Validation of Exceptional Longevity

Jeanne Calment: Validation of the Duration of Her Life

Annexes

 

[ Text | References | Sources ]

I. Civil status registers of the city of Arles

1) Direct documents

Birth record of Jeanne Calment: On the twenty-second of February, 1875, Nicolas Calment, shipbuilder, aged 37, declares that his spouse Marguerite Gilles, aged 37, has given birth to a daughter, Jeanne Louise Calment, born on the twenty-first of February, 1875. The Calment/Gilles family is then residing in Duroure Street in Arles [BirthRecord;Arles1875:110].

Marriage Record of Jeanne Calment: On the eighth of April, 1896, Fernand Nicolas Calment, merchant, born in Arles on the second of November, 1868, aged 27, son of Jacques Calment, deceased, and Marie Felix, marries Jeanne Louise Calment, born on the twenty-first of February, 1875, aged 21, daughter of Nicolas Calment, landowner, and Marguerite Gilles [MarriageRecord;Arles1896:37].

Birth Record of Jeanne Calment's daughter: On the twentieth of January, 1898, Fernand Nicolas Calment, aged 29, merchant, declares that his spouse Jeanne Louise Calment, aged 22, has given birth to a daughter, Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, born on the nineteenth of January, 1898. The Calment/Calment family is then residing in Gambetta Street in Arles. [BirthRecord;Arles1898:110].

Marriage Record of Jeanne Calment's daughter: On the third of February, 1926, Captain Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, born in Arles on the fifth of March, 1891, aged 34, son of Paul Emile Marie Honoré Frédéric Billot and Jeanne Marie Jouve, marries Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment born on the nineteenth of January, 1898, aged 28, daughter of Fernand Nicolas Calment and Jeanne Louise Calment [MarriageRecord;Arles1926:18].

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's daughter: Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, aged 36, daughter of Fernand Nicolas Calment and Jeanne Louise Calment, spouse of Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot, has departed this life on the nineteenth of January, 1934 [DeathRecord;Arles1934:36].

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's husband: Fernand Nicolas Calment, aged 73, son of the late Jacques Calment and Marie Felix, spouse of Jeanne Louise Calment, has departed this life on the second of October, 1942. The Calment/Calment family is then residing at 2, St Estève Street in Arles [DeathRecord;Arles1942:475].

Death Record of Jeanne Calment: On the fourth of August 1997, at ten forty-five in the morning, Jeanne Louise Calment, born in Arles on the twenty-first of February, 1875, pensioner, resident of Arles, daughter of Nicolas Calment, deceased, and Marguerite Gilles, deceased, widow of Fernand Nicolas Calment, departed this life [DeathRecord;Arles1997:00433].

2) Indirect documents

Marriage Record of Jeanne Calment's parents: On the sixteenth of October, 1861, Nicolas Calment (Shipbuilder, son of Antoine Calment, shipbuilder, and Marie Anne Poujaud, resident of Arles) has married Marguerite Gilles (daughter of Claude Gilles, former cartwright, at present miller and Rose Minaud, resident of Arles). [MarriageRecord;Arles1861:161-Mention in the margin: Marguerite Gilles, deceased on September 18th, 1924, Nicolas Calment, deceased on January 28th, 1931]

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's mother: Marguerite Calment, aged 86, born in Arles on February 20th, 1838, spouse of Nicolas Calment, daughter of Claude Gilles and Rose Minaud, has departed this life on the eighteenth of September 1924 [DeathRecord;Arles1924:36].

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's father: Nicolas Calment, aged 93, former shipbuilder, widower of Marguerite Gilles, son of Antoine Calment and Marie Anne Poujaud, has departed this life on the twenty-eight of January, 1931 [DeathRecord; Arles1931:64].

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's brother: François Calment, born in Arles on the twenty-fifth of April, 1865, son of Nicolas Calment and Marguerite Gilles, resident of Arles, at the Old people's home of Chiavary, has departed this life on the first of December, 1962 [DeathRecord;Arles1962:435]

Birth Record of Jeanne Calment's grandson: On the twenty-third of December, 1926, Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, aged 28, gave birth to a boy, Frédéric Jean Paul Billot, son of Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot, Captain of Artillery, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. The Billot/Calment family is then residing in Gambetta Street in Arles. [BirthRecord;Arles1826:353].

Marriage Record of Jeanne Calment's grandson: On the third of March, 1950, Frédéric Jean Paul Billot, born in Arles on the twenty-third of December, 1926, medical student (son of Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot, retired Lieutenant-Colonel, Officer of the Legion of Honour and Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, deceased), marries Renée Yvonne Taque, born on the twentieth of January, 1926 in La Londe les Maures (Var), dental student (daughter of Louis Alphonse Taque and Madeleine Germaine Montret) [MarriageRecord;Arles1950:150]

Death Record of Jeanne Calment's grandson: Frédéric Jean Paul Billot, born in Arles on the twenty-third of December, 1926, Medical doctor, spouse of Renée Yvonne Taque, resident of Arles, son of Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot and Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, has departed this life on the thirteenth of August, 1963 [DeathRecord;Arles1963:346].

II. Censuses

In 1876, Jeanne Calment is counted in the western canton, section j, in Arles. She is one year old and lives with: Nicolas Calment (39 years old, born in Arles, carpenter, householder), Marguerite Gilles (38 years old, born in Arles, his spouse), and François Calment, 11 years old, their son. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as their daughter. [House 131, Household 155, Individuals 486, 487, 488, 489].

In 1881, Jeanne Calment is counted in the western canton, section j, in Arles. She is 6 years old and lives with: Nicolas Calment, 44 years old, builder, householder, Marguerite Gilles, 43(?) years old, his spouse, and François Calment, 16 years old, child. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as child.

In 1886, Jeanne Calment is counted with her family again. She is 11 years old and lives with: her father, Nicolas Calment, 48 years old, builder, householder, Marguerite Gilles, 48 years old, having no trade or profession, his spouse. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as child.

In 1891, no "list of population counts" was established.

In 1896, no "list of of population counts" was established.

In 1901, Jeanne Calment is counted in Gambetta Street in Arles. She is 26 years old and lives with: Maria Felix (54 years old, merchant, householder and employer), Fernand Calment (33 years old, son and merchant) [her husband], Yvonne Calment (3 years old and grand-daughter) [her daughter] and with Louise Bauchet and Marie Bertrand, servants. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as daughter-in-law.

In 1901, Jeanne Calment is counted twice: Nicolas Calment is counted in St Martin de Crau. He is 63 years old (householder, shipbuilder, employer). He declares: Marguerite Gilles (63 years old, spouse), Marguerite Minaud (37 years old, cousin), François Calment (36 years old, son, having no trade or profession), Jeanne Calment (26 years old, daughter).

In 1906, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Fernand Calmen[t] (born in 1868, merchant, householder and employer), Yvonne Calmen[t] (born in 1898, daughter) and Marthe Fousson, born in 1898 [error], servant. Jeanne Calmen[t] is mentioned as spouse and owner [House 83, Individual 110].

Marie Felix [her mother-in-law], born in 1847, employer and landowner, is counted in a separate apartment, next to hers, with Marie Perrot, servant [House 83, Individual 111].

In 1911, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street, in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Fernand Calment (born in 1868, householder, draper and employer), Yvonne Calment (born in 1898, daughter) and Marthe Fousson, born in 1885 at Fontvieille, servant. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as spouse and as having no trade or profession [House 80, Household 91].

Maria Calment, born in 1847, householder, having no trade or profession, is counted in a separate apartment, next to hers, with Madeleine Olivier, servant [House 80, Household 92].

In 1921, Jeanne Calment is counted in Gambetta Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Fernand Calment (born in 1868, householder, draper and employer), Yvonne Calment (born in 1898, daughter, without trade or profession), and Josephine Camiotti, servant. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as spouse and as having no trade or profession [House 832, Household 1173].

Maria Calment, born in 1847, householder, having no trade or profession, is counted in a separate apartment, next to hers [House 832, Household 1174].

In 1926, Jeanne Calment is counted in Gambetta Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Fernand Calment (born in 1868, householder, draper), Maria Calment (born in 1847, mother), and Pauline Cheulan (born in 1895, servant). Jeanne Calment is mentioned as spouse [House 255, Household 278].

The 1931 census was the first to be typed on a typing machine. It contained numerous typing and copying errors and erasures. We can read, in Gambetta Street (House no. 1594 and Household no. 1925):

We can consider that:

In 1931, Jeanne Calment is counted in Gambetta Street in Arles. She lives with: Fernand Calment (born in 1868, Householder, Merchant and Employer), Joseph Billot (born in 1891, Son-in-law, Having no trade or profession), Maria Calment (born in 1847, Mother, Having no trade or profession), Frédéric Billot (born in 1926, Grandson, Having no trade or profession), Louise Xauzarxyes (erased) (born in 1894, Servant, Cook) and Pauline Cheylan (born in 1895, Servant, Maid).

No mention is made of Yvonne Calment, spouse of Joseph Billot, which might be a recopying error.

In 1936, Jeanne Calment is counted in Gambetta Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Fernand Calment (born in 1868, householder, merchant, employer), and Louise Causargue, maid, cook. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as spouse and as having no trade or profession [House 8, Household 10].

Charles Billot (born in 1891, householder, merchant), having Calment as employer [it is obviously Joseph, Charles, ... Billot] and Frédéric Billot, born in 1926, son, having no trade or profession, are counted in a separate apartment, next to hers [House 8, Household 11].

In 1946, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: François Calment, born in 1865, her brother, pensioner. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as householder and as having no trade or profession [House 3, Household 1349, Individuals 3635, 3636].

Joseph Billot (born in 1891, householder, pensioner) and Frédéric Billot (born in 1926, son, student) are counted in a separate apartment, next to hers [House 3, Household 1351, Individuals 3638, 3639].

In 1954, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born in 1875 and lives with: Joseph Billot (born in 1891, son-in-law). Jeanne Calment is mentioned as mother [House 2, Apartment 359].

Frédéric Billot (born in 1926, householder, medical doctor) and Renée Billot (born in 1926, spouse) are counted in a separate apartment, next to hers [House 2, Apartment 360].

In 1962, the list of population counts is typewritten once again. Typing errors are not as numerous as they were in 1931.

In 1962, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born in [18]75 and lives with: Joseph Billot (born in [18]91, son-in-law (Gendxe), X[M corrected V). Jeanne Calment is mentioned as widow (V for widow) [House 5, Apartment1].

Frédéric Billot (born in 1926, householder, medical doctor, M) and Renée Billot (born in 1926, dental surgeon, spouse, M) are counted in a separate apartment, close to hers [Antonelle Square, House 3, Apartment 1].

In 1968, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born on February 22nd, [18]75 and lives by herself. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as widow (V) and as having no trade or profession (SP) [House 36, Apartment 1].

Renée Billot (born on January 21st, (19)26, dental surgeon, spouse, "V" for "veuve", that is widow) is counted in a separate apartment next to hers [Place Antonelle, House 39, Apartment 1].

In 1975, Jeanne Calment is counted in St Estève Street in Arles. She was born on February 21st, [18]75 and she lives by herself. Jeanne Calment is mentioned as Calmant, maiden name Calment Jeanne, eps (...) and X (M, married, corrected as V, for "veuve") [House 1].

III. Parish registers

Baptism record of Jeanne Calment: In the year 1875, on the twenty-third of February, I, the undersigned curate [Berlioz] have baptized Jeanne Louise Calment, born on the twenty-first of February, daughter of Nicolas Calment, ship's carpenter, and Marguerite Gilles, wedded before God. The godfather has been Pierre Gille Paget and the godmother Jeanne Gilles, who have co-signed the present record with me.

Signed by Nicolas Calment [father], Ls Paget [godfather, whose first name was obviously Louis, the Christian name given to her goddaughter; Pierre Gille's name, mentioned on the baptism record could not be found anywhere else; his birth record would only enlighten us on this subject], Jeanne Gilles [godmother], François Calment [Is it her brother François, 10 years old in 1875?] and Berlioz (curate). [Arles, Saint Césaire1875, n54].

Church wedding of Jeanne Calment: In the year 1896, on the eighth of April, the banns having been duly published during the parish service of this church as well as during the parish service of St Trophime church, the marriage license having been granted by Monsignor the archbishop, as well as the exemption from the prohibition of marriage as within the third degree of consanguinity existing between the two parties, and that of prohibited time, and no other impediment having been discovered, I, the undersigned, parish priest of Saint Cesaire church in Arles, have asked for and received the mutual agreement of Fernand Nicolas Calment, merchant, major son of the late Jacques Calment and of Marie Felix, resident of Arles in St Trophime parish, on the one hand, and of Jeanne Louise Calment, minor daughter of Nicolas Calment and Marguerite Gilles, resident of Arles in this parish Saint Cesaire, on the other hand, and I have presently and solemnly joined them in wedlock, in the presence of Pierre Calment, Emile Fassin, Louis Calment and Antoine Bourdelon. [Arles, Saint Césaire1896, n 8].

Baptism record of Jeanne Calment's daughter: Yvonne Marie Nicolle Calment, born on the nineteenth of January, daughter of Fernand Nicolas Calment and Jeanne Louise Calment, has been baptized on the thirteenth of February, 1898, in St Cesaire church in Arles. The godfather has been Nls Calment [Nicolas obviously] and the godmother Marie Calment. [Arles, St Trophime1898, n10]. Christian names Marie and Nicolle were given to her after her godmother and her godfather.

Church wedding of Jeanne Calment's daughter: The wedding has been celebrated, on the day after, the fourth of February, 1926: between, on the one hand, Billot Joseph Charles Frédéric, Captain at 63rd R.A.N.A., major son of Paul Billot and Jeanne Marie Jouve, baptized at St Trophime on the 22nd of March, resident of Arles and, on the other hand, Calment Yvonne Marie Nicolle, major daughter of Fernand Nicolas Calment and Jeanne Louise Calment, baptized at St Trophime on February 13th, 1898 and resident of Arles (Gambetta Street). Witnesses: Louis Giroux and François Calment. [Arles, St Trophime1926, n2]

Baptism record of Jeanne Calment's grandson: In the year 1927, on the ninth of February, I, the undersigned curate [XXX], have baptized Frédéric Jean Paul Billot, born on the twenty-third of December, son of Joseph Charles Frédéric Billot and Yvonne Marie Calment... The godfather was Paul Emile Billot and the godmother Jeanne Calment, spouse Calment, who have co-signed the present record with me [Arles, St Trophime1927, n2].

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