Our LEROY Family

Generation No. 3

4.  DR. HENRI ELOI JOSEPH³ LEROY (PHILIPPE VINCENT², JEAN¹) was born 01 Dec 1787 in Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium, and died 04 Jan 1865 in Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium.  He married THERESE CATHERINE JOSEPHE MAROUSE, daughter of MAXIMILINE MAROUSE and MARIE WINS.  She was born 04 Sep 1787 in Sainte Waudru Parish, Mons Belgium, and died 04 Jul 1878 in Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium.

Notes for DR. HENRI ELOI JOSEPH LEROY:

                                       LIFE OF HENRI JOSEPH ELOI LEROY

In the beginning of my research I never realized I would find such an interesting and well known and loved human being. It has been an exciting journey and I continue to search for information on the LE ROY family. Am sure we all share in the same thoughts wanting to have known some of our wonderful and interesting ancestors, but I do feel fortunate I have found out as much as I have about this man, Doctor Henri LEROY.

When I found out there was a write up about Dr. LEROY's funeral I got so excited, thinking I would find out much about his immediate family, but due to the fact, woman were not allowed to attend the funeral of a man, there were just last names of his daughter's listed in his obituary and no mention of who his parents were. My research has gotten a lot more information on Dr. LEROY and I have documented all that I have found.

Thanks to a Mr. George Hess of West Chester, PA ( a 3rd Great-grandson of Dr. LEROY's), I have been able to obtain a few photos of some members of this family. I also got additional information on the LEROY family from Mr. Hess.

My reseach was jump started by my beloved Aunt Mary, who back in the 1940s got interested in genealogy and knowing where her Mother's grandparents came from she started writing letters to Belgium in search of some answers about the LEROYs. 

This is a letter of response to my Aunt Mary Wooten Long from The Foreign Service of the United States of America by Mr. James J. Blake, American Vice Consul, dated September 21, 1949.

                                                                     American Embassy

                                                                      Consular Section

                                                                  4,   Boulevard Anspach

                                                               Brussels, September 21, 1949

Mrs. Mary Wooten Long,

1402 Mill Street

Camden, South Carolina

Madam:

           Reference is made to this Embassy's letter of September 14, 1949, in which you were advised that any information furnished to this office regarding an ancestor of yours, Dr. Henri Eloi Joseph LEROY, member of the Academy of Science, would be transmitted to you.

          The Embassy has been informed by the Academies Royale des Sciences, des Letters et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, in a letter dated September 19, 1949 that Dr. Henri Eloi Joseph LEROY was born at Soignies December 1, 1787.  He was not a member of the Royal Academy of Science but, in 1860, the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium made him an honorary member of that Academy.

          The Academy, in communicating this information to the Embassy, stated that there was a biography of Dr. LEROY in the Biographie Nationale published by the Royal Academy of Belgium, volume XI, columns 907 to 909.  This work was edited by Ets. Bruylant, whose  address is 67 Rue de la Regence, Brussels.  The Academy is moreover of the opinion that the volume referred to may be found in the largest libraries in the United States. 

           The Embassy trusts that this information will be of assistance to you, and regrets that in the absence of further details regarding the exact place of birth of the other members of your family, it will be unable to pursue its inquiries further on your behalf.

                                                                                                                Very truly yours, 

                                                                                                               James J. Blake

                                                                                                             American Vice Counsul      

     Dr. LEROY was descended from one of the first families of Belgium. He was filled with honor and national credit the most exalted positions in his native city of Soignies, where he reached the very apex of distinction in his chosen profession of medicine.  When still in the prime of his life he was made the recipient of the much coveted m"Croix de fer." Afterwards he was decorated by the Belgian monarch with the order of "Knight of Leopold,"

     Biography of Dr. Henri Eloi Joseph LEROY as it appears in the Biographie Nationale, published by the Royal Academy of Medicine in Belgium.

     LEROY (Henri-Eloi-Joseph), physician, was born in Soignies (Belgium, prov. Hainaut), December 1st 1787.  After brilliant studies at the local secondary school, he started in 1807 higher studies at the School of Medicine in Brussels.  In 1810 he took to Paris where he attended the lectures at the faculty of medicine.  In 1812 however, his parents afraid of the political events, call him back home to Soignies.  The young LEROY nevertheless will sit for the exams to get the degree of health officer, attending to obtain the full degree.  After accomplishing his examinations with full distinction, recommended by Tourte, a professor in Strasbourg, head of the jury, he was nominated in charge of the military hospital of (the city of) Mons by the prefect of the department of Jemappes.  Unfortunately in 1814 he gets typhus fever in the hospital, and he is compelled to give up this function to recover from this serious illness.  Hardly recovered, LE ROY was nominated as a member of the commission established to lightening the share of the war injured and war prisoners.  After the events of 1815(i.e. the battle of Waterloo), LEROY leaves Mons and moved to Soignies, where firstly, he prepared his medical doctor degree.  He obtains this certificate at Leiden(Netherlands) May 17 1816.  Immediately he is appointed as a physician of the poor in the towns surrounding Soignies; he performed this function until 1837.  In 1830 also he was appointed as physician of the hospital and the municipal charity organization of Soignies.  As a gratitude for his benevolent service during the cholera epidemy of 1832 he was honoured with the "first class medal". For his community he was not only useful providing medical care, but also LEROY had the chance to participate in the realization of measures of better hygiene.  In fact he was mayor of the city at that time. At the moment the (Belgian) revolution broke out in Brussels, he organized a company of volunteers, participating in the "battle of the Park."  He takes care of the provisioning of the capital.  The provisional government appoints him mayor, and later, he is honoured with the "Iron Cross" as a recompense for his patriotic dedication.  In 1831 he also was charged to accomplish the functions of commissioner of the district of Soignies.  He occupied this function until 1847, but emission as mayor in 1836.  In 1844 he was appointed Knight of Order of Leopold.  Since 1823 LEROY was member of the Medical Commission of the province of Hainaut, and was president from 1939 to 1841.  In 1825 he was nominated corresponding member of the Brussels Society of Medical and Natural Sciences, and in 1833 effective member of the  Society of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Hainaut.  In 1860 he becomes the title of honorary member of the Royal Belgium Academy of Medicine.  LEROY published some papers in the Bibliotheque medicale et etrangere in the Journal de medicine of Brussels. One describes an observation of acute peritonitis, another is a memoir about skin diseases, another one handles about the advantage of bleeding in treating young children with convulsive affections.  LEROY died January 4th 1865 in Soignies, aged 77 years.  His funeral was attended by an immense mass of people.  The Academy was represented by the members Thiernesse and Tallois.  The last one evoked in an emotional address the career of charity, the dedication and the scientific value of his venerable colleague.

I have gone yesterday I have found that Therese parent's are Maximilien Emile Joseph MAROUSE  and Marie Therese Antoinette Joseph WINS.  Henry LEROY is the first Bourgmestre of Soignies( 1830-1836) (Burgomaster in the dictionnary), after the independance of Belgium.  Leopold I the first king og Belgians as give to Henry LEROY a Belgian flag  (1832) , this flag is in the museum in Soignies

Liste de tous les Bourgmestres de Soignies

LEROY Henri (1830-1836) 6 ans

More About THERESE CATHERINE JOSEPHE MAROUSE:

Burial: Soignies Cemetery, Soignies, Hainaut, Belgium

Children of HENRI LEROY and THERESE MAROUSE are:

              i.   HERMANSE MARIE THERESE⁴ LEROY, b. 01 Mar 1814, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; m. LAMBERT FRANCOIS, 25 Jun 1841, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; b. Abt. 1812, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. Bef. 11 Feb 1901.

More About LAMBERT FRANCOIS and HERMANSE LE ROY:

Marriage: 25 Jun 1841, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium

             ii.   LAURE MARIE THERESE LEROY, b. 12 Oct 1815, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; m. LOUIS A. BOURDEAUX.

            iii.   LEONTINE OCTAVIE MARIE THERESE LEROY, b. 04 Mar 1826, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; m. LOUIS DE VRIES; b. Abt. 1815, Brussells, Belgium.

            iv.   MAXIMILIEN LEROY, b. 26 Sep 1820, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. 05 May 1912, Brussels, Belgium.

Notes for MAXIMILIEN LEROY:

Adhemar Brady was made Power of Attorney for Max LeRoy's estate in 1891.

Name:    Max Leroy

Arrival Date:    05 Oct 1865 

Age:    38 

Gender:    Male 

Port of Departure:    Le Havre, France 

Destination:    New Orleans 

Place of Origin:    Belgium 

Ship Name:    Lafayette 

Port of Arrival:    New York 

Line:    18 

Microfilm Roll:    257 

List Number:    964 

             v.   CLEMENTINE LEROY, b. 06 Jul 1817, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. 11 Feb 1901, Ghlin, Hainaut Province Belgium; m. JEAN-BAPTISTE BOUILLIART; d. Bef. 11 Feb 1901.

Notes for CLEMENTINE LEROY:

                       Obituary for Miss Clementine LEROY                          widow of Mr. J-B BOUILLIART

their mother, siste and relationship beloved, deceased in its property of Ghlin the 11th of February 1901, in her 84the year, managed of Sacraments of our Mother the Holy Church. The funeral to which you are requested to assist will take place at Soignies. Place of burial of the family. Friday 15 February at 10 o'clock in the parish church of St. Vincent.

                         They recommend its heart to your prayers

meeting with the convent of the Franciscans sisters, Station Street, at 9 hours 45 minutes.                       

                                   RIP

Soignies, the 12 February 1901

second page

Mr. Max LEROY; Mr. Cesar MEEUS, widow of miss Angelique BOSTEELS, their children, grandchildren and; Miss Henry WILFORD, born Louise BOSTEELS, their children and grandchildren; Miss Charles WILFORD, born Melanie BOSTEELS their children and grandchildren.

The children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of deceased Mr. Lambert FRANCIOS and his wife born Hermance LeRoy; the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of deceased Mr. Louis BOURDEAUX and his wife born Laure LEROY; the children of deceased Mr. Jean-Baptiste BOUILLIART and his wife born Clementine LEROY; the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of deceased Mr. Jules BRADY and his wife Albine LEROY the children and grandchildren of deceased Mr. Anre De BACKER and his wife born Lydie LEROY; the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of deceased Mr. Louis De VRIES and his wife born Leontine LEROY.

More About CLEMENTINE LEROY:

Burial: Saint Vincent Cemetery, Soignies, Hainaut Prov., Belgium

            vi.   LOUISE JULIE ALBINE  LEROY, b. 10 Apr 1822, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. 23 Oct 1906, Titusville, Brevard Co., FL; m. JULES EDWARD DEBRADY, Bef. 1842, France; b. Abt. 1820, France; d. 18 Dec 1885, St. Tammany Parish, Madisonville, LA.

           vii.   LYDIE HELEN LEONTINE LEROY, b. 01 Jun 1824, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. 25 Mar 1908, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; m. ANDRE DE BACKER, 1844, Erbiseul; b. Abt. 1821; d. Bef. 11 Feb 1901.

More About LYDIE HELEN LEONTINE LEROY:

Burial: Soignies Cemetery, Soignies, Hainaut, Belgium

More About ANDRE DE BACKER and LYDIE LEROY:

Marriage: 1844, Erbiseul

          viii.   GASTON ABEL ADHEMAR LEROY, b. 14 Apr 1832, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium; d. 05 May 1912, Brussels, Belgium; m. ROSINE BOSTEELS.

Notes for GASTON ABEL ADHEMAR LEROY:

Adhemar separated from his wife  June 2, 1874 according to  a Power of Attorney document given to his brother-in-law, Adhemar BRADY. In this he states that he and wife are legally and permantly separated as of above date. Adhemar owns land in Brevard Co., LaGrange, Florida according to this power of attorney record.

5.  THERESE³ LEROY (PHILIPPE VINCENT², JEAN¹) was born 18 Oct 1800 in Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium, and died 11 Feb 1872.  She married NICHOLAS VINCENT JOSEPH ANTHOINE 29 Aug 1832 in Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium. 

More About NICHOLAS ANTHOINE and THERESE LEROY:

Marriage: 29 Aug 1832, Soignies, Hainaut Province, Belgium

Children of THERESE LEROY and NICHOLAS ANTHOINE are:

              i.   EUGENIE⁴ ANTHOINE, m. ALBERT GILBERT.

             ii.   SERAPHINE ANTHOINE.

Notes for SERAPHINE ANTHOINE:

SERAPHINE ANTHOINE en religion Sister Marie Michel

            iii.   AGATHA ANTHOINE, m. JOSEPH GILBERT.

Endnotes