SEVENTH GENERATION

96. Alexandre DeBlieux 

1760: Born October 20, in Marseille, Parish of Les Accoules, France. "Mrs. Grenaux says he was a Duke." (See record of birth in file)

1789: Married Therese Francoise Isnard, July 27, at St. Marc Isle, Santa Domingo (or on board ship?). She was 22. Their first daughter, Julie Marie, was born on January 22, 1790, seven months after their marriage. After returning from Santo Domingo they settled in Forcalquier, where Alexandre became an Accusateur Publique (Public Prosecuter).

1793: A second daughter, Rose Therese, was born May 21, in Forcalquier. Julie Marie died here on July 19 (age 3 yrs, 6 months). Martine Deblieux has translated the birth registration for Rose Thérèse Deblieux:

"May 22th 1793 second year of the French Republic Alexandre Deblieux, citizen of this town (Forcalquier), appears before me a, public officer, and in the presence of Joseph Maurel citizen living in this town, and Michel Rouchon, surgeon, living in this town, his witnesses, shows us a girl whom, he declares, Thérèse Françoise Isnard, his wife, has given birth yesterday May the 21st at 4 A.M. in his house of this town where he lives and whom he wants to be called ROSE Thérèse. We register his declarations.
Forcalquier, in the town hall, Roucon, Maurel, Deblieux, Bouche (public officer) "

1794: Their first son, Alexandre Louis, was also born in the "four queens country," Forcalquier, on November 28, 1794.

1795: After the French Recolution all church properties were seized by the government and sold as National Possessions. A castle in Lardiers was seized in 1790 and sometimes thereafter Alexandre bought it at an auction sale for the sum of 18,600 pounds. The family moved, apparently after 1794, to this castle in Lardiers. Their third daughter, Julie Pauline, was born here on December 27, 1796.

1797: After a fortunate escape from an outside window of this castle while under threat of life (see events described next), Alexandre fled to Digne where he bacame a Judge and Public Prosecutor there as he had previously been in Forcalquier before moving to Lardiers.

From L'histoire de Lardiers, by Louis Pelloux, 1879, as translated by Patricia Deblieux:

"The land of Lardiers was given by one of the descendants or heirs of Airulfi to the Knights of Malta who must have had the castle built...between 1150 and 1200." He describes the Castle of Lardiers before it was partially destroyed during the 1793 revolution as having two towers, a cellar which was used as a prison, and a third tower called the "exhibition tower" for "the culprits who were exhibited there." He thinks it "must have had a platform equipped with a pole, an iron collar, a rack, and a scaffold....As it was, and still is, the castle of Lardiers could, before guns were invented, resist an attack. This explains why the place of Lardiers has always been called 'castrum Larderii' (stronghold) in chartres and ancient titles....Such is the ancient manor which has been standing in the middle of the village of Lardiers for more than seven hundred years."

"We are now moving on to the Great Events of 1789 which were to transform and implement new foundations to the french society. Abuses and privileges were abolished and the mighty feudal order which had only been questioned so far during the preceeding reigns was now overthrown.

"Before 1790 Lardiers belonged to the diocese of Sisteron and was within the jurisdiction of Forcalquier."

"The peaceful inhabitants of Lardiers most likely agreed with the radical resolutions of the Assemblee Nationale and they quickly understood they could do away with the domination and financial pressure of the Knights of Malta who had despotically ruled over the population of Lardiers for nearly 550 years. These hopes became true with the law of September 19, 1792 which rendered compulsory that the goods belonging to religious communities would be sold to the Nation's benefit. Then the inhabitants of Lardiers, mad with joy, flocked towards the castle and completely demolished the exhibition tower. One can still see the door, now walled up, which led there. They also destroyed all the emblems, such as the blazons and Maltese crosses which could have reminded future generations of a domination they hated. A stone bearing an inscription which was embedded in the church wall over the castle yard was mutilated as well. We have been assured that the church was profanated in 1793 and that the statues of the saints were even burnt on the public square.

"The Castle of Lardiers was sold as national property after the Revolution in 1789. It was bought by Mr. Deblieux...at an auction sale. He took up residence there and in response to his benevolence his fellow citizens soon appreciated Mr. Deblieux very much. But all this happened during one of the most tormented time of our history, a time when Roberpierre, Danton, and Marrat--gruesome names to remember--had imposed their dictatorship on France, a time when scaffolds and gallows kept on demanding new victims to the nobility and the clergy. The arrest of Mr. Deblieux was ordered. A small group of armed men left Forcalquier and headed on towards Lardiers. As Mr. Deblieux saw them coming near the village, he immediately guessed the sinister fate that awaited him. He hastily asked that the doors of the castle be locked and barricaded. The group arrived in the yard and were ready to break the rear ground-floor door when Mr. Deblieux, who had posted himself near a narrow window, shot in direction of one of the besiegers. The latter was not even hurt but his companions gathered around him, leaving their besieging positions for a moment. Mr. Deblieux seized this intentional diversion to escape through a window situated on the opposite side, overlooking the main garden. He climbed down the wall thanks to some sheets and quickly left the place, followed by his dog. But a man, Mr. Vial Isidore, a tailor, witnessed the scene. Mr. Deblieux, with tears in his eyes, begged him to keep his escape secret, and he was not betrayed. A child named Vial Alexis who had also witnessed the escape was momentarily sent away from Lardiers by his parents.

"When the thick oak doors finally gave way, the men forming the revolutionary group rushed to the various rooms and apartments. They searched the house in every corner and what they found was that the man the executioner was waiting for had but vanished.

"Mr. Deblieux was lucky enough to escape his enemies' various researches and took refuge in America. When he was in exile he sold the castle of Lardiers and its outbuildings to Mr. Laugier, one of the wealthy owners of the commune."

(Apparently Mr. Pelloux' conclusions were in error, at least immediately, since Alexandre Deblieux lived in Digne for 4 more years before he "took refuge in America.")

1798: Two years after Alexandre fled from Lardiers, Honore Fabricius, a second son, was born in Digne, France, (7 Pluvoise An 7), on June 16.

1800. Julie Pauline died in Digne on July 21, almost 4 years old.

In a manuscript, Interesting Buildings and Sites in Natchitoches, written by Irma Sompayrac in 1934, she describes Alexandre DeBlieux as "a nobel man from Provence, France..... a Royalist, who came to America after having opposed the coronation of Napoleon in 1804." (This date was apparently an error; see 1808 below)

A document prepared by the village of Lardiers for the 2002 visit of American cousins states: "In 1801 he decided to emigrate to America which he reached at Philadelphia. There the French lawyer became an American tradesman."

1802: The family left for America with 2 boys and a remaining daughter on the ship Louis into Philadelphia, via Guadeloupe, arriving in July 26, 1802. Between 1802 and 1805 they apparently lived in Louisiana.

1803: On December 6, Alexandre gave Power of Attorney to a Notary in France to sell the castle in Lardiers, France.

1805: Another daughter, Therese Elizabeth was born on December 1, 1805, and baptized at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Philadelphia, PA. (Note: Early family researchers, Bessie DeBlieux Miller and Irma Sompayrac Willard, believed she was born in St. Augustine, FL; however no record of her baptism was entered in the register of the Catholic Church in St. Augustine, FL.)

1806: The DeBlieux's lived in Charleston, South Carolina. There [Charleston, SC, 1806] Alexandre was listed in Negrin’s Directory and Almanac, for the year 1806: "containing every article of general utility. Price One Dollar Subscription." [pp.4, 15, 22, 61, 62, 69, 71, 72, 107 blurred, p125 missing], [1806], NEGRIN, J. J., Charleston, S.C.. From J. J. Negrin’s Press, No. 124, East Bay

1807: Some time before 1807 the family moved to Camden County, St. Mary, Georgia, where Therese died on April 7. (This location is documented by his application for American citizenship.)

1808: Alexandre DeBlieux was naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in Camden County, GA. He had been a resident of the U.S. since Aug, 1802, according to (Extracts from Minutes of Camden Interior Court--1794-1815 Minutes, June 6, 1806.) He was reported as "of Louisiana until two years ago, and in Camden County since; French subject." (This recorded in Georgia Genealogy Magazine, Issues 3-6, 1962, pg 216)

Note: the original naturalization papers (see below) do not clearly say "Louisiana"; perhaps this is "Pensilvania."

His naturalization papers read: "To the honorable Justices of the Interior Court of the County of Camden; This petition of Alexander Deblieux humbly sheweth...That your petitioner, being born a Subject of the Kingdom of France, and desirous of becoming a citizen of the United States of America, having lived more than five years in the Domionions of the United States and more than two years in the State of Georgia prays that he may be admitted as a citizen according to the act of the general government in that can be made and provided ...and your petitioner, as in daily...wi..ever pray (signed A Deblieux)"

The second page reads: Georgia, Camden County: Alexander Deblieux being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he this Dep....hath landed in the State of Pensilvania, at the port of Philadelphia, in the Month of February (inserted: August) one thousand eight hundred and two, and that he hath been residing in this state for more than two years...Sworn to before me in open Court this 7th day of June, 1808. (Signed ......., Clerk, and A Deblieux
(Copy in G001 File)

1809: Family was living in Washington, Wilkes Co., Georgia, and purchased property on September 25. Although Alexandre had been a notary-attorney in France, he is found to have been a merchant traveling between Washington and Augusta. He would place an advertisement in the "Augusta Chronicle" prior to his arrival. One such ad appeared on May 6, 1809, page 3, column 2:

"GROCERIES: The subscriber has received a choice of assortment of Groceries Consisting of all sorts of LIQUORS, SUGARS, COFFEE, SALT, & Which he offers for sale at reduced prices by wholesale. ALEX'r DEBLIEUX, at the store lately occupied by E. Wallen & co. between the Stores of Messrs. Jno Fox & David Bull."

1811: The DeBliux's lived in Washington, Georgia, where daughter, RoseTherese died on August 26. Her obituary was posted in the Savannah Republican on September 12, 1811. Shortly after her death,
the DeBlieux home in Washington was sold, and the family moved to Augusta, Richmond Co., GA., probably a half days' trip south of Washington.

1812: Therese Isnard, Alexandre's wife, died on December 1, in Augusta, Richmond Co., GA. Her obituary was in the Autusta Chronicle.

1813: Thereafter Alexandre and his son, Alexandre Louis, moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana. No documentation has been found for when Alexandre and his two sons, Alexandre Louis and Honore Fabricius traveled to LA. (Lynda Deblieux Hlywiak speculates that they left shortly after the death of Therese Isnard. "Most of the land between east GA and LA was Indian territory at the time. To travel by land, travelers must have been issued a passport by the GA Governor. They are not listed in any of the books I have found. Therefore, I presume they traveled by water, taking a boat down the Savannah River to Savannah, then a boat around Florida to New Orleans.)

1823: Alexanred died November 2 in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, at the residence of his younger son, Honore Fabricius. He was buried in Catholic Cemetery, Natchitoches.

97. Marie Teresse Francoise Isnard was born in 1767 in France. She died on 1 Dec 1812 in Augusta, GA.

1767: Born in France; "St. Martin, daughter of Jean Ramimond Isnard and Marie Anne Nicolas."

1789: Married Alexandre DeBlieux on September 22.

1790: Marie Julie on 1/22 in Santo Domingo; died, 1793 Forcalquier, France.

1793: Rose Therase (5/21) Forcalquier, France; died 8/26/1811 in Washington, Georgia.

1794: Alexandre Louis (11/28) Forcalquier, France; died 1868 in Natchitoches, La.

1796: Julie Pauline (12/27) Lardier, France; died 10/10/1800.

1798: Honore Fabricius (6/26) (7Pluvoise.An7), Digne, France. Came to Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana with parents and brother, Alexandre, and Rose Therase.

1805: Therese Elizabeth 12/1) St. Augustine, Florida; died 4/17/1807, at St. Mary's, Georgia.

1812: Died, December 1, Augusta, Georgia.

Children were:

i. Julie Marie DeBlieux was born on 22 Jan 1790 in St. Marc Isle, Santo Domingo. She died on 19 Jul 1793 in Forcalquier, Provence, France.
ii. Rose Therese DeBlieux was born on 21 Mar 1793 in Forcalquier, Provence, France. She died on 26 Aug 1811 in Washington, GA.
48 iii. Alexandre Louis, Sr. DeBlieux.
iv. Julie Pauline DeBlieux was born on 27 Dec 1796 in Lardiers, France. She died on 10 Oct 1800 in Digne, France.
v. Honore Fabricius, Sr DeBlieux was born between 27 Jan 1799 and Jun in Digne, France. He died on 12 Aug 1878 in Bay St. Louis, MS. He was buried in Bay St. Louis, MS. DeBlieux, Honore Fabricius

HONORE FABRICIUS DEBLIEUX was born June 16, 1798 in Digne, France, and came to America with his parents in 1802 when he was four years old They lived in Philadelphia, PA, for five years, and in 1807 were living in southeast coastal Georgia in Camden County (Application for Citizenship, Alexandre Deblieux). From 1809-1811, the family lived in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia, and moved to nearby Augusta, Richmond County, Gerogia. Honore, his brother, Alexandre Louis, and his father, Alexandre, moved to Louisiana after his mother's death on November 01, 1812.

Most likely the family was still living in Augusta in 1813, as it is possible that Honore fathered a
child with a slave woman. In 1828 Honore returned to Augusta, Georgia, and purchased one 15 year old female slave for the amount of $500.00. (GA State Archives, Atlanta, microfilm).
Honore married Theresa Paulina Catherine CONAND around 1819 in St. Louis Cathedral in
New Orleans. Pauline, born in New Orleans on June 7, 1799, was the daughter of Dr. Joseph CONAND and Therese JOURDAN. They were parents to six children: Honorine F. DeBlieux, Paul Joseph DeBlieux, Sr., Benjamin Noel Deblieux, Sr., Ameline DeBlieux, Cora Josephine Deblieux, Virginia DeBlieux.

He owned property in Ascension, Iberville, Jefferson, Orleans, and Natchitoches Parishes, LA. Honore and his father-in-law, Dr. Conand, were joint owners of a sugar plantation in Ascension Parish. Honore was an attorney in Donaldsonville and later practiced law in Kenner, West Bank in Jefferson Parish. At the time of his death he was a Judge.
In 1847 he was a charter member of Catholic Association of St. John's Church in Plaquemine.
In 1850 his real estate in Iberville Parish was valued for census at $17,200. Around 1860-70 he was an attorney in Kenner, West Bank, Jefferson Parish.

Honore Fabricius DEBLIEUX died on Monday, August 12, 1878, in Bay St. Louis, MS. while visiting his son, Judge Benjamin Noel Deblieux, Sr. He was 80 years old. There was a yellow fever epidemic in the area at the time, and his body was kept in Bay St. Louis for burial. (Obit in Times Picayune)
The widow of H. F. DEBLIEUX, died four years later.

Obituary:New Orleans Times Picayune:
DEBLIEUX--Thursday, November 30, 1882, at 7 1/2 o'clock, P.M., Mrs. Widow H.F. DEBLIEUX, born Pauline Coanad, aged 83 1/2 years. The body will be taken to Bay St. Louis for interment, and will leave the residence of Mrs. A.C. Tremoulet (Marie Octavie Conand, sister of Pauline), No. 69 Esplanade Street, this day, Friday, at 2 1/2 o'clcok P.M. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend.
(From Lynda Price)

vi. Therese Elizabeth Deblieux was born on 1 Dec 1805 in St. Augustine Parish, Philadelphia, PA. She died on 7 Apr 1807 in St. Marys, Ga.