Le Champion-Möller of Butterston

MŐLLER, ANDREW, Esq. late of Butterston, s. his father, the late Rev. Olaus von Möller, of Flensburg and Butterston, m. Elizabeth, dau. of J.-Loftus Le Champion, Esq. (only son of Jaques, Viscompte Le Champion de Vire, by Marie, dau. of Loftus-Dudly Davies, Esq., of Roscommon, M.P.), and had issue:

• I. ANDREW-GEORGE, b. 13 Jan. 1792, author of various original works, and of translations from French, German, and Greek authors.
• II. Charles-Champion Le Champion, b. 13 May, 1795, late of the 18th regt. of hussars, served through the Waterloo campaign in Lord Vivian’s brigade. This gentleman has taken the additional surname of Le Champion, by royal licence, in right of his mother, granddau. of Jaques Le Champion, 16th and last Viscount De Vire. He m. Mary-Hiccocke, dau. of G. Thomas, Esq., of Wappenham, and has had issue:
  1. Charles-Champagni Le Champion, in holy orders, m. Louise Anne, only child of Gen. F. Straton, and granddau. of Gen. and Lady Louisa Orde, dau. of the 1st Earl Roden.
  2. George-Henry Le Champion, rector of Wolves-Newton, Monmouthshire.
  3. John-Olaus, b. 19 March, 1821, major 50th regt., served in India, Alma, and Inkerman, mortally wounded at Sebastopol; m. Mary, dau. of Major J. Drysdale, of Jerviston House; d. 22 Dec. 1854.
  4. Henry Le Champion, capt. 101st fusiliers, served through the Sikh war, at Khote-Khangra and Delhi.
  5. Frederick, b. 25 Dec. 1825, lieut. 98th regt., lost his life in the Punjaub campaign of 1849.
  6. Arthur-Marquhard Le Champion, capt. 40th regt.
  7. Rosamond-Rebecca Le Champion.
• I. Anne, m. Rev. F. Needham, rector of Tunstal, Lancashire, and has issue.
• II. Ellen-Maria, m. Rev. J. Hawkesworth, rector of Woore, Staffordshire, son of the late Rev. J. Hawkesworth, of Silkstone Castle, Yorkshire.
• III. Maria-Cathorine, m. W. Bielby, Esq., and has issue.
• IV. Elizabeth-Sophia, m. Ch.-Blake Allnatt, Esq., barrister, and has issue.

In right of his grandfather, Archdeacon Fr. Olaus von Möller, of Flensburg (nephew of Henri D’Osten-Möller, 14th Baron Latendorf), Andrew Möller, Esq. of Butterston, became representative of his family, now extinct in Denmark.

Lineage.

In the Cimbria Literata, British Museum, the Danish family of Möllerus has a Latin genealogy as “Senatores Cambrivii,” dating from Dietricus De Möllerus, Senator from 1071 to 1074. The first Danish noble was Joannes De Möllerus, of Latendorf, b. 1384. The lands of Latendorf have been in the family since 1270, the date of their grant to Wickeius De Möllerus, who emigrated to Denmark. FABRICIUS, in his Memoirs, published in 1690 (vol. ii), terms the family “Nobilissimæ et antiquissimæ familiæ Möllerianæ.”

The following is translated from an old Latin MS. pedigree, still possessed by the family, being drawn up in 1689, by ANDREAS VON KELLINGHAUSEN, (who was ordained by Bishop Christ. Rudolph v. Möller, Danish bishop of Langeland and Funen), and who accompanied his son-in-law, the late Rev. Olaus v. Möller, to Ireland, where he built a church, now the property of his great-grandson, A.-G. Moller, Esq. In the Nova Literaria Germania, of 1699, and in the Cimbria Literata, in the British Museum, written by JOHAN, brother of the above-mentioned Archdeacon F. Olaus v. Möller, are found several printed Latin genealogies and lives of this family extending back to a remote period. The life of Vincentius v. Möller, ambassador to CHARLES-GUSTAVUS (and whose son m. a dau. of the celebrated Count Pole) has been written by ALBERT FABRICIUS, in 1710.

WILHELMUS VON MŐLLERUS, b. at Vyborg, in 1540, a state councillor, and author of various works, has been followed by a continuous succession of writers in his family down to the present time. A grant of nobility, dated 6 June, 1440, was bestowed on Johan of Latendorf, b. 1384, and an additional grant, 6 May, 1674, on his descendant, Henri of Latendorf, Draxholm, and Flensburg. The family has intermarried with the noble families of von Osten, Eulenou, De Levia, Dame, Urrup v. Marselis of Marselis Burg, Thun, Hoyer, &c. The official senatorial genealogy, printed in 1698 commences with:

DIETRICUS DE MŐLLERUS, living in 1074, had issue,

• I. GODOKE.
• II. Conradus.

The elder son,

GŐDŐKE DE MŐLLERUS, had one son,

CONRADUS MŐLLERUS, b. 1154, buried at Hamburg, who had issue,

GERHARDUS MŐLLERUS, b. 1187; d. June, 1219, who had issue,

THIEDERICUS MŐLLERUS, father of

• I. HERMANNUS.
• II. Eggert.

The elder son,

HERMANNUS MŐLLERUS, b. 1302, was buried in St. Catherine’s Church, Hamburg, where his tomb is visible. His son,

WICKEIUS MŐLLERUS, of Lalland and Latendorf, in Denmark, living in 1270, was enobled and left issue,

• I. Sigisfred, of Mecklenburg and Odensee, b. 1313; d. 1370, s. p.
• II. ERHARD VEL EBERHARDUS

The 2nd son,

ERHARDUS MŐLLERUS, “Miles, inter sponsores Erici Regis,” b. 1315; d. 1384, and left issue,

• I. CONRADUS.
• II. Arnutus, b. 1360; d. s. p.
• III. Nicolaus, of Moen, b. 1361; d. s. p.

The eldest son,

CONRADUS MŐLLERUS, b. 1349; d. June, 1419, at Odense. He was a sponsor to the King. He had issue,

• I. Hennicke, of Mecklenburg, b. 1379; d. 1449, s. p.
• II. Eggert, b. 1381; d. an infant.
• III. JOHAN.

The 3rd son,

JOHAN VON MŐLLER, of Latendorf, b. 1384, ennobled 6 June, 1440, m. Anna, dau. of Baron Urrup, and was alive in 1447; had issue,

• I. Nicolaus, archdeacon of Abo, in Finland.
• II. Henry, of Vyborg.
• III. Conrad, also called Cordt, who emigrated to Hamburgh in 1427, where his name occurs on the official roll of senators, and where a marble monument, with the effigies of Gasper v. Möller (first consul), and surrounded with ten coats of arms, still exists. It was erected in 1549 by his father, the First Consul Vincentius von Möller, whose monument bears the following inscription:-“Nobilis et Generoso Domino Vincento Möllero, S. Reg. Maj. Suec. Consiliario Intimo et Aulico. et ad circuli Germenis Infer. Ord. Legato, hæreditario in Möllersburg, Adlersburg et Neshof.”
• IV. JOHAN.

The 4th son,

JOHAN VON MŐLLER, Baron Latendorf, m. Catarina von Osten, dau of Nicolaus Baron von Osten; she founded a chapel, in which she was buried, 8 Nov. 1476, amongst her sons and daus., leaving surviving issue,

• I. NICOLAUS-OSTENUS.
• II. Olaus-Ostenus, amptman (lieut.-royal) in Lalland.

The elder son,

NICOLAUS-OSTEN VON MŐLLER, of Latendorf, was living in 1469; m. Herloviana De Bryskior, of Lalland, and had issue,

• I. ESBERN-SUERIN OF SEVERIN.
• II. Nicolaus of whom no record but the words “Soros sepulti.”

The elder son,

ESBERN-SUERIN VON MŐLLER, of Latendorf and Tyrestrup, m. Anna v. Moth, of Flensburg (whose family are now Counts Moth), and had issue,

NICOLAUS VON MŐLLER, of Latendorf, m. Anna De Kruse, and was buried with his wife at Vyborg, in 1534. He had issue,

ESBERN VON MŐLLER, m. a dau. of Baron Sperling, d. 1560, and had issue,

WILHELM VON MŐLLER, Baron Latendorf, state councillor, state assessor and an author, b. 17 Oct. 1540; m. Anna-Mortensis, dau of Gaspar v. Thun and Gertrude v. Kellinghausen, of Flensburg; d. 6 May, 1626; his portrait, inscribed with a curious inscription in Latin, is preserved. He had issue,

• I. NICOLAUS-JENSENIUS
• II. Bartolomeus, major in the Russian army, m. Catharine De Lindeman. A pedigree of his descendants is in the possession of C.-C. Le Champion-Möller, Esq. Of this branch are descended Lieut. Gen. von Möller, who commanded the Russian forces in Sebastopol during the battle of Inkerman, having orders to advance on the Alfes had the position of Inkerman been gained.

The elder son,

NICOLAUS-JENSENIUS VON MŐLLER, of Flensburg, b. 1567; d. 18 Oct. 1654. He was amptman at Vyborg, and superintendent of the royal forests and mills, hence he is styled KONIG-MŐLLER and MOLITOR, a term often used in lieu of the name Moller; thus on a monument of his relative, Vincent v. Möller, senator from 1518 to 1554, are inscribed the Latin lines:-

“Ingenio Pollens Molitor Vincentius Acri, Hic nece Communi Victus ab Hoste Jacet.”

He m. Catharine, dau. of Haldane Jordt (d. 3 Feb. 1657), and left issue,

• I. Henry-Ostenus, governor of Callenburg, m. Catherine von Lorenxin. His only son, Henry-Ostenus, received an additional grant of nobility, 6 May, 1674, and m. 7 July, 1633, Sophia von Rosentierne, who d. 3 March, 1669. On the decease, without issue, of his grandson, Carl-Osten, 17th and last Baron, a capt. of Russian imperial guards, m. to Karen, dau. of Baron von Lasson, the succession reverted to his cousin, the Rev. Olaus v. Möller, of Flensburg and Dublin.
• II. OLAUS.

The 2nd son,

OLAUS VON MŐLLER, b. 17 March, 1617; d. 26 July, 1685, archdeacon of Flensburg; m. Christina, of the ancient family of De Breclingia of Breckling, and granddau to Henry von Dame, minister to FREDERICK II. He was an author, and had issue,

• I. Johan, of Flensburg, governor of the National Lyceum, most of whose works are in the British Museum, b. 27 Feb. 1661; d. of decline, 20 Oct. 1720; m. Anna, dau. of Bernard v. Strikers. Johan was the author of the Cimbria Literata, Life of Tycho Brahe, An Answer to Lord Molesworth’s Attack on the Danish Policy, and numerous Latin works. He is mentioned by Kellinghausen as “Johan. Mollerus, Flensburgensis, familiæ nobilis et Cimbia et Germaniæ, de historia Chersonesi et lit. egregie meritus.” His life has been written in Latin, German, and French, also by his two sons, Bernard and H. Olaus, almost equally distinguished in letters. But this branch became extinct on the death, in Ireland, in 1824, of his grandson, the late Rev. Marquhard Moller, D. D.
• II. Nicolaus, of Kiel, b. 23 Sept. 1664, an author of repute; d. 11 Feb. 1734. His works in Latin are preserved in that university.
• III. FRANCIS OLAUS.

The 3rd son,

FRANCIS OLAUS VON MŐLLER, archdeacon of Flensburg and Bredsted, b. 15 Aug. 1667; d. 28 July, 1735; was an author of note. Some of his MSS. are still preserved by his great-grandson, C.-C. Le Champion-Möller, Esq. He m. Caterina-Dor., dau. of Archdeacon v. Hoyer, son of Baron Hoyer, of Hoyerswortana, great-great-grandson of FREDERICK I, of Denmark (whose mother was a Princess Hohenzollern, of Prussia), as detailed in the Cimbria Literata*. He had issue,

• I. Andreas, of Handewit, in holy orders, d. s. p.
• II. OLAUS.

The 2nd son,

OLAUS VON MŐLLER, of Flensburg, b. 18 May, 1710, at Flensburg, in holy orders; m. Anna, dau. of the Revs Andreas v. Kellinghausen; emigrated to Ireland, and was buried in the church built by his father-in-law, and now the property of his grandson, A. G. Möller, Esq. He left issue,

• I. ANDREW, of Butterstown, b. 18 Sept. 1739; d. 24 Feb. 1810.
• II. George, b. 1743; d. 2 July, 1819, s. p.
• I. Catherine, b. 1745; d. 16 Dec. 1835.
• II. Anne, b. 1755; m. W. Dixon, Esq., leaving issue the Rev. W. Dixon, of Wem.
• III. Maria, b. 1760; d. 30 June, 1821; m. the Rev. John Hawkesworth, of Silkstone Castle, Yorkshire, who, on the death of his relative Sir John Hawkesworth, Bart. of Hawkesworth Park, had claims as next heir.

Arms and Crest of MŐLLER

Arms: Quarterly: 1st and 4th, or, a mill wheel, sa, for VON MŐLLER; 2nd and 3rd, per pale, arg. and gu., the dexter half charged with three bends sinister, wavy, az., and the sinister half with a key in pale, or, for D’OSTEN.
Crests: 1st, VON MŐLLER—On a Danish baron’s coronet a fleur-de-lis, arg.; 2nd, D’OSTEN-In front of three peacocks’ feathers, erect, ppr., two keys in saltire, or, between as many eagles’ wings, arg.
Danish Supporters: Two lions, rampant, or.
Motto: Von Moller salich ihm.

*Descent from King Frederick I, of Denmark.

The descent of Catarina-Dor. von Hoyer (m. to Archdeacon Francis v. Möller, of Flensburg) from FREDERICK I is here copied from the Cimbria Literata, British Museum. FREDERICK was the second prince of the Oldenburg dynasty, now reigning in Denmark, Russia, and Oldenburg.

• I. Herman, Baron von Hoyer, of Husum, and Hoyerswortana, m. Catarina, dau. of King FREDERICK I, and whose mother was a princess of Hohenzollern, leaving issue,Caspar, Baron v. Hoyer, b. 28 July, 1540; m. Anna von Wolfia, d. at Hoyerswortana, 19 Nov. 1594; was governor of Eiderstadt, and was educated with his cousins, the sons of CHRISTIAN III. “Pueritiam in aula transegit Danica, filiorum CHRISTIANI III, Regis, qui a Casp. Mulieno, bonis literis ac moribus imbuebantur, condiscipulus.” Cimb. Lit., p. 256. He was knight of Denmark.
  • I. Caspar, who had issue,
    1. Baron Herman, governor of Eiderstadt, m. 15 April, 1599, Anna, dau. of Johan D’Oveni, and granddau. of D’Oveni-Tetenii. She was a celebrated authoress, and was born in 1584; d. 1656. Baron Herman d. 13 Sept. 1632.
    2. Margrete, m. in 1598, to Vincentius v. Möller of Flensburg.
    3. Magdalin, m. to the Herr von Smede, of Flensburg.
  • III. Herman, the eldest son, had issue,
    1. Caspar, b. 1600.
    2. Christian.
    3. Frederick-Herman.
    4. Tychone-Suenone, b. at Bukark.
  • IV. Tychone-Suenone, who had issue, by Agata M. de Ranzou,
    1. Andreas, archdeacon of Itzehoen, an author of note, m. Agnes, dau. of Stephen von Klotzius; he d. Nov. 1693, at Flensburg, and had issue,
       • Andreas, of Carlumen, author of various works.
       • Catarina-Dorothea, m. to Francis von Möller, archdeacon of Flensburg, and father of the REV. OLAUS V. MÖLLER, of Flensburg, who d. in Ireland.

Family of Le Champion De Vire.

A detailed account of this family, one of the oldest of French Hugenot noblesse, is found in the “Nobiliaire de Bretagne,” “Reformation de la Noblesse,” MS., Bib. Imp. The official entries of payments of fees of nobility of the senior branch (Le Champion De Vire, Sieurs de Belle-esze et Cambis, et Vicomptes De Vire), as the direct and officially registered descendants of Maheas Le Champion, Vicompte De Vire (mort en l’an 1350), are still preserved by their descendant and representative, C.-Champion Le Champion-Möller, Esq.; they are dated 1427, 1470, 1 April, 1489, 1505, 1583. The last payment was made 7 Oct. 1688, by the sons of Pierre Le Champion, 15th Vicompte de Vire (Sieur De Belle-esze et Cambis, parish of St. Brehaud-Moncontour; Ev. de St. Brieux, near Rennes), under the following declaration of nobility, viz.:-“Barthelemy Le Champion, Hyacinthe Allain, Pierre (et son fils Jacques), enfantes de Pierre Le Champion, Sieur De Belle-esze, Vicompte De Vire, et de Heleine le Metayer leur mère et tutrice, declares nobles d’ancienne extraction, descendus de Ricard Le Champion, Viscomte De Vire, en l’an 1350, et maintenus en la qualité de Chevalieur par arrest, du 7 Oct. 1668. Monsr. Des Cartes, Pro.”

The family was divided into three branches bearing titles, 1st, the Sieurs De Belle-esze, Vicomptes De Vire (Hugenots), represented by C.-Champion Le Champion-Möller, Esq.; 2ndly, the Sieurs Des Croix, Vicomptes et Barons De Cice (Catholics), from whom descended Jerome-Maria Champion, created archbishop of Bordeaux by Louis XVI; 3rdly, the Sieurs De Crespigny, Vicomptes St. Hurien (Hugenot), from whom descend the Champions de Crespigny, Barts., supposed to be the head of the Hugenot branch in the male line.

JAQUES, grandson of Pierre, 15th Vicompte, and his eventual heir (see above declaration), emigrated to Ireland in 1688, as attested by his signature to the burial register of his children, Eliza, Elizabet, and Pierre, who were buried 19 Dec. 1710, in St Patrick’s Cathedral. He left some curious MS. The genealogy is as follows:

MAHEAS LE CHAMPION, Vicompte De Vire, as holding a domaine du rol. De Virem. Malle. Busnel, heiress of Jean Busnel, Baron De Frénes. He d. 1350; his son,

RICARD, 2nd Vicompte, m. a dau. of Hector Meusant, Sieur De Lessentierre, of Lower Normandy. He had three sons, I. OLIVIER; II. Jean, ancestor of the Champions des Croix, Vicomptes de Cice; III. Michel, ancestor of the Vicomptes St. Hurien, and the Champion de Crespignys, Barts. The eldest son,

OLIVIER, 3rd Vicompte, living in 1437, was enrolled amongst the nobles of Moncontour, in the parish of Brehaud, Ev. de St. Brieux, m. Judith, dau. of Jean Corbette, Sieur De Breu, and had two sons; Barthelemy, the youngest, took oath as a Noble of Moncontour to the Duke, in 1437. The eldest son,

BERTRAND, 4th Vicompte, of Cambia, m. Heloise-Bussy De Loraine, “Passa un acte, de partage de la maison detourmine, en datte du 28 Jan. 1455.” His son,

ROBERT, 5th Vicompte, m. Heleine Le Roux, de la Maison le Roux de Bretagne. He had three sons, viz., Raoul, d. s. p.; Allain, d. s. p. (successive Vicomptes); and PIERRE. His 3rd son,

PIERRE, 8th Vicompte, m. Ellise De Grosse-Toste, and had one son,

ROBERT, 9th Vicompte, m. Margaret Le Borgne, of Ville-Basse, and had two sons, the younger of whom, Jaques, became Sieur Du Clos, parish of Pleurtait, Ev. St. Malo, in 1513. His elder son,

FRANCIS, 10th Vicompte, of Belle-esze and Cambis, m. Heleine De Launay, of the house of Launay-Ravilly. She was living in 1573, and had issue a son, who d. an infant, and also another son,

PIERRE, 11th Vicompte, of Cambis, m. Margaret do Carmind, and had issue,

PIERRE, 12th Vicompte, of Belle-esze, m. Heleine Le Metayer, of Ville-Genoual, and had issue three sons, Barthelemy and Allain (successive Vicomptes, who d. s. p.) also PIERRE.

The third son,

PIERRE, 15th Vicompte, of Belle-esze, m. Madelaine De Launay, of Ravilly, and had issue,

JAQUES, 16th Vicompte, of Belle-esse, who with his father is named in the above attestation of nobility dated 7 Oct. 1668. He was b. at Rennes, was exiled as a Hugenot, and d. in Dublin. His portrait is still in existence, and also that of his son. He m. Marie, dau. of Dudly-Loftus Davis, of Roscommon, M.P., and had three children. Elisabeth, b. 19 Sept. 1703; d. 19 Dec. 1710; Pierre, b. 19 March, 1705; d. 18 Dec. 1710. The 3rd child,

JAQUES-LOFTUS LE CHAMPION, Esq., who d. in 1764, m. Ellinor, dau. of Dudly, and granddau. of D.-Loftus Davies, Esq., M.P., and had issue, John-Loftus, b. 1755, d. s. p. Henry, b. 1758, d. s. p.; and two surviving daus., Anne, b. 8 April, 1761, d. 10 June, 1839, unm.; and

ELIZABETH LE CHAMPION, b. 10 June, 1762; d. 1 Feb. 1802; m. Andrew Möller, Esq. of Butterston, and left issue (with daus.) Andrew-George Möller, Esq., unm, and C.-CHAMPION LE CHAMPION-MŐLLER, Esq., late 18th hussars, who, with his issue, has assumed the additional surname of CHAMPION.

Arms and Crest of Le Champion De Vire

Arms: Porte d’az., au sautoir d’or, cantonné de quatre fleurs-de-lis d’arg.
Crest: On a French viscount’s coronet, a champion, armed, ppr., and supporters.