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Pierre Francois Mayeux (abt. 1697 - 1747)

Pierre Francois (Pierre) Mayeux
Born about in Francemap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married before 1720 in Francemap [uncertain]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 50 in Pointe Coupee Post, Louisiana, Nouvelle-Francemap
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Pierre Mayeux lived in Louisiana.
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Contents

Biography

Pierre Mayeux was probably born about 1697 in France.[1] His parents are unknown.

Pierre Mayeux and his wife, Marie Francoise Cellier, were among the earliest [European] settlers of the Louisiana colony. Pierre was of humble origin and came to Louisiana in 1720 as a young worker destined for the Law concession on the Arkansas River. He sailed from LaRochelle, France for Louisiana on 10 June 1720 on the ship La Profound with his first wife, no children listed, and arrived at Biloxi on September 16, 1720 -- a Sellier is listed as a "worker's wife."[2] Pierre first settled at the Arkansas Post, as documented in the birthplace of his son, and he apparently lived near the John Law Concession of the Arkansas Post.

In 1729, Pierre and his family were living at Natchez where another daughter, Cecile, was born. Pierre was one of only two white men spared by the Indians in the famous Natchez Massacre in November 1729 which wiped out about 250 French settlers. He was apparently spared because of his occupation as a wagon driver. He was needed by the Indians to gather the clothing of the massacred victims and bring it back to them.

His occupation saved his life, and the beginning of the Mayeux name in America. Three of his grandsons moved to Avoyelles Parish from Pt. Coupee and began the family name there.[3]

Pierre "Maieux" was a witness to a marriage at St. Louis Church in New Orleans March 19, 1727 and is listed as a resident of New Orleans. This place of residency is confirmed by the birth of his daughter, Genevieve, in New Orleans.

He settled permanently in Pointe Coupée by 1731 where he established a sizable plantation.

Pierre married second to Marie Francoise Manne on Feb. 2, 1739, d/o Francois Manne and Elizabeth Chelet.

Pierre was a witness to his daughter Genevieve's marriage to Jean François Decuir on 5 November 1743 at Pointe Coupée. [4]

By 1745, he was regarded as one of the wealthiest planters in the areas, as shown in the 1745 Census of Pointe Coupee. He had 22 slaves, 80 arpents of land where he was raising corn, beans and tobacco.[5] Pierre left his estate to his son Pierre Francois.

Marriages, children

(1) Pierre Mayeux and Marie Anne Cellier were married about 1720.

Children:[6]
  1. Francois Pierre MAYEUX b: Abt 1723 in Arkansas
  2. Genevieve MAYEUX b: Abt 1727 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana
  3. Cecile MAYEUX b: Abt 1729 in Natchez, Mississippi
  4. Madeleine MAYEUX b: Abt 1733 in Pointe Coupee, Louisiana
  5. Marguerite Anne MAYEUX b: Abt 1735 in Pointe Coupee, Louisiana

(2) Pierre and Marie Francoise Manne,[1] born in Arles, France, were married after 27 Feb 1739 in New Orleans.

Census

From the 1745 Census at Pointe Coupee:[1]
Piere Mahyeux, 48
Marie Francoise Manne, wife, 38
Cecile Mahyeux, 16
Magdelaine Mahyeux, 12
Marguerite Mahyeux, 10

Death

Pierre was buried 16 December 1747 at the Saint Francis Church cemetery in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.[7] The graves of those buried at the early incarnations of Saint Francis Church were consumed long ago by the Mississippi.[8]

Research Notes

From My Louisiana Lineage, Eleventh Generation:

9/9/2013: I now believe that the parents of Pierre Mayeux/Mahieu/Mahiu (who married Marie Cellier/Sellier) are NOT (Pierre) Francois Mayeux/Mahieu/Mahiu and Marie Grelin/Breslin and that the baptismal record for a Pierre Mahiu dated 12 April 1699 in Maintenay (Department of Pas-de-Calais) is for a different Pierre Mayeux.
We know that our Pierre Mayeau/Mahieu/Mahiu sailed for New France on the Profond in 1720 along with his wife, Marie Cellier/Sellier, and was, therefore, no longer in France after 1720. Based on his age in the 1745 Pointe Coupee Census, we know that he is likely born around 1697 and that he states his place of origin as Maintenay in his 1739 Pointe Coupee marriage contract with Marie Françoise Manne.
A baptism record in Maintenay dated 12 April 1699 was located for a 'Pierre Mahiu' born to Francois Mahiu and Marie Grelin. This is the record that has been widely accepted as the baptismal record for the Louisiana progenitor. (Department of Pas-de-Calais, Maintenay, File: 1692-an X, Image 28 of 983)
In addition to the 1699 baptism of a "Pierre", the following baptisms for children of François Mahiu and Marie Grelin have been located in Maintenay:
- François baptized 24 April 1694 to François Mahiu and Marie Grelin (Department of Pas-de-Calais, Maintenay, File: 1692-an X, Image 5 of 983)
- Claude was baptized 11 Nov 1695 (Image 11 of 983)(female)
- Jacques was baptized 8 Oct 1702 (Image 55 of 983)
- Marie Jeanne, a daughter, who was baptized in July 1697 and buried in December 1698.
However, there is a marriage record dated 11 Feb 1727 (seven years after our Pierre and Marie came to Louisiana) in which Pierre Mahiu married Gabrielle Dix (pg. 274 of 983 / Maintenay - 1692-an X). This record does not list the parents of Pierre but does list his two brothers: François and Jacques (and they are referred to as his brothers).
On page 242 of 983 of the same file, François Mahieu gets married in 1724 and his two brothers are in attendance: Pierre and Jacques (and they are also referred to as his brothers). In addition, a 'Claude Mahieu' made a mark on the marriage record.
On page 321 of 983, there is a 1735 marriage of Pierre Maheu (Majeu?) which is very likely a second marriage of the Pierre who married Gabrielle Dix in 1727 (based on signatures on the document).
This Mayeux/Mahieu/Mahiu family appears to be the only family of that surname in this timeframe having children and raising a family in the town of Maintenay. Although the only absolute way to prove the parentage of our Pierre would be to find the marriage record of Pierre and Marie Cellier/Sellier, I believe that this is enough proof to indicate that the Pierre born to Francois Mahieu/Mahiu and Marie Grelin/Breslin did not leave France for New France. As a result, the Pierre baptized on 12 April 1699 does not appear to be the progenitor of the Louisiana Mayeux family.
Children were:
  1. François Pierre MAYEUX.
  2. Geneviève MAYEUX was born about 1727 possibly in New Orleans (Orleans Parish), Louisiana, USA. (Her father was a witness to a wedding in New Orleans in March 1727.) She died in 1779.1584 She had her estate in succession on 13 October 1779 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA. She had written her will at New Orleans. The inventory of her estate included 10 arpents bordering Beauvais and Mayeux as well as slaves. The total value was 17388 piastres.1585
  3. Cécile MAYEUX was born about 1729 in Natchez (Adams County), Mississippi, USA. She married Jean Louis Homard on 18 April 1747. Sadly, he died a little more than two months after their marriage. Within six months after his death, Cécile was deceased. She was buried on 27 December 1747 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA - only eleven days after losing her father.1586
  4. Magdeleine MAYEUX was born about 1733 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA. She died on 26 March 1758 and was buried the followng day at St. François d’Assise Catholic Cemetery in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA.1263
  5. Marguerite MAYEUX was born about 1735 in (Pointe Coupée Parish), Louisiana, USA. She was buried on 12 March 1817 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery at Plattenville (Assumption Parish), Louisiana.3161

From Robert C. West, in An Atlas of Louisiana Surnames of French and Spanish Origin:

MAYEUX Although common today in the cities of Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, the surname Mayeux is usually associated with Avoyelles Parish, where nearly 40 percent of the state's households of that name are concentrated. At least two individuals named Mayeux entered Louisiana in the early eighteenth century. One was Nicolas Mayeux de Lormaison (probably of noble birth), a merchant of Cap Francois in St. Domingue, West Indies, who lived in New Orleans during the 1730s and 1740s; married to Francoise Plaissant of Quebec, he left no male descendants to carry on his name in Louisiana.1 * The other early colonist was Pierre Mayeux, of humble origin, who came to Louisiana in 1720 as a young worker destined for the Law concession on the Arkansas River.2 It is from Pierre and his son Pierre-Francois that most of the Mayeux families of Louisiana descend. A *Notes to this text begin on p. 180. third individual, Ignace Mailloux of Canada (whose surname is similar in pronunciation to that of Mayeux), settled near Natchitoches Post in the late eighteenth century;3 little is known of his descendants and he appears to have had no connection with the Mayeux family of Louisiana.
A native of Maintenoy, province of Picardy, northwestern France, Pierre Mayeux and his wife Marie Cellier first lived at Arkansas Post (near the site of the defunct Law concession), then for a time in Natchez, before settling permanently in Pointe Coupee in 1731.4 There he established a sizable plantation and by 1745 had 36 cattle and 80 arpents in com, beans, and tobacco, worked by a number of slaves.5 Regarded as one of the wealthiest planters of the area, Pierre (d. 1747) left his estate to his son Pierre-Francois (m. 1744 Nicolle Prévost), who sired four sons to carry on the Mayeux name.6 Son Francois (m. 1772 Julie Marioneaux) apparently remained in Pointe Coupee, but sons Joseph (m. 1774 Adrienne Bordelon), Jean-Baptiste (m. 1776 Julienne Bordelon), and Pierre (m. 1779 Marie-Anne Bordelon) by 1785 had migrated northward to settle in the Avoyelles area.7 There, these three began the large Mayeux clan of Avoyelles, each rearing from four to six sons.8 Initial settlement was made in the prairies near Avoyelles Post, between present Marksville and Mansura, where tobacco was the main crop.9 Gradually their descendants occupied other locations in the Avoyelles District, some settling along the Red River, others along Bayou des Glaises near present Bordelonville, still others along Bayou Choupique near present Plaucheville.10 Civil records indicate that several Mayeux became respected and prosperous farmers of Avoyelles Parish with sizable land holdings and some with political influence. For example, pioneer settler Jean-Baptiste claimed several tracts in the prairies, owned livestock, and from 1794 to 1806 was chosen as one of the syndics of the area.11 Again, in antebellum days Paulin Mayeux (son of Pierre with Marie-Anne Bordelon) and his descendants operated a respectable sugar plantation and mill near Marksville.12
Apparently, few Mayeux families left Avoyelles Parish until late in the nineteenth century.13 In the 1870s Narcisse Mayeux (probably a descendant of Jean-Baptiste the syndic) and his wife Basilise Jeansonne left their Avoyelles homeland to settle near Ville Platte in the western part of old St. Landry Parish.14 Today the several Mayeux families of that area, and perhaps many of those who now live in Lafayette, probably can trace ancestry from Narcisse. Later in the present century probably other Mayeux families left their farms in Avoyelles to enjoy the amenities offered by Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Today one^ Mayeux family resides in Natchitoches; and about three are found in Shreveport; although documentary proof has not been found, these families may well descend from the Avoyelles branch.[9]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 LouisianaLineage.com, by Cathy Lemoine Sturgell, transcript, "Pointe Coupee 1745 Census
  2. Robert C. West, An Atlas of Louisiana Surnames of French and Spanish Origin (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Univ., 1986), p. 107
  3. Avoyelles.com, "Origins of Some Early Avoyelles Names in Europe," by Randy DeCuir, see section M - Mayeux or Mayeaux
  4. Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records, vol. 1b; Pointe Coupee Records, 1722-1769, (Baton Rouge, LA: Diocese of Baton Rouge, 2002):
    Jean François DECUIR, son of Albert DECUIRE & Marie Catherine DOMER, native of Merge, France, Diocese of Trèves (presently Merzig, Diocese of Trier, Germany), married 5 Nov 1743 to Genevieve MAYEUX, daughter of Pierre MAYEUX & Marie SELLIER, of New Orleans. Witnesses: Albert DESCUIR, father of the groom; Pierre MAYEUX, father of the bride; Jacques DECOUX, brother-in-law of the groom; François MAYEUX, brother of the bride; J. HERBERT (PCP-1, 48) & (PCP-2, 28).
  5. Karen Theriot Reader, geneanet.org; citing "Descendants of Pierre Mayeux," in TERREBONNE LIFE LINES; vol.18, no. 3 (fall 1999); p. 167.
  6. Geneanet.org, Karen Theriot Reader's Family Tree, page for Pierre Mayeux
  7. Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records ("DOBR"): Pointe Coupee Records, 1722-1769, volume 1b (Diocese of Baton Rouge Archives: Baton Rouge, La., 2002), p.123:
    Pierre Mayeux, bur. 16 Dec. 1747 (PCP-1, 84)
  8. Find a Grave, database and images (findagrave.com : accessed 13 May 2020), memorial page for Pierre Mayeux (1697–16 Dec 1747), Find A Grave: Memorial #127588984, citing Saint Francis of Pointe Coupee Church Cemetery, Pointe Coupee, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, USA, maintained by Cathy (Lemoine) Sturgell (contributor 48053917); no headstone exists, and biographical information is unsourced
    Spouses:
    Marie Sellier Mayeux (____ - 1738)
    Marie Francoise Manne Mayeux (1707 - ____)
  9. Robert C. West, An Atlas of Louisiana Surnames of French and Spanish Origin (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Univ., 1986), pp. 107-108.

See also:

Acknowledgements

Laurie Lamb
Tom Roland
Shasta Gaither




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Pierre by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Pierre:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 13

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D Q
The parents of the second Pierre MAHIU (the one born in 1697 in Maintenay) got married in Saulchoy on October 16th 1696

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/2d89590b016755a45d9794b691db49d8

posted by D Q
How is this couple connected to the "the second Pierre MAHIU?"
posted by Sheila Moore
Pierre Mayeux and Marie Breslin are not the parents of the Pierre Mayeux who came to Louisiana from France in 1720 with his wife Marie Cellier. Research has proven that although Mayeux and Breslin had a son named Pierre who was born around the right time, this Pierre remained in France. For a detailed discussion of this with references, please see http://louisianalineage.com/b60.htm#P121
posted by Sheila Moore
D Q
Another Pierre MAHIU born in Maintenay around 1699 is a son of Pierre MAHIU and Madeleine LEFEUBURE, baptized in 1697. His godmother is Suzanne MAHIU

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/3e6d56f670d6808d

In 1718 a Pierre MAHIU became the godfather of Marie Thérèse DUPUIS

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/4ad7bba3f060a3bc

posted by D Q
D Q
How do you know who his parents were ?

https://gw.geneanet.org/sybilou51?lang=fr&iz=1&p=pierre&n=mahieu

says that this Pierre MAHIEU got married a first time in 1727 and a second time in 1735, both weddings taking place in Maintenay.

First marriage. The names of the parents aren't given but his brothers François and Jacques are there. He marries Gabrielle DIX

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/225b110ee10c7ee1

Second marriage

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/39da0240f7994aa3fdd8dc1f1274e112

Same problem. Jacques MAYEU is a witness

Their brother François MAHIEU died in 1730 at the age of 35.

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/0af92c063163206f84beb5b4891aa9b9

If this is correct, Pierre can't be the child born in 1699

posted by D Q
D Q
Pierre MAHIU got baptized in April 1699 (the 12th if I read correctly) in Maintenay

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/1434512978ba5d3ecbd6735ebb5556da

Another brother Jacques MAHIU, in 1702

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/671a48d78059ef7951ba3993ca227479

posted by D Q
D Q
It's also GRELIN in the baptism record of François in 1694, same place

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/85f7f5aa10b9d8b400e07f3a5bc7eaed

and the surname's spelling is MAHIU.

Another sibling : Marie Jeanne MAHIU in 1697

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/3e6d56f670d6808d

posted by D Q
D Q
His mother's family name is probably GRELIN according to the baptism record of his sister Claude in 1695 in Maintenay (Pas-de-Calais)

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/g42k5tqt0bk6w2ht

Claude aka Glaude got married in 1716

http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/ark:/64297/5b9531f4f941dea029c7e10df61dc93d

posted by D Q
Shasta, I wasn't referring to two profiles but to the two biographies that I didn't merge when I cleaned up after the profiles were merged. I marked the Biography #1 and Biography #2.
posted by Jacqueline Girouard
Hi Jacqueline...I am unable to find the 2nd profile. I will happily merge.
There are two biographies which should be merged into one by a profile manager. Thanks
posted by Jacqueline Girouard