Simeon LeRoy By Richard Churchill LeRoy
Preface
In the year 1989 Robert B. LeRoy, of Manchester, New Hampshire, and I employed a French Genealogist by the name of Anne Osselyn of Rouen, France. Her name was obtained through "The Society of Genealogy, Rouen, Normandy, France". A genealogist acquainted with the history of Normandy and in particular regions where the LeRoy surname existed in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries was required. The research she undertook was arduous and time consuming. She had to not only locate the appropriate records, but also translate them into modern French. Robert LeRoy translated her research into English and what follows is the result of this work.
Many of the records of St. Lo and Lessay were destroyed by allied bombings during World War II, but some records survived by being moved to safer locations prior to the hostilities in Normandy. Other records were reconstructed through church and notary documents found in various repositories. Some conclusions will be drawn from referenced material, as well as some speculation. It will be for the reader to decide whether to accept or dismiss the conclusions. There is still much research to be accomplished in Normandy. Some additional records are held in private libraries, while others are found in family records not yet made available to the various archives.
The area of Normandy researched consisted of towns and villages of the Cotentin, and in particular around Lessay and St. Lo. All the various LeRoy families in this work can be found within a radius of 20 miles. The history of this area will be covered, as well as the important village of Creances, for it was in this village where the only Norman record of Simeon LeRoy dit Audy is mentioned. A general history of Normandy will be included as well.
This narrative will continue with the author's ancestral LeRoy line. Included will be general and local histories of each generation and their geographic domiciles. Social, political, and economic histories of the various generations will be kept to a minimum, used only to explain the forces behind certain decisions and movements of this LeRoy line.
After more than twenty years of genealogical and historical research, it is my wish of that others may use this document as a starting point to further the research of this LeRoy family.
In the year 1989 Robert B. LeRoy, of Manchester, New Hampshire, and I employed a French Genealogist by the name of Anne Osselyn of Rouen, France. Her name was obtained through "The Society of Genealogy, Rouen, Normandy, France". A genealogist acquainted with the history of Normandy and in particular regions where the LeRoy surname existed in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries was required. The research she undertook was arduous and time consuming. She had to not only locate the appropriate records, but also translate them into modern French. Robert LeRoy translated her research into English and what follows is the result of this work.
Many of the records of St. Lo and Lessay were destroyed by allied bombings during World War II, but some records survived by being moved to safer locations prior to the hostilities in Normandy. Other records were reconstructed through church and notary documents found in various repositories. Some conclusions will be drawn from referenced material, as well as some speculation. It will be for the reader to decide whether to accept or dismiss the conclusions. There is still much research to be accomplished in Normandy. Some additional records are held in private libraries, while others are found in family records not yet made available to the various archives.
The area of Normandy researched consisted of towns and villages of the Cotentin, and in particular around Lessay and St. Lo. All the various LeRoy families in this work can be found within a radius of 20 miles. The history of this area will be covered, as well as the important village of Creances, for it was in this village where the only Norman record of Simeon LeRoy dit Audy is mentioned. A general history of Normandy will be included as well.
This narrative will continue with the author's ancestral LeRoy line. Included will be general and local histories of each generation and their geographic domiciles. Social, political, and economic histories of the various generations will be kept to a minimum, used only to explain the forces behind certain decisions and movements of this LeRoy line.
After more than twenty years of genealogical and historical research, it is my wish of that others may use this document as a starting point to further the research of this LeRoy family.
SIMEON LeROY By Richard Churchill LeRoy
Normandy en Brief
The Coming of the Northmen
Benedictine Abbey de Lessay
Creances History: The People
Creances History: The Lords
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Creances
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Fontenay-sur-Mer
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Gouville
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Montpinchon
Normandy en Brief
The Coming of the Northmen
Benedictine Abbey de Lessay
Creances History: The People
Creances History: The Lords
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Creances
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Fontenay-sur-Mer
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Gouville
LeRoys of Lower Normandy: Montpinchon