Info from Geneanet
At the opening of the registers early in 1634, we find at Colomby-sur-Thaon a certain Jean de la
Berge, apparently already widowed of Jeanne le Coq, and their two sons: Jacques de la Berge, married to
Marguerite Basly, and Charles de la Berge, married to Étiennote whose surname is left blank in the only
act where she is mentioned.
Marriage Notes for Thomas de la berge and Marie DE THAN
Marie de Than was of the Parish of Annisy.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to establish the place of origin of the de la Berge family,
some of whom seem to have taken residence in Colomby-sur-Thaon not long before 1634. They
were not listed among the members of the so-called reformed religion when the cemetery
agreement was signed in 1629. They were Catholics, and they became involved in the life of the
parish to the extent they were able. The analysis of several indices allows us to surmise that the
family was originally from Thaon, and that economic necessity motivated them to move to
Colomby-sur-Thaon, which might explain why Thomas preferred to live in Thaon, where he
would be married rather late in life, or more likely, remarried, in 1660. Not knowing how to sign
their names, nor, consequently, how to read or write, as was true of most of the habitants of that
era, they identified themselves by a characteristic mark, such as those craftsmen use to identify
their work. It is possible that Jean de la Berge and his two sons plied a craft, probably that of
carpenter-joiner, although their main occupation, the way they earned their daily bread, was as
farm workers, tilling the soil of arrant lands [terres fieffés]. According to the documents, we can
also surmise that all three enjoyed a certain consideration in the community, to which they
brought their full and entire collaboration, and they were always cited among the notable
citizens. Moreover, the fact that Charles had married the daughter of a merchant from Caen may
indicate that he had attained a certain renown and authority within the community, as does the
fact that his son Pierre, born on June 22, 1653, had as godfather, and was named at his baptism,
by Pierre Baudart, esquire, an honor which the nobility did not grant to just anyone.