Genealogy Chat

Hi,

My ancestor was born in France in 1785. His name was Anthony Fouchard although we assume that he was actually named Antoine. We've found records for him in the UK as he worked in Dundee as a French teacher.

I don't know where in France he may have been born or his parents but wondered whether it may be possible to find an application for a passport for him in France.

Does anyone have any idea how I might be able to follow this through?

Thanks in advance.

Lindsey

Hmm. You could try http://www.cyndislist.com as a portal. There might be an 'Interest' group who could advise.

How about the Scotland's Archives - they may have some sort of record for him eg naturalisation, or the English National Archives for the same.

Scotland - http://www.nas.gov.uk/
England (at least) - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Haven't heard of cyndislist so will give that a go. It's a shame as I've got so much information - press cuttings etc but don't know where he came from or why. Of course, it would have been early 1800s he came to the UK (well, I assume he came on his own as there's no record of his parents) and it was the Dumfries Academy where he taught, not Dundee ... starts with a "D"!

He married a woman called Jacobina Tephin which has been transcribed as Jemima Toppin so it's all very difficult.

Thanks for reading and helping.

He comes up on a google search, not sure of mention of Parents though...

Chris :)

Yes, thanks, I've been in touch with a couple of people but we've not moved forward ...

I and others have been looking for a few years but don't know what part of France Antoine/Anthony came from which was why I thought of a passport application ... Why would he decide to go to Scotland? How on earth did he get there? He married Jacobina in 1813 in Edinburgh so around the time of the Napoleonic War ...

Have you approached the Academy for any archived material they could have?

Pure conjecture - could his parents have fled the aftermath of the French Revolution?

1789 14 July: The Bastille stormed by the people of Paris
1792 King Louis and Queen Marie-Antoinette are executed and a republic set up in France
1793 Napoleon Bonaparte promoted to general during the war with Prussia and Austria
1799 - 1814: Napoleon seizes control of France and begins building a French empire
1815 Napoleon defeated at Waterloo by the British and exiled. The Bourbons were returned to the French throne

There has been close ties between Scotland and Fance - note the name of his wife "Jacobina" which although could be the feminine of Jacob could also indicate a connection to the Jacobites supporters of the exiled royal house of the Stuart. The Stuarts (Bonnie Prince Charlie) went to France. He died in 1788.

Blimey, that's a history lesson and a half :-) - thank you. He must have been an educated man speaking English as well as his native French and I knew there had been a connection between Scotland and France but didn't really know why. Interesting ....

Yes, I did approach the Academy and got a fairly short reply. I suggested maybe a history project for their pupils but didn't get any answer at all to that one!

I feel a trip to Edinburgh may be in order although I'm not sure what I'll find ....

Thank you.

Oh, the link between Scotland and France goes back to earlier times. Both viewed England as the Enemy at different periods of history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Queen_of_Scots

;-)

Have you viewed his original marriage entry? You could pay for a look up if you can't get up there. Might give something away, Im sure I recall that Scotland sometimes gave more info.