Chretien was a younger son of Jean IV who became a Huguenot, and
because of his faith, was stripped of his nobility. His elder
brother Louis remained a Catholic and was designated Seigneur de
Fontaines. Owing to the systematic mutilation of the records of
Huguenot families of noble blood, there is not much known about
Chretien. The duBois family had for many generations been the Barons
de Fiennes and Seigneurs de Beaufremez and la Bourse. Chretien's
farm, which was still pointed out to strangers as little as fifty
years ago, was in Artois, in France, in the village of Wicres. ABBR
Report of the European Research of Reverand W. Twy GEN: TITL Report of
the European Research of Reverand W. Twyman Williams, dated GEN:
12/13/1935 in The DuBois Family Association Magazine.
The Huguenots were French Protestants who were members of the Reformed
Church which was established in 1550 by John Calvin. The origin of the name
Huguenot is uncertain, but dates from approximately 1550 when it was used in
court cases against "heretics" (dissenters from the Roman Catholic Church).
As nickname and even abusive name it's use was banned in the regulations of
the Edict of Nantes which Henry IV (Henry of Navarre, who himself earlier
was a Huguenot) issued in 1559. The French Protestants themselves preferred
to refer to themselves as "râeformees" (reformers) rather than "Huguenots".
Chretien was a younger son of Pierre who became a Huguenot, and
because of his faith, was stripped of his nobility. His elder
brother Louis remained a Catholic and was designated Seigneur de
Fontaines. Owing to the systematic mutilation of the records of
Huguenot families of noble blood, there is not much known about
Chretien. The duBois family had for many generations been the Barons
de Fiennes and Seigneurs de Beaufremez and la Bourse. Chretien's
farm, which was still pointed out to strangers as little as fifty
years ago, was in Artois, in France, in the village of Wicres. ABBR
Report of the European Research of Reverand W. Twy GEN: TITL Report of
the European Research of Reverand W. Twyman Williams, dated GEN:
12/13/1935 in The DuBois Family Association Magazine.
The following was written by George Washington DuBois, D.D. (1822-1910) who was of Keeseville, Essex County, New York at
the time of his death:
"Chretien du Bois of Wicres in Artois, Pas de Calais, France, was born in 1597 and died prior to 10 October 1655. Owing to the
systematic mutilation of the records of Huguenot families of the nobility, neither his parentage nor issue can be definitely proved. It
is believed that he belonged to one of the five quite well known families stemming from Geoffroi de Bois and his wife Sidonie
Tesson of the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy who were alive in the middle of the 11th century. From records in the Netherlands,
where many Huguenots gained sanctuary, it is certain that Louis and Jacque s, both Walloons, were sons of Chretien du Bois.
"Helps to the identification of the American Branch of the 'famille du Bois': In a book in my library entitled Souvenirs d'une
ancienne famille Maison de Mailly en Artois, published at Limoges, France 1889, pp. 111-115, it is recorded that the 9th child of
Robert de Mailly-Couronel and Jeanne de Beaumont, his wife, was Madeline, who about 1550 was married to Jacques du Bois,
Baron de Finnes (one of the 12 Baronnes of the Conte de Guise), Artois, his oldest son was Pierre, Seigneur de Rantigny,
advocate at the Council of Artois, married at Cambray, Jacqueline de Mouen. The second child was Jean. The third child of
Robert de Mailly-Couronel was Charles, Seigneur du Rien. Note the perpetuation of Christian and surnames - Jacques, Pierre,
Pierrone, Jacqueline, Jean, du Rien. Our ancestor Jacques was from Artois province (Lille). Marie du Rien was sponsor at
baptism of Marie 1664, the first child of our Jacques as of record in Leyden. As this record contained in the book above referred
to connects our branch with Jacques du Bois, Baron de Fienne (presumably), so does it also connect us in ascending line with the
Baron de Fienne, the lineal descendant of Geoffroi de Bois, according to the genealogy preserved in the Bibliotheque du Rois
Paris"
The Huguenots were French Protestants who were members of the Reformed
Church which was established in 1550 byJohn Calvin. The origi n of the name
Huguenot is uncertain, but dates fromapproximately 1550 when i t was used in
court cases against "heretics" (dissentersfrom the Roman Catho lic Church).
As nickname and even abusive name it's usewas banned in the re gulations of
the Edict of Nantes which Henry IV (Henryof Navarre, who himse lf earlier
was a Huguenot) issued in 1559. The FrenchProtestants themselv es preferred
to refer to themselves as "râeformees"(reformers) rather than " Huguenots".Return to Chretien DU BOIS DE FIENNES
GEN: NSFX II
Return to Henri II DU BOIS DE FIENNES
GEN: NSFX IV
Return to Jean DU BOIS DE FIENNES
GEN: NSFX II
Return to Jean II DU BOIS DE FIENNES
GEN: NSFX III GEN: Jean could possibly be the Jean DuBois, Seigneur de Fontaines, who was GEN: maitre d'hotel for Charles VIII. That Jean died in 1507. GEN: ABBR Report of the European Research of Reverand W. Twy GEN: TITL Report of the European Research of Reverand W. Twyman Williams, dated GEN: 12/13/1935 in The DuBois Family Association Magazine.
Return to Jean III DU BOIS DE FIENNES