Translation to be reviewed. This page is a translation of the French original, which remains the reference. Read the French version
His work
The glassmaking gentlemen
Through his mother, Claude Martin de Robert descended from the glassmaking gentlemen of the Ariège, whose historian he was. His writings on glassmakers are little known: here is what we know of them, and what remains to be found.
These noble families — the Roberts, Greniers and Verbiziers — held the privilege of blowing glass and married among themselves to keep it. [W16][W18] Claude Martin de Robert was one of the “pillars” of their descendants’ association, La Réveillée, as historian of the glassmaking families. [W19] His ancestry and this link are presented on the page His origins.
His writings on glassmakers
The three articles reported by the family
Each reference is given as it was passed on to us, then supplemented by what public sources say; nothing is summarised beyond that.
Notes sur les verriers du Couserans
Reference as passed on
Claude Martin de Robert, « Notes sur les verriers du Couserans », 1985, actes du LVe Congrès de la Fédération des sociétés académiques et savantes Languedoc-Pyrénées-Gascogne.
What the sources say
The volume exists: proceedings of the congress held in Saint-Girons from 28 to 30 June 1985, Du Couserans au gave de Pau : tradition et renouveau, published in Saint-Girons in 1986. [W50] It was the Federation’s 40th congress (the 1984 one was the 39th), not the 55th. The association La Réveillée cites the article, under the title “Note sur les verriers du Couserans”, pages 183 to 190, among its sources on the Pointis glassworks [W47]; a 1990 study gives the same pages. [W69] The association’s bibliography (2004) and a 2021 newsletter call it “Notes sur les verreries du Couserans”, “extrait des actes du XLe congrès d’études régionales”, 1985, probably an offprint. [W63] The 2021 newsletter gives one element of it: Claude Martin reports the working of a manganese mine, the “glassmakers’ soap”, at Mane (La Bastide-de-Sérou), owned by the Grenier-Niger family. [W57]
Claude Martin de Robert, « La collection du baron Sevin », 1992, Circulaire de La Réveillée n° 1016.
What the sources say
The article appeared in the Circulaire de la Réveillée no. 59, in March 1992, under the title “Collection baron de Sevin”, signed “Claude Martin (de Robert Bousquet)”. It consists of notes on the family of the Toulouse collector Jean-Louis de Sevin (1892-1927), a director of the Carmaux glassworks, gathered from one of his descendants. It is followed by a note by Jacqueline Vidal: at the sale of the collection, in Toulouse, on 14 November 1991, La Réveillée bought four old glasses for its museum in Le Mas-d’Azil. [W20] The number 1016 in the reference passed on to us does not appear in the newsletter.
Claude Martin de Robert, « Notes sur la verrerie et les verriers de Cabanes », 1977, Bulletin du Comité d’études historiques et archéologiques du Pastourais (texte d’une conférence).
What the sources say
It is the text of a lecture by Claude Martin; the title was also given as “Note sur les verreries et les verriers de Cabanes”. The issue number, the pages and the spelling of the place (Cabanes or Cabannes) are to be checked. The journal exists: Les Amis du Pastourais : comité d’études historiques et archéologiques, published in Saint-Pastour, in the Lot-et-Garonne, since 1975. [W51] In 1978 the Revue de l’Agenais received in exchange “No 5, année 1977” of this bulletin: this is probably the issue of the article. [W78] The article itself has not been found in the catalogues (BnF and Google Books consulted on 9 November 2026; the SUDOC was not responding). The place remains to be checked. Probable lead: a “verrerie de Cabanes en Agenais”, run in 1744 by a glassmaking gentleman, noble Jacques du Grenier, on the boundary of the communes of Monbahus and Montastruc, a few kilometres from Saint-Pastour [W77]; no source yet says that it is the one in the article. Two other leads are not retained: a glassworks “à Cabannes, commune de Montmirail”, in the Grésigne forest, mentioned for 1450 [W62], and a “sieur de Cabanac” (uncertain reading) of the de Robert family, at Vaour in 1750, in Claude Martin’s records (SHPF Library): no glassworks is recorded at Cabanac.
Found in November 2026 by going through the documents La Réveillée publishes online, from the oldest to the most recent. His texts are not reproduced here: only the reference and a few facts are given.
1948 — A photograph of Périlhou
Reference
Circulaire de la Réveillée no. 124, December 2019.
What is known
A walk along the glassmakers’ paths of the Gabrais reproduces the photograph of the house of Périlhou, linked to the Grenier-Périlhou family, “prise par Claude Martin en 1948” (taken by Claude Martin in 1948): he was then twenty-one. [W56]
1975 — Talk and bibliography at the founding gathering
Reference
Gathering of the descendants of the gentlemen glassmakers, Le Mas-d’Azil and Carla-Bayle, 1975; La Réveillée brochure.
What is known
At the great 1975 gathering, Claude Martin gave a talk on the vanished glassworks of the area [W21]; the exhibition of old glass at Le Mas-d’Azil showed a glassblower’s pipe “prêtée par M. Claude Martin” (lent by Mr Claude Martin). [W64] The gathering’s brochure states that he wished to rework the text of his talk “pour le compléter et le publier ultérieurement” (to complete it and publish it later), and prints the bibliography he provided: some fifteen works on the gentlemen glassmakers, and the archive collections to consult, from the Ariège to the Gironde, at the Archives nationales and the Bibliothèque nationale. [W53]
“Les verriers de la Neste et de la Barousse”, Revue de Comminges, four instalments, 1976.
What is known
The author relies on “M. Claude Martin, aimable correspondant, descendant de gentilshommes verriers, faisant des recherches sur ce que furent ces ancêtres” (a kind correspondent, a descendant of gentlemen glassmakers researching what these ancestors were): Claude Martin identifies the first Verbizier on the family’s genealogical table and sends him a copy of a document on the nobility of two Verbizier brothers, kept at the Bibliothèque nationale (fonds français 32398). [W54]
1981 — The reprint of the book on the Moussans glassworks
Reference
Circulaire de la Réveillée no. 29, October 1981.
What is known
The association planned to reprint the book on the Moussans glassworks and the gentlemen glassmakers (1450-1890), an “ouvrage introuvable” (unobtainable work); those interested had to register with Claude Martin, at Clairac. [W70]
1985 — A source for the history of the Refuge from the Ariège
Reference
“Aspects de la Réforme dans le pays de Foix à la révocation de l’édit de Nantes”, brochure of La Réveillée’s 1985 gathering.
What is known
The speaker says he owes his “renseignements sur le Refuge ariégeois et en particulier ceux des gentilshommes verriers” (information on the Refuge from the Ariège, and in particular on the gentlemen glassmakers) to Claude Martin, “qui a fait un travail absolument remarquable sur le refuge protestant, à partir de Clairac” (who did quite remarkable work on the Protestant refuge, starting from Clairac): among the refugees given relief in Frankfurt, Claude Martin recorded 27 members of the gentlemen glassmakers’ families, including 6 Grenier, 6 Robert and one Verbizier. This is the bridge between his two lines of research, Clairac and the glassmakers. [W68]
1990 — Consulted on the glassmakers of the Couserans in 1789
Reference
“Les gentilshommes verriers du Couserans aux assemblées préparatoires des États généraux de 1789”, brochure of La Réveillée’s 1990 gathering.
What is known
The author consults “Monsieur Claude Martin, excellent spécialiste de l’histoire des gentilshommes verriers en Couserans” (an excellent specialist in the history of the gentlemen glassmakers of the Couserans), cites his “Notes sur les verreries du Couserans” (proceedings of the 40th congress, June 1985, pages 183 to 190) and thanks him for the details he gives her on several glassmakers of 1789, including Pierre de Robert Bousquet, married in 1764, and his son François, born in 1765. [W69]
2009 — His manuscripts, a source for a study of the Verbigier de Saint-Paul
Reference
Supplement to the Circulaire de la Réveillée no. 99, January 2009.
What is known
A study of the Verbigier de Saint-Paul lists among its sources the “manuscrits de M. Claude Martin de Clairac” (manuscripts of Mr Claude Martin of Clairac). It attributes two suggestions to him: according to “la tradition familiale et l’archiviste Claude Martin (de Robert Bousquet)” (family tradition and the archivist Claude Martin), the Verbizier family came from Berbiguières, in the Périgord; and the name Saint-Paul came from the parish of Saint-Paul, near Bruniquel, a conjecture “suggérée par M. Claude Martin” (suggested by Mr Claude Martin). [W67]
2015 — Information for the history of the Robert-Lafregeyre family in Brazil
Reference
Circulaire de la Réveillée no. 115, May 2015.
What is known
An article on the de Robert-Lafregeyre family and the Agua Branca glassworks in São Paulo twice cites “informations fournies par Claude Martin” (information provided by Claude Martin) on the families of this branch. [W55]
In 1990, the newsletter counted him among the “historiens de la Réveillée” (historians of La Réveillée), under the name “Claude MARTIN (de Robert BOUSQUET)” [W65], and he appears in the photograph announcing the future glass museum at Le Mas-d’Azil. [W66] The association’s documents also show him on its board in 1993 [W19]; in 1995, the opening address of the gathering thanked him “pour ses recherches généalogiques” (for his genealogical research) [W71], and a 2014 talk on the glassworks of the Ariège lists “un article de Claude Martin” among its sources. [W61] In 2025, the newsletter published a 1945 letter about Jane Sivadon, found by his niece Florence Lung “dans les archives de Claude Martin” (in Claude Martin’s papers): his papers have therefore been kept. [W58]
Making the archives speak
Glassworks and families
The places and families his writings speak of, or that relate to the de Robert family, according to La Réveillée’s newsletters and the catalogue of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, following the method of the lab: each fact has its source and its status. Only people who have died are named.
The glassworks
Pointis (Mercenac, Couserans, Ariège)
Confirmed
At the end of the 18th century, Pointis became the main glassmaking centre of the Ariège. Members of the de Robert-Bousquet family ran a glassworks there: Pierre (1734-1810) was its master in 1795; in 1804 his son Joseph shipped glass along the Garonne to Toulouse and Bordeaux. [W47] In 1839-1840, the glassworks of the de Robert-Lafregeyre brothers, partners of their cousin Robert-Bousquet (called Jean-Pierre in some sources, Jean in others), was moved about a hundred metres. [W47][W48] The Robert glassworks operated until 1883 [W59]; a Pointis glassworks was still working in August 1890. [W49] Claude Martin wrote on the glassmakers of the Couserans, and La Réveillée cites his note among its sources on Pointis. [W47]
Mane (La Bastide-de-Sérou and Aigues-Juntes, Ariège)
Confirmed
A glassworks existed at Mane from the end of the 16th century; members of the Grenier and Robert families worked there in the 17th and 18th centuries. Claude Martin’s “Notes” on the Couserans mention a manganese mine there owned by the Grenier-Niger family. [W57]
Gabre and the Gabrais (Ariège)
Confirmed
Alexandre de Robert-Bousquet (1814-1882), a glassmaker at Pointis, spent the summers at Comavère, in the commune of Gabre. [W59] It was in the Gabrais that Claude Martin photographed the house of Périlhou in 1948. [W56]
The Moussans glassworks (Hérault)
Confirmed
Léopold de Robert-Bousquet (1846-1924), born at the Pointis glassworks, was a glassblower at Moussans from 1879 to 1888, before becoming a teacher in the Ariège. [W59]
Mauvezin-de-Sainte-Croix (Ariège)
Probable
On 11 July 1676, Hélie de Granier, a “gentilhomme verrier” (glassmaking nobleman), born in Gabre, a Protestant, lived “aux verrières de Mauvesin, annexe” of Camarade. [W74] These are very probably the glassworks of Mauvezin-de-Sainte-Croix, next to Camarade, where a Grenier was authorised in 1681 to build a glassworks. [W75] Claude Martin noted this record in his file on the de Grenier family (see below).
Cabanes in the Agenais (Lot-et-Garonne)?
Probable
The place in the 1977 article remains to be checked. A glassworks at Cabanes, in the Agenais, run in 1744 by noble Jacques du Grenier, stood on the boundary of the communes of Monbahus and Montastruc [W77], a few kilometres from Saint-Pastour, where the journal of the article was based [W51]: the connection is probable, but no source confirms it. Another glassworks, “à Cabannes, commune de Montmirail”, in the Grésigne forest, is mentioned for 1450 [W62].
No public source mentions Planissole so far, nor a plan to move the Pointis glassworks. To learn more about the glassworks of the Couserans: [W52].
The families
Robert-BousquetConfirmed “Une ancienne famille de gentilshommes-verriers appartenant, depuis le XVIe siècle, à la religion réformée” (an old family of gentlemen glassmakers, Reformed since the 16th century), glassmakers at Pointis in the 18th and 19th centuries. [W59][W47] Claude Martin signed “Claude Martin (de Robert Bousquet)”. [W20]Hypothesis: this is his mother’s branch; no document yet links his grandfather, Paulin Maurice Élisée de Robert, to the glassmakers of Pointis.
Robert-LafregeyreConfirmed Glassmakers at Pointis (glassworks moved in 1840) [W47][W48]; a branch went to Brazil around 1900, and Claude Martin provided information to write its history. [W55]
GrenierConfirmed “Famille de gentilshommes verriers et de pasteurs” (a family of gentlemen glassmakers and pastors): in the 19th century, Albert de Grenier-Lalée (1838-1892) was pastor at Clairac, then at Castres. [W60] At Mane, the Grenier-Niger family owned the manganese mine Claude Martin mentions. [W57]
VerbizierConfirmed In 1976, a study of the glassmakers of the Neste and the Barousse relied on Claude Martin to place the first Verbizier in the family tree. [W54] In 2009, a study of the Verbigier de Saint-Paul took up his hypothesis of an origin at Berbiguières, in the Périgord, presented as a tradition, not as an established fact. [W67] His archives hold the family’s printed tree, drawn up in 1905 by Élisée de Robert-Garils, which already gives “Berbigier” as the original form of the name: Genealogy of the de Verbizier or Verbigier family (1905).
The Library of the Société de l’histoire du protestantisme français (SHPF) in Paris holds a handwritten file of records by Claude Martin on the de Grenier family: at least twelve sheets, records from 1610 to 1940, mostly from 1676 to 1792. They also concern the Robert and Verbigier families, a name Claude also writes Berbigier or Berbisier. His sources: the Protestant registers kept at the town hall of Mazères, the register of the minister Jacques Durrieu (1746-1751, Reformed Church of Montauban), the registers of the “Désert” and the declarations of non-Catholics of the Montauban area (Archives départementales de Tarn-et-Garonne), Abbé Lestrade’s book on the Huguenots of the diocese of Rieux (1904) and L’Intermédiaire des chercheurs et curieux (1976). [W74][W76] The file is not reproduced here: only a few facts, earlier than 1900, are summarised; the records continue into the 20th century (not published).
Confirmed On 11 July 1676, Hélie de Granier, a “gentilhomme verrier” (glassmaking nobleman), born in Gabre, a Protestant, lived at the Mauvesin glassworks. [W74]
Probable The glassmaking families married among themselves: on 17 June 1756, Jean de Grenier, sieur de La Bourdette, married Elisabeth de Grenier; on 18 June, another Jean de Grenier, sieur de La Bourdette, married Marie de Verbigier; on 28 May 1765, Jean de Grenier, sieur de Courtalas, married Marie de Berbigier.
Probable Claude followed the same people over decades: Jeanne-Marie de Grenier, married in 1756 according to the registers of Mazères, declared this marriage in Montauban in 1789.
Hypothesis He may have made these records partly for his own genealogy: the precise link between these records and his ancestors has not been demonstrated.
Records by Claude Martin, SHPF Library, not checked against the originals.
A note in the same file follows a family from Gabre to America: Marguerite de Grenier Latour and her husband Pierre Peiret, minister of the French Church of New York, who died in 1704 and was buried in the churchyard of Trinity Church. [W79][W80][W81] This family from the Ariège does not appear in the list of emigrants from Clairac.
Do you have these articles or papers by Claude Martin on glassmakers?
His articles of 1977 and 1985, his letters, his notes, and in particular his papers on the plan to move the Pointis glassworks to Planissole: a copy, even partial, would help to reconstruct his research on the glassmaking gentlemen. Documents are reviewed before any publication.
[W16] La Réveillée, home page: “Qui étaient les gentilshommes verriers ?”, accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W18] La Réveillée, “Généalogie” and family coats of arms, accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W19] Olivier Gondran, “L’adieu à Claude Martin de Robert”, with Florence Lung’s reading at the funeral (14 February 2018), Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 121, May 2018 (PDF), accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W20] Claude Martin (de Robert Bousquet) and Jacqueline Vidal, “Collection baron de Sevin”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 59, March 1992 (PDF), accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W21] “Il y a 40 ans”: letter from Jeanne de Robert on the first meetings of 1975, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 115, May 2015 (PDF), accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W22] Claude Martin, “Verres et merveilles : mille ans de verre dans le nord-ouest de la Gaule”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 65, April 1994 (PDF), accessed 6 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W47] Olivier Gondran, “Les verreries de Pointis (1re partie). De la fin du 17e au nouvel établissement de 1840”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 125, May 2020 (PDF), accessed 11 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W48] Olivier Gondran, “Un verrier natif d’Ille-et-Vilaine à la verrerie de Pointis en 1840”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 133, May 2024 (PDF), accessed 11 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W49] Allain Guillot and Olivier Gondran, “Verrerie de Pointis. Les carnets de Joël de Robert de Lafrégeyre”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 126, December 2020 (PDF), accessed 11 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W50] Bibliothèque nationale de France, catalogue record of the volume Du Couserans au gave de Pau : tradition et renouveau, proceedings of the regional studies congress of the Fédération des sociétés académiques et savantes de Languedoc-Pyrénées-Gascogne, Saint-Girons, 28-30 June 1985 (Saint-Girons, 1986), accessed 11 October 2026: catalogue.bnf.fr
[W51] Bibliothèque nationale de France, catalogue record of the journal Les Amis du Pastourais : comité d’études historiques et archéologiques (Saint-Pastour, since 1975), accessed 11 October 2026: catalogue.bnf.fr
[W52] Michel Bégon, “À la recherche des verreries perdues au Couserans”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 111, April 2013 (PDF), accessed 11 October 2026: lareveillee.org
[W53] La Réveillée, brochure of the 1975 gathering, “Séance de conclusions au Carla-Bayle” (closing session), with the bibliography sent by Claude Martin (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W54] Roland Coquerel, “Les verriers de la Neste et de la Barousse”, Revue de Comminges, four instalments, 1976 (PDF put online by La Réveillée), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W55] Olivier Gondran, “Les de Robert-Lafreygère et la verrerie d’Agua Branca à São Paulo”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 115, May 2015 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W56] Claire Dagain, “Promenade dans les chemins verriers du Gabrais”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 124, December 2019 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W57] Marie-Geneviève Dagain, with Olivier Gondran, “Mane”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 127, May 2021 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W58] “Jane Sivadon à son retour de captivité”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 135, May 2025 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W59] Michel Bégon, “Léopold de Robert Bousquet (1846-1924)”, March 2009 (PDF put online by La Réveillée), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W60] Philippe de Robert, entry “Grenier (de), famille de gentilshommes verriers et de pasteurs”, Dictionnaire biographique des protestants français de 1787 à nos jours, vol. 2, 2020, reprinted in the Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 132, December 2023 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W61] Olivier Gondran, “Ariège : verriers, verreries, verre”, talk to the Amis de Saint-Lizier, Saint-Girons, 18 October 2014 (PDF put online by La Réveillée), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W62] Robert Planchon, “La fabrication artisanale du verre”, brochure of La Réveillée’s 1975 gathering (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W63] Michel Bégon, “Pour une bibliographie sur l’histoire des familles de gentilshommes verriers”, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 88, June 2004 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W64] La Réveillée, brochure of the 1975 gathering, exhibition of old glass at Le Mas-d’Azil (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W65] “Verres et verriers” and report of Simone Henry’s talk at Saint-Girons, Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 53, February 1990 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W66] “Bientôt un musée du verre”, article from La Dépêche du Midi reprinted in the Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 55, November 1990 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W67] Michel Bégon, “Les Verbigier de Saint-Paul”, supplement to the Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 99, January 2009 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W68] François Baby, “Aspects de la Réforme dans le pays de Foix à la révocation de l’édit de Nantes”, brochure of La Réveillée’s 1985 gathering (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W69] Simone Henry, “Les gentilshommes verriers du Couserans aux assemblées préparatoires des États généraux de 1789”, brochure of La Réveillée’s 1990 gathering (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W70] Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 29, October 1981 (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W71] La Réveillée, brochure of the 1995 gathering, opening address (PDF), accessed 7 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W74] Abbé J. Lestrade, Les Huguenots dans le diocèse de Rieux, Paris, H. Champion, and Auch, L. Cocharaux, 1904 (Archives historiques de la Gascogne, 2nd series, fascicle VIII), p. 87, accessed 9 November 2026: archive.org
[W75] Circulaire de la Réveillée, no. 114, December 2014, the Mauvezin glassworks (PDF), accessed 9 November 2026: lareveillee.org
[W76] L’Intermédiaire des chercheurs et curieux, 1979 volume, extract (Google Books): reference to “(1976, 975), J. Schermack, à propos de la Famille de Grenier d’Alès”, accessed 9 November 2026: books.google.com
[W77] Dr L. Couyba, “La verrerie de Cabanes en Agenais (1744)”, Revue de l’Agenais, vol. XXXVI, 1909, p. 433-435, accessed 9 November 2026: archive.org
[W78] Revue de l’Agenais, 1978, list of exchanges: “Bulletin du Comité d’Études historiques et archéologiques du Pastourais, No 5, année 1977” (Google Books, extract), accessed 9 November 2026: books.google.com
[W79] Charles W. Baird, History of the Huguenot Emigration to America, New York, 1885, vol. II, p. 146-147, accessed 9 November 2026: archive.org
[W80] Alfred V. Wittmeyer (ed.), registers of the French Church of New York, Collections of the Huguenot Society of America, vol. I, 1886, p. xxxiii-xxxiv, accessed 9 November 2026: archive.org
[W81] Trinity Church Wall Street, churchyard register, entry for Pierre Peiret, accessed 9 November 2026: registers.trinitywallstreet.org