Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
[Translations and comments in brackets are by jamaicanfamilysearch. Other adjustments have been made to translations done by Louis Malabre.]
Etienne Charest, Chevalier de Saint Louis, one time "commandant General des milices" [General in command of the Militia] of Quebec in French Canada, and last Seigneur "de la cote de Lauzon, Pointe de Levy et autres lieux du dit pays," [Lord of the coast of Lauzon, Pointe de Levy and other places in the said country] married Catherine Des Aunnier
When the English besieged Quebec in the middle of the 18th century, Etienne and his brother distinguished themselves in its defence. But as we know, Quebec fell to the enemy, and the destiny of New France passed into British hands.
It was then that Etienne Charest is said to have sold his Seigneurie of Lauzon, a great tract of land lying opposite Quebec, to the English Governor. He is then supposed to have retired to France where he was made a Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis in about the year 1768.
Etienne Charest, last Seigneur of Lauzon, died at Touraine.
We do not know at present whether Eitenne Charest had more children than the five listed below, but these five were:
Etienne Charest de Charest (1743- )
Francois Charest de Lauzon (17__ 1819)
Philippe Charest de Levis (17__ 17__)
Marie Joseph Charest (1750-)
Marie Catherine Charest (1752-)
Etienne Charest de Charest was born in 1743, doubtless in Canada. After the fall of Quebec, we can be sure that he went to France with his father, whence, at a later date, he emigrated to the then prosperous French West Indian Colony of Saint Domingue.
Etienne is said to have dropped the first Charest in the common usage of his name. It is noteworthy that the name appears as CHAREST without the 'de' in the Saint Domingue records.
And it was in Saint Domingue that Etienne de Charest met and married Elizabeth Francoise Richard DUBISON (or Du Buisson), widow of Jean Baptiste de Maul'on. Elizabeth was born at Cap Francais, Saint Domingue. on August 30th 1730. and she died at New Orleans, La., on November 13th 1816.
The de Charests settled in the Parish of Marmelade where Etienne became the proprietor of a Coffee Plantation, and Capitaine Major in the local Militia.
The Charests were good friends of the de Gournays, and both families lived in Marmelade Parish.
In May 1790, Etienne and his wife attended the wedding of Marguerite Antoinette de Gournay, and Jean Alexandre d'Ustou. The de Charests were also present at many a Baptismal ceremony In the Parish of Marmelade and their signatures appear on many of these documents. Our records are far from being complete, but from them we have compiled the following list:
Baptism of Victoire Michelle Aimee de Gournay, 3 August 1777. (Dubison Charest)
Baptism of Elizabeth Francoise de Gournay, 3 August 1777. (Dubison Charest) Madame Charest was the child's god-mother.
Baptism of Pierre Bernard de Gournay, 3 August 1777. (Dubison Charest)
Baptism of Francois Victor de Gournay, 5 November 1778. (In this instance, Elizabeth represented the child's god-mother.) (Dubison Charest)
Baptism of Perrine Francoise Charest de Lauzon, 27 April 1780. This was Etienne Charest's niece, and he represented the god-father. (Dubison Charest & her husband as Charest.)
Baptism of Louise Francoise de Gournay, 27 August 1780. (Dubison Charest and her husband as Charest.)
Baptism of Francois Michel Charest de Lauzon, 14 March 1782. This was Etienne's nephew, and his wife, Elizabeth Dubison Charest, represented the god-mother.
Baptism of Elizabeth Etiennette Bonne Charest de Lauzon, 10 June 1783. This was their niece & Etienne was godfather. (Dubison Charest and her husband as Charest).
Baptism of Exupere Charest de Lauzon, 30 July 1786 (god-mother Dubison Charest and her husband as -Charest).
Baptism of Louis Joseph Marie Arnold Du Bourg, 25 May 1790 (Dubison Charest and her husband as -Charest).
In the Baptismal Act of Francois Victor de Gournay listed above, Dame de Charest, as we have said, represented the god-mother. She is described as "Francoise Elizabeth Dubison epouse de Sr Charest Major des milices et habitant du quartier". [..wife of ...Major in the militia and resident of the district.]
In the Baptismal Act of Elizabeth Etiennette Bonne Charest de Lauzon listed above, the god father was: "Monsieur Etienne Charest capitaine aide major des milices et habitant de cette paroisse" [resident of this parish].
In the Baptismal Act of Perrine Francoise Etiennette Charest de Lauzon listed above, the god-father was represented by "le sieur Etienne Charest officier, major Officier habitant de ce quartier."
In the Baptismal Act of Exupere Charest de Lauzon listed above, Dame de Charest, the god-mother, is described as: Madame Francoise Elizabeth Dubison epouse de Monsieur Etienne Charest Commandant des milices et habitant de cette paroisse".
In the Baptismal Act of Francois Michel Charest de Lauzon listed above, Madame Charest represented the god-mother (who as it happened, was her mother-in-law). She is described as: Francoise Elisabeth Dubison, epouse de sieur Etienne Charest, Capitaine Aide major des Milices."
Besides the Coffee Plantation in Marmelade Parish for which his heirs were awarded 15,600 francs in 1831, they also received another award of 53,726.40 (in 1832) for a "portion de Cafeterie" which Etienne Charest had owned, also in Marmelade Parish. See the Saint Domingue Indemnity records, below.
We do not know where Etienne died. He is supposed to have gone to Kingston, Jamaica, after leaving Saint Domingue, and he may have died there. We do not know. As we have said already, his wife died in New Orleans, La., in November 1816.
For information regarding the family of Madame Elisabeth Dubison Charest, see pedigree of indemnity claim.
Francois was born in the Parish of Ste. Genevieve, Quebec, Canada. He was styled 'de Lauzon', the name being a territorial designation taken from his father's Seigneurie of Lauzon.
It seems obvious that Francois went to France with his family after the collapse of French power in North America, and it was from that country that he emigrated to Saint Domingue.
And in Saint Domingue, on April 20th 1778, Francois married Perrine Therese de Gournay in the Parish of Marmelade. Perrine was a daughter of our great-great-great-grandfather, Michel Isaac de Gournay, Chevalier de Saint Louis, rich planter, and Captain of Dragoons in the local militia.
The Charest de Lauzons settled in Marmelade Parish, and we find their names on many of our old family records. Here is a list of the records on which their signatures appear:
1778, November. Baptism of Francois Victor de Gournay. On this occasion, Francois, who was the child's brother-in-law, stood god-father. (Charest de Lauzon & his wife De Gournay (Charest.))
1780, April. Baptism of his daughter Perrine Francoise Etiennette . (Charest de Lauzon and his wife as De Gournay De Lauzon.)
1780, August. Baptism of Louise Francoise de Gournay. On this occasion the godmother was represented by "Madelle de Lauzon" probably one of Francois' sisters; we don't know.
1782, August. Baptism of their son Francois Michel. (De Gournay Charest: Charest de Lauzon).
1783, June. Baptism of their daughter Elizabeth Etiennette. (De Gournay Charest: Charest de Lauzon).
1786, July. Baptism of their son Exupere. (Charest de Lauzon: de Gournay Charest de
Lauzon.)
1790, May. Baptism of Joseph Arnould Dubourg. (De Gournay Charest: Charest de Lauzon).
1799, December. Baptism of Mary Louise Frances Du Bourg.
(We have no signatures on our copy of this act, but "Francis Lauzon de.Charette" was god-father, represented by "Lewis DuBourg."
(Of course it should be Francois Charest de Lauzon, and Louis DuBourg. The Baptism
took place at Baltimore, Md.)
1802, October. Marriage of Francois De Gournay and Mdlle. Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene La Gourgue at Kingston.
(Francois Charest De Lauzon: his wife apparently, did not sign. This document is also signed by "Antoinette De Lauzon", daughter of Francois Charest de Lauzon & Dame De Gournay - Charest de Lauzon. )
1802 December. Marriage of William Francis Espeut and Josephine Adele Dubourg at Kingston.
Frs. Charest de Lauzon: his wife apparently did not sign.)
From some of these documents we learn that Francois Charest de Lauzon was Officer, Aide major of Militia in Marmelade Parish.
Francois Charest de Lauzon finally went to New Orleans, La., where he died on February 1st 1819. His wife survived him by many years. She died, also at New Orleans, April 9, 1843.
The following reference to Francois Charest de Lauzon and his wife, Perrine Therese, are to be found in the last Will and testament of his father-in-law, Michel Isaac de Gournay, Chevalier de Saint Louis. This Will was "Signed, Sealed and Published" at Kingston, Jamaica in January 1801. (translated)
"I declare that Mr. Charest De Lauzon my son in law has received from the property held in community by my wife and myself the sum of forty thousand livres which I gave as a marriage portion to my daughter Perrine Therese his wife and as an advance on what she would be entitled to in the Estate of her Father and Mother.
He the said Charest Lauzon has also received the sum of ten thousand livres being the amount of a Bequest given to my said daughter by the late Mr. La Haye before her marriage took place with Mr. Lauzon. I mention this item as it was to make part of the property to be held in common by Mr. Lauzon and my daughter. The receipts or vouchers in respect of these sums so received are amongst the minutes of Mr. Barratte a Notary in that part of Saint Domingo called La Marmelade and must have been deposited in the Greffe or Office of Records at the Cape (meaning Cape Francais)."
The following reference is from the First Codicil to the above Will, which was "Signed Sealed and Delivered" at a place called 'Tranquility' in Jamaica in February 1806.
"Fifth. My two daughters Perrine de Lauzon and Antoinette D D'Ustou at present Mrs. Charles Desgouttes having received on their respective marriages more than they are entitled to in my Estate I declare by this Codicil that I despense them with returning what they would be liable to account for according to the Custom of Paris."
We know less about Philippe Charest than about Etienne or Francois. Philippe, doubtless, was born in Canada, and must have accompanied his father to France after the fall of Quebee; later he emigrated to Saint Domingue.
There he became proprietor of a Coffee plantation at or near La Trouble in the Parish of Plaisance et Pilate. In 1833 his heirs were awarded 2,925.00 francs for the loss of that property during the Revolution.
It does not seem to us that Philippe was married for in the Saint Domingue Indemnity records he alone is listed as the proprietor of the above mentioned Coffee plantation.
We find his signature on the following documents:
27 April 1780, Baptism of his niece Perrine Francoise Etiennette. (Charest De Levis).
14 March 1782, Baptism of his nephew Francois Michel. (Charest de Levis) .
Philippe Charest de Levis is said to have been killed during the revolution in Saint Domingue.
She was born in 1750, doubtless in Canada. She married Antoine Joseph Forget, Seigneur de Mons near Artonne. Antoine was a lieutenant in the Regiment of the IledeFrance.
Among the heirs of Etienne Charest and his wife, we find, "2 FORGET (SophieAdelaideVictoire) comtesse de Blot." We feel certain that this lady was a daughter of Marie Joseph Charest, Dame Forget and therefore a niece of Etienne Charest.
The comtesse de Blot is also listed among the heirs of Philippe Charest de Levis, but this time the name appears as De Forget.
She was born in 1752, doubtless in Canada. She married Robert Jean De Montorsier (We believe De MONTORSIER is correct as the name is so written in the Saint Domingue Indemnity records.). Robert Jean Montorsier is described as "Ecuyer, Conseiller du Roy, Lieutenant particulier criminel et Assesseur Civil et de Police en la Senechaussee et siege presidal de Clermont-Ferrand."
Among the heirs of Etienne Charest and his wife, we find: 1. MONTORSIER (MarieCatherineGenevieve), comtesse d'Espinchal.''
This was obviously a daughter of Marie Catherine Charest, Dame Montorsier and therefore a niece of Etienne Charest.
We find this same lady listed among the heirs of Philippe Charest de Levy, but here the name is given as DE MONTORSIER.
The Issue of Francois Charest de Lauzon,
and of his wife
Perrine Therese de Gournay
were:
Perrine Francoise Etiennette (1779- )
Francois Michel (1781- )
Elizabeth Etiennette Bonne (1782- )
Exupere (1784- )
Bienaim'
Marie Antoinette Adele (1788- )
Perrine Francoise Etiennette Charest de Lauzon, was born in the Parish of Marmelade, Saint Domingue, on March 27th 1779, and was Baptised there on April 27th 1780.
Francois Michel Charest de Lauzon, was born in the Parish of Marmelade, Saint Domingue, September 5th 1781, and Baptised there on March 14 1782.
Elizabeth Etiennette Bonne Charest de Lauzon, was born in Marmelade Parish, Saint Domingue. September 1782, and was Baptized there on June 10 1783. She married Pierre Francois Du Bourg, Chevalier de Saint Louis, Sieur de Ste. Colombe, on February 28th 1797.
Exupere Charest de Lauzon, was born in the Parish of Marmelade, Saint Domingue, in December 1784, and was Baptised there on July 30 1786.
Bienaim' Charest de Lauzon.
He was the last male member of the family, that is the last as to generation for he was survived by his father.
Bienaim' was killed in a duel in Louisiana. We have no dates but since Francois Charest de Lauzon, the father, died on February 1st 1819, the duel must have occurred prior to that date.
We know little about Marie Antoinette except that she signed the de GournayLaGourge marriage act at Kingston in October 1802. We understand that she was 14 years old at that time, and that she afterwards married Jean Baptiste Thibaut.
This completes our story of the Charest family, and a very sketchy story it is at that. (See below for transcription of documents)
Mimi Charest. She signed the d'Ustoude Gournay marriage act in Marmelade Parish on May 22 1790. WHO WAS SHE?
Charest Brusl' signs the Baptismal act of Exupere Charest de Lauzon on July 30 1786. WHO WAS HE? or SHE? This might be (Victoire) Chauvet (du Broeuil) Brusl', mother of Josephine Charlotte Benigne Brusl', wife of Jean St. Joseph DeMauleon.
The Charest family was extinct in the male line by the time the Saint Domingue Indemnity awards were made. No one by the name of Charest received indemnity.
From Ministere des Colonies, Archives Coloniales, Paris, France.
Born March 27, 1779
Baptised April 27, 1780, Marmelade, St. Domingue (Folio 10)
Legitimate daughter of Francois Charest de Lauzon, officer of the Militia, resident of this district, and of Perrine Therese de Gournay, his wife.
Godfather, Mr. Etienne, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, represented by Etienne Charest, officer, and resident of this district.
Godmother, Perrine Therese Chevolleau de Gournay, her grandmother.
Register signed by (identifying comments in parentheses by Louis Malabre):
De Gournay de Lauzon (the child's mother, Perrine Therese De Gournay, Madame Charest de Lauzon, born in Acul, St. Domingue in 1753, died in New Orleans, La. April 9, 1843)..
Dubison Charest (Francoise Elizabeth Dubison, widow of Mauleon, Madame Charest, wife of Etienne Charest, the child's paternal uncle who represented the godfather. She was born at Cap Francois, St. D., Aug. 30, 1730 and died New Orleans, Nov. 13, 1816).
Charest (Etienne Charest, the child's uncle who represented the godfather).
Parmentier
Mauleon
Fleury
Charest de Lauzon (The child's father, Francois Charest de Lauzon, died in New Orleans, Feb. 1, 1819)
Charest de Levis (The child's uncle, Philippe Charest de Levis. He had a coffee plantation in Plaisance and Pilate, and was killed during the revolution.)
Fr. Julien, Capuchin missionary, rector.
==========================================
Born September 5, 1781
Baptised March 14, 1782, Parish of Ste. Marthe, Marmelade, Saint Domingue (Folio 3)
Legitimate son of Francois Charest de Lauzon, officer of the Militia, resident of this district, and of Perrine Therese DeGournay, his wife.
Godfather, his maternal grandfather, Michel Isaac DeGournay, captain of the Militia.
Godmother, Catherine Desaurier, wife of Etienne Charest, Knight of St. Louis, the child's paternal grandmother, represented by Francoise Elizabeth Dubison, wife of Etienne Charest, captain, acting adjutant of the Militia.
Register signed by (identifying comments in parentheses by Louis Malabre):
De Gournay (the godfather)
Catherine Desaurier (the godmother. It appears that Etienne Charest, last seigneur of Lauzon and father of Francois Charest de Lauzon by his first wife, Elizabeth Richard Dubison, was twice married, this being his second wife.)
Dubison Charest (Francoise Elizabeth Dubison, the child's aunt by marriage, wife of Etienne Charest.)
Charest de Levis (the child's uncle, Philippe Charest de Levis)
Chevolleau Layrac
Papillon
Painseur
DeGournay Charest (the child's mother)
Charest de Lauzon (the child's father)
Fougasse (the St. Domingue Indemnity records list a Marc Fougasse whose property was located in Dondon)
Baude de Brunetat (Michel Isaac De Gournay had a sister Antoinette who married Francois Gabriel Baude de Brunetat ot Bunnetat.)
Fournier (This might be Antoine Fournier who married Marie Francoise Victoire du Bourg on May 24, 1786)
Placide
Larrieu
Charest
Fr. Julien, Capuchin missionary, rector.
==========================================
Born Sep. 10, 1782
Baptised June 10, 1783 in Marmelade, Saint Domingue. (Folio 9)
Aged 9 months, legitimate daughter of Francois Charest de Lauzon, etc. (See Perrine)
Godfather Etienne Charest, captain, acting adjutant of the Militia.
Godmother Elizabeth Perigord, widow of the late Mr. Chevolleau, former captain of the Dragoons of the Militia of the parish of Acul.
Register signed by (identifying comments in parentheses by Louis Malabre):
DeMauleon, Chevolleau, Charest, DeGournay, le Marquis de Cadurch, Bouche Lefevre, DeGournay Charest, Bouchun, Charest de Lauzon, Chevolleau De Gournay, Dubison Charest, Chevolleau Layrac, Alavoine, Moyer, Cappe (the St. Domingue Indemnity records list Pierre, Louis Vincent Rene, and Antoine Cappe, also Marie Madeleine Nicolie Cappe, the first three for a property in Marmelade, and the last named for property in Dondon)
Fr. Sebastian, Capuchin missionary.
==========================================
Born November, 1784
Baptised July 13, 1786 in Marmelade, St. Domingue (Folio 7)
Aged 20 months, legitimate son of Francois Charest de Lauzon, etc. (See Perrine).
Godfather, Exupere Brusle, resident of Dondon.
Godmother, Francoise Elizabeth Dubison, wife of Etienne Charest commandant of the militia and resident of this parish.
Register signed by (identifying comments in parentheses by Louis Malabre):
Brusle, Dubison Charest, Charest de Lauzon, DeGournay Charest de Lauzon, Chevolleau DeGournay, Brusle de Mauleon, Charest Brusle, DeGournay, Charest, Desnau?, A. Brusle (Angelique Brusle, a daughter of Antoine Exupere Brusle, the godfather)
Fr. Sebastian, Capuchin missionary, rector
[Translation]
Elisabeth Dubuisson
Widow of Charest
Born Cap Francais
(Island of St. Domingue)
August 30, 1730
Died November 13, 1816
From the Saint Domingue Indemnity Records
Volume 1832-1833, pages 124-127. Parish of Plaisance et Pilate. Jurisdiction: Cap.
Former proprietor: Charest Levy (Philippe)
Those claiming rights:
1. De Montorsier (Marie Catherine Genevieve), Countess of Espinchal
2. De Forget (Sophie Adelaide Victoire), Countess of Blot
3. Deguenand de Villeneuve (Marie Catherine)
4. Thibault (Jean Pierre Francois)
5. Marie Elisabeth
6. Adele Elisabeth
7. Thibaut (Pierre Louis Arthur)
8. Marie Aglae de Jesus
9. Dubourg (Louise Elisabeth) wife of Dorandon-Bringier
10. Antoinette Charlotte Noemie, wife of Davis
11. Louise Marie Elisa, wife of Seaman-Field
12. Elizabeth Jeanne Adele, wife of Thibaut
13. Victoire Jeanne Charlotte
Heirs of the former proprietor
Nature of property: coffee plantation
Name of rural property & designation of districts or towns: La Trouble
Date of decision: June 4, 1833
Date of remittance: July 1, 1833
Amount: 2,925.00
==========================================
Volume 1832, pages 86-87. Parish of La Marmelade
Former owners: Charest (Etienne) and Dubison (Elisabeth), widow of Mauleon, and of Charest by second marriage.
Those claiming rights:
1. Montorsier (Marie Catherine Genevieve), Countess of Espinchal
2. De Forget (Sophie Adelaide Victoire), Countess of Blot
3. Deguenand de Villeneuve (Marie Catherine)
4. Thibault (Jean Pierre Francois)
5. Marie Elisabeth
6. Adele Elisabeth
7. Thibaut (Pierre Louis Arthur)
8. Marie Aglae de Jesus
9. Dubourg (Louise Elisabeth) wife of Dorandon-Bringier
10. Antoinette Charlotte Noemie, wife of Davis
11. Louise Marie Elisa, wife of Seaman Field
12. Elizabeth Jeanne Adele, wife of Thibaut
13. Victoire Jeanne Charlotte
14. Cabanel de Sermet (Pierre Alexandre Theodat)
15. Dubourg de Sainte Colombe (Pierre Francois)
Heirs of the former proprietor, by various titles
Nature of property: coffee plantation
Date of decision: August 16, 1831
Date of remittance: Sept. 1, 1831
Amount: 15,600.00
==========================================
Volume 1832-1833, pages 46-47. Parish of Marmelade
[Names same as above property in Marmelade]
Nature of property: Portion of cafeterie in Marmelade
Date of decision: October 16, 1832
Date of remittance November 1, 1832
Amount 53,726.40
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