LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Creances
Many of the oldest LeRoys of Normandy, in the 1330s, lived as "avonants" of the abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Vocu, in Cherbourg; others in the same period, at St. Lo d' Ourville, and of the abbey of Lessay. Guillaume LeRoy and Jehan LeRoy served as archers in the garrison of St. Lo during this time period.
The LeRoys can be found in several distinct locals, in some cases changing irregularly on the average of every three to five generations, but particularly at the moment of proprietor changes. As has been seen already, the fief of Creances changed hands several times and each change brought sales of lands or inheritance to another. A study of the records within the Abbey of Lessay's jurisdictions reveals a few LeRoy branches just outside St. Lo d'ourville, not far from Portbail, where an unnamed LeRoy resident or owner is recorded.
Some of the first records of the LeRoy family are found in the documents issued by the town of Angoville-sur-Ay. There is a Goret (Goerget) LeRoy owning a piece of land located between LeBot and the Monastery of Lessay in 1405. Then in1431 Robin (Robert) LeRoy, one hundred years before Creances, was owner of the fief of Roux, which paid the Abbot an annual rent of wheat and pears with the arrival of clean canal water from the Fierville Mill. The land generally passed from father to son, or one can deduce from the date of record, that Robin LeRoy had died before 1472, the date on which his sons, Jean LeRoy and Robert LeRoy made arrangements for marriage into another family. A descendent, Guillaume LeRoy, is still an owner here with title from Hommet in 1554, and the arrival of another Guillaume LeRoy living here again in 1593. This latter Guillaume is a contemporary of Mathew LeRoy, who is the son of Jeanne Diesnis, a family well established in Lessay since 1392. There is also a near contemporary of Goret LeRoy, Jehan LeRoy, who in 1429 and 1495, paid tribute for the house and land he owned.
In 1439 Colin LeRoy is on the "Roll of Fouage" for the town of St.Sauveur-Lendelin. At Angoville-sur-Ay Robin LeRoy is found on this roll, as well as Perrin LeRoy and the widow of Benoit LeRoy for the year 1500. Thomas LeRoy and Perrin LeRoy are on the same roll for the year 1515. On the roll for Le Desert (district of St. Jean-de-Daye) in the year 1515 are found Perinet LeRoy, Jehan LeRoy, Guillaume LeRoy, Nicolas LeRoy, Pierre LeRoy, and Colin LeRoy.
The LeRoys appear to have moved a short distance south to Creances in 1522, the date on which Raul LeRoy purchased property there. We also find, according to records, that Benoit LeRoy and Louis LeRoy held land in Creances in 1555. Olivier LeRoy, of the same generation, rented land there in 1544. In 1603 Louis LeRoy's estate was sold. The next mention of the LeRoy family in Creances is found in the 1637 baptism of Simeon LeRoy. This leaves a span of thirty plus years without a LeRoy in the records of Creances. In all probability there were members of the family residing at Creances during these thirty years, but at what price? The people of Creances were not so isolated as to avoid the destruction and burdens of the French Religious Wars 1562 - 1598. Taxes were high, the economy in shambles and loyalties shifted between Protestant and Catholic, much as the sand beeches on the edge of town. Creancais, being in such close proximity of the Abbey of Lessay, were affected greatly by this civil war.
The LeRoys can be found in several distinct locals, in some cases changing irregularly on the average of every three to five generations, but particularly at the moment of proprietor changes. As has been seen already, the fief of Creances changed hands several times and each change brought sales of lands or inheritance to another. A study of the records within the Abbey of Lessay's jurisdictions reveals a few LeRoy branches just outside St. Lo d'ourville, not far from Portbail, where an unnamed LeRoy resident or owner is recorded.
Some of the first records of the LeRoy family are found in the documents issued by the town of Angoville-sur-Ay. There is a Goret (Goerget) LeRoy owning a piece of land located between LeBot and the Monastery of Lessay in 1405. Then in1431 Robin (Robert) LeRoy, one hundred years before Creances, was owner of the fief of Roux, which paid the Abbot an annual rent of wheat and pears with the arrival of clean canal water from the Fierville Mill. The land generally passed from father to son, or one can deduce from the date of record, that Robin LeRoy had died before 1472, the date on which his sons, Jean LeRoy and Robert LeRoy made arrangements for marriage into another family. A descendent, Guillaume LeRoy, is still an owner here with title from Hommet in 1554, and the arrival of another Guillaume LeRoy living here again in 1593. This latter Guillaume is a contemporary of Mathew LeRoy, who is the son of Jeanne Diesnis, a family well established in Lessay since 1392. There is also a near contemporary of Goret LeRoy, Jehan LeRoy, who in 1429 and 1495, paid tribute for the house and land he owned.
In 1439 Colin LeRoy is on the "Roll of Fouage" for the town of St.Sauveur-Lendelin. At Angoville-sur-Ay Robin LeRoy is found on this roll, as well as Perrin LeRoy and the widow of Benoit LeRoy for the year 1500. Thomas LeRoy and Perrin LeRoy are on the same roll for the year 1515. On the roll for Le Desert (district of St. Jean-de-Daye) in the year 1515 are found Perinet LeRoy, Jehan LeRoy, Guillaume LeRoy, Nicolas LeRoy, Pierre LeRoy, and Colin LeRoy.
The LeRoys appear to have moved a short distance south to Creances in 1522, the date on which Raul LeRoy purchased property there. We also find, according to records, that Benoit LeRoy and Louis LeRoy held land in Creances in 1555. Olivier LeRoy, of the same generation, rented land there in 1544. In 1603 Louis LeRoy's estate was sold. The next mention of the LeRoy family in Creances is found in the 1637 baptism of Simeon LeRoy. This leaves a span of thirty plus years without a LeRoy in the records of Creances. In all probability there were members of the family residing at Creances during these thirty years, but at what price? The people of Creances were not so isolated as to avoid the destruction and burdens of the French Religious Wars 1562 - 1598. Taxes were high, the economy in shambles and loyalties shifted between Protestant and Catholic, much as the sand beeches on the edge of town. Creancais, being in such close proximity of the Abbey of Lessay, were affected greatly by this civil war.
At the 1637 baptism of Simeon LeRoy, his parents were not present, but instead proxies Jacques LeRoy and Jean Lenoir , son of Marin. Where was Simeon's father and mother? What Parish did they reside, Creance or Fontenay-sur-Mer where we find his father, Richard LeRoy?
A complete history of the religious wars of France would fill many volumes. In Normandy, the Reformation found fertile ground. The Huguenots established themselves strongly in many of the Norman towns. Their headquarters for a time was at Rouen, which was defended by Montgomery when the Catholics marched against it. Catherine de Medici and the young King Charles IX witnessed this siege and in 1562 the town was taken by assault. There were terrible reprisals. Marechal de Matignon, one of the noblest of Norman governors, endeavored to prevent, as far as possible, the massacre of the Huguenots, and to moderate the rage of Catholics. Yet he showed remarkable military skill in subduing the Protestants at Dumfront and St. Lo.
There is scarcely a town in Normandy we do not encounter in the chronicles of these religious and civil wars. By 1562 civil war was breaking out all over France. Catholics and Protestants were attacking each other on every hand. In the provinces anarchy reigned unchecked. The Protestants went about in large numbers attacking the churches, smashing the statues with their muskets, breaking open the doors, collecting in a heap in the choir all the ornaments, relics, pyxes, and chalices they could find, and making a bonfire of them. They then turned to the tombs, broke them open, and scattered the bones. Catholic services were abolished in every place where the Protestants had the upper hand in Normandy, at Caen, Rouen, and Bayeux. Any one who journeyed across Normandy in 1577 would note with horror all the illrepaired ravages, devastated towns, plundered monasteries, cathedrals in ruins, crumbling churches, violated tombs and disinterred bones. While there are no records as to the destruction in the area of Creances, the Abbey of Lessay did receive great damage.
Another historical event, which greatly displaced the residents of Creances, was " La Revolte Des Nu-Pieds De 1639” or the revolt of the tramps, as the central French government called them. From the end of the religious wars until about 1640 the monarchy struggled to become the senior partner in its relationship to all major power holders in French society. Because the monarchy could never quite count on succeeding in this struggle, it was forced to negotiate methods of repression with provincial elites who had independent power. This had the effect of generally keeping repression within the bounds of measure preventing it from becoming domestic state violence. Thus, the sporadic revolts in Normandy and other provinces from 1594 to 1641 and royal responses to them shared several features. Although peasant rebels often did extensive property damage, they killed very few officials. The greatest loss of life came when royal troops clashed with peasant units in open combat. Once armed resistance had been broken militarily, a few leaders were put on trial and usually quickly executed.
A complete history of the religious wars of France would fill many volumes. In Normandy, the Reformation found fertile ground. The Huguenots established themselves strongly in many of the Norman towns. Their headquarters for a time was at Rouen, which was defended by Montgomery when the Catholics marched against it. Catherine de Medici and the young King Charles IX witnessed this siege and in 1562 the town was taken by assault. There were terrible reprisals. Marechal de Matignon, one of the noblest of Norman governors, endeavored to prevent, as far as possible, the massacre of the Huguenots, and to moderate the rage of Catholics. Yet he showed remarkable military skill in subduing the Protestants at Dumfront and St. Lo.
There is scarcely a town in Normandy we do not encounter in the chronicles of these religious and civil wars. By 1562 civil war was breaking out all over France. Catholics and Protestants were attacking each other on every hand. In the provinces anarchy reigned unchecked. The Protestants went about in large numbers attacking the churches, smashing the statues with their muskets, breaking open the doors, collecting in a heap in the choir all the ornaments, relics, pyxes, and chalices they could find, and making a bonfire of them. They then turned to the tombs, broke them open, and scattered the bones. Catholic services were abolished in every place where the Protestants had the upper hand in Normandy, at Caen, Rouen, and Bayeux. Any one who journeyed across Normandy in 1577 would note with horror all the illrepaired ravages, devastated towns, plundered monasteries, cathedrals in ruins, crumbling churches, violated tombs and disinterred bones. While there are no records as to the destruction in the area of Creances, the Abbey of Lessay did receive great damage.
Another historical event, which greatly displaced the residents of Creances, was " La Revolte Des Nu-Pieds De 1639” or the revolt of the tramps, as the central French government called them. From the end of the religious wars until about 1640 the monarchy struggled to become the senior partner in its relationship to all major power holders in French society. Because the monarchy could never quite count on succeeding in this struggle, it was forced to negotiate methods of repression with provincial elites who had independent power. This had the effect of generally keeping repression within the bounds of measure preventing it from becoming domestic state violence. Thus, the sporadic revolts in Normandy and other provinces from 1594 to 1641 and royal responses to them shared several features. Although peasant rebels often did extensive property damage, they killed very few officials. The greatest loss of life came when royal troops clashed with peasant units in open combat. Once armed resistance had been broken militarily, a few leaders were put on trial and usually quickly executed.
In the year, 1639, the French government established a tax on salt (gabelle) that the owners of salt mines had always been exempted from in the coastal towns and villages of Lower Normandy. In Avranches, just south of Creances, there were over 12,000 people unemployed. The unemployed rebels were made up of peasants, craftsmen in the textile industry and other trades. The French Royal government sent a 5,000-man army of foreign soldiers against them led by Colonel Gassion. (The French soldiers would have been too lenient) There were over 300 rebels killed in the final assault and others drowned while trying to flee. Gassion then hanged a dozen prisoners and packed an equal number off to the gallows. Following royal orders, he dispersed his troops across Lower Normandy and told them to live at local expense. The soldiers promptly pillaged and raped with such abandon that court martials were needed to restore army discipline. Coutances, Creances, and Avranches were all part of this rebel insurrection of October 1639. No one doubted that the revolt of the Nu-Pieds seriously challenged royal authority. It broke out during the time of religious war, swept both the towns and countryside of Lower Normandy, and was at least tacitly supported by the provincial elite. Since Creances enjoyed the privilege of not paying the gabelle, a good bargain until the end of Louis XIV reign, as he now required money, he abolished the privilege. Having rebelled against the abolition of this privilege a goodly number of Creancais demonstrated and was killed when the Royal Army violently quelled this uprising.
Four years after the revolt of 1639 the LeRoys appear back in Creances. From the notary records of Creance we find:
{On the last day of March 1644 in Lessay, in front of the recorders. Present, Sir Charles Michel, Lord of Buts, Farmer General of the fourth quarters of the salt mine of St. Opportune, Creances, and St, Germain-sur-Ay, who voluntarily leased to a tenant, for a price in silver for three years, starting on the first day of last January and ending on the last year, on the last day of December, three years passed and accomplished, to Gilles LeMeltais and Thomas LeRoy, both from Creances, both present and accepted, a quantity of salt which although pure enough to sell, spoiled during time on the property of Monsieur De Bellet in the harbor of Sablon, which will be entered by the clerk depending only on the above settlement, and is done for the price and sum of seventy pounds cash, for each year payable quarterly and received at the office of the Lessor, with two sous per pound of said sum, one sous for a receipt, one quart of said salt and one bushel to his assistant, standard measure, also for each said years reported and presented to said office without which for whatever misfortune could occur during said time, the said Lessor can demand proportionate reduction and in the event of worthless excesses he can demand proportionate cash interest, also to make and pro-rate appropriate to the times and operation for the said Lessor to apply triple or two-fold damages during said time, which triple or double payments to be deposited for the benefit of said Lessor, delivered on the spot to said Lessor and for all overages and shortages, the said taker agree to adjust, and from the Lessor's count and agreeable to him at all times also accord to him everything promised, etc. etc.. Present: Michael Fontaine and Pierre LeGrand.}
{On the last day of March 1644 to apply for a lease before the recorders. Present were Charles Michel, Lord of Buts, Farmer General of a quarter of the salt mine in the harbors of St. Opportune, Creances and St Germain-ser-Ay, who voluntarily had advanced a loan for working a farm at a determined price for four years starting on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December, the said fourth year thereafter from Jacques LeRoy and Pierre LeGrand, from said Creances, present and accepting the salt mine quarter who could sell and refine during said period in the rock-salt section owned by the Lord of Fai, in the harbor of St.Germain, of Sablon which will be mainly dependent only of the rock-salt supply, and handled at the price and sum of 47.1 pounds cash payable quarterly at the end of each quarter, to his office and received by the Lessor, with two sous cash per pound of said sum, also each year on sous for each receipt, one quart of salt, one bushel to the clerk, market measure, also for each of said years, delivered and presented at the said receivers, without major misfortune happening during said time, said manager can demand a reduced price, and in case of spoilage can demand interest for said Lessor, also can pro-rate that part of the year incurring low production, the said taker can apply triple or double penalties during said time, which triple or double fines that will go to the clothes and upkeep of said money-lender. To deliver fresh material to them and any other things mentioned below, owed to said managers, substance and specifics without reduction, one by itself for all, and from a Lessor for good and sufficient condition agreeable to him, yet as set forth. Present: Michel Fontain and Giles LeMettais.}
{On the last day of March 1644 in Lessay, in front of the recorders. Present, Sir Charles Michel, Lord of Buts, Farmer General of the fourth quarters of the salt mine of St. Opportune, Creances, and St, Germain-sur-Ay, who voluntarily leased to a tenant, for a price in silver for three years, starting on the first day of last January and ending on the last year, on the last day of December, three years passed and accomplished, to Gilles LeMeltais and Thomas LeRoy, both from Creances, both present and accepted, a quantity of salt which although pure enough to sell, spoiled during time on the property of Monsieur De Bellet in the harbor of Sablon, which will be entered by the clerk depending only on the above settlement, and is done for the price and sum of seventy pounds cash, for each year payable quarterly and received at the office of the Lessor, with two sous per pound of said sum, one sous for a receipt, one quart of said salt and one bushel to his assistant, standard measure, also for each said years reported and presented to said office without which for whatever misfortune could occur during said time, the said Lessor can demand proportionate reduction and in the event of worthless excesses he can demand proportionate cash interest, also to make and pro-rate appropriate to the times and operation for the said Lessor to apply triple or two-fold damages during said time, which triple or double payments to be deposited for the benefit of said Lessor, delivered on the spot to said Lessor and for all overages and shortages, the said taker agree to adjust, and from the Lessor's count and agreeable to him at all times also accord to him everything promised, etc. etc.. Present: Michael Fontaine and Pierre LeGrand.}
{On the last day of March 1644 to apply for a lease before the recorders. Present were Charles Michel, Lord of Buts, Farmer General of a quarter of the salt mine in the harbors of St. Opportune, Creances and St Germain-ser-Ay, who voluntarily had advanced a loan for working a farm at a determined price for four years starting on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December, the said fourth year thereafter from Jacques LeRoy and Pierre LeGrand, from said Creances, present and accepting the salt mine quarter who could sell and refine during said period in the rock-salt section owned by the Lord of Fai, in the harbor of St.Germain, of Sablon which will be mainly dependent only of the rock-salt supply, and handled at the price and sum of 47.1 pounds cash payable quarterly at the end of each quarter, to his office and received by the Lessor, with two sous cash per pound of said sum, also each year on sous for each receipt, one quart of salt, one bushel to the clerk, market measure, also for each of said years, delivered and presented at the said receivers, without major misfortune happening during said time, said manager can demand a reduced price, and in case of spoilage can demand interest for said Lessor, also can pro-rate that part of the year incurring low production, the said taker can apply triple or double penalties during said time, which triple or double fines that will go to the clothes and upkeep of said money-lender. To deliver fresh material to them and any other things mentioned below, owed to said managers, substance and specifics without reduction, one by itself for all, and from a Lessor for good and sufficient condition agreeable to him, yet as set forth. Present: Michel Fontain and Giles LeMettais.}
{On June 17, 1646 from leasing before the recorders. Present were Jacques LeRoy, who has leased by rent, for five years to till or mine to Jullien Regnault brother Gilles and Gillette Regnault widow of Giles LeNoel, for all who can apply and pertaining to the marriage settlements of said LeRoy owing to the widow of the late Denys Regnault, at present his wife, which consists of a small house and a number of inherited pieces, all situated in Creances, entrance at Buisson, starting at the said house to the opening of the last St. Jean Baptiste, and from the inherited pieces of the last St. Michel day, from expenses for said widow and necessary to maintain said house, stopping leakage alone, and of paying by said St. Michel day from year to year, 10 sous to Guillaume Moullin, paid to the money lender for each year and an additional 100 sous per year, payable by the last St. Michel day, and also from year to year and coming up with the rent when due, to the said Gille Noel, just can't be done with the present farm and rent, the said takers want continued. In the presence of Gernmain Eroult and Gilles Godalle, witnesses.
{On the 15th day of April 1648, before Martin Fanuel, auditor and record-keeper, and Jean Laroza who functions as his adjutant. Present were Nicholas Nicolle, Deputy Farmer General of a quarter of the salt of Lessay, to St. Germain, which was leased to operate by vigorous effort, to Ollivier LeRoy, of the parish of Creances, possessed by lease and make a rock-salt mine profitable to Pierre Matinel, Squire, Lord of St. Germain, located in said parish and harbor of St. Germain, named La Petite Sallinne, present and accepting the said right to a quarter of salt or quarter bushel of the salt which could be mined, sold, and retailed from the said salt mine, depending on strike or crisis, during the time of three years, commencing from the last St. Michel; day and extending to the last day of December, 1650, for the price of 27 pounds cash, for principal, with two sous per pound of said sum, for the rights of the inspectors-overseers of the Aydas of pound of merchandise throughout each year which the said taker is obliged submit to the King's representative, to pay said money-lender, at his office and receive at Lessay quarterly within the prescribed time, and the salt returned to the rock-salt mine, of which he is obliged to supply good and sufficient guarantee of that for which he is responsible and without division and intact, and not to pretend to demand any price reduction, for each cause and occasion that occurs, nor any interest in case of dispossessment, on condition that, the collectors who made them in the said rock-salt mine, have stopped and the said taker will deliver, to is mill, to said money-lender the present loan in the formal compliance. Present: dynes Basvie and Robert LeFournier.}
The first and only record of Simeon LeRoy, while in Normandy, is his baptism record. According to Father Gerard Lebel C. Ss. R, author of " Nos Ancetres, "the baptism record, which has become the basic document for all who are descended from Simeon LeRoy, is located in the Archives de Creances - Coutances, Manche, France; Register Sainte-Trinity. No longer having access to this record or knowing if it still exists, is very important in establishing the location of Simeon's parents at the time of his baptism. A critical part of this record is missing. It was and is the customary practice to include on the baptismal record the parish name of the parents. Simeon's record should have stated the parents were of “this” parish or the name of the parish in which they resided, if not Creances. Simeon's mother, Gilette Jacquet, is not mentioned on the baptism record. The name, Richard LeRoy, does not appear in any of the records of the Abbey of Lessay, or the earlier notary records of Creances. The witnesses to the baptism were Jacques LeRoy and Jean Lenoir, son of Marin Lenoir. Could Jacques and Jean be stand-in parents for Simeon?
It is worth noting that during the civil wars and tax revolts the LeRoy family is missing from Creances records, a period of 93 years, yet Simeon LeRoy is baptized there. It was not uncommon that some Catholics of Lower Normandy kept their faith in secret during those devastating years, especially those living near Catholic centers such as the Abbey of Lessay. Since most of the lords of Lower Normandy embraced the Protestant movement, more for economic reasons than religious, a search for LeRoys living in these Protestant areas could yield a connection to the earlier LeRoys of Creances. With this in mind, it will be important to look at the records of Fontenay-sur-Mer.
{On the 15th day of April 1648, before Martin Fanuel, auditor and record-keeper, and Jean Laroza who functions as his adjutant. Present were Nicholas Nicolle, Deputy Farmer General of a quarter of the salt of Lessay, to St. Germain, which was leased to operate by vigorous effort, to Ollivier LeRoy, of the parish of Creances, possessed by lease and make a rock-salt mine profitable to Pierre Matinel, Squire, Lord of St. Germain, located in said parish and harbor of St. Germain, named La Petite Sallinne, present and accepting the said right to a quarter of salt or quarter bushel of the salt which could be mined, sold, and retailed from the said salt mine, depending on strike or crisis, during the time of three years, commencing from the last St. Michel; day and extending to the last day of December, 1650, for the price of 27 pounds cash, for principal, with two sous per pound of said sum, for the rights of the inspectors-overseers of the Aydas of pound of merchandise throughout each year which the said taker is obliged submit to the King's representative, to pay said money-lender, at his office and receive at Lessay quarterly within the prescribed time, and the salt returned to the rock-salt mine, of which he is obliged to supply good and sufficient guarantee of that for which he is responsible and without division and intact, and not to pretend to demand any price reduction, for each cause and occasion that occurs, nor any interest in case of dispossessment, on condition that, the collectors who made them in the said rock-salt mine, have stopped and the said taker will deliver, to is mill, to said money-lender the present loan in the formal compliance. Present: dynes Basvie and Robert LeFournier.}
The first and only record of Simeon LeRoy, while in Normandy, is his baptism record. According to Father Gerard Lebel C. Ss. R, author of " Nos Ancetres, "the baptism record, which has become the basic document for all who are descended from Simeon LeRoy, is located in the Archives de Creances - Coutances, Manche, France; Register Sainte-Trinity. No longer having access to this record or knowing if it still exists, is very important in establishing the location of Simeon's parents at the time of his baptism. A critical part of this record is missing. It was and is the customary practice to include on the baptismal record the parish name of the parents. Simeon's record should have stated the parents were of “this” parish or the name of the parish in which they resided, if not Creances. Simeon's mother, Gilette Jacquet, is not mentioned on the baptism record. The name, Richard LeRoy, does not appear in any of the records of the Abbey of Lessay, or the earlier notary records of Creances. The witnesses to the baptism were Jacques LeRoy and Jean Lenoir, son of Marin Lenoir. Could Jacques and Jean be stand-in parents for Simeon?
It is worth noting that during the civil wars and tax revolts the LeRoy family is missing from Creances records, a period of 93 years, yet Simeon LeRoy is baptized there. It was not uncommon that some Catholics of Lower Normandy kept their faith in secret during those devastating years, especially those living near Catholic centers such as the Abbey of Lessay. Since most of the lords of Lower Normandy embraced the Protestant movement, more for economic reasons than religious, a search for LeRoys living in these Protestant areas could yield a connection to the earlier LeRoys of Creances. With this in mind, it will be important to look at the records of Fontenay-sur-Mer.