An Interesting Genealogical Puzzle

Using Land Records to Determine Parentage - Jean-Baptiste Guédry, Husband of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis

by Marty Guidry

For many years genealogists in Louisiana diligently traced ancestry to Jean-Baptiste Guédry and Anne Magdeleine Dupuis; however, they had difficulty bridging the gap between Jean-Baptiste Guédry and Claude Guédry, the first known Guédry in Acadia. In 1994, Daniel C. “Chuck” Guidry and Audrey Westerman published a paper in Terrebonne Life Lines in which they used extant land records to identify the parents of Jean Guedry as Jean-Baptiste Guédry and Anne Magdeleine Dupuis. 1 Through their excellent research the parents of Jean-Baptiste Guédry are identified.

The earliest known record of Jean-Baptiste Guédry, husband of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis, is the 7 July 1763 list of Acadians at Port Tobacco, MD desiring to return to France. 2 , 3 Here one finds:

Etat des gens neutrals acadiens qui sont a portabaco. En Maryland 7 juillet 1763
. . .
jean Gaidris, anne Gaidris son epouse, firmin Gaidris, magdelaine Gaidris, jean Gaidris, Monique Gaidris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

[Translation: List of the Neutral Acadians who are at Portabaco. In Maryland 7 July 1763 ]

Port Tobacco historical marker
Port Tobacco historical marker

On 4 February 1768 Anne Dupuis, widow Guédry (age 35), and her five children Fermin (age 16), Magdalena (age 14), Monica (age 6), Isabel (age 3) and Jean-Baptiste (age 2) disembarked from the ship Jane in New Orleans, LA. 4 , 5 They had departed the North Potomac River (Port Tobacco, MD) along with 144 other Acadians on 17 December 1767. The Jane was a plantation-built, seventy-five ton vessel commanded by Captain Richard Ryder with a crew of seven. Captain Ryder received his permit to sail to New Orleans at Patuxent, MD on 2 March 1767. 6 , 7 Arriving on the Jane with Anne Dupuis and her children were Pierre Guédry (called Pedro Lledri on the manifest and Pedro Lledre on the list of settlers), his wife Margarita, one child Maria and an orphan Olivier Baven (Boutin). Also sailing on the Jane were Joseph Guédry (called Joseph Landri on the manifest and the list of settlers), his wife Magdalena, three children Joseph, Simon and Magdalena and an orphan Margarita Baven (Boutin). 4 , 5 Pierre Guédry and Joseph Guédry were brothers and the sons of Augustin Guédry and Jeanne Hébert Between March 1765 and February 1768 Jean-Baptiste Guédry died - probably near Port Tobacco, MD. Little of his early life is known although from the ages of his wife and children he likely was born in Acadia about 1731 and married Anne Magdeleine Dupuis in Acadia about 1750.

Shortly after arriving in New Orleans, Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and her children along with Pierre Guédry and his family and Joseph Guédry with his family were forced by Spanish officials to settle far up the Mississippi River at Fort San Luis de Natchez (near present-day Vidalia, LA). This swampy, insect-infested area was too far from New Orleans by river for profitable commerce and a great distance from other Acadian communities. A large number of the Acadians at Fort San Luis de Natchez died within the first eighteen months of settlement including Pierre Guédry’s wife and two young children and probably Joseph Guédry’s wife and three children. In December 1769 the Spanish relented and let the Acadians move downriver - close to other Acadian communities. 4 , 5 , 8

Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and her children along with Pierre Guédry and his new wife Claire Babin and Joseph Guédry immediately left Fort San Luis de Natchez and resettled in Ascension Parish, LA. On 1 August 1770 they were living near each other on the left bank (east side) of the Mississippi River in Ascension Parish near the Isle aux Marais. With Anne Magdeleine Dupuis (widow Guédry, age 40) were her children Firmin (age 18), Magdeleine (age 16), Jean (age 8) and Monique (age 6). Isabel Guédry apparently died at Fort San Luis de Natchez. Pierre Guédry (age 26) was with his second wife Claire Babin (age 26) and their new son Pierre (age 5 months). Also censused near the households of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and of Pierre Guédry was Joseph Guédry (age 30) living alone - apparently having lost his entire family at Fort San Luis de Natchez. 9 , 10 , 11

In Ascension Parish on 24 May 1773 Joseph Guédry, son of Augustin Guédry and Anne (Jeanne) Hébert of L’Assomption Parish in Pisiguit, Acadia, married Anne Monique Dupuis, daughter of Jean Dupuis and Anne Braud. Witnesses to their marriage were Joseph Buten (Boutin) and Joseph Dupuis. 12 , 13 This was the second marriage for Joseph Guédry. At St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia, PA on 22 January 1761 he married Magdelen Melancon. 14 , 15 , 16

Joseph Guédry and Magdalen Melançon had three children: Joseph (b. ca.. 1755), Simon (b. ca. 1763) and Magdalena (b. ca.. 1765). 4 , 5 Magdalen Melançon and her three children apparently died at Fort San Luis de Natchez during their brief residence there in 1768-1769. 9 , 10

Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and her family remained in Ascension Parish as did Joseph Guédry. On 23 April 1777 Anne Dupuis (widow Guédry, age 44) was living with her sons Firmin Guédry (age 27) and Jean Guédry (age 17) and her daughter Marie (Monique) Guédry (age 15) on the east side of Mississippi River near the Isle aux Marais. Firmin Guédry was listed as the head of the household. Joseph Guédry (age 45) and his wife Marie (Anne Monique) Dupuis (age 33) were living next to Anne Dupuis and her family. 17 , 18 By 1777 Pierre Guédry had moved his growing family to the Opelousas region. 19 , 20

In December 1782 Joseph Guédry died. Shortly after is death on 10 December 1782 his widow Anne Monique Dupuis requested an inventory of the estate.

Acadian Settlement at San Luis de Natchez, circa 1768
Acadian Settlement at San Luis de Natchez, circa 1768

He lived in the community L’Anse de L’Isle aux Marais and present at the inventory were: Jean Guédry, nephew of the deceased, Pierre Dupuis, Pierre Landry, Pierre Brasseux, Joseph Braud, relatives, friends and neighbors of the deceased. The appraisers were Joseph Landry and Simon Richard. The property of Joseph Guédry adjoined that of Firmin Guédry, son of Ann Magdeleine Dupuis, the widow of Jean-Baptiste Guédry. 21 , 22

As stated in his marriage certificate to Anne Monique Dupuis, Joseph Guédry was the son of Augustin Guédry and Anne Hébert. 12 , 13 One of the persons present at the inventory of Joseph Guédry’s estate was Jean Guédry, nephew of the deceased .

Based on census and sacramental records, in 1782 in Louisiana there were only two known Jean Guédry’s: Jean-Baptiste Guédry, the son of the late Jean-Baptiste Guédry and Anne Magdeleine Dupuis, who was born about 1761 and Jean-Baptiste Guédry, son of Pierre Guédry and Claire Babin, who was born 9 July 1776. It is improbable that a six-year old child would be mentioned as attending an estate inventory; therefore, the son of Pierre Guédry and Claire Babin is not the Jean Guédry mentioned in the above estate inventory. The Jean Guédry mentioned must be the son of the late Jean-Baptiste Guédry and Anne Magdeleine Dupuis.

Jean Guédry could only be the nephew of Joseph Guédry if his father and Joseph Guédry were brothers or if his mother Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and Joseph Guidry’s wife Anne Monique Dupuis were sisters. As stated in her marriage certificate, Ann Monique Dupuis, widow of Joseph Guédry, was the daughter of Jean Dupuis and Anne Braud. 12 , 13

Although we do not know with certainty the parents of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis, the available records do provide some clues. From Louisiana census records Anne Magdeleine Dupuis was born ca. 1730-1733. Her eldest child Firmin Guédry was born about 1750-1752; therefore, she married Jean-Baptiste Guédry about 1750. Furthermore, in 1763 she and her husband Jean-Baptiste Guédry were at Port Tobacco, MD with their children.

A review of Dupuis men who had daughters named Anne and/or Magdeleine born in the 1720 - 1740 timeframe yielded several potential sets of parents for Anne Magdeleine Dupuis. 23 They are:

1) Charles Dupuis and Madeleine Trahan - daughter Madeline was born in 1739; however, this family was exiled to Southampton, England and Madeleine Dupuis married Eustache Daigle there in 1759.

2) Antoine Dupuis and Marie-Joseph Dugas - daughter Madeleine was born in 1722; she married Joseph Hébert about 1740. Another daughter Anne-Marie was born in 1731; however, she married Michel Boudrot about 1751.

3) Germain Dupuis and Marie Granger - daughter Anne was born in 1738; however, she married Dominique Thibodeau. Another daughter Marie Madeleine was born in 1741; however, she wed Amand Breau about 1763.

4) Joseph Dupuis and Elizabeth LeBlanc - daughter Marie Magdeleine was born on 20 May 1737. 24 , 25 Nothing futher could be found of her life, but she does not have the name Anne.

5) Charles Dupuis and Elizabeth LeBlanc - daughter Anne was born on 7 May 1733. 26 , 27 This family was exiled to Maryland. Charles Dupuis and Elizabeth LeBlanc with two sons Jean-Baptiste and Joseph were at Annapolis, MD in 1763. 28 , 29 , 30

Although to date no definitive record confirming the parents of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis has been located, it appears very probable that they were Charles Dupuis and Elizabeth LeBlanc. More importantly for this study, almost certainly they were not Jean Dupuis and Anne Braud, the parents of Anne Monique Dupuis, as they had only two daughters: Marie (born ca. 1739) and Monique (born ca. 1744). 31 The relationship of Joseph Guédry and Jean Guédry, therefore, was because Jean Guédry’s father was the brother of Joseph Guédry.

Since the parents of Joseph Guédry were Augustin Guédry and Jeanne Hébert, the parents of Jean-Baptiste Guédry, father of Jean Guédry and husband of Anne Magdeleine Dupuis, also were Augustin Guédry and Jeanne Hébert.

Besides the evidence discussed above, collateral evidence supporting this conclusion stems from Anne Magdeleine Dupuis’ close association with Joseph Guédry and Pierre Guédry, both sons of Augustin Guédry and Jeanne Hébert . They were, in fact, her brothers-in-law and certainly provided much needed support to her. From Port Tobacco, MD Anne Magdeleine Dupuis sailed to New Orleans, LA on the Jane with Pierre Guédry and Joseph Guédry, sons of Augustin Guédry and Jeanne Hébert. She settled near both of them at Fort San Luis de Natchez in 1768 and at L’Anse de L’Isle aux Marais in Ascension Parish, LA in 1770. In 1777 and 1782 she still was living near Joseph Guédry at L’Anse de L’Isle aux Marais. Furthermore, Charles Dupuis and Elizabeth LeBlanc were exiled to Maryland and were at Annapolis, MD in 1763 - not far from Anne Magdeleine Dupuis and Jean Baptiste Guédry at Port Tobacco, MD.

References

  1. Guidry, Daniel C. “Chuck” and Westerman, Audrey; “Guédry - Guidry - Gaidry”, Terrebonne Life Lines (Terrebonne Genealogical Society; Houma, LA), Volume 13, No. 4 (Winter 1994), pp. 62-63.
  2. Archives Nationales France, Archives du Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Correspondance politique, Angleterre (Paris, France), volume 450, folio 442. “Etat des gens neutrals acadiens qui sont a portabaco. En Maryland 7 juillet 1763” [Transcription: National Archives of Canada (Ottawa, Canada), MG 5, Volume 450, Folio 442.]
  3. Rieder, Milton P. Jr. and Rieder, Norma Gaudet; The Acadian Exiles in the American Colonies, 1755-1768 (Milton P. Rieder, Jr. and Norma Gaudet Rieder; Metairie, LA; 1977), p. 33.
  4. Archivo General de Indias “Audiencia de Santa Domingo (A.D.S.)” (Seville, Spain), Legajo 2585, Folios 577-604. “Acadians Families Who Came to Louisiana and Were Going to Settle at San Luis de Natchez in the Year 1768” and “Acadians Who Were Granted Land at San Luis de Natchez, 1768” [Microfilm available at the Center for Louisiana Studies; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Lafayette, LA].
  5. Voorhies, Jacqueline K.; Some Late Eighteenth-Century Louisianians - Census Records of the Colony, 1758-1796 (The USL History Series, University of Southwestern Louisiana; Lafayette, LA, 1973), pp. 435-436, 438.
  6. Archivo General de Indias “Papeles Procedentes de Cuba (P.P.C.)” (Seville, Spain), Legajo 187-A-1 (2 Marzo 1767). “Passport for the Jane, 2 March 1767” [Microfilm available at the Center for Louisiana Studies; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Lafayette, LA].
  7. Voorhies, Jacqueline K.; Ibid., p. 200.
  8. Brasseaux, Carl A.; The Founding of New Acadia - The Beginnings of Acadian Life in Louisiana, 1765-1803 (Louisiana State University Press; Baton Rouge, LA; 1987), pp. 78-89.
  9. Archivo General de Indias “Papeles Procedentes de Cuba (P.P.C.)” (Seville, Spain), Legajo 188-A-1, Folios 454-466. “Etat, du habitants acadiens de la paroisse de L’assession a Commence Sur La Rive Droite du fleuve, chez jean jeansonne, autre fois chez La Veuve Lachance et finis a La pointe D’Enhaute Lisle aux marais. Année 1770” [Microfilm available at the Center for Louisiana Studies; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Lafayette, LA].
  10. Voorhies, Jacqueline K.; Ibid., p. 277.
  11. Robichaux, Jr., Albert J.; Colonial Settlers Along Bayou Lafourche - Louisiana Census Records, 1770-1798 (Albert J. Robichaux, jr.; Harvey, LA; 1974), p. 7.
  12. Ascension Catholic Church; Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, LA; Volume 1 page 124 of the Marriage Register (24 May 1773).
  13. Pollard, Nora Lee Clouatre; Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (Diocese of Baton Rouge; Baton Rouge, LA; 1978-2008), v. 2 pp. 272, 340.
  14. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA; Marriages for the Year 1761 (Simon Yetry and Magdalen Melançon).
  15. Furey, Francis T.; “Father Farmer’s Marriage Register, 1758-1786. Preserved at St. Joseph’s Church, Philad’a.”, Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia (American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA; 1889), v. II (1886-1888) p. 279.
  16. O’Keefe, Barbara Brady; “Father Farmer’s Marriage Registers, 1758-1786. St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania”, Acadian-home.org website (Viewed 26 Jan 2006), p. 23 of 93. http://www.acadian-home.org/acadian-marriages-Philadelphia.html
  17. Archivo General de Indias “Papeles Procedentes de Cuba (P.P.C.)” (Seville, Spain), Legajo 190. “General Census of the Inhabitants of the District of the Parish of Ascension of Lafourche des Chetimachas, which begins on the right bank of the river beginning below at Basil Prejean and ending above at the tip of the Isle aux Marais; and on the left bank, at Sieur Maruice Canoee formerly of the village of the Houmas and ending above at Francois Babin opposite the tip of the above mentioned isle, comprising five leagues, 1777” [Microfilm available at the Center for Louisiana Studies; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Lafayette, LA].
  18. Robichaux, Jr., Albert J.; Ibid., p. 18.
  19. Archivo General de Indias “Papeles Procedentes de Cuba (P.P.C.)” (Seville, Spain), Legajo 2358. “Opelousas General Census, May 4, 1777” [Microfilm available at the Center for Louisiana Studies; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Lafayette, LA].
  20. Voorhies, Jacqueline K.; Ibid., p. 312.
  21. Ascension Parish Courthouse; Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, LA; Original Acts v. 15 “Invent & Sales”, Judice N-1 “B” pp. 523-529.
  22. Behrman, Eileen Larré; Ascension Parish, Louisiana Civil Records 1770-1804 (Eileen L. Behrman; Conroe, TX; 1986), pp. 26-27.
  23. Arsenault, Bona; Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens (Les Éditions Leméac Inc.; Ottawa, Canada; 1978), pp. 1112, 1129, 1145, 1162-1165, 1187.
  24. St. Charles-aux-Mines Catholic Church, Grand-Pré, Acadie (Currently maintained at the Diocese of Baton Rouge; Department of the Archives; Baton Rouge, LA); St. Gabriel Catholic Church Register, v. 2 p. 162.
  25. Pollard, Nora Lee Clouatre; Ibid., v. 1 p. 46; v. 1a (Revised) p. 70.
  26. St. Charles-aux-Mines Catholic Church, Grand-Pré, Acadie (Currently maintained at the Diocese of Baton Rouge; Department of the Archives; Baton Rouge, LA); St. Gabriel Catholic Church Register, v. 2 p. 125.
  27. Pollard, Nora Lee Clouatre; Ibid., v. 1 p. 44; v. 1a (Revised) p. 67.
  28. Archives Nationales France, Archives du Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Correspondance politique, Angleterre (Paris, France), volume 450, folio 443. “Recencement des habitants Neutre de L’accadie détenus à Annapolis En Maryland. 7 juillet 1763” [Transcription: National Archives of Canada (Ottawa, Canada), MG 5, Volume 450, Folio 443.]
  29. Jehn, Janet; Acadian Exiles in the Colonies (Janet Jehn; Covington, KY; 1977), p. 138.
  30. Rieder, Milton P. Jr. and Rieder, Norma Gaudet; Ibid.; p. 27.
  31. Voorhies, Jacqueline K.; Ibid., p. 435.