Louis Beauvais (abt. 1764 - 1814)

Husband of Marie (Blain) Beauvais — married 11 Aug 1805 (to Mar 1806) in Marylebone, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Sarah (Mabley) Batchelor — married 1 Nov 1807 in Camden Town, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1814 at about age 50 in Ramsgate, Kent, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Louis' birth details are unknown. His death and burial records suggest he was age 50 when he died, making his year of birth around 1764. ^[1] In 1802, Louis was listed as having the business of the French Commercial Academy at 105 Fenchurch Street, London. ^[2]

Louis had four children from 1799 to1804 with Mary Blain, who he married in 1805. The marriage certificate describes him as a bachelor. ^[3]

Louis and Sarah Mably had four children together between 1806 and 1812, all of whom were baptised in Highgate. Louis was a widower when he married Sarah Matly at St Pancras Parish Chapel, Camden in 1807. ^[4]

'Highgate is a suburban area of north London at the northeastern corner of Hampstead Heath, 4+1⁄2 miles (7 kilometres) north-northwest of Charing Cross. It is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. Until late Victorian times it was a distinct village outside London, sitting astride the main road to the north. The area retains many green expanses including the eastern part of Hampstead Heath, three ancient woods,[3] Waterlow Park and the eastern-facing slopes known as Highgate Bowl.' ^[5]

In 1807, Louis was advertising his school: "Private Seminary, near the Grove, Highgate - At Mr. Beauvais's Private Seminary, a select and limited number of pupils are BOARDED and INSTRUCTED in every branch of polite and useful Literature. - Young gentleman are prepared for the University, and Cadets properly qualified for their admission into the Academy at Woolwich, or for their final examination. The French language forms a principal part of the plan of the above establishment. - Terms 60 Guineas per annum." ^[6]

From 1809, Louis is recorded as being schoolmaster at what was later 53 South Grove, on the north side of the green. It had been extended as a school by 1804 and from 1809 was occupied by Louis Beauvais, who trained boys for the professions until between 1813 and 1814. ^[7] A diagram of the green, labelled with the house occupied by Louis can be seen on page 96 (found on page 123). The owner William Weatherall, leased no. 53 South Grove to Louis for a further 21 years in 1813. Son Frederic's marriage certificate and daughter from first marriage Maria Cecelia's marriage certificate both later listed Louis as a schoolmaster, consistent with this information. ^[8]

Based on information later published, it seems that Louis and the family moved to Ramsgate, where he was teaching at a school in 1813: The "Ramsgate School, now conducted by Mr. Morris, will open as a Classical Establishment, under the superintendence of himself and a Gentleman of the first respectability, and who is of Doctor's degree, ...A French Master of high character and credit will attend in that department." ^[9]

Unfortunately, Louis died in 1814, and was buried in Lawrence, Kent. ^[10] It was a tragic tale, some of which was reported in the newspapers. "A very melancholic circumstance happened here yesterday. Mr Beauvois, a Frenchman, who had for some time kept a school in this town, a few days ago felt himself under the necessity of calling his creditors together, when one of them threatened to arrest him. This had such an effect on the poor man's mind that yesterday afternoon it is believed, he jumped off the Pier-head, and was drowned, as he was observed to go there, and has not been seen since." ^[11]

Further confirmation of the correct identity and an insight into his character was described in the following. "To the Benevolent and Humane is now offered one of the most melancholy and distressing Cases ever presented to their notice. A widow with SEVEN fatherless children are deprived of the common necessities of life, as also the means of procuring them. The Husband, Mr. Beauvais, a man of known respectability and exemplary character, who was formerly a Schoolmaster at Highgate, but late of Ramsgate, from the misconduct of his partner became involved in total ruin; this circumstance preyed so much on his mind, that in a fit of despair on Tuesday the 8th instant, he unfortunately drowned himself: thus his deeply afflicted family have lost their protector, their only means of support, and the most invaluable Father and Husband." The article went on to ask for donations (in the form of subscriptions) and to list the 38 subscriptions received for the family. Louis must indeed have been highly thought of. ^[12]

The children were aged 2-8 years old at the time of Louis' death. Widow Sarah married Henry Batchelor, a coachman, in Lambeth, London, the following year.

It was 3 years later that the newspapers reported that a Mr Morris appeared in the Insolvent Debtor's Court. A Mr. Samuel Tipper, stationer, of Leadenhall street, appeared to oppose the discharge of Morris, who "some time since was in the scholastic business at Highgate, and recently conducted a school, in partnership with Mr. Beauvais, at Ramsgate, where that unfortunate gentleman terminated his life by plunging into the sea, in consequence of pecuniary embarrassment in which he was involved, by reason, as was alleged by Mr Tipper, of his connection with Morris....The court, after a very patient investigation of the case, remanded Morris for five years, on the grounds of his dishonesty towards his creditors. ^[13]

Louis' surviving children would go on to have adventure-filled lives: Theodore would become the Postmaster General in Sind and the Persian Gulf, India; Frederick a mariner, served the King and then later was a merchant seaman; Amelia had perhaps the quietest life, staying in London. Her daughter Eliza Emma would however, later immigrate to New Zealand with her husband where she would raise her large family.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=GBPRS/CANT/D/95273457
2. ↑ London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943. 1802 Holden Directory, Louis Beauvais. https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/61265/images/47056_302022005561_1169-00032?pId=6725227
3. ↑ "England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66PD-RRS8 : 11 July 2022), Louis Beauvais, 1805.
4. ↑ London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932 Name: Louis Beauvais; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Widower; Record Type: Marriage Marriage Date: 1 Nov 1807 Marriage Place: St Pancras Parish Chapel, Camden, England Spouse: Sarah Mably Marital Status: Spinster Register Type: Parish Register
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highgate
6. ↑ The Morning Post, 7 Oct 1807. Page 1.
7. ↑ A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, M A Hicks and R B Pugh, 'Hornsey, including Highgate: Education', in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6, Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey With Highgate, ed. T F T Baker and C R Elrington (London, 1980), pp. 189-199. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol6/pp189-199 [accessed 27 January 2023].
8. ↑ London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932. Name: Frederick John Beauvais; Gender: Male; Record Type: Marriage; Marriage Date: 24 Oct 1844; Marriage Place: Saint Mark, Kennington: Kennington Park Road, Lambeth; Father: Lewis George Beauvais; Spouse: Mary Ann Walker.
9. ↑ Kentish Gazette 1813, March 30. "Ramsgate School".
10. ↑ England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 Name: Louis Beauvais; Gender: Male; Death Date: 1814; Burial Date: 21 Mar 1814; Burial Place: Lawrence, Kent, England; FHL Film Number: 1850282; Reference ID: pg19.
11. ↑ Perthshire Courier, 17 March 1814.
12. ↑ Kentish Gazette 1814, 18 March, Page 4.
13. ↑ Cambridge Chronicle and Journal 31 January 1817 Page 1.