I am looking for information about Ferdinand’s parents Louis De Meurant & Jeann Trinquant. There seems to be quite a lot of information on Ferdinand but very little on his parents. He fled France during the revolution, but what of his family? Any information would be appreciated

Ferdinand is my wife's great great grandfather.

I have joined a number of French Yahoo family history websites to try to track down info on his birth, as well as his parents.

I too found info on the web that indicated that Louis De Meurant & Jeanne Trinquant were his parents, but have since been advised by descendants of these two that they lived in Maine et Loire (49) in France and had one son - Joseph in 1863, I think? Ferdinand is NOT their son.

Also, he variously claimed to be from Champagne, as well as Frontignac (naming his property in Western Sydney, Australia, "Frontignac"). However, Frontignac (now known as Frontignan) is located in the south of France in the Department of Herault (34)in the Languedoc-Roussillon Region and Champagne is a part of a region name Champagne-Ardenne) in central France. Ferdinand seems to have been "a bit careless with the truth" which makes it even harder to trace him. I have traced my own father's ancestors back to 1630 in France.

In addition, he was a Huguenot or protestant and at the time he was born in 1965 they were persecuted in France. Consequently, it is unlikely that you will find any trace of him in the French BDMs that are based on Catholic parish records. There is a gap of 102 years in the protestant records that spans the year of his birth. After his conviction for forgery in Ireland, his first wife Sophia (maiden name unknown) twice petitioned the Irish Government to allow her to travel with him to Australia. Her second petition was granted, but she never came!!

Do you have any information to substantiate his birthplace?

Regards

Warren Lee Hill
(leehill@tpg.com.au)

Hi Warren,

Thanks so much for the information!

Ferdinand is also my great, great grandfather. I am related via Elvira Meurant his daughter with Rose; Elvira married William Pike in 1839

I have only just started to trace him so don’t have much to go on at this point. The information you have given is great (thankyou!) but I agree it is extremely difficult once you get to the 1600’s with most ancestors and if you add to the equation the fact he was a Huguenot and good at “a bit careless with the truth” it dose make it difficult.

If I find any information along the way I will send it on to you.

Again thanks for you help.

Regards Les

I am interested in any history relating to Ferdinand and his family. I am an Australian descentant. My great grand mother was Selina Elvira Rosetta Du Meurant. She was a beautiful looking woman and lovely person according to my father. My daughter hopes to go to France in 2011 and will visit relevant historical sites (if any, and if found). Thank you.

Dear "Calypso"

I am going to France next year but I am not even going to try to track down Ferdinand's history! I have copies of the two letters from Sophia to the Lieutenant Governor of Ireland petitioning him to allow her and their two children to accompany Ferdi to Australia. I can forward these and any other info I have to you if you send your email address to me at leehill@tpg.com.au

See my earlier post as to why it would be virtually impossible to trace him. Many of his descendants have been trying to tie down his birthplace for the past 30-40 years. Unfortunately, given his carelessness with the truth and the fact that he was a protestant, I don't think we are likely to do any better. But good hunting anyway!!

Regards

Warren Lee Hill

Hello Warren, I would love a copy of the letters!
regards les

Dear Meurant People, One of my ancestors went by the name of Arthur Ricemedon de Meurant, born Dublin Ireland, married Julia Kelly in 1849 in Melbourne(NSW).Lived in Gipps Street Paddington; one daughter - Annie. After 1861, when Julia died,I believe he then lived in England and remarried.

My question is - have any of you heard of this man? Is he related to Ferdinand Meurant?

Thank you for any information.

It is VERY remotely possible????? Ferdinand was transported to Australia from Ireland in 1799 and left behind a wife (Sophia)and 2 sons. The date of your Meurant's marriage suggests that IF he is related that he would likely be the son of one of those two boys.

To confirm any of this would require extensive research on the Irish BDM records.

Good Luck

Regards

Lee Hill

I have a contact in Ireland who I forwarded on your query to. Her response is as follows:

"No I have never heard of Arthur Ricemedon de Meurant, but Arthur Richardson Meurant is well known, and as far as I know never went to Oz and did not marry Julia Kelly. It looks like another marvellous Meurant tale, but anything is possible. Could you give me the email of the person who put it on Rootsweb. Would like to know where the information came from. Civil registration did not start in Ireland until 1864, so would make searching very difficult."

She has asked me to pass on to you her details:
Ms Petra Coffey at email manuscoffey@eircom.net

Petra is researching Ferdinand and other Huguenots (French Protestants like Ferdinand) who fled to Ireland to escape persecution in France.

Regards

Lee Hill

Hi lee, as far as I know he fled the revolution, not religion?

Cheers les