SECTION # 6 - Guillory and Jeansonne (Johnson) - common ancestors to all the Louisiana Poussons
1 - Catherine Guillory born about 1763
In the year his last mulatto child was born, 1770, Joseph Gregoire went through the motions of freeing his Negro mistress and their children, further, he persuaded his legitimate children (who, of course, owned an undivided half interest in the slaves), that he was able to pay them their portion of their deceased mother's estate without having to sell the slaves or to divide them between the heirs. Joseph Gregoire had a local schoolmaster draw up the emancipation paper. Thus it was technically null and void, in that a notary or some other qualified person did not officiate at the manumission. A translation of the controversial document follows: "I, Gregoire Guillory, under my ordinary mark, of my own free will and good volition, and that of my children, because of the thirty years of service given to me by Margarita, my slave, to me as well as to my children before and after the death of my wife. I declare that I have given her freedom, as well as given freedom to her children, on the condition that she continues to serve me until my death. Done and passed on 13 April 1770" (at Opelousas Post).
By 1773, Joseph Gregoire still had not paid, and it appears was unable to pay, the maternal portion to his children. Ignoring the 1770 emancipation, as yet uncontested, he legally conveyed his mulatto children and his mistress to his legitimate children, evaluating the lot at 2,000 francs.
Four year later, then nearing death, Joseph Gregoire went by night to the residence of his white children. At knife-point, threatening one of his sons he violently abducted Margarita. Although no record of his death has been located, he apparently died between 1777 and the spring of 1778.
On 27 Apr. 1778, Jean Baptiste Guillory, the legitimate son who had been threatened by his father, told the story of the abduction to the commandant at Opelousas, adding that Marguerite had, once again, been given her freedom. In his petition he demanded the return to slavery, and to his and his sibling's ownership, the Negress and her mulatto offspring. Realizing the complexity of the case, Panis, a high ranking military and judicial officer in the Spanish capital at New Orleans, noted that the final decision would be made by the high court in Havana, Cuba.
The Havana court did exactly what Panis thought they would do, for the twice-freed slaves were, for the third and final time, given their freedom. In compensation, they paid their half-siblings the sum of 600 pesos. The compensation was far less than they would have brought at fair market price. A single slave sold for about this price, not to mention that four young, healthy ones and their able mother would have fetched. (Note: Wills, successions, and other documents in New Orleans and in the oldest parishes of La. abound with references where slave owners often freed their mistress and his illegitimate children and provided for them in some manner.)
Two hundred years after the "Margarita Case" one of the "colored" descendants of Joseph Gregoire Guillory and Margarita, sued the State of Louisiana to have herself declared to be of the white race, questioning the state law that required her to be registered as "colored" because her descent included 1/32 Negro blood.
.
As we know, the three original Poussons that came to the United States all married into the same Guillory family - Jean Bertrand Pousson married Josephine S. Guillory, Bertrand "Cadet" Pousson married Adele (Odile) Guillory, and Mathieu (Mathiew) Pousson married Euphrosine Guillory. The descendants of Francois Guillory and the descendants of William (dit Billy/Johnson) Jeansonne (ref. exhibit 207 and 208) shows our ancestors down to the family of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne, who are the parents of at least nine children, where we find Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine Guillory.
The following history of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne (Johnson) was researched and written by Mr. Charles Fontenot Sr. (Mr. Charles Fontenot Sr. is a descendant of Paulin Fontenot and Philomene Pousson) This history is from his book "Some Fontenots and Their Times: A Biographical and Historical Sketch"
Siphroy was born February 7, 1791 (about) when his parents resided in Grand Prairie. He and Euphrosine Jeansonne lived in this area during their early adulthood because the first record of them in Chataignier was the 1830 census. On July 28, 1818 they acquired about 70 acres of land from Augustin Guillory (his older brother) on Bayou Cataro, in Grand Prairie, which probably was their residence until they moved to Chataignier in the 1820's.
After relocating they probably lived northeast of Chataignier on Hwy. 1165 about 600 yards from the point where Hwy. 1165 joins Hwy. 29 (the Chataignier-Opelousas road). The tract is Sec. 32, T5S-R2E and contains approximately 72 acres. They also owned about 400 acres north and west thereof.
When Euphrosine died in 1855, their combined estate was valued at $4,417.15. Her succession shows they owned two male slaves: Thomas and John. Also, they owned a 10 year old girl named Dima. In the succession, Siphroy kept Dima along with Thomas, who was probably her father. He also kept the 72 acre homesite with an 80 acre tract which seemed to be adjoining on the north. Only 20 head of cattle appeared on the succession.
Apparently Siphroy was more farmer than rancher. When he died in 1861, there were inventories of cotton, corn, tobacco, but few cattle. Records never list him owning more than two or three slaves. The inventory of oxen and farm tools was also very small. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume he remained a rather small farmer all his life.
A heart warming story about Euphrosine's mother, Anastasie Prejean, comes to us through family tradition. She and her older brother, as orphan children, came to Louisiana in the Acadian migration from Nova Scotia (Acadia). During a march in Louisiana, they were separated from the group. Wandering alone in the wilderness for several days, they came upon a herd of sheep. Being very hungry they killed a lamb and began to eat when suddenly the owner appeared at a distance coming toward them. Anastasie sat on the lamb, covering it with her skirt. But when the owner arrived, her scheme was detected, the lamb's tail was showing. Realizing their pitiful condition, the owner took them into his home and reared them as part of his family.
There is a slight variation to the story. Another version states the separation from the group resulted from a shipwreck.
Whether this be legend or fact, the writer was unable to prove. The 1766 census shows Anastasie, age 15, as the daughter of Amand Prejean and Magdaleine Martin. They lived near Donaldsonville on the west bank of the Mississippi River. If the story is true, then Amand and Magdeleine were her adoptive parents. Maybe the early records of that area would reveal this, but I did not make the trip to research the matter.
Mr. Charles Fontenot's book can be found in the Jeff Davis Parish Library and the St. Landry Parish Library. - I thank Mr. Fontenot for letting me use this article.
The pedigree charts (ref. exhibit 209 and 210) of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne are common ancestors to ALL LOUISIANA POUSSONS. The Guillory and Jeansonne pedigree charts are shown at the end of this section .
The oldest document, concerning our family genealogy, is the birth record of Jeanne Monfort (ref. exhibit 211 - born 8 Feb. 1693 - La Voix des Prairies No. 18, page 59), she is the wife of Francois Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Siphroy Guillory who is the father of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine.
The following history of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne (Johnson) was researched and written by Mr. Charles Fontenot Sr. (Mr. Charles Fontenot Sr. is a descendant of Paulin Fontenot and Philomene Pousson) This history is from his book "Some Fontenots and Their Times: A Biographical and Historical Sketch"
Siphroy was born February 7, 1791 (about) when his parents resided in Grand Prairie. He and Euphrosine Jeansonne lived in this area during their early adulthood because the first record of them in Chataignier was the 1830 census. On July 28, 1818 they acquired about 70 acres of land from Augustin Guillory (his older brother) on Bayou Cataro, in Grand Prairie, which probably was their residence until they moved to Chataignier in the 1820's.
After relocating they probably lived northeast of Chataignier on Hwy. 1165 about 600 yards from the point where Hwy. 1165 joins Hwy. 29 (the Chataignier-Opelousas road). The tract is Sec. 32, T5S-R2E and contains approximately 72 acres. They also owned about 400 acres north and west thereof.
When Euphrosine died in 1855, their combined estate was valued at $4,417.15. Her succession shows they owned two male slaves: Thomas and John. Also, they owned a 10 year old girl named Dima. In the succession, Siphroy kept Dima along with Thomas, who was probably her father. He also kept the 72 acre homesite with an 80 acre tract which seemed to be adjoining on the north. Only 20 head of cattle appeared on the succession.
Apparently Siphroy was more farmer than rancher. When he died in 1861, there were inventories of cotton, corn, tobacco, but few cattle. Records never list him owning more than two or three slaves. The inventory of oxen and farm tools was also very small. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume he remained a rather small farmer all his life.
A heart warming story about Euphrosine's mother, Anastasie Prejean, comes to us through family tradition. She and her older brother, as orphan children, came to Louisiana in the Acadian migration from Nova Scotia (Acadia). During a march in Louisiana, they were separated from the group. Wandering alone in the wilderness for several days, they came upon a herd of sheep. Being very hungry they killed a lamb and began to eat when suddenly the owner appeared at a distance coming toward them. Anastasie sat on the lamb, covering it with her skirt. But when the owner arrived, her scheme was detected, the lamb's tail was showing. Realizing their pitiful condition, the owner took them into his home and reared them as part of his family.
There is a slight variation to the story. Another version states the separation from the group resulted from a shipwreck.
Whether this be legend or fact, the writer was unable to prove. The 1766 census shows Anastasie, age 15, as the daughter of Amand Prejean and Magdaleine Martin. They lived near Donaldsonville on the west bank of the Mississippi River. If the story is true, then Amand and Magdeleine were her adoptive parents. Maybe the early records of that area would reveal this, but I did not make the trip to research the matter.
Mr. Charles Fontenot's book can be found in the Jeff Davis Parish Library and the St. Landry Parish Library. - I thank Mr. Fontenot for letting me use this article.
The pedigree charts (ref. exhibit 209 and 210) of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne are common ancestors to ALL LOUISIANA POUSSONS. The Guillory and Jeansonne pedigree charts are shown at the end of this section .
The oldest document, concerning our family genealogy, is the birth record of Jeanne Monfort (ref. exhibit 211 - born 8 Feb. 1693 - La Voix des Prairies No. 18, page 59), she is the wife of Francois Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Siphroy Guillory who is the father of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine.
{exhibit 207}
Descendants of Francois Guillory - only our direct ancestors showing children of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne. This shows how all Louisiana Poussons are related - the three original Poussons married three Guillory sisters (ref. e, f, and i above)
{exhibit 208}
Descendants of William (dit Billy/Johnson) Jeansonne - only our direct ancestors showing children of Siphroy Guillory and Euphrosine Jeansonne. This shows how all Louisiana Poussons are related - the three original Poussons married three Guillory sisters (ref. e, f, and i above)
{exhibit 209 and 210}
The next sixteen pages are the pedigree charts of Siphroy Guillory - father of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine and of Euphrosine (Johnson) Jeansonne - mother of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine. (All these ancestors are common to all Louisiana Poussons)
Due to the fact that we have the Savoie (Savoy) name as one of our ancestors, I only show ancestor charts back thirteen generations from Euphrosine Jeansonne and Siphroy Guillory. Some of these Savoie (Savoy) pedigree lines go back to the year 900, year 700, year 500, and even back to Adam and Eve - 4000 BC - Garden of Eden.
Francoise Savoie (wife of Jean Corporon) and Andree Marguerite Savoie (wife of Jean “dit Le Breton” Prejean) are sisters (daughters of Francois Savoie and Catherine Lejeune so I will only show the ancestors (Pedigree) of Francoise Savoie.
(exhibit 211 - next page}
Birth record of Jeanne Monfort - born 8 Feb. 1693 (French and English), she is the wife of Francois Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Joseph Gregoire Guillory who is the father of Siphroy Guillory who is the father of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine (copy made from La Voix des Prairies July 1984, Vol. 5, No. 18, page 59)
{exhibit 211}
"THE MARGARITA CASE"
One of our most interesting and famous ancestors was Joseph Gregoire Guillory born CA 1712 at Dauphin Island, Alabama and he married on 20 Aug. 1739 to Marie Jeanne La Casse (daughter of Jean La Casse dit La Douceur and Marie Anne Fourche}. Joseph Gregorie Guillory is the father of Joseph Gregorie Guillory who is the father of Siphroy Guillory who is the father of Josephine, Adele, and Euphrosine.
The earliest traces of the Guillory family are found in the old French province of Orleanais, the chateau country southwest of Paris, in the early 17th century. There, on 16 Feb. 1646, Simon Guillory, son of Francois Guillory, a "respectable" gunsmith, and Isabeth Thomas (or Anne Garou), was christened. When Simon was about eighteen he went to Canada, he arrived at Quebec in 1664. Within two years, he was employed at Montreal (as a gunsmith, like his father) by Charles LeMoyne, the wealthiest man in Canada and father of the founders of Louisiana, Iberville and Bienville. Beginning in the spring of 1682, he began trading with the Indians in the wilderness west of Quebec and Montreal. Some ten years later, he was at Hudson Bay, probably employed by the "Compagnie de Nord". There, he, and other company employees and French soldiers captured English Fort Albany. That year, however, most of the garrison starved to death, as the expected supply ship failed to arrive. Simon Guillory survived, but probably crazed by his sufferings, he took an ax to the surgeon in the party and to the priest, killing them both. When the English recaptured the fort shortly thereafter, they found Simon in irons and he was sent, a prisoner, to England, He apparently made his way back to Canada, only to drown there in 1696.
Simon had married, at the age of twenty-one, Louise Bouchard, daughter of an early Canadian settler. Their son Francois was born (CA 1676) nine years later. Francois Guillory arrived in Colonial Louisiana, then centered at Mobile Bay, in about 1707-1708. Within a year, he had established himself well on the eastern end of Dauphine Island. By 1718 he was so associated with that place and its environs that his name was used to identify that portion of the island (Pointe a Guillory), as well as Isle a Guillory (an adjacent smaller island) and Guillory Pass which divides the two. These names survive on maps of much later date, well into the 19th century. Francois married Jeanne Monfort (ref. exhibit 211) and are the parents of Joseph Gregoire Guillory. Joseph Gregoire Guillory married a thirteen year-old Creole (Note: the term "Creole" by definition and usage in the 18th century had no racial meaning whatsoever. The word referred to anyone or anything native to or produced in French and Spanish colonies), Marie Jeanne La Casse, they were married in Mobile on 20 Aug. 1739. Although the bride was very young, she had been widowed the year before, she was the widow of Joseph Estamier (Stameyer/Staimer). Joseph Gregoire Guillory and Marie Jeanne La Casse had eight children, all born in the Mobile area:
1 - Marie Jeanne Guillory B.24 Sept. 1740 m. (1) Joseph Laprade, and (2) Jean Claude Dupont.
The earliest traces of the Guillory family are found in the old French province of Orleanais, the chateau country southwest of Paris, in the early 17th century. There, on 16 Feb. 1646, Simon Guillory, son of Francois Guillory, a "respectable" gunsmith, and Isabeth Thomas (or Anne Garou), was christened. When Simon was about eighteen he went to Canada, he arrived at Quebec in 1664. Within two years, he was employed at Montreal (as a gunsmith, like his father) by Charles LeMoyne, the wealthiest man in Canada and father of the founders of Louisiana, Iberville and Bienville. Beginning in the spring of 1682, he began trading with the Indians in the wilderness west of Quebec and Montreal. Some ten years later, he was at Hudson Bay, probably employed by the "Compagnie de Nord". There, he, and other company employees and French soldiers captured English Fort Albany. That year, however, most of the garrison starved to death, as the expected supply ship failed to arrive. Simon Guillory survived, but probably crazed by his sufferings, he took an ax to the surgeon in the party and to the priest, killing them both. When the English recaptured the fort shortly thereafter, they found Simon in irons and he was sent, a prisoner, to England, He apparently made his way back to Canada, only to drown there in 1696.
Simon had married, at the age of twenty-one, Louise Bouchard, daughter of an early Canadian settler. Their son Francois was born (CA 1676) nine years later. Francois Guillory arrived in Colonial Louisiana, then centered at Mobile Bay, in about 1707-1708. Within a year, he had established himself well on the eastern end of Dauphine Island. By 1718 he was so associated with that place and its environs that his name was used to identify that portion of the island (Pointe a Guillory), as well as Isle a Guillory (an adjacent smaller island) and Guillory Pass which divides the two. These names survive on maps of much later date, well into the 19th century. Francois married Jeanne Monfort (ref. exhibit 211) and are the parents of Joseph Gregoire Guillory. Joseph Gregoire Guillory married a thirteen year-old Creole (Note: the term "Creole" by definition and usage in the 18th century had no racial meaning whatsoever. The word referred to anyone or anything native to or produced in French and Spanish colonies), Marie Jeanne La Casse, they were married in Mobile on 20 Aug. 1739. Although the bride was very young, she had been widowed the year before, she was the widow of Joseph Estamier (Stameyer/Staimer). Joseph Gregoire Guillory and Marie Jeanne La Casse had eight children, all born in the Mobile area:
1 - Marie Jeanne Guillory B.24 Sept. 1740 m. (1) Joseph Laprade, and (2) Jean Claude Dupont.
2 - Pierre Gregoire Guillory B.30 May 1742 m. (1) Marianne LaFleur, and (2) Marie Josephe Fontenot.
3 - Jean Baptiste Guillory B.1 July 1746 m. Marguerite Hiers.
4 - Marie Louise Guillory B.1748 and D.2 May 1748.
5 - Claude Guillory B.5 July 1750 m. Marie Jeanne Brignaque (Brignac).
6 - Joseph Gregoire Guillory b.5 Nov. 1752 m. Marie Claire Fontenot
(our direct ancestor - parents of Siphroy (Leufroy) Guillory)
7 - Jean Louis Guillory B.22 Dec. 1754 m. Marie Jeanne Fontenot.
8 - Francoise Guillory m. Jean Cuan (or Bahan) dit Gentry.
Joseph Gregoire Guillory's wife, Marie Jeanne La Casse, died in 1764 and within three months, two of his sons-in-law sued for their portions of the estate. The inventory drawn at the time reveals that Joseph Gregoire owned cattle, horses, swine, etc. The total value of the property was 4,297.5 piastres and included nine slaves - among them, Margarita, a "Negro" slave who was pregnant on the date the inventory was made, 22 July 1764. Before the English gained control of the Mobile area, Joseph Gregoire petitioned for and received 640 arpents of land at Opelousas Post in southwest Louisiana. Joseph Gregoire Guillory, after his move to the Opelousas area, fathered four mulatto children by his slave, Margarita:
1 - Catherine Guillory born about 1763
2 - Jean Baptiste Guillory born about 1766
3 - Joseph Guillory born about 1769
4 - Marie Josephe Guillory born about 1770
In the year his last mulatto child was born, 1770, Joseph Gregoire went through the motions of freeing his Negro mistress and their children, further, he persuaded his legitimate children (who, of course, owned an undivided half interest in the slaves), that he was able to pay them their portion of their deceased mother's estate without having to sell the slaves or to divide them between the heirs. Joseph Gregoire had a local schoolmaster draw up the emancipation paper. Thus it was technically null and void, in that a notary or some other qualified person did not officiate at the manumission. A translation of the controversial document follows: "I, Gregoire Guillory, under my ordinary mark, of my own free will and good volition, and that of my children, because of the thirty years of service given to me by Margarita, my slave, to me as well as to my children before and after the death of my wife. I declare that I have given her freedom, as well as given freedom to her children, on the condition that she continues to serve me until my death. Done and passed on 13 April 1770" (at Opelousas Post).
By 1773, Joseph Gregoire still had not paid, and it appears was unable to pay, the maternal portion to his children. Ignoring the 1770 emancipation, as yet uncontested, he legally conveyed his mulatto children and his mistress to his legitimate children, evaluating the lot at 2,000 francs.
Four year later, then nearing death, Joseph Gregoire went by night to the residence of his white children. At knife-point, threatening one of his sons he violently abducted Margarita. Although no record of his death has been located, he apparently died between 1777 and the spring of 1778.
On 27 Apr. 1778, Jean Baptiste Guillory, the legitimate son who had been threatened by his father, told the story of the abduction to the commandant at Opelousas, adding that Marguerite had, once again, been given her freedom. In his petition he demanded the return to slavery, and to his and his sibling's ownership, the Negress and her mulatto offspring. Realizing the complexity of the case, Panis, a high ranking military and judicial officer in the Spanish capital at New Orleans, noted that the final decision would be made by the high court in Havana, Cuba.
The Havana court did exactly what Panis thought they would do, for the twice-freed slaves were, for the third and final time, given their freedom. In compensation, they paid their half-siblings the sum of 600 pesos. The compensation was far less than they would have brought at fair market price. A single slave sold for about this price, not to mention that four young, healthy ones and their able mother would have fetched. (Note: Wills, successions, and other documents in New Orleans and in the oldest parishes of La. abound with references where slave owners often freed their mistress and his illegitimate children and provided for them in some manner.)
Two hundred years after the "Margarita Case" one of the "colored" descendants of Joseph Gregoire Guillory and Margarita, sued the State of Louisiana to have herself declared to be of the white race, questioning the state law that required her to be registered as "colored" because her descent included 1/32 Negro blood.
Additional information can be found concerning "The Margarita Case" in the following:
a. Louisiana Genealogical Register Vol XXXIX No 4 Dec. 1992 (summary of the Margarita Case)
b. La Voix des Prairies No 7 pages 63 - 74 by Jacqueline Olivier Vidrine (shows the Guillory family - NOT including the mixed-blood branches)
c. Louisiana Genealogical Register Sept. 1983 pages 214, 215, and 226 (shows the Inventory of Joseph Gregoire Guillory - 1773 showing Margarita and her four children)
d. Louisiana Bar Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Aug. 1983) pages 85-88 (summary of the Margarita Case)
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