Venerable Nicolas Léon Papin du Pont de L'Épine (1797-1876)

The Life of the "Holy Man of Tours"

LE SAINT HOMME DE TOURS

-Apostle of the Holy face of Jesus-  

-Conseiller à la Cour Royale de la Martinique-

 

Saint Martin of Tours

 Early Life

The Venerable Léon Papin Dupont was the son of Nicolas-Léon Papin du Pont de l'Epine (1759-1803) and Marie- Louise-Philippine Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles (1779-1860) She was the daughter of Charles-Joseph Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles, Seigneur de Marolles (1747-1785) and Marie-Louise Élisabeth des Vergers de Sanois (1755-1796).

Léon was thus related to the Marie-Jacques Gaigneron-Jollimon de Marolles (1775-1855), First Count de Marolles, and the family of the Empress Josephine Tascher de La Pagerie, vicomtesse de Beauharnais ( 1763-1814)

The noble house of Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles and Papin du Pont de L'Épine

He was born to the créole elite of the French Caribbean islands. Both of his parents were representatives of two of the most illustrious families that colonized Martinique and Guadeloupe. Léon's father was a Capitaine d'infanterie and died in Brest, France in 1803. The Venerable Léon was born in Martinique. His parents moved there after the French Revolution (1789-1799) fearing the new laws under the Revolutionary Convention. Martinique was under English rule so it was isolated from the terror of the French Revolution. The island was returned to France in 1802 (Source 1).

During the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and the subsequent invasion of Martinique in 1809, the Papin du Pont family sent young Léon to study in New York from 1809 to 1811. Afterwards, it appears that Léon wen to France to continue his studies until 1815 at the prestigious collège de Pontlevoy near Amboise. The School was part of the Abbaye de Pontlevoy. During his time in France, Léon's mother remarried Pierre-Grégoire d'Arnaud in Lamentin. The "Holy Man of Tours" remained in France to pursuit his studies in Law for several more years. It was in France that he received his first nickname "le marquis des égards" due his great consideration for others (Source 1).

The Ven. of God, Léon Papin Dupont

 Family Life

Nicolas-Léon Papin du Pont de L'Épine was married in Trois Islets (Martinique) on May 9, 1827 to Marie-Charles-Joséphine-Caroline d'AUDIFFREDY (1802-1833). She was the daughter of Charles d'AUDIFFREDY (1779-1824) and Félicité-Caroline SOUDON de LOMBOIS. Caroline d'Audiffredy was a member of an Italian-French family that dated their nobility to the 13th century.

La Maison d'Audiffret

 After he married, the Venerable Léon settled in Saint-Pierre, Martinique at the l'hôtel des Follets (which become later a seminary run by the Father of the Holy Spirit).

Church of the Trois Islets, Martinique where L.Papin Dupont married.

After the death of his wife in 1833, the Venerable Léon left Martinique for Tours, France. Near tours, the Gaigneron-Jollimont-de Marolles family had the le château de Chissay where the Ven. Léon stayed after leaving Martinique.

In 1837, while gazing a picture of Saint Teresa of Avila, Ven. Léon become very active in spreading the Catholic faith and to this end wrote a book on Marian shrines. He also joined the newly founded Society of Saint Vincent de Paul to which he contributed large sums of money.

Another death struck the heart of the Ven. Léon, his only daughter, Henriette died at the age of 15 years of age in 1847. Her care was instructed to the Ursuline order under the care of Madame de LIGNAC. After the death of his daughter, the Venerable Léon consecrated his entire life to the service of the less fortunate and to the propagation of the devotion to the Holy Face (la Sainte Face). 

Many were cured as a result of their devotion to the Holy Face. In particular, a friend of the Ven. Léon, Monsieur Ferdinand Le Pelletier and Monsieur Vatable who was cured from a deafness after applying the image of the Holy Face to his ears. The re-discovery of the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours in 1860 was another important moment for the Venerable Dupont who wanted to reconstruct the Basilica of Saint Martin de Tours.

Stained Glass from the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours  with Ven. Papin Dupont

Tours, France: The Apostolate

Since at least 1840's, the Venerable Léon Dupont lived in Tours, France and become very active in the city. For example, in 1847 he invited Saint Jeanne Jugan (October 25, 1792 – August 29, 1879 to establish a house of the "Little Sisters of the Poor" in Tours. He contributed to their cause for many years to come (Source 2). At Tours, he lived with his mother Madame Marie- Louise-Philippine Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles until her death in 1860.

Moving his attention to the Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, the Ven. Léon wanted to re-establish devotion to Bishop Saint Martin (316 or 336 – 8 November 397). The Basilica was severely damaged after the French Revolution. Léon considered Saint Martin to be a model of charity and thus, he wanted to rebuild the Basilica and restore the memory of Saint Martin. Thanks to his efforts, in 1848 the Cathedral of Tours began to honor the Feast Day of Saint Martin of Tours which was on the 11th of November. The Venerable Papin Dupont also established perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Tours and hoped that it would spread across France. He wrote a book to this end entitled, "Faith Revived and Piety Reanimated Through the Eucharist" [La Foi Raffermie Et la Piété Ranimée dans le Mystère de l'Eucharistie]. Papin Dupont wanted to fight world's attacks against the Eucharist with his book and perpetual adoration (Source 2)

Hans Memling’s “St. Veronica c.1470-75  – St. Veronica, the model of reparation to The Holy Face

The fame of Léon Papin Dupont spread throughout France and Europe. He was in contact with other French religious figures who were later proclaimed Saints such as Saint Jean Vianney ((8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859) and Saint Peter Julian Eymard (4 February 1811 -1 August 1868). Léon was often addressed as the "Le Saint Homme de Tours" and was even known to Pope Pius IX.

The original image which Ven. Papin Dupont venerated

His devotion to the Holy Face (La Sainte Face) started a early as 1844 when Léon heard that Sister Marie of St. Peter Mary (Marie de Saint-Pierre et de la Sainte Famille,1816-1848)saw images of Jesus and Mary in Tours. It is reported that the Ven. Papin Dupont started to burn a vigil lamp before an image of the Holy Face of Jesus Christ according to the image of the Veil of Veronica. He did not know the image from the Shroud of Turin as it was only revealed through a photograph in 1898 (Source 2). Another devotion that Papin Dupont had was the coin of Saint Benedict with the words "Vade Retro Satana" printed on them. The image of Veronica's Veil is also printed on the coins of Saint Benedict.

Marie de Saint-Pierre et de la Sainte Famille (1816-1848)

Before dying, the Venerable Léon established in 1851 the Arch-cofraternity of the Holy Face in Tours. For 30 years Papin Dupont prayed so that the veneration to the Holy Face of Jesus Christ spread throughout France. At the age of 79, the Holy Man of Tours died after spending his fortune on the poor and the Carmelites of Tours.

March 18, 1878, the death of Léon Papin Dupont

The Legacy of Ven. Léon Papin Dupont

After his death, the Archdiocese of Tours bough Léon Papin Dupont's house on Rue St. Etienne and turned it into the Oratory of the Holy Face. Archbishop Colet created and proved the Order of the Priests of the Holy Face to take care of the house and chapel of Papin Dupont. The Order was canonically erected in 1876 and the Reverend Father Pierre-Désiré Janvier, who as a friend of Papin Dupont, become the first superior. In 1882, Father Pierre-Désiré Janvier wrote one of the  first biographies of the Venerable Papin Dupont in 1880. In 1885. His Holiness Pope Leo XIII formally approved the devotion to the Holy Face according to the Veil of Veronica. This devotion is said to have influenced another great saint of the French Church, Saint Therese of Lisieux (2 January 1873 – 30 September 1897).

Saint Therese of Lisieux with the Holy Face of Christ

In 1939, the case for the canonization of the Léon Papin Dupont was formally presented to the Vatican office of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Holy Mother Church declared the Holy May of Tours, "VENERABLE OF GOD" and that December 1st be his feast day. He now awaits the long process of Beatification and Canonization.

Thanks to the love that the Venerable Léon Papin Dupont had for the Sacred Face of Jesus Christ, Pope Pius XII approved in 1958 a new image of the Holy Face and a Feast Day as Shrove Tuesday or the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The Holy Face of Jesus was thus associated with the Holy Face of Turin and by 1950 a Benedictine religious order was established under the name of Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Source 2)

The Testament of the Ven. Léon Papin Dupont (1863)

 

Excerpt from the Testament of M. Dupont (Source 4)

 

Pontifical Approbations 

 

   

• Canonical erection of the Priests of the Holy Face to administer the Oratory of the Holy Face in Tours, France in 1876
• His Holiness Pope Leo XIII approves the Devotion to the Holy Face in 1888 
• The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints opens case to review the life of the Ven. Papin Dupont on June 21, 1939
• Pontifical approval for the foundation of the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ in 1950
• His Holiness Pope Pius XII proclaims the Feast of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in 1958
• His Holiness Saint Pope John Paul II proclaimed Léon Papin Dupont Venerable of God on March 29, 1983 (Source 5)

 

Venerable Léon Papin Dupont, Pray for us!

Holy Man of Tours, Pray for us!

Apostle of the Holy Face, Pray for us!

The House on rue St. Etienne

The Oratory to the Holy Face, Tours-France 1877

The Oratory of the Holy Face Today in Tours, France

The tomb of the Venerable of God, Léon Papin Dupont

 

The Life of Ven. Papin Dupont in French (click to view, faire click)

 

 

  Biographies of the Ven. Léon Papin Dupont

In French

 

"Le Saint Homme de Tours" by Léon AUBINEAU (1878)

 

 

"M. Dupont et l'oratoire de la Sainte-Face" by Pierre-Désiré  JANVIER (1880)

"Le Saint Homme de Tours..." by Francine DESSAIGNE (1984)

 

"Un simple ...."  by Odile Métais-Thoreau,(1993)

In English

"The Holy Man of Tours" by Pierre-Désiré  JANVIER (1880)

"The Holy Man of Tours"  by Dorothy SCALLAN (1952, 1990, 2011)

 

"Show Us Your Face"  by Br. Gerard HAGEMANN (1962,2011)

 

 

_____________________

Sources Consulted:

1) Information on the life of Léon Papin du Pont was taken from the book "The Life of Léon Papin Dupont" (1882) which was published in English. The book was translated from the original written by Father Pierre-Désiré Janvier.  The book was digitized by Google books.

2) "Léon Papin" entry on Wikipedia in English.There is also a French entry.

3) "Holy Face Devotion" - Religious website dedicated to the cause of the Ven. Papin Dupont, This website is the mos authoritative on the topic of the history of the devotion to the Holy Face.

4)  Sainteté Et Gestion Du Patrimoine Au Xixe S. À Propos Du Testament Et De L'inventaire Après-Décès De M. Papin-Dupont, « Le Saint Homme De Tours ». PERSEE, 1993. Internet resource.

5) There appears to be quite a discrepancy in dates when it comes to when Léon Papin Dupont was made a Venerable of God. Some websites says it was during the Pontificate of Pius XII and others during the Pontificate of Saint John Paul II (see website for further information: http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/1876.htm)

La Maison Duprey de La Ruffinière

 Origins: 

  The House of du Prey or Duprey was established in Martinique in 1664 when Pierre du Prey moved from Le Havre, France (Normandy) to Martinique. Pierre was a surgeon and later member of the Martinique Militia. He was considered a defender of Martinique when the island was attacked by the forces of the Dutch admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (1607-1676) in 1674. 

Pierre du Prey was also known as Pierre du Prey, Seigneur de la Espérance. He was the proprietor of "Case-Pilot" which was about 43 hectares (Source 1). Case-Pilot become one of the first sugar production plantations in Martinique. It produced about 30,000 pounds yearly.

 

Coat of Arms (Blason): 

Personal Seal of the Duprey de la Ruffiniere Family

 (Source 2)

 

The arms of the Duprey de la Ruffinière family are described as:

"D'azur, à deux fasces ondées d argent, accompagnées en chef de deux étoiles d'or"

La Noble Maison Duprey de La Ruffinière  (Source 2)

 

 

Patent Letters of Nobility (1721):

 

La Maison de Bourbon

LOUIS [ XV 1715–1774] par la grâce de Dieu, Roi de France et de Navarre à tous, présents et à venir, salut. Les services de nos sujets établis dans nos colonies, qui , par leur valeur et leur expérience, se distinguent dans les différents emplois qui leur sont confiés, ne nous étant pas moins agréables que ceux de notre royaume et le titre de noblesse étant la marque la plus éclatante dont nous puissions les honorer, nous avons cru ne pouvoir refuser cette faveur singulière à notre cher et ami le sieur Louis DUPREY, colonel dans un régiment des milices du Fort Royal de la Martinique....

 Nous avons anobli de notre grâce spéciale, pleine puissance et autorité royale, anoblissons par ces présentes, signées de notre main le dit sieur Louis DUPREY et du titre et qualité de noble et l’avons décoré et décorons, voulons et nous plait qu’il soit tenu, censé et réputé noble tant en jugement que dehors, ensemble ses enfants, postérité et descendants mâles et femelles nés et à naître en légitime mariage ; que comme tels ils puissent prendre en tout lieu et en tous actes la qualité d’écuyer et parvenir à tout degré de chevalerie et autres dignités et qualités réservés à la noblesse, qu’ils soient inscrits dans le catalogue des nobles et qu’ils jouissent et usent de tous droits, prérogatives, privilèges, franchises, libertés, prééminence, exemptions et immunités dont jouissent et ont accoutumé de jouir les anciens nobles de notre royaume ; comme aussi qu’ils puissent requérir, tenir et posséder tous fiefs, terres et seigneuries nobles, de quelque titre et qualité qu’elles soient. Permettons au dit sieur DUPREY et à ses enfants et postérité de porter des armoiries timbrées telles qu’elles sont réglées et blasonnées par le sieur d’HOZIER Juge d’Armes de France, et ainsi qu’elles seront peintes et figurées dans ces présentes, auxquelles son acte de règlement sera attaché, sous le contre sceau de notre chancellerie, avec pouvoir et liberté de les faire peindre, graver et inculquer si elles ne le sont déjà, en tels endroits de leurs maisons, terres et seigneuries que bon leur semblera, sans que pour raison de tout ce que dessus le dit sieur DUPREY, ses enfants et postérité puissent être tenus de nous payer et à nos successeur Rois aucune finance et indemnité dont à quelque somme qu’elle puisse monter nous leur avons fait et faisons don par les dites présentes, et sans qu’ils puissent être troublés ni recherchés pour quelque chose, occasion et prétexte que ce soit, à la charge par eux de vivre noblement et sans déroger.

( …)

A Paris le quinze juillet 1721 ; Signé LOUIS, et plus bas Fleuriau et scel et cachet (Source 3)

 

Du vendredi 2ème janvier 1722

Le Conseil supérieur de l’île Martinique où a été(…)Monsieur le Chevalier de Feuquières, gouverneur et lieutenant général des îles du vent de l’Amérique, Monsieur Bénard, conseiller du roi en ses conseils, intendant de justice, police, finances et marine des dites îles, président du dit Conseil, Mr de Valmenière, Chevalier de St Louis(…) du Roi, Mr Durieux, chevalier du dit ordre, major général de cette île, Mr Mesnier, conseiller du Roi, commissaire de la marine, ordonnateur, premier conseiller des conseils supérieurs des dites îles ;MM Hourdin conseiller honoraire, Desprez , doyen, de Girardin père, conseiller honoraire ; Leguay, Féburier père, Reguet fils, Girardin fils, Rabault de Choisy, de Lascaris ( ..),l’Homme de Montigny et Féburier.


Mr Périnelle Dumay, conseiller Procureur Général du Roi et Mr Moreau greffier en chef du dit Conseil. (dans la marge gauche :MM.Thibault conseiller honoraire=entré ainsi que Mr Poisson et Thibault fils conseillers)


Vu la requête présentée au conseil par le sieur Louis DUPREY colonel de milice en cette île, tendant à ce qu’il plût au conseil ordonner l’enregistrement des lettres de noblesse à lui accordées par Sa Majesté ; une copie collationnée des dites lettres par SAINSON, conseiller secrétaire du Roi, maison, couronne de France et de ses finances, datées à Paris au mois d’août dernier, registrées au parlement de Paris le 14 dudit août ; vu aussi le règlement d’armoiries pour le sieur Duprey en conséquence des lettres ci-dessus, donnée par le sieur d’HOZIER juge d’armes et garde de l’armoirie générale de France le six du dit août, signé dudit sieur d’HOZIER et scellé de ses armes, voulant de ce jour rendre sur la représentation des dites lettres qui nomme Mr RABAULT conseiller rapporteur :vu le rapport du dit Mr RABAULT et vu les conclusions au (..) du Roi.

Le Conseil a ordonné que la dite copie collationnée des lettres de noblesse accordées au dit sieur DUPREY sera enregistrée ès registres du greffe de la Cour, pour le dit sieur DUPREY et ses enfants nés et à naître en légitime mariage, jouir de l’effet et contenu en icelles selon leur forme et terme en rapportant par la dit sieur DUPREY dans le délai de six mois l’original en forme des dites lettres dont il lui sera donné acte=Benard= (Source 3)

 

Au Fort Royal de la Martinique 26 avril 1721

Correspondance de FEUQUIERES du 20 juillet 1724 (demande de Croix de ST louis)


« Monseigneur, je regarderai comme une très grande faveur si à ma très humble supplication vous vouliez accorder à Mr DUPREY et à Mr de la TOURNERIE chacun une place dans l’ordre de St Louis, le Roy a favorisé le premier de lettres de noblesse ; et il est certainement très digne de l’autre grâce, outre que cela contribuerai à faire revenir l’émulation parmi les officiers de Milices qui ne se croyeroient point exclus des grâces de sa Majesté » (Source 3).

The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis (Source 2)

 _______________

 

 

Abbreviated Genealogy:  

 

Pierre du Prey, Seigneur de l'Espérance (1660-1681)

Married in 1664 to Claude de BREMOND d'ARS, Dame de la Janverie (+1683) and issued:

La Maison de Bremond d'Ars

Note:
Pierre du Prey was appropriator of an habitation in Case-Pilote.

Claude de BREMOND d'ARS, Dame de la Janverie (+1683) was the daughter of Jean de Bremond d'Ars, Seigneur de Bossée et Couasnay and Anne de la Croix.


1) Claude-Françoise Duprey married in 1681 to Pierre-Gabriel CLAY de JANVERIE and issued (Pierre, Claude, Roland, Angélique, Louis, Marie-Catherine, Claire, Bonaventure, Elisabeth-Rose, Marie-Anne, Jean-Baptiste, and Jean-François)

2)  Anne Duprey (1666) married Pierre CONSTANTIN (+1713) married 1681 to Pierre CONSTANTIN

3) Louis Duprey (1669-1731) married Marie-Françoise Le PELLETIER (1675-17

 

Louis Duprey (1669-1731), Lieutenant in the Martinique Naval Forces (Marine), Esquire, 1721 Received Grace from King Louis XV of France and Navarre

Married on February 15, 1695 to Marie-Françoise Le PELLETIER (1675-1735) and issued:

Biographic Note:

Marie-Françoise Le PELLETIER (1675-1735) was the daughter of Pierre Le Pelletier, Member of the Conseiller Souverain de Martinique, and Marie Jourdain

La Maison de Le Pelletier (Possible Arms)

1) François-Louis Duprey de la Ruffiniere (1700-1744) married Angélique Louise Françoise Le Bourg (1706-1748)

2) Marie-Françoise (1701-1752) married  a) Pierre Vincent Lapinte de Livry
and b) Jacques du Bouchet, seigneur de Folleville

La Maison de Bouchet

3) Pierre-Louis (1703-1752) married Catherine Greffier (1708-1785)

4) Gabriele-Auguste (1704-1772), Seigneur de Mosé married Marie-Rose Roy

5) Jean-Charles (1705), Seigneur de la Janverie, married Marie-Elizabeth Jourdain

6) Catherine-Elizabeth (1706-1777) married Pierre-Henryet de Launay

La Maison de Launay

7) Angélique-Rose (1710-1769) married Jean-Jacques Tartason

8) Luce (1712-1764) married Jean-François Clay de la Janverie (Cousin)

 

François-Louis Duprey de la Ruffiniére, Esquire (écuyer) 1700-1744, Major du bataillon (Fort-Royal)

Married September 18, 1724 in Martinique to Angélique-Louise-Fraçoise Le BOURG (1706-1748) and issued:

Note:  Angélique-Louise-Fraçoise Le BOURG was a member of Le Bourg de Boislaville de Saint Hilaire family.

1) Françoise Madeleine (1725-1791) married  to Jacques-François RAMPORT (+1750), écuyer, Seigneur des Maisons

2) François Louis (1727-1755) married in 1752 to Rose DUVAL (1719-1796)

Note:
Rose Duval daughter of Simon Duval and Françoise des Vergers de Sanois

La Maison des Vergers de Sanois

3) Marie Angélique (1728) married in 1745 to Pierre-François DYEL du PARQUET (+1759), Chevalier

La Maison DYEL du PARQUET

Note:

He was the son of Adrien Dyel de Graville, Seigneur de Gournai (1680) and Perrine Cochard


4) Pierre Louis Marie (1730-1784), Capitaine de la compagnie des gens de couleur du Fort-Royal

Fort-Royal, Martinique

5) Louis Auguste Duprey Dumosé de La Ruffinière (1732-1792), Esquiere (écuyer) and Seigneur de La Ruffinière  married in 1758 to Marie-Catherine ROGERVILLE de POMMERAYE (1736) and issued:

5.1Marguerite-Catherine 1758-1806, married twice: Denis TIBERGE le VASSOR and 2) Jean-Gabriel-Rose LACOSTE MONTROSE

5.2 Françoise (1759)

5.3 Catherine-Rose (1759-1824)

5.4 Louis-Auguste (1761-1761)

5.5 Louis-Charles-Auguste (1762-1801)

5.6 Nicolas-Luce-Victoire (1764-1818) married Claude de Percin, Seigneur de Seilh (1763-1836)

La Maison de Percin

6) Louis Charles (1735) married in 1757 Marie-Elisabeth-Therese de PERCIN (1741-1757)

La Maison de Percin

7) Luce-Victoire (1736) married in 1758 to Jacques CAILLE

8) Louise Marie (1738)

9) Angélique Rose (1740)

10) Catherine Ursule (1742)

11) Batilde Emilie (1743)

 

Pierre-Louis-Marie Duprey de la Ruffière (1703-1752), Esquire (écuyer), Militia Commander at Rivière Pilote

Married on June 3, 1726 to Catherine (de) GEFFRIER (1708-1785) and issued:

La Maison de GEFFRIER (d'Hozier)

1) Marie Angélique (1729)
2) Louise Élisabeth Duprey de La Ruffinière (1729-1791) married in 1746 to Didier Magloire Baillardel de Lareinty (1707-1777) and issued:

La Maison de Baillardel de Lareinty

3) Catherine Henriette (1731-1744)
4) Pierre Louis Antoine Duprey de La Ruffinière (1732-1811)
5) Louis Timothée (1734)
6) Françoise Duprey de La Ruffinière (1735-1796) married in 1755 to Louis Bonaventure de Collard (1725-1787)

La Maison de Collart/Collard (Dom Pelletier)

7) Charlotte (1736) married to Pierre Le Pelletier Grandair de Saint-Maurice (1725) and issued:
8) Nicolas Louis François (1738)
9) Jean Baptiste Louis (1739)

Pierre Louis Antoine Duprey de La Ruffinière (1732-1811), Esquire (écuyer), Chevalier of Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis

Le Chevalier Pierre-Louis-Antoine Duprey de la Reffiniére (Source 2)

Married on May 24, 1762 to Marie-Catherine BENOIT DESPORTES (1744-1796) and issued:

1) Marie Catherine Duprey (1763) married 1786 to Jean-Louis Longellier/Angellier Bellevue

La Maison de Angellier (d'Hozier)

2) Louis-Marie-Aimé- Auguste-Amédée (1765-1765)
3) Louis Magloire (1766-1816)
4) Louis Nicolas Duprey (1767-1853), Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis
5) Marie Françoise Angélique Duprey (1768-1846) married twice: in 1799 to Laurent CHAILLON and 2) to Marc-Antoine Lamotte Coutens
6) Nicolas Charlotte Victoire Duprey (1770-1824)
7) Sophie Hélène Duprey (1776-1860)
8) Elisabeth Alexandrine Duprey (1778)
9) Elisabeth Catherine Dibonne Duprey (1778)
10) Jeanne Cornélie Sophie Duprey (+1844)

Louis-Nicolas Duprey de La Ruffinière (1767-1853), Naval Captain , Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis, dit Chevalier Duprey de La Ruffinière

 

Married on June 22, 1813 Agatha-Louise-Marie-Aimée HOUËL (1792-1831) and issued:

1) Louis-Marie-Aimé-Auguste-Amédée Duprey de La Ruffinière (1814-1864)
2) Théobald Duprey de La Ruffinière (1817)
3) Louis Joseph Adraste du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1818-1858)

Biographical Note:

Agatha-Louise-Marie-Aimée HOUËL was the daughter of Artillery Captain and Chevalier of Saint Louis, Louis-Vicent HOUËL and Aimée Agathe HUYGHUES

Louis-Marie-Aimé-Auguste-Amédée du Prey de La Ruffinière (1814-1864), Ingénieur Colonial, Graduate of St-Cyr Military Academy 

Married on July 14, 1847 to Sophie Amélie MAILLET (1827-1864) and issued: 

1) Julia Duprey de La Ruffinière (1848-1871)
2) Victor Duprey de La Ruffinière
3) Georges Duprey de La Ruffinière (1853) married in 1877 to Marie-Adéle PAPIN L'Épine (1856). No issue. 

La Maison de Papin du Pont de L'Épine

 

_______________

 

Branch du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière

 

 

Louis Joseph Adraste du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1818-1858)

Married on January 20, 1857 to Julia-Herminie GUYARDET (1823-1890) and issued:

1) Marie Aimée  du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1844-1864) married in 1864 to Marie-Germain-Charles SIMPLICE HURARD

2) Joseph Edgar  du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1848-1886), Naval Artillery Captain and Commander of the Gorée Castle in Senegal. Married to Victoire Deschateaux (1854-1919) and issue:

Castel Gorée

3) Pierre du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1854), Membre du Conseil Municipal de Saint-Pierre

4) Louis-Paul du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1856-?)

Pierre du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1854-1922?), Membre du Conseil Municipal de Saint-Pierre

Pierre du Mosé Houel du Prey de la Ruffinière (Source 2)

 

Possible Store of Pierre Duprey de La Ruffinière (Source 5)

Married thrice:

1)  Married in 1878 to Julie DULUINE (1856-1879) and issued:

a) Pierre-Marie-Joseph-Antoine du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1879-?)


Bio Note:He was a student at École pratique des hautes études in 1902.

2) Married in 1883 to Lucie LAPIQUONNE (1859-1902) and issued:

a) Louis Augustin Alcide du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1884-1902

b)  Eugènie du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1885-1902


c) Joséphine du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1886-1902)


d) René Edgard du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1887-1902

e) Marie Damien Pierre du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1890-1902

f) Herminie du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1892-1902

g)  Philomène du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1894-1894


h) Marie Reine Rosa du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1896-1902

i) Marie-Lucie  du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1897-1902

3. married to Marie Laurence Louis Elphege (1878):

a) Raoul du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE

b) Edgard du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE

c) Édouard du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE

d) Georges du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE

e) Joséphine du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1903-2000) wife of  Victor MODESTE (+1990) and issued: (Guy and Madeleine-Georgette-Elisabeth)

"Faire part" de Marie-Josephine du Prey (1903-2000), Source 2

e1 Guy MODESTE
e.2 Madeleine-Georgette-Elizabeth MODESTE married  Henri-André-Paul  GERMAIN and issued:

e.2.1Valérie Germain married Ricard CASALAN
e2.2  Gérard Germain married Béatrice PAPIN du PONT  de L'ÉPINE and issued:

f) Pierre  du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1911 - 1980), Author and Journalist. Has issue.  

[Source 4 and 5]

 

Mount Pelée - 1902

One of the most devastating volcanic eruptions took place in 1902 when Mount Pelée erupted near the city of Saint Pierre and killed at least 20,000 people and practically leveled the city and surroundings.

Among the many that died in May 1902 were the wife and  children of  Pierre du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1854). We dedicate this Blog Entry to their memories:

•  Lucie LAPIQUONNE (1859-1902) -wife 
• Louis Augustin Alcide du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1884-1902
• Eugène du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1885-1902
• Joséphine du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1886-1902
• René Edgard du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1887-1902
•  Marie Damien Pierre du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1890-1902
• Herminie du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1892-1902
• Marie Reine Rosa du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1896-1902 
• Marie-Lucie  du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE 1897-1902

 [Source 5 and 6]

_____________________

Source Consulted:

1) Labail, Patrick. "Histoire et généalogie Duprey de la Ruffinière". Published by the Association of Genealogy and History of the Caribbean

2) We are grateful for the collaboration Madame B. Papin du Pont de l'Épine.She provided many of the photographs contained in this blog entry.

3) Letters Patent of Nobility, Letter of Ratification from the Sovereign Council of Martinique, and Letter Requesting the Order of Saint Louis were taken from the website (http://ecole.nav.traditions.free.fr/officiers_duprey_louis.htm)

4) Many thanks to the family of Pierre  du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1911 - 1980) for clarifying information regarding Josephine du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1903-2000) and the third marriage of Pierre du MOSÉ HOUËL du PREY de la RUFFINIÉRE (1854) to Marie Laurence Louis Elphege via e-mail communication.

5) Many thanks to Mr. J. CATHERINE for his valuable collaboration. He was able to verify the existence of the children of Pierre du Mosé Houël du Prey de La Ruffinière (1854) with Lucie LAPIQUONNE (1859-1902).


6) Consulted the database of the Saint Pierre 1902 Organziation
 (http://www.stpierre1902.org/database/result.php3?name=Duprey&base=cle&rech=Lancer+la+recherche)