In the following genealogy, I have presented what we know about the Latourrette (original spelling) family in Osse, Bearn, now Osse-en-Aspe, France. In posting a typical genealogy, some of the highlights of the family history in Osse are presented as an addendum to other stories found on this site. We start with Gassiot Latourrette who became the first Protestant minister in the Aspe valley in 1563, (see particularly "Gassiot Latourrette, minister 1563), followed by his marriage and children. Between Gassiot (ca 1535-1540 -1595) and David Latourrette (ca 1625- 1697) we have some difficulty in tracking the two intervening generations, but the several French genealogists who have researched the family are fairly confident that David is a direct descendant of Gassiot, because of David's leadership in the Protestant community during his lifetime and circumstantial evidence cited below (see David, Jean's Father and postings under Research on this site).
Notable is the information about two of Gassiot's children, Pierre and Marie, which is covered in the postings about Gassiot. Pierre was a minister
between 1601 and 1653, the longest tenure of a Protestant minister in Bearn. Through her marriage, Marie brought the title of abbe laique d'Osse to
the family as described in the several postings about David. David was the leading Protestant in Osse and the Aspe Valley during the critical
period of persecution leading up to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 which caused Jean to leave with Pierre Peiret, the minister at
Osse, and flee from France to eventually come to New York City in October of 1687. Jean's older brother Jacob stayed at Osse and became an
"avocat"-a lawyer- who had a prominent career, including presenting petitions and causes to the King's Court at Pau known as the Parliament of
Navarre.
Another highlight is the career of David's great-great grandson Antoine Latourrette (ca 1748- 1813) who established the Catholic branch of the
family, but was greatly admired by both Catholics and Protestants. Antoine's mother was a Casamayou and eventually in the 19th century
some of the descendants were known as Latourrette-Casamayou (in the Bearn tradition of father's surname followed by mother's surname) and then
Casamayou following the tradition that the family surname came from the name of the house in which they lived. (See discussion of this evolution in
the series of pictures from Osse.)
This general genealogy is followed by genealogies for Marie Latourrette (ca 1661-1731), whose grandson Pierre Laclede is recognized as the founder
of the City of St. Louis in America, and the first generation of American descendants of the marriage of Jean Latourrette (ca 1651-52-1726) and
Marie Mercereau (1670-1733)on July 16, 1693 by Pierre Peiret in New York City. The latter is given so that American descendants may link their
trees to the genealogy of Gassiot to David, the latter being the father of Jean who fled with Pierre Peiret from Osse in September of 1685 and came
to New York City in October of 1687. For those seeking to identify their roots back to Jean Latourrette (ca 1561-1562- 1726), it is recommended you
contact Mr. Robert Hoadley-Latourette at
rthoadley@juno.com
who has posted the most extensive genealogy of American Latourrettes (Latourette, LaTourette, La Tourette) on www.ancestry.com
1. Gassiot Latourrette (ca 1535-1540 in Osse - April 8, 1595 in Oloron) recorded as de la Toretta in Béarnaise
married Marie Coudures (ca 1550 - ?) before 1570
children of Gassiot
Pierre Latourrette (1570 in Osse -1653 or 1655 in Castetnau-Camblong) Pierre is called a "maitre" or notary/lawyer when his father dies in 1595. He is the minister at Castetnau from 1601 to 1653.
Pierre married on March 5, 1601, Marie du Caballe, from Villenave-Navarrenx, daughter of nobility. They had several children, including Isaac, who was their universal heir.(From research by Mrs Serres Cambot who writes "I looked up all the registers of the 17th century notaires for the Vallée d'Aspe, Oloron and Navarrenx, which are written in ancient Béarnese. I must let you know that these documents necessitate specific knowledge of the paleography of that language.")
The information that the eldest son of Pierre was Isaac adds some additional emphasis that the lineage from Gassiot to David and then Jean (who came to America in 1687) was likely through Gratien.
married ?
Marie latourrette (ca 1572 in Osse - death?)
married Bertrand Davencens August 27, 1594 in Oloron likely no children (Davencens was a widower) She inherited the title abbe laique d'Osse from her deceased husband and passed it on to someone in the Latourrette family at death. Eventually, it came into the hands of David Latourrette (ca 1625-1697)
(From Madame Serres Cambot: Testament of Gassiot de Latourrette (translated in modern French)
"On August 20 1595, has been signed a contract of marriage between Bertrand de Dabancens, merchant in Oloron, future groom, for one part, and Gassiot de Latourrette, minister of the word of God in the church of Osse, father of Marie de Latourrette, future bride, for the other part. Gassiot de Latourrette commits to giving the sum of fifteen hundred francs for the dowry, in front of Maître Bertrand de Bonnefon, notaire*, in conformity with the testament of Gassiot de Latourrette, written the same day. He has declared it to be his will that his daughter, Marie, may dispose of half of the fifteen hundred francs paid to Dabancens, who recognizes having received that sum, with a clause of refund. Half of the amount paid will be returned to the family of origin in case of death with no children, and the other half will go to Pierre de Latourrette, son of Gassiot de Latourrette. The son Pierre accepts (these terms) on April 15, 1595, following the death of his father, this testament, written March 30 1595. The witnesses attending are Gratien and Pierre de Latourrette, brothers, of Osse.")
Gratien (ca 1575-80, Osse - ?)
married ? children ?
Comments
: Earlier genealogies of Gassiot, before it was determined that his ministry began in 1563, suggest that his birth was about 1540. That would have
him at age 23 when he was appointed minister of the Aspe valley. This approach assumes he may have been older in 1563. *For additional background see articles under Gassiot Latourrette, Minister 1563 on this site.
* Madame Gilberte Gaubil of Aydius, a historian of Béarn and early Protestantism, believes most of the ministers confirmed in 1563 were very young. This tends to support Gassiot’s birth in 1540.
2. Pierre or Gratien?--- most likely Gratien
There is little information about Gratien, except that he stayed in Osse. On the other hand, Pierre became a minister at Castetnau in 1601 and
continued there until 1653. It appears he died there in 1653 or 1655. (See marriage and children above.) Castetnau is now
Castetnau-Camblong, a combination of two villages. Since Pierre moved to Castetnau, it is likely that Gratien became the notaire for Osse, a point
that still needs to be verified by documentary evidence. Further, at her death Marie Latourrette, as an aunt, likely passed the title and rights of the abbe laique of Osse to Gratien.
Earlier genealogies have assumed that the next generation of Latourrettes in Osse leading to the emigrant to America Jean Latourrette (ca 1651,
Osse- July 1726, Staten Island) was Pierre rather than Gratien. If this is the case, the next male generation would have had to have been born in
Castetnau and returned to Osse as a young man. From the available circumstantial evidence, this does not seem to be the case.
3. Eleazar or Jean? --- most likely Eleazar
A similar question arises about the next generation because we know from the legacy of the temple in Osse, certified by David Latourrette in 1683,
that an Eleazar died in 1664 and a Jean in 1674. (The latter is confirmed by the registry of the temple.)It is likely that Jean was the younger
brother of Eleazar because of the similarity of their pledges to the Protestant temple and that Jean was known as Jean Tourret, the diminutive of
Latourrette to distinguish the two branches of the family. (See Jean Latourrette on this site.)
Whether Eleazar and Jean were the sons of Pierre or Gratien it appears that they were born between about 1600 and 1605. Since David Latourrette
claims (renews) the title as abbe laique d'Osse and the rights of the dime in 1666, it suggests that David's father was Eleazar. From the temple
registry we can determine that Jean Tourret (Latourette) was less educated than David who was also a notaire. It is therefore likely that Eleazar
was the grandfather to the emigrant to America Jean Latourrette and Jean Tourret was a great uncle. This conclusion is reinforced by Jacob, Jean's,
older brother, naming his first son Eleazar who was born in 1675, before Jean left Osse in September of 1685. (See below under Jacob.)
In this scenario one would postulate that the genealogy runs from Gassiot to Gratien to Eleazar to David.
However, we do not know whom the older Eleazar married. We do know that David was born about 1625 in the house that is now known as the Maison Latourrette-Pon. (Keystone over doorway is 1619)
4. David Latourrette (ca 1625-1697- in both cases Osse)
married to Magdelaine (also known as Marquerite)born about 1630. Previously thought to have died in 1696, but entry by Osse priest indicates September 10, 1704 (Source: Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette. Verified from Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Osse-en-Aspe (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France), Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures, 1664-1792 at the Catholic Church, Pau Archives, France. In the 1705 entry she is called Marquerite.)
Marriage would have been before 1650.
Children:
Jacob (ca 1650 - after 1716-both at Osse) previously death was thought be after 1711, but a baptism record showing Jacob as a godparent in 1716 in Osse was found by Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette. Also, Yves Lafournere found that there are no entries in the Catholic Church records of Osse between June 1716 and June 1724. Because Jacob’s and Catherine’s deaths are not recorded after the records are resumed in 1724, it can be assumed their deaths are between 1716 and 1724.
married to Catherine Salenave from Pau in 1674 (Catherine, b. 1655, d. between June 1716 and June 1724.)
Jean (ca late 1651 or early 1652) previously, date of birth was assumed to be 1651 based on what has been called the 1706 Staten Island Census when he gave his age as 55. Recent research, published in the Record of the NYG&B Society, indicates the census likely dates from August-September 1707. Jean is deceased in July 1726.
married Marie Mercereau, July 16, 1693 by Pastor PierrePeiret at FrenchChurch of New York
Marie (ca 1661, Osse - 1731, Bedous)
married March 5, 1685 at Osse Jean Laclede from Bedous(Source Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette. Confirmed by entry in Osse Catholic Church record cited above. It is noted March 5, 1685 was a Monday, reflecting the marriage took place in a period of turmoil during the final days of Rev. Pierre Peiret’s ministry in Osse. ) See her genealogy below.
5. Jacob Latourrette, 1650- after June 1716 and before June 1724
married Catherine Salenave (1655 – d. after June 1716 and before June 1724) in 1674
Jacob was the eldest son of David and, therefore, the heir under the Fors de Bearn. He was an "avocat" a lawyer who frequently appeared before the Parliament in Pau and his individual coat of arms is shown in an article titled 'The Blason (Coat of Arms) of Jacob de la Tourrette' at this site under "Tales, Fables and Hoaxes." The Parliament at Pau was a court for the King and not an elected body. (See cited article.)
A lengthy document, Declaration generale de la Vallee d'Aspe (Arret du Parlement de Navarre, du 28 september 1693), shared by Madame Gilberte Gaubil from the Pau Archives, shows Jacob was the "avocat" for Jean de Laclede of Bedous, married to Jacob's sister Marie (noted above). Laclede is identified as the Syndic (representative) of the AspeValley who, assisted by Jacob Latourrette, presented a record of the rights, customs and legal practices of the AspeValley which had been codified over time to the Parliament at Pau. (These rights,laws and customs are frequently referred as the Fors de Bearn, as they applied to the AspeValley, one of the threemountain valleys in Bearn.) This was a critical case brought before Parliament which acted as the regional King's Courtin Bearn and, therefore, was not an elected, representative body as the name might imply. At issue was the extent to which these rights and customs, which the inhabitants of the valley had lived their lives over the centuries would be honored by the King. King Louis XIV had initiated this review throughout the Kingdom a few years earlier. Laclede and Latourrette presented a detailed petition to the Court documenting "des Droits, Biens, Privileges et Libertez de la Vallee d'Aspe"("the Rights, Property, Privileges and Freedoms of the Aspe Valley"). In some cases, documents detailing these rights and practices had been destroyed by fires, but the petition spelled out details such as the right to hold markets, the number of mills allowed, property privileges, tax obligations ---- in effect, every aspect of the lives of the people of the valley, including inheritance and association of people to
Jean Laclede and Jacob Latourrette were opposed by the Fermier du Domaine, the King's representative to the Pau Parliament, the King's Court. In the decision of the court on September 28, 1693, the President agreed with many of the rights, privileges etc claimed for the people of the valleyand in some cases asked Laclede to present additional information to support claims. The overall impression is that"arret" (decision or decree) was very fair and generally in favor of the petitioners.
Jacob is also cited by Professor Philippe Chareyre, professor at the University of Pau and President of the Center for the Study of Béarnaise Protestantism, as being an attorney who represented the persecuted Protestants at the King's court-the Parliament of Navarre in Pau at the beginning of the 1700s. Source: "Nouvelles Recherches sur Le Protestantisme a Osse-en-Aspe," Bulletin No 38, C.E.P.B, December 2005, pp-6.
6. Eleazar Latourrette (1675- Nov 17, 1761) (age 86)
married Marquerite Higue, (ca 1687-1727) on June 7, 1707
7. Pierre Latourrette (March 3, 1711-July 15, 1770) (age 59)
married Catherine Casamajor (1717-1774) on October 20, 1744
8. Antoine Latourrette-Casamayou (ca 1748-July 30, 1813)
married Madeleine Camy-Besnard (1755-1818) on June 13,1775
For a full genealogy of the descendants of Jacob Latourrette, see the section “The Original Latourrette House in Osse.”
It appears that Antoine established the Catholic branch of the family by adjuring after his mother's death in 1774.It is possible that a Catholic Bishop who was very aggressive towards the Protestants may have forced the adjuration, but it also appears his marriage was to a Catholic.Antoine is known as a very tolerant man, respected by both Protestants and Catholics. He was the Premier Jurat at Osse who on December 1, 1788, recognized the marriages of 59 Protestants who had been previously married by Protestant ministers during the Desert period. This was based on the Edict of Tolerance of November of 1787, effective January 1, 1788. (The Edict only applied to Calvinists, not Lutherans.) See Andre Eygun, Peuple d'Aspe, 1989, p. 65.
Genealogy of Marie Latourrette (ca 1661-1731)
Marie Latourrette born ca 1661 at Osse, died 1731 at Bedous
Parents: David Latourrette (ca 1625-1697) and Magdelaine (also known as Marquerite), born about 1630. Magdelaine was previously thought to have died in 1696, but entry by Osse priest indicates September 10, 1704 (Source: Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette) Marriage would have been before 1650.Marie Married: to Jean Laclede of Bedous on March 5, 1685 (Source: Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette indicates the marriage was at Osse.)
Jean Laclede was born November 22, 1660 at Bedous and died January 1, 1725. (Source: Robert Hoadley)
Jean Laclede is the Syndic (representative) of the Aspe valley, who, with Jacob Latourrette, petitioned the King's Court in Pau to retain the rights and privileges of the people of the valley.
As explained elsewhere this was a strategic marriage between the leading Protestant family of Osse and the leading Catholic family of Bedous and the lower Aspe valley. That the marriage occurred in the Catholic Church St.Etienne in Osse on March 5, 1685, even as the Protestant Minister, Pierre Peiret, is under house arrest and on April 6th disassociates himself from the Protestant community to protect it and the pressure mounts on the Protestants to adjure, is really remarkable. As Alfred Cadier reports in his book, new addition titled Le Bearn Protestant, the Laclede family protected the Protestants of Osse after 1685. (The role of Jacob Latourrette Marie's older brother as an "avocat" representing the interests of Protestants before the King's Court is noted above.)
The Laclede family had a Chateau type maison (house) in Bedous on the southwest side of the village, now located at the end of Lotissement-Laclede (subdivision Laclede). Just a short distance south of the center of the village, this is a short street off of Rue Gambetta, (D 637) which goes south to Accous and was the major road to Spain, now bypassed by the divided E-7 to the west.
The house is now a B&B, operated by descendants of the family, and by comments from people who have stayed there, it has been well maintained and is a pleasant place to stay. Also, it is noted that the operator speaks some English. (See pictures in the Tour of the Aspe Valley on this site.)
Marie Latourrette and Jean Laclede had seven children between 1687 and 1699 and the records of the Catholic Church in Bedous, searched by Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette, indicate that Marie's parents, David and Magdelaine, and Jacob and his spouse Catherine Salenave were godparents for at least five of them where the entries can identify the godparents. (Dates given below are from the search of records in Bedous by Bernard Cazenave-Latourrette and the genealogies posted by Robert Hoadley-Latourette.)
The third child was Pierre Laclede
baptized 9-24-1690. died 6-2-1776: god-parents difficult to read. His wife Madeleine (Magdeleine) Despoey born 1697 died 9-21-1733. Madeleine was born in Arance-Arthez and they were married in Escot on March 1, 1726. Escot, a few miles north of Bedous, is the site of a castle which today is a spa resort. Pierre was also an "avocat" and abbe laique of Aydius, a small mountain village east of Bedous.
The second child of Pierre Laclede and Madeleine Despoey was
Pierre Laclede
baptized in Bedous November 22, 1729, died on the Mississippi River in 1778 (various dates given in May and June 1778) buried in an unmarked grave. Pierre Leclede added Liquest to his surname to distinguish himself from other Pierre Laclades.
Pierre Laclede-Liquest is recognized as the founder of the City of St. Louis in America with the assistance of his adopted son, Auguste Chouteau.
Short History of Pierre Laclede-Liquest (taken from French sources)
Laclede appears to have been an adventurous person who left the Aspe Valley in his early 20s much like Antoine Latourrette-Casamayou a century later. This Antoine Latourrette (1819-1886) was a descendent of the Antoine Latourrette (ca 1748-1813), documented above, and made his fortune in Vancouver, Canada before returning to Osse and rebuilding the Latourrette-Casamayou house, now known as the Mayerau maison. (See pictures of house and tomb in Tour of Osse-en-Aspe.)
After a short military career, Laclede arrived in New Orleans in 1755, traveling for pleasure, but with obviously enough funds to establish a business. He was well educated and known as an accomplished fencer. He fell in love with Marie Theresa Chouteau, whose husband had abandoned her in
New Orleans with a young son named Auguste Chouteau. Laclede made the boy his pupil and employed him in his office.
Laclede was interested in the fur trade and established a business relationship with a New Orleans merchant Gilbert Antoine de Saint-Maxent. Together, they received from the governor of Louisiana a monopoly of the fur trade with the Indians of the Mississippi River and its Missouri tributary. In 1763, Maxent established a trading post at the confluence of the two rivers.
In August 1763, Laclede and Auguste Chouteau traveled up the Mississippi and reached the trading post, but found the area was too swampy to build a city. They chose a more appropriate location downstream about 18 miles and construction of St. Louis began in 1764, led by Auguste Chouteau.
Laclede and Marie Theresa Chouteau had four children: Jean-Pierre (1758), Marie-Pelagie (1760), Marie-Louise (1762) and Victory (1764). All four were baptized as children of the lawful husband of Madame Chouteau, Rene Auguste Chouteau, who was living in France.
Laclede and Maxent ended their business partnership in 1769 and Laclede continued his business with Auguste and Sylvester Labbadie, but found himself in debt and poor health. He had to return to New Orleans to address the financial situation and it was on the return trip that he died (one date May 27, 1778- more likely June 20) on a boat anchored a few miles downstream of Arkansas Post on the Mississippi and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Note: Mr. Robert Hoadley-Latourette places the death of Laclede on June 20, 1778. He also indicates that Marie Theresa was born as Marie Theresa Bourgeois in New Orleans January 14, 1733 and died in St. Louis August 14, 1814 and is buried there. He explains that Marie Theresa sought to have the Catholic Church dissolve the marriage with Chouteau because of abandonment but the church refused forcing her to cohabit with Laclede. (Source:Hoadley's posting on www.ancestry.com.)
For more information on Laclede see wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Lacl%C3%A8de
For Auguste Chouteau see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Auguste_Chouteau
Genealogy of Jean Latourrette and Marie Mercereau- First Generation in America
Jean Latourrette b. ca 1651-52 in Osse, Bearn, d. July 1726 Fresh Kills, Staten island
Marie Mercereau b. November 6, 1670 in Moeze, Saintonge, France,d. ca 1733 at Fresh Kills
Married July 16, 1693 by Pastor Pierre Peiret at the French Church of NY (L'Eglise Francaise du St. Esprit)
Children
Marie b. September 23, 1693 in NYC, d.ca 1794 on Staten Island
married Samuel Broome 1690-1771
Jean b. October 6, 1695 in NYC, d. April 1794 at Marnier's Harbor, Staten Island
married Marie Mercereau 1695-1772
Pierre b. November 22, 1697 in NYC, d. January 22, 1754 in Fresh Kills, Staten Island
married Marianne Mercereau 1699- ?
David b. December 28, 1699 in NYC, d. March 23, 1764 in Prince's Bay, Staten Island (could have been at Fresh Kills, but baptized in NYC)
married Catherine Poillon 1705- ?
Esther b. 1702 in Fresh Kills, Staten Island, d. January 1781 on Staten Island
married Unknown Benon/ Paul Mercereau 1698-1777
Susanna b. 1703 in Fresh Kills, Staten Island, d. May 1782 on Staten Island
married Jan Van Pelt 1692-1764
Henry b. 1708 in Fresh Kills, Staten Island, d. December 30, 1794 on Staten Island
married Susanne Parlier 1719-1764/Sarah Lane 1720-1806
James b. 1710 in Fresh Kills, Staten Island, d. January 30, 1737, Staten Island
no marriages