Château de Minière: The du Soulier Era
During the ensuring centuries the estate was passed down through the generations, coming first to the aforementioned Martial Pierre Henri, who was an accomplished soldier and rifleman, and who had reclaimed his hereditary title of viscount with letters received in 1817. On May 11th 1803 he married Renée de Bernard de la Fosse, and they had two sons, Marie Henri Calixte (1804 – 1871) and Paul (1811 – 1830).
Marie Henri Calixte married Claire Rosalie de Herte de Merville (born 1806), and they had a son Pierre Raymond Martial (1833 – 1870), as well as a daughter Geneviève (1843 – 1849), who died in childhood. Marie Henri Calixte is recorded as having died at Minières, and when he did it was Pierre Raymond who inherited the property and his father’s title. Presumably throughout this time there was viticulture on and around the domaine, although I doubt the proprietors, soldiers and noblemen, had much of a ‘hands on’ approach. I imagine they allowed tenants to work the land, or employed people to do so on their behalf.
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