updated January 5, 2011

Descendants of the Counts of Harnes

History of the Family in Belgium

The destruction of the archives of Harnes and Ypres during World War I resulted in the loss of many records pertaining to the history of the de Haerne family. This absence of records complicates research on the family history during the 1600s. However, bits and pieces of information remain, which have been reconstructed into the account that follows.

1. Simon de Harnes, who was the younger brother of Englebert de Harnes, the last of the Counts of Harnes and a member of the House of Antoing d'Epinoy. Englebert set fire to his castle during a conflict with the King of Spain in 1558, and then renounced his titles and lands to the Abbey of St. Peter of Ghent to become a monk, "thereby leaving his younger brother {and heir} to earn his bread by the sword". Pascallet (1857) states that Simon's son Denys (Denis) retired to Annappes, which is a small village on the outskirts of Lille and about 30 km northeast of Harnes. Because Annappes today is part of the town of Ascq, Pascallet's Simon de Harnes is probably the same as a Simon de Harnes who was born about 1555, married Antoinette Demouvaux (d. 1619) in 1580, and died either in Ascq, or the the surrounding lands, in 1620.

   There is also record of a Clementine de Haerne, daughter of Jean de Haerne, who married in Bruges, Belgium in 1547 the well-known Flemish Renaissance painter Adriaen Isenbrandt (1480/90-1551) and had with him two daughters and a son. The relationship of Jean and Clementine to Simon de Harnes, if any, is unknown, as is what became of their children. However, the timing is such that she could be an aunt of Simon. There is also a Catherine de Harnes (b. 1680), who was a daughter of Simon de Harnes and Antoinette Demouvaux. She is likely to be identified with the same Catherine de Harnes who married Michel Agache and had a son named Roger Agache who was born in Ascq in 1609. Finially, there is record of a Jeanne de Harnes, daughter of Simon de Harnes (d. 1620) and Marie Lemerre (d. 1620), who was born in 1587 and married Francois Leruste in 1607. Francois died in Ascq in 1664. Jeanne and Francois appear to have had a son named Simon who died a child or an infant in 1610. Another son named Claude Leruste de Harnes was born in Ascq on Feb. 12, 1610.

2. Denys de Harnes, "the elder", who settled in Annappes (Ascq), an outlying district of Lille, and still resided there in 1609, as attested to in an act of December 3rd of that year. He is probably the same as a Denys de Harnes, who was born in 1580 to Simon de Harnes and Antoinette Demouvaux, and married Marie Meurisse (b. 1585).

3. Denys de Harnes, "the younger". Who is likely to be the same as the Denys de Harnes who was born to Denys de Harnes and Marie Meurisse on Feb. 17, 1608 in Ascq, and married Antoinette Fournier in 1638. He appears to have had at least two sons, or perhaps a son and grandson, who follow.

   Simon, who follows:

   Jean, who is called by Pascallet (1857) a son of Denys. However, it is possible that this Jean was actually the son of the Simon de Harnes who follows.

   Marie de Harnes, the daughter of Denys de Harnes and Antoinette Fournier. She was born in Ascq, Nord Pas de Calais in 1645, and married Jacques Cornille, with whom she had several children. She died in Ascq in 1709.

   There is also record of a certain Jacques van der Vecht who was either the guardian or tutor of Pierre de Haerne and Pierre de Clerq in 1639. Unfortunately, nothing further is known about either of Jacques’ charges, and the relation, if any, of Pierre de Haerne to Denys or Simon de Harnes is uncertain.

4. Simon de Harnes, who was the son of Denys the Younger. He left Artois (Pas de Calais), France with Jean de Harnes, who was either his brother or son, and settled in the area of Ypres (Ieper), Belgium. Jean and Simon, and their descendants, aligned themselves with several notable families of Ypres including the houses of Hespel, Saigny (Saney), Trouillere (Trolliere), Maistre, Francois, Notre-Dame, Noyelles, and Haerne.

   Simon de Harnes was followed by his son:

5. Jean de Harnes, who was followed by his son:

6. Pierre de Haerne (or de Harnes), who was born in Ypres, probably in the late 1600s. He is confused in some sources with his grandson, who is also named Pierre. He married Catherine Francois, with whom he had a son, who follows.

   There is also record of a Jean Baptiste de Harnes who married Jeanne Masurel and had a son Michel Joseph de Harnes who was born Sept 4, 1707; and a daughter Marie Anne Joseph de Harnes, who was born Aug 29, 1715. The relation, if any, of this Jean to Pierre or Andre de Haerne is unknown.

7. Andre de Haerne (or de Harnes), who was born in Ypres in 1705 and served as a clerk of the magistrate of Ypres. He married his first wife Marie-Catherine Bevernage at the church of St. Martin in Ypres on September 1, 1724. After Marie died in Ypres at the age of about 40 years on July 7, 1736, Andre married his second wife Symphorienne-Felicite van Provyn in Merkem, Belgium on May 22, 1747. Andre died in Ypres on October 13, 1772, as recorded in the church of St. Martin. His second marriage was without issue, but of the first marriage were born:

   Marie-Petronille de Haerne (b. 1726), was born in Ypres on May 22, 1726.

   Pierre de Haerne (b. 1728), who follows:

   Denis-Francois de Haerne (b. 1731), was born in Ypres on Oct. 8, 1731.

   Antoine de Haerne (b. 1734), was baptized at the church of Saint Martin in Ypres on April 4, 1734, became a monk at the Abbey of Warneton (in Hainaut) around 1760, and died at Warneton on May 27, 1787. This abbey exists no more, having been destroyed during the French Revolution. The historical society of Comines-Warneton has a portrait of Antoine.

    

8. Pierre-Martin-Sebastian de Haerne, who was born in Ypres on January 1, 1728. He was the agent of affairs in Ypres, and he married Genevieve-Jeanne Mahieu, the daughter of Pierre-Jean Mahieu and Marie-Francois Marrranes, on August 8, 1773 in the church of St. Nicholas in Ypres. He is reported to have changed the family name to the Flemish spelling of de Haerne during the French Revolution. However, this name change may have also taken place earlier, as a portrait of his brother Antoine exists with the inscription "Antonius E de Haerne, aetatis 30, 1765, canonicus regularis Warnetonensis". Apparently, there is no record of Pierre’s death which leads to speculation that he may have been a victim of the Revolution. He is confused in some sources with his grandfather, who was also known as Pierre. From Pierre and Genevieve’s marriage were born:

   Antoine de Haerne, who was imprisoned during the French Revolution, but gained his freedom by serving as a soldier under the Emperor Napoleon. The only reference to Antoine is a short story about his life - "The Three Deaths of Uncle Antoine" - that has been passed down through the family.

   Pierre de Haerne (1780-1849), who follows:

   Marie-Genevieve de Haerne, who died an infant in 1781.

   Marie-Genevieve de Haerne, who died an infant in 1784.

    

9. Pierre-Antoine-Andre de Haerne, was born in Ypres on June 30, 1780. He appears at one time to have been a lace merchant, also an employee of the town hall of Ypres. Later, he served as a government official with various duties including agent of affairs, customs official, and clerk of the police court. He married Sophie-Catherine van der Ghote (b. c.1777), the daughter of Denis van der Ghote and Marie-Catherine Vermeersch, in Ypres on September 28, 1803. There is an online genealogy that has Sophie as the daughter of Pierre Joseph van der Ghote (b. 1748) and Brigitte de Houzy (b. c.1760), and makes Catherine Vermeersch (VanderMeersch) the wife of Dyonisus Vanderghote (1746-1802). However, this contradicts the published genealogy of van Hille (1970). Pierre died in Ypres on January 1, 1849. He and Sophie had several children who are listed below.

   Desire-Pierre-Antoine de Haerne, who was born in St. Josse, Belgium, then part of the Netherlands, on July 4, 1804; and became a priest. As a young man, he wrote against the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and was forced to flee Ypres disguised as a horse merchant. When Belgium finally gained independence, he was elected to the congress in 1830 that helped frame the Belgian constitution. He became Canon of the Cathedral of Brussels and, for awhile, was the Bishop of Malitene. He eventually became a member of the Belgian parliament and served in that capacity until his death. Desire was also director of a school for girls who were deaf, dumb, and blind. Many years later, Desire's nephew Emil de Harne, spoke often of his beloved uncle and of the many boyhood visits he made to Desire’s school. Desire also invented a sign language for the deaf, and published several political works as well as academic articles relating to sign language and his work with the deaf. He was made a knight of the Order of Leopold (Belgium), and received the Order of the Iron Cross (Belgium), Order of Charles III (Spain), Legion of Honour (France), and the Order of Christ (Portugal). He died in Noode, Belgium on March 22, 1890. A statue of Desire de Haerne was unveiled on August 26, 1895 in a busy town square (Mgr. de Harneplein) in the center of Kortrijk (Courtrai), Belgium, and is the work of Paul de Vigne. The statue was moved to place near the town Casino in 1929, then again in 1951 to a park/plaza on Avenue Monseigneur de Haerne. There is also a Rue de Haerne in Brussels that is probably named after Desire as well.

   Florimond-Jean-Antoine de Haerne, who was killed in an accident when only 11-years old. Whether he was older or younger than his sister Caroline is uncertain.

   Caroline-Symphoriene-Sophie de Haerne, who died in 1882 and was probably a nun.

   Auguste-Denis-Martin de Haerne, who was born in Ypres, Belgium on Nov. 11, 1806; and died in Ninove, Belgium on Oct. 2, 1870 as the "Doyen of Ninove", where he had a dozen priests under his direction, probably in the St. Cornelius Abbey, which sits adjacent to the city and dates from 1137..

   Alix-Adelaide-Maries de Haerne (b. 1808), who died a nun.

   Georgie-Julie-Aloise de Haerne (b. 1809), who never married.

   Sophie-Rosalie-Catherine de Haerne (b. 1811), who died a nun.

   Marcelline-Antoinette de Haerne (1813-1841).

   Louis-Henri-Longin de Haerne (1817-1887), who follows:

   Marie-Pauline de Haerne (b. 1819), who never married.

    

10. Louis-Henri-Longin (Ludovicus Henricus Longius) de Haerne, who was born in Ypres (Ieper), Belgium on March 15, 1817. As a young man, he was the king’s district commissioner of Echlo, and at other times administered Turnhout, Till-Roulers, and Grand-Echo. He married Mathilde-Marie-Ghislaine Rooman, who had been born at Drongen near Ghent on April 20, 1826, and was daughter of Jean-Lieven-Ambroise Rooman, the burgomaster of Tronchiennes. Louis and Mathilda had their first two children in Echlo, then moved to Turnhout on May 27, 1849, probably when Louis assumed new government responsibilities. They also lived on the Grand-Place (town square) of Turnhout, and at la Rue Neuve, a street in Turnhout. Later, on February 12, 1875, they moved to Ghent, except for the oldest son Emile who appears to have moved to Anvers on April 3, 1869. The move to Ghent may have been the result of Louis’ appointment to the governorship of the district of Till-Roulers. He also received knighthood in the Order of Leopold (Belgium), and the Order of Civil Merit (Belgium). Mathilde died in Baarle, Belgium on March 19, 1881; and Louis died in Tielt on March 4, 1887 as governor of Till-Roulers. Louis and Mathilda had several children who are listed below, the first two born in Echlo (Eeklo), Belgium, and the rest in Turnhout in the province of Antwerp, Belgium.

    Emile de Haerne (b. Oct. 17, 1847), who follows in HAWAII:

    Louise Mathilda de Haerne (Louise-Desiree-Sylvie-Marie-Ghislaine), who was born in Echlo, Belgium on Apr. 10, 1849; and died a nun on Feb. 1, 1907.

    Armand de Haerne (b. Nov. 11, 1850), who follows in CANADA:

    Celina Augusta de Haerne (Celine-Marie-Ghislaine), who was born in Turnhout, Belgium on Nov. 15, 1852. She married Paul Gaillard; and died April 1, 1889. Celina and Paul had two children, who are listed below.

    Joseph de Haerne, who was born in Ghent on March 24, 1877, and became a Jesuit priest.

    Marie-Louise de Haerne, who was born May 15, 1878. Her mother died when she was 12-years old, afterwhich Marie-Louise went to live with her uncle Michel. She died single, probably in Michel's house, just before her 18th birthday on April 19, 1895.

    Alix Helena de Haerne, who was born in Turnhout, Belgium on Dec. 8, 1854; and died a nun in 1915.

    Maria Ferdinand de Haerne (Marie-Ferdinande-Anne-Helene-Ghislaine), who was born in Turnhout, Belgium on Oct. 8, 1856; and died a nun on Sept. 7, 1905.

    Werner Antoine de Haerne (Werner-Auguste-Marie-Ghislaine), who was born in Turnout, Belgium on Apr. 5, 1860; and married Celeste-Marie Gilliodts, but had no children. He died as the archivest of Ghent on July 21, 1933.

    Michel Hippolyte de Haerne (Michel-Hippolite-Louis-Marie-Ghislaine), who was born in Turnhout, Belgium on July 23, 1868. He became a judge of the Court of Appeals at Ghent, and appears to have been knighted, as "chevalier" is sometimes attached to his name. He married Marie-Josephine-Therese-Ghislaine Vercruysse, who was related by marriage to Baron Paul Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge. Marie had been born in Courtrai, Belgium on Oct. 6, 1866. Although she died in Cannes, France on Feb. 19, 1929, she was buried in the family tomb (probably of the Vercruysse family) in Baerlie-Tronchienne, which is most likely somewhere near Ghent, Belgium. Michel died on Sept. 18, 1938. Michel and Marie had one child, who is listed below.

    Marie-Louise-Helene-Camille-Antoinette-Ghislaine de Haerne, who was born in Courtrai, Belgium on August 21, 1898; and married Leo Louis Marie van Nispen tot Sevenaer (1893-1952) in 1940. Family correspondance addressed her as Mme. M.L. van Nispen tot Savenaier. She died in Het Zoute, Belgium on Feb. 20, 1974. So far as we know, she was the last descendant of Louis de Haerne remaining in Belgium.

History of the Family in Hawaii

10. Emile-Antoine-Marie-Ghislaine de Haerne, the eldest son of Louis de Haerne, was born in Echlo (Eeklo), Belgium on October 17,1847 and emigrated to the Hawaiian Islands about 1882, after he lost the family estate in a business transaction. Emil was one of the founding teachers of the first English-speaking school at Halawa on Hawaii, and either taught, or was the principal, of schools in Sprecklesville on Maui, and Honomakau on Oahu. He also founded the Hawi post office. He married on August 28, 1886 Francisco de Jesuz Gomes Camacho, who came from the Madeira Islands off the coast of Portugal with her family to work the sugar cane fields, and had been a student in Emil's class in Halawa, North Kohala. Frances and Emil had thirteen children, the eldest born in Halawa and the rest near Hawi, North Kohala, Hawaii. For the story of Emil and Frances in Hawaii, please see the chapter of this history on "Remembrances of Mary Walsh and Josephine Jones". There is also a chapter on the "Descendants of Emil and Frances".A list of their children follows:

    Mary de Harne (1888-1980), who married Joe Walsh and had two children.

    Louise de Harne (1891-1942), who married James F. Clark, Sr. and had one son.

    Josephine de Harne (1894-1957), who married Tom Jones and had two children.

    Joseph de Harne (b. 1895), who died an infant.

    Joseph de Harne (1896-1897), who died an infant.

    Frances de Harne (1897-1971), who married Frank Betz and had four children.

    Clement de Harne (b. 1899), who died an infant.

    Paul de Harne (1900-1981), who married Emma Davis and had seven daughters.

    Maurice de Harne (1902-1982), who married Helen Nichols and adopted two daughters.

    Edward de Harne (1904-1982), who married Edna McNicoll and had two sons.

    Alice de Harne (1906-1969), who married Ulysses Chelli and died without issue.

    an unnamed infant, who was born, baptized, and died in November, 1908.

    Helen de Harne (1909-1911), who died single.

    Eleanor de Harne (1911-1995), who married Colonel Douglas Dwyre and had five sons.

History of the Family in Canada

10. Armand-Michel-Desire-Marie-Ghislaine de Haerne, the second son of Louis de Harne, was born in Turnhout, Belgium on Nov. 11, 1850. At the age of 17, he became a soldier under Napoleon III and was stationed in the French garrison that Napoleon kept in Rome to serve the interests of Pope Pius IX. When Napoleon declared war on the Prussians in August, 1870, to initiate the onset of the Franco-Prussian War, the French were forced to abandon this garrison, and the subsequent occupation of it by Italian nationalists is viewed by many historians as the start of the modern Italian state. After the war, Armand married his first wife and became the commissioner of the arrondissement (administrative district) of Termonde. He is said to have received a large grant of land, but apparently gave this away to a Maurice Richard after the death of his wife, probably in 1882. When Armand's brother Emil lost the family estate in a business transaction about the same time, Armand estranged himself from his brother, and emigrated the following year, bankrupt by one account, to Canada, where he married his second wife Marie Ann Biron in Stoke (Centre), Quebec on Dec. 2, 1883. Marie, who had been born in Stoke on Dec. 25, 1860, was the daughter of Antoine Jean Biron. Armand and Marie were together only a few years, as she died in Stoke on Dec. 10, 1885, probably from complications related to the birth of their second daughter. Armand and his surviving daughter Sara Mathilde continued to live in Montreal, where he worked for awhile as a translator in the House of Commons, and also became a writer of short stories, some of which dealt with werewolves and vampires. His first story, "The Devil Dance", appeared in the Canadian Evening News of January-February, 1886. His best known stories "Jean the Cursed" (or "Back Under the Ice") and "Nesime the Killer" appeared sometime later, probably before 1890. He married his third wife Maria Emma Victoria Richard, who was also his sister-in-law, in Victoriaville, Quebec on Oct. 1, 1894, when she was 21-years old and he was almost 23 years her senior. Emma, who had been born in Victoriaville on May 18, 1873, was the daughter of Elzear Richard (Rechard) and Emelie Auger. She was also the sister of Adelia (Delle) Richard (b. 1860), who had married Marie Biron's brother in 1884. Armand eventually became the editor of a newspaper; and he died in Victoriaville on Aug. 18, 1902, where there is a large monument on his grave in the Sainte-Victoire parish graveyard. His wife Emma remarried two more times after his passing - second to Joel Laurendeau on Oct. 18, 1905 at Ste-Victoire, Victoriaville, and third to Francois-Xavier LeBlanc on Feb. 12, 1916 at the Cathedral-de-Montreal in Quebec.

    From Armand's first marriage to Marie Biron were born:

    Sara Mathilde de Haerne, who was born in Montreal on Sept. 17, 1884; and married Alfred Prendergast in Stoke (Centre), Quebec in 1905. Their daughter Marie Olive Aurelie Emilie Prendergast was born in Stoke (Centre) on Oct. 5, 1906, and reportedly lived to an old age; whereas Sara Mathilde died in Montreal while Marie was still a little girl on April 22, 1910.

    Marie Celina Louisa de Haerne, who was born in Montreal on Nov. 29, 1885, and died there less than a year later, being buried on August 1, 1886.

     

    From Armand's second marriage to (Maria) Emma Richard were born:

    Marie Blanche Gislande de Haerne, who was born July 15, 1895 and died in 1897.

    Fernand Hercule de Haerne (1897-1980), who follows:

     

11. Maurice Hercule Fernand de Haerne, who was born in Montreal, Canada on April 25, 1897. His birth year is sometimes given as 1893 and his mother is sometimes shown as Marie Biron. However, his birth certificate from the St. Hyacinthe Cathedral in Quebec, even though handwritten in French, clearly shows he was born in 1897 to Emma Richard and Armand de Haerne (mis-spelled as de Hearne). The fact that Emma's actual first name was Maria, and that her sister had married a Biron, adds to this confusion. Fernand served as a lieutenant and pilot in the British Army Air Corp in World War I, and after the war he married Marie Joseph Irma Brasard on Jan. 11, 1921. He eventually became the head of La Globale Campagnis D’Assurance in Montreal, Canada. According to controversial research published by historian Esther Delisle (1993 & 1998), Fernand was investigated along with other prominant Canadians by the U.S. Secret Service in the "Roux Affair" of 1942 as a French-Canadian nationalist with possible pro-German sympathies. However, other historians argue that the hysteria leading to these investigations was largely unfounded. He died in Montreal on Sept. 23, 1980, and is survived by two sons, who follow:

    Michel Antoine Joseph de Haerne, who was born in Montreal on Nov. 20 1921, and has two sons, Michel and Andre.

    Jean-Francois Joseph de Haerne, (b. 1925), who follows:

     

12. Jean-Francois Joseph de Haerne, who was born in Montreal, Canada on July 8, 1925, and married Marguerite (Margot) Geoffroy on Aug. 6, 1949 at the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce church in Montreal. Margot was the daughter of Hector Geoffroy and Therese Seguin; and was born Feb. 26, 1929 in the parish St-Romuald, Farnham (Missisquoi County), and baptized there the following day. She died in Montreal on October 15, 2008 at the age of 79. Jean and Margot had several children who follow.

    Jacques Maurice Joseph de Haerne (b. Aug. 2, 1950), who married Johanna Snyder and died without issue on Oct. 28, 2008 in Rigaud, Quebec.

    Francois Guy Joseph de Haerne (b. Aug. 29, 1951), who served in the Canadian army, and later became a construction worker. He has three sons.

    Didier de Haerne (b. Aug. 19, 1988)
    Thiery de Haerne (b. Aug. 9 1991)
    Renaud de Haerne (b. Oct. 24, 1995)

    Pierre Luc Joseph de Haerne (b. April 12, 1953), who has two sons and a daughter; and died May 9, 1996.

    Pierre de Haerne (b. July 22, 1974)
    Isabelle de Haerne (b. July 2, 1975)
    Jean-Francois de Haerne (b. Dec. 27, 1979), who has two daughters.

     
    Taylor de Haerne (Dec. 8, 1998)
    Danielle de Haerne (Dec. 5, 1999)

    Alain Michel Joseph de Haerne (b. July 22, 1954), who works for a Canadian law firm and has a son named Simon (b. Feb. 2, 1980).

    Marie Helene Thérèse de Haerne (b. Dec. 12, 1957), who married Gaétan F. Leclerc and has three sons and a daughter.

    Dominic Leclerc (b. July 28, 1987)
    Julien-Alexandre Leclerc (b. Jan. 13, 1989)
    Tanya Leclerc (b. March 25, 1991)
    Louis-Gabriel Leclerc (b. March 19, 1993)

    Louise Laurette Marie de Haerne (b. 1959), who has a son and a daughter.

    Louis-Philipe de Haerne (b. April 17, 1982)
    Katheryn de Haerne (b. April 20, 1985)

    Edith Jacqueline Marie de Haerne (b. July 31, 1960).

    Jean Geoffrey Joseph de Haerne (b. Dec. 13, 1964), who died on Dec. 26, 1996.

This family history was started by
Josephine de Harne Jones
in her diary written 1916-c.1922
and has been expanded upon by
her nephew
Michael Sidney Clark

Please contact Mike Clark if you notice
any corrections or additions that need to be made