Origins of the Family
According to the study published in the blog "Autour de nos ancêtres", the Bechet family originates from Sedan, France (Source 1). The family converted from Catholicism to the Protestant faith and back to Catholic faith between the end of the 1600's and the mid 1700's.The Bechet family were also known as Bechet de Léocourt, Lehaucourt and Le Hautcourt
Coat of Arms (Blason)
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| La Maison de Béchet de Léocour |
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Béchet de Léocour, Baron of the French First Empire |
Titles of the Family
1) Seigneur de Bélan2) Seigneur de Léocour
3) Baron de l'empire (Letters Patent, 1808)
Abbreviated Genealogy (1590-Present)
Jean Béchet (1590-1645), Maître burailler
Married Marie DORE (1600) and issued:1) Antoine Bechet (1618-1681)
2) Marie Bechet (+1632)
Antoine Béchet (1618-1681)
Married on April 2, 1645 to Marie DESGEORGES (+1693)1) Jeanne Bechet (1646-1729)
2) Henri Benchet (1648-1707)
3) Madeleine Bechet (1650)
4) Marie (1652)
5) Catherine Bechet (1653-1653)
6) Jean Théodore Bechet (1654-1718)
7) Judith Bechet (1663)
8) Abraham Bechet (1664)
9) Abraham Bechet (1664)
10) Anne Bechet (1668)
Jean Theodore Béchet(1654-1718)
Married on December 26, 1683 to Rachel DELAU (1600-1726) and issued:1) Elizabeth (1681-1770)
2) Marie (1688-1752) married André POUPART and issued
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| Marie Poupart (Bechet) by Marc-Louis Arlaud |
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| Blason of the Jean Abraham André Poupart son of Marie and André Poupart |
3) Henri (1690-1748)
4) Jean- Théodore II (1697-1727)
5) Pierre (1700-1746)
Pierre Bechet (1700-1746)
Married on February 15, 1724 to Marie-Catherine MARTIN and issued:1) Rachel Anne Magdeleine (1725)
2) Henri Théodore (1726)
3) Marie Anne Francoise (1727)
4) Marie
5) Marie Madeleine (1730)
6) Pierre Daniel Alexandre (1731)
7) Louis-Francois-Joseph (1731), Seigneur de Leocour
8) Suzanne 1735
9) Jean-Baptiste Bernard (1737)
10) François Xavier (1738)
11) Marie Anne (1739)
12) Paul Joseph (1741)
13) Marie Josèphe Thérèse (1742)
14) Antoine François Henry (1744)
15) Pierre François (1746)
Louis- François -Joseph Béchet (1732-1794), Seigneur de Leocour, Officier municipal de Sedan
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| Louis Bechet (1732-1794), Seigneur de Leocour (Source 1) |
On May 15, 1764 he married Gabrielle Marie Philibertine Charlotte PHILIPPY de BUCELLY du TRONQUOY,(1738) and issued:
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| The Arms of the Béchet and Philippy Families |
1) Louis-Samuel Albert-Desire Bechet, First Baron of Léocour and the French First Empire
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Louis-Samuel-Albert- Désiré Béchet(1771-1845), Baron de Leocour, General of the Empire (1809-1812), Maire de Remilly (1817-1845),
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| Louis Samuel Albert BECHET de LEOCOUR (1771-1845) |
Louis Samuel married on December 31, 1803, Anne Françoise DORIVAL de FIGNAMONT (+1849) and issued:
1) Thérèse BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1805-1890) married and issued (see below for Lamour Bechet de Lécour)
2) Anaïs BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1814-1858)
3) Anna BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1817-)
4) Louis BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1819-,) Baron de Léocour and Conseiller général des Ardennes. Died without issue.
Louis Samuel Albert Désiré Béchet de Léocour was a career officer. He was one of the first recipients of the Legion of Honor. His military decorations included:
Louis Samuel participated in most of great conflicts during the French First Empire. In 1788 he was Lieutenant in the 10th Brigade. He joined the expedition to Saint Domingue. By 1809 he was promoted to aide de camp to Marshal Ney and participated in the invasion of Spain in 1809. During the wars of 1809 Louis Samuel was part of the état-major (high command) and continued on until 1813. On February 19, 1814, Louis Samuel was promoted to Brigadier General of the Grand Army.
By March 9, 1815, Louis Samuel served the forces of the Maison de Bourbon. His Majesty the King of France Louis XVIII gave Louis Samuel complete control of the forces in the department of Ardennes by January of 1815. After, Napoleon return from exile, Louis Samuel continued to be in charge of the armed forces in Sedan. He was made a Lutenant-General on March 23, 1816 and on March 22, 1831, Louis Samuel was created a Marshal de Camp. It was in 1838 that he obtained rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor, the highest level within the order.
After the Napoleonic Wards, the Baron Béchet de Léocourt lived in Remilly-Aillicourt and was mayor of the Remilly from 1817 to 1845.
1) Thérèse BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1805-1890) married and issued (see below for Lamour Bechet de Lécour)
2) Anaïs BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1814-1858)
3) Anna BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1817-)
4) Louis BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1819-,) Baron de Léocour and Conseiller général des Ardennes. Died without issue.
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| Birth Certificate of Louis Samuel (Archives of the Legion of Honor) |
The French Revolution and the Béchet de Léocour Family
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| Storming the Bastille in 1789 (Image Public Domain) |
During the French Revolution (1789-1799) and the subsequent Reign of Terror (1793-1794) as many as many as 40,000 Frenchmen and women lost their lives. One such person was Louis-Joseph BECHET, who was Seigneur de Lehaultcourt and a member of the House of Philippy by marriage. He was executed by the French mob June 2, 1794.
Louis Samuel Albert Désiré Béchet de Léocour was a career officer. He was one of the first recipients of the Legion of Honor. His military decorations included:
- Légion d'honneur :
- Légionnaire (August 16, 1804) at the battle of camp of Bologna.
- Officier (Februrary 18, 1808)
- Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur (April 25, 1838) ;
- Ordre royal et militaire de Saint-Louis :
- Chevalier de Saint-Louis (Novmber 1, 1814)
Louis Samuel participated in most of great conflicts during the French First Empire. In 1788 he was Lieutenant in the 10th Brigade. He joined the expedition to Saint Domingue. By 1809 he was promoted to aide de camp to Marshal Ney and participated in the invasion of Spain in 1809. During the wars of 1809 Louis Samuel was part of the état-major (high command) and continued on until 1813. On February 19, 1814, Louis Samuel was promoted to Brigadier General of the Grand Army.
By March 9, 1815, Louis Samuel served the forces of the Maison de Bourbon. His Majesty the King of France Louis XVIII gave Louis Samuel complete control of the forces in the department of Ardennes by January of 1815. After, Napoleon return from exile, Louis Samuel continued to be in charge of the armed forces in Sedan. He was made a Lutenant-General on March 23, 1816 and on March 22, 1831, Louis Samuel was created a Marshal de Camp. It was in 1838 that he obtained rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor, the highest level within the order.
After the Napoleonic Wards, the Baron Béchet de Léocourt lived in Remilly-Aillicourt and was mayor of the Remilly from 1817 to 1845.
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The Château de Remilly where Louis Samuel, Baron de
Béchet de Léocourt lived. |
LAMOUR BECHET de LÉOCOUR
Thérèse BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1805-1890),
Thérèse married in 1835 Joseph Marie LAMOUR (1803-1886), Percepteur des contributions directes, maire de Remilly and issued two children:Biographical Note:
1) Albert-Felix-Marie-Arthur (1837), who become heir to the title and dignity of Baron de Léocourt, died with no issue.
2) Anne-Therese-Marie-Constance-Noemi (1840) who married on December 5, 1864 Fernand-Rene-Jarry DESLOGES (1833) and issued:
a. Jean Marie Victor Félix René Jarry-Desloges, Astronomer, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (1868-1951)
secondly married Josephe-Marie-Maurice de VILAGRE de VIGUIER de
SAINTE-VALIERE and no issue.
Albert-Felix-Marie-Arthur LAMOR BECHET de LÉOCOUR (1837-), Baron de LÉOCOURT, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
He married in 1867 Marie Françoise de LA BROSSE and issued five children:
Biographical Note:
Marie Françoise de LA BROSSE was the daughter of Edmond de la Brosse (1815-1894) and Elisabeth Françoise Guillaume (1821-1913). The de La Brosse family were originally from la paroisse de Saint-Rémy à Charleville (Ardennes). Among the members of the family, Pierre de la Brosse (1661-1746) was Écuyer de Monseigneur le duc d'Orléans, valet de chambre de Monsieur le marquis de Créquy, prévost du Régiment d'Infanterie de Monseigneur le Dauphin (1699). Also, the de la Brosse family held the lordships of de la Faye and de la Gardette.
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| La Maison de la Brosse |
1) François-Constant-Joseph Edouard (1868-1879), Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur (Chevalier)
2) François-Louis-Marie-Georges (1870-1914), Capitaine au 29e régiment d'artillerie, MORT POUR LA FRANCE Married December 13, 1911, Renée Claire Eugénie MICHEL (1886) and issued.
3) Thérèse-Renée-Marie-Louise (1871-1947) married to Emile-Louis-Léon JOURDAIN (1863). No issue.
4) Louis-Félix-Marie (1873-1961) married December 29, 1904 to Lyza CASTELLANI and issued Maurice.
5) Jeanne Marie Thérèse (1875-1969) married Ferdinand Martinon-Boisnier de La Richardière (1859).
Louis-Félix-Marie (1873-1961) Lamour Béchet de Léocour
Married December 29, 1904 in Guelma Algeria Lyza CASTELLANI and issued: Maurice
Maurice Lamour Béchet de Léocour
Married Gilberte MY and issued: Philippe-Louis
Philippe-Louis Lamour Béchet de Léocour (1937-2003)
Married Claude GRENET (1937-2010) and issued: Sophie
Biographical Information:
Claude Grenet is the daughter of Henri Grenet, former Mayor of Bayonne and the sister of Jean Genet who as also the former Mayor of Bayonne.
François-Marie-Louis-Georges Lamour Béchet de Léocour (1870-1914), Baron de LÉOCOURT,Capitaine au 29e régiment d'artillerie, MORT POUR LA FRANCE
Married December 13, 1911 to Renée-Claire-Eugénie MICHEL (1886) and issued:
Biographical Note:
1. Jean-Marie-Léon-Victor (1912-1999), Baron de Léocour, married September 8, 1961, Edith de la Hamayde (1926-1971)
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| La Maison de la Hamayde (Belgium) |
2. Jacques-Marie-François, (1914-1982) married Anne Gauthier and issued
3. Renée
Jacques-Marie-François Lamour Béchet de Léocour (1914-1982),Médaille de bronze de la Jeunesse et des Sports (1970)
Married to Anne GAUTHIER and issued:
1) Jean-Yves (1944-1972),
2) Patrick (Patrice), and
3) Chantal married September 20, 1980, Mr. Christophe AUBERTIN
Jean-Yves-Georges-Fernand Lamour Béchet de Léocour (1944-1972)
Patrick (Patrice) Lamour Béchet de Léocour
Married Thérèse DEFAUX and issued: Antoine-Jacques-Etienne, Anne-Sophie, and Catherine
In Memoriam
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| Antoine de Léocour (right) and his childhood friend, Vincent Délory |
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Sources Consulted
1) Information taken from the blog entry "Autour de nos ancetres" (http://abedehem.blogspot.fr/search?q=B%C3%A9chet_).2) The description of coat of arms of the Bechet de Leocur was taken from the website "Armorial Noblesse Empire (http://www.heraldique-blasons-armoiries.com/armoriaux/noblesse_empire/blasons_B11.html).
3) Les Phillipi Bucelly d'Estrées (1544-1942)" by André-Pierre FRANTZEN. National Library of France (BNF).
4 Images of Louis Joseph BECHET (1731-1794) and Louis Samuel Albert BECHET de LEOCOURT (1771-1845) are the courtesy of the SOCIETE D’HISTOIRE ET D’ARCHEOLOGIE DU SEDANAIS (SHAS) and are part of their archive.
5)"Bechet de Leocourt" entry on gw.gneanet.org by Mr. Henri DOCQUIN
6) Birth Certificate for Louis Samuel Albert BECHET de LEOCOURT (1771-1845) are from the archives of the Legion of Honor of France.
7) Color image (portrait) of Louis Samuel Albert BECHET de LEOCOURT (1771-1845) taken from book published "Souvenirs du Général BÉCHET de LÉOCOUR" (edited, 1999) and available on http://www.leboncoin.fr/livres/384583604.htm.
8) Louis Samuel Albert BECHET de LEOCOURT entry on Wikipedia.
9) Remilly-Aillicourt entry in Winkipedia.
Updated 12.16.20
