Hamlin, Marie Caroline Watson. Legends of Le Détroit. Detroit: Thorndike Nourse, 1884; Reprint, Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1977. HTML & Ed. Marshall Davies Lloyd (August 10, 2000). [Tuttle Books]

LEGENDS OF LE DETROIT

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MARIE CAROLINE WATSON HAMLIN

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ILLUSTRATED BY
MISS ISABELLA STEWART,

DETROIT:
THORNDIKE NOURSE,
1884

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DEDICATION To the Loved Ones at "Tonnancour," on the Banks of Lake Sainte Clare, where Under the Grateful Shade of a Majestic Willow I Have Listened to Many a Tale of the Mystic Past, These Legends Are Most Affectionately Dedicated. M. C. W. Hamlin Detroit, December, 1883

The word "Legend" explains itself. Historical and romantic souvenirs hang like tattered drapery around the fair City of the Straits. Interest and curiosity have only to shake its venerable folds to scatter fragmentary history and legendary lore.

These weird tales, quaint customs and beautiful traditions have been handed down from generation to generation as sacred trusts. Originally brought from their cradle in Normandy, they are still tenderly cherished in the homes of the old families of Norman descent settled along "le Détroit.

It has been my good fortune to hear many of them from loving, though aged lips of ancestors whose memories extend back into the last century.

It seems a befitting tribute to these noble and hardy pioneers that a descendant of theirs should gather and preserve in an imperishable form these mementoes they valued so highly.

For my interest in the subject, and for the historical facts, in the writing of which I have tried to be strictly accurate, I am indebted to Charlevoix, La Hontan, Lambert, Margry's Collections, Parkman, Rameau, Lemoyne, Campbell, Sheldon, Lanman, and others. The Pontiac Manuscript, Morris' Diary, the Cass, Trowbridge and Roberts' Memoirs have also furnished material.

For the data made use of in the articles on the "French Families" I am under much obligation to the records of Old Ste. Anne's Church, to the researches of my friend L'Abbé Tanguay, and to the brilliant essayist, poet and historian, Benjamin Sulte, of Ottawa.

BOUT fifteen miles below Detroit lies the beautiful island called Grosse Isle, it being the largest of the group between Lakes Erie and Sainte Claire.

Its wonderful fertility, the luxuriant growth of its forest trees and the beauty of its situation so wove the spell of its seductive charm around the heart of an English officer, that he resolved to resign and spend the remainder of his days in this enchanting retreat. His name was William Macomb. He was of Scottish extraction, and he had come to Detroit with the English troops in 1760. Macomb obtained an Indian grant for his coveted

treasure, and soon improvements arose, testifying his earnest desire to make himself comfortable in his island home. In 1808 his heirs, John, William and David, through their attorney, Solomon Sibley, and their agent, Angus McIntosh, received full acknowledgment from the American Government. Energy, enterprise and administrative ability were inseparable from the name of Macomb, one of its members, Alexander, becoming general-in-chief of the army of the United States. Grosse Isle, Belle Isle,^* and large tracts of land in Detroit, belonged to this family, and if retained until the present time would have made them immensely wealthy. The lavish hospitality and unbounded extravagance which characterized all the old families during the military epoch, compelled a gradual transfer of property. But some of the descendants, though no longer bearing the family name, still preserve homesteads on Grosse Isle.

*See page 273 and page 479 Land Titles in the Michigan Territory American State Papers xvi., vol. 1, Public Lands.

Monday, December 2,1805.

John, William and David Macomb claimed an island situated in the Strait, three miles above Detroit, called Hog Island. It contains 704 acres, was surveyed by Mr. Boyd in 1771, and purchased from the Indians of the Ottawa and Chippewa nations in council, under direction of his Majesty's commander-in-chief, and conveyed to Lt. George McDougall, whose heirs sold it to Wm. Macomb in 1793.

Co[n]temporary with the Macombs was the family of the Navarres. Robert 1st of the name was fifth in descent from Antoine, Duke of Vendome, half-brother of Henry 4th of Navarre. He came to Detroit in 1730 as sub-intendant of Louis XIV, having entire control of all the affairs of the French Government outside of the military authority, in this part of la Nouvelle France. His children and grandchildren became an honor to him, and proverbial for their great beauty and Bourbon faces. They so married and intermarried with the Macombs, that it was difficult to say where one family ended and the other began.

William Macomb, Jr., had become the humble captive of the beautiful Monique Navarre, a granddaughter of "Robert the Writer," as he was called. He had invited her with her brother Robert, to visit the island during the sultry August weather, and one morning they embarked in their little sailboat to drink in the refreshing breezes from Lake Erie. On landing before the Macomb mansion they were disappointed to learn that the family had been called to Elba Island, just below, by the death of a friend, but the "pani"^* slave left in attendance assured them

^*At the time referred to slavery was universal, and originally all prisoners taken in Indian wars, who were not whites, were called by the French "pani"--spelled by the English to conform with the . . .

they must come in and make themselves comfortable, as Master William had left word, thinking it possible that the visitors would come, that he would reach home by sunset. The aspect of the sky silenced all hesitancy, as one of those sudden storms born only on a sultry, tropical day, swept over the island.

As the vivid flashes darted across the water, Monique, who was of a nervous temperament, begged the pani slave to split off fragments of the Christmas log (usually preserved half-burnt from year to year) and to throw them on the fire, "to prevent the thunder from falling;" then, glancing at the door and seeing a branch of white thorn suspended there she became tranquil. This bush was considered a divine lightning rod, the superstition probably arising from the fact that its thorny branches crowned the Saviour's head. An old legend says that wherever drops of His precious blood fell, flowers sprang forth. A portion of this crown is still seen in the relics of the Holy Roman Empire in the government collection at Vienna.^*

pronunciation, "pawnee." The word gradually came to mean a person of mixed Indian and negro blood, and is so used in this narrative.

^*Another superstition was that a piece of bread which had been blessed at three Christmas masses would preserve a house from harm.

Gradually the storm subsided, but the shadows of night crept swiftly on and still the family returned not. Suddenly a sharp, shrill whistle fell on the expectant ears, startling all to their feet. Monique, who had been gazing vaguely into the twilight, slammed the blinds together hurriedly exclaiming, "It is the feu follet dancing over the fields, and if I had not shut it out, it would have entered and strangled us. Le Bon Dieu preserve William and the others."

"A truce to your fears, ma soeur," answered Robert. "They can take care of themselves, but as it is clearing up we will soon go in search of them." Thus did he soothe the nervous girl; for himself he had no fears, and being a student at the bar, naturally felt little respect for the higher powers or the devil.

Like other scoffers of the period he thought the feu follet merely inflammable gases arising from miasmatic exhalations of swampy lands. Monique and many others thought this "an easy way of explaining it." Had they lived in our days they would have found a great number who attribute to electricity things which they can not explain.

"Tell me all about the feu follet, chère said Robert, anxious to divert her and lull her apprehensions. A glad light of pleasure

stole into her eyes, and a tender blush suffused her face, battling with that triumphant expression which every woman wears when she thinks she has won a convert to her opinions.

"Mon frère, the feu follet are not always considered dangerous. When twin lights are seen stealing along in the soft twilight they are called 'Castor and Pollux,' and this is a happy omen. But when a single intense light appears it is named 'Helene,' and he who sees it must at once throw himself on the ground covering his face, for so seductive is its fascination that it allures him to deserted bogs and steep ravines, and leaves him to die. There is a Norman tradition which exists among the habitants coming from Caen, in Normandy, that the feu follet are divided into two species, the male and female, and are supposed to be the souls of those who have sinned against purity. These people of the Norman race also call maidens who have fallen from grace 'fourolle,' as fourolle Jeanne, fourolle Katishe, and believe that the evil one gives them the power of divesting themselves of their body, and transforming into a bright light which runs 'en fourolle,' leading many to destruction who mistake it for some friendly signal when astray in swampy places. "

As Monique finished her explanation she rose

and insisted that they should go in search of the host and family. They started out followed by the pani, who held his blazing pine knot which threw its uncertain light on the pathway and made a weird tableau as its flickering rays alternately bathed the little procession in light, then in shadow. They made the woods resound with their shouts, but no answering call greeted their anxious ears, and the pani expressed his anxiety, as "Master William had surely promised to return, and he never knew him to fail in spite of rain or sunshine." At last, as they proceeded on their doleful journey, the ground grew miry and swampy, while the dismal croaking of frogs and the sickly miasmatic odors added to their dread forebodings. Just then, when the saddest presentiments were invading the hearts of the courageous searchers, Monique uttered one last despairing cry in which all the energy of her nature seemed centered, so anxious was she it should reach the lost one. Instantaneously the sharp report of a pistol startled from their nests the little birds which fluttered around chirping plaintively, as if seeking companionship from the invaders of their solitary and mournful abode. Following the sound of the pistol, the searchers saw in the swamp an object in the water, and soon their willing hands had made a sort of

bridge which enabled them to approach it. It proved to be the lost wanderer, hopelessly struggling in the miry embrace. He was extricated from his perilous position and the little procession went back rejoicing.

On arriving at home, seated at the hospitable table, William related his adventure. As soon as the storm subsided he had started homeward; the remainder of the family were to stay at Elba until the morning. In the darkness he had lost his way , and seeing a bright light had followed it. As he drew nearer it appeared to recede until he found himself plunged into the swamp. He cried out for help until exhausted, and his only answer was the mocking laughter of goblins. Realizing the hopelessness of his position, he commended his spirit to his Maker and calmly awaited the result. Suddenly it seemed to him as if the voice of his loved one was borne to his ears to soften the anguish of his last moments. Then other voices came so distinctly that he awoke from his lethargy, and thinking it possible that friends had heard his former cries for help, fired his pistol.

"It was the feu follet, mon ami, which led you astray. Yon cannot say you do not believe in it now," said Monique, as she glanced archly at her lover.

"Anything you believe in will suit me now and for all time," said the gallant William.

So on the next feast day they stood before the altar of Ste. Anne's in Detroit, and were made one forever.

Many French families of to-day claim among their ancestors a Lothman de Barrois. Antoine Lothman de Barrois was sent to America in 1665, as Secretary, Councillor and Agent General of the East India Company. Ile was also interpreter of the Portuguese language. He was the son of Jean and Marie Fournel, Chantel le Chateau, Diocése de Burges, Berry. He married, 1672, Marie Le Ber, whose family was a very distinguished one. She was a niece of Jeanne Le Ber de Senmenville, whose life has been written by the Historian Abbé Faillon. A branch of the Le Ber returned to France, and the descendants all acquired fame and wealth. One was a page to Madame la Dauphine, another a gallant officer, killed on the field of Magenta. The Chevalier Bellvoist, through his mother, belonged to the Le Ber family. Francois Lothman and Marie Le Ber had several children, among them were: Marianne, born 1680, married 1697, Francois Houdoin; Philippe, born 1672; Francois, born 1676, married at Detroit 1717, Marianne Sauvage; Charles, born 1678; Antoine, born 1683. Francois, born 1676, married Marianne Sauvage, and established himself at Detroit--their children were: Marie, born 1719, married 1734, Robert Navarre, the Sub-Intendant and Royal Notary, and is the ancestress of the Navarres; Louise, born 1722, married 1736, Pierre Chesne La Butte, the interpreter; Catherine, born 1727, married 1747, Pierre de St. Cosme, who was one of the earliest Justices of Peace. One of the daughters, Theotiste St. Cosme, married in 1776, Philippe De Jean, son of Philippe, Councillor and Sénéchal of Toulouse and Jeanne De Roque. De Jean was a Judge under En[g]lish rule. A great grand-daughter of Pierre St. Cosme became the first wife of Judge Jas. May. Catherine married again, Antoine Cuillerier de Beaubieu, [Beaubien], by whom she had many children. Antoine, born 1733; Agathe, born 1735, married Jean Bapte Reaume, son of Hyacinthe and Agathe de Lacelle; Laurent, married 1757, Catherine Cecyre.

The descendants of this family are very ably represented to-day in Detroit. Pierre, its founder in America, was born at Batiscan. in 1651, married Madeleine Grimard 1678. His branch is frequently known as Morand dit Grimard, it being then customary to add the mother's family name, especially if she brought a large dower to her husband. Of this marriage many children were born whose descendants in Canada were noted as clergymen, lawyers, and landed proprietors. Jean Bapte, a son of Pierre's, married 1707, Elizabeth Dubois, at Quebec, whose son, Charles Morand Grimard came to establish himself at Detroit some time

before the English Conquest in 1760. There was at that time another branch of the same family, who settled at Detroit; another Charles, who married in 1751, Catherine Belleperche, who belonged to the celebrated Couillard and Guyon De Buisson family, thus closely allied to La Mothe Cadillac's wife; their children were: Louis, born 1756; Charles. born 1755; Joseph, born 1762, married 1790, Catharine Boyce; Louise and Thérèse, born 1769; Maurice, born 1775, married 1800, Felise Meloche; Marthe, married 1800, Louis Campeau; Susanne, married 1805, Francois Campeau, son of Jean Bapte. Chas. Morand-Grimard, married in 1707, Marquerite Simard Tremblay, whose famiIy possessed the Seigneurie du Tremblay as early as 1681. She died in 1771, leaving two children: Louis, born 1769; Charles, born 1770. Louis, married 1794, Catherine Campeau, daughter of Jean Bapte and Catherine Boycé. One of his sons, (George), married 1826, Therese Tremblay, whose decscendants reside at Grosse Pointe. Charles, married 1794, Catherine Vessier dit Laferté, whose only child was the late Judge Chas. Morand. Charles, Jr., married 1822, Julie De Quindre, daughter of Antoine Daigneaux Douville De Quindre and Catherine des Rivières de la Moranddière. The children were: 1. Matilda, married James Watson; 2. Charles; 3. Julie, married Isaac Toll; 4. Virginie, married Francis St. Aubin ; 5. Mary Josephine, married Robert Mix, of Cleveland, 0., Aug. 3rd, 1836; Judge Chas. Moran married Justine McCormack, of N.Y., by whom he had the following children: 1. James, died unmarried; 2. William B., married 1872. Elise, daughter of James J. Vandyke, in 1875, Frances, daughter of Pierre Desnoyers. His administratire [administrative] faculty, his successful land operations have placed him in the foremost rank of Detroit capitalists. 3. John Vallié, married 1880, Emma Etheridge. daughter of the distinguished orator and politician, Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee. He is one of the most shecessful business men of Detroit, and his sterling personal worth has made him deservedly popular; 4. Catherine, married 1877, Henry D. Barnard, of Hartford, Conn.; 5. Alfred is a lawyer, and in partnership with his brother, Wm. B. Moran. He married, 1878, Satilda Butterfield. Judge Chas. Moran died in 1876, leaving the most valuable estate, with the exception of the Brush and Campau, in Detroit. Charles inherited this magnificent property from his grandfather, Charles Moran Grimard. The family dropped the d at the end of the name, and also the title Grimard about 1796. To the peculiar conservatism of the French settler to-day, so frequently and unjustly misunderstood, are their descendants indebted for the preservation of their ancestral estates; 5. A brief glance at the early history of Detroit will convince the candid and unbiased reader, that the position of the habitants during the various political changes which Detroit underwent was one requiring delicate tact and diplomatic ability.

Five successive flags waved over the fair "City of the Straits." One form of Government had scarcely enforced its laws and explained its policy before it vanished and gave place to another power. A disastrous fire destroyed their records. It is not strange that these country-tossed settlers looked with suspicion and indifference upon new ideas and improvments, their experience not having taught them to place much confidence in the existing orders of things. The old traditional Conservatism has fulfilled its mission, and handed to the present generation valuable estates, which, under the propessive management and enlarged ideas, founded upon a permanent form of Government, will bring, not only princely revenues to its owners, but be later a source of pride to the city.

This family so illustrious in the early days of the colony traces back in an unbroken line to Antoine de Bourbon, Duke de Vendome, father of Henry 4th, whose natural son, (1) Jean Navarre, married 1572 Perette Barat; (2) his son Martin Navarre de Villeroy married 1593 Jeanne Lefebre, whose son (3) Jean Navarre, married 1623, Susanna Le Clef; their son (4) Antoine Navarre, du Plessis en Bois, married 1665, Marie Lallemant, whose son (5) Antoine Marie Francois Navarre, married 1695, Jeanne Pluyette, whose (6) Robert Navarre, was sent to Fort Pontchartrain as Sub-Intendant and Royal Notary, where he married, 1734, Marie Lothman de Barrois, his son Robert (Robiste) married, 1792, Marie Louise Archange de Mersac, whose daughter Archange Louise married, 1796, Dominique Godé de Marantette, whose daughter, Marianne Navarre married 1822, Pierre Godfroy. Antoine Navarre du Plessis' other sons remained in France, and one of them married Catherine de la Rue; their only daughter married Jean Navarre de Livry (her first cousin) whose daughter in turn, Marie Jeanne Navarre, born 1709, married Jean Louis Navarre de Maisonneuse (her cousin) brother of Mons. de Navarre, Marquis de Longuejoue, whose wife, born at St. Luce, was lady of honor (Dame d'Honneur) to Madame Elizabeth, sister of Louis 16th of France and the Duchess of Bourbon. Catherine Antoinette, Jeanne Martine Petronille, remained the only daughter by the death of her two sisters. She married Louis Francois Marguelet de la Noue, from whom Geneviève Celerie Marguelet de la Noue, eldest sister of Madame de Penteville, espoused Count Leoud Perthins, whose daughter Marie Celine Leonetine de Perthius, espoused Alex. Jacques Marie Clement de Blavett, whose son Edward married Marie Clement le Boulanger de Montigny, whose son Count Léon Clement de Blavett married Isabell de Brossard, de Versaille, France.

Robert Navarre, son of Antoine Francois. Marie and Jeanne Pluyette came to Detroit to fill the most important position in the colony. He was responsible to no one save the Intendant at Quebec. He added to this office that of Royal Notary. Following an old manuscript copied from the Cabinet, a scarce periodical issued at New York, 1827-1831. Robert de Navarre came to America and landed at Quebec. He was of a noble French family, a man of extensive erudition, was appointed under the French government sub-déléqué and Royal Notary at Detroit. He married there in 1734, Marie Lothmande Barrois. At the marriage were present Hughes Pean, Seigneur de Livandière, Hereditary Mayor of Quebec, Chevalier of St. Louis, Commandant of Fort Pontchartrain, Pierre Godefroy de Roquettliade, Duburron, Ensign, Daigneaux Douville and Chas. Chesne, Bonaventure Ptre. Robert Navarre's children were. (1) Marie Francoise, born 1735, married Geo. McDougall, Lt. in the British Army, by whom she had two sons, Jean Robert and George. In 1774 she married Jacques Campeau, father of Joseph and Barnabé, by whom she had no heirs, but Barnabé in 1820 married her granddaughter, Archange McDougall, whose sons, were Alexander and the late Barnabé.

(2) Marianne, born 1737, married, 1760, Jacques Adhèmar St. Martin, frequently called La Butte, a most celebrated interpreter. They lived in the old Cass House, which was the St. Martin homestead, the ground being deeded to him in 1750. St. Martin died in 1766, leaving a young widow with three children: (1) St. Martin, who died unmarried; (2) Finon who married Philip Fry; (3) Archange, born 1765, married August McIntosh, who later on inherited the estates which belonged to the Earldom of Moy, the Earldom. itself having been forfeited in the rebellion against the House of Hanover. The McIntosh homestead was on the Canadian shore opposite Belle Isle, and was celebrated along Le Détroit for the princely and lavish hospitality of its genial owner. Ten children were born to Angus McIntosh, the boys returned to Scotland to take possession of their estates. Two of the daughters were much loved and esteemed in Detroit, Mrs. Henry J. Hunt and Miss Catherine McIntosh. In 1770, Marianne Navarre widow of St, Martin, bestowed her hand upon Dr. Geo. Christian Anthon who, had come to Detroit, in 1760, with Mayor Rogers. She died Oct. 11th, 1776, leaving no heirs by Anthon.

Robert, eldest son of Robert. Sr., surnamed Robishe the Speaker, was born in 1739. He married, 1762, Louise Archange de Mersac, daughter of Francois and Charlotte Bourassa. Another Charlotte Bourassa, a cousin. married in 1760, Chas. de Langlade, the pioneer settler of Wisconsin, whose family belonged to that of the Count of Paris. To Robishe was deeded by the Pottawatomies, their village, which was on a beautiful eminence commanding a fine view and which even then was pronounced by them in "Ancient Village,"

"We the chiefs of the tribe of the Pottawatomies nation at Detroit have deliberated and given of our own free will a piece of land of four arpents in width by the whole depth, situated at our ancient village to Robishe, son of the Scrivener. We give him this land forever, that he might cultivate the same, light a fire thereon, and take care of our dead, and for surety of our words we have made our marks." This grant was ratified by Henry Bassett, commanding at Detroit, July 15, 1772, in presence of Geo. McDougall. On one of Navarre's quit rent receipts it is stated that this tract was confirmed by Gen. Gage. Robishe resided on his land and in the house known to-day as the Brevoort homestead. It was later enlarged by Commodore Brevoort (Robishe's son-in-law). Robishe was the great great grandfather of the writer, and there still lives an old lady who remembers him. She speaks of him as a preeminently handsome man, with courtly manners, most engaging and charming in conversation. He was blessed like all the French of that period, with an exceptionally large family: (1) Robert, born 1764; (2) Jacques, born 1766, he settled on the River Raisin; (3.) Francois, born 1767, early removed with his brother Jacques and Jean Marie to Monroe, where twenty-six arpents had been deeded to the Navarres by the Ottawas. Francois was Colonel during the war of 1812-13, and figures most conspicuously. His house was the headquarters of Generals Wayne, Winchester, St. Clair and others. Thirty-six Navarres served in his regiment. He was thoroughly conversant with the peculiar habits and war-fare of the savages, and spoke with facility several of their languages. He was captured at Brownstown, whither he had gone ahead of Col. Johnston to negotiate with the Indians ; he was taken as prisoner to Sandwich, but fortunately escaped. His son Robert served under Capt. Richard Symthe, and told the writer many amusing anecdotes of the war. The only French pear trees along the Raisin, are those that were brought there by Col. Navarre from his father's place in Detroit. Francois was the personal friend of Wayne, Winchester, St. Clair, Cass, Macomb and Woodward, and his correspondence with several of them has been preserved.

4. Isidore, born 1768, married 1795, Francoise Descomptes Labadie, daughter of Alexis and Francoise Robert. Their eldest son Isidore, born 1795, though a mere stripling served in the war of 1812.

He married, 1790, Marie Suzord, daughter of Louis and Marie Josette Lebeau; his children were: Robert, born 1792; Francois, born 1793; Victoire, married 1823, Jacques Godfroy, son of Col. Gabriel and Thérèse Douaire de Bondy. Agathe was exquisitely beautiful; Julie died at an advanced age unmarried; Monique married John Askin eldest son of Col. James Askin, of Sandwich.

5. Archange Louise, born 1770, married 1796, Dominique Godé de Marentette, whose daughters were: Francoise Marie, married Col. James Askin, son of John, Governor of Michilimackinac and Archange Barthe; Marianne Navarre, married Pierre Godfroy, son of Col. Gabriel and Thérèse Douaire de Bondy; Jeanne, married 1st, Timothy De Quindre, son of Antoine and Catherine des Rivières de la Morandière; 2nd William B. Hunt.

6. Charlotte Soulange, born, 1774, married Cajetau [Catejan] Tremblay; Antoine Freshet, born 1772, married 1806, Madeleine Cavallier. He served with distinction during the war of 1812. Jean Marie, born 1778, named from his uncle; 7. Marianne, born 1780, was a great belle. She was very gifted, possessing fine musical ability and decided talent for painting. Cols. Hamtramck and Gratiot, were rival suitors for her favor, both pleaded in vain; she was faithful to the memory of a former lover who had died suddenly. Several of her letters have been preserved--the style is admirable, the handwriting characteristic and beautiful.

8. Catherine, named after her aunt Catherine Macomb, born 1782, married Commodore Henry Brevoort, of Lake Eric fame. and a member of the Brevoort family of New York. The children of this marriage were: John, married Marie Navarre; Robert, died young; Anne, married Charles Bristol; Elias, settled in New Mexico; Henry, married Jane, daughter of Wm. Macomb and Jeannette Francheville de Marentette, who left three sons: Wm. Macomb, who fought bravely and fell in battle in the war of 1860; Henry Navarre, Ex-prosecuting Attorney of Detroit; Elias Thornton connected with the Canada Railroad. 9. Monique, born 1789, was the first wife of William Macomb. She inherited the traditional loveliness of her race, and added among other accomplishments, that of a daring and superb equestrienne. She died young, leaving one son Navarre Macomb. 10. Pierre, born 1787, settled at the mouth of the Maumee in 1807. He was a trusty scout to General Harrison during the war of 1812. His thorough knowledge of the Indians and of the country enabled him to render many important services. His portrait is still possessed by his descendants, taken at the age of seventy.

4. Francois Marie, born 1759, married Marie Louise daughter of René Godere, the children were: Robert, born 1782; Jacques, born 1788; Francois, born 1790; Archange, born 1792; Antoine, born 1796; 5. Jean Marie Alexis, born 1762, married 1789, Archange Godé; Marie, born 1793; Alexis; 4. Pluyette, born 1742; 5. Antoine, born 1745; 6. Joseph, born 1748, died young; 7. Marie Catherine, born 1749, died young; 8. Bonaventure Marie, born 1750, died 1764; 9. Catherine, born 1757, married Alexander Macomb, the great land speculator.