100 kilometers from Cuvilly, from the aristocracy, Françoise Blin de Bourdon
March 8, 1756, Françoise Blin de Bourdon is born at Gézaincourt, five years after Julie.
Baptized the day after her birth, she receives her confirmation at the age of eight.
Apart from a few trips to Bourdon where her parents have their chateau, she spends her childhood at Gézaincourt with her maternal grandparents, the Baron and Baroness de Fouquesolles.
Françoise receives a refined education with the Benedictines at Doullens and with the Ursulines in Amiens.  At the age of 19, in order to prepare for her debut in French society, she frequents the salons of Paris and is presented at the court in Versailles.
At Gézaincourt, Françoise manages the estate and its vast dependencies.  She also visits the sick and cares for them by means of medicinal plants that she cultivates; the villagers willingly seek advice from the “good lady.”  The parish priest later asserted that Françoise attended Mass daily, prayed for long periods and received communion often. 

Artifacts

Large cashmere shawls which Françoise Blin de Bourdon wore when she was still in the world. Cashmere is a material made of goat hair from Cashmere or Tibet. It also contains wool.

Little purse used by Françoise Blin de Bourdon.