Cantrelle Family Article

              		Chapter 33 C

 	The Cantrelle Family

	Jacques Cantrelle, the father-in-law of Nicolas 
Verret, was born in Picardie, France, in 1697, the son 
of Claude Cantrelle and Marguerite Turpin Cantrelle. 
In the Recensements, 1704-1741, concessions of Le 
Comptroller General, we find that Jacques Cantrelle 
came to Louisiana from France on Le Profond in June 
of 1720. He is listed as un ouvrier, and was married to 
Marie Francienne Minquetz. After a short stay at the 
Arkansas Post, they went to Natchez, Fort Rosalie, and 
were there when the terrible Indian massacre of November
 28, 1729 took place.
	Marie Francienne was killed, but Jacques Cantrelle, 
who was working in the forests with several companions,
escaped. He found his way to New Orleans, and, 
on April 16, 1730, he married Marie Marguerite Larmusiau,
the daughter of Jean Baptiste Larmusiau and 
Catherine Thereze Severin Larmusiau. She was the 
widow of Pierre Le Houx, who was killed in the Natchez 
massacre. Marguerite had one daughter from her first 
marriage, Marguerite Le Houx.
	Again in Louisiana Recensements, 1704-1741, we 
find the following: "Larmusiau, Monseigneur, Jean 
Baptiste, Chirurgien Major, et Catherine Thereze Severin, 
sa femme, et trois enfants de trois, dix, et dix-
sept ans, sur L'Elephant, August 20, 1720."
	Mrs. Campbell and Dr. Isabel French, in Research 
Notes, give this account:
	"During the early seventeen-forties, we find him 
in the city of New Orleans. As he was well educated, we 
find him among the leading citizens, serving as Notary, 
witnessing many legal documents, an active civic worker, 
an employee of the Louisiana Legislative Council, 
the body which ruled the colony. At this time Cantrelle 
lived in a new home which he had built in the fashionable
 suburb of New Orleans, Chantilly......
	"On August 23, 1762, he received ten arpents front 
concession at the section called Cabahonoce where 
Acadians had started to settle soon after the deportation
of 1755. Cantrelle resided in New Orleans and only 
came to live in St. James in 1769. He was still very 
active in New Orleans, however, and owned at least 
two houses there.
	"In 1766, Cantrelle and prominent merchants of the 
city of New Orleans signed a petition to protect the 
business interests of Louisiana.
	"In 1766, he was listed at Cabahonoce (St. James) 
as Lieutenant of the Militia. He died in St. James in 
1777 on October 21, at the age of 80."
	Lillian Bourgeois in Cabanocey says of Jacques 
Cantrelle: "At Cabahonace, Jacques Cantrelle developed 
an indigo plantation and prospered. He became commander 
of the post under French rule. He made friends 
of the Indians, welcomed the Acadians, placed new settlers, 
received the first Spanish officials, originated a 
landed dynasty, built a church, and ruled the post. And 
finally he was laid to rest beneath the altar of the little 
frame church that stood on his own hallowed soil.
	"At long last the wanderer rested, far from his 
native Picardie, but under moss-draped trees of his 
adopted home. Here he planted a bit of France that was 
to retain its mother culture for nearly two hundred 
years. Here he founded a little parish, which was finally 


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given the name of the saint whose name he bore
St. Jacques."
	A copy of the succession of Jacques Cantrelle is 
attached to this account, as well as one of the succession 
of his wife, Marie Marguerite Larmusiau Cantrell 
who died in 1785.
	We find record of seven children born to Jacques 
and Marie Marguerite Cantrelle. The first two sons 
died at an early age. His other sons, Jacques Jr. and
Michel Bernard, became prominent, influential men of
the colony. They both fought in the Revolutionary War 
under General Galvez. Lillian Bourgeois, in Cabanocey
writes: "We know that by 1770, St. James had a well
organized militia. It was headed by Nicholas Verret, 
Jacques Cantrelle, Jr. and Michel Cantrelle. It was 
known locally as the Cabahonnocer Company, but officially 
as La Premiere Compagnie des Milices de la
Cote des Acadiens......Contrary to popular belief
St. James played its part in the Revolutionary War. We
were under Spanish rule but the vicinity of Baton Rouge
was held by the English. In 1779, Spain declared war 
against England. Don Bernardo de Galvez was the 
Spanish governor of Louisiana. Although he was a very 
young man he was a daring and able officer and as soon
as news reached him that Spain was at war with England 
he marched from New Orleans and captured Manchac 
and Baton Rouge. He personally recruited the Germans 
and Acadians along the river and the Cabahannocer
Company joined him here. They took part in the engagement 
at Manchac and Baton Rouge and some followed 
Galvez to Mobile and Pensacola. Thus many St. Jamesians 
actually fought in the Revolutionary War."
	A letter from Jacques Cantrelle, Jr. to Governor
Galvez dated February 14, 1780, is also included in
Lillian Bourgeois's account in Cabanocey: "I had the 
honor of receiving your letter dated January 19, 1780, 
with the royal copy by which His Majesty authorizes all 
his American colonies to attack and to defend themselves 
against the colonies of Griat Britain. This I had 
published and posted in our parish as soon as it was 
received. Your very humble and very obedient servant 
Jacques Cantrelle"
	The three daughters of Jacques Cantrelle, Senior, 
married prominent men. Marie Marguerite married 
Nicolas Verret, and they are our ancestors. Marie 
Jeanne Cantrelle married Louis Judice. Both these men 
served as Commandants at Cabanoce. Marianne Cantrelle 
became the wife of Pierre Songy, and after his 
death, of Jean Baptiste Poeyfarre. The step-daughter of 
Jacques Cantrelle, Marguerite Le Houx, the daughter 
of Pierre Le Houx, married Jacques Roy, a native of 
Poitou, LaRochelle, France. They lived on the German 
Coast. Mrs. Campbell and Dr. French, in Research 
Notes, page 45, say: "It is with great interest that we 
note that the 'World's Greatest Oak', born 1657, located 
to the lower end of Taft, in St. Charles Parish, West 
Bank, spreads its majesty on land which belonged, prior 
to 1784, to Jacques Roy and his wife, Marguerite Le 
Houx, step-daughter of Jacques Cantrelle."
	Mrs. Campbell and Dr. French, on page 46 of 
Research Notes, give the following information on the 
sons of Jacques Cantrelle, Sr.: "The best known of


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