John Epperson, Sr.

CURATOR NOTE: … .there is no trace of any relationship of Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette, d'Epernon to an Antoinette Anne Epernon, nor of any offspring that emigrated to America.

Comments:

• There is no record for Elizabeth Beard marrying an Apperson/Epperson. The records do show her getting married three times but never to an Apperson. Interestingly the same records show a Christening of Elizabeth Apperson with her father Roger.
• Some time in the past the Apperson family was told that they are descendants of the Duke of Epernon. The story is the son married Elizabeth Beard and fled to America. Historical records show him go back to Framce.
• The Appersons probably got their name from the name of the town of Eperstone in Northamptonshire in England.

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Unverified notes

Notes for *JOHN (ALIAS EPECON) EPERNON:

JOHN D'EPERNON He changed his name to Epperson to establish English identity.

REFN: A G2HG-C0

!MAR: (1) Sara Fondan Remon, Bef 1658, film B 0394724 p 86; !MAR: (2) 25 May 1671, St Andrew, Plymouth, Devon, England, Batch M001832,

Source 823684 F (Elizabeth Beard);

Emigrated in 1675 to Virginia, USA, (with other kin & friends, Maugier, Poingdestres etc). Death after 1689; Vestry Bk St Peters P. 19 and 20, John Epecen, alias John Epperson, alias John Epernon;

VEE family tradition; Born at time of relocation to British Isles; Later his first Marriage was to Sara (Remon) Fondan of the Channel Isle of Jersey Bef 1658, he had sons John Louis, John, and Charles;

Principle residence was Glamorganshire Wales near Swansea; Spouse Sara died before 1670. His 2nd marriage to Elizabeth Beard, was 25 May 1671, St Andrew, Plymouth, Devon, England; He and his Spouse emigrated to Maryland, thence to Virginia, USA, with his 2nd son John and wife Elizabeth Alexander (from 1st marriage). Son William born at sea and later had son Richard. See "Survey" group p. 20 of St Peters Parish (Virginia) Vestry book, 4 May 1689, see John

Epecen, Alias John Epperson, Alias John Epernon. See "kin" George Maugier who also emigrated in 1675 from C I Jersey, (and Hamshire old England) to Newbury, New England, USA, British Film 0394727 p 96+, (sold property to Peter Vallett, 1674-5);

John (alias Epecon)3 EPERNON (Bernard de la Valette Defoix2 NOGARET, Jean Louis Nogaret de la Vallette1) was born in the Netherlands 1638.(29) John died after 1689 in New Kent County, Virginia.(30)

He married twice. He married Sara FONDAN REMON in The Channel Isle of Jersey, British Isles, about 1656.(31) Sara was born in The Channel Isle of Jersey, British Isles about 1637.(32) Sara was the daughter of Jean REMON and Sara FONDAN. Sara died before 1662 in Glamorganshire, Wales.(33) He married Elizabeth BEARD in Saint Andrew, Plymouth, Devon, England, 25 May 1671.(34) Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry BEARD and Aves ???. Elizabeth died 1680 in Virginia.(35) She was christened in Bodmin, Cornwall, England, 19 June 1652.(36)

Few details are known about this period in our family's genealogy, and many events can only be speculated. However, it is one of the most important generations in our family's genealogy. This generation would see a change in our family name and bring our genealogy to America. Whereas, John's father, Bernard, fled France as a Vallette, John, would arrive in America as an Épperson.

It is believed that our surname originated from the French Peerage, Épernon, a prestigious title granted John's grandfather, Jean Louis Nogaret de La Vallette, by King Henry III of France. In 1638 the Duc d' Épernon's son, Bernard, fled France after being falsely accused of treason. He escaped to the Netherlands before migrating to Wales. It is unknown when the family name changed, but evidence indicates the name changed while the family sojourned in Wales. As a political fugitive from the French Crown, Bernard may have changed his surname to hide his identity. Charged with treason, he faced certain death if captured. Or as Edna Epperson Brinkman related above, the name may have been changed for a more basic reason. Apparently, the family desired to come to the English Colonies in America. However, passage on an English ship was available only to loyal English subjects. It is said that the Duc's family changed the family name to an English spelling and pledged loyalty to the Queen Elizabeth in order to gain passage to the New World. It is believed that he altered the spelling of his French title 'Epernon' to Épperson, the suffix "son" and the double use of 'pp' being common for English names. More than likely, however, the name change occurred upon the family's arrival in Wales in order for the family to become invisible to the French Crown. I doubt if Edna Brinkman Epperson's account of a name change for passage is valid, as it would be another generation before the family would leave Wales and travel to the New World.

Born at sea between Netherlands and Jersey while father was fleeing France going to England Finally settled with father in Glamorganshire, Wales. Apparently he was raised in Jersey by surrogate parents because his father, Bernard, returned to France in 1643 and recanted his Protestant beliefs. Namesake: Abt. 1675, Anglicized name to Epperson Immigration: 1675, immigrated to New Kent, Virginia  He married (1) SARA FONDAN REMON 1656 in Jersey Island, England He married second, Elizabeth Beard, May 25, 1671, in St. Andrews, Plymouth, England.