Catherine (Gerardel) des Marets (abt. 1458 - abt. 1486)

Descendants

Biography

The only information known about Catherine Gérardel is that she was born in about 1458 in the village of Cauroy, Comté de Cambrai, Holy Roman Empire. This independent Comté, ruled by a Count-Archbishop in Medieval times, was later incorporated into France. Today Cambrai is a city in the "Grand Nord" region of France.

Catherine Gérardel was doubtlessly of the local gentry as in about 1478 she married Jean (Marets) des Marets (1450-1498), of the French "Noblesse de Robe" aristocracy and a Magistrate (Judge) of the city of Cambrai (aka "Cambray:" old French). His father was a "Doctor of Laws" Judge in Cambrai. She was his first wife and the mother of his son and heir, Jacques (Marets) des Marets Sr (abt.1480-abt.1522).

Catherine no doubt had at least 2 or 3 other children (Jean des Marets is known to have fathered 13 children) before her untimely death about 1486. Unfortunately, their names and the exact date of Catherine's death are not known.

As Catherine lived and died in the 15th Century, she was a Roman Catholic Christian. Her son, Jacques des Marets and his descendants, however, converted to the "Reformed Christian Religion" in the 16th Century and fled France during the anti-Protestant/anti-Huguenot persecutions. They have numerous descendants across the United States.

Sources

• "The Demarest Family: Volume 1", by the Demarest Family Association, 1964. Note: The page that discusses Jean des Marets & lists his parents and wives can be viewed (paid subscription) at: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-65683-23/the-demarest-family-volume-1-in-the-demarest-family-volume-1?snippet=d274c688530b9157319e2bb8b47a26e2#fullscreen

• Jean Des Marets profile on Geni.com

• Family Tree of "de Mare" family, 1000-1600 CE In Swedish with some English translation. Look for 13th Generation, Right side of Tree for Jean's family.