Our Earliest Ancestor - The Nicolas Mius Story

Nicolas Mius was a German and served as interpreter for the Admiral of Colignay. He was killed in Paris on August 25, 1572 at the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre along with the Admiral, Gaspard de Colignay.

In 1557 Nicolas Mius of Grynn appears on the register of the University of Orleans as one of five German students. (SD Nicolas Mius -Grynn). The letter "D" signifies Dominus or Domine meaning monsieur and Grynn would signify the province from which he came. The name was originally Majus and was often written as Maius. In German the letters "ai" are pronounced as "i" resulting in the present pronounciation Mius.

With Nicolas was another German student named Conrad Maius, who could have been from the same family. This was at the time of the reformation; and there was a famous professor, Anne of Bourg, elder of the University and protector of the German students. It seems that the University of Orleans was strongly affected by this new doctrine, professed Lutheranism; and were being persecuted for this.

By 1569, Nicolas was married to Jeanne and had several children. In Admiral Gaspard DeColigny's will, Nicolas is mentioned "To Nicolas Mouche by chamber valet and his wife, Jeanne for their good services, to me and my wife, I give them five hundred francs in money one time and six septiers of bled metail" (mixture of wheat and rye) the rest of their lives solely so they can have more children."

In Paris on August 25, 1572, the Admiral was a victim of the St. Bartholomew Day Massacre. The admiral is quoted as saying "My friends, there is nothing I can do to rescue you. I voluntarily receive my death in the hands of God. Save yourselves." At that time he had several people at his service including Nicolas Mius. Everyone left except for Nicolas who stayed at the Admiral's side and was murdered with him. The slaughter of French Huguenots quickly spread to the provinces and about 20,000 Huguenots were ultimately killed by Roman Catholic mobs. The prime responsibility for the massacre was borne by Catherine de Medicis, who opposed the influence of the Protestant leader, Admiral Gaspard de Colignay over her weak son, King Charles IX.

After the Admiral's death, the Countess felt indebted to the children of Nicolas. She took under her protection a son of Nicolas. (Unfortunately there is no record of his first name.) The boy was actually under the care of Jacqueline’s mother, the Countess Beatrice Bacheoc-d’Entremont of the House of Montbel d’Entremont of Savioe.

The name of d'Entremont was then added to his surname Mius. This was Jacqueline’s wish, since she was the only child who survived her parents marriage, and had only a daughter from her marriage to the Admiral. The following clause appears in the marriage contract between the Admiral and Jacqueline:

"The first son originating from the marriage and his descendants, whether male or female, would carry the name and coat of arms of Count D'Entremont" (Jacqueline's father).

Admiral Gaspard de Colignay was apparently married twice. His first wife was Charlotte de Laval. She died March 3, 1568. He married his second wife, Countess Jacqueline d'Entremont of the House of Montbel d'Entremont of Savioe, in 1571. The daughter of that marriage, Beatrice de Coligny, was married on 6/17/1600 to Monsieur d'Albun, Baron de Meuillon and de Montauban, son of the governor of Marseilles; and their son was named Francois Virgine D'Entremont.

Nicolas also left two daughters: Charlotte Mousche and Louyse Mousche, who were put in the care of Louise deColigny, Princess of Orange, daughter of the Admiral and his first wife, and widow of William of Nassau, Prince of Orange (dit le Taciturne). His will read at Fontainebleau on 11/8/1620 states "Give and bequeath to Charlotte Mousche, widow Davon, the sum of two hundred pounds of Tournois (old 13th century money). Payed in full. Give and bequeath to Louyse Mousche the same sum of two hundred pounds of Tournoys, also paid in full."

William was the founder of the branch of Orange-Nassau (1535-1584) and the ancestor of William the Third of Orange who married Marie, daughter of James II of England; and became William III, King of England.

The location of Grynn (Nicolas’ origin) is uncertain but there is a village in Switzerland by the name of Gryon, which is east of Lake Leman in the French speaking district of Vaud. According to the Larousse Dictionary, there are only two regions in the entire world where the old word "huitante" (80) was used. Those areas are LaWallonie south and southeast of Belgium and the Swiss village of Gryon.

The only other place where this ancient expression is used is Pubnico, founded by Philippe Mius D'Entremont. The word "huitante" is still used there today. What is also strange about this is that the word is used only in the Pubnico area and no where else in Acadia. Everywhere else huitante has been replaced by quatre-vingts.  (Most of the information on Nicolas Mius and his ancestors comes Vol. III written by Fr. Clarence d'Entremont.)