My great-great grandfather was Francois Joseph Vautrot (1813-1881).
His original homestead is still erect and located in Eunice, Louisiana—Acadia
Parish.
The original Vautrot, Francois Vautrot (b. France in 1784 –d. 1863 Pennsylvania), arrived in America aboard the ship Libertas in 1834 from France. While in France, in 1812, he married Marie Moyeaux (b. in France – d. 7/25/1847 in Pennsylvania).
The original Vautrot, Francois Vautrot (b. France in 1784 –d. 1863 Pennsylvania), arrived in America aboard the ship Libertas in 1834 from France. While in France, in 1812, he married Marie Moyeaux (b. in France – d. 7/25/1847 in Pennsylvania).
That Francois Vautrot (above): his father was also Francois
Vautrot, and he married Marguerite
Marchal.
They were French Huguenots (Protestants) that had been persecuted
by the Catholics in France since the time of Louis the 14th (17th century
French king). Well, Francois and his children left New York and settled in Crawford
county Pennsylvania. Francois Vautrot became a naturalized US citizen in 1846;
he died in Pennsylvania in 1863. Some of his children moved to different states
in the 1840's--Ohio, Alabama, and Louisiana. One of those sons is Francois Joseph Vautrot (1813-1881), who
settled in St. Landry Parish and erected a home along Bayou Teche--he purchased
250 acres or( 296 arpents; 1 arpent = 0.84 acres) from Sarah Lee on October 17th,
1853. More about him...
Francois J. Vautrot (FJV) emigrated to America in 1839, after military service probably in his native France. He was a French citizen, spoke European French and little English; he was not a U.S. citizen. His family, including five younger siblings, had made the trip from Lorraine, France, to New York and then to Crawford County, PA, five years previously in 1834...as already mentioned above. His brother, Jules, became a naturalized citizen in Lafayette, LA and Francois settled in St. Landry parish in 1840--around the city of Opelousas. There, he married a landed widow, Amelia Burleigh Johnson, in Opelousas on April 25th, 1848 and became a planter. She was previously married to a Mr. William Johnson, Jr. She and Francois Joseph had one son, Francois Louis Vautrot, born on April 5th 1849, who became the progenitor of the Vautrot family in Southwest Louisiana; he died in Church Point, LA on May 31, 1898.
FJV saw his produce and livestock, including cotton, confiscated by General Banks' troops during the Civil War (1861-1865). This large property was occupied by the invading Union Army under General Nathaniel Banks in October of 1863, and Francois Joseph Vautrot's herd of cattle (6), horses (5), and mules (5) was confiscated 80 bales of cotton stolen, as well as several thousand pounds of corn and rice. My great-great grandfather's original home was burned down by the Yankees. He was a planter and slave owner (9 males, 10 females and several children per records in National Archives in Washington,D.C), but he was NOT a Confederate soldier nor did he support secession. Per government records and testimony, most of his slaves left with the Union Army, but some remained with FJV. The Yankees left them "maybe 40 or 50 barrels of corn, of which Francois divided with the slaves."
After the Civil War ended in 1865, Francois Joseph Vautrot sold his farm in the fall of 1865 to Simon Richard, and he emigrated again, but to Brazil with some Confederados (the name bestowed on Confederate sympathizers who left the South after the Civil War seeking a more compatible political atmosphere), but returned to Acadia Parish circa 1871. He built a new home, which still stands today, not too far from his original one.
The date of his death is not documented (circa 1881), but his former slave testified that he was buried "under a tree" on his farm.
Francois J. Vautrot (FJV) emigrated to America in 1839, after military service probably in his native France. He was a French citizen, spoke European French and little English; he was not a U.S. citizen. His family, including five younger siblings, had made the trip from Lorraine, France, to New York and then to Crawford County, PA, five years previously in 1834...as already mentioned above. His brother, Jules, became a naturalized citizen in Lafayette, LA and Francois settled in St. Landry parish in 1840--around the city of Opelousas. There, he married a landed widow, Amelia Burleigh Johnson, in Opelousas on April 25th, 1848 and became a planter. She was previously married to a Mr. William Johnson, Jr. She and Francois Joseph had one son, Francois Louis Vautrot, born on April 5th 1849, who became the progenitor of the Vautrot family in Southwest Louisiana; he died in Church Point, LA on May 31, 1898.
FJV saw his produce and livestock, including cotton, confiscated by General Banks' troops during the Civil War (1861-1865). This large property was occupied by the invading Union Army under General Nathaniel Banks in October of 1863, and Francois Joseph Vautrot's herd of cattle (6), horses (5), and mules (5) was confiscated 80 bales of cotton stolen, as well as several thousand pounds of corn and rice. My great-great grandfather's original home was burned down by the Yankees. He was a planter and slave owner (9 males, 10 females and several children per records in National Archives in Washington,D.C), but he was NOT a Confederate soldier nor did he support secession. Per government records and testimony, most of his slaves left with the Union Army, but some remained with FJV. The Yankees left them "maybe 40 or 50 barrels of corn, of which Francois divided with the slaves."
After the Civil War ended in 1865, Francois Joseph Vautrot sold his farm in the fall of 1865 to Simon Richard, and he emigrated again, but to Brazil with some Confederados (the name bestowed on Confederate sympathizers who left the South after the Civil War seeking a more compatible political atmosphere), but returned to Acadia Parish circa 1871. He built a new home, which still stands today, not too far from his original one.
The date of his death is not documented (circa 1881), but his former slave testified that he was buried "under a tree" on his farm.
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Abbreviated history of Francois Joseph Vautrot:
Francois Vautrot
marries Margueirete Marchad and have a son named Francois Vautrot…
Francois Vautrot
(born in France in 1784; died in Pennsylvania in July 15th, 1863)
married Marie Moyeaux in 1812 (she died on 7/25/1847 in East Meadtown, Crawford
County in Pennsylvania).
Francois Vautrot, arrived in America aboard the ship Libertas in 1834.
They gave birth to Francois
Joseph Vautrot (1813-1881…about 68 years-old). He is my great-great grandfather.
FJV arrived here from France a few years later in 1839.
He settled in St. Landry parish in 1840.
Remained a French citizen…was never naturalized like his
father Francois Vautrot.
FJV married Amelia Burleigh on April 25, 1848 in Opelousas,
LA. Her 1st husband died, he was William Johnson, Jr. (Amelia
Burleigh married William Johnson, Jr on 05/08/1827; they had one son, named
William Johnson, who was born 2/14/1828 and died in 1873). Amelia was born
about 1798 and died in 1863). Her parents were Robert Burleigh, Jr and Marie
Taylor.
FJV and Amelia Burleigh had a son Francois Louis Vautrot on April 5th, 1849 (FLV died in
Church Point on May 31st, 1898 at age 49).
FJV purchases the property of 296 aprents (250 acres) from
Sarah Lee on October 17th, 1853.
FJV’s property was raided by Union General Nathaniel Banks
in October 1863. At that time, FJV was a slave owner with 9 males, 10 females,
and several children. The Union Army
burned down the homestead.
FJV and his wife Amelia and their son Francois Louis all emigrated
to Brazil in 1865/1866 after he sold the property to Simon Richard in fall 1865.
He returns to Acadia Parish circa 1871.
He rebuilds a 2nd home. He dies 10 years later
around 1881 and is buried under an Oak tree.
Address: 1172 Brigman Highway; Eunice, LA 70535
Francois Joseph Vautrot
1813 born
in France
1839 arrives
in America (~26 yo)
1840 settles
in St. Landry parish around Opelousas; Bayou Teche area
1848 marries
Amelia Burleigh (~35 yo)
1849 has
a son, Francois Louis Vautrot
1853 buys
296 arpents (250 acres) from Sarah Lee
1863 Union
Army under General Banks raids livestock, burns the homestead
1863 his
dad, Francois Vautrot, dies in East Mead township, Pennsylvania (Crawford
County)
1863 his
wife, Amelia Burleigh Johnson Vautrot, dies.
1865 FJV
sells his property to Simon Richard
?1865/1866 migrates
to Brazil at the age of 53 yo.
1871 returns
to America, settles in Acadia parish
1881 died;
buried under an Oak tree (~68 yo)
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