
   • Fh 163, Priory of Etoy, 1578.
   • Fh 164, property in the vicinity of Aubonne due to the fief of Lavigny acquired by François Forestey by exchange, 1580.
   • Fh 168, Various fiefs of the Baron of Aubonne, 1599.
   • Fh 169, Aubonne, for de Martine and Valier, 1593, commissaire Pariat.
   • Fh 171, former Priory of Etoy, 1606, commissaire Paul Leonard.
   • Fh 173, Hospital of Aubonne, 1614.
   • Fh 174, City of Aubonne, 1612.
   • Fh 175, Ballens, 1623, preliminary analysis.
   • Fh 176, Baron of Aubonne, property from the former seigneurie of Rochefort, 1623.
   • Fh 176bis, Barony of Aubonne, 1623.
   • Fh 179, property of the former Chapitre de Genève, located at Aubonne and now held by city of Geneva, 1658.
   • Fh 199, Extracts of old reconnaissances for Gimel.
   • Fh 200, Extracts of old reconnaissances for Gimel.
   • Fh 203, Gimel, for the Baron of Aubonne, 1522.
   • Fh 211, Château et Seigneurie d'Aubonne, 1567.
   • Fh 223, Saint Livre, 1616, index and partial transcript.
   • Fh 246, Yens, 1740, relating to property formerly owned jointly by Daniel Bickhart and Isaac and Gabriel Monod de Froideville as a result of succession from the de Lavigny family, now owned by Bickhart. (See also Bib 198, liquidation of property of the Monod brothers for debts, 1742.)
   • Fi 40, Abbaye de Bonmont and dependencies, 1524.
   • Fi 55, Noble fiefs of Morges, 1543.
   • Fi 77, Bonmont, 1556.
   • Fi 113, dependencies of the former Abbey of Bonmont, about 1624, general area of Aubonne.
   • Fj 5, Romainmôtier, commissaire Aymonet Pollens, circa 1496.
   • Fj 8, Abbaye du Lac de Joux, 1522.
   • Fj 10, Romainmôtier, 1529.
   • Fj 15, Abbaye du Lac de Joux, property at Mollens, 1552-1564.
   • Fj 34, various dependencies of the former convent of Romainmôtier, 1626.
   • Fl 9, Montmagney, 1498.
   • Fl 14, Clergy of Avenches, 1534.
   • Fl 392, Château de Cudrefin, for Humbert, bâtard de Savoie, 1424-1428.
   • Fl 394, Cudrefin, for Louis duc de Savoie, 1457.
   • Fl 398, Cure de Bellerive, 1471.
   • Fl 399, Cure de Bellerive, 1489.
   • Fl 400, Cudrefin, commissaire Johannes de Molendino, 1491.
   • Fl 402, Cudrefin, commissaire Johannes de Molendino, 1495.
   • Fl 405, Grandcour, Cudrefin, etc., 1530, property of de Praroman, formerly held by de Graffenried.
   • Fl 409, parishes of Constantine and Bellerive, 1535. Partial index.
   • Fl 460, property of the Noble Fivaz brothers in the Vully region, 1526.
   • Fm 51, Payerne for Noble Girard Mestral, 1537?
   • Fm 52, vicinity of Corcelles-près-Payerne, 1437 to 1500.
   • Fm 53, Payerne, extracts for Noble Girard Mestral, 1537.
   • Fn 128, Chappelles de Notre Dame de Moudon, 1592-1615.
   • Fn 129, Château de Moudon, 1592-1595.
   • Fn 130, Moudon, 1593-1608.
   • Fn 131, Cure et chappelles de Moudon, 1593-1614.
   • Fn 165ter, Hospital of Lucens, 20 feb 1637.
   • Fn 174, Rentier for the Château de Lucens, after 1602.
   • Fn 194, Chavannes-sur-Moudon, 1764.
   • Fn 283, Villard-Mendraz, 1630.
   • Fn 337, Cure de Moudon, 1573.
   • Fn 340, Cures et chappelles de Moudon, 1590-1607.
   • Fn 341, Cure de Moudon, 1590-1607.
   • Fn 342, Cure de Moudon, 1591-1613.
   • Fn 343, Château de Moudon, 1591-1612.
   • Fn 344, Cure de Moudon and Chappelle de Saint Bernard, 1593.
   • Fn 345, Chappelles de Moudon, 1591-1607.
   • Fn 346, Chappelles de Moudon, 1591-1601.
   • Fn 347, Château de Moudon, property at Chavannes, 1592.
2. The special "Taille" (tax) of 1550 for the area around Lausanne (excluding the city itself, which was exempt) and for the area around Moudon. For the areas that were taxed, this amounts to a census of heads of family. In addition to signaling the existence of individuals, the lists contain some additional genealogical information.
3. Death records for the parish of Moudon, 1728-1764, from a register that the Family History Library forgot to film. The index was filmed, but not the original records. There is an enormous amount of information in this register that is not in the index!
4. Death records for the parish of Bière 1728-1793. The microfilm from the Family History Library is so dark, it is almost entirely unreadable for this period. The microfilm at the ACV is almost perfectly legible, so we have transcribed the section of it that is unreable on the FHL microfilm. There are still a few pages that are too dark to read even on the ACV microfilm.
5. Indexes from various volumes of testaments, especially for Lausanne and Moudon.
• Lausanne: testaments probated 1638-1856, partial index of the 25 volumes of ACV Bg 13bis. This index will be extended as more information becomes available.
• Villette: declarations of verbal testaments, 1579-1603, a bound bundle of separate pages (ACV Bg 23/3).
• Moudon: testaments probated 1735-1787, abstracted from the registers of the notary Jaques Daniel Burnand (ACV DL 11), who served as Curial of the Cour de Justice during that period.
6. Citizenship, habitants, bourgeoisie:
• AVL A 53, Lausanne, "procédures diverses" 1565-1745, notably regarding the estate of Noble Benjamin d'Asperlin, 1698.
• AVL C 194, Lausanne, register of rentals, testaments, etc. by Pierre Pivard, 1564-1583, detailed list of contents.
• AVL C 195, Lausanne, register of rentals etc. by (Samuel?) François, 1590-1630, index of contents.
• AVL C 199, Lausanne, register of rentals etc., 1630-1657, index of contents.
• AVL D 438, Lausanne, Lettres de bourgeoisie etc., 1383-1718, This volume contains several sections that summarize other lists and documents. Some of the documents that are summarized here are found in the other volumes.
• AVL D 439/1, Lausanne, Lettres de bourgeoisie etc., 1544-1615. The first section contains copies or summaries of the letters granting bourgeois status. The second section contains copies or summaries of the documents showing that the fees for obtaining bourgeois status had been paid in full. There are a large number of such receipts for which the original letters of bourgeoisie have been lost.
• AVL D 440, Lausanne, Lettres de bourgeoisie etc., 1616-1658.
• AVL D 441/1, Lausanne, Lettres de bourgeoisie etc., 1658-1764, index and some abstracts.
• AVL D 441/3, Lausanne, Lettres de bourgeoisie, 1688-1707. We have transcribed the first section, a list of the bourgeoisie compiled in January, 1688, and formatted in a way that indicates sons and grandsons of the heads of families.
• AVL: Dossier on the Marcel family, containing over 40 separate items relating to the descendants of Pierre Marcel and Jeanne Richard, especially during the 19th Century.