Twelfth Generation


4092. Albert DÉCUIR I was baptized on 5 February 1673 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1902,1,3231 He was hired on 27 October 1719 for six years and signed a contract Maubeuge (Nord), France with the Company of Ste. Catherine on 17 January 1720 to come to Louisiana (he was able to sign his name). He was paid 180 livres upon engagement, 180 livres per year and 40 sols per day until sailing. Although the employees were, supposedly, bound for the Ste. Catherine Concession near Natchez, the manifest of the "la Loire" showed that they were manifested for the Ste. Reine Concession located in what is now St. Francisville, Louisiana. A second manifest exists for this ship dated several days later indicating that the vessel was destined for Ste. Reine. Therefore, his initial destination is unclear. The contract required that each engagée clear, cultivate and improve the land as instructed and they were also to work at seeding, planting and on the construction of buildings. If they did well in their duties, the company would provide food and wearing apparel for the engagée and their families. If the engagée failed, however, they were to forfeit their salaries and benefits. The Ste. Catherine Company was also promised to give one-tenth of the engagée's salary to the wife of the engagée. Upon termination of the contract, the company was obligated to provide free passage back to France or, if the engagée desired to stay in the colony, they were to receive a tract of land and monetary advances. On the contract, he listed his occupation as "miner" and he indicated that he had a wife and five children. Four of the children of the five would have likely been Anne-Catherine, Jean-François, Marie Marguerite Josèphe, and Étienne Joseph. The fifth could have been Marie Ludovica (born 1716) or, if she had died prior to the date the contract was signed, the fifth child could have been added with the knowledge that Catherine Domer was about seven months pregnant and would give birth prior to departure.1903 He came to the New World via/on the ship La Loire. The ship departed France on 11 August 1720 and arrived in Old Biloxi on 9 November. Interestingly, it appears that the ship's log indicates that Albert traveled with his sons and his daughter ('son fils et sa fille'). There is no mention of his wife or the two other children. This indicates that that his wife had likely died between 4 March 1720 and 11 August 1720. Therefore, regarding his children, I think the scenario is likely that Anne-Catherine had married Jacques DeCoux shortly before departure (and that's why DeCoux appeared on two ship lists; he likely requested a change so that he would travel with his new or future wife and her family) and the child born on 4 March 1720 in Maubeuge (Nord), France, had died also. However, I was not able to find a burial record for Catherine Domer or the baby in Maubeuge. It would appear that the three children listed with Albert were Jean-François, Marie Marguerite Josèphe, and Étienne. 1904,1905 He appeared in the census on 24 November 1724 at the Ste. Reine Concession in what is now the area of St. Francisville. Living with him are 2 sons and one daughter.1 Albert appeared in the census in 1726 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA with three children and one associate.1 In the 1727 census, he was living on the "right bank ascending on the Mississippi River" (this would appear to be what is now called the west bank of the river). Albert's unnamed son is listed as his partner. They had two slaves and 25 pigs. Albert was also listed in the 1731 census on the "left bank descending on the Mississippi River". He owned 4 slaves, 2 negro slave children, a servant and two pistols. Also listed on his plantation was an engagee/European worker and two women. He appeared in the census in 1745 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA. He was listed as age 75 and living with him was his daughter (Anne Catherine Décuir) and his son-in-law (Jacques DeCoux) along with their five children and a niece. The family had 16 slaves cultivating 90 arpents of corn, beans and tobacco. They owned 55 head of cattle, 7 horses and 3 pigs along with 3 muskets along with powder and lead/balls for the musket. He died on 12 October 1750 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.52 Albert was buried on 13 October 1750 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.1906 Catherine DOMER and Albert DÉCUIR I1597 were married on 27 November 1695 in Salles (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1905,1,3232

4093. Catherine DOMER was baptized on 26 October 1674 in Salles (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1905,1,3233 She died before 24 November 1724. That is the date of the first census that has so far been located that lists her husband, Albert. However, based on the fact that the 1720 ship log of "la Loire' which brought her husband and two children to Louisiana did not list her name, it is likely that she died shortly after the birth of her child, Marie Catherine, who was baptized at Maubeuge (Nord), France on 4 March 1720.842

Children were:

i.

Marie Jenne DÉCUIR was baptized on 25 January 1697 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3225 She was buried on 2 March 1697 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3226

1091

ii.

Anne-Catherine DÉCUIR.

iii.

Jean François DÉCUIR was born about 1704 at (originally Merge, Diocese of Treve, France) in Merzig, Diocese of Trier, Germany.1909 He was buried on 9 January 1771 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.1910 He had his estate in succession on 18 February 1771 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.1911

iv.

Marie Marguerite Josephe DÉCUIR was baptized on 26 March 1708 in Macon, (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3227

2046

v.

Stephanus "Étienne" DÉCUIR.

vi.

Albert DÉCUIR II was baptized on 22 April 1714 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3228 He was buried on 9 July 1714 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3229

vii.

Marie Ludovica DÉCUIR was baptized on 14 March 1716 in Macon (Hainaut Province) (Wallonia Region), Belgium.1,3230 She likely died before August 1720. There is no evidence that she ever came to Louisiana.

viii.

Marie Catherine DÉCUIR was born on 4 March 1720 in Maubeuge (Nord), France.1912 She was baptized on 4 March 1720 in Maubeuge (St. Pierre) (Nord), France. The baptismal record indicates that the father of the child was absent.1912