Du Port, Lord of Mouillepied

Below is a page from an old book called Dictionnaire historique et critique by Pierre Bayle who lived in the late 1600's. He was a Huguenot and his writing reflects his perspective. This book was published many times, well after he was dead. Wikipedia has some information about the author and book.

In the lower left paragraph, there is a mention of du Port, Lord de Mouillepied. Google translates the paragraph to read:

He married lady originally from Poitou. Heidanus is called in Latin a carlottam Portuguese. I believe that means Charlott du Port, She was the daughter of Peter du Port, Lord of Boismasson and Mouillepied, adviser to the king and curator living in the armies of his majesty, the only son of the Joaclim du Port, Poitevin gentleman, Lord of Mouillepied. , The mother of Peter du Port was named Jeanne du Chene only daughter of Joseph du Chene (lord of the Veil, and advises the king's physician, Anne, daughter of Margaret Buda, who was the father learned Guillaume Bude.

You can go to the Dictionnaire and see it much better (page 403) , and even down load it. Since this was written in the late 1600's, 100 years after the de Mouilpied (early spellings in Guernsey use de Mouillepied) Huguenots went to Guernsey, at least there remained a du Port in France.

So who went to Guernsey? Were they sons who would not be inheriting property and did not work for the King? Were they sons who became protestant and fled? These are mysteries still to be solved. Let me know if you have more information .. demoulpied@gmail.com

What's In a Motto?

The de Mouilpied Coat of Arms that was passed down the family had the traditional ribbon spanning across the bottom. On the ribbon it says: Cingit Et Obstat. In addition, on the several copies obtained, there is in French the explanation: "Du Port, Seigneur de Mouillepie et de Boismasson". Remember we are surmising this Marquis, Lord of Mouillepie, but with the name Du Port, is the one who fled to Guernsey to set up shop and changed his name to deMouilpied. Actually very early birth and genealogy records on Guernsey show the early spelling of de Mouillepie often before the spelling was solidified. In addition, a cousin in Maine, Deborah deMoulpied (yes same name, but more distinguished than I) was told early in her child hood that the original spelling was Mouillepied. So interesting.

The Motto seems to not be from modern typical French, perhaps from old Occitan French or partially Latin. It certainly is several hundred years old which would fit in with the time frame of the late 1500's.

After much researching, obstat comes up more frequently to mean "obstacle, one to interfere". That makes pretty good sense if you were a knight or Marquis defending an area.

Cingit on the other hand has been very difficult to find. The only translation I can come up with is the word "scathing". I suppose this also makes sense if you were in the business of being a Marquis.

The colors of the shield also might mean something, they had to have chosen them for a reason. Blue typically means strength and loyalty and silver means peace - interesting combination.

If anyone can find out more, please let us all know!