#840, Francois LE BRETON

The Biographical Dictionary of Jersey records:

LE BRETON, FRANCOIS (1739-1802), Dean of Jersey. Grandson of Dean Thomas Le Breton (q.v.) and fourth son of Thomas Le Breton, Seigneur of La Hague (for 20 years Constable of St. Peter’s) and Alice Anley. Born 1739, and baptized in St. Peter’s Church 20 Feb. Entered Winchester College 1753. Matriculated at Oxford from Jesus College 1754. Entered Pembroke as a Morley Scholar 1757. Graduated from New College B.A. 1760. M.A. 1763. During one of Dean Payn’s (q.v.) frequent absences from the island Le Breton, his godson, acted as Curate-in-charge of St. Mary’s, and in 1765 succeeded him as Rector. In 1775 he was appointed Dean, and in 1777 became Rector of St. Saviour’s. In the political struggles of the time he first supported Jean Dumaresq (q.v.) and the Magots, and from 1779 to 1786 his name is found on all the anti-Lempriere petitions sent to the Privy Council. In 1779, when Charles Lempriere (q.v.) as Lieutenant-Bailiff refused to put a motion to the States that had been proposed and seconded, the Dean “with much warmth” moved that the States appoint a Judge Delegate to take Lempriere’s place, so that business might proceed (Documents relating to Political Differences). But later he changed his views. In 1790 the Gazette called him a “champion of Charlotism”. In the same year he complained to the Court that he had been assaulted by Philippe Dumaresq (q.v.), one of the Magot leaders, who had seized him by the collar as he left his vestry (G.). Toward the end of his life the Church wasdisturbed by the rise of Methodism. He was more friendly to the new movement than most of his fellow-rectors. In 1794 he presented to the States the petition of the Methodist militiamen against Sunday drill, and in 1798 protested strongly against the States’ action in banishing all militiamen who refused to drill on Sunday. He died in July 1802, and was buried on the 9th in St. Saviour’s churchyard. He married Elizabeth Penrose, and had ten children, of whom Thomas (q.v.) became Bailiff, and Philip succeeded his father as Rector of St. Saviour’s. 

Alice was the daughter of Philip Anley.

An Armorial of Jersey gives us the following summary of the influence of the Le Breton family:

In 1370, William Le Breton was a Jurat of the Royal Court. The family formerly possessed much land in the parish of S. Clement.

It has given to the Island three Deans and two Baillies. Of the former, the Very Rev. Thomas Le Breton was Rector of St. Mary and Dean of Jersey in 1714; the Very Rev. Francis Le Breton, Rector of S. Saviour and Dean in 1775; and the Very Rev. William-Corbet Le Breton, M.A., who at present holds the two last-named preferments.

Of the latter. Sir Thomas Le Breton, Kt., was the eldest son of Dean Francis Le Breton, and was born in 1763. He received his early education at Winchester College, whence he removed to Pembroke College, Oxford ; and while there obtained the Chancellor's prize. He was elected a Fellow in 1786, but declining to take orders, returned to Jersey to prosecute his studies for the insular bar. In 1799, he was sworn an advocate of the Royal Court, where he soon became eminent. He was appointed Attorney-General of the Island in 1802, and Lieutenant-Bailly to Lord Carteret in 1816. In 1824, he was deputed by the States of Jersey to plead the cause of the Islanders before the English Government in resistance of the encroachments of the French on the local ovster fishing limits : on this occasion, Mr. Le Breton had conferred on him the honour of knighthood. On the death of Lord Carteret in 1826, the patronage of the office of Bailly, long held by his family in hereditary succession, reverted to the Crown, and Sir Thomas succeeded to the vacant chair. He died in 1838. His portrait, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, is in the possession of the family, and has been engraved.

His eldest son, also named Thomas, was for many years Attorney-General, and afterwards Bailly of the Island. He was born in 1790, and studied jurisprudence at Caen, in Normandy; and whilst there was presented to Napoleon I., on the occasion of the Emperor visiting that city. Subsequently, he became a member of the Jersey bar, Vice-Consul for France in Jersey, and a Receiver of the King's dues in the Island. He had, before this, entered the St. Helier's Battalion of the MiIitia, in which he rose to the command in 1820; and on the auspicious visit of her Majesty to the Island in September, 1846, the whole of the insular troops being under the command of Colonel Le Breton, Her Majesty conferred on him the honour of knighthood. In July, 1848, Sir Thomas succeeded the late Sir John De Veulle as Bailly of Jersey — a post which he held until his death in November, 1857.

The name Le Breton.

It is supposed that the family is derived from Britany, although the arms borne by it differ but slightly from those of Le Breton of Normandy.  One of its early members is reputed to have given to the parish church of St. Brelade, its service of communion plate.  In 1283 Philip Le Breton "l'homme du Mont St. Michel" held the franc-fief of Noirmont, the fief es Guarauz, and the fief Burnonf.