Friday, September 30, 2011

 

My Huguenot Family Tree 

Shows the relationship beteen myself and my 9th 

cousin-once-removed in France.

 

Relationship

Didier Pothet is a son of a 9th cousin of Catherine Elisabeth Sharpe.
  • Indeed,
    • Mathurin Gastineau and Élisabeth Audée ; Audeer (2 relationship links).
    are at the same time
    • ancestors of the 10th generation of Catherine Elisabeth Sharpe
    • ancestors of the 11th generation of Didier Pothet



Mathurin Gastineau ca 1600-/1692
& Élisabeth Audée ; Audeer ca 1600


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Isaac Ga(s)tineau ca 1638-1704
&1662 Marie Garnault ca 1638-1708


Pierre Gastineau /1642-1682/1692
&ca 1660 Elizabeth Herbert


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François Ga(s)tineau 1670-1704/1714
&1697 Suzanne Vadier 1680-1719


Mathurin Gastineau 1666-1746
&1692 Jeanne Chaboussant


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François Ga(s)tineau 1705-1757/1776
&1733 Marie Macouin 1714-1776/1788


Charles Gastineau 1702-1780
& Rebecca Terrier


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Louise Gatineau 1743-1781/1793
&1762 Jean Pot(h)et 1738-1814


Marie Gatineau ca 1745-1780/1788
&1765 Louis Potet 1741-1802/


Mary Gastineau 1733
&1763 Edward Barnard


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Jacques Pot(h)et 1766-1825
& Marie Macouin 1767-1817


Izaac Pot(h)et 1768-1814 &1794
Magdelaine Bruneteau 1769-1837/


Mary Barnard &1790
William Deeble 1758-1796


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Marie Pot(h)et 1798-1858


Izaac Pot(h)et 1798-1862


Edward Barnard Deeble 1794-1845
&1819 Sarah Ann Fenton +1852


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Jacques Pothet 1837-1905
&1874 Marie Bertin 1843-1907


Eliza Lees Deeble 1822-1904
&1847 Arthur Sharp 1808-870


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Jacques Pothet 1875-1945
&1908 Marie Caillet 1885-1951


Herbert Alfred Sharp 1854-1935
&1884 Emma Greenslade 1852-1928


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Rosny "Georges" Pothet 1909-2000
&1936 Simone David 1917-2003


Arthur Herbert Charles Sharp 1890-1963
&1920 Agnes Elliot Nancy Hart 1901-1986


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Rémy Pothet 1939-
& Claudine Carcenac 1936-


Catherine Elisabeth Sharpe 1936-
& Allan Edward Kales


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Didier Pothet 1964-
& Laurette Quatrus








Friday, September 23, 2011



Anatomy of a Novel – Part 1 – Why I’ve Written “The Silk Weaver’s Daughter.”

In a very short time now, my novel about a French Huguenot family entitled “The Silk Weaver’s Daughter,” will be published by CreateSpace and available on Amazon.com in paperback, as well as on Kindle. It has been a labour of love now for over five years. 

When I was a teenager, my aunt, who knew the family history much better than my father did, informed me that we had Huguenot ancestors. I was always determined to find out who they were; so in 1976, I began my search for my Family History. It was a lot more difficult in those days. Without the internet, one had to travel to, or write letters back and forth to the various repositories in England and Scotland. There were also, of course, the local Family History Branches of the Mormon Church. These were open to all Family Historians regardless of their religion. However, even if you found a source, the local branch had to order the microfilms from Salt Lake City. Even then, you could run up against a blank wall. So it was all very slow. Of course, the internet and its multitude of Family History sites today have made it a lot less complicated. 

I was fortunate that shortly after I began, I made contact with an unknown second cousin in England; who previously only knew that my grandfather had taken his family to Canada, and was hardly ever heard from again. It was a great reunion when I was able to go to London to meet the descendants of my grandfather’s brothers.

To make a long story short, eventually I was able to make the French Connection, and discover just who my particular Huguenots ancestors were. They were brave people who left  hearth and home in the 17th century, and make their way, through many dangers, to London to start afresh in the area known as Spittlefields. While there are many non-fiction books written about that historical event, there is very little in the way of novels about Huguenot families and what they experienced. 

I also was fortunate to “meet” on-line, a Frenchman in Lyon, who was the descendant of my ancestor’s brother. His ancestor had chosen to stay in his beloved country as a secret Huguenot, an equally dangerous thing to do. It was discussing with him the different choices that each brother made, that I began finally to have the idea of a plot for my novel.

They say, “If you can't find the novel you would like to read, write it yourself.” Which is the reason, I have written a novel based on this research. It is founded on the few facts I have about my Huguenot ancestors. The rest is purely fiction. Before I started to write my book, I visited the ancestral places in France and England and saw with my own eyes the village where my people originated. It was a very beautiful spot that touched my heart.

“However they did it, my ancestors  managed to make  their way to London where they shaped admirable lives for themselves. In the novel, the hero, Pierre Garneau, tends to be typical of Huguenot philosophy in his beliefs and behaviour. I am happy to say that over the period of the story, he learns moderation in his judgments and enough wisdom to realize his own shortcomings.

As I say, the story is completely fiction, but many of the events did happen to some Huguenots. I feel that, in a time when there are still places in the world where a man can't follow his own conscience, the bravery of these people has an important message for us all. I hope others find it interesting and informative. 

 

Friday, September 16, 2011

Senior Moments: An Italian Treasure

Senior Moments: An Italian Treasure

An Italian Treasure





I don’t often recommend a destination I’ve never been too, but this looks like such an ideal vacation spot, I’m going to suggest it anyhow. I met Alessandro Zullo, the man who represents the property, online at the LinkedIn website, where I associate with other travel writers and bloggers. He is a delightful man who speaks from his heart about this wonderful vacation spot.
The Dimora Del Prete Belmonte, built in the 16th century is an enchanting Bed & Breakfast in a beautiful, historic house located in Venafro, Italy—an excellent centralized location for tourism in the Molise region. It is centrally located for tours to Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi coast, and Capri and is easily reached by both railway and autoroutes.

The Palace of the Del Prete di Belmonte rises in the center of the old city of Venafro. Next to it, on the Piazza del Cristo, stands the church of the same name. The Parco Oraziano behind the cathedral became the Regional Agricultural Historical Olive Park of Venafro. A regional law aimed at establishing a protected area to preserve the heritage of Venafro’s olive trees. The Regional Agricultural Historical Olive Park of Venafro is the first park in the Mediterranean area with an olive theme. No doubt, it is spectacular in early spring when the olive trees bloom.

The palace itself, built on one of the cardinal roads of the Roman town, was restructured in neoclassic style around 1860. The ground floor, once used to keep carriages, has been transformed into a beautiful hall available for small conferences, private meetings and other social events.  On the main floor, guests enjoy breakfast in an elegant drawing room decorated with frescoed ceilings depicting views of the town and the Del Prete country estates. Outside, there is a courtyard with charming central garden, in the middle of which stand two very old palm trees and a rose garden with old-fashioned fragrant roses.

The rooms in the upper floor of the palace are furnished with period furniture and are available for guests. All are air-conditioned and have private toilets. Breakfast is included in the price of the rooms.

The owner of the estate is offering courses in Italian, as well as cooking, archaeology, canoeing, etc. It could also be used for weddings, as there is a beautiful chapel inside the palace. The staff at the estate are able to book tours for you to all the well-known sights. As well, they will make suggestions about equally beautiful, undiscovered places they tell me are even more worthy of a visit than the regular tourist spots.
Trip Advisor ranks it as #1 of Venafro B&Bs and many of their readers gave it 5-star ratings. One reviewer, from North Wales had this to say in July of this summer:

 “We stayed for a week in this wonderful place in the centre of the old town of Venafro. Our host, Dorothy was so helpful & welcomed us as part of the family. We have stayed in various places in Italy over the past years but none compare with this special B&B.
The town & surrounding area have a lot to offer with historical sites & dramatic mountain scenery . If it's the real Italy you want (away from the tourists) - this is certainly the best we've found.”
Alessandro Zullo is extremely enthusiastic about this special place, and is hoping to attract the senior cliental to a very different Italian encounter. If you are interested in experiencing something a little different the than usual glitzy, American-style hotel, Del Prete di Belmonte may be just the place for you.
You can book your vacation at The Palace of the Del Prete di Belmonte through Expedia.co.uk, with Travel Advisor, or directly with Mr. Zullo at  alezullo@gmail.com.
 



Friday, September 9, 2011

New Book Review "Becoming Marie Antoninette"

In this first of a trilogy about the life of Marie Antoinette, we are introduced to ten-year-old Antonia, the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, autocratic co-ruler of the Austrian-Hapsburg
Empire.

Antonia is an impetuous child, more prone to chasing after butterflies, or tumbling in the garden with her pet dog, than gliding through the mirrored halls of the celebrated Versailles. Yet, her mother is determined that she shall marry the French Dauphin, the young grandson of King Louis XV. No effort or expense is spared in the empress's race to transform this sweet, boisterous, little girl into a sophisticated beauty, able to deal with the intrigues and treacheries of the French Court.

In order to meet the French standard of elegance, she must learn the special Versailles walk on two-inch heels, and wearing skirts wider than a door. Her hairstyle is considered wrong; her figure at twelve years of age, too boyish; and even her teeth are too crooked for their standard of beauty. She must undergo the rigors of a crude form of braces to straighten them. She is not by nature a student, so must undergo constant, rigorous lessons in the French language as well as the geography and history of that country.

The author gives us a detailed account of the young Antonia growing into the glamorous Marie Antoinette under the demanding eye of her ambitious mother. It is character-driven and through the author's beautiful and skilful writing, we are able to watch the young girl's metamorphous before our eyes, rather like the butterflies she loves.

Since it IS character rather than plot-driven, it is not a page-turner in the sense of a thriller or even a cozy. But through wonderful word pictures and delightfully poignant scenes, the writer has done an outstanding job of drawing the lover of historical fiction into the life of this remarkable young girl. I can hardly wait for the release of the other two books in the trilogy of France's last queen. Like the author, I am growing very fond of Antonia. I wish that her story could have a happy ending but, sadly, we already know what her fate will be.

Friday, September 2, 2011