NOTE: This manuscript was shared January 2005 from the family files of John C. La Boyteaux III and Sarah (LaBoyteaux) Lippitt-Houston, his sister, of California. It is presented here in an effort to preserve the hard work and research of Harry La Boyteaux (family lineage unknown), assumed deceased by 2005, since attempt to contact him proved fruitless. Contact with him or family representative for approval and use of his manuscript in this format is desired, but not achieved at this time. We hope Harry's La Boyteaux family will appreciate the presentation of his valuable manuscript in this format, rather than have his efforts be lost to family researchers forever. ASH
There are several variations in the manner of spelling our name, but we are all descended from Gabriel Le Boiteaux, a Hugenot (sic) refugee who came to New York from LaRochelle, France before 1680. He was a prominent citizen of the colony, a merchant and an owner and operator of ships. He became a citizen on August 3, 1687 [Note: "January 5, 1688 (Naturalized)" is handwritten above.], during the mayoralty of Stephaines VanCortlandt and was a member of the Grand Jury during the following year. He was probably a brother or son of Pierre or Paul LaBoiteaux whose property was seized by the Anti-Protestant French Government on February 4, 1685, and who fled to Amsterdam, Holland, and there established themselves as merchants.
There are a great many items of interest regarding Gabriel in the early history of New York. He was listed on the Tax books of the colony as living in the Dock Ward of that city. Gabriel's ship, the "LaBelle Marquiaze," was captured by a French Privateer and taken to a prize court at St. Malo, France, in 1693, and the captain and crew were prisoners for six months. He was an elder of the First French Church of the colony, and in the records of the church appears frequently as a witness to marriages, christenings, and burials, as well as negotiations between the church and the colonial government. The records of his marriages and that of the christening of his children are also a part of the existing records of this church, which was established in 1683.
Gabriel's first marriage was to Marquiaze Fleuriau at the French Church in the presence of his cousins, Elie Boudinot and Gideon LeRoyer, his brother-in-law, Pierre Fleuriau, and his friends, Louis Carre and the bridesmaid, Marie Berthon. The minister was Louis Perat, who was also a refugee from LaRochelle.
Their children of record were: Elizabeth, born September 16, 1691; Marquiaze, born Frebruary 16, 1693. His wife died on October 11, 1693 and was buried in the church yard.
On August 25, 1695, he married Agnes Constance LeBrun, a daughter or niece of Moise LeBrun and who was a native of the island of Guadeloupe. Their children of record were: Suzanne, born August 25, 1695; Jeanne, April 10, 1698; Paul, our ancestor, born November 19, 1699 [Note: "Baptized November 22, 1699" is handwritten above the birthdate]. Also, Mary, Catherine, and Gabriel, Jr., of which there is no record other than their being mentioned in their father's will.
During 1701, Gabriel purchased two hundred acres in Middlesex County, New Jersey near Raritan Landing and a year or so later purchased an additional two hundred acres and became the largest landowner in the county. He moved with his family to this place and opened a place of business as well as operating a plantation. We find items of interest regarding his acting as witness to the wills of his friends and neighbors and in the rites of the church. Gabriel drew up his will on March 20, 1728 and passed away in 1734. His will was probated in April of that year. There is no record of his place of burial, but it was probably in a family cemetery on his own property, or in an unmarked grave in the church yard of the 7th Day Baptist Church of Piscataway or one of the ancient cemeteries of the neighborhood which has been destroyed and forgotten in the path of progress. Gabriel's widow, Constance, and his eldest son, Paul, acted as administrators of his will and their acting as such is a matter of record. Constance, after his death, married again to a man named _______ Bogart. Her place of burial is also unknown.
Paul LeBoyteaux, Gabriel's oldest son, who was born at New York in 1699, remained at Raritan Landing to settle his father's estate, which consisted of land and personal property. Little is know of his life history. He was like his father, married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Sebring [Note: Handwritten above Sebring is "Smock."], to who he was married in 1719 and they had several children of record, namely; Gabriel Jr.; John [Note: Handwritten under John is "Our Group."]; Joseph; Phoebe; Elizabeth; and Peter [Note: Handwritten under Peter is "Ohio Group."], who was born at Raritan Landing in 1737. In the records of Christ Church, New Brunswick, is found the item, Paul LeBoyteaux to Elizabeth Henry, November 9, 1749. But there is no record of his first wife. Paul was still living at Raritan in 1766. The date of his passing is unknown as well as his place of burial.
The gravestones used in colonial days were of sandstone and lasted only a few generations.
Gabriel's daughter, Catherine, married Peter (sic) Bodine at Raritan Landing in 1730. He was a son of John (sic) Bodine, an early settler of the neighborhood. [Note: New research indicates Catherine LaBoyteaux married John Bodine, son of Peter Bodine of Raritan Landing.] After his death, she married Rolf Rolfson and is buried beside him at Piscataway. [Note: Other resources say that she married 2nd Daniel Sebring.] [Perhaps Rolf Rolfson was her 3rd husband.][Where in Piscataway are they said to have been buried?]
There is no record of Gabriel's other children. The records of New Jersey are very meager, many of which were lost in destroyed churches and public buildings during the Revolutionary War.
Elizabeth and Peter were favorite names among the early members of our family, there being several in each generation.
Paul's son, Gabriel, was married to Mary FitzRandolph at Christ Church, New Brunswick on December 31, 1772. He acted as witness to the will of his father-in-law, David FitzRandolph.
Elizabeth married Andrew Brown of Monmouth, New Jersey, November 12, 1783.
Joseph married Katherine Sickles at Christ Church, New Brunswick, December 17, 1769. He was listed as a slave owner, and an in keeper and offered a reward for the return of a bound boy, July 20, 1781. His property was burned by the British Army during the Revolution.
John operated a tailor shop in New York and during the Revolution was a captain in Col. Malcolm's regiment of New York militia. He later became a resident of Philadelphia. He died before 1790, as his wife was listed as head of the family in the 1790 census.
Peter LaBoyteaux was born in 1737 at Raritan Landing, Middlesex County, N.J. and spent his youth at that place. We find in the records that he was a slave owner and a free holder of land. He was married to Keziah Smock during 1758, and their children of record were John P., Phoebe, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Jacob, and Peter made his home in Middlesex County till about 1800, having bought land in Ohio on the Miami Purchase. He moved with his family to his new home at Mt. Healthy, Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1801. There he engaged in the cooperage business and as a farmer. He was one of the first settlers of this neighborhood and laid out a part of the present town of Mt. Healthy. The members of his family engaged in tailor, cooperage, and store business and Joseph became an inn keeper.
One of the members of his family attempted to cultivate silk but the venture was a failure. Peter donated the land for a cemetery at VanLandt and Hamilton Avenuses at Mt. Healthy and there sleeps with his wife and members of his family as well as his friends and neighbors. Peter died on September 14, 1813 and his wife passed away on February 1, 1814.
The items on the following pages were translated from the records of the First French Protestant Church in the English Colony of New York, and cover the period of time from 1683 to 1700. During these years Gabriel was an elder of the church. The record of his second marriage is not included in this record, as his bride was a member of the Dutch Church.
There is no record of Gabriel's son, Gabriel Jr., though he is mentioned in other items in the church record.
There are two variations in the manner of spelling of the name in this record and were used by the same minister, Pierre Peret.
Sunday, April 7, at evening service occurred the marriage of Gabriel LeBoistulx, elder of the holy church, and Dem-lle Marquiaze Fleuriau. Having published banns for three consecutive Sundays without opposition, have received the nuptial Benediction from Mons. Pieret, the minister. M. Le Boistulx had for his attendants his first cousin on his maternal side, Gideon LeRoyer, and his friend, Elie Boudinot, and the brides attendants were Pierre Fleuriau, her brother, and Louis Carre, her step-brother; all who live in this village and whose names appear below.
The LaBoyteaux family is native of the city and vicinity of LaRochelle in France. There has been a great many variations in the manner of spelling the name, namely, Le Boistulx, Le Boyteulx, La Boyteaux, La Boiteaux, La Bertu, La Berteaux. On the older gravestones in New Jersey and Ohio the name is more often spelled La Boyteaux or La Bertu. Those of the name in Louisiana and South Carolina use this manner of spelling. The origin of the La Boyteaux family in the south is not known, but some of Gabriel's children or his brothers, Paul or Pierre, may have founded this branch of the family. The name in Canada is spelled Boiteau and is also native of LaRochelle. Much of the variation in spelling and in the early days was due to inability to read or write and the person cutting the name on gravestones spelled a name as it sounded to himself.
����..in a document of June 17, 1403, ����.a certain Antoine de la Beaume�.appears, ratifying 'a sale which the nobleman Guilleaume Poinceot, of Saint Seigne, and Jeannette le Boiteux (apparently his wife), daughter and heiress of Jean le Boiteux, of Viteaux, hade made to Guillaume Longuet of several estates located in the town, districts (finaiges) and territories of Pousanges, Dampierre, Dracy, Arnay-la-Duc, etc., to hold them in freehold and in all justice, high, middle, and low"���which is characteristic of the nobility of Guillaume Longuet���..
LABOYTEAUX, LABERTEAUX, LABERTEW LA BOYTEAUX, LA BOITEAUX, LABOITEAUX and variants: LaBAYTEAUX, LABOYTAUX, LeBATTEUX, LeBITOUX, LeBOITEAUX, LeBOITEUX, LeBOYTEAUX, Le BOYTEULX, BETTIEU, PATOU, PETUE, etc. FAMILIES of North America and Elsewhere |