Talk:Descendants of Colin Le Couteur
Early genealogical records of the Le Couteur family on Jersey are rather fragmented, but provide occasional references in the Extentes and Assize Rolls. George R. Balleine, in A Biographical Dictionary of Jersey, gives a summary as follows:
The Le Couteurs are found established at St. Mary's as soon as our Records begin. The Assize Roll of 1309 shows Colin Le Costour as one of the Principaux of the Parish, and in 1324 his son Robert was one of the ‘Electores’. In 1534 Jean Le Couteur was Centenier of St. Mary’s and he was succeeded by his son Philippe. Philippe's son, grandson, great-grandson, and great-great-grandson were Constables of St. Mary's, and no less than eight members of the family have filled that office. From this branch sprang Dean Philippe Le Couteur, Dean Clement Le Couteur, and Francois Le Couteur, the militant Rector of St. Martin’s. In the 15th century two younger sons of Thomas Le Couteur of St. Mary's moved to other parishes, and established branches there, which survive to the present day (sic: ie in 1863). Nicolas settled in St. Peter's and Thomas in St. John's. From the latter branch came Lieut.-General John Le Couteur and Sir John Le Couteur.
Evidence for the father of a Thomas and Nicolas being Thomas of St Mary is not presented in the biography. However, records of the family suggest that an elder brother was Bernabey (c. 1460-1534) of St Mary, and that his younger brothers would have been Thomas and Nicolas, who respectively headed branches in St John and St Peter. Another brother, Macy Le Couteur, had descendants in St Mary who appear to have died out in the early 18th century. Le Couteur descendants of Bernabey live into the 21st century, as do those of Thomas and Nicolas.
A recent authority on Le Couteur history was Philip Edgar Le Couteur (1919-2007) of St Brelade. He was Judicial Greffier from 1950 to 1969 and Advocat of the Royal Court in St Helier, Jersey. He once recounted that, during the German Occupation, he spent much time in the Jersey archives researching his family ancestry ‘because there was nothing better to do’. I have been privileged to acquire a copy of one page of notes that he made at the time, and in recognition of Philip’s research I should like to add his information on the early Le Couteurs here.
Philip personally confirmed to me that he had no knowledge of the source of the information from Balleine, (a relative of Philip’s wife), who implied in his biography that the father of Thomas (c.1460- ) was also named Thomas. Thomas le Couteur (c.1460- ) of St John was Philip’s direct ancestor, and DNA data confirm a common male ancestor for this Thomas and Bernabey of St Mary from samples submitted for analysis by descendants of each branch. If Balleine was correct, that common ancestor would have been named Thomas.
Philip’s notes do not contradict the possibility that the father of Bernabey and Thomas was also a Thomas, and suggest that Guilleaume Le Couteur, who was living in 1397 (ABSJ Vol. 10 p313), may have been their ancestor. Using Philip’s notes to construct a lineage that includes all names of these earlier Le Couteurs, consistent with the dated archived references, suggests missing names and another generation. Dates of birth for these have been estimated in compiling the possible line of descent from Colin (c.1275- ), as illustrated in this family tree.
The Extente for Jersey of 1607 identifies a John Le Cousteur, fils Philippe, as discharging the obligation of an ancestor Robert Le Couteur. The only known candidates within the lineage at that time are Jean (1550- ) son of Philippe (1520- ), and they are descendants of Bernabey (the most senior branch). This would be expected with the direct lineage from Robert to Bernabey, as shown in this early Le Couteur pedigree. Furthermore, Robert Le Couteur (c.1300- ) is the only Le Couteur of that name who has been identified from archives as living prior to the Extente of 1607.
Courtiergm 9 March 2018
