Notes on sources and investigation
People investigating
the Labalmondiere history.
My grandparents ( Julian Arthur and Katherine (nee Farrer) Labalmondiere were both interested in the family history and performed research both at the British Library and also at the French National Archives. It is believed that they were responsible for adding the ‘de’ to the labalmondiere name.
My mother Margaret Barratt ( nee de Labalmondiere) worked at the papers on and off from the 1960s to her death. She did not to my knowledge visit any libraries, except with her mother as a child.
I have taken interest in the papers from a young age and helped my mother from time to time. I have currently custody of the 5 tin trunks containing the papers. I expect to transcribe more papers and make them available on the Web, when I can devote more time (ie when I am no longer in full time employment).
My brother in law Robert Bennett has recently done considerable research in the U, particularly on the life of Douglas Labalmondiere and this information is on the site.
Family papers in
general
We are lucky to have a few papers from the Labalmondiere family history. However they form a very sparse set and the reasons for many of the crucial events are not to be found. Perhaps this is typical of family papers.
For example there are large numbers of empty envelopes, which have been carefully preserved, presumably on the basis that the contents were of no significance but that the stamps may be valuable.
French papers
There are a number of pre-revolutionary letters between Jacques Constance (guillotined) and his brother. No originals survive from the period immediately prior to his execution. However originals written in La conciergerie are in the French National Archives.
The faily lost much of their money
in the failed sugar plantations in Demerary ( JJ Labal) and