24. Daniel and Elizabeth Deslandes of Jersey

Deslandes refers to woody heathland, probably in France. The name was not common in Jersey in the middle ages, but was so by the C19. Huard is derived from the first name Hugh and is common in Normandy.

Jersey is blessed with very old records, which many researchers have perused. Some caution is still needed on the oldest records. For the record, my oldest direct ancestors we know about in this part of the family are: Daniel Deslande (1673), Marie Coutanche (1687), Anne Le Cras (1705), Jean Deslande (1746), Jean Luce (1592, France), Sarah Le Couteur (1595), Jacques Labrecque (1576), Michel Baron (1552, France), Paul De Husson (1510, France, and potentially earlier ancestors), Michel Le Cornu (1565, France), Isabeau Symon (1575, France), Mary De Veulle (1687), Jean Huard (1756), Esther Picot (1756), William Whoff (1776) and Jeanne Buesnel (1776). Several of these ancestors are linked with Isle-sur-Marne, in the Champagne country near Reims in NE France. I visited Reims in 2017 but it was too dark for photos!

The chateau at Isle-sur-Marne (credit)

Daniel Deslandes (1783) married Elizabeth Huard (1803) in St Helier in 1819. They had seven children:

• 44.2.1 - Elizabeth Deslandes (1821). Elizabeth died in 1836.
• 44.2.2 - Betsy Deslandes (1827)
• 44.2.3 - Daniel Deslandes (1828)
• 44.2.3 - Esther Deslandes (1831)
• 44.2.4 - Eliza Deslandes (1833)
• 44.2.5 - Jane Elizabeth Deslandes (1837)
• 44.2.6 - Mary Ann Deslandes (1840)

More on these individuals in Chapter 44.

Daniel lived until 1853: in 1851 he was a farmer of 4 acres and a publican at the Traveller's Inn in St Helier. By this time, Daniel Jr. was a sailor, and Esther a dressmaker.

Elizabeth is shown in the 1841 census as 'independent' and using her maiden name, but with the Deslandes children. She was with Daniel Sr. in 1851, and Daniel Jr. in 1861 ("retired farmer's wife"). She was an invalid, living with her youngest daughter in 1871.

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