Historical overview, XIXth century until 1978

XIXth century - The principality again in French hands

Order of Oath to Prince Alexander (ACL AAII - Extract of the Manual of Justice of October 11, 1806)

The Mayor has read the judgment, the content of which follows.

The principality of Neuchâtel having been solemnly surrendered by His Majesty, the Emperor of the French and King of Italy, to His Serene Highness Prince Alexander, the Council of State, after having, as well as the officers of theState and the representatives of the state bodies, sworn to his highness, orders all heads of courts, to summon on Saturday the eleventh of this morning at ten o'clock in the morning, instead of ordinary sittings of Justice, the membersof the Corps of Justice, Military Officers, Notaries, Church Elders, Surveyors and all other persons sworn to the seigneury; and to exact from each of them the oath, according to the following formula: I swear fidelity to His Serene Highness Prince Alexander, Prince and Duke of Neuchatel, and obedience to the established authorities on his part.

Given in council held under our presidency at the castle of Neuchâtel, the 8th of October, 1806. (Signed) de Montmollin.

After which, the Mayor said that to comply with the orders contained in the judgments, he would require all the people sworn to the seigniory to take in his hands the oath prescriptive, which in obedience to the said orders, presented themselves successively before the Mayor, and said after hearing the oath's formula, and holding the fingers up, so I swear it and I promise.

This is what was celebrated by Mr. Gagnebin Pastor of the place, by Jean Louis Junod, Captain and Notary, Jean Frederich Bonjour, Greffier, Jean Jacques Bonjour, Jean Pierre Gauchat, Abram Bonjour, David Bonjour, Abram louis Chiffelle, David Pierre Bonjour, Jean Jacques Junod, the three Justiciers and Church alumni, Abram David Gauchat, François Louis Bonjour Justicer and former Church, Jonas Pierre Junod and Jean Jacques Chiffelle, all Justiciers, Jean Henry Cosandier, Sautier, Abram Louis Gauchat, Jean Frederich Junod, the two church elders, Auguste Junod, Lieutenant and Jonas Junod, Ensign for the le militaire, Jean Jacques Chiffelle and Jean Pierre Descombes, Governors.

inally, the Mayor addressed to the assembly a short exhortation on the solemnity of the day, to which Pastor Gagnebin speaking on behalf of all the nationals of the Jurisdiction to have answered by a small discourse to express their feelings of joy as well astheir fidelities, and their inviolable attachment for their Serene Highness their new Sovereign.Ceremony which was ended by repeated cries from both the assembly and the whole people, Long live Prince Alexander, our sovereign, letout to the sound of several bursts of the millicians of the jurisdiction who were under arms.The Mayor has requested all this in writing and order to the undersigned Registrar to send it to him.At Lignières, day and year before. (Signed) J.F. Bonjour

1807

Border boundary dispute (MN 1890/114 - Max Diacon)

On July 20, 1807, the Council of State had informed Prince Berthier that the mayor of Nods, by a solemn declaration, claimed that the people of the Principality did not have the right to travel on the ground included between largeand small terminals of Lignières;The Prince, who was in no great hurry, replied to this missive only on the 25th of October, 1807, by the following rescript, well and duly written and signed by his hand:

Mister President;I received the letter from My Council of State on the declaration made by the Mayor of the Commune of Nods. Nothing has been changed about the rights exercised since 1705 over the territory of which the Sovereigns of Neuchâtel are concerned. All the measures that result from my decrees will therefore continue to be executed without any kind of suspension. With that, I pray to God that he will have you in his holy and worthy guard.

1827 Permission to hold Hotels in its town house
(AEN 914-CH/NE/09)

We, Frederick William of Zastrow, General of Infantry and Minister of State of the King, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Black Eagle and Red Eagle, of the Order of St Hubert of Bavaria, the Order of the Golden Lion of Hesse, & Governor and Lieutenant General of the Principality of Neuchâtel and Valangin, for His Majesty Frederick William III, by the Grace of God, King of Prussia & Our Sovereign, Prince and Lord. Know do, that on the request of the Community of Lignières, for the purpose of obtaining the permission to hold hotel in its common house, located in the village of the said place, which is limited, on the side of bise by the house of Jean David Descombes, wind and uberre sides by the public street, and of joran by a small lane which separates it from the house of Auguste Simon.

On this, we have heard the report of Mr. Tribolet-hardy, State Councilor and Mayor of Lignières, and that of Mr. Baron de Chambrier, State Councilor and Attorney General, and Mr. de Marval, Commissioner General, have , of the Opinion of the Council of State, allowed and granted, as hereby we allow and grant to the said Community of Lignières, to take hostelry in its common house, and take there the sign of the sun; permission that we grant him so far this time that it will not be seen inconveniencies, and under the clause of reservation of revocation as soon as the said house would come to have a destination other than that of hotel, on foot and on horseback, or in the event of complaints to the Government, of disturbances committed and suffered in the said inn, or of a contravention of the police prescribed for hostels.

The grant of which we have granted to the said commune by means of which it pays, once and for all, to Her Majesty, in Her Receipt, the sum of twenty francs Tournois, and which she pays annually a Cens of four pots of barley, made in kind and without the benefit of any particular shelter, at the Landeron's Tax office, on each day of St Martin's winter, as long as the commune shall enjoy the present grant, without prejudice to all the other seignorials whose house can already be charged: by means of still that the said Commune will give recognition in the term of a month, in the hands of the Commissioner General of the present concession, from which it will not be able to benefit before having satisfied this obligation.

It is with the terms and reservations mentioned above, that we want and hear that the Community of Lignières, as owner of the house in question, enjoy peacefully this permission; ordering accordingly the Mayor of Lignières and all other Officers who will be to comply with what above, and to ensure that there is no impediment, because this is our intention on behalf of the King .

In faith whereof we have had this act signed by the Chancellor of the Principality, and we have had the Great Seal of the State affixed to it. Given at the Council held at the Château de Neuchâtel on the twenty-seventh of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven. (Signed) The State Councilor and Chancellor, .... Travers

1832

Serious Fire in Lignières

On November 29, a fire destroyed 28 houses in the village inhabited by 34 households (159 people).This portion was the one that contained the best and richest buildings.The total loss was estimated at 108'558 francs (Messager Boiteux - 1833). The enormity of the damage was also due to the wooden roofs, and all those rescued were forced to rebuild the tiled or slated roofs, with the walls up to the roof.

Post: A communal messenger (Document PTT / NE)

The messenger is J.P. Gauchat. He is first communal messenger, then formalized. He does 3 rounds a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the market days. Salary: 3 louis of gold per year. He is replaced in 1848 by Mr. Bonjour. Lignières has 435 cattle and cows and nearly 300 sheep.

1842

The Code of Lods: The Franc-Alleu (Volume III, page 62)

The Code of the Lods defines the franc-alleu: There is no franc-alleu in this country, except in a part of the Jurisdiction of Lignières, since the High Bornes against the East until the edge of theState, for all the funds are in their nature subject to lods.

The term "Alleu" is a property, a property, or, as Guizot says, a "lot" of land; "Alleu" was easily opposed to "Fief", because the first depended on no one, while the second depended on a suzerain. Hence the term "franc-alleu": free land ... free of lods.

1896

Rigorous winter: Going through the view of the Alps, Alcide Junod says he had to turn around, held by ledges (snow) from 6 to 7 meters high.

1897

A company for the cheese making is constituted in Lignières (34 associates).

Post: 1 factor is engaged from 1897 to 1910 as auxiliary staff.

The society of history and archeology of Neuchâtel met in Lignières (MN 1897, 237) - XXXIIIth general summer session in Lignières, Thursday, September 9, 1897 Chair: Mr. Alfred de Chambrier. Minutes (excerpts) :

The meetingtakes place at the temple; it is open at 10:30 am by the President (...)

Fifteen candidates are presented and admitted;they are MM. (Editor's note: I only list those of Lignières)

Bonjour, Ad., former Professor; Cosandier Aug, Justice of the Peace; Descombes Henri Frick Auguste, Pastor (Independent); Junod, Eug., head waiter; Rollier Philippe, pastor.

A banquet of 120 covers is served at the Hôtel de Commune, here is the menu:

M E N U of the Banquet of the History Society September 9, 1897

Rice-Julienne soup
Tongue white sauce
Beef fillet,
Potatoes with ham,
Beans,
Roast veal,
Salad, 
Vanilla head, fruits

1899

Every evening the working oxen are taken to the pasture of Vorgneux, near the village, where they spend the night when the weather permits.The cows and some heifers are taken to pasture in Pâquier, east of the village. Shepherds in charge of cattle care are compensated. The shepherd of the Vorgneux pasture receives Fr. 2.- per pair of oxen (80 pairs in 1899). The shepherd of the cows receives Fr 1.50 per cow, he drives the cattle from four o'clock in the morning to bring him back to six o'clock;then he drives him back at night from seven to nine in the evening. The shepherds of the metairies receive Fr. 1.- per piece of cattle, with a certain quantity of wood and lodging. In these pastures, cattle are only returned during the heat of the day or when the nights are too cold.

20th century - Introduction of municipal tax

1916

Introduction of communal tax.
Until then the exploitation of our forests made it possible to cover all the running costs.

1972

23.6.1972: Inauguration of the home "Les Pipolets" in Lignières.

Renovated, enlarged, the home is able to accommodate 35 babies and children until the age of 15 years.The farm, too dilapidated was totally destroyed. At its former location, an airy building of quite modern design, with a sober line, was built.
Twenty years ago, the "Pipolets" welcomed children with tuberculosis. Today, most of them come from family backgrounds where discord reigns. Sometimes, when their mother dies or leaves, they are sent temporarily to Lignières. The home also welcomes children experiencing difficulties at school. After a period of observation usually quite short, these children are sent to specialized institutions. The home of the "Pipolets" plays a kind of center of orientation.

1976

Inauguration of the extension of the campsite & the new swimming pool
(Courrier du Vignoble, April 23, 1976)

The campsite, which already existed but has been enlarged, has a surface, including the swimming pool, of 90'000m2.

It includes all the modern facilities desired: a restaurant with food products;shower and W.C .;reception, etc.
In addition, the swimming pool, from a depth of 1m10 to 1m50, is surrounded by grass, trees, just like the rest of the tree-lined campsite, judiciously sown to give the whole a charming green setting with the north as a horizon, Chasseral and chain of Jura.

1978

Inauguration and open doors of the new College of Lignières
(Courrier du Vignoble 6.10.1978)

Lignières, for the first time in 140 years, will inaugurate a new college.It will complement admirably the infrastructure of the village.The set consists of two buildings.One houses the classes and the other the gym.The gym can be transformed into a theater (cinema, theater, concerts, etc.).