Warren County NJ Archives Biographies.....Arthur SANDYS, 1837 - 1914
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 6:04 pm

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

SANDYS, Arthur,
Student, Scholar, Historian.

  This name originally Sands was by act of Legislature legally changed to Sandys
at the request of Arthur Sandys, to whose memory this sketch is dedicated.
Deprived of both of his parents when two years of age, Arthur Sandys grew to
youthful manhood at the home of his maternal grandparents in New York City, by
whom he was given every advantage and educational opportunity. When a young man
he went abroad and in the cities of the Old World spent several years. He was a
man of cultured tastes and cultivated mind, a heritage from his French maternal
ancestors, the de Normandies, who, for their Protestant faith, sought refuge in
Geneva and resided there for several generations until the whirligig of fate
again drove them forth for serving an earthly monarch, Frederick I., of Prussia,
as the first de Normandie had fled from Noyon, France, for allegiance to his
spiritual king.

  Mr. Sandys was an insatiable reader of biographies of great men, a student of
history and the historian of the family. He spent much time while in Europe in
searching French and Genevese records, with the result that he gave to the world
a valuable contribution to its literature in "Annals de Normandie," an
exhaustive historical and genealogical account of the de Normandies, their times
and the part they played in French and Genevese history (see de Normandie line).
This was but one of his contributions to American literature, his writings being
numerous. He was not bound continuously to business life, but devoted long
periods to travel and study as inclination seized him, indulging in all the
pursuits and pleasures of a gentleman.

  There is reason to believe that the name was originally Sandys, and that the
American family is descended from Henry Sandes, Sands, or Sandys, who came from
Yorkshire to America probably earlier than 1638, and was one of the founders of
Rowley/Massachusetts. He died in Boston in 1654. His wife, Sybil, whom he
married in England, was the mother of James Sands, one of the founders of the
town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island. This town embodies Block Island, and was
represented in the Rhode Island Assembly in 1665 by James Sands. He was born in
Yorkshire, England, 1622, and died at Block Island, March 13, 1695, and was
buried there. He had grants of land in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, October 5,
1643, and August 29, 1644; was made freeman there 1655; was commissioner to the
General Court, May 19, 1657; was constable in 1654, and deputy to the General
Court in 1655. In April, 1661, he sailed with a party which went from Taunton,
Rhode Island, to settle Block Island; was tax rater in 1670 and 1671, and deeded
the land on which he settled to his son, John, November 15, 1690. He married,
1645-46, Sarah, daughter of John and Catherine (Hutchinson) Walker. John Walker
was a freeman in Boston, May 14, 1634; was among those condemned for adherence
to the religious teachings of Ann Hutchinson, and removed to Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, about 1637-38. John Sands, eldest child of James Sands, born 1649,
succeeded his father on the paternal homestead in Block Island, had a gant [sic]
of land at Portsmouth, May 27, 1674, was deputy from Block Island in 1678 and
1680-81. In 1691 he removed to Cow Neck, on Long Island, where he purchased, for
two hundred pounds, a farm, deed dated December 25, 1691. He married in New
Shoreham, Sybil Ray, born March 19, 1665, daughter of Simon (2) and Mary
(Thomas) Ray, granddaughter of Simon (1) Ray, of Braintree, Essex, England, and
died at Braintree, Massachusetts, September 30, 1641. Mary Thomas was a daughter
of Nathaniel Thomas, born about 1606, in Wales, died February 13, 1674, in
Marshfield, Massachusetts. John Sands died March 15, 1712, at Cow Neck, and his
wife, December 23, 1733. Both were buried in the Sands graveyard there. Their
eldest child was John Sands, born January 22, 1684, on Block Island, and died at
Cow Neck, August 30, 1763. He removed from Block Island, about 1716, and built a
house at Cow Neck, which was subsequently occupied by his son. About 1733 he
purchased from his brother, Daniel, the paternal homestead there, on which he
thereafter resided. He married at Newport, Rhode Island, September 9, 1706,
Catherine Gutherie, born June 24, 1690, on Block Island, died at Sands Point,
February 10, 1769, daughter of Robert and Anna (Alcock) Gutherie, granddaughter
of Dr. John and Sarah (Palgrave) Alcock, both natives of England. Dr. John
Alcock graduated at Harvard University, and was the purchaser of Block Island
from the Indians. He was a son of George Alcock, who came over with Governor
Winthrop, was also a physician, and died December 30, 1640, at Roxbury,
Massachusetts. His wife was a Hooker. John Sands, eldest child of John and
Catherine (Gutherie) Sands, was born January 1, 1708, on Block Island, and died
at Sands Point, November 22, 1760. He lived on his grandfather's homestead,
there he was a farmer, and married, May 12, 1736, Elizabeth Cor.) nell, born
September 27, 1711, died May 10, 1793, daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Hagner)
Cornell, granddaughter of John and Mary (Russell) Cornell, who came from England
in 1677, and settled at Sands Point, where they were buried. Caleb Cornell was
born there in 1683. and died there. He married, October 10,1705, Elizabeth
Hagner, of Flushing, who died in 1734. Comfort Sands, fourth son of John and
Elizabeth (Cornell) Sands, was born February 26, 1748, was baptized at St.
Paul's Chapel, New York, in 1767, and died at Hoboken, September 22, 1834. He
resided in New York City previous to 1809, when he removed to Newark, and
remained three years. Returning to New York, he lived there until 1826, when he
removed to Hoboken, was buried at St. Peter's Church, Westchester, New York. In
1775 he was a member of the committee of one hundred to manage colonial affairs
in opposition to the home government; was a member of the provincial congress in
that year; was auditor-general of New York in 1776, and continuously from that
year until 1783 on the committee of public safety. He also filled other
important posts during the Revolutionary War, and was president of the New York
Chamber of Commerce after peace had come. He married, June 3, 1769, Sarah Dodge,
born 1749, at Hunts Point, died in New York, January 24, 1795, and was buried in
the Middle Dutch Church on Nassau street in that city. She was descended from
Tristram Dodge, one of the original settlers of Block Island, in 1662, died in
1733. He was the first freeman of Block Island, admitted in 1664.

His son, William Dodge, lived and died on Block Island, and was the father of
Samuel Dodge, born there September 19, 1691, died about 1766, and was buried at
Sands Point, Long Island. His wife, Elizabeth, was the mother of Wilkie Dodge,
born at Sands Point, where he died in 1752, married Mary Hunt, born 1725, at
Hunts Point, Westchester county, New York, died in New York City, July 22, 1796,
and was buried in the Middle Dutch Church there. Comfort Sands married (second)
in New York, December 5, 1797, Cornelia, daughter of Abraham Lott, born November
5, 1761, died April 6, 1856, in New York. Joseph Sands, second son of Comfort
and Sarah (Dodge) Sands, was born January 7, 1772, in New York, and died there
December 5, 1825, buried in St. Mark's Church. He married in Paris, France,
March 26, 1801, Maria Therese Kampfel, born 1782, in Vienna, Austria, died in
New York. August, 1846, buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Long Island. She was the
daughter of Matthias Kampfel, a major in the Austrian army, and his wife, Anna
(Zach) Kampfel, of a Flanders family, long situated in Lisle.

  Ferdinand Sands, son of Joseph and Maria Therese (Kampfel) Sands, was born May
26, 1806, in New York, and died there December 7, 1839, was buried in St. Mark's
Church. He graduated A. B. at Columbia College in May, 1824. He married, March
15, 1830, Susan Bard, born February 7, 1812, at Hyde Park, New York, died in New
York City, January 28, 1838, buried in St. Mark's Church. She was a descendant
of an old New York family. Her first known ancestor was Benoit Bard, who fled
from France in 1682 to escape religious persecution, and died in London after
1734. His son, Colonel Peter Bard, born 1679, in France, came to America in
1706, settled in New Jersey, died July 13, 1734, in Burlington, that State, and
was buried at St. Mary's Church there. He was a member of the Colonial Council
in New Jersey in 1720, commander of a regiment of foot, May 4, 1722, and was
judge of the Superior Court of the State at the time of his death. He married in
New Castle, Delaware, 1709, Dinah Marmion, born 1693 in Leicestershire, England,
died after 1760, in Burlington, New Jersey, buried at St. Mary's Church,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Marmion, born in Leicestershire, received the degree of
A. B. from Cambridge University, and came to America before 1700. He died in
Burlington, New Jersey, March 20, 1734, buried at St. Mary's Church. He married,
July 28, 1692, at Astley Abbots, Salop, Elizabeth Parker, born 1670, in England,
died in Burlington, September 24, 1729, buried at St. Mary's Church. Dr. John
Bard, son of Colonel Peter and Dinah (Marmion) Bard, was born February 1, 1716,
at Burlington, died at Hyde Park, New York, April 1, 1799, buried at St. James'
Church there. He married at Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1737, Susanne Valleau,
born July 19, 1721, in New York, died and was buried at St. James' Church, Hyde
Park, daughter of Pierre Valleau, grandaughter of Faulkner Valleau,
great-granddaughter of Esaie Valleau, born in France, 1638, came to New York in
1685, died at New Rochelle, New York, 1713. The son, Faulkner, born 1662, died
before 1712, had wife, Jeanne, and they were the parents of Pierre Valleau, died
in New York before 1745. He married Magdalena Faucon-nier, born 1685, in London,
died in New York after 1750. Dr. Samuel Bard, son of Dr. John and Susanne
(Valleau) Bard, was born April 1, 1742, in Burlington, received the degree of A.
B. at the University of Edinburgh, LL. D. at Princeton College, founded the New
York Medical School and the New York City Hospital, died at Hyde Park, New York,
May 24, 1821, buried there in St. James' Church. He married at Christ Church,
Philadelphia, May 14, 1770, his cousin, Mary Bard, born June 18, 1746, died at
Hyde Park, May 23, 1821, buried there at St. James' Church, daughter of Peter
Bard, who was a son of Colonel Peter and Dinah (Marmion) Bard. Peter (2) Bard
was born July 29, 1712, at Burlington, was commissary-general of the
Pennsylvania forces, died at Mount Holly, January 30, 1761, buried at St.
Andrew's Church there. He married at Christ Church, Philadelphia, September 28,
1738, Marie de Normandie, born May 15, 1780, at Bristol, Philadelphia, died at
Mount Holly, New Jersey. William Bard, son of Dr. Samuel and Mary (Bard) Bard,
born April 4, 1778, in Philadelphia, graduated A. B. Columbia College, 1798,
member of the Society of the Cincinnati, died October 17, 1853, on Staten
Island, buried in St. Mark's Church, New York. He married in Trinity Church, New
York, October 7, 1802, Catherine Cruger, born May 7, 1781, at St. Croix, West
Indies, died on Staten Island, October 14, 1868, buried at St. Mark's Church,
New York. She was a descendant of John Cruger, who came to America before 1700,
was mayor of New York, 1739, died there August 13, 1744, buried in the Old Dutch
Church. He married, March 5, 1702, Maria Cuyler, died September 14, 1724, in New
York, buried in the Dutch Church there, daughter of Hendrick and Anna Cuyler.
Her father was captain of the troop at Albany in 1689. Henry Cruger, son of John
and Maria (Cuyler) Cruger, born November 25, 1707, in New York, was member of
the Colonial Assembly, 1745-59; of the Council, 1762-73; died at Bristol,
England, 1778, and buried at the Cathedral there. He married, December 21, 1736,
Elizabeth Harris, born June 7, 1716, at Jamaica, West Indies. They were the
parents of Nicholas Cruger, born March 5, 1743, in New York, a distinguished
patriot during the Revolution, died at St. Croix, West Indies, in 1800, buried
on Peter's Rest Plantation. His wife, Anna de Nully, born at St. Croix, West
Indies, died there November, 1784, buried at St. Peter's Rest. She was descended
from Bertrand de Nully, Count de Nully, of de Nully sur Marme, planter of
Martinique, father of Bertrand Pierre de Nully, a planter of St. Croix, West
Indies, where he died in 1778. His wife, Catherine (Heylager) de Nully, born at
St. Croix, died there October 12, 1799, was a daughter of General Pierre
Heylager, born in Denmark, chamberlain to Christian V., appointed
governor-general of Danish West Indies in 1733, died in St. Croix. Catherine
Cruger, daughter of Nicholas and Anna (de Nully) Cruger, became the wife of
William Bard, as previously noted. They were the parents of Susan Bard, wife of
Ferdinand Sands, as previously noted.

  Arthur Sandys was born in New York City at the family home, corner of Broadway
and Bleecker street, September 27, 1837, died at his home, 35 North Lincoln
avenue, Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, July 21, 1914. He was the son of
Ferdinand Sands, who died when his son was two years of age (see ante).

  Arthur Sandys, so early orphaned, was reared by his grandparents, William and
Catherine Bard, at their home, No. 2 College place, New York City. There they
resided until Arthur was fifteen years of age, when they moved to a beautiful
home on Staten Island, New York. He was largely educated under private tutors,
his principal instructor being Professor Joseph Karge, afterward professor of
languages at Princeton College and often called the "ornament" of Princeton.
From private tutors he was sent abroad to complete his education, and he spent
several years in study at Florence, Italy, and Berne, Switzerland. In Florence
he took special courses in architecture and carving, arts in which he excelled,
particularly as a draughtsman. After his return to the United States he was in
the employ of the United States government, then contructing forts at the
entrance to the Mississippi river, and when his work there was finished,
continued in the government service at Philadelphia, where he resided for some
time. He was also engaged as draughtsman and superintendent by private parties,
but never devoted himself exclusively to business. He traveled extensively at
home and abroad and gave a great deal of time to reading, study and literary
pursuits. He resided in Philadelphia, Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania;
Trenton New Jersey, and elsewhere, as places attracted him, finally, in 1908,
settling in Washington, New Jersey, where he died. He was a thorough gentleman,
courteous, genial and gentle in manner, very approchable, with all the graces of
mind and character of a student and scholar. He was a member of the Episcopal
church, serving as vestryman and warden. While books of biography and history
were his favorites in literature, he was widely read and informed on all
subjects coming within the bounds of a liberal education, including the
languages. His favorite sport was boating, of which he was inordinately fond.
Kindness and consideration marked his intercourse with his fellow-men, and he
possessed many warm personal friends. When a young man he tried to enlist as a
private in the Union army, but owing to a defect in hearing was rejected. He
then secured appointment as assistant paymaster, serving until the war closed.
In Washington, New Jersey, he took a deep interest in public affairs, aided
materially in the founding of the public library and made his presence felt for
good in many ways.

  Mr. Sandys married (first) in 1868, Miriam Moase, of Staten Island, New York.
He married (second) September 5, 1911, Etta Medlyn, daughter of William and
Eliza (Winn) Medlyn, of Massachusetts birth, but English parentage. Mrs. Sandys
survives her husband, a resident of Washington, New Jersey.

(The de Normandie Line).

  Through his mother, Susan (Bard) Sands, wife of Ferdinand Sands, Arthur Sandys
traced descent from Andre de Normandie of ancient and noble lineage, son of a
distinguished father, brother of one whose proved abilities were valued by
princes; and himself a diplomat chosen and long employed by reason of his own
merit, a man of exalted character and worth. This Andre de Normandie founded the
branch of the family in the United States from which sprang Susan (Bard) Sands,
a descendant of Marie de Normandie, second child of Andre de Normandie, who
married Peter Bard, son of Colonel Peter Bard, of Burlington, New Jersey.

  The de Normandie family history is exhaustively treated in "Annals of de
Normandie," a work collated, translated and explained by Arthur Sandys and
printed at Cambridge by the Riverside Press in 1891. In that work descent is
traced to Laurent de Normandie, eldest son and heir of Jean de Normandie and
grandson of Guillaume de Normandie.

  Jean de Normandie lived and died either near Noyon, France, on one of his
fiefs or in the city where it is known he held high office. He belonged to the
Catholic party and John Calvin has made his personality very distinct to us by
the statement in his dedication of the work "De Scandalis," that "Jean de
Normandie is reported to have died of grief on account of his son's defection
from the Catholic faith and flight to Geneva." Jean de Normandie married
Jacqueline Moreau, an heiress, or at least, a lady of a large landed property,
who bore him two sons and two daughters. She died prior to 1540 leaving three
fiefs to her eldest son, Laurent. Jean de Normandie died in the early part of
1549 and records state that he was buried with his ancestors in the chapel of
Notre Dame, founded by his grandfather.

  Laurent de Normandie, eldest son and heir of Jean and Jacqueline (Moreau) dc
Normandie, was born at or near Noyon in Picardie about 1520, died in the prime
of life, August 14, 1569, one of the most interesting of all those distinguished
men who found a refuge in Geneva during the earlier years of the Reformation. A
descendant of the great feudal families of Champagne and Picardie, a grandson of
a Seneschal of the latter province, he filled the high office of royal
lieutenant of his native city, Noyon, and then surrendered his honors and
estates to meet obloquy and condemnation to death for the sake of religion.

  In addition to the three fiefs that came to him from his mother, he inherited
the title and Seigneurie of la Motte from his father, but as his father died a
few months after the conversion of his son to the Protestant faith and flight to
Geneva, the Seigneure of la Motte was probably confiscated by the crown and as
the attainer issued against Laurent de Normandie was never by pardon of the king
swept from the records of the parliament of Paris, the title and estate of la
Motte was not among those restored to him by Henry IV. through the good graces
of the dowager Queen Navarre. He never used the title at Geneva although he was
always recognized as "noble': and so called, as also were his descendants.
Laurent de Normandie made advanced studies in the law and was received a doctor.
He became king's lieutenant and mayor of Noyon and served Henry II., King of
France, as also Jeanne de'Albret, later Queen of Navarre and mother of Henry
IV., of France. He married, September 3, 1540, Anne de In Vaquerie, of a noble
family merged into the dukedom of St. Simon.

  It is not known at what time his religious convictions became fixed, but at
least in 1548 his mind was settled, so abandoning all chances of advancement in
his public employments he left his home and country, and followed by his wife
who was suffering from an illness that later ended her life, and also by his
children, he sought refuge in Geneva, arriving in October, 1548. There he was
reunited with the family of Jean Calvin, whom he had long known, and in May he
was admitted an inhabitant of Geneva. The circumstances of the death of his
father, the death of his wife and the loss of a beloved child all during the
first month of his arrival in Geneva called forth a letter of condolence and
sympathy from Jean Calvin in the form of a dedication to Laurent de Normandie in
his celebrated work "De Scandalis."

  He purchased a house with court and garden and lived very near some of the
pastors including John Calvin. He married a second wife in 1550, Anna, daughter
of Leon Colladon, Doctor of Civil Law, belonging to a family from Berry in
France, but a short time in Geneva, and which had always held honorable rank.
The marriage took place in the cathedral of St. Pierre at the morning service,
September 14, 1550, John Calvin officiating as the minister. He was offered
citizenship but not until April 25, 1555, did he accept and become a citizen of
Geneva, the fee having been reduced by the council "in consideration of his
handsome services." He was admitted a Doctor of Laws, October 1, 1556, but there
is no record of his having practiced his profession. He became a member of the
Council of Two Hundred, edited and published books which he sent to be sold in
France and other parts. In 1557 he asked the privilege of six years publication
of the "Commentaries of Calvin on the Evangelists" also for a volume of the
Epistles of St. Paul and Canonicals. Answer was given by the council that the
privilege of three years would be accorded "if agreeable to Mr. Calvin."

  By a decree of the parliament of Paris dated September 7, 1552, Laurent de
Normandie was condemned to be burnt alive "as guilty of having fled the
Kingdom," but as he was safely lodged in Geneva, the sentence was carried out in
effigy. Later the protection of those in high power reinstated him in royal
favor and in the possession of his confiscated estates. In settling his affairs
in France after the restitution of his estates he made several journeys back and
forth. His friend, John Calvin, the reformer, made him executor of his will.
Laurent de Normandie died August 14, 1569, the Geneva records stating "The body
of Monsieur de Normandie was brought in dead of the plague."

  Jean de Normandie, eldest son of Laurent de Normandie and Demoiselle Anne de
la Vaquerie, was born in the city of Noyon, France, in 1544 or 1545. He arrived
with his parents in Geneva near the end of 1548, and was there educated,
becoming like his father a doctor of civil law and coming into the full rights
of citizenship, took an active interest in all public affairs and rose rapidly
to the highest offices the republic could bestow. In 1575 he entered the Council
of Two Hundred, later the Council of Sixty, and in 1589 was constituted the
deputy from the government of Geneva to congratulate Henry IV. in his assumption
of the crown of France. In 1602 the Duke of Savoy made that long contemplated
attack on Geneva known in history as the Escalade. The attack was made in the
night, but the Genevese, ever alert and well prepared, rendered the attempt
abortive, and in 1603 Jean De Nor-mandie, on the part of Geneva, signed the
treaty of Saint Julien by which Charles Emmanuel of the house of Carnigan, Duke
of Savoy, surrendered all his claims and ancient rights thus relieving Geneva
not only of continuous and vast expense, but also from the tension which had
kept it always militant.

  In 1575 Jean de Normandie married the demoiselle, Marie de Trie, daughter of
Guillaume de Trie, Seigneur de Varennes, and from his own birth his services to
the state, the reputation of his father and his illustrious alliance, his
position was distinguished in the highest degree. He died at Geneva full of
honors, April 13, 1617, aged seventy-three years, leaving a son, Joseph, who, as
the eldest among other children, became the head of the family.

  Joseph de Normandie, the eldest son of Jean and Marie (de Trie) Normandie, was
born in Geneva in 1576. He was named after his godfather, the Duke de la
Tremouille, who as soon as Joseph was old enough made him his military secretary
and took him abroad. He served in that capacity until his twenty-seventh year
when his patron obtained for him from Henry IV., of France, the important post
of Conseiller du Roi at Bourt en Bresse, which office he held until 1610 when he
returned to Geneva. He was a member of the Council of Two Hundred at Geneva, the
next year was a member of the Council of Twenty-five, was Secretary of State
from 1609 to 1617 and again until 1620.

  Politically and socially Joseph de Normandie was well placed in the
aristocratic republic of Geneva not only in the enjoyment of the highest offices
and honors of the State, as was his father before him, but also became of his
alliances. He married, in 1614, the demoiselle, Dorothe de Villains, daughter of
Francois de Villains, baron d'Aubonne of a cadet branch of the ancient house of
the Villains de Gand in Flanders. The mother of Dorothe was Antonia Lullin, of a
family the most ancient in Geneva, whose Seign-euries and city properties
occupied in 1300 are in part yet owned by its members. Joseph de Normandie died
November 14, 1625, his only surviving son, Michel, succeeding him as head of the
family.

  Michel de Normandie was born in Geneva in 1619. He was highly educated and on
arriving at legal age followed the example set by his ancestors and devoted
himself to public affairs, becoming one of the most distinguished men among
those whose names are found in the long list of Seigneurs de Geneve. He was in
public official life for fifty-five years; entering in early manhood on
responsible and exacting employments, he gave all his time, attention and
efforts to promoting the interests of the State, and ended that life full of
knowledge, experience and honors. He entered the Council of Two Hundred in 1642,
was auditor in 1649 and ^o, syndic every fourth year, 1667 to 1695, inclusive;
member of the Council of Twenty-five continuously from 1658 until his death in
1697. In addition he employed himself in the examination of the public registers
and in improving the methods of carrying on the business of the several
departments of the government.

  Michel de Normandie married (first) April 19, 1646, the demoiselle, Anne
Gre-nus, daughter of the noble Francois Gre-nus, Count of the Holy Roman Empire
by creation of the Emperor Ferdinand III. His eldest son, Jacob de Normandie,
was one of the leading historical figures of his day. His second son, Andre, for
reasons of state became an exile to America and is the American ancestor of
Arthur Sandys through his granddaughter, Marie de Normandie, wife of Peter Bard,
whose descendant, Susan Bard, married Ferdinand Sands in 1830.

  Andre de Normandie, second son of Michel and Anne (Grenus) de Normandie, was
born in Geneva in 1651, died in 1724, sixteen years after his arrival in
America, and was buried in the churchyard of St. James' Church at Bristol,
Pennsylvania, where his tombstone is yet to be seen. He passed his childhood and
youth under the eye of his cultivated and honored father, and in his
twenty-second year followed his elder brother, Jacob, into the Council of Two
Hundred, entering upon that career to which he, like nearly all the male members
of his family, seemed to have almost a prescriptive right.

  On the death of William III., of England, he left by will to his relative,
Frederick I., King of Prussia, among other principalities and domains, the duchy
of Neufchatel. The Prince of Conti, backed by the powerful influence of the King
of France laid claim to the duchy on the death of William III. as did Carnigan,
Sovereign Duke of Savoy, and several other powerful families of France and
Germany. Frederick of Prussia determined to defend his claim, and wishing to
gain over the population of the duchy, consisting largely of Huguenots, to this
end sent Andre de Normandie to Neufchatel as his confidential agent to William
III. Andre de Normandie continued in the diplomatic service of King Frederick,
of Prussia, until at least August, 1706. His brother, Jacob, also was in the
diplomatic service of Frederick, a fact which angered the Genevese, and after a
series of exciting events Jacob de Normandie was banished from Geneva in 1707.
While there is no mention of Andre de Normandie in the story of 1707 he must be
associated with his brother in the events of that year just as his emigration to
America must be attributed to his inclusion with Jacob in the resentments of the
Genevese government. His long service as confidential agent to the King of
Prussia in Neufchatel demanded that he possess influence, address, tact and
ability and that he possessed these three qualities and stood high in the
opinion of the King is well proven by an autograph letter signed "Frederick" at
Berlin, May 8, 1705.

  After the banishment of his elder brother, Jacob, September 13, 1707, Andre de
Normandie went to Holland, where his younger brother Jacques was living. After
some stay in Amsterdam, he went to England, family tradition, with some evidence
to support it, stating that in London he met William Penn, or his son, who
persuaded him to go to Pennsylvania in America. He arrived in Philadelphia in
1708, a widower mourning for a wife, Louise Clerc, lately deceased in
Neufchatel, but having with him three children: Marguerite, aged twenty-two
years; Jean Abram, a young man of nearly twenty; and Jean Antoine, a lad of
fourteen.

  He evidently was possessed of ample means, as he obtained from the Penn
proprietors a tract of land near Bristol on the Delaware river in Bucks county,
Pennsylvania, bought land within the borough, established his sons, settled his
daughter in marriage, subscribed to establishing the church and parish of St.
James, and lived in the best society then surrounding him. Like most other
educated Calvinists of French birth who came to America before the Revolution he
became a communicant of the Church of England, and so brought his family within
its fold. He lived for sixteen years after his arrival in America and died in
1724, aged seventy-three.

  Andre de Normandie married Louise Clerc, daughter of M. Paul and Elizabeth 
(Feuillet) Clerc, of Geneva, who bore him five children, two dying in infancy.

  Abram de Normandie, eldest son of Andre and Louise (Clerc) de Normandie, was
born in Geneva, in 1688, and was baptized Jean Abram but discarded the "Jean" in
America and was known as Abram de Normandie. He was educated in Neufchatel
during the years his father was Resident Counsellor to the King of Prussia, and
arrived in Philadelphia with his father and family early in 1708. He had served
as one of the younger secretaries of his father in Neufchatel and was no doubt
educated for a career in public life at Geneva in keeping with the traditions of
his father. He was engaged as notary at Bristol, drew up official papers and
became interested in public affairs. In 1719 he was elected sheriff of Bucks
county, was justice of the peace for many years, in 1728 he became chief burgess
of Bristol, an office he held until 1744, in 1756 was elected a member of the
Provincial Assembly from Bucks county and was yet a member at the time of his
death in 1757, at the age of sixty-nine.

  Abram de Normandie married in "ye Philadelphian church," July 29, 1715,
Hen-riette Elizabeth Gaudonette, the daughter of Dr. Francois Gaudonette, a
practicing physician established in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gaudonette was of
a family which, on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, fled into England,
where Francois continued already well advanced medical studies and obtained his
degree of AI. D. He married, in 1688, a French lady, Alarie Proue, and removed
to Southampton, England, and in the summer of 1705 came to America, settling in
Bristol, Pennsylvania. Both Abram de Normandie and his wife are buried in the
churchyard of St. James at Bristol, where their tombstones are to be seen. They
were the parents of ten children: Francois, born in 1716, died in infancy it is
believed, as there is no further record of him to be found; Marie, born in
Bristol in 1718, married, September 28, 1738, in Christ Church, Philadelphia,
Peter Bard, son of the Hon. Colonel Peter Bard of Her Majesty's Regiment of
Foot, member of Council, later associate judge on the Supreme Court bench,
living at Burlington, New Jersey, constituted in 1703 the seat of government for
the western division of New Jersey. From this marriage of Marie de Normandie and
Peter Bard came Mary Bard, who married her cousin, Dr. Samuel Bard, LL. D.,
whose granddaughter, Susan Bard, in 1830 married Ferdinand Sands, and was the
mother of Arthur Sandys, the author of the "Annals of the de Normandie Family"
from which the foregoing genealogical history-has been compiled.

  After their marriage Peter and Marie Bard settled at Mount Holly, New Jersey,
where Peter and his father-in-law, Abram de Normandie, bought an iron mine. He
expended a large amount of money on the property when an order came from the
Privy Council of England, directing the governor of New Jersey to close the
mine. This ruined Peter Bard and left him heavily in debt. After a struggle to
retrieve his fortunes, which lasted a number of years, the government who well
knew the cause of his ruin gave him a commission as commissary-general of the
forces about to attack the French in Canada. He took the oath in 1756 and was
ordered to Fort Augusta where a strong force was posted to defend the colonies
against Indian attack. After his military service he returned to Alount Holly,
where he died leaving two daughters. His widow, Marie, returned to Burlington
where later she married John Hunloke, a gentleman of a good and influential
Burlington family. This marriage was neither fruitful nor of long duration, and
at her death her two daughters by her first husband, Peter Bard, went to live
with their uncle, Dr. John Bard, at Hyde Park on the Hudson, Mary, the elder,
becoming the wife of Dr. Samuel Bard, LL. D.

  William de Normandie, the third child, born 1720, became an early merchant of
Charleston, South Carolina. He married in Christ Church, Philadelphia, July 25,
1745, Hannah Anderson. John Abram de Normandie, born 1721, became a physician
and practiced in Bristol. He married, July 3, 1745, Rebecca Bard, daughter of
Colonel Peter Bard and sister of Peter Bard who married Marie de Normandie,
sister of John Abram. Dr. de Normandie in 1779 went to Geneva and instituted
proceedings at law and in arbitration against the de Normandie estate. He
returned in 1790 and died in 1803. Louise de Normandie, born 1723, married Mr.
Van Court, of New York City. Andrew de Normandie, born 1725, died 1726. Anthony
de Normandie, the only descendant of Andre de Normandie, the emigrant, who has
transmitted the name of his family in the United States, was born in Bristol in
1726. Harriet Elizabeth de Normandie, born in 1729, married Mr. Walton, of New
York City. Daniel de Normandie, born 1731, served as ensign with the English
army against the French, and in 1756 was in the Pennsylvania Hospital at
Philadelphia, suffering from a wound. He died in July, 1760. Sarah de Normandie,
tenth and youngest child of Abram de Normandie, was born in 1733, married a
young chaplain of the Revolution, Rev. Barton, and in 1791 was left a childless
widow, dying in 1826 at the age of ninety-three years at the home of her nephew,
Dr. Samuel Bard, at Hyde Park, New York.

  There is much of historic interest in the de Normandie family record
necessarily omitted, but enough is given to prove the worth of their services to
state and church and the high attainments of each generation. With the children
of Abram de Normandie the record closes.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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