Fourteenth Generation

11536. Nicholas LANIER was born about 1542 in Rouen, France. He died in 1611 in England. BIOGRAPHY: L A N I E R F A M I L Y

Excited is an under-statement when I got The Long Brewer Line, by Ben R. Brewer, and discovered the Huguenot family that I had been looking for. Our Lanier family is from France, an aristocratic, distinguished, educated family. They were musicians for the king and queens of France and England for three generations. The Laniers were also French Huguenots who fled to England; therefore, they were English Huguenots rather than American Huguenots. However, our immediate Lanier Grandsire immigrated to Virginia in the 1600s. This enables us to become members of the VA. Branch of the Huguenot Society.

What is a Huguenot? The Funk and Wagnall's Standard Dictionary, International Edition states: A French Protestant of the 16th and 17th Centuries: Persecuted during the religious wars of the time.

The Collier's Encyclopedia gives this information: French Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. The origin of the word is obscure. It may have been a local nickname given to the Protestants of Tours, who were believed to meet near the gate of the mythical King Huguet or Hugon. The first Huguenots were often regarded as Lutherans; there is no doubt, however, that a strong evangelical movement existed in France during the early decades of the 16th century, independent of the German Reformation. The new church grew rapidly, in spite of official opposition to it and of the dubious outcome of Colloquy of Poissy in 1561, which failed to establish a policy of religious freedom or tolerance.

From 1562 to 1598, French Catholics and Huguenots fought each other in a succession of violent encounters. The Catholics had organized the Holy League with the support of Spain, and the Protestants, while professing an absolute loyalty to the king, constituted a theocracy under the leadership, successively, of Louis !, de Bourbon, Prince de Conde'; Gaspard II de Coligny; and Henry of Navarre. The civil disorders culminated in the massacre of a great number of Protestants throughout the entire kingdom, on August 23-24, 1572, the eve of St. Bartholomew's Day. The definitive victory of Henry of Navarre over the League, followed by his accession to the throne of France under the name of Henry IV, in 1594, marked the end of the struggle. He adopted Catholicism for political reasons, but the Edict of Nantes in 1598 granted the following to the Huguenots: private worship and liberty of conscience throughout France; public worship in about 200 towns and 3,000 castles; financial support from the state to Protestant schools and ministers; legalized publication of Protestant books; full civil and political rights, with freedom to trade, inherit property, enter all schools, and serve in both local and national parliaments; special courts, les chambres d'edit, with both Catholic and Protestant members to deal with disputes concerning Protestants; free assembly to handle judicial functions; and the control of about 200 towns and cities for eight years (later extended).

During the reign of Louis XIII, Carginal Richelieu undertook to recall the privileges of the Protestants, and they lost all political power with the loss of La Rochelle in 1628, though they retained most civil liberties. Louis XIV initiated a policy of forced conversion, and soldiers were billeted in Protestant homes until the inhabitants would embrace the king's religion. The Edict of Nantes was revoked on October 18, 1685, and Huguenots emigrated in large numbers to England, the Netherlands, Germany, and America. French communities were founded in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and the Carolinas. In France, Protestant beliefs continued even after the emigration. The Huguenots were now mostly middle-class tradesmen and artisans. Though persecution continued intermittently, the general official attitude during the eighteenth century was one of indifference. The Edict of Toleration, 1787, restored their civil liberties and Napoleon I granted them state subsidies in return for state control of their church. In 1905 all churches were separated from the state; but the Huguenots in France have continued, despite factional differences, to grow in number and now make up a small but industrious and influential group.

BIOGRAPHY: OUR ANCESTORS, THE HUGUENOTS IN FRANCE

The Huguenots as we all know, were French Protestants. Protestantism was introduced into France during the Reformation. Protestantism was accepted in France by many members of the nobility, by people engaged in intellectual pursuits and by members of the middle class--particularly those having special competencies in the professions, trades and handicrafts. Protestantism was a solid, conservative movement of notable respectability on the part of many of the most responsible and most accomplished people in France.

The Huguenot Church grew rapidly. At its first synod in 1559, fifteen churches were represented. Over two thousand churches sent representatives to the Huguenot Church synod in 1561. In the beginning the new religion was respected, and the Huguenots were greatly favored by Francis I, because of their standing and abilities. Later, however, Francis I, for political reasons, turned against them, and they experienced alternately high favor and outrageous persecution. France was ninety percent Roman Catholic, and heresy was viewed by the man in the street, as treason against God. Clashes occurred repeatedly, and frequently erupted into open warfare on a grand scale.

However, it is to be recognized that economic considerations also influenced Huguenot persecution. The Huguenots were workers. With hard common sense they realized that they must produce what they consumed. They would give work to a beggar, but never alms. Even Richelieu, the so-called "Nemesis of the Huguenots", forbidding them to leave France, was quoted as saying, "They are workers, France needs them." It has been said that Lafayette, himself a Roman Catholic, was greatly impressed by the fact that so many of the American leaders were of Huguenot ancestry, and that upon returning to France, he urged an Edict of Toleration upon Louis XVI. However, by the time of the Edict of Toleration, the Huguenot emigrants, with few exceptions, had raised families and sunk their roots so deeply in other lands as to prevent their return to France.

BIOGRAPHY: EMIGRATION TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES

Huguenot settlers immigrated into the American Colonies directly from France and indirectly from the Protestant countries of Europe. This immigration began at an early date--before the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes--and continued for over one hundred years. Although the Huguenots settled along almost the entire eastern coast of North America, they showed a preference for what are now the States of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina. Just as France suffered a notable loss through emigration of the intelligent, capable Huguenots, so the American Colonies gained through their immigration. The colonists who had already settled North America were mostly farmers, laborers, ministers, soldiers, sailors and people who had been engaged in government. The Huguenots were able to supply the colonies with some excellent physicians and a large number of expert artisans and craftsmen; for example, Irenee Dupon t, who had learned from the immortal Lavoisier how to make gunpowder; and the goldsmith, Apollos Rivoire, the father of Paul Revere, who created silver articles which will be treasured as long as our civilization lasts, and church bells which ring in New England today; who also did prodigious things with copper, and displayed outstanding ability as an industrial organizer, whose place in history is assured because he once rode a horse!

Moreover, the Huguenots adapted themselves readily to the New World, and showed an astonishing propensity for marrying people who were not Huguenots. Their descendants increased rapidly and spread quickly throughout the American Colonies. Today, people of Huguenot origin are found in all parts of our Country.#

The LANIER family is an interesting family with an interesting history. Several people have researched and written about the Lanier's. Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vols, III, VI and VII, VA Magazine of History and Biog. Vol. XV, p. 77, Vols, XV, XXIX, and Louise Ingersoll's book, LANIER. Then of course, Ben R. Brewer has a chapter about the Laniers in his book. Louise Ingersoll's book is a genealogy of the Lanier family who came to Virginia and their French Ancestors of London. She spent twenty years in research. Her main objective was to find the correct English Ancestry of the immigrants who came Virginia.

LANIER derived, probably from the ancient French language meaning "Falcon". It could have originated from the word "lanier" or "lanner", a word used in hawking. It has been found spelled several ways: Lanyier, Lanere, Laner, Lanyear, Lanear, Laniere, and Lanier.

The Laniers are of French descent and originally come from Gascony, the southern most part of France. One famous American Lanier was Sidney Lanier, the poet. The Laniers were Protestants in France, and were involved in the persecution which reached it's peak in 1572 with the massacre of St. Bartholomew. The Lanier family fled to London, and the records of the Huguenot Society of London have them on record. They were in London for three generations before coming to America, so they are Huguenots to London, rather than Huguenots to America.

BIOGRAPHY: N I C H O L A S L A N I E R

Our first Lanier generation begins with Nicholas Lanier in the Courts of King Henry II of France, Queen Elizabeth and King James of England. This was a family of musicians and the ancestor of our American Laniers. Nicholas Lanier's proof of service to Henry II is found in the "Chantres et autres Jouers of d'instruments" of the French King's Chambers for the years of 1559-1560. Nicholas served in the Court of Henry II of France and the Court of Queen Elizabeth and King James of England. Nicholas married ca 1565 to Lucreece and they had six sons , all musicians of the Royal Family, and four daughters; and two of them married musicians. Nicholas later had at least eight or more grandsons to become members of the Royal Orchestra. Three generations served the Royal Family. Nicholas Lanier was named Musician of the Flutes in 1604.

The Will Abstract of Nicholas was dated January 28, 1611-12, and proved July 1612, in the Rochester XIX, folio 514. To my wife Lucreece, all my lands and goods; to sons John, Alphonse, Innocent, Jerome, Clement, 12 shillings; to Andrea 20 pounds if he does not have my place; my four daughters, three of whom are unmarried, I leave to the discretion of my wife Lucreece, my sole EX. Lucreece Lanier was buried in east Greenwich, January 4, 1633-4. Her will is recorded in the Rochester Register XXII, folio l05.

Children: Most were musicians and married musicians.

1. John Lanier, born 1565, will dated November 21, 1616, proved December 21,
1616. Married October 17, 1585 Frances, daughter of Mark Anthony
Galliardello and Margerie Galliardello. John Lanier was buried in the Chancel of
Camberwell Church near his mother-in-law. John had a son, Nicholas Lanier,
who became very prominent . His portrait was painted by Vandyke and by
Livensz. The portrait of Nicholas Lanier by Vandyck was painted in Genoa,
Italy in 1632. Nicholas was sent abroad by the King in 1625 to purchase
paintings, statues, and fine art. During the Civil War, many of the King's fine art
pieces were sold at auction. Many of the Laniers bought these paintings, of which
Nicholas bought his own portrait by Van Dyck. His uncles, Jerome and Clement
Lanier (Our line) also bought pieces of the art collection. The Civil War was
responsible for the loss of many fortunes, the Laniers included. However, after
following the Stewarts into exile, the Laniers were returned to their high position.
Children were: Mark Anthony, John, Francis; and daughters, Lucretia, Elizabeth,
and Judith.#

2. Alphonse Lanier, died November 1613, and married Amelia. He had a son,
Henry Lanier.

3. Innocent Lanier, died early 1625.

4. Jerome Lanier, buried December 1, 1659. Married Phrisdiswith Grafton.

5. Clement Lanier. (Our line)

6. Andrea Lanier, married Joyce Perry.

7. Ellen Lanier, burried August 3, 1638, married Alphonse Ferrabosco.

8. Frances Lanier, married Thomas Foxe, February 4, 1618.

9. Mary Lanier, buried October 13, 1676.

10. Katherine Lanier, died before September 2, 1660, married Daniel Farrand. Nicholas LANIER and Lucretia "Lucreece" BASSANO were married in 1565 in All Hallows Barking, London, England. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fairbanks/lanier/history.htm

This Family's Coat of Arms (see Scrapbook) is of the Crusading origin. The cross of squares is called an "honorable ordinary" and is one of the symbols of nobility. The cross is also a Crusading emblem, each square denoting a year spent upon the Crusades by the ancestor. The bordure is another honorable ordinary and an additional mark of nobility. The falcon is a heraldic pun, called a "cantling" and is a play upon the name. The lion, the symbol of bravery, is taken from the family residence. It is the Lion of Gascony. In the arms, blue is the color of truth, silver of loyalty, and gold of strength and purity.
The name of Lanier is derived from the ancient French tongue and means a “Falcon”. So far as written records show, the family is of French descent, and is from the province of Gascony in southern France; however, older records show a Tuscany family in northern Italy of the same name, and several genealogists claim that the family moved from Tuscany to Gascony after the Crusades.
The records of the Huguenot Society of London show a John Lanye living in County Surry in 1547; a record of 1 July 1544 gives a John Lanye, laborer, born Normandy, age 50 years, in England 30 years, married an English woman, six children; and a Nicholas Laneares in London in 1550, a denizen.
John Lanyer, a musician, arrived in London in 1561 with his wife Joan, and two children; and Nicholas Lanier arrived from Paris in 1561. Both were musicians to the Queen.
The Laniers were Protestants who left France to escape the early persecutions. Protestantism began in 1555, and the height of the persecutions was reached in the massacre of St. Bartholomew on the eve of August 24, 1572. It was in 1560 that the conspiracy began. One party hoped to enrich themselves by the estates of the heretics who were executed, or banished. The other party hoped to gain the favor of the masses by punishing the Protestants. The estates of those who fled were sold, their children who remained behind were exposed to the greatest sufferings. France lost thousands of useful and rich inhabitants whose industry, wealth, and skills found a welcome reception in foreign countries. To prevent the emigration of the Protestants, the frontiers were guarded with the utmost vigilance; yet more than 500,000 fled to England, Holland, Switzerland, and Germany.
The Laniers were Huguenots to London, and are well recorded in the books of the Huguenot Society of London, but could not be called Huguenots to America, having been naturalized Englishmen for three generations. However, their descendants are eligible to join the Huguenot Society.
There were two Laniers who fled France at the same time, in 1561, both settling in the Parish of St. Olave in London. They are John and Nicholas. It is possible they were brothers or cousins. Nicholas is the Lanier we are directly related to.

11537. Lucretia "Lucreece" BASSANO died in 1633 in East Greenwich, St Alphage Parish, England. She was born in France? Or Bassano Del Grappa?. BIOGRAPHY: She is the daughter of Anthony Bassano and Elina de Nazzi or Nassi. This is a family of Italian/Jewish background from Bassano del Grappa, Italy, outside of Venice. Here the five sons of Geronimo Bassano were musicians just as their father was and played for the Dogge of Venice. Jaccapo Bassano was a famous Rennasaince artist of Venice at this time period. Children were:

	i.	John LANIER was born in 1565. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fairbanks/lanier/history.htm JOHN LANIER, first son of Nicholas Lanier, was born by 1565. He was a flutist. On October 17, 1585 at the Holy Minories, London, England he married Frances Galliardello. She was baptized November 4, 1566 at the Holy Minories, daughter of Mark Anthony and Margerie Galliardello. Mark Anthony Galliardello was a native of Venice, Italy. He became of the Queen’s musicians, having been sent for by King Henry VIII. Sometime before 1610, John and Frances Lanier had moved to Camberwell, County Surry, probably to be near Frances’ mother, as Margerie Galliardello died there in February 1610/11, her will being dated February 15, 1610 and proved March 9, 1610/11. In the will she names a son Caesar, and her daughter Frances Lanier, wife of John Lanier, one of his Majesties’ Musicians. Her husband, Mark Anthony Galliardello had died in 1585, and the Register of the Holy Minories says of him, “Mr. Mark Anthony Galliardello, a Musician and servant to ye Queen’s Majestie, was buried in good name and fame and most godly respect of all his neighbors, ye 17 June 1585”. They were still living in Camberwell when John Lanier made his will November 21, 1616, which was proved there on December 21, 1616 in the Archdeaconry Court of Surry. The Parish Register of St. Giles church, Camberwell, recorded his burial as “the 5th day of December 1616”. He would have been about 51 years old. His will names his wife Frances, sons Mark Anthony (2nd), John, and Francis; two daughters, Lucretia and Elizabeth, both being due by bond from his son Nicholas Lanier Gent. at their ages of 18; his daughter Judith, wife of Edward Norgate. He requests that he be buried in the Chancel of Camberwell Church “near my mother-in-law, Mrs. Mark Anthony Galliardello”. He leaves to his wife a messuage (which means a dwelling house and adjoining lands including adjacent buildings) and tenement called Suttie Campes, County Cambridge, for life. Children: i. Mark Anthony Lanier, bapt. 26 Aug 1587; d. 26 Aug 1587. ii. Nicholas Lanier, bapt. 10 Sep 1588; d. 1665/6; m. Elizabeth iii. Judith Lanier, bapt. 20 Dec 1590; m. Edward Norgate iv. Mark Anthony Lanier (2nd), b. abt 1592; d. 1660; m. Judith v. John Lanier, b. abt 1594; m. Eleanor vi. Francis Lanier, b. abt 1596 vii. Lucretia Lanier viii. Elizabeth Lanier
5768	ii.	Clement LANIER.
	iii.	Alphonse LANIER.
	iv.	Innocent LANIER.
	v.	Jerome LANIER.
	vi.	Andrea LANIER.
	vii.	Ellen LANIER.
	viii.	Frances LANIER.
	ix.	Mary LANIER.
	x.	Katherine LANIER.