Some years ago I had the chance to peruse some late XVIIIth century registers from a local parish. I was looking for first-hand information about the passage of Napoleon’s troops in my corner of the world between 1796 and 1797, and while most parsons ran away when the French arrived, I eventually found trace of one who didn’t.

Don Francesco Doni not only remained in his parish, but also added “current affairs” annotations in his parish books, between recordings of births, marriages and deaths… Continue reading →