Isaac De Bay

Isaac De Baye

My 8th Great Grandfather, abt. 1636 - 1712 

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Isaac was the son of Isaac De Baye and Reyne Legain, born around 1631. He was a Huguenot protestant living within Catholic France. He married Judith Couillette in 1671 at Le Haucourt. This is a village 8km from Saint Quentin; the protestant temple was there.

Isaac lived in Esqueheries, a village some 40km from Saint Quentin, Picardy, France. He was a 'Mulquinier'; this was someone who did weaving and trading of fine fabrics, mostly linens and batiste. By the time Isaac was 44 he was reported as working in 'the service of the King' at Saint Quentin.  I have no idea what this entailed!

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There was a long history of religious persecution against French protestants. In 1685 the 'Edict of Nantes' was revoked; this made it almost impossible to practice the protestant faith. Huguenots were subject to persecution and repression and many fled to other countries such as the Netherlands, England or Germany. Germany passed a series of measures to encourage and welcome French Huguenot refugees.  

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By 1699 we find Isaac De Bay, his wife and infant living in Brandenberg, Germany*. He must have fled France as a refugee. He was reported as working as an 'Estaminier', this was someone running a small café, selling alcoholic drinks. There is also another record in 1712 of the burial of Isaac de Bay in Brandenberg, Berlin. The record states that Isaac was aged 81 years at death and had come from Esqueheries, Picardy, France. This record is from the L'Eglise Francoise in Berlin.   

I think that Isaac and Judith had four children: Isaac, Abraham, Judith and Jean Phillipe.   

*Note - I am not 100% sure if this is our Isaac, but it is very likely.