Thursday, September 23, 2021

Blog Transition


 Hey everyone!  Quick update on things.


1 - I'm going to be switching over to a new platform soon.

2 - I'm about to record a new podcast with Sitting Now podcast.  I'm not sure when it will air, but I'll let everyone know soon.

3 - I think I might just start podcasting about the Count.  It will be more regular and consistent.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Book In Progress


Sorry I haven't posted anything in over a year.  I have started my book on the Count - finally settling on how to present my information.  I've been told this catch of mine is trivial, but if I can't figure out how to get my information across then I become blocked.  I have another book in the works and I'll finish that one before my Count St. Germain book.

During 2020, I picked up a handwritten letter from the Count.  I'll post about it.  (see pic)

I've been going back through all of my collected texts in an attempt to pick out certain information.  I've been trying to locate briefly mentioned things - for my book.

The facebook group (LINK) has been growing, though people seem to be really focused on the NOLA vampire story.  I still haven't found any conclusive source material.

In the facebook group, I asked (a while ago) for any new renditions of the Count constructed from known portraits and descriptions of him.  I'm just interested in seeing what people can come up with.  I picked up an app called Portrait Pad, which is kind of like a police sketch app.  If you're an artist and want to give it a try, you can send me your work and I'll post it up.  Email JessieDesmond@rocketmail.com and include your name, where you're from, medium you used, and any specific sources you referred to (like "d'Urfe portrait and description from [name of book]").

Thursday, January 23, 2020

An Englishman In Paris

I picked up a copy of An Englishman in Paris by Albert Dresden Vandam.  It is noted on the timeline that this may have some significance in 1820.

From the timeline:
1820 - Albert Vandam, an Englishman, wrote in his memoirs of "An Englishman in Paris", speaks of a certain person whom he knew towards the end of Louis Philippe's reign and whose way of life bore a curious resemblance to that of the Comte de Saint-Germain. "He called himself Major Fraser", wrote Vandam, "lived alone and never alluded to his family. Moreover he was lavish with money, though the source of his fortune remained a mystery to everyone. He possessed a marvelous knowledge of all the countries in Europe at all periods. His memory was absolutely incredible and, curiously enough, he often gave his hearers to understand that he had acquired his learning elsewhere than from books. Many is the time he has told me, with a strange smile, that he was certain he had known Nero, had spoken with Dante, and so on." Like Saint-Germain, Major Fraser had the appearance of a man of between forty and fifty, of middle height and strongly built. The rumor was current that he was the illegitimate son of a Spanish prince. After having been, also like Saint-Germain, a cause of astonishment to Parisian society for a considerable time, he disappeared without leaving a trace. Was it the same Major Fraser who, in 1820, published an account of his journey in the Himalayas, in which he said he had reached Gangotri, the source of the most sacred branch of the Ganges River, and bathed in the source of the Jumna River?
James Baillie Fraser "Journal of a Tour" from 1820 is the book in question.

Major Fraser, in the book, comes in during Chapter V on page 130.  It states that Major Fraser, a mysterious man with unknown ancestry, often went to Estaminet du Divan for an hour or two just to read the papers.  The papers in question were the varying rags of the day including Sue's and Dumas' newspapers.  He is noted as being a favorite regular (though he never dined), he spoke English but locals were sure he wasn't English (as his name may suggest), and he was the best dressed man there (but not like Sue).

Major Fraser is described as wearing "a tight-fitting, short-skirted, blue frock-coat, gray trousers, of a shape which since then we have defined as "pegtops," but the fashion of which was borrowed from the Cossacks."
See picture to understand what "pegtops" are.

Major Fraser was noted as being a bachelor and never talked about his family/parentage.  he lived by himself in an entresol at the corner of the Rue Lafitte and the Boulevard des Italiens (see Google Map picture).  He always had money, but the source of his income was unknown.  He wasn't a gambler.  Vandam suggests that Major Fraser could be an illegitimate child from the court of Charles IV and Ferdinand VII of Spain -- but Vandam doesn't have any reason for this theory.  He then goes onto say that Major Fraser was so pleasant, gentle, and ready to oblige that no one bothered to delve into his past.  The only time he became cross, that Vandam could recall, was during a comedy by Leon Gozlan and it was in regards to a major who had three crosses.  An inquiry into the matter had Alexandre Dumas, a friend of Gozlan, at the center of it all.  It was a slight jab at the Major after Dumas and Gozlan heard that he had received the Cross of the Legion of Honour.

According to Vandam, Major Fraser had no love of politicians and rarely spoke of politics of the day.  When he did talk of politics, he appeared to have knowledge and intimate details from every civilized country and from every period.  Vandam notes that he only had a few books at his apartment, so his extraordinary knowledge seemed remarkable.  When asked about even the most trifling subject, he could talk about it in detail while keeping his apt listeners interested.  Dumas often tried to get him to write articles, but could not get him to write a thing.

It suddenly mentions that Major Fraser died and there weren't any letters/papers to let on about his parentage.  He simply had a file of receipts and a scrap of paper attached to one -- the receipt of the funeral company for his grave and burial expense.  He also had arranged for notice of his death to be run for a whole week in Journal des Debats.  His possessions were sold and the money was supposed to be given to the poor.

This all concludes on page 133.

---------------------------------

Alright, so this leads me to ask some questions.  What info can I found about Estaminet du Divan?  Does Gozlan or Dumas also have any memoirs/recollections of Major Fraser?  Can I find the obituary in the Journal des Debats?  What can I find on Major Fraser?

In Dumas' Paris by Francis Miltoun (online), pages 116 - 118, the Estaminet du Divan and Albert Vandam are both mentioned, but there is no mention of Major Fraser.

Alexander Dumas (1802-1870), if you don't know, was a writer.  He worked for a newspaper and famously wrote the novels: The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Georges.

Leon Gozlan (1803-1866) was a novelist and playwright in France who specialized in comedies.  In 1846 he was made a member of the Legion of Honour; in 1859 he was made an officer of the order.

I could not find a portrait of Albert Dresden Vandam.

William Fraser
>>Major William Er Kine-Fraser (1784-1835) was a British India civil servant. p. 258-259 Le Monde Illustre.  October 22, 1864.  This page and a half piece talks about family/parentage, adventures, etc - thus, I don't think this is the right retold obituary.
James Fraser
>>James Baillie Fraser (1783-1856) author of "Journal of a Tour" from 1820.  James was a travel writer and artist.  He was also the brother of William Fraser, previously mentioned.  Not the person we're looking for because we can trace his family/parentage.

>>October 16, 1864.  Major Fraser obituary notice from Le Tintamarre, page 4.  In English, this translates to:

     M. Nestor Roqueplan continues to make sunny days and the drama drama of the Constitutionals.
     In one of his last soap operas on the theater, he devoted A notice to Major Fraser, one of the most original figures, They say, of the Parisian scene. I remember being very small as a child I heard about Major Fraser who went from Paris to Brussels and came back in thirty-six hours, to dada on a post bidet. I born not thought that this fact constitutes one of the most original figures of the Parisian world.
     Major Fraser has passed on this earth; we ask ourselves of which utility it was there; what memories, apart from Mr. Roqueplan's soap opera, have there been?
     This man we are trying to present as an original was, at the time of his death, administrator of several railway lines.
     He was a man who combined solidity with originality.

This could possibly be a copy of the obituary that was mentioned.  The date would fit into the same timeline as Dumas, Gozlan, and Vandam. 

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Weldon

A popular name used by the Count was Weldon (or Welldone, Weldown, or other variations).  You can see a copy of a letter below where he has signed with "C de Welldone".  I was wondering: Who are the Weldons?


I found a new bibliography resource:
Zedler, Johann Heinrich Zedler and Carl Günther Ludovici. Grosses vollständiges Universal Lexicon aller Wissenschaften und Künste, welche bisshero durch menschlichen Verstand und Witz erfunden und verbessert worden, Volume 54. National Library of the Netherlands, 1747. Pages 1527 "Weldern/Weldon". Google Books.

Here is a rough translation of the old 18th century German text - bear with me on it.

Welden, one of the oldest and most famous noble and Freyherrliche families in Swabia, which the Erb-Mundschencken office in the Stiffe Augspurg has. It already has 980 has decreased afterwards, in 1590, when Bergen was under siege from Op-Zoom. It is a found air in this place, so that very old people who have traveled hundreds of years can be found there. White cabbage presentation of the XVII Dutch provinces, p. 62. Welden, one of the oldest and most famous noble and Freyherrliche families in Swabia, which the Erb-Mundschencken office in the Stiffe Augspurg has. It already has 980 has decreased afterwards, in 1590, when Bergen was under siege from Op-Zoom. It is a found air in this place, so that very old people who have traveled hundreds of years can be found there. White cabbage presentation of the XVII Dutch provinces, p. 62. Welden, one of the oldest and most famous noble and Freyherrliche families in Swabia, which the Erb-Mundschencken office in the Stiffe Augspurg has. It already has 980 which the Erb-Mundschencken office has in the Stiffe Augspurg. It already has 980 which the Erb-Mundschencken office has in the Stiffe Augspurg. It already has 980 led the nobility, stand, and the former Iurniere. George von Welden was best known for the same reason. He flourished around 980th and, due to his bravery, was highly respected among the Swabian knights, also lived in 996 tournaments in Braunschweig, where he administered the office of an arms censor. His wife's name was Elisa Beth von Ellerbach. After him Andreas von Welden excelled himself, and in 1109 was with the extremely handsome and extraordinarily numerous tournament in Zurich, which the Duke Gvelpho had started. He left two sons, of whom the younger Wolfgang von Walden attended the Worms tournament in 1165; the older one, however, took Wernher von Welden, around 1206, and with his wife, Annen von Schönech, 
1) a son of the same name, namely Wernher, who was born in 1240 in the Stiffte St. Ulrich and Afrä zu Augspurg and 
2) Wolfgangs, who attended the tournament in Würzburg in 1235 and had a son, Ulrich Igeheiß fen, and who flourished in 1280. This was borne by his wife, Annen von Rottenburg and Kaltern. 
1) Ulrich II., Who was Camonicus at Augspurg in 1297, and 
2) Ernfi, who appeared at the Regenspurg tournament in 1294, and with his wife, whose names are unknown, has achieved a single son who reproduces the sex, and at 13.20 floriret. This was called Ulrich III, whose son Ulrich IV still lived in 1381, This was borne by his wife, Annen von Rottenburg and Kaltern. 
1) Ulrich II., Who was Camonicus at Augspurg in 1297, and 
2) Ernfi, who appeared at the Regenspurg tournament in 1294, and with his wife, whose names are unknown, has achieved a single son who reproduces the sex, and at 13.20 floriret. This was called Ulrich III, whose son Ulrich IV still lived in 1381, This was borne by his wife, Annen von Rottenburg and Kaltern. 
1) Ulrich II., Who was Camonicus at Augspurg in 1297, and 
2) Ernfi, who appeared at the Regenspurg tournament in 1294, and with his wife, whose names are unknown, has achieved a single son who reproduces the sex, and at 13.20 floriret. This was called Ulrich III, whose son Ulrich IV still lived in 1381, and with his wife, who by name unknown, but some are named Elisabeth, have a son who heals Ulrich V. Deffen's wife Walpurge von Halsdenberg, the Albrecht von Haldenberg, who was the last of this generation to have been a daughter or sister, brought him Pachern and Obernforff in Mämmendorff c. to, also made him the father of 
1) heir who died in a single position; 
2) Walpurgen, which were mated to NMarshalin von Dornsperg; 
3) Ulrichen VI; 
4) Wilhelm; and 
5), N. von Welden, both of whom died without heirs; Ulrich VI, however, who left 14.15 on death, had four sons with his wife, Verena von Stain, as 
1) Wilhelm, who died in 1410 unmarried; 
2) Harvest, from which soon afterwards 
3) Conraden, who died as Canonieus at Augspurg 14:41; and 
4) Christophen or Chrifianen, divorced from this world in 1415. Thought Ernst in 1469, and the children he achieved with his fine wife, Dorotheen Speetin von Zwifaltin, were: a) Johann, who died in single marriage in 1516 and a knight of the Teutonic Order; b) Albrecht, died in 1520, and was married by his wife, Annalien von Kaltenthal, 2 daughters, of whom the older, Barbare, Melchiors von Stain, and the younger, Nahmens Dorothee, Johann Walthers von Laubenberg; c) The trich died in childhood; d) Dorothee, entered the clergy; e) Sigismund, Annalien von Kaltenthal, 2 daughters, of whom the older, barbarian, Melchiors von Stain, and the younger, Nahmens Dorothee, Johann Walthers von Laubenberg have been consort; c) The trich died in childhood; d) Dorothee, entered the clergy; e) Sigismund, Annalien von Kaltenthal, 2 daughters, of whom the older, barbarian, Melchiors von Stain, and the younger, Nahmens Dorothee, Johann Walthers von Laubenberg have been consort; c) The trich died in childhood; d) Dorothee, entered the clergy; e) Sigismund, - Governor von Neuhausen, and afterwards to Lucien von Governor of Dillingen, died in 1517, from a fine wife, Dorotheen von Pienzenaw, from Fer Johannen, who died unmarried, leaving behind two daughters, among whom Anne was married to Wilhelm von Knöringen, but Dorothee, who died in 1561, to Walther von Hirnheim ; f) Anne von Welden, a wife first of all Morizen von Waldkirch, and afterwards Wolfgang von Freyberg; g) Conrad, died in single condition; h) Serious, who reproduced the sex, and after that; i) Bartholomäs, Capitularherr zu Augspurg, color 15 14; k) Dietrich, Knight of the Teutonic Order and Commenthur in Heilbronn; l) Margarethe, became a Miss Stiffts; m) Vero, nod; n) Clare, first married to Friedri Stockheim; o) rofine; and p) Anne. Ernst, previously thought, died in 1517 after the following children were born to him from Anastasia of Ahelfingen, who died in 1531: 1) Michael, from whom after; 2) Christoph died in childhood; 3) MTandalene, colorless; 4) Johann died unmarried and still quite young; 5) Anne, who was married to Joe hann Casparn von Freyberg; 6) Veronicke, who was married to Wilhelm von Neuhausen in 1529; 7) Christoph; 8) Barbarian, died in childhood; 9) MTargarethe; 10) Carl, who died in 1567, and had raisins from Wildenstein as his wife, with whom he fathered Sigismunden from and to pastures. In marriage to Even von Stein, a daughter of Marquard n Land Trost, Johann Ernsten von Welden, this Sigismund achieved “Herr zu Bresheim, who died in 1581, Michael von Welden, who died in 1578, had 15 children with his wife, Annen von Westerstetten: 1) a daughter; 2) another daughter; 3) another daughter who dreye died in childhood; 4) Conrad, who died in 1586 Hochhaltingen, the bishop of Augspurg's heir, Mundschenck, was by his wife Eor, dula von Hirnheim, a father a) Johann wili, chaels, who deplored the world in his childhood; b) Carl Philipps, of whom subsequently under the letter A; c) Johann Conrads, who died in a single position; d) Annema. tiens who left unmarried with death; e) Ernst Ludwigs, of which subsequently under the letter B; f) Johann Dietrichs, of whom subsequently under the letter C; and g) Anne Catharinens, Freyherrin von Welden. "


A. The aforementioned Carl Philipp, Frey, lord of Welden, was ore «Ducal, and Ducal-Neuburgischer Rath und Cämmerer, He achieved merfall in marriage with Anne Marien von Rö; 1) Heinrich Conraden, who had become a capitular at Augspurg and Ellwangen; 2) Johann Jacoben, of whom immediately; 3) Ernf Conraden, who died unmarried; 4) Tarie Elisabeth Claudien, Balthasar Ferdinands, Freyherrns von Hornstein, wife; 5) Marie Catharinen; and 6) Franz Philippen. Now reported Johann Jacob, Frenherr von Welden, Kaysers Ferdinands Ill Erb-Truchseßzeugte with Anne Marien von Furtenbach the following children: a) Franz Carln, b) Franz Philippen, c) Anne Catharinen, d) Johann Carin, e) Marie Francisken, f) Johann Balthasarn, g) Friedrich Conz fantinen, h) Johannsen, i) Heinrich Wunibaden, k) Johann Dietrichen, l) Johann Zachariafen,

B. Ernst Ludwig, baron of Welden, the previous Carl Philipps brother, married Jacoben Elisabethen, baroness of Schel, lenberg and Kißleck. From such marriage found: 

1) Tarie Franziske, a wife of Johann Heinrichs from and in Knöringen; 
2) Marie Cordula; 
3) Marie Johanne, both of whom died young; 
4) Hieronymus Franz, Freyherr von Welden, who from his wife lin Anne Johannen von Elz, after a daughter, with the name Marie Elisabeth; (we had Marien von Hirnheim as his wife; 
5) Johann Dietrich, who divorced this world in his youth; 
6) Susanne, who was married to Hugo Eckingern von Rechberg; 
7) Carl von Welden, Freyherr in Laubheim and Hochhaltingen, of which a number later. 
8) Johann Reinhard, who was capitular at Augspurg and Eichstett; 
9) Marie Marie, who was married to Wolffen von Breitenlandenberg in 1569; 
10) Carl, so faded in his childhood; 
11) and 12) two daughters, who at their tender age confuse the temporal with the eternal; 
13) Michael, so too but can not say whether this Hieronymus Franz, or a younger similar surname who is 1706 as Bishop of Aichstadt Ober-Hof-Marshal, and caretaker of the office Naffenfels florire) 5) Johann Nicolas, baron of reports, who with Johanne Fran. cisken, baron of Stain, was married and left behind a daughter, Nahmens Marien, from her; and 6) Johann Johannes, C. Johann Dietrich, baron of Welden, Hochhaltingen, Laublin, c. a brother of the former Ernst Ludwigs, held his companion with Anne Marien, Freyherr von Schellenberg, who was due to him: 1) Marie Elisabethen, one died in his childhood; 
14) My wife Gallens von Ulm, Freyherrens von Michael, who died in 1578 and fathered Magdalene von Rechberg, a daughter, Nahmens Anne Regime, who was married to Wolfgang Simonen von Römersthal; and 
15) N. Only reported Carl von Welden, baron in Laubheim, and Univerft Lexiki LIV Theil. Erbach; 2) Heinrich Ludwigen, who married Anne Sabinen von Holz; 3) Johann Krantzen; 4) Marie Catharinen; 5) Marie Cordulen; and 6) Johann Johannsen, who died in a single position. Mang, Marschall zu Pappenheim, one of Wels Didd did 2nd - the 1374 who had for the wife. Michael and Carl, Bischöffiche Räthe, have got on 159 because of the Erolzheim estate. J9 was Ludwig Joseph, baron of the world, was cathedral dean in 1745, senior and jubilee at Aichstädt, and in 1729 Johann Alexander, baron of Welden, was known as RitterRath and committee of the Swabian Empire. Bucelin German. Sac & profana. Döderleins Histor. News from the Marshals of Calatin, p. 17. Mayor of the Swabian Empire Adel P. 281. Gaubens Adels-Lexicon. Schumann's annual genealogist. Handbook of the year 1745. Th. P. 182. d ent a hamlet, see WeltenOt ", VOelder, (Jacob) became dean in 1445 at the Church of Colligiat to BM Virginis ad gradus zu Mayntz, and died in 1465. See the Artis ekel: Mayntz, in XX Bande, p. 2380 ,


MOelder, (Johann) became a scholaster in 1368, and rehearsed in 1382 at the St. Stephen's Church in Mayntz, see the article: Mayng, in the XX

Gang, p. 2369 & 2371.

Welderen, a little town and office, in Westphalian circles in the Grafschaffe, took Storm's topological instruction as a geographer. p. 3o1.

Voelderen, gender, see Weldern

Weldern, Welderen, an Adeliches, and now mehro raised in the count status in the Netherlands, and that in the Duchy of Geldern, from which Jahn von Weldern around 1672 emerged as Dutch general lieutenant. Another of this sex slept his life in this very place in 1709 on November 2, after he had been fatally damaged by a horse trap on the head. This is probably the one general major of Welderen, who in 1704 in an action with the Spaniards and French at Castel Branco. Bernhard, Count of Weldern, Lord of Ubbergen, was a member of the Province of Geldern in 1745: just as Stephan Adrian, Count of Weldern, Countess of the Nederick's Waltz, was in the State Council for money in such years. At the beginning of 1734, the latter went away secretly without proof of his family, after having consumed most of the precious things in money and bills; he turned to the Catholic Lands, namely to Liège, where he publicly professed the Roman Catholic religion. Although various people assured him that he had done it out of a conscience, others did not want to admit it so badly, but rather wanted to know that he was doing it for debt; and others, that he fell in love with a shrewd Catholic woman who, despite having married, was willing to take it.

In 1736, Count Stephan von Randwick, Droffard von Breda, had his sister's marriage. Gauhen's nobility lexicon. Abels German and Saxon Antiquities III Th. P. 74. 2. udovici in the setting of general world history of the 18th century ll Th. P 426. Genealogische Archivarius des Zahrs 1734 p. 656 u. 737, and the year t 736 p. 391. Introduction to today's Zforie from the newspapers St KXII p. 1947 European State Secretarius XII Th. P. 1000 uf Schumann's annual genealogy manual of the year 1745 l Th. P. 140 u.

I42-
YOeldershnsen, a noble family,
previously
received certain goods from Corveyischer Lehr-Cammer and still own them. "Faickens
Histor. Corbeienf. Diplom. Lib. III. Sec. IV.
Cap. 70.
YOeldewitz, gender, see Wildewitz,
Weldgin, Dorf, see Zum Walde.

Weldig, (Friedrich) Chur-Hannöverscher Obrister, became the 24th July 1740 Brigadier, Genealogisch - Historische Nachrichten Band, p. 750th

Weldon, an English captain around the year 1688, in which year he landed at Alchin to sell all his slaves, which he brought from the fortress of St. George; from which he went to Malacca, as such in more detail in Dampier's trips around the world, 1 Th. p. 915, and II Th. P. May 4, 119,163,205. u. According to 223 can be read Weldon, (Anton) a native of Canterbury. He is said to be the manufacturer of the book, which is the title: Aala Jacobi, or The Court and Character of King James, Londen 1650. Wood in historia episcopor. Oxoniae annexa

WOeldon, (John), when Miege published his United Kingdom, was a suborganist in the Royal English Court Chapel at St. Jaes, mes-Westmünster, and received £ 100 and £ 40 for the first part of C. 33 P. 107I , Weldon, (Robert) an English school man, flourished around the middle of the last century and wrote de origine domini. Wood Athens. Oxon. Weldtschütz, (Johann) was an instrumental musician in Kaysers Ferdi nands of the Third Court Chapel around 1655. At Bucelinum Weleka, city, see Welka. Welen, a Bamberg village, half an hour from Goßmannstein's office, Hönns Lexicon. Topographer. des Fränckischer Kreis, p. 62 b.Welenao, is the old name of the Royal Danish town Wedel, of which in the Lill Bande, p. 1792 u. ff. have been traded.

--------------

Alright, so it's safe to say that the Weldon name was pretty popular.  It was probably easy to hide within the folds of a family name with such longstanding in the region.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Newspaper Article

Tom Slemen surprised me this morning with an article in an email.

Morton, H.V. "Histories Mysteries: A Monte Cristo of Reality." Daily Herald. London. June 30, 1932. Page 6.

Click to Enlarge