Jean De Foreest
1543-1606
Born: Avesnes, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
Died: Vosmeer, N. Brab, Netherlands
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1543-1606
Born: Avesnes, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
Died: Vosmeer, N. Brab, Netherlands
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">"Jean de Forest, the father of the emigrant to America, appears in 1572 as the youngest son, if he was not also the youngest child, of Melchior de Forest and Catherine du Fosset. The tattered archives of Avesnes mention him but this once, but they mention no other Jean de Forest at all until we reach his grandnephew, the Jean of 1635, grandson of Baltazar. Circumstances in his known history show that he was born not far from 1543 ; that his wife was Anne Maillard, probably daughter of Michel Maillard, Mayor of Felleries, a town near Avesnes ; and that the date of the marriage could not well be earlier than 1570. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">Assuming that Jean de Forest was born about 1543, Spain's great military struggle with Protestantism had commenced in his early manhood; and since then she had for many years waged furious war, incessantly with Holland, long with England and finally with France. Even Luxemburg, a little Protestant principality to the east of Hainaut, had been obliged to fight for existence against embattled Romanism. It must have been difficult for the Walloons to find a market for their great staple, woolen cloth. Something could be sent to Spain by sea, and there was intermittent trading to France, and no doubt smuggling to England. Hence Jean de Forest might be often abroad on business, while his wife and children remained in Avesnes.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">When and how did he become a Protestant? He may have been one at Avesnes secretly, like thousands on thousands of other Walloons, who were continually stealing away to Holland, crowding her workshops and filling up her infantry. To have professed heresy publicly under Philip II. and the Holy Inquisition would have insured prompt martyrdom of some sort. Possibly in the case of de Forest there were imprudence, and discovery, and punishment. The wide dispersion of his children (Melchior at Lille, Jesse at Sedan, Gerard at Leiden, Anne at Amsterdam) suggests the supposition that the departure from Avesnes may have been a flight from peril or violence. But it is equally probable that he removed to Sedan in the way of business, and was there led by his surroundings to protestantize openly, thus accepting exile for life.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">The civic records of the city fail to reveal him, which seems to indicate that he was but a temporary resident. The church registers mention him, for the first and only time, in 1601, as "a merchant of this city " marrying his son Jesse to the daughter of another merchant. He soon resigned his business to Jesse and removed to Holland, the Mecca of exiled Protestants. After a brief residence at Berghen op. Zoom he pushed on in 160310 Leiden, and in 1604 to Amsterdam. But he had apparently left a business behind him, for while his wife and his daughter Anne remained at Amsterdam, he returned to the region of Berghen op. Zoom.2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">In 1606 (Oct. 2l) "Anne des Forest, of Avesnes, aged nineteen, for five years at Amsterdam," was betrothed in the presence of her mother, Anne Maillard, to Jean LeFevre, of Leiden, who was probably the son of Huguenot exiles, though he had passed his youth in Holland. <em>T\\z fiancee </em>was instructed to produce a written consent to the betrothal, from her father. The required document came to hand, signed by Gerardus Schepenius, minister of Vosmeer, a village near Berghen op. Zoom.3 Was Jean de Forest dead, or too ill to write ? There is not another discoverable word concerning him. His daughter (recorded this time as Anne du Forest) married Le Fevre at Amsterdam on the 24th of January, 1607. Her brother, Gerard, making a will in 1633, left 200 florins to his mother, Anne Maillard, but said nothing of his father.4 It may be considered as certain that Jean de Forest died long before his wife, who lived to the age of about ninety and was buried at Amsterdam, April 21, 1640."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'">American historical register and monthly gazette of the patriotic ..., Volume 4</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">http://openlibrary.org/books/OL23521099M/The_De_Forests_of_Avesnes_(and_of_New_Netherland)</span></p>
<p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4">GENERATION XI - </font><strong><font size="4">Jean de Forest</font></strong></font><u><strong><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">,</font></strong></u><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"> son of <strong>Melchoir de Forest III</strong>, was born in 1543. (From the "Defreest Family History" except where noted otherwise.) He was born at Avesnes, Hainaut, France<strong> </strong>according to "Ancestors of Asher Defrees" ). He married<strong> </strong></font><strong><font face="Times New Roman">Anne Maillard</font></strong></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4">. Jean was married on 5 June 1570 in Avesnes, Flanders, Netherlands. (According to the "Defreest Family History" and the "Ancestors of Asher Defrees" The Genealogy Attic source says they were married in 1575. Jean's brother <strong>Gilles </strong>was a prominent Canon of the Catholic Church. Jean left Avesnes, at the time of the Edict of Nantes, and moved to Sedan. (Source?) According to another source, he died in 1606 in Vosmeer near Bergen op Zoom, Noord-Brabant [North Brabant], Netherlands. He married on 5 June 1570, in Avesnes, Flanders, France, <strong>Ann Maillard</strong>. She was born about 1551, was of Felleries, Hainaut, France, died 21 April 1640 in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, and was buried 21 April 1640 in Amsterdam, Noord, Netherlands. Ann was the daughter of <strong>Michael Maillard</strong> and <strong>Marguerite Raux</strong>. He was born 1520-1530, was of Felleries, Hainaut, France, and died 1582 in Fellurus, France. She was born about 1529. The Genealogy Attic source says: He was born Catholic, but came under Protestant influences for woolen interests. He moved to Holland where he died in 1606. Anne died at Amsterdam on 20 April 1640. The area of Sedan was homeland of the Walloons -- descendants of the Volcae, Celtic tribe, which was conquered by Caesar and who adopted Catholicism about 496. A part of Spanish Empire in 1482, they were persecuted by Spanish. By 1559, the Huguenots were made up primarily of the wealthy and nobility. After the wars, Jean led members of family to Holland. In March 1603, Jean joined the church at Leyden from Berghen Op Zoon [sic]. In Nov. 1604, he joined the Church of Amsterdam.<br>The children of <strong>Jean DeForest</strong> and <strong>Anne Maillard</strong> according to "The Ancestors of Asher Defrees:<br>+1.</font><strong><font size="4"> <font color="#000000"><span style="text-decoration: none">Jesse de Forest</span></font> </font></strong><font size="4">was born about 1576 in Avesnes, Hainaut, France. (See his entry in the generation just below.) <br> 2. <strong>Melchior de Forest</strong> was born about 1572 in Avesnes, Hainaut, France.<br> 3. <strong>Gerard</strong> <strong>de Forest </strong>was born about 1578 in Avesnes, Hainaut, France. <br> 4. <strong>Anne de Forest</strong> was born about 1587 in Avesnes, Hainaut, France.<br> 5. J<strong>ean de Forest</strong> was born about 1593 in Avesnes, Hainaut, France.</font></font></p>
Born Catholic but came under Protestant influences as agent for woolen interests. Moved to Holland where he died in 1622. Daughter Anne died at Amsterdam on April 20, 1640. Area of Sedan was homeland of Walloons - descendants of Volcae, Celtic tribe which was conquered by Caesar and adopted Catholicism c. 496. Part of Spanish Empire 1482, persecuted by Spanish. By 1559 Huguenots made up of wealthy and nobility. After wars Jean led members of family to Holland. In March 1603, Jean joined church Leyden from Berghen op Zoom. In November 1604 joined Church of Amsterdam. Jean's brother Gilles was a prominent Canon of the Catholic Church. Jean left Avesnes around 1598, at the time of the Edict of Nantes, and moved to Sedan.