JEAN VICTOR TROCHESSET

In a "Livret D'Ouvrier", a worker's schedule book; one could find a documentation of all work done by that person. The laws governing workers stated that they must have this book with them at all times and follow all work laws or be brought before the police for a possible prison term of five years.

What follows is a description of a relic of the past, a souvenir of special family value, which was retained by his daughter Reseda.

Jean Victor was issued his "Livret D'Ouvrier" on 8 May 1855 by the Dept. of Gard, Arondissement of Dalois, at the City Hall of Robiac. He was only seven, but lists his age as eleven. He is listed as a "terrasier", a road builder. On the first page appears a description of this "eleven year old". His birth and baptismal records are quite clear that he was born on 26 July 1848, making him just under seven years old.
His description follows:

Age
Height
Hair
Eyebrows
Forehead
Eyes
Nose
Mouth

11 years old
1 metre, 20 centimetres (4 feet)
light brown
light brown
round
brown
large
large

Beard
Chin
Face
Color
Special marks
Born
Department
Living

none
round
oval
good
smallpox marks
Lanuejois
Lozere
Robiac

These were some of the assignments given to Jean Victor as recorded in his little workbook.

(1) Coal Co. of Robiac and Besseges (Gard)
The named, Jean Trochesset begins as a sorter or picker of rocks for the Compagnie de Robiac et Besseges on 9 May 1855. He left on 13 Aug 1860 for a break. Done at Besseges.
Engineer; S. Sacon

(2) Coal Company of Robiac and Besseges (Gard)
Jean Trochesset, laborer, entered the coal mines of Robiac and Besseges on 16 May 1861. He left on 16 June 1861 for a break. Besseges, 24 June 1862.
Engineer: Rouy

(4) Coal mines of Trelys, Foundry and Iron Works of Alais
No. 600. Jean Trochesset entered as a pitman in the coal mines of Trelys on 5 May 1867. He left for a break and free time. Rochessadoule, 20 Aug 1867.
L. Laton

(5) Coal Company of Besseges (Gard)
Jean Trochesset, miner, entered the coal mines of Robiac and Besseges on 1 Sept 1867. He left for a break. Besseges, 13 Feb 1868.
Engineer: Charotais

(6) Coal mines of Trelys, Foundry and Iron Works of Alais
No. 600. Entered as a laborer to wash coal in the mines on 18 Feb 1868. He left for a break from the company. Rochessadoule, 3 July 1868.
Engineer: Salaton

Eleven of these documentations are listed in the book. Jean Victor never used up all the pages of his workbook. He is living in the United States a year after his last entry in his "Livret D'Ouvrier".