Jean B Jaunay | François M Jaunay | Louis B Jaunay | Frank C Jaunay | Robert JC Jaunay | Frank JC Jaunay

François Marie Jaunay 1776–1838

An English interlude The story of François Marie Jaunay 4

Finding records of François Marie Jaunay has not been helped by long standing family folk-lore about him. Records of his life are few and little detail of his significant life events have been revealed. Little is known about him from the time of his birth until 1806 saw him as a partner in a Leicester Square hotel. There are records of him paying rates to the Westminster Council on a proprty in Conduit Street from 1801.

Some twenty years of research has uncovered the sparse information in this narrative. However, It is fairly certain that the popular story within the family can be discounted and he was never a member of the King's Swiss Guard [Gardes Suisses] many of whom were slaughtered by the Paris mobs in 1792. He would have been 16 years old at the time—hardly old enough to be a member of this elite bodyguard to the King of France! It is more likely his master required him to join the armies seeking the restoration of the monarchy.

One would think that the patron of a thriving large hotel in London, which catered for French refugees in the years following the French Revolution would have left some mark on the public record! There are a few references in the news and advertising columns of the London Times. His hotel was known by the author, Thackery who mentions it in his work, The history of Pendennis, Chpt 30:

They [the King and Queen of France] went away from Paris last Tuesday night and are living at this present moment in Jaunay's hotel.

Furthermore, the members of François' family remain beyond the reach of the researcher. The origin of his parents has not been determined although the relationship with the Condés may be an avenue of further research. At the time of his marriage and for the birth of his daughters, François and his family lived in 33 Conduit Street just around the corner from the church of that parish, St Georges Church Hanover Square. His profession described as a cook. Prior to this he was a co-proprietor at the well known Sablonière Hôtel at Nos 30-31 Leicester Square. This establishment was described as...

a French house where a table d'hôtel affords the lovers of French cookery and French conversation an opportunity for gratification at a comparatively moderate charge. [André Louis Simon, History of the Champagne Trade in London Wyman & Sons Ltd, London 1905 pp92-93]