Maréchal de camp. Chevalier de l’ordre royal et militaire de Saint-Louis, Lieutenant des maréchaux de France, Marquis de l’Escuyer, Seigneur d’Hagnicourt, Seigneur d’Harzillemont, Seigneur de Launoy, Seigneur de Montigny, Seigneur de la Grange-aux-Bois, Seigneur de Puiseux, Seigneur du Mesnil, Seigneur de Châtillon

Charles Louis Joseph de L’Escuyer d’Hagnicourt was my grandfather at the 8th generation. He was one of the many nobles who were executed by guillotine during the French Revolution (Révolution française). His name is engraved at the Conciergerie in Paris (Salle des noms #8) (“Hall of names”, room #8).

Over 150 years later, my grandparents stood in front of the Conciergerie where he had been detained in 1793, at the same time as Marie-Antoinette (my grandmother (“Mamie Lu”) was his descendant of the 6th generation).

And 231 years later, my husband and I stood there just 2 weeks ago, on a very cold January day!

Charles Louis Joseph de L’Escuyer d’Hagnicourt wrote to the Minister of King Louis XVI of France and the King himself replied (well… the King signed the letter). I remember being so touched when I saw the signature on the letter… “Louis”…

Charles Louis Joseph de L’Escuyer d’Hagnicourt married four times and had eleven children according to documentation. At this point in my research, most of his descendants are in France. However, one of his daughters (Gabrielle Angélique de L’Escuyer d’Hagnicourt (1771-?)) married Sir Robert Adair (1763-1855), British Ambassador. They had a daughter, Elizabeth (1808-1829) who married into the Grey family of England, and had descendants.

When I dug a little into Sir Robert Adair’s family history, it turned out that via his mother, he is a descendant of the House of Stuart via Charles II of England (1630-1685), King of England, Scotland, Ireland. And therefore, descendant of Henri IV of France (1553-1610), King of France from 2 August 1589 to 14 May 1610 and his second wife, Queen Marie de Médicis (1575-1642).

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