The Church of Saint Maurice, Montreal la Cluse, in
Picardy, France is known as the Douglas Chapel.
It was Charles
Joseph, born Viscount Douglas, who bought the county of Montreal in
1757, bringing it to the Douglas family. The stained glass coats of arms
in a window in the church summarize the history of Montreal from its
creation to the revolution. In the centre is King St. Louis, at his
feet, the cry of the Crusaders' Mont joy - St Denis "and" el Diex volt
"God willing.
The Douglas crest caption is 1755-1789.
There is a family memorial in the church, and reputedly family
gravestones outside, though it is difficult to see where these are in
the photographs.
Translated from local websites:
The
chapel DOUGLAS dated early seventeenth century. Above a side door,
engraved in a lintel, reads the year 1619 and are distinguished the arms
of DOUGLAS, "the heart Gules, crowned with gold, the chief charged
with three silver stars"
A gravestone stands out:
Here lies:
Louis
Archambault (1) Earl DOUGLAS, Knight of the Legion of Honour and the
Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus of Piedmont
Born in MONTREAL
(CANADA) March 16 MDCCLVIII MONTREAL Bugey death in February 24 MDCCCXLII
He was a member of the General Council of the Empire, a member of the
Chamber of Deputies MDCCCXV.
The straightness of his mind, the
goodness of his heart, the loyalty of his character and grace of manner
merited him the affection and respect of
all who knew him. DE
PROFUNDIS.
TThe DELILIA (2) citizen OF CROZE denounced the lord
MONTREAL, because it had set in LYON, and claimed from the kings of
Scotland.
April 2, 1793, they arrested DOUGLAS and is incarcerated at
Bourg en Bresse.
It was promised to the guillotine.
But two days before the
date set for the execution, farmers MONTREAL presented themselves
delegation to the revolutionary court to demand his
release.
We
brought him triumphantly MONTREAL.
In 1812, Napoleon appointed the
Earl of DOUGLAS MEMBER of the General Council.
Then it became: SAINT
LOUIS Knight in 1816, Knight of the LYS in 1819 and a Knight of the
Legion of Honor.
He died in 1842.
The chapel DOUGLAS dated
early seventeenth century. Above a side door, engraved in a lintel,
reads the year 1619 and are distinguished the arms
oof DOUGLAS, "the
heart Gules, crowned with gold, the chief charged with three silver
stars"
Decree on Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790,
causing a deep split in Church of France. The Montreal priest, Claude-Humbert
Mermet, is one of the most eager to take the oath, and to explain to the
parish Mass on January 23, 1791, in the presence of the Municipality.
Notes:
1. Louis's father was
Francois Prosper, who came into money through his wife, but passed it to
his brother, Charles Joseph.
2.
The Delilia's were Louis Archambault's mother's family.
See also:
The Douglas Family in France
Montreal Chateau |
