Twelfth Generation

2300. Jean Baptiste RABALAIS II dit MATELOT was born about 1692 although his baptismal record has not yet been found. There is speculation that he could have been born in the vicinity of La Rochefoucauld (Department of Charente) or Rochechouart (Dept. of Haute Vienne) based on early records.²⁵¹ He lived in the Pointe Coupee area as early as 20 Jan. 1739. On that date, he witnessed the baptism of the son of Jean Barras & Anne Pleine. There is, however, indications that he could have been there as early as 1731 based on census records. At that time there was someone listed as "Matelot" in this vicinity but it is impossible to confirm if it was, indeed, him. He was a "Matelot" or sailor. Jean appeared in the census in 1745 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA with his wife, Marguerite Bélanger, and two children. The family owned six slaves and cultivated 28 arpents of land. On 18 May 1746, he purchased a "plantation" measuring nine arpents frontage located at Pointe Coupee from Pierre Durocher called Castillon for the sum of four hundred and fifty livres "at which sum said land was adjudicated at auction of goods of deceased Sr. Duplechin". In that document he is listed as "Jean Baptiste Rabelay called Matelot". The sale of Duplechin's personal effects had taken place 2 days earlier. In that document, the proceeds were turned over to "Rabalay who promises to turn it over to Philipe Duplechin when so required".¹⁶⁰⁶ In the records of the French Superior Council, a sale dated 29 August 1746 was found in which Jean Baptiste sold five arpents of land "fronting on the river" in Pointe Coupee to Sr. Riche for the sum of 300 livres who promises to pay by January 1747. He died on 3 February 1759 at the age of 67 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.²⁵¹ He was buried on 3 February 1759 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.¹⁶⁰⁷ Marguerite BÉLANGER and Jean Baptiste RABALAIS II dit MATELOT were married on 12 January 1733 in New Orleans (Orleans Parish), Louisiana, USA.^1,3078,1608

2301. Marguerite BÉLANGER was born about 1696 in Suire, Archbishopric of Paris, Province of Ile-de-France, France.²⁵¹ She came to the New World via/on "La Baleine" (a "Baleine Bride"). The ship had departed France on 12 June 1720 bound for Louisiana. The ship arrived off Ship Island (Biloxi) on 5 January 1721 and dropped anchor at Biloxi on 8 January 1721. She appeared in the census on 20 December 1724. The census was taken along the west side of the Mississippi River above New Orleans has listed: Ducros, aged 35/40 years, native of Provence and wife. Marguerite appeared in the census on 1 January 1726 on Rue de Chartres in New Orleans (Orleans Parish), Louisiana, USA. Joseph Ducro, wife, and child were enumerated in the home of "Findor, traveler".¹ She appeared in the census in 1732 in New Orleans (Orleans Parish), Louisiana, USA. She is listed on this census in New Orleans: Widow Ducros living on Rue St. Pierre. Her first husband, Joseph Ducro (Dutro) had been killed in the November 1729 Natchez Indian massacre. She appeared in the census in 1745 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA with her second husband, Jean Baptiste Rabalais, and two children. The family owned six slaves and cultivated 28 arpents of land.. Marguerite was buried on 30 June 1761 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.¹⁶⁰⁹

(Note: Marguerite's first marriage was to Joseph Ducro (Dutro) at Biloxi on 6 May 1721.)

NOTE: As you likely know, Marguerite Bélanger married Joseph Ducro/Dutro on 6 May 1721 at Old Biloxi. Their marriage is transcribed in the Archdiocese of New Orleans Sacramental Records, Volume I, 1718-1750", Page 16. In this transcription, Marguerite's parents are identifed as "Jaques and Catherine Garboise". The Bélanger/Ducro marriage took place a mere four months after Marguerite's arrival from France via the French ship, La Baleine - making her a "Baleine Bride". On the ship list, Marguerite was listed as 26 years of age which would indicate a birth year of approximately 1695. The eighty-eight young women on this ship were all raised at the Hôpital Général de la Salpêtrière in Paris and were likely orphans for one reason or another.

I've seen a number of sites on-line that claim that Marguerite is of noble lineage. On most of these sites, the claim is made that Marguerite's father, Jacques, was married twice - once to Catherine Garboise and another time to Élisabeth Thibault - resulting in a royal line through Jacques Bélanger's mother, Marie Guyon. This is not accurate. The Jacques Bélanger who married Élisabeth Thibault was born and died in New France (Canada) and his father had been in Québec since as early as 1636. Yes, the mother of this Jacques Bélanger was Marie Guyon and her line possibly traces to a royal lineage. However, there is no indication that the Canadian Jacques Bélanger ever visited France much less married and/or fathered a child there. As a matter of fact, the Canadian Jacques Bélanger married Élisabeth Thibault in New France in 1691 and was married to her until his death in 1699. They had four known children during their marriage born in 1693, 1695, 1696 and 1699. At the same time, we know that Marguerite arrived in New Biloxi from France and does not appear to have ever been to New France (Canada). Therefore, there is no proof to my knowledge that the father of Marguerite Bélanger was the same person who married Thibault.

Children were: