Madame State Regent, Daughters, Honored Guests, Cousins and Friends:
Today is a memorable day. One I have long looked forward to and it gives me great pleasure to see so many of you here.
In paying tribute to a Patriot of the American Revolutionary War, Don Louis le Pelletier de la Houssaye, Captain of the 4th Dragoons, under General Bernardo de Galvez in the service of His Most Christian Majesty, Charles III, King of Spain, I find that I must also tell you a little of WHO and WHAT he was. We find the history of the de la Houssaye family to be long and old.
In the book, Catalogue de la Noblesse Francaiso, listing the origin of the noble families of France and the date they were enobled. As an example, the Grenier family was enobled in 1700, the Heron family was enobled in 1830, but the de la Houssaye family is listed as being of ancient extraction.
We find de la Houssayes listed on the oldest military roles of France. In the first Crusade, there was a Sieur de la Houssaye attached to the King's First Equerry. In the second and third Crusades, there are listed a Sieur de la Houssaye and a County de la Houssaye.
Members of the 8 branches of the de la Houssaye family had important roles in the military and civil life of France. We find that Claude Henri le Pelletier de la Houssaye de Signy, Vicomte de Saint Laurant and Captain of the Royal Guards was made a Marquis of France.
In connection with this I would like to share with you an experience that my husband had when he visited the Bibliotechque Nationals in Paris last fall. After much of the usual red tape, he was given a large volume on the de la Houssayes. The first was a parchment coat-of-arms given to the founder of the le Pelletier branch. On unfolding the parchment, he found that it contained a seal which had become dust in the countless years since it had last been opened. The last addition to the records of the le Pelletier de la Houssayes was the coat-of-arms with the addition of the Marquis crown given to Claude Henri. This document was the last recorded in the Archives of the Bibliotechque Nationale on the le Pelletier de la Houssaye family. All members of this branch of the de la Houssaye family then living in France were guillotined and it is now extinct in France.
Claude Henri's third child, born in 1702, Paul Augustin was the founder of the de la Houssaye family in Louisiana and the father of the Patriot we are honoring today.
Paul Augustin came at 19 years of age in 1721 as a cadet in the service of his country. Many came seeking fame, fortune and adventure. Most found only death. We find that he served at Poste des Attakapas, now St. Martinville, and Point Coupee. He married Madeleine Victoria Petit de Livillier. Later we find that he held many important positions. Commandant of the Illinois Territory, Major de Place of Mobile and New Orleans and he was chosen by the French Crown to be one of the five judges to make inquiry concerning the famous Rochemore - Kerelerc quarrel and make report to the King, Louis XV.
He enjoyed the esteem and respect of all who knew and wrote of him. His will expresses in his own words the depth of the character and thinking and I think it will be of interest to all of you who are not familiar with it. It is entitled "Instructions to be Handed to my Children at the Time of my Death." It was written and signed by him on November 1, 1776 at Poste des Attakapas. His will begins with the usual preamble of French testaments of that period, beseeching pardon for his sins and imploring the Holy Virgin and all the Saints in Paradise to pray for his soul's repose. The Chevalier, who had known rank and power, shows in his will humility of heart. Though a Knight of St. Louis, he desired not the usual pomposity of an important man's funeral. He requests that only six candles stand around his bier, not more than eight resting in the sconces on the altar. The clapper of the church bell shall strike only five blows for his requiem. His body is to be laid in a secluded spot in the Attakapas churchyard.
While he does not seem to fear dissolution, it is apparent by his will that he perhaps dreaded the thought of being buried alive (as others, presumably dead, but really alive, had fared in the primitive country where he dwelt). He requests that the Marquis de Vaugine, his brother-in-law and testamentary executor, proceed as soon as he has closed his eyes in eternal sleep, to have the soles of his feet slashed open. It shows his desire to avoid premature entombment.
Even the smallest of creditors is remembered in his testament.
Although the Chevalier states he had known happiness in Louisiana, a colony where, nevertheless, was and danger were ever lurking, and not unmindful of this; nor of la Belle France, where in his younger days he had known comfort and elegance, he considers his native land a fitter place of residence for his sons. His wife had promised to take them back to his country and kin after his death and he reminds her of this.
Coming from fighting stock, the Chevalier wanted his sons to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. They must not only be established as officers in proper military commands, but must ever strive to rise in their martial profession. To attain such end, he advises them to be faithful toward everyone. They must seek only the worthy as companions, and avoid wine, women and the gaming table. (Between the lines, we read that in his youth the Chevalier had sown his wild oats and repented for it afterward, as he states that he has experienced how dangerous is the feminine sex and wants to warn his sons about such peril.) He especially abhors actresses and begs his sons to avoid their wiles. In choosing a wife, he advises his sons lay emphasis on true worth and character and not to seek coquettes, as beauty is only skin deep. Above all, they should live and die honest men and good Christians, serving faithfully their God and their King, at any cost. They should abhor falsehood and love, cherish and respect their worthy Mother.
He was appointed Commandant of Louisiana Provincial Militia by Governor O'Reilly at the beginning of the Spanish Regime and not too long before his son, Louis le Pelletier was also commissioned a cadet in the Spanish Army.
On May 8, 1779, the King of Spain, Charles III, published a formal declaration of war against Great Britain, and on the 8th of July, authorized his subjects in America to take their share in the hostilities to be waged against the English and their possessions. No news could have been more welcome to General Galvez. He immediately planned an attack against the neighboring English possessions and submitted it to a council of war.
General Galvez formed his army of Spanish Regulars, Acadians, Frenchmen, Free Blacks, Germans, Indians and Americans. He first turned his attention to Fort Manchac. Fort Manchac fell to him without much resistance. He then turned his army towards Fort New Richmond - the English stronghold of the West, the key to the Mississippi Valley.
The battle is well described by Dr. Jack Holmes in his comprehensive study, "Marcha de Galvez" and I quote, "It is the early dawn of September 21, 1779. British soldiers have worked feverishly through the night to mass the guns of Fort New Richmond against a forest area to the east where hooded lights and the crashing of falling trees have betrayed the activity of the attackers. As the brightening sunlight creeps through the river mist and touches the stark outline of the fort, there is a momentary silence of tense expectation, of the rallying of personal resolution. Then, suddenly, there is an echoing boom and a roundshot plows its way across the courtyard of the star-shaped fort. But, it comes from the South, from a well-protected cannon, mounted at almost point-blank range. The defenders have been tricked and so soon realize with dismay that they can make no defense. After a few hours of bombardment, the British raise the white flag of surrender. The forces under Bernardo de Galvez have made themselves masters of the fortifications at Baton Rouge, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Dickson." Unquote.
Louis le Pelletier de la Houssaye was one of the Frenchmen and an officer contributing his part towards securing the freedom of the American colonies and the establishment of our great country, the United States of America.
From the Archives of the Indies in Seville, Spain, we find Don Louis's military record to be the following: (a) Country - Louisiana, (b) Quality - Noble, (c) Health - Excellent, (d) His Services and Circumstances - Those he expresses, (e) Courage - Great, (f) Conduct - Good.
After the war we find that the old Chevalier Paul Augustin has died. Louis and his younger brother, Alexandre, living with their mother on one of their plantations, the one which is the present site of the Longfellow Evangeline State Park. The home they built and were living in is now the Museum. Besides this plantation, we find Louis a very large land owner and planter. In fact, he owned 19 separate land grants in the Attakapas Country alone, many measured in leagues.
The de la Houssaye plantation was a typical plantation of the time and place. Like the Medieval Lord's demeane, it was self-supporting. Everything needed in the home was prepared on the plantation. Thirty-four slaves were living in the small cabins back of the house. With the exception of the children too young to work, each slave had a certain task to perform every day. There were household servants, cooks, washerwomen, field hands, shoemakers, pit-sawyers, teamsters, carpenters and others.
In 1787, Louis, then 28 years of age, married Louise Charlotte Pellerin, the daughter of Louis Pellerin, a Colonial officer. Louis and Louise Charlotte were the parents of six children; however, only three had children. These were Alexandre Pelletier, Francois Chevalier and Octave Barthlemy. Louis Jean Baptiste, Francise Adele and Francois St. Cyr died without issue.
Today we are fortunate enough to have four of Francois Chevalier's grandchildren, Louis's great-grandchildren, to help in the Marker Dedication. I would like to introduce these remarkable people to you:
Mrs. Edmund Fournet, the former Elodie de la Houssaye, who will be a young 96 on July 11, was married in 1898 and the shades in the living room of the de la Houssaye home where the reception will be held were bought new for her wedding.
Mrs. Willie Fournet, the former Eliza de la Houssaye, a member of the Acadia Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and a retired teacher, principal and supervisor of schools in St. Martin Parish, will be 88 on October 12.
*Ignace de la Houssaye, a look-alike of Maurice Chevalier in his younger days, was 93 on January 9th.
Oswald de la Houssaye, the baby of this foursome and family of Cesaire Barthlemy, will be 85 on May 4th.
And now the dedication.
Mrs. C. C. Lewis, Acadia Chapter Chaplain, will assist me. (Ritual taken from DAR Ritual Book.)
*Program change: I am very sorry that Ignace de la Houssaye, who had planned to be with us, is ill and unable to come.
Copy of this
Tribute can be found at St. Martin Parish Library.
Information compiled by Fred M. de la Houssaye and Barbara
Dumesnil de la Houssaye, (Mrs. Fred).