Our Earliest Ancestor - The Nicolas Mius Story
Nicolas
Mius was a German and served as interpreter for the Admiral of Colignay. He was killed in
Paris on August 25, 1572 at the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre along with the Admiral,
Gaspard de Colignay.
In 1557 Nicolas Mius of
Grynn appears on the register of the University of Orleans as one of five German students.
(SD Nicolas Mius -Grynn). The letter "D" signifies Dominus or Domine meaning
monsieur and Grynn would signify the province from which he came. The name was originally
Majus and was often written as Maius. In German the letters "ai" are pronounced
as "i" resulting in the present pronounciation Mius.
With Nicolas was another
German student named Conrad Maius, who could have been from the same family. This was at
the time of the reformation; and there was a famous professor, Anne of Bourg, elder of the
University and protector of the German students. It seems that the University of Orleans
was strongly affected by this new doctrine, professed Lutheranism; and were being
persecuted for this.
By 1569, Nicolas was
married to Jeanne and had several children. In Admiral Gaspard DeColigny's will, Nicolas
is mentioned "To Nicolas Mouche by chamber valet and his wife, Jeanne for their good
services, to me and my wife, I give them five hundred francs in money one time and six
septiers of bled metail" (mixture of wheat and rye) the rest of their lives solely so
they can have more children."
In Paris on August 25,
1572, the Admiral was a victim of the St. Bartholomew Day Massacre. The admiral is quoted
as saying "My friends, there is nothing I can do to rescue you. I voluntarily receive
my death in the hands of God. Save yourselves." At that time he had several people at
his service including Nicolas Mius. Everyone left except for Nicolas who stayed at the
Admiral's side and was murdered with him. The slaughter of French Huguenots quickly spread
to the provinces and about 20,000 Huguenots were ultimately killed by Roman Catholic mobs.
The prime responsibility for the massacre was borne by Catherine de Medicis, who opposed
the influence of the Protestant leader, Admiral Gaspard de Colignay over her weak son,
King Charles IX.
After the Admiral's death,
the Countess felt indebted to the children of Nicolas. She took under her protection a son
of Nicolas. (Unfortunately there is no record of his first name.) The boy was actually
under the care of Jacqueline’s mother, the Countess Beatrice Bacheoc-d’Entremont
of the House of Montbel d’Entremont of Savioe.
The name of d'Entremont
was then added to his surname Mius. This was Jacqueline’s wish, since she was the
only child who survived her parents marriage, and had only a daughter from her marriage to
the Admiral. The following clause appears in the marriage contract between the Admiral and
Jacqueline:
"The first son
originating from the marriage and his descendants, whether male or female, would carry the
name and coat of arms of Count D'Entremont" (Jacqueline's father).
Admiral Gaspard de
Colignay was apparently married twice. His first wife was Charlotte de Laval. She died
March 3, 1568. He married his second wife, Countess Jacqueline d'Entremont of the House of
Montbel d'Entremont of Savioe, in 1571. The daughter of that marriage, Beatrice de
Coligny, was married on 6/17/1600 to Monsieur d'Albun, Baron de Meuillon and de Montauban,
son of the governor of Marseilles; and their son was named Francois Virgine D'Entremont.
Nicolas also left two
daughters: Charlotte Mousche and Louyse Mousche, who were put in the care of Louise
deColigny, Princess of Orange, daughter of the Admiral and his first wife, and widow of
William of Nassau, Prince of Orange (dit le Taciturne). His will read at Fontainebleau on
11/8/1620 states "Give and bequeath to Charlotte Mousche, widow Davon, the sum of two
hundred pounds of Tournois (old 13th century money). Payed in full. Give and bequeath to
Louyse Mousche the same sum of two hundred pounds of Tournoys, also paid in full."
William was the founder of
the branch of Orange-Nassau (1535-1584) and the ancestor of William the Third of Orange
who married Marie, daughter of James II of England; and became William III, King of
England.
The location of Grynn
(Nicolas’ origin) is uncertain but there is a village in Switzerland by the name of
Gryon, which is east of Lake Leman in the French speaking district of Vaud. According to
the Larousse Dictionary, there are only two regions in the entire world where the old word
"huitante" (80) was used. Those areas are LaWallonie south and southeast of
Belgium and the Swiss village of Gryon.
The only other place where
this ancient expression is used is Pubnico, founded by Philippe Mius D'Entremont. The word
"huitante" is still used there today. What is also strange about this is that
the word is used only in the Pubnico area and no where else in Acadia. Everywhere else
huitante has been replaced by quatre-vingts. (Most of the
information on Nicolas Mius and his ancestors comes Vol. III written by Fr. Clarence
d'Entremont.) |
