Unknown Balestier (abt. 1760 - 1822)

Born about 1760 in France

Descendants

Died 1822 at about age 62 in West Indies

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Biography

Almost nothing is known of Mr. Balestier.

He had at least three sons and a daughter. He seemed to have had three wifes. The names of the daughter and of his wives are unknown.

Gordon Ireland did an extensive analysis of this family. He tried to trace family stores, including one that the Balestier and Revere families were cousins. He was not able to find a connection. His requests to Martinique were not answered. He concluded that Joseph N. was the son of the third wife, but could not determine the mother of William. He did not identify the daughter. ^[1]

Mr. Balestier's oldest known son was born in 1788 in France. So it seems likely that he was born about 1760 or 1765 in France. The dates for the birth of the two Josephs seem well documented. The daughter is mentioned only once, in joseph Nerée 's passport application in 1868. In it he stated that he was born on the island of Guadaloupe, French West Indies in 1814. He went on to state that his mother died shortly afterwards and he and "all the brothers and sister" were sent to the United States by his father in 1816 and that their father died in 1822.^[2] In Joseph N.'s naturalization application the year of immigration is 1817.^[3]

Children of Balestier

1. Joseph b. 1788 in France. m. Maria Revere daughter of Paul Revere.^[1]
2. William. Working in New York in 1830. No other information.^[1]
3. unknown Daughter. no other information.^[2]
4. Joseph Nerée b. April 1, 1814. Martinique, West Indies. m. Caroline Wolcott daughter of Henry Wolcott^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Gordon Ireland. The Balestiers of Beechwood. 1948. Washington, DC. Available at Hathitrust.org. The Balestiers.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Passport Applications, 1795-1905 Passport App. Joseph N Balestier
3. ↑ New York, Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 Jseph nerce Blestier.