LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Gouville
Another grouping of LeRoys can be found at Gouville, under the Lordship of Clinchamp, located about 10km west of Vire. The town is not shown on current maps and it is not known if this village still exists. One will notice that the given names of Richard, Jean, Thomas, and Simon, and Jacques LeRoy.
From the inventory of the account of Gouville, held at the "Societe of Manches Archives,” are recorded several acts naming various LeRoys. In 1503, an act shows that after the death of Thomas LeRoy, two creditors exchanged land for rents and guarantees of their liens. The next act, 1545, mentions Francois LeRoy, brother curate of Clinchamp, and Jean LeRoy, his brother. From a document signed in 1584, a statement of Richard LeRoy for the Regnarderie hovel is included. Richard LeRoy, who had unlawfully kept a sum of money given by one of the parish owners for the benefit of the church, was ordered to pay back this rent money to the advantage of the church, 1585. In 1597, A declaration of legacies (description of lands of the predeceased) making it necessary to pay quit-rent, in silver or equivalent, from Marin James to Guillaume LeRoy, son of Richard LeRoy.
An interesting document, showing how guardianship of minor children was decided, is found in a 1616 record of Clinchamp. "Before us, Pierre Petion, Squire, Council Lord of the King, Viscount of Vire, the fifth day of September, 1616, were presented, prudent person, Master Guillaume LeRoy, brother curate of Clinchamp, Master Guille Desert, Lord of Cotes, Master Antoine de Sever, Lord of LeFrance, Notary Master Raoul Louvel, Guillaume and Jacques LeRoy. Present also were Master Pierre LeBrun of Valees, Jean and Georges LeBrun, Gamaliel Criquet, Jacques Regnauldiere, Jean LeRoy, son of Richard LeRoy, Jean Fleury, son of Collas, Jean Vauldry Basonniere, Pierre Boscaignerie, all close relations, neighbors and friends of minors, after the death of the late Master Michel LeRoy, occurring at the siege of Clinchamp and while living the Royal Notary of Clinchamp. This group, being assembled by the high priest of Clinchamp, to designate one or more guardians of the minors and to oversee the conservation of their property and their well being, which after having sworn as required in similar cases and being semi-retires, after the deliberation, we have said, Unanimously, on their return, would chose the Honorable women, Stavenotte LeBrun, widow of the said deceased and mother of the minors, and chose Guillaume LeRoy, to plead issues and quarrels and differences which may occur in the course of the tutelage; it is the responsibility of the trutrix to make good and honest inventory of the possessions of the deceased, other than those that must be conserved for the use of the minors, and to be guided by the advice of the Lord Priest and of the tutor, in the presence of which the other possessions shall be reported, with their value, and to deal with the matters as that determined best for the minors; and they have also judged best, that everything recorded, remaining after the death of the deceased , will be held in a chest or trunk, and given to the protection of the Lord Priest, who will keep them safe until the minors reach their majority., but that the signatories uphold the authority of the trutix, on authorization of other parents named above, required for Mr. Cricquet, who has been chosen by the consulate consule, the Lord of Cotes, and Squire of Sauvagere, who will furnish their advice as to the manner of handling all the affairs of the minors; Have decided that it is also good that the Master Raoul Louvel, chosen to start from this day of record and give receipt to minors of everything held for lease which will be given to him from this source for the widow. To follow up this deliberation, we have named Guillaume LeRoy, and have taken hold the swearing of oaths customary in these circumstances, as well as from consuls, who have been recommended to guide the following judgment of the parents and have signed at the same time the minutes of the present action with us and LeHardy, for the King, and that of the Lord Priest have been received from the hands of the sergeants of the Viscount."
The remaining documents for Gouville and Clinchamp relate various acts naming other LeRoy family members, most taking place in the middle and late 17th century. The inventory of the land at Clinchamp contains the names of the LeRoy family members holding title to these lands. Details of these records are not included in this history, as most of those named are of later generations of our subject, Simeon LeRoy of Creance.
From the inventory of the account of Gouville, held at the "Societe of Manches Archives,” are recorded several acts naming various LeRoys. In 1503, an act shows that after the death of Thomas LeRoy, two creditors exchanged land for rents and guarantees of their liens. The next act, 1545, mentions Francois LeRoy, brother curate of Clinchamp, and Jean LeRoy, his brother. From a document signed in 1584, a statement of Richard LeRoy for the Regnarderie hovel is included. Richard LeRoy, who had unlawfully kept a sum of money given by one of the parish owners for the benefit of the church, was ordered to pay back this rent money to the advantage of the church, 1585. In 1597, A declaration of legacies (description of lands of the predeceased) making it necessary to pay quit-rent, in silver or equivalent, from Marin James to Guillaume LeRoy, son of Richard LeRoy.
An interesting document, showing how guardianship of minor children was decided, is found in a 1616 record of Clinchamp. "Before us, Pierre Petion, Squire, Council Lord of the King, Viscount of Vire, the fifth day of September, 1616, were presented, prudent person, Master Guillaume LeRoy, brother curate of Clinchamp, Master Guille Desert, Lord of Cotes, Master Antoine de Sever, Lord of LeFrance, Notary Master Raoul Louvel, Guillaume and Jacques LeRoy. Present also were Master Pierre LeBrun of Valees, Jean and Georges LeBrun, Gamaliel Criquet, Jacques Regnauldiere, Jean LeRoy, son of Richard LeRoy, Jean Fleury, son of Collas, Jean Vauldry Basonniere, Pierre Boscaignerie, all close relations, neighbors and friends of minors, after the death of the late Master Michel LeRoy, occurring at the siege of Clinchamp and while living the Royal Notary of Clinchamp. This group, being assembled by the high priest of Clinchamp, to designate one or more guardians of the minors and to oversee the conservation of their property and their well being, which after having sworn as required in similar cases and being semi-retires, after the deliberation, we have said, Unanimously, on their return, would chose the Honorable women, Stavenotte LeBrun, widow of the said deceased and mother of the minors, and chose Guillaume LeRoy, to plead issues and quarrels and differences which may occur in the course of the tutelage; it is the responsibility of the trutrix to make good and honest inventory of the possessions of the deceased, other than those that must be conserved for the use of the minors, and to be guided by the advice of the Lord Priest and of the tutor, in the presence of which the other possessions shall be reported, with their value, and to deal with the matters as that determined best for the minors; and they have also judged best, that everything recorded, remaining after the death of the deceased , will be held in a chest or trunk, and given to the protection of the Lord Priest, who will keep them safe until the minors reach their majority., but that the signatories uphold the authority of the trutix, on authorization of other parents named above, required for Mr. Cricquet, who has been chosen by the consulate consule, the Lord of Cotes, and Squire of Sauvagere, who will furnish their advice as to the manner of handling all the affairs of the minors; Have decided that it is also good that the Master Raoul Louvel, chosen to start from this day of record and give receipt to minors of everything held for lease which will be given to him from this source for the widow. To follow up this deliberation, we have named Guillaume LeRoy, and have taken hold the swearing of oaths customary in these circumstances, as well as from consuls, who have been recommended to guide the following judgment of the parents and have signed at the same time the minutes of the present action with us and LeHardy, for the King, and that of the Lord Priest have been received from the hands of the sergeants of the Viscount."
The remaining documents for Gouville and Clinchamp relate various acts naming other LeRoy family members, most taking place in the middle and late 17th century. The inventory of the land at Clinchamp contains the names of the LeRoy family members holding title to these lands. Details of these records are not included in this history, as most of those named are of later generations of our subject, Simeon LeRoy of Creance.