A small article on Marguerite de Normandie in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), a publication I assume meets some research standard for validity, said she was born 13 Mar 1686 in Geneva, Switzerland, daughter of Andrew and Louise (Clerc) de Normandie.

1761, May 25. Budd, Margaret, of Northampton Twp., Burlington Co., widow; will of. To my only surviving daughter, Mary Budd, all my clothing; but, if she dies, then to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Ross, wife of Alexander Ross. Granddaughter Rebeckah Jolly, £5. Grandchildren, Mary Hopewell, Deborah Budd, Margaret Cowgill and Margaret Budd, £5 each. Executor — said Alexander Ross. Witnesses — Colin Campbell, Elizabeth Elton, Mary Campbell. Proved May 12, 1762.

Several key dates associated with the life of Marguerite de Normandie and Lewis Jolly are problematic. The article cited says she came to America with her father in 1708 and met Lewis Jolly here. Other sources say she married Lewis Jolly, had daughter Marie and Lewis died -- before Marguerite emigrated. But Marie Jolly, daughter of Lewis and Marguerite, was christened in Philadelphia in 1707 and her sister Susanna in 1705. So whether they married before or after their arrival in America, I don’t know, but one way or the other, I believe Lewis and Marguerite were both immigrant ancestors of ours.

IMMIGRANT. Despite several sources on the storied de Normandie family that say Lewis Jolly died in Geneva, Switzerland shortly after his marriage to Marguerite de Normandie, the proof that he did live at least some of his life in America comes in the form of several baptisms here of his children and his will on file in Philadelphia County. I assume, though, he came from Geneva.

The will of Lewis Jolley of the City of Philadelphia, written 17 Feb 1725 proved 10 Mar 1725. He named no children, probably since most or all were minors. He left everything to and designated as Executrix his wife Margaret. I’m certain that daughter Mary had not yet married, but it would have been nice had Lewis at least named his children or even mentioned he had some.

According to Gearhart, Lewis and Marguerite had these children: Susanna baptized 1705 married Thomas Hamilton, Marie baptized 1707 married John Beckett, Theophilus baptized 1710 and Andrew baptized 1719.

A book, the “Genealogy of the Linthicum and Allied Families”, gives a pretty good summary of the early Budd family, one of some importance in Colonial New Jersey.

Thomas was the son of William who was the immigrant of the line. William’s father, also named Thomas, died in England in prison for his religious beliefs. They were all Quakers which is what got them into trouble in England and what possibly brought them to have some connection with our ancestors in New Jersey, the earliest of whom were also Quakers.

It was the will of Margaret Budd, who mentioned her granddaughter Mary Hopewell, that was the tipoff that Margaret had married again after her husband, Lewis Jolly, died. For awhile I only had an abstract of her will and I didn’t think I needed to know much more about that marriage or the Budd family, but then I found an actual copy of Margaret’s will and saw something very interesting that I had totally missed in the abstract.

Margaret mentioned in her will: “my only surviving daughter, Mary Budd.” But Mary (Marie) had married John Beckett, how could she be Mary Budd? The answer is that Marie married John Budd after John Beckett died. John Budd, I believe, was Thomas’ son by an earlier marriage.

But which came first -- Margaret’s marriage to Thomas or Marie’s to John? The chronology of all of these events is not established with certainty but definitely something I would like to know -- it is discussed as part of the discussion of John Beckett.