Francois Pitre
1746 Acadia – 22 December 1819 Opelousas, LA
Francois Pitre was born c1746 in Acadia, son of Pierre Pitre and Agathe Doucet. The next twenty years of his life were probably more ordeal than adventure. Before he’d reached his teens the British were deporting Acadians in the thousands. Francois’ family probably sought refuge in the woods as their farms were burned and possessions confiscated. By 1763 his father was listed as a prisoner in Halifax. But by 1766 after lengthy journeys by sea Francois, along with his sister Catherine and father Pierre, are listed in Louisiana at the Opelousas Post.
Within a couple of years of their arrival Francois married Marie Josephe Thibodeau, the daughter of Jean Baptiste Thibodeau and Marie Josephe Lanoue, who were also Acadian exiles. Over the next 25 years they had fourteen children. Only seven survived childhood, and Francois outlived two of those as well as his wife.
During the American Revolution Francois was a soldier (fusilier) in the Opelousas Post Militia and participated in the Bernardo Galvez Expedition (September 1779) against the British at Manchac and Baton Rouge.
He settled in Plaisance, a few miles northwest of Opelousas, where he raised cattle. In 1771 Francois had 6 cattle and 4 horses on 6 arpents of land. Six years later he was running 50 cattle and 12 horses, had 15 hogs, and owned two slaves. By 1788 he had 130 cattle, 35 horses on 12 arpents of land and owned three slaves.
Wife Marie Josephe Thibodeau died about 2 ˝ years before Francois and her succession was filed in St. Landry Parish on 24 January 1818 as Mrs. Francois Pitre. Louisiana laws supported equal heirship, so her half of their property would have been equally divided amongst their children. Her estate consisted of their shared plantation, 19 slaves valued at $12,400, 12 arpents of land at Prairie de Plaisance ‘with improvements’ - $1500, 112 ˝ arpents adjoining that - $224, 84 arpents of woodland - $168, 15 arpents of adjoining land of mostly woods running to the Prairie Ronde - $400, plus various farm animals and furnishings. Three valuations of her estate ranged from $15,360 to $20,805. According to the Afro-Louisiana History & Genealogy site the following slaves named in her succession were sold: Jenny 40 & her children Rosalie 9, Jose 5, Pierre 3 (to Florentine Poiret for $2660); Celeste 16 (to Jean Rousseau for $1345); Marguerite 14 (to Valerie Auzenne for $1215); Marie Louise 11 (to Joseph Larose or Joseph Lacoste Fontenot for $1360); Jan Louis 24 (to Charles Francois Pitre for $1535); Ben 25 (to Francois Pitre for $1460); Stephen 23 (to Francois Pitre for $1505); Joe 45, his ‘mate’ Caroline 22, their children Faustin 5, Julien 3, girl 2 months (to Francois Pitre for $3100); Jaco (Joco) 45, ‘imbecile’ (to Eugene Ledoux for $305); Casamire 20, African, paralysed (to Etienne Gabriel Lamonan (Lamonder) for $1295); and Gustin 18 (to Francois Fontenot for $1330).
Francois Pitre's will was dated 22 December 1819 and is preserved as an Opelousas Colonial Document in the Louisiana State Archives:
In the name of God, Amen. By Celestin Lavergne, Public Notary in the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, and in the presence of the witnesses hereafter named. Present was Sire Francois Pitre habitant of the said parish, native of L'acadie, legitimate son of deceased Pierre Pitre and Agathe Doucet; being sound of mind, memory and understanding, fearing death with the incertitude of his hour, he desires to make his will, putting his worldly affairs in order; to this effect he has dictated to the said notary his last wishes in the following manner.
1st. as an Apostolic Roman Catholic, I wish to be buried at the Catholic Cemetery of this parish, and I order that three masses be said for the repose of my soul, for such is my will. 2nd. I declare having been married to deceased, Marie Thibaudeau, from which marriage, we had seven children named Pierre, deceased but survived by two legitimate children who will represent him in my inheritance; Francois, equally deceased but survived by twelve children who will represent him in my inheritance; Charles, Louis, Joseph, Marie, wife of Laurent Dupres, and Silesse wife of Eugene LeDoux, all the said children, I declare that they are my legitimate children born of my marriage with the said Marie Thibodeau. 3rd. I give and bequeath to my son, Louis Pitre, in consideration of the good care he took of me during illness, and of the services that he rendered me by coming to live near me, my young negress, Hyacinthe aged about three years, daughter of my negress Caroline. I wish that he immediately takes possession of the said negress for such is my will. 4th. In consideration of the good and loyal services of my negress named Caroline aged thirty years, I wish, expect, affirm that immediately after my death my executor after having fulfilled all the required formalities of the law give to her, her freedom act free of charge so that she is no longer subjected to slavery and enjoy all the privileges accorded to the people of free color, for such is my wish. 5th. I name for my sole and universal treasure, the above mentioned, my seven children (or their children) that is to say the children of deceased Pierre Pitre in representation of their father or those of Francois Pitre also in representation of their father and my existing children Charles Pitre, Louis Pitre, Joseph Pitre, Marie Pitre wife of Laurent Dupres, and Silesse Pitre wife of Euguene LeDoux, so that after my death, they will benefit by equal possession all my wealth with God and my blessing, for such is my will. 6th. I name for my executor my son-in-law Eugene LeDoux, so that after my death he executes promptly the present will, gets the estimative inventory done, sells my possessions in a judiciary auction to the highest and last bidder on the terms and conditions that he finds expedient, ---- in this action with my other children, for which purpose, I accord him the time required by the law to do the collection and return of funds, and do the reckoning of share in equal portion among my seven children. I revoke and annul, render of no value or effect, all other will, codicil, authority or dispositions that I had made before the present, which only will be valid, such is my will. Made and passed in the parish of St. Landry in the home of the benefactor this twenty second day of the month of December in the year of Our Lord eighteen hundred and nineteen: In the presence of Messrs Hypolite Gilbert, Francois Poiret, and Louis Bertrand, witnesses that have signed with the notary, and the benefactor having declared not knowing how to write has made his customary mark after perusal between lines the words my executor. Customary mark of Francois Pitre.
Francois’ succession was recorded in Opelousas on 11 February 1820, with Eugene Ledoux appointed as executor. The estate was appraised at $12,121, which consisted of cattle, nine slaves, a cotton crop to sell in New Orleans, and a crop of corn and rice – a far cry from the destitute Acadian refugee of 50 years earlier. According to the Afro-Louisiana History & Genealogy site the following slaves named in his succession were sold: Ben 25 (to Jean Fontenot for $1660); Steven 22 (to Joseph Lasou Fontenot for $1660); Joe 50 (to Charles Pitre for $1350); Jim 12 (to Joseph Pitre for $1110); Fauster 7 (to Jordan Pierre Pitre for $900); Julie 5 (to Pierre Pitre Jr. for $480); Andre infant (to Pierre Pitre Jr. for $315); Marie Louise 15 w/infant daughter 1 month old (to Jacques Dupre for $1600).
On 1st August 1820 – The slave Caroline (30) freed by estate executor according to will of Francois Pitre Sr. [Caroline, b. British Mainland Creole, had been sold to Francois by his son Francois Jr. on 8 Jul 1808 when she was 13 along with Jean Louis age 15, b. Brut, Africa.]
[Many of the birthdates of Pitre spouses have been verified for me by Lee J. Pitre, 4xgreat-grandson of Francois Pitre, using the Southwest Louisiana Records series produced by the late Rev. Hebert.]
Continuation of tree (6th child of Pierre Pitre/Agathe Doucet); all known surname descendants:
4 Francois Pitre b: Abt. 1746 Acadia; d: 22 December 1819 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Marie Josephe Thibodeau b: Abt. 1751 Acadia; m: Abt. 1768 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Jean Baptise/Marie Josephe Lanoue]; d: 16 April 1817 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Pierre Pitre b: 13 December 1769 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 31 December 1794 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Marie Francoise Fontenot b: Abt. 1774 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 7 April 1790 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Pierre/Marie Louise Doucet]; d: Abt. 1823 Donaldsonville, Ascension, LA
5 Marie Josephe Pitre b: 16 February 1772 New Roads, Pointe Coupee, LA; d: 18 January 1850 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Michel Philippe Fontenot b: Abt. 1748 Alabama; m: 25 August 1788 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Philippe/Marie Nicole Jeanne Brignac]; d: 25 January 1793 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
*2nd Husband of Marie Josephe Pitre:
+ Laurent Dupre b: Abt. 1773; m: 24 November 1795 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Laurent/Marie Josephe Fontenot]; d: 11 February 1861 Plaisance, St. Landry, LA
5 Francois Pitre b: Abt. 20 June 1774 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Francois Pouponne Pitre b: 11 October 1775 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 11 October 1817 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Eugenie Guillory b: Abt. 4 March 1778 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 23 November 1795 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Louis/Marie Jeanne Fontenot]; d: Abt. November 1846 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Anastasie Pitre b: 22 January 1777 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 22 June 1777 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Paul Pitre b: August 1778 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 16 September 1780 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Charles Francois Pitre b: March 1781 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: Abt. 28 December 1846 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Catherine Vige b: 10 September 1788 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 9 July 1805 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Charles/Catherine Catoir]; d: Abt. 25 February 1835 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
*2nd Wife of Charles Francois Pitre:
+ Sydalise Francoise Derossier b: Abt. 1812 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 8 August 1838 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Francois/Marie Selene Francoise Ledoux]; d: Abt. August 1856 St. Landry, LA
5 child Pitre b: Abt. 1782 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 2 August 1785 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Euphrosine Pitre b: February 1784 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 23 June 1787 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Louis Francois Pitre b: 10 August 1786 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: Abt. 9 April 1838 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Angelle Bertrand b: July 1792 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 14 November 1809 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Amable/Anastasie Aucoin]; d: Bef. 1829
*2nd Wife of Louis Francois Pitre:
+ Madeleine Brunet b: Abt. 1790 Philadelphia, PA; m: 18 February 1833 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Matthew/Henriette Baker]; d: Bet. 1840-1850 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Silesie Marie Louise Pitre b: 27 October 1788 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: Abt. 22 February 1844 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Louis Eugene Ledoux b: 3 October 1786 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 31 January 1809 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Francois/Marguerite Rougeau]; d: 8 November 1830 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
*2nd Husband of Silesie Marie Louise Pitre:
+ Ira Thayer (aka Calvin Dodge) b: 17 August 1806 Groton, Middlesex, MA; m: 9 September 1834 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Thomas/Lucy Sawtell]
*3rd Husband of Silesie Marie Louise Pitre:
+ Michel Pivoteau b: 1 March 1819 St. Martin, LA; m: 20 April 1843 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Michel/Susanne Hartgrave]; d: Abt. 3 October 1850 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Marie Belle Rose Pitre b: Abt. 1790 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 25 December 1794 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Joseph Francois Pitre b: Abt. 11 September 1791 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 8 September 1849 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
+ Sophie A. Fontenot b: Abt. 25 March 1792 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; m: 5 February 1811 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA [Henri Pierre/Marie Louise Doucet]; d: 24 July 1850 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
5 Therese Pitre b: Abt. 1793 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA; d: 18 October 1797 Opelousas, St. Landry, LA
Back one generation to parents of Francois Pitre
Items in RED verified from transcriptions in the following:
- Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records
- Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records of Parishes of Acadia, Allen Beauregard, Cameron, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St Landry, St Martin, St Mary and Vermillion.
Some Louisiana deaths in RED taken from obituaries or the Louisiana Deaths collection (which includes spouses/parents).
Last updated: 17 October 2004