Marie Durand
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Marie Durand (1711–1776), was a French Protestant. She was famously imprisoned in the Tour de Constance (Aigues-Mortes) from 25 August 1730 for attending a Huguenot assembly with her mother,[1] or perhaps because her brother, Pierre Durand, was a well-known preacher,[2] or perhaps because of her marriage.
Marie was born to Etienne and Claudine Durand from the hamlet of Le Bouchet near Privas in France. Her older brother Pierre became well known as a Huguenot preacher and pastor. Her father Etienne who was consular registrar of the parish was arrested in February, 1729. He was jailed in Brescou at the fort where he was interned for fourteen years. Marie married a much older man who was at least in his forties, Mathieu Serres, later that same year. Her father Etienne was finally released at ninety-two years old although he only had a further two years to conclude his ruined life.[3] Her brother was caught on the road to Vermoux in 1732 and was hanged at Montpellier in that same year.[4]
Imprisonment
The formal reason for her arrest is unclear. E Audra writes:
- "It seems this marriage was not approved of by her brother, perhaps because of the great difference of age. It seems also that it was neither solemnized by a catholic priest nor blessed by a pasteur, and that the couple, after having signed a marriage contract, which was duly registered, lived as husband and wife. Perhaps for that reason alone, perhaps because she was suspected of having been married by Pierre Durand, lastly perhaps because she was the sister of a pasteur wanted as a rebel to the King’s Will, she was imprisoned in the Tower of Constance, at Aigues-Mortes, in 1730, while Mathieu Serres joined his father-in-law in the fort of Brescou. Anyhow, she continued to be called and to call herself not Marie Serres, but Marie Durand."
Marie was not released until 1768, 36 years later after serving 38 years in the tower. Like Margaret Wilson simple abjuration was all she needed for release but this offer she refused. The word "RESISTER" scratched by her, or by one or others of her cellmates with a knitting needle into the stonework serves as an expression of her Protestant faith.[5] She did not convert to Roman Catholicism.[6] It has been argued that the authorities didn't attempt to convert her once she was imprisoned as she was allowed to correspond with her pastor.[7] It is also recorded that she was asked every day whether she would abjure but daily refused.
