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Mr. Sinclair,
It would delight so many of
us to see photos of the places that have been described to us in very old
books. One of these tells us that in 1895 there was a grove of trees
beside the Seine River. A few rods from the flowing river is the
"Holy Well" of St. Clair. Nearby is the former home of St.
Clair, where a shirine now is in his honor. There is a chapel next to
that. At one time we have heard that there was a castle in the area.
We all would be interested to see if anything still remains of these places dear
to our ancestry?
If you ever go to Rouen there
are places there also that we are interested in seeing. Which direction
are you from St. Clair and Rouen? We were once told that there is a statue
in France with William the Conqueror on top of 5 men (5 previous
generations). Do you know where that is?
Perhaps there others in this
group that have questions for you also?
Laurel Fechner
Portland, OR-USA
I am Sinclair. Harris is my factor. St Clair sur Epte is
40 Km from La Behottiere this is Bank Holiday after attempting to
dispose of the fish population of Northern France I am going to drive over
to St Clair sur Epte and take a few photos any special request?
Sorry J R Carpenter took umbrage to recounting a
rumour but I know God is God and He is love through and through. I know that
J R Carpenter is my kinsman. I will call his name to God I hope he will do
the same for me. Clan equals family.
Sinclair
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 6:22
PM
Subject: Re: La Behottiere
What a beautiful place!! Do you
ever get up to St. Clair sur Epte? I am a little confused with
your message. Are you saying that you are the Factor, A. J.
Harris? Who was it that put the Clan Motto above the
gate?
Laurel
John S. Quarterman requested that I post some
Norman pictures, to hopefully encourage people to post some more
pictures on the net. This is a picture of La Behottiere, my
farm in France. The farm lies 40 km from
St-Clair-sur-Epte. St-Clair-sur-Epte is the town in which Rolo
the Viking met Charles the Simple, King of Fr in 911 and created the
Dukedom of Normandy on a handshake. The Epte forms the
boundary of the Dukedom of Normandy. This handshake is
commonly known as the treaty of St-Clair-sur-Epte. Rolo,
although a barbarian, was an honourable man and the treaty remained
in effect until the terror of the French Revolution. La
Behottiere was originally built as a mill by the monks of Le Bec
Hellouin in the 12th Century. A mill stream was created by a
cairn of rocks. Today there is a mill on the site. The
property acquired its name at the time of the French R when the
Behot family obtained the property. For historical reasons,
the real river remains entirely in private hands. The Duc
Valencay acquired La Behottiere and surrounding lands at the turn of
the Century. He reconstructed the house for his
mistress. His chateau lies within view of the house save for
the planting of trees he did to keep his wife's prying eyes away
from him and his mistress. It's reputed that she stood on the
roof of the chateau with a telescope in hand.
The Risle valley is where many Scots fled after
Culloden, one of the more famous was Sir William Gordon, who died in
Brionne, never seeing Cornhill, Scotland again. The current
guardian of La Behottiere, in Scotland the Factor, is A. J. Harris,
a former Royal Marine. Above the gate "Commit thy work to
God" rises. In the pavement stones of the two and a half
acre formal garden, it says "Ici est Ecosse" (Here is
Scotland). There is no Scot quite as Scot as a Scot
abroad. Are we Norwegians, Frenchmen, dome rumour us to be the
descendants of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. What we are,
my cousins, are a band a brothers, from one of the most ancient and
proudest families. Our family will live forever. We will
live forever.
Sinclair
If anyone would like any further photographs or
information, please email:
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