In a first part, we explained the four steps to follow to verify a family legend. We particularly detailed the different elements of the family anecdote about François Mouyon, my great-great-grandfather whose genealogy we explored.
When he was young and working in a menagerie in Lyon[1], François Mouyon was said to have been negligent in supervising the lion's cage, which led to an accident in which a person was injured. Following this event, he was sentenced to a prison term.
In the second part we illustrated a concrete case of research based on this family story using the tools RetroNews, Gallica, Geneanet and My Heritage Newspapers.
This third and final part will serve to deepen the investigation by mobilising new sources, such as BelgicaPress, Lectura Plus and Numelyo, which are more specialised in a limited geographical area but offer titles not mentioned in the tools from part 2. I will also highlight the importance of synthesising information as well as the tools to develop it, in order to facilitate the exploration of new documentary leads.
Family research in the old press
BelgicaPress :
Whether for researching your genealogy in Belgium or France, it is important to use all the sources at your disposal, and the Royal Library of Belgium is one of them. As already noted in other sources and also proven by BelgicaPress, the matter has largely crossed borders. The tool is completely free, but it is necessary to create an account.
The advanced search features are relatively simple to use. In text mode, it is possible to choose to search for a single word, all words, or an exact phrase. With BelgicaPress, you can also filter the results by selecting only newspapers in French, Dutch, or German, depending on the languages spoken in Belgium.
Excerpt from the search “Mouillon”, 1895 to 1896, BelgicaPress
In BelgicaPress, the search gives us seven results in five newspapers.
It goes without saying that if your family history takes place in Belgium, the tool provided by the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) will be the most suitable. I recommend starting with this one for genealogical and family research. It is indeed one of the tools I recommend the most as a genealogist in Belgium.
Lectura Plus :
Although many national and regional titles have already covered the matter thanks to previous sources, it remains relevant to consult local media, as they often provide more precise details.
Lectura Plus is the portal for written and graphic heritage in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with Lyon located at the heart of the area covered by this platform.
Excerpt from the search, mouyon, 1895-1896, Lectura Plus
What is convenient with Lectura Plus is that you can filter by period, by title or type of newspaper, and by geographical area.
For the search “Mouyon” between 1895 and 1896, we obtain four results, two in Le Salut Public and two in Le Stéphanois. The latter was already present in Geneanet but not Le Salut Public.
For the search “Mouillon” between 1895 and 1896, there are 36 results that appear here. The downside of Lectura Plus is that you can only take the full year, not a specific month. Of the 36 results, only 19 refer to the case.
Excerpt from the search “Mouillon”, 1895-1896, Lectura Plus
Numelyo:
Beyond the old press, searching in the digital library of Lyon is a must since the event took place in this city.
Regarding this tool, the search interface is relatively archaic and difficult to use. The only way to conduct a search is at the top right or in the search tool on the left, which seems to be the same thing. The years covered range from 1790 to 1944.
For our case, there are 88 results but none refer to the drama of the menagerie.
Excerpt from the search “mouillon menagerie”, Numelyo
I found it strange not to find anything relevant on Numelyo, so I searched directly in the Lyonnaise press category from 1790 to 1944 with the following keywords “menagerie”, “eyssette” from 1890 to 1899, and there I obtained three convincing results:
Excerpt from the search “menagerie”, “Eyssette”, from 1890 to 1899, Lyonnaise press from 1790 to 1944, Numelyo
Among the two titles of Lyon newspapers, it is Le Progrès Illustré that will be the most interesting. What caught my attention is that the photo was missing even when clicking on the article.
Excerpt from Le Progrès Illustré, Numelyo
And it is only by selecting “Le Progrès Illustré, fasc. number 249” that I obtain the front cover of the article.
Front cover, Le Progrès Illustré, No. 249, Numelyo
After exploring the different research methods in the press according to the available tools, it is essential to synthesise the information methodically and to consult new sources.
Why is cross-referencing sources essential in genealogy?
Cross-checking information and exploring new sources
In order to compile this information, the most suitable method remains an Excel spreadsheet to trace the chronology by publication date, title, information obtained, and avenues to consider.
Here is an example:
Excerpt from an Excel file listing the articles relating to the Ménagerie case.
This document serves as both a memo of the articles consulted and a dashboard to identify the research avenues to explore for each item. For example, the precise dates of the judgment (14 October 1895) and the court of appeal (19 November 1895) open new avenues of investigation towards the justice archives.
Thus, the Rhône departmental archives have been contacted: the files are only available for consultation on site. A future visit to Lyon will necessarily include a stop at the archives. The judgment file and even the prison registers will be the sought-after documents.
Furthermore, several photographs are said to have been taken by Mr. Lacombe, but no archival material has been identified to date. Unfortunately, photographers' collections are not always preserved. I do not lose hope; they may resurface one day from the past.
Some historical facts are not really proven. The journalist sometimes highlights a truth that stirs up melodrama. As a genealogist, one must know how to distinguish between things. Here are the elements that remain uncertain at this stage:
Mouyon was injured during his attempt to save Eyssette. Although several newspapers reported an injury to the left thigh, nothing seems to have been mentioned in the article about the judgment.
Eyssette wanted to take a photo of herself to impress the animal trainer Léonda, also known as Joséphine Pezon, widow of Mr. Castanet.
Poster of Leonda Pezon, Pezon Castanet show, around 1898, Imprimerie Camis in Paris
Photograph of Léonda, also known as Joséphine Pezon, taken from the site amilo.net
To obtain postcards or period advertising cards, it is relevant to consult specialised sites for the sale of collectible items. The Delcampe site, for example, is particularly comprehensive: it allows you to view both ongoing and past auctions. It is thanks to this platform that I was able to find the image of an advertising card for the trainer Lucas, a key figure in our story and associated with Madame Castanet:
Excerpt from an auction, rare advertising card 11.5 x 7.5 LUCAS Trainer, sold on 26 February 2025, Delcampe
I have only briefly mentioned the Pezon-Castanet menagerie in this article, as it is not the main focus. However, for interested readers, I recommend the website of Nathalie Deux, which traces the history of the animals, as well as that of the Friends of Lozère Association, dedicated to the historical investigation of the Pezon family and illustrated with numerous photographs.
Conclusion:
Remember to vary your keywords during your research: there is no miracle solution for obtaining information. Carefully identify all useful elements before you begin. Conducting preliminary genealogical research on individuals and the context will always be beneficial in determining the most relevant keywords. It is advisable to try different formulations suited to your anecdote, without excessively narrowing the search. It is also important to broaden the publication period.
Do not limit yourself to research focused solely on your ancestors: also explore the environment in which the matter took place. This often allows for the discovery of new details, photographs, or other interesting documents to enrich your narrative. For example, in several articles, “Mouyon” is simply referred to as “the man”; therefore, a search too focused on the surname would not retrieve these references.
Methodically listing all the articles (in an Excel spreadsheet) will help you gain clarity and identify other documents or supplementary information.
Furthermore, conduct a general search on the Internet based on new information provided by the press: names of people, places, consequences arising from the case, etc. This could help open new perspectives and understand how your ancestor lived at the time of the event.
Finally, it is possible that tools for searching old press regularly update their databases by adding new titles. Do not hesitate to save your searches so you can revisit them later: this could allow you to discover new information.
Now that you have the steps to verify a family story in the old press, it’s your turn to play!
Sources:
Cover photo: Le Petit Journal, illustrated supplement, no. 254, Sunday 29 September, Gallica, National Library of France
Lectura Plus:Lectura Plus, the portal for written and graphic heritage in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Numelyo (Press):19th Century Lyon Press
Animal Trainer Pezon: Nathalie Deux, Animal Trainer Pezon
The Pezon Menagerie: Friends of Lozère Association, Lozère - The Pezon Menagerie - AMILO
Delcampe Collections:Search for collectible items by keyword | Delcampe