Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
[An explanation on how to read this web page
The manuscript consists of 3 volumes. The Preface and "Genealogies and Sketch Pedigrees" are in Volume I, in which several families are traced in order. In volumes I and II there are transcriptions of records of baptism, marriage and burial and other miscellaneous records, usually set forth in a group in French in one of the volumes, and translated into English in the other. These records are on a separate web page, and links are provided here (underlined in blue). Mr. Malabre also drew up a large family tree chart. Information from the chart has been used to tie together some records which had been found in certain records in the Roman Catholic Archives in Kingston, as previously seen on this web site. This information may also be consulted at pages for the de Gournay and Malabre families respectively.]
In 1782 when the storm clouds were gathering over France, St. Domingue was a rich and prosperous French colony; but by the dawn of the 19th century, that picture had changed completely. The great Revolution that toppled Louis XVI from his throne had found a bloody sequel in far-off, sun-drenched, St. Domingue. The slaves revolted; plantations were gutted and whole families massacred; and this in turn was followed by long years of savage warfare.
The final result was a mass migration of the surviving colonists. They settled in the neighboring West Indian islands and on the continent of North America; and to this very day, more than 150 years later, descendants of these French emigre families are still living in Jamaica.
Out three Volumes aim to preserve the records of some of these families.
The data was gathered and compiled over a period of many years and from many different sources; and much of it we owe to the interest, diligence, and persistence of our fellow genealogist, Mr. Trist Wood of New Orleans, La.
Louis C. Malabre
November, 1948
The Issue of N. De Gournay, was:
1. Michel Isaac De Gournay, (1728-1813).
2. Rene De Gournay, (__-1769).
3. Ferdinand De Gournay.
4. Antoinette De Gournay, (___-1756).
The above list may not be complete, and the numbers used do not of course, represent the correct chronological order.
1. Michel Isaac De Gournay:
Michel Isaac de Gournay, Chevalier [Knight] de Saint Louis, was born at St. Malo, Brittany, France, in about the year 1728. He emigrated to the French West Indian Colony of Saint Domingue, where he married Perrine Therese Elisabeth Chevolleau1 in about the year 1751.
Michel DeGournay settled in the Parish of AculI, but afterwards moved to the Parish of Marmelade. He became a rich planter, and was Captain of Dragoons in the Militia of Saint Domingue.
Unfortunately, according to the Ministere de Colonies in Paris, the registers of Acul Parish are missing prior to the year 1777, and the records of Marmelade Parish only begin in 1776.
In the marriage act of his youngest daughter, Jeanne Paulin, Michel DeGourney is described as:-
". . .[Records in French, in quotation marks throughout this manuscript, have been translated here:] high and powerful Lord Michel Isaac de Gournay, esquire, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, and captain of the Dragoons of the St. Domingue Militia and inhabitant of the quarter of La Marmelade, dependency of Cap Francois, island of St. Domingue."
In the marriage act of his son, Francois Victor (born 1778), Michel de Gournay is described as ". . .Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, inhabitant of the quarter of La Marmelade, parish of Ste. Marthe in the northern part of the island of St. Domingue."
In the marriage act of his daughter, Marguerite Antoinette, (in the registers of the Parish of Ste. Marthe de la Marmelade, May 22nd, 1790), Michel de Gournay is described as: ". . . Monsieur Michel Isaac de Gournay, captain of the patriotic troops of the quarter of La Marmelade. . ."
When the revolution in France lighted the flame of revolt in St. Domingue, that unfortunate colony was torn by strife and massacre. It was, perhaps, the bloodiest epoch in all West Indian history, and finally resulted in the mass migration of the surviving French colonists and their families.
Many settled in the neighbouring West Indian islands, and others sought refuge on the mainland of North America.
Thus it was that Michel de Gournay and his family came to Jamaica, probably about the year 1793.
In 1806 Michel made his Last Will and Testament which (with Codicils), is still preserved in the Archives at Spanish Town, Jamaica. It was drawn up and signed on a plantation called "Tranquility" on the 28th of February 1806. (See Will in de Gournay docs.)
On November 9th 1813, Michel Isaac de Gournay died at Swallowfield in the lowland District of St. Andrew. This property belonged to Mr. Bernard Lagourgue, father-in-law of Michel's son, Francois. The old Chevalier was then in his 85th year, and his burial record in the Archives of Holy Trinity Cathedral at Kingston, states that his body was "buried in the land consecrated for burials" (See Burial in de Gournay docs)
Tradition asserts that Michel de Gournay was related to the Vendee Chief Larochejaquelin, and to Adele Rohan or de Rohan.
2. Rene De Gournay: He died in Saint Domingue in 1769II.
3. Ferdinand De Gournay: He lived near St. Malo, Brittany, France.
4. Antoinette De Gournay: She lived at Chateauneuf, near St. Malo, Brittany, and died in the year 1756.III Antoinette married Francois Gabriel Baude de Brunetat, (or Bunnetat), and a daughter of this union afterwards married Louis Menay. After Antoinette's death in 1756, Francois Gabriel Baude de Brunetat married again, and a daughterIV of this second marriage afterwards became the wife of one D'Urville or Durville.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Children of
Michel Isaac de Gournay and of his Wife
Perrine Therese Elisabeth Chevolleau, were:
Perrine Therese (1753 - 1843)
Marguerite Antoinette
Victoire Michelle Aimee Marie (1775 1826)
Elizabeth Francoise (1776 ___)
Pierre Bernard (1777 ___)
Francois Victor (1778 ___)
Louise Francoise (1779 -___)
Perrine Francoise
Louise Marguerite (1782 1860)
Jeanne Paulin (___ - 1857)
1. Perrine Therese de Gournay:
Born in the Parish of Notre Dame de la Nativite de l'Acul in the Jurisdiction of Cap Francais, St. Domingue, in 1753.
On April 20 1778, she married in St. Domingue, " Francois Charest de Lauzon, inhabitant of that quarter, native of Quebec in Canada, Parish of Ste. Genevieve, oldest and lawful son of Etienne Charest, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, former commanding general of the Militia of Quebec, Lord of la Cote de Lauzon, pointe de Levy and other places in Canada, and of Dame Catherine des Aunnier...."
Perrine came to Jamaica with her family in about 1793, but left Kingston in 1800 to settle in New Orleans, La., where she died on April 9th 1843, aged 90. Her husband also died at New Orleans on February lst, 1819.
In the St. Domingue Indemnity records, Perrine Therese is described as PerrineElisabeth, widow of Charest de Lauzon."
In 1828 the Indemnity Commission awarded her 1/9 share in the De Gournay Coffee plantation in Marmelade Parish.
In her act of marriage from the registers of Marmelade Parish St. Domingue, she is described as "Demoiselle Therese Perrine de Gournay native of the Parish of Notre Dame de la Nativite in l'Acul, minor and lawful daughter of Michel Isaac Raphael de Gournay, inhabitant of this quarter, Captain of the Militia Dragoons and of Elisabeth Perrine [nee] Chevolleau."
Marguerite Antoinette de Gournay
Born In the Parish of Limbe, St. Domingue, probably in 1773 or 1774.
On May 22 1790, in the Parish of Sainte Marthe de la Marmelade, St. Domingue, she married "a noble" Jean Alexandre Marie d'Ustou de Casaril6 "native of Thebe, Diocese of Cominges" in the province of Languedoc, France; elder son "of noble Bernard Francois Dustou, Seigneur of Thebe et ...... de the late Jeanne Marie [nee] de Boussac."
After the death of Jean Alexandre Marie d'Ustou, Marguerite Antoinette married again. Her second husband was Charles Desire Corre Desgouttes, Knight,(1816), son of Joseph Corre Desgouttes and of his wife Elisabeth Renoult.
Marguerite came to Jamaica with her family in about 1793, but left Kingston in 1817 to settle in Angouleme, France.
In the St. Domingue Indemnity records Marguerite Antoinette is described as "widow of d'Uston, wife by second marriage of Corre Desgouttes."
She was awarded 1/9 share in the de Gournay coffee plantation in Marmelade Parish. This award was made in 1828.
In a letter from Mr T. Wood of New Orleans, La., dated July 25th 1940, he says: "She is mentioned in a letter 1827 as "being desperately ill."
VictoireMichelle Aimee Marie de Gournay8:
Born In the Parish of La Limbe, St. Domingue, on January 25, 1775, and baptised in the Parish of Marmelade on January 3rd 1777 (See Baptism in de Gournay docs ).
Victoire Michelle Aimee Marie married Louis Corre Desgouttes, Knight of St. Louis, son of Joseph Corre Desgouttes and of his wife Elizabeth Renoult.
Louis is said to have been a French officer under the old regime; afterwards, however, he became a Major in the service of his Britannic Majesty, and served with the British and their French allies during the campaign in St. Domingue.
Victoire Michelle Aimee died at Silver Hill, a coffee plantation in the old Parish of St. George, Jamaica, on November 6th 1826, and was buried there on the following day in the presence of her husband and family. Silver Hill was the property of Mr. Paul Lamothe de Carrier.
Victoire Michelle Aimee was buried at Silver Hill because of the difficulty of transporting her body to Kingston during the rainy season.
On the 28th of May 1839, a record of her death was entered in the registers of Holy Trinity Church at Kingston. This record was attested before the Rev. Benito Fernandez, Vicar Apostolic, by Mr. Raimond Roux who had been verbally requested to do so by Louis Corre Desgouttes, husband of the deceased lady. The record was also attested by Charles (Guillaume) Malabre.
Elizabeth Francoise de Gournay4: (called "Tranquille").
She was born in the Parish of Marmelade, St. Domingue, on April 15, 1776, and was baptised on August 3, 1777 (See Baptism in de Gournay docs.)
Elisabeth Francoise married Julien Hypolite Mace de 1a Villeon5, a native of St. Servan, (1760-1809), and a son of Joseph de la Villeon, and of his wife Jeanne Morard.
Julien Hypolite died in Kingston, Jamaica, on December 22, 1809, and in 1815 Elizabeth went to France (from Kingston), and settled at St. Malo, Brittany.
Pierre Bernard de Gournay:
Born in the Parish of Marmelade, St. Domingue, May 6th, 1777, and baptised there on August 3rd 1777 (See Baptism in de Gournay docs).
Pierre, like his brother, Francois, was educated in France. (See Michel de Gournay's Will).
Pierre Bernard married Marie Joseph Sophie Racine daughter of Francois Racine of Calais, France.
Pierre came to Jamaica with his family probably about the year 1793, and in the returns of properties and proprietors for the March quarter of 1816 we find him listed as proprietor of Sans Soucie in the Parish of St. George, Jamaica, then having 23 slaves and two stock.
In 1823 Pierre Bernard de Gournay was proprietor of Stoney Hill Penn in the Parish of St. Andrew, then having 51 slaves and 39 stock.
It would seem that Pierre Bernard de Gournay died in Jamaica, but to date we have no information on that subject.
Francois Victor de Gournay:
Born in the Parish of Marmelade, St. Domingue, on May 15, 1778, and was baptised there on November 5th 1778. (See Baptism in de Gournay docs.)
Francois and his brother, Pierre Bernard, were educated in France, and probably came to Jamaica in about the year 1793.
And it was at Kingston that Francois de Gournay married Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue, on October 20, 1802.
(See Marriage in de Gournay docs.)
Mademoiselle La Gourgue was a younger daughter of Bernard La Gourgue, former inhabitant of the quarter and parish of St. Jerome in la petite Riviere de l'Artibonite, island of St. Domingue and domiciled in Jamaica, parish and mountain of Port Royal, and Victoire Charlotte Magnan wife of Lagourgue.
In 1817 Francois went to Cuba (from Jamaica) with his sister Mde. de L'Enfernat and her husband, and later migrated to New Orleans, La. While in Cuba he acquired a plantation called "Perseverence" in St. Catherine parish. (Parroquia de Santa Catalina) .
Francois Victor de Gournay is traditionally supposed to have been Knight of the lily and Knight of St. Louis, but I have never seen anything to prove it.
To date we have no information as to where or when Francois died, but it may well have been at New Orleans, La.
Louise Francoise De Gournay:
She was born in the Parish of Marmelade, St. Domingue, on June 23 1779, and was baptised there on August 27, 1780 (See Baptism in de Gournay docs.)
We know nothing whatever about Louise Francoise. Presumably, she died young.
Perrine Francoise de Gournay:
She was of course, born in St. Domingue but to date we have no information on the subject.
Perrine Francoise married Alexandre Francois de L'Enfernat D'Avarole, lieutenant in the Regiment of Beary in the service of "his very Christian Majesty."
Perrine Francoise came to Jamaica in about 1793.
In 1816 we find her husband, Alexandre Francois de l'Enfernat listed as proprietor of Garden Hill in the Western District of St. Andrew, and of Friendship Pen in the Parish of St. George.
In reference to Friendship Pen, see also Michel Isaac de Gournay's Will. (See Will in de Gournay docs.)
Towards the end of 1817, or early in 1818, the de l'Enfernats emigrated from Jamaica to Cuba. They settled in the Parish of St. Catherine, as also did Francois Victor de Gournay who went to Cuba with them.
In 1824, Mme. de l'Enfernat was living in Saltader, quarter of Ste. Catherine, Cuba.
In 1828 she was awarded 1/9 share in her father's coffee plantation in Marmelade parish, St. Domingue, by the St. Domingo Indemnity Commission. In the Indemnity records she is described as Perrine Francoise widow of L'Enfernat d'Avarole.
Louise Marguerite de Gournay:
She was born ' 14 March 1782' (See Mr. T. Wood's letter of June 5th 1940), in St. Domingue, and probably came to Jamaica in about 1793.
At Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday, May 11, 1797, Louise married Raymond Chevolleau7, Major in the Infantry in the service of his Britannic Majesty and son of Chevolleau and of his wife Marguerite Chabot.
In 1817, Louise Marguerite went to France (from Kingston), and located at Angouleme. There, on December lst of that same year, was born her youngest daughter Antoinette Elizabeth Chevolleau, known to us in later life as "Old Aunt" or "Aunt".
Louise Marguerite returned to Jamaica and lived there until her death. She died in Kingston on November 23rd, 1860.
Jeanne Paulin de Gournay
She was born in St. Domingue.
On January 31 1807, at Kingston, Jamaica, Pauline married Roland Onffroy,_Esquire, Captain of Artillery in the service of his Britannic Majesty, "oldest and lawful son of the high and powerful Lord Jacques Roland Onffroy, Knight, Lord of la Rosiere;" etc., and "of the late high and powerful lady Louise Augustin Du Frene de Virel".
In 1816, Pauline went to France (from Kingston), and lived at the Chateau de la Gaudinelaye in Britanny.
The Marquise de Verez informed Mr. Wood that Pauline died in 1857 at the age of 75. Mr. Wood thinks that "75" "must have been just a round figure an approximate age". This must be so for if Pauline died at 75 in 1857, she would have been born in 1782, the birth year of her sister, Louise Marguerite. On top of that it is said that Pauline was a minor at the time of her marriage in 1807. If true., that would place her birth year somewhere about 1788.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Issue of
Pierre Bernard de Gournay
and of his wife Marie Joseph Sophie Racine, were:
1. Elizabeth Bernardine de Gournay:
Born in the Parish of Port Royal, Jamaica, on October 14, 1803, and baptised at Kingston, September 11, 1806 (See Baptism in de Gournay docs.)
2. Pauline Francoise de Gournay:
Born in the Parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica, April 19th, 1805, and baptised at Kingston, September 11th, 1806. (See Baptism in de Gournay docs.)
The issue of
Francois Victor de Gournay,
and of his wife, Jeanne Marie Paulin Helene Lagourgue were:
(This list is probably not complete - nor chronological).
1. Michelle Marie Helene de Gournay
Born in Jamaica, March 5th 1803, and baptised at Kingston, March 10th 1809.
2. Bernardine Elisabeth Mathilde de Gournay:
Born in Jamaica, May 17th, 1808, and baptised at Kingston, March 10th 1809.
3. Alexandre Mathilde de Gournay
Born at Kingston, Jamaica, November lst 1812, and baptised there on January 9th 1815.
4. Victoire Elisabeth de Gournay
Born at Kingston, Jamaica, August 30, 1817, and baptised there December 30 of that same year.
5. Paul Francois Joseph Bernard de Gournay:
Born in Cuba in 1828.
Paul emigrated to New Orleans, La., with his parents. During the American Civil War he became Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of de Gournay's Heavy Artillery, C.S.A. He was afterwards French Consul at Baltimore, Md. where he died on July 26, 1904, aged 76. He was the last male de Gournay of the Michel Isaac de Gournay branch.
6. Aimee de Gournay
Mr. Trist Wood of New Orleans, La. met this lady in 1892. She married a Roux.
The Issue of
Paul Francois Joseph Bernard de Gournay,
and of his wife, were:
(list probably incomplete).
Blanche de Gournay
This lady conducted a fashionable girls school in Baltimore, Md. That school may be still in existence.(June 13, 1942)
I. According to the Dossier, Michel Isaac de Gournay was proprietor in Limbe and Marmelade 1769 to 1802.
II. According to the Dossier, Rene de Gournay died in the Parish of Limbe 2nd December, 1769.
III. According to the Dossier, Antoinette de Gournay died 27th April, 1756.
IV. According to the Dossier, her name was Antoinette Perrine Francoise Jeanne Baude de Brunetat. Wife 1st of ___. 2nd of Louis Menay and died without children.
1. In St. Domingo records: Perine-Elisabeth.
2. Swallowfield was located near Cross Roads somewhere in the vicinity of Nun's Pen.
3. In the St. Domingo records: Perrine-Elisabeth
4. In the St. Domingo records: Francoise-Elisabeth but in the Bapt. register (of. her niece and god daughter, E. B. de Gournay), Elisabeth Francoise
5. In the St. Domingo records:- Masse de la Villeon
6. In the St. Domingo records: Jean-Marie-Alexandre d'Ustou de Casaril
7. In the Commission appointing him Captain with the rank of Major (August 1795), Raimond de Chevolleau
8. In the Saint Domingo records: Victoire-Marie but in the marriage act of her daughter Jeanne Pauline (wife of Branday) Marie Victoire. It is also found as Aimee-Victoire
9. Anne-Marthe Roland Onffroy.
Note: For differences in the names of Michel de Gournay's children see the Bapt. & marriage records in this Book.
De Gournay Arms:
Extract from Mr. Wood's letter of June 14th 1940.
"Many years ago Mrs. Evershed, of N.O. showed me two desk dies - small handles with dies attached-one she said from the de Gournay family, one from the Charest family."
(follows rough sketch of both coats of arms, the arm grasping the bow labelled de Gournay and the other Charest.)
"They had belonged to her Mother, Noemi Du Bourg, wife of Gen. Horatio Davis.
Francis de Gournay, son of Michel Isaac de G. came to Louisiana. One of the desk stamps may have belonged to him. But, if so, was it a de Gournay article? or did it come from the Chevolleau side?
The widow of Etienne Charest de Charest came to New Orleans. She was Elizabeth Dubison and her mother was a Joly
Her personal effects when she died were taken over by her relatives here.
Maybe one of those desk dies, or both- came from her.
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