Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

MALABRE MANUSCRIPTS

[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.]


VOLUME II

RECORDS OF BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, BURIAL, WILL & OTHER

Translated from the French by Louis C. Malabre

BAPTISMS

In St. Domingue

Elizabeth Francoise de Gournay

BORN: April 15, 1776

BAPTISM: August 3, 1777

Extract of the Civil Register of the Parish of la Marmelade, St. Domingue

From: Ministere des Colonies - Archives Coloniales (Folio 5), Paris, France. Repository of public Documents from the Colonies, created by the Law of June 1776.

Lawful daughter of Mr. Michel Isaac de Gournay, Captain of Dragoons, resident of la Marmelade, and of Perrine Therese Chevolleau, his wife.

Godfather: Francois Fouquet, Captain of the Dragoons, inhabitant of la Marmelade.

Godmother: Elizabeth Dubison, wife of Charest, Captain adjutant-major of the Militia for the quarter.

Signatures: Brusle Lanee, de Gournay, Bungore Brusle, Chaumet Brusle, Dubourg, Dubison Charest, Chevolleau de Gournay, Sureau, Darate, Villars, Foquet.

Fr. Julien, Capucin missionary, curate.

============================

Francois Victor de Gournay

BORN: May 15, 1778

BAPTISM: November 5, 1778

Marmelade, St. Domingue

From: Ministere des Colonies - Archives Coloniales (Folio G), Paris, France

Lawful son of Mr. Michel Isaac de Gournay, Captain of Dragoons, resident of Marmelade, and of Perrin Therese Chevolleau, his wife.

Godfather: Francois Charest de Lauzon, resident of Marmelade

Godmother: Victoire Aimee de Gournay, his sister, represented by Mrs. Francoise Elizabeth Dubison, wife of Sr. Charest, adjutant of the Militia and resident of Marmelade.

Signatures: Dubison Charest, de Gournay Charest, Charest de Lauzon, de Gournay, Charest.

Fr. Julien, Capuchin Miss., Rector

============================

Louise Francoise de Gournay

BORN: June 23, 1779

BAPTISM: August 27, 1780

Marmelade, Saint Domingue

From: Ministere des Colonies - Archives Coloniales (Folio 9), Paris, France

Lawful daughter of Mr. Michel Isaac de Gournay, Officer of the Militia, resident of Marmelade, and of Perrine Therese Chevolleau, his wife.

Godfather: Pierre Pouvet, merchant at Le Cap

Godmother: Francoise Elizabeth de Gournay, her sister, represented by Mademoiselle de Lauzon

Signatures: deGournay, de Gournay de Lauzon, Pleury, Charest, Dubison Charest, Fouquet, Parmentiere, Mauleon, de Lauzon, Charest de Levis.

Fr. Julien, Capuchin Miss., Rector

============================

Pierre Bernard de Gournay

BORN: May 6, 1777

BAPTISM: August 3, 1777

Marmelade, St. Domingue

From: Ministere des Colonies - Archives Coloniales (Folio 5), Paris, France

Lawful son of Mr. Michel Isaac de Gournay, Captain of Dragoons, resident of Marmelade, and of Perrin Therese Chevolleau, his wife.

Godfather: Bernard Villard, Commandant of the Militia of the District of Marmelade

Godmother: Perrine Therese de Gournay, eldest daughter, represented by Benigne Charlotte Brusle

Signatures: Dubison Charest, Sureau, Chevolleau de Gournay, Benigne Brusle, Chauvet Brusle, Dubourg, Douguet, Villard, Darate, Brusle Sane.

Fr. Julien, Capuchin Miss., Rector

============================

Victoire Michelle Aimee de Gournay

BORN: January 25, 1775

BAPTISM: August 3, 1777

Limbe, Saint Domingue

From: Ministere des Colonies - Archives Coloniales (Folio 3G), Paris, France

Lawful daughter of Mr. Michel Isaac de Gournay, Captain of Dragoons, resident of Marmelade, and of Perrine Therese Chevolleau, his wife.

Godfather: Michel Poupot, merchant at le Cap, represented by Marc Sureau, resident at the Cul.

Godmother: Perrine Victoire Brusle, widow of the late Fauduc Saney de Seythrac, Lieutenant of the King's Frigate.

Signatures: Brusle Sane, Dubison Charest, Chevolleau de Gournay, DeGournay, DuBourg, Sureau, Chauvet Brusle, Fouquet, Charest, Villard.

Fr. Julien, Capuchin Miss., Rector


In Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston, Jamaica

Alexandrine Mathilde de Gournay

BORN: November 1, 1812, Kingston

BAPTISM: January 1, 1815,

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston (Baptisms 1800-1814, 1817, p. 102)

Lawful daughter of Francois de Gournay, inhabitant of St. Domingue, and Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue, his wife.

Godfather: Alexander Whyte, lawyer, represented by Bernard Lagourgue inhabitant of St. Domingue, the child's grandfather.

Godmother: Genevieve Michelle Mathilde Lagourgue, maternal aunt

Signatures: Bernard Lagourgue, Denis Victor Lagourgue, Genevieve Michelle Marie Mathilde LaGourgue (signed as Michelle Lagourgue), P. de Gournay, Jean Marie Pauline Helene La Gourgue de Gournay, Francois de Gournay, Elisa Lagourgue, Magnan Lagourgue,

Fr. Jean Hyacinthe Rodrigues de Arango.

=========================

Bernardine Elizabeth Mathilde de Gournay

BORN: May 17, 1808

BAPTISM: March 10, 1809

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston (Baptisms 1808-1812, p. 23)

Lawful daughter of Fr. de Gournay, Esquire, resident of Jamaica, and Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue, his wife.

Godfather: Bernard Lagourgue, Esquire, the child's grandfather

Godmother: Elizabeth de Gournay, wife of Mr. De la Villeon, the child's aunt.

Signatures: Lagourgue de Gournay, Frs. de Gournay, M. I. de Gournay, Mathilde Lagourgue, D. V. Lagourgue, B. Lagourgue, P. de Gournay, Magnan Lagourgue, De la Villeon, Lagourgue Magnan, Elise Lagourgue.

Fr. J. J. R. de Arango, Rector.

==================================

Elizabeth Bernardine de Gournay

BORN: October 14, 1803 in the Parish of Port Royal, Jamaica

BAPTISM: September 11, 1806 in Holy Trinity Church.

Lawful daughter of Pierre Bernard de Gournay, and Marie Joseph Sophie Racine, his wife.

Godfather: Bernard La Gourgue represented by Francois de Gournay.

Godmother: Elizabeth Francoise de Gournay wife of De Lavilleon.

Signatures: Elizabeth Degournay, Frs. De Gournay, P. De Gournay

bapt. by Guillaume Le Cun

==================================

Michelle Marie Helene de Gournay

BORN: March 5, 1803

BAPTISM: March 10, 1809

in Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston, (Baptisms 1808-1812, page 23.)

Lawful daughter of Francois de Gournay, Esquire, resident in Jamaica, and of Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue, his wife.

Godfather: Michel Isaac de Gournay, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St.Louis, the child's grandfather

Godmother: Victoire Charlotte Bonne Magnan, wife of Mr. B. Lagourgue, the child's grandmother

Signatures:

Frs. de Gournay, Elizabeth de la Villeon, Magnan Lagourgue, Elise Lagourgue, D. V. Lagourgue, M. I. de Gournay, B. Lagourgue, Lagourgue - de Gournay, P. de Gournay, Mathilde Lagourgue, de la Villeon, Lagourgue Magnan.

Fr. J. J. R. de Arango, Rector.

===============================

Pauline Francoise de Gournay

BORN: April 19, 1805 in St. Andrew

BAPTISM: September 11, 1806

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston (Funerals: 1795-1823, p. 589)

Lawful daughter of Pierre Bernard de Gournay, planter of Jamaica, and Marie Josephe Sophie Racine, his wife.

Godfather: Francois de Gournay, the child's paternal uncle

Godmother: Jeanne Pauline de Gournay, the child's paternal aunt

Signatures: Pauline de Gournay, Frs. de Gournay, P. de Gournay

Fr. G. le Cun

============================

Victoire Elizabeth de Gournay

BORN: 10/30/1807

BAPTISM: 12/30/1807

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston (Baptisms Jan 7, 1800 to Nov. 20, 1814, 1817, p. 1080)

Lawful daughter of Francois de Gournay, and Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue wife of de Gournay, inhabitants of St. Domingue.

Godfather: Denis Victor Lagourgue the child's maternal uncle

Godmother: Elizabeth Lagourgue [Catherine Elizabeth], maternal aunt.

Fr. Jean Hyacinthe Rodrigues de Arango.


MARRIAGE

Francois Victor de Gournay, and Jeanne Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue

Marriage: October 20, 1802, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston

After publication of banns on October 10th, minor and lawful son of Michel Isaac de Gournay, Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, inhabitant of the quarter of la Marmalade, parish of Ste. Marthe, partie du Nord, St. Domingue, and of the late Perrine Therese Chevolleau wife of de Gournay, his father and mother, the groom living in Jamaica in his father's house and marrying with his consent, for the first part, and Jean Marie Pauline Helene Lagourgue lawful minor daughter of Bernard La Gourgue, inhabitant of the quarter and parish of St. Jerome de la petite Riviere de L'Artibonite, St. Domingue, and domiciled in Jamaica, in the parish and Mountain of Port Royal and of Victoire Charlotte Bonne Magnan wife of Lagourgue, her mother and father and marrying with their consent.

WITNESSES: William foot LaGourgue, Paul Louis Marie Audize, the bride's cousins, Jean Baptiste Philippe Beureau, Jean Baptiste Baunret, all four domiciled in Jamaica.

Signatures: Mathilde La Gourgue, M. de Gournay, B. Lagourgue, Magnan Lagourgue, Francois Charest de Lauzon, Antoinette de Lauzon, D. V. Lagourgue, G. L. De Chevannes, Elizabeth de Lavilleon, L. Desgouttes, A. Nougues, Louise Marguerite Chevolleau, Lagourgue Magnan, Pauline de Gournay, Eliza La Gourgue, C. Desgouttes, W. F. Lagourgue, Antoinette Magnan, Sophie De Gournay, Audize Lancone Boiteau, H. de la Villeon.

De l'Espinasse, curate.


BURIAL

Michel Isaac de Gournay, Knight of the Order of St. Louis.

DIED: November 9, 1813, in Mr. Lagourgue's house, aged about 85 years.

BURIED: Same day

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Kingston

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michel Isaac de Gournay was born in St. Malo, Brittany, in about 1728, and we assume that he emigrated to St. Domingue around 1748-1750. We do not know when or where he married Perrine Therese Elizabeth Chevolleau, but it was probably in St. Domingue and in about 1751.

At first the de Gournays seemed to have lived in Acul whish is in the jurisdiction of Cap Francais for Perrine Therese de Gournay was born there in 1753. Later on, however, they moved to Limbe where Marguerite Antoinette was born. And they wer still living in Limbe when Victoire Michelle Aime de Gournay was born there in 1775. At this time, Michel de Gournay was a Captain of Dragoons in the local militia.

The DeGournays moved again, either in 1775 or in 1776, this time to Marmelade. And it was in Marmelade that Michel Isaac de Gournay acquired a coffee plantation, and became a wealthy planter in the parish of Ste. Marthe.

And Marmelade remained the home of the de Gournays until the Revolution shattered the peace and prosperity of St. Domingue and forced them to seek refuge elsewhere.

Elizabeth Francoise was born in Marmelade in 1776, Pierre Bernard in 177, Francois Victor in 1778, Louise Francoise in 1779, and Louise Marguerite in 1782. And we assume that Jeanne Pauline de Gournay was also born on the de Gournay plantation, but we fo not know the year of her birth.

Neither do we know when Michel Isaac de Gournay was created a knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis, but it seems probable that it was while he was living on his plantation in the parish of Ste. Marthe.

On a fateful August night in 1791, the spirit of the Revolution whivh had swept the mother country in far off Europe, suddenly burst into flame on the Plaine du Nord in St. Domingue. It begun on the Turpin plantation neat Cap Francais and marked the beginning of one of the bloodiest episodes in all West Indian history. With the burning of Cap Francais in 1793, the surviving colonists, abandoning their homes and plantations, sought refuge in the neighboring West Indian islands and on the mainland of North America.

And thus it was that Michel Isaac de Gournay arrived in Jamaica with his family. For him, Jamaica proved to be the end of the road for there, on November 9, 1813, at the home of his son's father-in-law, Bernard Lagourgue, the old Chevalier de Gournay died in about the 85th year of his age and was buried in or near Kingston.


VOLUME I

The Will of Michel Isaac de Gournay. (1728 - 1813)

Lib: 91, Fol: 204. Entered January 1816 in the Records Office, Jamaica.

Jamaica SS: Translation from the French of the Will and Testament of the late Michel Isaac De Gournay Esquire deceased. [Translator not identified]

This is my last Will and Testament. I nominate Mr. De la Villeon my son in Law Executor of this my Will and Guardian of my children and in his stead Mr. De l'Enfernat also my son in Law and I request them to take upon themselves the burden of their executorship as the greatest proof of their friendship towards me and my children. Being possessed by Lease of Land being part of Mr. Chevolleau's plantation situate in the parish of Saint George and called Friendship in which I have planted some Coffee which will give a fair prospect for my children, no distribution shall take place before the expiration of the Term of said Lease which has still eight years to run. Mr. De l'Enfernat shall have the management of the place. I give to him from the beginning of this years crop one third part of the proceeds. He will bear one third part of the expenses and losses of the plantation. After my decease he will provide himself for his Table and until then he will contribute one third of the expenses for the same. At the time he will have to provide for the full expense of his table he will have the little produce of the plantation.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Jeanne Pauline the sum of six thousand livres, besides her own right in my Estate should she not be married at the time of my decease. Should she then be married she will take her share in equal proportion in all my Estate.

Each of my daughters have in advance of their share in my Estate a female Servant which with a little difference will equalize their respective shares.

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 be 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 Domingue called La Marmelade and must have been deposited in the Greffe or Office of Records at the Cape (meaning Cape Francais). My late Son in Law Mr. D'ustou has received from the property held in Common by my Wife and myself the sum of fifty-seven thousand livres and upwards which I gave to my daughter his wife on account of what she would be Entitled to in the Estate of her Father and Mother. This sum was paid and charged to me by Messieurs Poupet Guimet and Gourdin upon discharging Debts due by him to several of his creditors according to his instructions. Should any doubt be Entertained about this reference may be had to their Books which have been preserved. I declare that all my papers even my Titles and property were burnt in the conflagration at the Cape. I leave no demands against me. If any claims are made reference must be had to the books of Messrs. Poupet Guimet and Gourain. All my engagements have been paid by them for the space of twenty two years. I had adjusted my account with them on the first of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. I owed them for the balance of all accounts the sum of five thousand livres against which they had to account to me for the sale of the Coffee which they had received from me to the nineteenth of June in the same year. I declare also to have received from Mr. Antoines Marcorelles my Correspondent at Nantes my account stated to thirty first day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety two by which the said Mr. Marcorelles owed me for the balance of all accounts the sum of seventeen thousand five hundred Tournois livres out of which sum he had to pay the pensions of my two sons Augustin and Francois who were at the College of Vendome until the time of their leaving it. Mr. De L'Enfernat my son in Law will account yearly for the produce of the Plantation with my Executor and should he become an Executor with my heirs. After paying all the Debts due from the plantation he will remit, if possible, to my sons Augustin and Francois in France the share coming to them. I have two gold watches. I give one to each of them. I give all my Linen and wearing apparel to my negro named Valere in acknowledgment of his good services to me. At Kingston this seventeenth January 1801.

M. De Gournay

Signed sealed and published as the last Will and Testament of Michel De Gournay in the presence of us and of each other,

William G. Warren, J. L. Mazel, Thomas Warren.

The arrival of my two sons in this island requiring some alteration in the dispositions made, contra this is a codicil consisting of seven items, viz: First my eldest Son Pierre Bernard will take the negro named Valere and my son Francois my negro Jean as an equivalent for the servants by me given to my daughters. This Donation is without any prejudice to their rights. These negroes will be delivered up to them by my Executor at the expiration of the Term of my Lease. Second I give to my eldest daughter the wife of Mr. Louis Desgouttes my negro female servant Helene a Creole without prejudice to her rights in my Estate. Third I give to my daughter Jeanne Pauline the sum of eighty dollars to be paid to her yearly until the payment to her of the Bequest already made to her and also without prejudice to her right. Fourth I give to my Grand daughter Celina Chevoleau all the cows and their offspring belonging to me and on the plantation at the expiration of the Lease.

Fifth My two daughters Perrine de Lauzon and Antoinette 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 the Codicil that I dispense with their returning what they would be liable to account for according to the Custom of Paris. Sixth Mr. De L'Enfernat having the management

of the Lease until the expiration of the Term, in order to spare him the trouble of accounting to each of my heirs I nominate in his stead Mr. Louis Desgouttes my son in Law Executor

of my Testament in default of Mr. De La Villeon my son in Law. Seventh I acknowledge to be indebted for my sons Pierre Bernard and Francois De Gournay in the sum of four thousand Tournois livres with the interest thereon that is due to Mrs. Duval widow, for the sum of eighteen hundred Tournois livres unto Mrs. Gigot for the sum of twelve hundred Tournois livres and unto Mr. Racine senior the sum of one thousand livres aforesaid, which sums I bind myself to pay or in default to get the same paid by my Executor.

Tranquility this 28th February 1806 De Gournay Pere

Signed sealed and delivered by the (within) named M. De Gournay as a Codicil to his Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names this twenty eighth of February 1806 .

Witness W. F. Lagourgue, John Day, De La Villeon

Second Codicil

I have said by my Will that the distribution shall not be made before the expiration of the Term of the Lease of Friendship Plantation. I have omitted to mention how the distribution shall be made. It is my Will that in the distribution my children share and share alike. I have bequeathed by my Testament to my daughter Jeanne Pauline the sum of six thousand pounds in the event she should not be married at the time of my decease. My last will is that the said sum be paid to her

should she be married or not as she is more in need than any of my other children. I have bequeathed by the said Will to my daughter Aimee Desgouttes a negro woman named Helene a

creole as she is not part of the slaves on Friendship. I do declare to have given to my said daughter the actual possession of said slave. I give and bequeath to my grandson

Amedee D'ustou one hundred pounds as an acknowledgment of the services rendered to me by his late Father. I request Mr. De la Villeon and in default of him, Mr. Louis Desgouttes

as proof of their friendship to take the burden of the executorship of my Testament. At Beau Desert this eighteenth August one thousand eight hundred and six.

M. De Gournay

Signed sealed and delivered by the within named M. De Gournay as a second Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names this eighteenth day of August 1806.

Witness M. B. Marcellai, James P. Colchrist, Bontemps, Corrageau

I annul the legacy of six thousand pounds made to my daughter Jeanne Pauline by the Testament and Codicil of the Eighteenth August and reduce the same to her right in my Estate.

De Gournay Pere

Signed in presence: M. E. Marsellai, J. Bte Chapplaine

This 20th day of January 1812 I Michel Isaac De Gournay being of sound body and mind have dictated the Codicil written by my son Francois First I confirm my Will and Testament and

the Codicils heretofore made by me and delivered to my Executor and declare that I will and direct that what follows be executed as an integral part of my Will and Testament

Secondly I declare and acknowledge that the sums of money advanced to my two sons Pierre and Francois by Madame Mariany Ve Duval of Havre and by Madame de Gigault de Bellefond of Cherbourg on the refusal of my correspondent Mr. Antoine Marcorelles of Nantes who had my directions to supply the wants and pay for the education of my two said sons amounted

with interest calculated to the sixth day of December one thousand eight hundred and four to the sum of seven thousand three hundred and thirty four livres fifteen sous Tournois. ...Thirdly. I acknowledge that according to my wishes Mr. Francois Racine of Calais the Father in Law of my son Pierre did on the sixth day of. . .

(Note LCM Feb 1947: The remainder of the Will is not in my possession.)

================================

[Notes from JamaicanFamilySearch:

1. Some adjustments have been made in the sentence structure, prepositions, and idiomatic expressions of this translation, to make the English more understandable.

2. A livre was a synonym for a franc. A "livre tournois" was worth 20 sous, the term tournois being used for royal coins struck on the model of coins made in Tours up to the 13th century. A "livre parisis" was worth 25 sous. (Larousse)]


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