BISSON FAMILY OF JERSEY by Brian Torode (?) Daniel Bisson and Elizabeth Rondel (?) of St John’s, Jersey | Philippe Bisson (1781-) and Marie Buesnel (1794-) Fisherman of St John’s, Jersey | Jean Bisson (1825-) and Anne (Nancy) Pinel (1822-1870) Blacksmith of St John’s, Jersey | Emelie Bisson (1861-1934) and Desire Jean Batiste Salmon (1846-1911) of Trinity Parish, St Helier and St Peter Port, Guernsey | Alice Beatrice Salmon (1903-1993) and Edward John Torode (1911-1982) of St Peter Port, Guernsey | Brian Edward Torode (1941-2014) 1 THE BISSONS OF ST JOHN’S PARISH, JERSEY PHILIPPE BISSON, Great II Great Grandfather (?) Son of Daniel Bisson and Elizabeth Rondel Husband of Marie Buesnel Father of Jean Bisson Also Father of Mary Ann, Betsey and Charles A Baptism recorded at St John’s, Jersey, on 26 August 1781 of a Philippe, son of Daniel Bisson and Elizabeth Rondel his wife, may refer to my Great II Grandfather, Philippe Bisson. ‘Philippe, fils de Daniel Bisson et d’Elizabeth Rondel sa femme, fut baptise et presente par M Philippe Nicolle et Mme Elizabeth Mauger sa femme le 26 jour d’aout 1781’. There is also another Philippe Bisson who was baptised on 22nd March 1772. He married a Marie and worked as a shoemaker. He appears in Trinity Parish in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses. In the latter census return he was aged sixty-nine-years and his wife was fifty- four-years. He was buried on 28th April 1851 at Trinity. This Philippe was the son of Philippe Bisson and Marie Gruchy and may well be a first cousin of my ancestor. We do know the Philippe married Marie Buesnel before 1819. She may have been baptised in Grouville (?), Jersey, on August 17th 1794, the daughter of Jean Buesnel and Elizabeth Payn of Grouville, although Marie was born in St Saviour’s Parish. Philippe Bisson was a fisherman and we know this detail from the marriage certificate of his son Jean. Philippe and his wife Marie had four children who were baptised at St John’s Jersey: Mary Anne born 16th October 1819 Betsey born 20th May 1823 John baptised 17th April 1825 Charles baptised 18th June 1828. There may also have been siblings born before the known birth of Betsey in 1823. Philippe Bisson had died by the time of the 1841 Census. MARIE BISSON nee BUESNEL, Great II Grandmother (?) Daughter of Jean Buesnel and Elizabeth nee Payn Wife of Philippe Bisson Mother of Jean Bisson 2 Also Mother of Mary-Ann, Betsey and Charles Marie Buesnel may have been baptised in Jersey on August 17th 1794, the daughter of Jean Buesnel and Elizabeth Payn (of Grouville?), although Marie was born in St Saviour’s Parish according to the census returns. Before 1819 she married Philippe Bisson, a fisherman, who died before 1841 and they had four children who were baptised at St John’s: Mary Anne born 16th October 1819 Betsey born 20th May 1823 John baptised 17th April 1825 Charles baptised 18th June 1828. There may also have been siblings born before the known birth of Betsey in 1823. In the 1841 census return for the Vingtaine de la Ville a l’Eveque, Trinity, we find the following entry: Marie Bisson, 56 Jean Bisson, 16 Betsey Bisson, 18 Charles Bisson, 12 Mary Lempriere, 13 Elizabeth Luce, 53 Sarah de Gruchy, 3 By the time of the 1851 Census, Marie Bisson was living with her younger son, Charles, and her daughter, Betsey, at 27 Paulinerie (?). Living with them was a lodger Mary Lempriere who was presumably the Mary Lempriere who was living with the family in 1841. 1851: Charles Bisson, Head, Unmarried, 22, Shoemaker, born St John Marie Bisson, Mother, Widow, 68, Former Seamstress, born Saint Saviour Betsey Bisson, Sister, Unmarried, 27, Dressmaker, born St John Mary Lempriere, Lodger, Unmarried, 22, Seamstress, born St John By 1861 Marie was living at 4, Seale Street St Helier, with her son, Charles, and she is listed as the ‘housekeeper’, aged seventy-four-years, and a widow, born in St Saviour’s Parish. 3 The Children of Philippe and Marie were Great II Aunts and Uncles: MARY ANNE BISSON, Great II Aunt Mary Anne Bisson was born on 16th October 1819. Mary Anne’s baptism entry in the parish register of St John’s Jersey is as follows: ‘Mary Anne, fille de Philippe Bisson et de Marie Buesnel sa femme, nee le 16 octobre 1819 apres avoir recu le bapteme particulier fut representee a L’Eglise par Philippe Cabot + Ann Laulilie le 3 avril 1820’. She has not been traced in the 1841 Census but may have married by that time, as she would have been 22 years of age. BETSEY BISSON, Great II Aunt Betsey was born on 20th May 1823. Her baptism entry in the parish register of St John’s, Jersey is as follows: ‘Betsey, fille de Philippe Bisson et de Marie Buesnel sa femme, nee a Grouville le 20 Mai 1823 fut baptisee en particulier le 1 Juin et representee a St Jean le 14 Septembre suivant par George Alix & Nancy Marguerite Cabot.’ At the time of the 1841 Census Betsey was living at home with her mother and brothers at Vingtaine de la Ville a l’Eveque, Trinity. She was described as aged eighteen years. By the time of the 1851 Census, Betsey Bisson had moved from the family home and was living with her brother Charles at 27 Paulinerie (?). Also living with them was their widowed mother, Marie (Buesnel), and a lodger, Mary Lempriere, who was presumably the Mary Lempriere who was living with the family in 1841. 1851: Charles Bisson, Head, Unmarried, 22, Shoemaker, born St John Marie Bisson, Mother, Widow, 68, Former Seamstress, born Saint Saviour Betsey Bisson, Sister, Unmarried, 27, Dressmaker, born St John Mary Lempriere, Lodger, Unmarried, 22, Seamstress, born St John By the time of the 1861 Census, Betsey had moved out of her brother’s home or even may have died. I have not been able to trace her in the 1861 nor subsequent Censuses. 4 JEAN BISSON, Great Grandfather Two years after Betsey’s birth and three years before Charles, their brother Jean was born, and baptised on 17th April 1825 at St John’s Jersey. ‘Jean fils de Philippe Bisson et de Marie Buesnel sa femme fut baptise le dix-septieme jour d’Avril. Mr Jean Bisson parrain et Mme Marie Lesbirel, marraine.’ CHARLES BISSON, Great II Uncle Charles Bisson was baptised on 18th June 1828 at St John’s, Jersey. He was the fourth known child of Philippe and Marie. ‘Charles, fils de Philippe Bisson et de Marie Buesnel, sa femme, baptise en particulier le dix neuvieme jour de juin fut presente a l’eglise le vingt quatrieme jour d’aout suivant. M Jean Mauger, jnr parrain et Mme Nancy Mauger, marraine.’ He became a shoemaker of Trinity Parish in Jersey. At the time of the 1841 Census, Charles was living at home with his mother and siblings at Vingtaine de la Ville a l’Eveque, Trinity. He was described as aged twelve years. He had his widowed mother and sister living with him by 1851 when he was aged 22 and single – 1851: Charles Bisson, Head, Unmarried, 22, Shoemaker, born St John Marie Bisson, Mother, Widow, 68, Former Seamstress, born Saint Saviour Betsey Bisson, Sister, Unmarried, 27, Dressmaker, born St John Mary Lempriere, Lodger, Unmarried, 22, Seamstress, born St John By the time of the 1861 census he was living at 4, Seale Street St Helier, where his mother is listed as the housekeeper. He is described as a thirty-two-year-old bachelor and shoemaker and born in Trinity Parish. They had nobody else living with them. However, by 1871, Charles had married Jane, ten years his senior, and they were living at 15, le Geyt Street Cottage, one of three families in the house. 1871: Charles Bisson, Head, Married, 42, Shoemaker, born St John Jane Bisson, Wife, Married, 53, born St John 5 By 1881 Charles had moved to Carrefour Heaux, Mon Plaisir, and his wife has adopted the name ‘Jeanneton’. Her age and place of birth however correspond to her previous census details. 1881: Charles Bisson, Head, Married, 52, Shoemaker, born St John Jeanneton Bisson, Wife, Married, 64, Laundress, born St John In the 1891 Census return Charles was listed as a widower and living with his nephew John Bisson, together with his wife and four children, at their home ‘Greenwood’ in St John’s Parish. Charles was described as a retired shoemaker. 1891: Charles Bisson, Uncle, Widower, 62, Retired Shoemaker, born St John He does not appear in the 1901 Census. 6 JEAN BISSON, Great Grandfather Son of Philppe Bisson and Marie nee Buesnel Husband of Anne (Nancy) Pinel Father of Emelie Salmon Also Father of John, Anne Nicole, Mary Ann, Rachel, infant Philippe, Elizabeth, Philippe, Josue and Ellen Two years after Betsey’s birth and three years before Charles, their brother Jean Bisson was born, and baptised on 17th April 1825 at St John’s Jersey. ‘Jean fils de Philippe Bisson et de Marie Buesnel sa femme fut baptise le dix-septieme jour d’Avril mil huit vingt cinq. Mr Jean Bisson parrain et Mme Marie Lesbirel, marraine.’ In the 1841 census return for the Vingtaine de la Ville a l’Eveque, Trinity, we find the following entry: Marie Bisson, 56 Jean Bisson, 16 Betsey Bisson, 18 Charles Bisson, 12 Mary Lempriere, 13 Elizabeth Luce, 53 Sarah de Gruchy, 3 Jean Bisson, who was aged twenty-five at the time of the 1851 census, had been a blacksmith for at least seven years and had been married for nearly seven years.