Louis's beginnings are a mystery and it seems that there is more than one theory floating around as from where he came. For instance, I was told by my grandmother Poole that Louis was from Trois Riviere, Quebec. To date, I have no evidence of this. Others believe that he is the illegitimate child of Ann Chevalier, a Huguenot from the Channel Islands who worked for Philip and Nathaniel Lloyd. The Lloyd brothers who had come from Wales, bought the rights to the Riviere-St Paul fishing post. As the story goes, Ann Chevalier and Philip Lloyd had a relationship from which Louis was born. I, like so many other of Louis's descendants, hope one day to find out the truth.
It was Christmas 1799 and the merriment along the coast was evident; residents got together for food, cheer and dance during the festive season. Louis traveled to Brador that year when he came upon a young lady, Mary Ann Vane . She had been staying in the fishing village with one of the residents since she had been shipwrecked several months previous. Much of her time had been spent trying to stave off suitors in the area; young men from up and down the coast were so very interested in her; beautiful young ladies were in short supply. By Christmas time she had been convinced that her family must believe she was dead and her affianced officer had found another love. Surely, she was told, they had given up all hope of ever seeing her again.
A young Englishman from across the Strait to Newfoundland had been up the Labrador and had made arrangements to pay for Mary Ann's maintenance for the winter. His intention was to return in the spring and hopefully marry her. But it was not to be.
Louis, the charismatic and charming Frenchman stole her heart. The young impressionable Mary Ann accepted his hand in marriage and with little haste their nuptials were performed in Brador. They travelled back to Riviere-St Paul to start their new life. Louis the salmon fisherman and the future Seignior of Riviere- St. Paul was returning with his new bride.
Powderham Castle it was not.
The devastation that Mary Ann must have felt upon seeing her new surroundings was surely immense. The grand room where she had learned to play her violin and the music of the great composers was not to be found, nor was the intricate design and architecture. Everything she had known was gone.
It is said that after her three children, Philip David, Mary Sophia and Mary Ann had grown, she became so disenchanted with this pioneer life that she gradually became a recluse. True or not, she ensured that her children were schooled by her in reading, writing and proper speech. As for her precious violin, she spent much time teaching her grandson Louis David the beautiful instrument. She relished this time with him and ensured that he became the well spoken gentleman that he was renowned for being. Louis David continued to play the classics on his grandmother's violin well into his senior years. She would have been pleased.
Louis died in 1848 and Mary Ann between 1847 and 1860. I like to think that she found some purpose to her life and that the sweet sound of her violin helped her find peace in the Canadian Labrador.
It was Christmas 1799 and the merriment along the coast was evident; residents got together for food, cheer and dance during the festive season. Louis traveled to Brador that year when he came upon a young lady, Mary Ann Vane . She had been staying in the fishing village with one of the residents since she had been shipwrecked several months previous. Much of her time had been spent trying to stave off suitors in the area; young men from up and down the coast were so very interested in her; beautiful young ladies were in short supply. By Christmas time she had been convinced that her family must believe she was dead and her affianced officer had found another love. Surely, she was told, they had given up all hope of ever seeing her again.
A young Englishman from across the Strait to Newfoundland had been up the Labrador and had made arrangements to pay for Mary Ann's maintenance for the winter. His intention was to return in the spring and hopefully marry her. But it was not to be.
Louis, the charismatic and charming Frenchman stole her heart. The young impressionable Mary Ann accepted his hand in marriage and with little haste their nuptials were performed in Brador. They travelled back to Riviere-St Paul to start their new life. Louis the salmon fisherman and the future Seignior of Riviere- St. Paul was returning with his new bride.
Powderham Castle it was not.
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| Powderham Castle, Devon, east front. The wing projecting forwards at the right contains the second library, built 1766-9. The central tower and flanking single-height bow-windows date from 1710-27. The tower in the corner-angle to the right and the main full-height range behind date from 1390-1450 |
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| Powderham Castle - Music Room |
The devastation that Mary Ann must have felt upon seeing her new surroundings was surely immense. The grand room where she had learned to play her violin and the music of the great composers was not to be found, nor was the intricate design and architecture. Everything she had known was gone.
 |
| Powderham Castle - Heraldic fireplace in the Dining Hall |
It is said that after her three children, Philip David, Mary Sophia and Mary Ann had grown, she became so disenchanted with this pioneer life that she gradually became a recluse. True or not, she ensured that her children were schooled by her in reading, writing and proper speech. As for her precious violin, she spent much time teaching her grandson Louis David the beautiful instrument. She relished this time with him and ensured that he became the well spoken gentleman that he was renowned for being. Louis David continued to play the classics on his grandmother's violin well into his senior years. She would have been pleased.
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