I think that we owe it to our ancestors to somehow have a special page for this branch of the Drouin, who seem to be the most numerous in one area, than any other area settled by the Drouin (outside Quebec). I have already treated with the descendants of Robert Drouin's first daughter, Genevieve Drouin who had married Romain de Trepagny (Trepanier). One of her son Claude Trepanier is well documented as an early settler in Louisiana, as part of the family history of Genevieve.
Several other branches of the Drouin family made it to Louisiana and were part of its early settlement. The French had early in our North American history already discovered the Mississippi, through lake Michigan, the Wisconsin river to reach the upper Mississippi river, called originally MESCHACEBE (the father of the waters). This was achieve by Louis Jolliet and the missionary Father Jacques Marquette, and was first reached on 17 Jun 1673. Arriving at the Arkansas river, they came to the conclusion that the Mississippi did not go the Pacific, but toward the golf of Mexico. In four months they had covered some three thousand miles in canoe, and decided that enough was enough, and returned toward Montreal. Father Marquette started a mission with the "Illanois" , and Louis Joliet spent the winter in the Great Lake area, before returning to Montreal and Quebec City. In 1681, Frontenac, Governor of Quebec charged Robert Cavelier de la Salle to follow the great river to its mouth. On 9 April 1682, 23 Frenchman, eighteen indians reached the delta of the Mississippi. In 1684, Robert de la Salle left La Rochelle in France with the Kins's commission to create a fort at the mouth of the Mississippi. They never found the mouth of the river, but landed at MATAGORDA BAY, Texax, where de la Salle died at the hand of one of his man during the search. It was left to Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville to find the mouth of River, followed by his brother Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, sieur de Bienville who founded New Orleans in 1718. From the inland route, through the Great Lakes to the mississippi, a series of forts were build, who have left their names amongst some North American cities, Baton Rouge, Cap Girardeau, Fond Lac (Wisconsin), La Crosse (Wisconsin). It is with d'Iberville that Genevieve Drouin(Trepanier)'s two son sailed. Jean died at sea. Claude helped with Forts Maurepas (Biloxi) and Louis (Mobile) before settling in Louisiana. Claude's name is included in a short story of "Fort Maurepas" by Jay Higginbotham, as part of the "Canadian" contingent then working at the Fort. The book was published by theJackson county Historical Records, Pascagoula, MS.
The above gives a short review of the various events that took place in the discovery and founding of Louisiana. We now will look at some of the Drouin/Derouin/DeRouen who settled in Louisiana.
Joseph Francois Pierre
Known under various first names such as Joseph, Joseph
Francois, as well as a variation of his surname from Drouin in Montreal,
to Derouin in Detroit, Dorvan on his marriage certificate in Louisiana
and finally Derouen/DeRouen in most of his dealing in Louisiana.
Joseph first married in Detroit, however, on his move to Louisiana
in 1775, aged 39, he declared himself a widower, with his name now DEROUEN,
contracted a marriage with Genevieve Hebert. He was married in the
L'Ascension church, situated in what was to become "DONALDSONVILLE".
Joseph-Pierre married Genevieve Hebert on 29 Nov 1775 in Louisiana. Genevieve
was the daughter of Armand Hebert and Genevieve Babin, deported Acadians.
Two boys and five girls were born from this marriage, to carry the name
DeRouen. For the sake of this article I will call him Joseph Francois or
JF. Before venturing to Louisiana we most mention his stay in Detroit
and the following gives a short history of stay in Detroit, his marriage
in Donaldsonville, Louisiana with the widow Genevieve Hebert.
Joseph was a member of his father's militia, living in Detroit,
when the company's list of names was published in 1750 and 1755.
Detroit started as fort PONTCHARTRAIN, was founded
in 1701 by the Frenchman, La Motte-Cadillac. Some 15,000 people signed
up to work in the west, from Montreal in the early 1700 to 1800.
Two of those were Joseph-Pierre and his brother Jean-Baptiste. Joseph,
hired for several years to go to Fort MICHILLIMAKINAC (today St Ignace,
Michican)
Joseph first married in Detroit to Charlotte Campeau on 21 Feb 1762
at what is known today at Ste Anne de Detroit. He had three daughters
with Charlotte, Marie CharlotteDrouin married in Detroit to Jean-Baptiste
Drouilllard; Josephte Drouin married to Jean-Marie Lecerf dit Ladouceur
and Francoise Drouin married to Andre Lepage in Montreal.
He moved to Louisiana in 1774/75, aged 39, declared
himself a widower, with his name now DEROUEN, contracted a marriage with
Genevieve Hebert.(1). He was married in the L'Ascension church,
situated in what was to become "DONALDSONVILLE", on 29 Nov 1775. The marriage
certificate gives his name as Joseph Dorvan, widower of Carolote Campo.
Anne-Genevieve Hebert was the daugher of Amand Hebert
and Genevieve Babin. Born 20 Jan 1747 at St Charles aux Mines, Grand
Pre, Nova Scotia. Genevieve's first husband was Francois Andro (Andre)
Landros.
In the census of Opelousas of May 1777 Joseph and family was listed
as 40, Genevieve 29, Rene son of Genevieve's first husband 6, Jeannette,
daughter of first husband age 8, Joseph son of Genevieve and Joseph
age 1. Property, two slaves, Ceipin M22, Mariana F 60 yrs.
Owned 90 cattle, 100 horses and mares, 7 pigs.(1)
Joseph was listed in the Militia of Opelousason on the 8 June 1777. #29,
Joseph Drouin, Fusiller, thus a Revolutionary War Patriot.(1)
(1) Report on Joseph Drouin son of Pierre and Marie Anne Vanier
by the "Institut Genealogique Drouin" dated 16 Mar 1972.
THE AVOYELLES DROUIN
A complete different line of Drouin was started in
Louisiana with the Arrival of Leon Drouin born on 27 Dec 1822 in Bordeaux,
France. He arrived in New Orleans on 13 November 1844. His
application for American Citizenship was filed in the Avoyelles Parish
Courthouse. He died listed as Leon Druin. His descendants, first
generation in Louisiana were: (all born in AVOYELLES PARISH, LA.
Louise Drouin b. 25 Aug 1846
Marie Francoise Lydie Erminie Drouin, b.10 Oct 1851
Leontine Blanche Drouin, b. 13 Oct 1854
Rosalie Irma Drouin, b. 12 Feb 1857
Jean-Victor Emmanuel Drouin, b. 6 Aug 1859
Marie Cecile Drouin, b. 14 Jul 1862
Louise Sidonie Drouin, b. 27 Feb 1865
Ambroise Leonard Drouin, b. 7 Dec 1848
THE DEROUEN OF LOUISIANA SPECIAL PAGE
To view some personal info on the DeRouen of Louisiana, click on this special page.