1620

The de Chazal Family Presents

Chazfest

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

English

French

Spanish

Family Message Board/Forum

Home Page

LATEST NEWS

Décès à Maurice de Lise (Lily) Vigier de Latour.
Lily (1916-2007)>Edouard de Chazal (1864-1930)>Auguste de Chazal (1841-1910)

Ce matin j'ai assisté aux funérailles de ma grande tante, Lili Vigier de Latour. C'est la soeur de mon grand père Roger de Chazal. C'était une femme extraordinaire, avec une joie de vivre incroyable et un coeur en or. Elle restera toujours bien vivante dans nos coeurs. C'était la dernière de cette génération!
Patricia Koenig

Avec Lily disparaît un personnage chaleureux, pétillant et généreux et une partie de la mémoire vivante de notre famille. Je l'avais rencontrée à Maurice lors du Chazfest et avais été subjugué par sa personnalité.
Jean-Pierre de Chazal

Message Added: November 6, 2007

Patricia Koenig, fille de Marinette de Chazal, de passage à Charlotte pour un congrès.

Patricia Koenig(1963)> Marie de Chazal(1930)>Roger de Chazal(1895)>Edouard de Chazal(1864)>Auguste de Chazal(1841)

Message Added: October 26, 2007

TEXTE DE JEAN-MARIE DOUYERE
Jean-Marie Douyere(1941)> Eva de la Haye Duponsel(1920-2005)>Pierre de la Haye Duponsel(1895-1942)> Eva de Chazal(1871-1899)

Les paris , en 1960, lors du Maiden,

course prisée par tous les Mauriciens.

Août 1965 le Maiden!... La principale course de chevaux.
Le Tout Maurice se doit d'y être!
Le Champ de Mars est noir de monde.
Malcolm était toujours présent.

Au Champ de Mars, à Port-Louis, par un bel aprés-midi d'Août, nous voici, Emma Hart de Keating et moi dans le saint des saints des grands parieurs: C'est le Maiden! Course de chevaux de l'année. Le bon goût est de mise! ... Quelles sont belles, ces Mauriciennes, avec leur chignon bouclé, parées de leurs plus beaux atours, quelle classe!!... Mes 20 ans en seront à jamais marqués!

C'est ainsi qu' apparut celui que je ne connaissais que par ses écrits et ses peintures:...

Malcolm de Chazal

Médusé, je fûs!! ...de Chazal !...il était, avec son couvre-chef de feutre foncé, entouré d'un bandeau de couleur sombre, avec ses grosses lunettes en écaille, il était vêtu d une veste blanche défraichie ( d'ou il tira une banane qu'il pela), de la poche droite je crois dépassait son quotidien: Le Cerneen; d' une cravate démodée, d' un pantalon sombre surmontant

des chaussettes tricolores en forme de losange. Emma me le présenta (Sa Grand'Mère était la soeur de Malcolm) Méduse passa encore par là!! Ayant eu connaissance de la vie de mon arrière Grand'Mère: Eva de Chazal, nous pûmes échanger nos idées; jeune étudiant à la Faculté des Lettres de Tananarive, j'en fûs flatté! Il me donna un conseil: <Mon Cher, nous les Chazal, nous naissons avec un moutouque dans la tête, nous le nourrissons et, nous en faisons un boa constructor>>

Je fûs fier d'avoir été adoubé par le Maître.

N B: Ma nombreuse famille maternelle avait coutume de dire: <<ça ne m'étonne pas! il a du sang Chazal !>> Etre UN de Chazal, est un état d'esprit!! Swedenborgien, ils le furent; leur réactions et leur comportements ne correspondent pas aux normes et coutumes! "roughs", souvent ils le sont, de l'esprit, ils en ont. C'est cela, aussi, avoir un Moutouque!!!

Message Added: October 22, 2007

Carine de Chazal, Mauritian Artist and Painter.

Carine>Michel>Raymond>Edouard>Auguste

Translation in English: CHRISTOPHER de CHAZAL

I was born in 1982 and grew up in a close knit family on a sugar estate where I learnt to share, to love one another and life’s values. My whole world revolved round my parents whom I adored. Eight years after my birth I suffered my first real sadness: without warning, my father left my mother and I for a better world elsewhere.

Art has been my greatest passion since infancy. Drawing is sacred as it allows me to find myself; it is the expression of my being. Drawing animals in particular has always fascinated me. From animal to animal I have been unconsciously drawn from that which I have always been passionate about to that which inexplicably holds my attraction: the sea. Gradually I have allowed her waves and her depths to take me away.

Message Added: October 22, 2007

Carine de Chazal, artiste peintre à Maurice.

Carine>Michel>Raymond>Edouard>Auguste

Je suis née en 1982 dans une famille où j’ai grandi entourée d’amour et où l’on m’a appris le partage, les sentiments et les valeurs, sur une propriété sucrière. Mon monde s’arrêtait à mes parents que je chérissais. Huit ans après ma naissance, j’ai eu droit à mon premier chagrin d’amour : mon père nous a quitté ma mère et moi sans prévenir pour s’envoler vers un monde meilleur.

Le dessin est ma plus grande passion et ce depuis ma tendre enfance. Ce moment est comme sacré car il me permet de me retrouver. C’est mon exutoire. Dessiner les animaux en particulier m’a toujours fascinée. D’animaux en animaux je me suis rapprochée inconsciemment de ce qui m’a toujours passionnée et pour quoi j’ai une attirance inexplicable : la mer. Graduellement je me suis laissée emporter par ses vagues et ses profondeurs.

Message Added: October 20, 2007

Wedding of
Elisa Mercedes Lorca & José María de Chazal

Tucumán-Argentina
October 20th 2007

The Communication of Richard Dold.

My uncle Richard Edmond (viz. Dick) Rouillard died on Tuesday in his 80th year. Dick was a grandson of Edmee de Chazal and my mother's half brother; was the last of her siblings to pass away.

If ever there was a remarkable example of a Rouillard/de Chazal then Dick Rouillard was it!

Please click here to find my tribute to his life.

Richard Dold, Colette (Dick's Daughter), and Dick Rouillard

Message Added: September 15, 2007

Wedding of

Nix (Nicola Louise Dudgeon), the daughter of Wing Commander Michael Dudgeon OBE and Mrs. Gillian Dudgeon (who was born a de Chazal)
to
Andy (Andrew Michael Harding), the son of Mr John Harding and Mrs Michael Harding(Lesley)

Mariage de Nix (Nicola Louise Dudgeon, fille de Wing Commander Michael Dudgeon OBE et Mrs Gillian Dudgeon, née de Chazal)
et
Andy (Andrew Michael Harding, fils de Mr John Harding and Mrs Michael Harding [Lesley]).

Message Added: September 12, 2007

CHAZFEST REGISTRATION FORM

JACQUES MAYER, FILS D'EDWIN MAYER.

Message Added: May 16, 2007

Two Mauritians Cousins Passing Through Charlotte, North Carolina USA

Message Added: April 12, 2007

FRANCOIS-XAVIER MAYER A MADAGASCAR

(Click image to enlarge)

Message Added: March 13, 2007

Death of John Robert de Chazal

John Robert de Chazal of Sydling St Nicholas Dorset UK died on 23rd March aged 91. Father of Helen, Claire with Winnifred,and Anthony and Edward with Nancy

Anthony de Chazal

The Reverend John Robert de Chazal February 19^th 1916 to February 23^rd 2007

John>René>Pierre Edmond (who married his first cousin Lucie)> Joseph Antoine Edmond

John’s funeral took place in the local church of the village of Sydling-St- Nicholas in the beautiful county of Dorset. The church was packed and latecomers were left standing.

John was universally admired for his honesty, integrity, steadfastness and generousity. He treated everyone whatever their background or circumstances with equal respect.

The address was given by John’s wife, The Rev Nancy de Chazal, who spoke of their first meeting in Jerusalem.

John’s earlier years as a Police Inspector in India was not emphasised at his funeral. Much of this period is written about in his book “Sunset of The Raj”. There is no doubt that he experienced a very special period of history relative to England and India.

John was buried in the church grounds in a very beautiful setting. The sun shone. The reception was held in the village hall and the family ended the day with sherry, tea and cakes in Lavender Cottage; John’s and Nancy’s home. All these locations are within yards of each other.

John will be greatly missed by his wife, four children, eight grand children and two great grand children.

Christopher de Chazal

Message Added: March 11, 2007

MESSAGE FROM PIERRE de CHAZAL, AUTRALIA

I support the proposal that something be done to rectify the sad condition of the graves in Mauritius.

From Australia I am not in a position to investigate what needs to be done. Clearly it needs some one in Mauritius to do the organising there. As you know, my means are very limited but I will promise up to US$500 as a contribution to the repair work.

I would like to see the repair work extended to the graves in Madagascar also, but that may be much more difficult to organise.

I look forward to seeing you and Anny at the Chazfest in France - I will enroll as soon as I have some idea of the costs and you publish a contact point for enrolment

Message Added: February 18, 2007

Open letter from UK: CHRISTOPHER de CHAZAL

A year has passed since our last news from the UK and we hope that you will find our 2007 open letter just as newsworthy and interesting.

As usual I have shown each persons ascent to one of the fifteen children of Edmond (1809 to 1879). If you would like to follow this on a simplified family tree please let me know.

The 2006 de Chazal Day UK celebration in Ewhurst Surrey was a huge success, Michael and Marilyn Fanya (Marilyn>Ninette>Eveline>Auguste) worked hard on this project. You will have read our report and seen some of the photographs on the web site. As a direct result of that Caroline Smith [Mado Ardil>Marc>Pierre-Edmond>Lucie, (who married her cousin Edmond)} kindly invited Thelma and I to visit her in Norwich, Norfolk. It is a beautiful area and the weather was fine.

We were happy to meet Caroline’s daughter Rachel and her two grandchildren Edie (6) and Cleo(3). Edie and Cleo now have a sister Annabel Francoise (Known as Bel) who was born 17/09/06. Well done Rachael, we are delighted to see the family grow. Rachel’s husband, Simon Everett, teaches history in a Norwich secondary school.

In September there was an article in The Sunday Telegraph about Michaelmas daisies. It mentioned a sugary pink one named after Anabelle de Chazal>(Jean-Paul>Roger>Roget snr.>Edouard>Auguste). It created quite a lot of excitement and all UK based de Chazals have been informed and their plants ordered. The nursery owner named it so because his daughter is a good friend of Anabelle. They had a big Michaelmas weekend show and Anabelle is sold out, we hope to get our plants in May, they will flower in September 2007 and hopefully our next open letter from UK will include a photograph. The only other plant known to be named after a de Chazal is the “Chazalia” which grows in Mauritius---this was not cultivated but discovered—can anyone give further details? Perhaps if there is a photo it could be put on the website.

Michaelmas was a special date for Bob de Chazal>[(René>Pierre-Edmond>Lucie,( who married her cousin Edmond)] who was ordained into the Church of England at Michaelmas 1956 and took on the name “John”. He has been a priest for fifty, and deacon, for fifty-seven, years: this is a magnificent achievement. His early career was in the Indian Police in the days of the British Raj. He saw history in the making and had unique experiences which he has recounted in his writings. Iraq is much in the news: John took a post, and met his wife Nancy there, many years ago. I like to think of him as “The Vicar of Baghdad”.

Since writing the above I hear that Bob’s strength is failing him. We wish his family fortitude at this difficult time.

John’s father René worked for much of his life in India and his brother Edgar (who had 13 children and from whom many of us are descended) spent a holiday touring India with René over Christmas 1893. Edgar’s diary which previously was not known to exist has recently been found in England and translated into English. This diary is detailed and quite long, if anyone would like the English version please let me know.

Guy de Moubray >George>Laurence>Lucie,( who married her cousin Edmond) has written a book, “City of Human Memories” ISBN1 84104 128 9. He led an interesting life for twenty five years with the Bank of England; part of the time seconded as personal assistant to Per Jacobsson MD of The International Monetary Fund.

Guy spoke well on the BBC in a well respected programme called “Midweek” telling us of his time in the Intelligence Corps in the Burmese jungle. He used his special talents to enable him to be at the liberation of his parents who were captured in Singapore and incarcerated in one of the infamous camps in that part of the world. He told us of his cookery book (Published privately) which gives recipes and advice for easy entertaining when one is over eighty. All details are in his message on the message board. He has a beautiful home in Suffolk which one can visit. One can see a picture on his website.

Angélique>Maurice>Louis>Gaston>Pierre>Lucie, (who married her cousin Edmond)
has come to Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland from Africa where life can be hard and unpredictable. Her parents still live in Francistown, Botswana. She is working long hours in the hotel gym at present but hopes to work her way through college doing child psychology and using some of her artistic talent. Angélique has to work in UK for several years before she is accepted as a resident. Her grandmother Isobel (wife of Louis, and incidentally has the maiden name “Moubray”) who lives in Harare has had a device like a pacemaker fitted and is much better than she was. Scotland is far away but we hope to see her, and her partner of 3 years Ross, when they come south. Gaston her older brother is battling through a mechanics apprenticeship in Durban, he may join her sometime soon if things get worse in South Africa.

Jacques Poutet's account of his early life (recently translated into English--see the "portraits" section of the web-site) mentions his cousins, sons of Norman and Yvonne. Norman’s grandson Robin, [>Jano>Yvonne (who married her first cousin Norman, son of Mathilde and George Clifford Mayer) >Berthe] lives in England. He and Jenny have a daughter Jaqueline and two sons, Nick and Andrew. Nick and Vivienne have a daughter born on 14 July 2003 (National Day in France) named Eva Marie de Chazal Mayer so the “de Chazal” name lives on in this family too.

Robin continues his important work for Her Majesty’s Government although he does not travel as much as he used to. He enjoyed the period when GB had the presidency of the EU. He has moved house in anticipation of retirement in a year or two.

Létitia d’Harambure>Anne>Claire>Olga>Regis, tenth child of Edmond de Chazal and Claire Rouillard spent a few weeks in England improving her English, we were pleased to see her in Guildford for a day.

In England we are interested in de Chazals Worldwide. We are concerned at the South American political leanings to the left and we try to follow what goes on.

In France, Sister Marie Judith joined the contemplative order of Benedictines at Sacré Coeur Paris in an impressive ceremony.(see the separate account on the website).We should feel honoured to have a member of the family choose a life in the Work of The Lord.

In Mauritius Georges Robert (Georges>Olga>Edgar>Lucie) was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from the University. We are proud of him. He is not well at present; we hope he will feel better soon.

The graves of our forebears have been rediscovered; it would be tragic if these were allowed to deteriorate further. Cassis cemetery in Mauritius could become a place of pilgrimage for all de Chazals, uniting the family around this forgotten corner of the World. We hope this project will be taken up with enthusiasm.

UK de Chazals are proud to have contributed to the benefit of The World and this letter would not be complete if we could not once again say that we have The Youngest de Chazal in the World. Vanessa and Toby [(Christopher>Cyril>Edgar>Lucie, (who married her cousin Edmond)] had a beautiful baby daughter on January 21^st this year. Her name is Isabel, Mary. Isabel’s title will not long remain unchallenged as Robin’s youngest son Andrew (see above) was married to Catherine in 2006 and they expect a baby in March. What an important baby that will be if he/she is born on International de Chazal Day. Our numbers in England are growing. Freddie and Oliver, our previous youngest de Chazals are flourishing.

We hope that many of us will be in France in July this year and that we reinforce the ties of family that bond us together. We applaud the work done on our behalf by Anne Dauphine de Grivel to organise this ambitious programme.

Message Added: February 16, 2007

Message de Tristan de Chazal

Je pense que la réfection des tombes et leur entretien est une très bonne idée. Il faudrait quelqu'un sur place pour s'en occuper et un devis serait nécessaire. Il devrait être assez aisé de récolter des fonds auprès de membres de la famille pour une telle oeuvre. Pour ma part, je suis tout à fait disposé d'y contribuer.

Je remercie le volontaire mauricien d'avance car je suis persuadé qu'il y en aura un.

Amitiés à tous

Tristan de Chaza

Message Added: February 10, 2007

REFECTION DES TOMBES

Il y a quelques années- en l'an 2000- Anny et moi nous nous sommes rendus a Tamatave, deuxième ville de Madagascar ou j'ai passe une grande partie de ma jeunesse, bien décidés a remettre en état les tombes de mon arrière grand-mère Marthe Trouchet, épouse d'Evenor de Chazal, de mon grand-père Olivier de Chazal,de son épouse Adrienne Trouchet,et enfin de ma tante Eliane de Chazal.

J'étais sur de pouvoir retrouver sans hésitation ces tombes toutes groupées a un même endroit entre deux allées a un angle dans la première moitie du cimetière.

C'était sans compter sur les dégâts du temps,( une vingtaine d'années depuis ma précédente visite), et la nouvelle politique de la ville qui faute de place avait décidé d'utiliser les allées afin de loger les nouveaux arrivants. Il nous a fallu deux heures pour retrouver et mettre a jour les tombes et 3 jours pour réaliser les travaux de réfection.

TOMBES DE TOUSSAINT ET DE PIERRE-EDMOND : L'émouvant témoignage de CLAUDE BAISSAC ( voir "latest news" sur le site familial www.chazfest.com ) à Maurice doit nous inciter à réfléchir sur le devoir de reconnaissance à nos anciens. Claude nous dit que les tombes de la famille sont localisées dans une partie du cimetière, ne pourrions nous pas aménager cet endroit de façon à en faire un lieu de visite et de pèlerinage ? Combien cet aménagement coûterait-il ? Qui voudrait bien coordonner les recherches ?

Nous descendants de Toussaint nous nous devons de prendre soin de sa derniere demeure.

Jean-Pierre de Chazal

RESTORATION OF THE GRAVES (TRANSLATION: CHRISTOPHER de CHAZAL)

It was a few years ago—in 2000—that Anny and I went to Tamatave, the second city of Madagascar where I spent much of my youth, intent on renovating the graves of my great-great grandmother Marthe Trouchet, wife of Evenor de Chazal, of my Grandfather Oliver de Chazal, his wife Adrienne Trouchet and lastly that of my aunt Eliane de Chazal.

I was convinced that I would find these graves, without difficulty, grouped together in the angle between two paths in the first part of the cemetery.

This did not take account of the ravages of time (about twenty years since my last visit), and the new political order of the town which needed the space and had used the paths for new arrivals. It took us two hours to find and bring the graves back to light, and then three days to complete the restorative work.

TOMBES OF TOUSSAINT AND PIERRE-EDMOND ; CLAUDE BAISSAC’S moving account of his time Mauritius (see “latest news” on the family website www.chazfest.com) should lead us to think of the duty we have to remember our forebears. Claude tells us that the family tombs are grouped in one part of the cemetery; could we arrange the upkeep of this area to establish a suitable place to visit and go to as pilgrims? How much would it cost? Who would be prepared to co-ordinate this project?

We, the descendents of Toussaint, should take care of his last resting place

Jean-Pierre de Chazal

Message Added: February 10, 2007

Message from Julien de Chazal, Australia (We wish him a prompt recovery)

Here things are running very well except that I am getting no answers to my questions from the Neurosurgeons I am seeing. I have never trusted doctors and will never do so in the future.

The MRI done on Monday says that the resection bed consistent with the residual tumor( cancer) has decreased in size and prominence of enhancement when compared to 13/10/06 (previous MRI)

Message Added: January 20, 2007

MESSAGE FROM ROBIN DE CHAZAL

I was delighted to learn that the Reunion is well on schedule and all goes well. Indeed a very great thanks to Anne Dauphine and close family members who are involved in the planning. This is a formidable project indeed.

Thanks also to Christopher whose devotion to our wider family unity is, as we all know, quite remarkable and a positive energy who bonds us together.

We all look forward immensely to July 19th - 26th.

Message Added: January 20, 2007

Congratulations on the Marriage of Segolène de Grivel and Etienne Benjamin

November 3, 2006 in Mauritius

Picture of Thierry de Robillard

Message Added: January 19, 2007

Sister Marie Judith de Chazal professes her final vows in perpetuity.

Those of you who read my Christmas message on the de Chazal website www.chazfest.com will know that we had been invited to participate at the ceremony where Marie Judith (previously Virginie) de Chazal was to take her final vows as a Sister in the Order of Benedictine Nuns of Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, Paris. We hope that you had a prayer for her and her immediate family on that day.

The Ceremony was at 15.30 on Saturday 5^th January 2007, the Feast of Epiphany, when the Three Kings brought gifts to the baby Jesus. It is traditionally on this day that special praise is given to The Lord and on this day The Clergy and Nuns dedicate themselves to His Works. There were two initiates taking their intermediate vows and three taking their final vows.

The Archbishop of Tours led the service. All the sisters were there, about 80 by my reckoning. The singing was superb

The cathedral was full. We were privileged to be in the third row and could see and hear everything. We started with the usual prayers and hymns. The Archbishop made a good, well constructed and interesting sermon on the theme of The Epiphany. Following that, each sister made their individual vows and prostrated themselves before the alter while a litany to the Saints was sung. The postulants were ceremoniously gowned with new cowls and veils by the Abbess and the three taking their final vows signed their name at the Alter, declaring that they did so freely in their own hand.

The sisters all embraced the newly-accepted into the convent. The communion mass in this most imposing building was an impressive, happy and warm occasion.

Pray for Sister Marie Judith, to give her the fortitude to continue the Lord’s Work in chastity, charity and obedience which she has chosen to do with the help of the Benedictine Order of Nuns of Montmartre at Sacré Coeur Paris.

The reception: The convent is attached to the Cathedral and we were led to individual rooms where the new nuns could receive their friends and family.

We were well received with superb sandwiches, followed by canapés then small sweet things followed by coloured macaroons all washed down with champagne. The nun allocated to our champagne bar was very accomplished at bottle opening, years of practice I should say.

The people there: I list those of the family below. There were lots of Marie Judith’s school friends and a good young crowd; so much so, that we hardly got a chance to say hello and goodbye. Never mind, we saw something of the family and I met two new cousins.

Paul and Paul-Guillaume, Marie Judith’s father and her brother. Albert Ménagé uncle to Marie Judith

Catherine, Albert’s daughter from Australia with her two sons David and Tom, unfortunately John, their father had had to return early. David (about 13) was on a three month secondment to a school in France and he speaks reasonable French, Tom (about 9) on holiday. It is the first time I had met David and Tom, great kids, well dressed, sociable and interested in their surroundings; successful parenting I think.

Tristan and Claudine de Chazal,

Richard de Chazal,

Francois and his wife Hélene, whom, I am sorry and ashamed to say, I did not recognise in this setting.

Brother Henri Dominique de Spéville

Message Added: January 11, 2007

Comming from Mauritius, an Important message from Jean-francois Baissac

The graves of our de Chazal ancestors in Cassis Cemetary are in a poor state, specially the earlier ones. My son Claude has taken some photos. Would it not be appropriate to restore them? I suggest that this task could be entrusted to different members of the Tribe----

Message Added: January 9, 2007

ENGLISH TRANSLATION : CHRISTOPHER de CHAZAL

COMMUNICATION FROM CLAUDE BAISSAC

At the beginning of December 2006, leaving Port Louis, I lost myself in Cassis while trying to avoid the evening rush hour. Driving past the cemetery I remembered a conversation I had had, years before, with my mother Anne Baissac, daughter of Alix de Chazal. She had suggested that there may be some Chazal tombs lost in a forgotten corner of that huge area. I stopped and found the small superintendent’s office to ask if there were any Chazal graves in the cemetery. The young Indian who was then in charge referred me to a particular grave digger who was known for his intimate knowledge of the nooks and crannies of the place.

This man came and took me across the cemetery, firstly to the tomb of Pierre Edmond, my great, great grandfather. This was like a vault. It is a massive edifice, made from cut stone. Beside it is a tree, the roots of which have cracked the stone. At one time there must have been a head-stone with an inscription on it.

We were then directed towards the rear of the place. There, bordering the eastern wall, we found a series of graves quite close to each other but in no particular order, not set out as a modern cemetery. The tombs were all covered in creeper, earth and wild plants. We cleared one at random, and discovered with amazement the last resting place of Tousaint Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel and his wife. We continued to clear the undergrowth and found other Chazal graves, one very small, of a child who had died at the age of only a few months. Some had their headstones cracked and were impossible to decipher. I was enchanted by this small corner, nearly two centuries old, with its trees and its long forgotten graves, where lie the remains of people who were living during the French Revolution when Mauritius was still known as the “Ile de France”; when its population was only tens of thousands, lost in the oceans on the route to the East Indies. I was touched by this, and wanted to share it with you.

Translators Note:

I am sure I speak for all of us in saying thank you to Claude for sharing this experience with us. It is a very important part of our heritage which has been found and should be preserved.

Claude’s relationship with the deceased is as follows:

Claude>Anne>Alix>Marc>Pierre Edmond (who married his first cousin Lucie)>Furcy>Toussaint Antoine. This makes Toussaint Antoine, Claude’s Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather through both Pierre Edmond and Lucie.

Message Added: January 9, 2007

RETOUR FORTUIT AUX AIEUX ET EMERVEILLEMENT : COMMUNICATION DE CLAUDE BAISSAC

Début décembre, au sortir de Port Louis, je me suis perdu à Cassis alors que j’essayais d'éviter le trafic de fin de journée. Abordant le cimetière je me suis souvenu d’une conversation que j’avais eu avec ma mère Anne Baissac, fille d’Alix de Chazal, il y a des années de cela. Elle m’avait indique la présence de vieilles tombes Chazal perdues dans un recoin de cette immense propriété. Je me suis arrêté, et me suis retrouvé dans le bureau étroit de l'intendance, demandant s’il y avait des tombes Chazal au cimetière. Le jeune indien en charge ce jour la me référa a un certain fossoyeur, réputé pour sa connaissance intime des coins et recoins de la place.
Celui ci arriva et me conduit a travers le cimetière, d’abord sur la tombe de Pierre Edmond, mon arrière-arrière grand père. Celle ci ressemble a un caveau. C’est une construction massive, faite de pierre de taille. Elle est bordée par un arbre dont les racines ont pénétré le flanc, craquant la pierre. Il devait y avoir autrefois une inscription en pierre surplombant le tout.
Nous nous sommes ensuite dirigés vers l’arriere du lieu. Là, à la lisière de la muraille occidentale nous avons trouvé une série de tombes proches les unes des autres, sans ordre particulier, sans le type de structure des cimetières modernes. Les tombes étaient toutes recouvertes de lierre, de terre, de plantes sauvages. Nous avons nettoyé une tombe au hasard, et j’ai découvert avec émerveillement la tombe de Toussaint Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel et de son épouse. Nous avons continué à déblayer et avons trouve d’autres tombes Chazal, dont une toute petite, d’un enfant mort a quelques mois. Quelques unes ont leurs stèles brisées, impossible à déchiffrer. J’ai trouve l’endroit merveilleux, avec ses arbres, ses vieilles tombes oubliées depuis longtemps, dans ce petit coin vieux de près de deux siècles ou reposent les poussières de personnes nées pendant la révolution française, alors que Maurice s'appelait encore Ile de France, que sa population n'était que de quelques dizaines de milliers d'habitants, perdu au large de la route des Indes. J’ai été touché, et ai voulu partagé.

Message Added: January 7, 2007

DEVOIR DE RECONNAISSANCE: UN IMPORTANT MESSAGE DE JEAN-FRANCOIS BAISSAC (Maurice)

Les tombes des ancêtres Chazal, au cimetière de CASSIS sont en très mauvais état, à commencer par les plus anciennes bien sûr. Mon fils Claude en a pris des photos. Ne serait-il pas opportun de les remettre en état? Je suggère que cette tâche pourrait incomber aux différents membres de la Tribu....

Message Added: January 7, 2007

" ENGLISH VERSION : CHRISTOPHER de CHAZAL "

“IN MONTLEDIER’S HELL”; A NOVEL BY CHRISTOPHE CHABBERT

Harmattan have recently published Christophe Chabbert’s novel “In Motlédier’s Hell”. Taking important roles in the story are Malcolm de Chazal, his ancestor Francois de Chazal de la Genesté, and the island of Mauritius. The 35 year old author, a teacher of literature in the South of France, wrote his thesis on the works of Malcolm to obtain his doctorate.

He tells us: "The plot of my novel arises from the works of Malcolm and in particular his book “Petrusmok”. I was also fascinated by the character of François de la Genesté, which is why I have featured him as an important person in my book. You will find truths in these pages as well as ideas made up to serve the needs of the story: The friendship of François and Hannibal de Laurac, their meeting at the Rosicrutian Lodge, The Holy-Treasure confided to François by Hannibal before his death, and then taken to the island of Mauritius, etc. What is most strange is that I invented a lot from very little information in my possession. Only recently, when I had the opportunity to read la Genesté’s correspondence and understand his character I realised how much I had felt of the real living man: his generosity, his honesty, his sense of duty, all this I gleaned through the small grains of knowledge I had of his life.

I hope with all my heart that you will enjoy this short novel, and that it will make better known the illustrious name of The de Chazal Family.

Message Added: December 23, 2006

TEXTE DE GEORGES ROBERT

Louise de Chazal s'en est allee le 18 novembre. Texte de Georges ROBERT

From left to the right :

Marie Claude Souchon, Georges et Philippe Souchon et LOUISE DE CHAZAL

Louise de Chazal est née le 29 novembre 1913 à Villa Sylvain, la maison familiale curepipienne de ses parents Edgar et Emma. Elle était la onzième enfant et la dernière fille d'une famille de 13 enfants et elle a été la dernière à s'en aller, le 18 novembre 2006.

Elle n'était pas mariée et s'est beaucoup intéressée et dévouée, alors qu'elle était jeune, à l'éducation de ses neveux qui, en periode scolaire habitaient Villa Sylvain, afin d'avoir accès aux écoles de Curepipe. Elle les chaperonnait à l'occasion, ce qui faisait sa nièce Elaine Hart dire qu'elle était "la gardienne des vertus de la famille Chazal".

Pendant la guerre elle a servi la cause de la liberté dans le "Civil Defence". Après la guerre, elle est partie pour l'Afrique du Sud où elle s'est établie et a travaille, d'abord à Durban puis à Cape Town où elle a passé les cinquante dernières années de sa vie.

Elle était tres croyante et tres attachee aux enseignements de la Nouvelle Eglise où elle comptait de nombreux amis.

Elle était toujours une joyeuse vivante et se contentait de peu pour être heureuse. Son neveu Philippe Souchon et sa famille, qui habitent Cape Town, l'ont beaucoup entourée pendant ses dernières années, et ses autres neveux restaient proches d'elle par l'affection, les appels téléphoniques et des visites à l'occasion.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION : CHRISTOPHER DE CHAZAL

Louise de Chazal was born on 29th November 1913 at Villa Sylvain in Curepipe, Mauritius, the family home of her parents, Edgar and Emma. She was the eleventh child, and the last daughter, of a family of thirteen children, and is the last one to survive: she died on 18th November 2006.

Louise never married. In her younger days she was much interested and devoted to the education of her nephews and nieces, who, in term time, lived at Villa Sylvain, so as to have access to schooling in Curepipe. She sometimes acted as chaperone to them, leading her niece Elaine Hart saying of her that she was « The Guardian of the Chazal Family Virtue »

During World War II she served the allied cause in the Civil Defence Corps. After the war she went to

South Africa

where she settled and worked, first of all in Durban and subsequently in Cape Town where she spent the final fifty years of her life

Louise was a Christian believing in the teachings of Swedenbourg. She had many friends in the New Church.

She was always joyful and lively and needed little to be happy. Her nephew Philippe Souchon and his family, who lived in Cape Town, spent many hours with her during her last years, and her other loving nephews and nieces kept close to her through telephone calls and frequent visits.

Message Added: December 5, 2006

Malcolm de Chazal : le génie éloigné

LE MONDE DES LIVRES | 09.11.06 | 11h32 • Mis à jour le 09.11.06 | 11h32

ntre 1948 et 1965, Malcolm de Chazal aura publié une vingtaine d'ouvrages, dont certains firent du bruit, et qui sont tous l'expression d'une pensée originale, parfois jusqu'à l'ésotérisme, et d'un tempérament inquiet et anticonformiste. Pourtant, après le choc initial de Sens-plastique, paru à la NRF accompagné d'une préface de Jean Paulhan - "un art qui mérite, je pense, le nom de génie. Ce nom, et aucun autre" -, la critique, conformément à sa réputation de frivolité et de frilosité, cessa de s'intéresser au poète des antipodes et lui opposa un étrange silence. Duhamel, Paulhan, sans cesse sollicités par celui qu'ils avaient porté au pinacle, manifestèrent à son égard une indifférence gênée, puis de l'hostilité.

Depuis son île qu'il refusait obstinément de quitter, Malcolm de Chazal interpellait le monde, multipliait les lettres, les appels au secours. L'éloignement n'était pas la raison de sa solitude. Il souffrait d'avoir cru à la communion des esprits, d'avoir vu la porte s'entrouvrir sur ce paradis de l'intellect que, comme jadis Swedenborg, il attendait. Peu à peu le piège se referma sur lui. Malcolm de Chazal ne cessa pas d'écrire. Bien au contraire, il est pris alors par une frénésie de produire, envoie sans cesse de nouveaux manuscrits, multiplie les projets, les appels à ses contemporains. Petrusmok, Judas, Apparadoxes, Sens unique, La Vie filtrée, Aggenèse, comme autant de coups de roches qui ricochent sur le mur d'indifférence de la critique parisienne. Il eût pu désespérer. Il décide de faire face, de continuer.

Il décide surtout que son théâtre sera Maurice : cette zone des hauts où il vit sa vie précaire, sans argent, sans considération, sans métier, sans famille, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes et le carrefour de la Louise, la maison de son frère dont il occupe le grenier à Curepipe, le jardin botanique et l'église swedenborgienne où il participe aux offices. Il décide donc que ce sera là, que ce microcosme sera son monde, celui où sa pensée peut vraiment se réaliser. Un monde plutôt mesquin, ou règnent l'argent des sucreries et des banques, les préjugés de race, le conformisme étriqué de la vieille société coloniale ainsi qu'un matérialisme entaché de religiosité. Mais c'est son monde, celui auquel il se sent relié par son histoire, par son éducation, par l'héritage spirituel qu'il a reçu de son oncle.

Il écrit. Comme il a besoin d'un public, d'entendre un écho, il écrit là où il sait qu'on le lira : non pas seulement dans les livres, mais dans les journaux, les revues, Le Mauricien, Le Cernéen, Advance. C'est l'autre Chazal, celui qu'on n'attend pas. Le tribun (il envisage même une action politique), le critique, le moraliste. L'amuseur. Le style est éblouissant. Sa liberté d'esprit, totale. Il écrit sur tous les sujets : l'actualité politique, la crise économique, la philosophie, la littérature. Avec un humour qui ne le quitte jamais, il se met en scène, donne ses recettes, comme dans Comment devenir un génie ? : "Se prendre terriblement au sérieux et en même temps jamais au sérieux."

"Ne jamais s'analyser : ça rend bête."
"Être bouche bée toujours, afin que vienne la fée."
"Craindre le bonheur, car c'est le deuil de la joie."
"Se réveiller le matin en pensant qu'on n'a pas commencé de naître."

Il pose les questions insolubles, ou celles qui provoquent :

"Si le néant existe, qui l'a créé ?"
"Si l'eau ignorait la soif, comment pourrait-on la boire ?"
"Pourquoi lire ? Je vous le demande, lecteurs ! Qui a appris quoi que ce soit d'un livre ? Il n'y a qu'un livre valable, c'est la vie."

PRÉJUGÉ DE COULEUR

Mais ses thèmes préférés sont ceux qui lui permettent de fustiger ses contemporains, de dénoncer le racisme des Blancs, le préjugé de couleur qui n'existe pas "à la banque et au lit", de remettre en question l'idée de progrès et de civilisation ("la civilisation noire a précédé la civilisation blanche"), et se délecte quand ses ennemis l'appellent, pour se moquer, "le grand Noir". Il attaque leurs idées reçues sur la religion, rappelle à ses concitoyens les principes brûlants du Christ, dont le communisme primordial (Actes des apôtres, chapitre 2) : "Ils vendaient leurs propriétés et leurs biens et ils en partageaient le produit entre tous, selon les besoins de chacun." Avec une générosité rare entre écrivains, il lance un appel au secours pour Robert Edward Hart, dont tous disent qu'il est le plus grand poète contemporain alors qu'ils l'abandonnent à sa misère.

Son indépendance d'esprit et son intransigeance lui permettent de contredire les progressistes bien-pensants du féminisme, d'énoncer des principes provocateurs ("Pourquoi les femmes ne sont-elles pas des génies ?") tout en évoquant avec pudeur son amour pour la princesse Indira Devi, qui "respire l'Inde". Et s'il parle de Maurice, c'est aussi avec l'amour d'un homme pour la beauté qui l'entoure, beauté qu'il voit menacée par l'industrialisation agricole qui détruit la forêt et fait de son île "un désert vert". Comme Césaire en Caraïbe, il rend hommage à chaque instant à la langue qui l'a nourri. Cette "adorable langue créole" qui le sépare à jamais du parler classique de France parce qu'il est un "langage nu" où "les images ruissellent de poésie qui est l'humour".

Cette somme n'est pas un fond de tiroir. Elle donne à voir mieux qu'aucune exégèse la vérité d'un des poètes les plus féconds et les plus authentiques de la littérature française contemporaine, dans sa force et ses faiblesses, dans sa vie.

Message Added: November 27, 2006

COMMENT DEVENIR UN GÉNIE ? Chroniques de Malcolm de Chazal. Ed. Philippe Rey, 480 p., 24 €.

Signalons l'édition en cours des Œuvres complètes de Malcom de Chazal dirigées par Jean-Paul Curnier assisté d'Eric Meunié aux éditions Léo Scheer ; trois volumes parus sur la vingtaine prévus.

J.-M.G. Le Clézio

Message Added: November 27, 2006

CHRISTOPHE CHABBERT

ROMAN :DANS L'ENFER DE MONTLEDIER, de CHRISTOPHE CHABBERT

Il vient de paraître aux éditions de l'Harmattan le roman de Christophe Chabbert, "Dans l'enfer de Montlédier". L'oeuvre de Malcom de Chazal, son aïeul Francois de Chazal de la Genesté et l'île Maurice y tiennent une place prépondérante. Ce jeune auteur de 35 ans, professeur de lettres dans le sud de la France, a consacré sa thèse de doctorat à l'oeuvre de Malcom.

Il nous dit : "L'intrigue de mon roman réside dans les oeuvres de Malcolm et en particulier dans Petrusmok. Aussi, j'étais fasciné par la figure de François de la Genesté .c'est pourquoi, j'en ai fait un personnage important de mon livre. Vous retrouverez dans ces pages des choses vraies mais aussi des faits inventés pour les besoins de l'exercice : l'amitié de François et d'Hannibal de Laurac, leur appartenance à la meme loge rosicrucienne, le Saint-Trésor confié par Hannibal avant de mourir à François et emporté jusqu'à l'île Maurice, etc. Le plus étrange, c'est que j'ai inventé beaucoup à partir des quelques informations qui étaient en ma possession. Et, tout dernièrement, lorsque j'ai pu lire la correspondance de la Genesté et entrer ainsi dans son intimité, j'ai pu me rendre compte combien j'avais senti le personnage tel qu'il avait existé : sa générosité, sa droiture, son sens du devoir, tout cela, je l'avais perçu à travers les bribes d'existence que je connaissais de lui. Voilà, j'espère de tout coeur que ce petit roman d'aventures vous plaira et qu'il permettra de faire connaître au plus grand nombre l'illustre nom de la famille Chazal."

Message added: November 23, 2006

Congratulations on the
Marriage of Sydney de Chazal and Line Demouillez
July 1, 2006
Pictured with their daughters Océane and Alizée

Message added: November 22, 2006

CHAZFEST FRANCE 2007

Lately Anne-Dauphine de Grivel has been working diligently on the next Chazfest in France which will take place in July 2007. She just visited, the cradle of the family and especially, Marcilly-le-Chatel and said, "it is a wonderful fortress with an incredible view and has a great wild birds of prey show almost every day; there is also a very nice place with a very good restaurant with enough room to handle our group yet they refused to do this, this is a pity but there are more possibilities in this area. This is a challenge but we will prevail". If you would like to visit the website of Marcilly-le-Chatel Birds Of Prey Exhibition then please follow the link below: http://dmd.free.fr/champdieu/volerie.html

All the new information about Chazfest 2007 will be posted on the family website http://www.chazfest.com/ or through email if I have your email address. In order to get this email list started please send me all the email addresses you might have for other family members.

Yours Truly,

Jean-Pierre de Chazal

FRENCH VERSION

Ces derniers temps Anne-Dauphine de Grivel a consacré beaucoup de son temps à la préparation du prochain Chazfest, qui se tiendra en France en juillet 2007. Elle s'est rendue dans la région du Forez, berceau de notre famille, et particulièrement à Marcilly-Le-Chatel. Elle nous dit : " C'est une très belle forteresse avec une vue incroyable où il y a maintenant une volerie avec spectacle. Il y a aussi une auberge charmante avec la place suffisante pour en faire notre déjeuner ou dîner, mais il ont refusé. C'est dommage, mais il y a d'autres possibilités. Ceci est un challenge, mais nous y arriverons". Le site internet de la volerie avec présentation du spectacle des oiseaux de proie est : http://dmd.free.fr/champdieu/volerie.html

Toutes nouvelles informations sur le prochain Chazfest seront présentées sur le site familial : http://www.chazfest.com/ ou par e-mail si je dispose de votre adresse. A cette fin, je vous remercie de me faire connaître les adresses e-mail des membres de la famille qui sont en votre possession.

Amitiés.

Jean-Pierre de Chazal

2001 Broadleaf place
Charlotte, NC 28226
Tel: 704 362 4717
Fax:704 847 3265
E-mail : JPDECHAZAL@aol.com