Grand Ry (family)

Grand Ry coat of arms

Grand Ry (variable spellings: Grandry, Grandri, Grand'Ry, Grand-Ry ) is the name of a Catholic entrepreneurial family from what is now the Wallonia region in what is now Belgium . Its oldest known ancestors were mostly resident in the Pepinster area near Verviers in the 16th century as squires and their most successful distribution took place in the Eupen area from the 17th century . There several family members rose to become successful cloth manufacturers and dealers and were able to increase their wealth considerably and significantly shape their social and political influence in the city. For this, some of them were awarded imperial, Prussian and Belgian noble privileges.

history

Good Buschberg, Kettenis

After the town of Eupen had received town charter in 1674 and, from 1688, the right to hold free markets, the fine cloth manufacture in particular was able to establish itself in the town. That was the beginning of Eupen's long heyday, to which many manufacturers and merchants felt drawn. This is probably the reason why André de Grand Ry (1664–1727) was the first of his family to move from Verviers to Eupen, where he married into the Klebanck family. He bought the Buschberg estate in Kettenis , where he set up his first cloth factory, and the “Im Känntchen” house on the Klötzerbahn in the center of Eupen.

House Grand Ry (House Mennicken), Werthplatz

House Grand Ry, Klötzerbahn

Thal Castle

Four of his sons already gained a high reputation among the population as cloth manufacturers and traders, temporarily took over the mayor's office and had magnificent representative villas and castles built or restored by renowned architects. The eldest son, Jean Gilles (1701–1767), took over the ailing property "De Poorte" on Werthplatz in 1744 and had Johann Joseph Couven build the monumental Grand Ry (today Mennicken ) with thirteen axes over three floors in its place. which his descendants sold in 1786. His brother André (1707–1751) acquired the house at Marktplatz 8 in 1747 from the heir Thomas Bong and had it converted into a wool factory and trading house. With a brief interruption, during which it was owned by the Ackens family by marriage, it remained in the family of the Grand Rys until the beginning of the 20th century and was the seat of the “Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie.” Cloth factory and, since 1950, of the Grenz- Echoes . Another brother, Nicolas (1709–1763), initially inherited the cloth factory on the Buschberg. In addition, he took over the house “Im Känntchen” on the Klötzerbahn from his father, had it laid down and, in 1761, also by Couven, built the imposing three-winged town villa Haus Grand Ry with a large courtyard . After five generations of family ownership, the imperial post office took over in 1889 and in 1984 the government of the German-speaking community of Belgium moved there . A third brother, Renier François (1716–1777), was the builder of Thal Castle in Kettenis around 1755 , which initially remained in family ownership until 1801 and was taken over again in 1899 by Andreas Karl Hubert von Grand Ry , a descendant of a cousin line could be. He had already inherited Weims Castle, acquired by his grandfather André Joseph François (1780–1849) , which was sold by his son Joseph (1870–1929) in 1917 and Thal Castle two years later by his widow.

Other town villas or palace complexes had been built by other members of the family over the years or purchased for a longer period of time, including the house at Klötzerbahn 27, the construction of which is attributed to Renier François Grand Ry in 1757 and has been the seat of the Magistrate's Court since 1940. Furthermore, in 1836 the house at Gospertstrasse 17 and the house at Kaperberg 8, which Alfred von Grand Ry (1872–1943) acquired in 1906 and which has been state-owned since 1973. In 1806, Marie Isabelle Simonis (1747–1784), wife of Mayor André Joseph Grand'Ry (1744–1801), received the Crapoel manor near Walhorn , which remained in the Grand Rys family until 1854. Similarly, in 1819 Marie Catherine Mostert (1753–1837), wife of Jacques Michel Grand'Ry (1743–1798), was awarded the Stockem Castle , which was owned by the family until 1937. But the Grand Rys also owned other noble residences outside of Eupen, such as Lontzen Castle in Lontzen from 1845 to 1882 or, from 1858, Kasteel Erenstein in Kerkrade , which they donated to the Franciscans from France in 1903 .

The family's further economic success was largely dependent on the eventful history of Eupen. Until it was taken over by the French in 1794, the area was under the Habsburgs , from 1815 it belonged to Prussia and was annexed to Belgium by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 . This caused different clients up to the highest levels of government and different sales markets and thus the basis for the family's success and advancement. The first and longest existing factory was built by André Grand Ry (1664-1727), who moved from Verviers and operated for several generations as a cloth factory, dye works, tannery, wool spinning mill and laundry until the 1970s. The cotton factories "J. Grand Ry & O. Poswick ”in Verviers and on the Ellermühle in Stolberg (Rhld.) , As well as the cloth factories“ Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie. ”In downtown Eupen, the company“ Andre Joseph Grand Ry ”in Langesthal and the worsted spinning mill "Gülcher & Grand Ry", both in Eupen-Unterstadt.

In addition, a clever marriage policy with other successful entrepreneurial families in the region led to the establishment of a successful network with influential people from business and politics. In addition to their entrepreneurial activities, individual family members were involved on various political levels. Both during the Habsburg era and under the French and Prussian governments, the family provided the city mayor several times or was represented in the Prussian House of Representatives.

Worsted yarn factories Eupen

The decline of the cloth industry, which began for economic and political reasons towards the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the annexation of Eupen to Belgium, was ultimately decisive for the fact that the Grand Ry family had or had to part with most of their properties and then only in the Eupen area still occasionally played a prominent role. With the death of Alfred von Grand Ry (1872–1943), director of the Eupens worsted yarn factory , and his four children, the importance of the family in the city of Eupen came to an end, but is still present in other cities.

Most of the family found their final resting place in three large family graves in the Eupen city cemetery, two relatives received a grave of honor in the Eupen Nikolauskirche . In honor of the family, streets in Verviers and Kettenis are named after her.

Nobility uprisings

Several family members received a noble privilege for their services to the development of the city and the economy as well as for their political commitment:

In 1773 Henri Joseph de Grand Ry (1740-1806) was raised to hereditary nobility by Empress Maria Theresa and in 1777 declared a knight .
In 1827 Jacques Charles Maurice de Grand Ry (1777–1840) received recognition of the hereditary Prussian nobility from Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia

André Joseph François

In 1829 André Joseph François (1780–1849) was raised to the Prussian nobility
1844 Confirmation of hereditary nobility for Jules André Joseph Hubert de Grand'Ry (1805–1876), son of the previous one
In 1933 Alfred de Grand Ry (1872-1943) was confirmed by King Albert I of Belgium with the untitled Belgian nobility.
In 1936 Julius de Grand Ry (1880–1966) received from King Leopold III. from Belgium the nobility rise to the Belgian baron class , transferable to the firstborn.

coat of arms

In the middle of a silver shield there is a black balance beam that extends over half the shield and is provided with a gold ring at the bottom. The balance beam is kept in balance by two red lions standing on it by holding the vertical black balance handle with their front paws. Under the scales a red crescent moon over a blue wavy shield base . On the helmet with red and silver helmet covers a growing red lion.

Genealogy (extract)

André Grandry (1664–1727), was the first of the von Verviers family to come to Eupen, a cloth manufacturer on the Buschberg in Kettenis; around 1700 acquired the house "Im Känntchen" on the Klötzerbahn ⚭ 1693 Maria Elisabeth Klebanck (1673–1755). the couple had 13 children, including:
1. Jean Gilles (Egidius) Grand Ry (1701–1767), cloth manufacturer, mayor of Eupen in 1730, 1740 and 1741, officer in the vigilante group, had the Grand Ry house on Werthplatz, later the Mennicken House, built ⚭ Maria Theresia Bevers ( 1706–1785)
  1. Henri Joseph de Grand Ry (1740–1806), cloth manufacturer, mayor in 1772, ennobled in 1773 and knighted in 1777, sold the Grand Ry house on Werthplatz in 1786 to Wilhelm Scheibler from Monschau , received the Marktplatz 8 house from his uncle and sold it in 1779 the banker Heinrich Ackens ⚭ I .: Sara Philippine Schamp (1734–1792), II .: Marie Thérèse de la Hamaide (1772–1831)
2. André Grand Ry (1707–1751), cloth manufacturer, mayor in 1744 and 1745, acquired the house at Marktplatz 8, ⚭ Maria Elisabeth Fey (1715–1759)
3. Nicolas Joseph
  
  Nicolas Joseph Grand'Ry (1709–1763), cloth manufacturer on the Buschberg in Kettenis, mayor in 1752, 1753 and 1754, had the "Im Känntchen" torn down and the new Grand Ry house built on the same site as the company headquarters; he was considered one of the wealthiest citizens of Eupen ⚭ Marie Elisabeth de Wampe (1717–1794).
  1. Jacques Michel Grand'Ry (1743–1798), cloth manufacturer and partner in the Buschberg cloth dye works ⚭ Marie Catherine Mostert (1753–1837), heiress of Stockem Castle
    1. Marie Anne Joséphine Grand'Ry (1776–1853) ⚭ Jacques Joseph Grand'Ry (1778–1838), Lord of the Crapoel Estate (see below)
    2. Jacques Charles Maurice von Grand'Ry (1777–1840), Buschberg dye works, bought back the house at Marktplatz 8 through marriage and set up the “Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie.” Cloth factory there. City council member, received the Prussian nobility ⚭ Barbara in 1827 Cornelia Ackens (1784-1860).
      1. Alphons von Grand'Ry (1809–1894), partner in the cloth factory “Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie.” In Marktplatz 8, city council member ⚭ Hubertine Mathilde Hüffer (1827–1894)
      2. Armand von Grand'Ry (1813–1904), partner in the cloth factory “Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie.” In Marktplatz 8, also ran a tannery, wool spinning mill and laundry in Kettenis-Buschberg ⚭ Rosa Anne Augustine Franssen (1820–1898).
        Eugène von Grand'Ry (1845–1912) ⚭ Marie Xhoffray (1847–1895).
        Alfred Clémens Hubert von Grand'Ry (1872–1943), partner in “Ackens, Grand Ry and Cie.” In Marktplatz 8 and member of the city council. In 1928 he became director of the worsted yarn factories founded by Robert Wetzlar in Eupen-Unterstadt, an amalgamation of several regional textile entrepreneurs, including the former cloth factory "Gülcher & Grand Ry", which became one of the most modern worsted yarn spinning mills in Europe. At the same time he took over the house at Kaperberg 8 in 1906, which his children lived in until 1946 and eventually sold. In 1933 Grand'Ry was given the untitled Belgian nobility, ⚭ Marie Urbach (1876–1941)
  2. André Joseph
    
    André Joseph Grand'Ry (1744–1801), cloth manufacturer “Cloth, Casimir and Circassiennefabrik” Gospert, Mayor of Eupen in the years 1783, 1792, 1793, 1794; inherited the Grand Ry house after his mother's death; Grave slab in St. Nikolaus ⚭ Marie Isabelle Simonis (1747–1784), daughter of Jacques Joseph Simonis, director of the Simonis cloth factory in Verviers, Marie inherited the Crapoel manor near Walhorn,
    
    Marie Agnès Grand'Ry (1777–1837) ⚭ Iwan Simonis (1769–1829), director of the Simonis billiard cloth factory and mayor of Verviers
    
    Jacques Joseph Grand'Ry (1778–1838), inherited the Crapoel manor and the Grand Ry ⚭ Marie Anne Joséphine Grand'Ry (1776–1853), daughter of Jacques Michel Grand'Ry auf Buschberg and Marie Catherine Mostert (see above) Das The couple had four children, including:
    Charles Joseph Jacques de Grand'Ry (1805–1875), inherited the Grand Ry house, which after his death and the death of his siblings was transferred to his son-in-law André Charles Hubert von Grand Ry (1837–1903), who sold it to the Imperial Postal Administration ( see below) ⚭ Anne Elisabeth The Losen (1809–1881)
    Marie Anne Julie de Grand Ry (1838–1924) ⚭ André Charles Hubert von Grand Ry (1837–1903), manor owner and politician (see below)
    
    André Joseph François von Grand'Ry (1780–1849), Mayor of Eupen from 1822 to 1838, captain of the militia, president of the Chamber of Commerce, moved in 1839 to Verviers. He acquired Weims Castle and Lontzen Castle in 1845. Grand'Ry was a bearer of the Order of the Red Eagle and was raised to the Prussian nobility in 1829 ⚭ Marie Thérèse Godin (1779–1839).
    
    Jules André Joseph Hubert
    
    Jules André Joseph Hubert von Grand'Ry (1805–1876), inherited Lontzen Castle, received confirmation of Prussian nobility in 1844, tomb in St. Nikolaus ⚭ I .: Blanche Marie Joséphine Simonis (1810–1838), daughter of Iwan Simonis, II. : Euphrosine Dumon (1823-1895). The second marriage resulted in seven children, including:
    
    Berthe Euphrosine Marie von Grand'Ry (1844–1911) ⚭ Burggraaf Alfred Simonis (1842–1931), including President of the Belgian Senate .
    
    Gabrielle Emmanuelle Henriette von Grand'Ry (1847–1915) ⚭ Baron Alphonse de Moreau , among other things Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Economy of Belgium.
    
    Albert Joseph Marie
    
    Albert Joseph Marie von Grand'Ry (1848–1902), inherited Lontzen Castle and sold it in 1882 ⚭ Countess Elisabeth De Pinto (1852–1936).
    Jules Joseph Henri de Grand'Ry (1880-1966), Mayor of Eupen from 1920 to 1925, civil servant in the Belgian Colonial Ministry, sub-commissioner for the district of Eupen, Belgian assistant district commissioner for the canton of Eupen , was awarded the knightly class of the Belgian Order of Leopold and the Belgian Awarded the Order of the Crown and in 1936 raised to the status of Belgian baron ⚭ Joséphine Leirens (1880–1978)
    
    Henri Guillaume Joseph von Grand Ry (1810–1878), cloth manufacturer, inherited Weims Castle ⚭ Felicie Le Picard (1809–1881)
    
    Andreas
    
    André Charles Hubert von Grand Ry (1837–1903), manor owner and member of the Reichstag, inherited the Grand Ry house from his father-in-law in 1877 and sold it to the Imperial Postal Administration before 1893, also inherited Weims Castle and bought Thal Castle for the family back in 1899 ⚭ Marie Anne Julie de Grand Ry (1838–1924), daughter of Charles Joseph Jacques de Grand'Ry (see above). As a widow, she sold Thal Castle, which she had inherited, in 1919. The couple had several children including:
    André Joseph Jules von Grand Ry (1870–1929) inherited Weims Castle and sold it in 1917. He died unmarried in Munich
    
    Alfred Maria Frédéric von Grand'Ry (1815–1885), director of the ore mining company “Nouvelle Montagne” in Verviers ⚭ Marie Joséphine Countess de Pinto (1820–1875)

literature

Généalogie de Grand'Ry , in: Annuaire de la noblesse de Belgique , Brussels, 1873
Willy Goor: History and genealogy of the de (von) Grand'Ry family , in: Eupener Zeitung, 1924
Juliette Laureyssens: Industriële naamloze vennootschappen in België, 1819–1857 , Leuven-Paris, 1975
Bernhard Heeren: The Grand'Ry estate on Buschberg (Kettenis) and its history , in: Geschichtliches Eupen, 1985
Oscar Coomans de Brachéne: État présent de la noblesse belge , Brussels, 1989
Fabrice Müllender: Grand Ry - Grandeur and Granit , GE-Verlag, Eupen, 2018, ISBN 978-3-8671-2132-3