By diving into our family's archives, I discovered a striking story that explains the bankruptcy of Louis Honoré DEVILLERS. This bankruptcy left a lasting imprint on the following generations. In 1880, two of his heirs even refused the inheritance...
But what is the real situation? The starting point, the economic crisis. It all started with the expansion of the railway in France; Despite the fragmentation – the companies only managed « pieces » of the line – the companies needed a lot of money. The banks having understood this, they have led to speculation by shareholders. Speculation is risky, as the companies’ estimates of expenses have been seen downwards. I invite you to read the excellent article published by FB.Bourse.com.
So let’s go back to my ancestor Louis Honoré Julien DEVILLERS. He was born on Wednesday, October 12, 1796 in Catenoy, in the Oise department. He was the son of Nicolas, a grocer and bourgeois merchant in Paris, and Marie Elisabeth DESPREZ.
He married, on Thursday, March 12, 1818, in Saint-Chéron (Essonne), Marguerite Charlotte BELLIER, a line worker. Marguerite is four years older. The couple settled in Paris, where, apparently, the head of the family opened a bookshop to practice his profession as a bookbinder.
The couple had three children: Paul Édouard, born on Sunday, December 13, 1818, Charles Dominique, born on Friday, September 6, 1822 and Nicolas Joseph Ernest, born on Saturday, September 16, 1826. All three were born in Paris.
The three sons worked in paper: Pierre Edouard was a merchant, Charles Dominique, a bookbinder, and Nicolas Joseph Ernest, a papermaker.
The first son to marry was my ancestor, Charles Dominique. He married, on Thursday, November 5, 1846 in Paris, Émelie Charlotte BRACONNIER, daughter of Charles Alfred Samuel BRACONNIER de MECQUIGNIES, deceased, and Marguerite Louise MARTIN. Under the terms of the marriage contract dated 19 October 1846, registered by Maître JOZON, Émelie Charlotte brought a significant dowry.

But this was without considering the economic crisis of 1847-1848! Did Louis Honoré Julien make inconsistent investments? Certainly, because this crisis, which began well before the crash of 1847, got the better of Louis Honoré’s affair. Émelie Charlotte’s dowry, which had been in the company, was not enough to avoid bankruptcy !

On the death of his son, Charles Dominique, affected by cholera and treated by Doctor Bégin, on Tuesday, June 12, 1849. Louis Honoré Julien did not make any reimbursement of the sum acquired by his daughter-in-law.
He is totally ruined and will never be able to pay this debt. With his wife Marguerite Charlotte, he retired to Saint-Chéron (Essonne) where they died, he on September 2, 1874 and she on March 30, 1880.
At the time of the declarations of succession, dated the same day, July 2, 1880, the heirs, Pierre Edouard and Nicolas Joseph Ernest, the sons and Paul Michel Louis, the grandson, the heirs may fear that they will only receive debts. In fact, only the eldest son, Pierre Édouard, accepted the inheritance. The two other heirs, Nicolas Joseph Ernest, son, and Paul Michel Louis, grandson, renounced before the clerk of the Court of Rambouillet, on June 5 and 10, 1880.
They both certainly felt that the liabilities would be greater than the assets, they did not want to pay debts. A mistake on their part, but the inheritance was meagre: 363.62 francs from his father and 463.82 francs from his mother.
It is obvious that Louis Honoré Julien had no notion of accounting... His grandson, Paul Michel Louis, will be an accountant: a nod to life?
Sources
- Archives Nationales – cote MC/ET/XXXIX/836 – Inventaire après décès de Charles Dominique DEVILLERS
- Cet article a été publié en français pour la première fois le 21 octobre 1916 sur le blog de Antequam – Canalblog
La version française, c’est ici…