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The Families of Louis and Zélie Paternal Grandparents The grandparents and great-grandparents of Thérèse had a great love of God in their hearts. They lived through a time of persecution of the Church. Despite this period of persecution and repression of the Church both sides of the family kept the faith. Not only did they keep the faith, they grew in it, or rather it grew in them. Great grandfather Jean Martin, born 1752, eventually became a captain in the French army. His son, Pierre François, was also drafted into the army. Pierre rose quickly through the ranks. Joining the 65th Heavy Infantry Regiment he soon became a corporal. Four years later he was promoted to sergeant. By the year 1813 Sergeant Martin had been promoted to second-lieutenant, and in the same year he was a lieutenant. In 1815 he became a captain. He served his country well in many campaigns throughout France and also in Belgium, Poland and Prussia. For a time he was in the 19th Light Infantry and then in the 42nd Infantry of the Line on garrison duty in Lyons. Whilst stationed in Lyons, Pierre fell in love with Anne Boureau who was only sixteen years old. Pierre became a regular guest at Captain Boureau’s home and when Anne was eighteen years old they became engaged to be married.
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