The Birth of Louis David

Louis David dit Saint Michel, the 7th son and 10th child of Jean Pierre David and Marie Madeleine Monmillion, was born on 02 September 1732 at Louisbourg and baptized the same day. His godfather was Sieur Louis Levasseur, Lieutenant General of the Admiralty, and his godmother was Dame Anne Lefron, wife of Monsieur Benoist, ensiegne of Company aide to major of troops of this garrison. Fre Zacharie Caradec, Recoleta Vicar General, Commissioner of Missions of Île Royale and of St. Jean, Parish Priest of Louisbourg, presided at the baptism. Witnesses attending the baptism was Margaret Depre.

Baptism Record of Louis David - 02 September 1732

Louis was another of the 5 most recorded children of Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine. Source records document his family's life story spanning the years from his birth in 1732 to a daughter's marriage in 1790. The 1734 Louisbourg Census record indirectly indicates her presence in Louisbourg for that year and his name is listed in the 1749 - 1750 Louisbourg Census.

Louis served his country in one of the Louisbourg regiments as a cannonier by profession and was captured, along with his 2 brothers Claude Thomas and Jacques Andre by the British during the conflicts which lead up to the 2nd siege of the Fortress of Louisbourg in 1758. As prisoners of war, they were transported by the British first to Bristol, England in 1759, and later to Southampton on May 14, 1763. They were then transported to France on May 26, 1763 on the frigate La Dorthee.

Louis returned to Nouvelle France at some point during the summer of 1763 and married Anne Trahan at Saint Pierre in November of 1763. During the next 16 years, Louis and Ann raised a family of 8 children in Saint Pierre until they were deported by the British to France in 1778. Louis' family is listed on a general list of the inhabitants of the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which his Majesty has provided sustenance at La Rochelle in 1779. By 1784 Louis, Anne and at least 3 of their children had been repatriated back to Saint Pierre from France and were listed in the 1784 Census of Saint Pierre. Louis and Anne's last source recording is at the marriage of their daughter, Angelique Claire Marie in the summer of 1790 at Saint Pierre.

1732 to 1735

The Louisbourg Smallpox Epidemic of 1732 and 1733

During 1732 and 1733, a smallpox epidemic sweep through Louisbourg causing the deaths of 151 inhabitants. It is said to have been carried to Louisbourg on the King's ship Les Rubis. There is the possibility that this smallpox epidemic was the reason for additional great sorrows within this David family.

The Deaths of Magdeleine and Etienne Thomas

In 1733, Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine tragically buried 2 additional children with the deaths of their 1st daughter, Magdeleine, on 09 February 1733 at the age of 12 years and Etienne Thomas on 01 April 1733 at the infant age of 2 years.

The Louisbourg Census of 1734

The Louisbourg 1734 Census seems to account for all surviving family members at that time. It also lists Jean David dit Saint Michel of Nantes, a blacksmith, his wife, Marie Magdelaine Monmellian, 4 sons under 15, Jean Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Francois and Louis, and 2 daughters, Marie Josephe and Francoise Charlotte. In 1734, their 2nd son, Michel would have been at least 15 years of age or older and for that reason was possibly not included in this census.

Louisbourg 1734 Census

1735 to 1745

The Births of Claude Thomas, Jacques Andre, Jeanne Olive, Marie Magdeleine and Jeanne Angelique

The last 5 of Louis' siblings to be born at Louisbourg were Claude Thomas born on 20 December 1735, Jacques Andre born on 30 November 1737, Jeanne Olive born on 10 July 1739, Marie Magdeleine born on 16 January 1741 and Jeanne Angelique born on 21 December 1743.

The David Family in 1744

According to the Fortress of Louisbourg Historical Memoranda Series 1964 to Present H F 25 1989 titled Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel: Blacksmith authored by Eric Krause of Krause House Info-Research Solutions, Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine were still living at Louisbourg in 1744 along with their surviving children of " 5 boys for certain, possibly 6 and 5 girls." These children would probably have included their sons Jean Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Francois, Louis, Claude Thomas and Jacques Andre and their daughters Marie Josephe, Francoise Charlotte, Jeanne Olive, Marie Magdeleine and Jeanne Angelique. The "possibly 6" son referred to was probably Michel who married Genevieve Hebert on 20 January 1744 in Grand-Pré, Acadie and was probably living there with his wife.

France, Acadie or Quebec


1745 to 1748

The 1st Siege of the Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745

After the 1st siege and capture of the Fortress of Louisbourg on 16 June 1745 by British forces commanded by Sir William Pepperell during the War of the Austrian Succession, it is believed that Jean Pierre, Marie Magdelaine and their children left Louisbourg but it is not known if they were deported to France by the British with most of the other Louisbourg French-Acadian inhabitants or escaped to Acadie or one of the Quebec, Nouvelle France communities along the St. Lawrence River.

Capture of Louisbourg by British in 1745, German Engraving

The Whereabouts of Jean and Marie's Children

Since it is recorded that there were 11 surviving children in 1744 at Louisbourg prior to their deportation or escape from the Fortress in 1745, it is not known for certain which children accompanied Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine from Louisbourg since only 7 are recorded in the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census along with 3 new additions to the family, Joseph, Jacob and Anne Bernard.

During this period between 1745 and 1748, it is unclear where 5 of Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine's children may have spent these years. It is highly likely that Michel, having just been married in 1744, was living in Grand -Pré, Acadie with his new wife, Genevieve Hebert. However, the whereabouts of Marie Josephe, Francois, Jacques Andre and Jeanne Angelique during this period are unknown. The Fortress of Louisbourg Archives Family Reconstitution File based on the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census indicates that these 5 children were not living with Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine after they were repatriated to Louisbourg in 1748 from their exile.

No records of the David family's life between 1745 and 1748 has been yet uncovered after the 1st siege of the Fortress at Louisbourg by the British in 1745. The records of their lives pick up once again with the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census and the marriage of Marie Josephe to Jean Paul Pouilly on 1 June 1751 at Louisbourg.

David Children Born in Exile

Their exile from Louisbourg did not deter Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine from continuing to grow their family. For when the family returned to the Fortress in 1749, as mentioned above, they did so with 2 new boys, Joseph and Jacob.

Fortress of Louisbourg, Île Royale, Nouvelle France



1748 to 1751

In 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of the Austrian Succession, restored Louisbourg to France in return for the British trading post at Madras in India. The New England forces left Louisbourg, taking with them the famous Louisbourg Cross which had hung in the Fortress chapel. This cross was only rediscovered in the Harvard University archives in the latter half of the 20th century and is now on long-term loan to the Louisbourg historic site.

The Davids are Repatriated to Louisbourg

After Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine returned to Louisbourg in 1749, they did so with 9 children and an orphan. These included 2 new sons, Joseph and Jacobs, who apparently were born during the 4 years of their exile, and an orphan by the name of Anne Bernard. According to the Louisbourg Census of 1749-1750, it appears that the other (7) children returning to Louisbourg from exile were Jean Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Louis, Claude Thomas, Francoise Charlotte, Jeanne Olive and Marie Magdeleine.

The Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census

Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census

Bristol, England

1755 to 1763

Southhampton, England

1763

Saint Malo, France

1763

Saint Pierre & Miguelon

1763 to 1778

The Marriages at Saint Pierre - 21 novembre 1763: DAVID Louis, de Jean et Madeleine MONMELIAN; et Anne TRAHAN, de Claude et Marie-Louise TILLARD, Vve d'Olivier GOURDON (widow of Olivier Gourdon)

Source: http://www.acadian-home.org/St-Pierre.html

ANOM Louis David baptism, marriage and death table pages 13, 14 and 15

http://anom.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/caomec2/pix2web.php?territoire=SAINT-PIERRE-ET-MIQUELON&commune=SAINT-PIERRE&annee=1763

Image/page 13

1763 David La

La Rochelle, France


1778 to 1784

Saint Pierre & Miguelon

1784 to 1791