French Soldiers Who Died at Newport During the Revolutionary War

Admiral Charles Louis d’Arsac Chevalier de Ternay (1722–1780) is the most renowned Frenchman of the Expédition Particulière to be buried in Newport. His funeral had more pomp and ceremony than anyone in Newport’s history, with the exception of the 1826 reburial of Oliver Hazard Perry (both men have plaques in Trinity Church). Ternay’s flagship in the harbor fired a cannon every half hour from the time of his death to the time of his burial. He is not the only Frenchman buried in Newport, but the others have been forgotten for the most part. This article identifies 149 French soldiers and 24 sailors who died at Newport from 1780 to 1783.

King Louis XVI of France planned to send 12,000 troops to America, in 1780, to assist in her struggle for independence against Great Britain. However, as only 32 transports could be assembled to bring them to America, Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur Comte de Rochambeau (1725–1807) could board only 5,800 men. By the time the transports returned to France for the remaining troops, they had been redeployed elsewhere or returned to their peace-time assignments.

Admiral de Ternay commanded a squadron of seven ships of the line and six frigates that convoyed the 6 vessels and 32 transports carrying Rochambeau’s army to America. They took seventy-two days to cross the Atlantic. When they arrived at Newport, approximately 1,500 sailors and 800 soldiers and marines were sick with scurvy and other illnesses contracted during the crossing.[1] The invalid soldiers not taken to Newport’s churches were transported by boat to hospitals at Providence, Bristol and Poppasquash Point (sick French soldiers and sailors died at these locations; see, e.g., Norman Desmarais, “The French Soldiers Commemorated at the North Burial Ground in Providence” (Oct. 14, 2015) [http://smallstatebighistory.com/the-french-soldiers-commemorated-at-the-north-burial-ground-in-providence/]).

Admiral de Ternay is buried at Trinity Church in Newport. Two officers from l’Hermione (Pierre du Rousseau de Fayolle and First Lieutenant de Villemarais [sometimes spelled Villemarets, Valernais or Vilernais] who predeceased de Ternay) are also buried there in unmarked graves.[2]

The common soldiers may have been buried at their camps, at the north end of town or in Middletown. Military burials were usually done in secret so as not to reveal a decline in numbers and few, if any, of the graves are marked.

As most of the soldiers were Catholics, they should have been buried in consecrated ground. As there was no Catholic community in Newport at this time, there was no appropriate cemetery. (It was also unlikely the town would permit French burials in valuable and diminishing public cemetery space, such as at the Common Burial Ground.) It took special permission from the Pope to have Admiral de Ternay, Lieutenant de Villemarais and de Fayolle interred at Trinity Church. Given the lag time in communication, this process must have taken a long time to obtain and was most likely done after the fact.

Sailors would usually be buried at sea. Their names would be recorded in the log books of the various vessels. Many of these logbooks no longer exist.

Admiral de Ternay’s grave, Trinity Church, Newport. 

Methodology

This study examines the troop registers, called contrôles, of the four French regiments and other companies (Auxonne Artillery, Bourbonnais, Saintonge, Soissonnais, Royal Deux-Pontsand Lauzun’s Legion) that came to Newport. It identifies the men who died during the period of the French encampments.[3]

Often, the contrôles do not list a location of death. For example, the contrôle for the Royal Deux Ponts Regiment does not list a location of death for any of the soldiers. In other instances, soldiers died at hospitals in France while their regiment was stationed in America, indicating that these men were invalids before the regiment sailed to America. Consequently, we selected only those names that specifically indicated they died at Newport. The names below are arranged alphabetically by regiment, indicating the company they belonged to, the date of enlistment, and the date and location of death. Entries with the same name but listed as belonging to different companies and/or with different death dates are listed twice.

The Reverend Ezra Stiles, while visiting Newport on October 8, 1780, recorded in his diary, “My Meeting-house and three others taken up for Hospitals.”[4] His meetinghouse was the Second Congregational Church (13 and 15 Clarke Street near the Newport Artillery Company Armory). The others were the Touro Synagogue (76 Touro Street), the Friends Meeting House (30 Marlborough Street) and Dr. Samuel Hopkins’s First Congregational Church on Mill Street. Old Colony House in Washington Square was also used as a hospital, although probably only temporarily. In addition, we know that the following private homes were also used as hospitals: James Taylor’s at 123 Thames Street; William Lyndon’s at 456 Black (now Spring) Street; James Senter’s at 445 Thames Street; and Widow Brayton’s at 348 Spring Street.[5]

After the siege of Yorktown ended successfully with the surrender of a British army on October 19, 1781, Rochambeau and his army returned to Newport, as the war would not officially end until 1783. Some of the soldiers died even after this return, perhaps some of battle wounds, but most probably due to disease. When the French troops departed for Boston in December 1782, they left behind some soldiers who were too ill or incapacitated to accompany the army. Some ships left on December 1; others left as late as December 24. They went to the West Indies where they continued operations until May 1, 1783 when they set sail to return to France.

There was no attempt to identify the sailors, as this would require locating the log books for each of the vessels, many of which no longer exist. However, there is one published source for sailors that lists the deaths of some.[6]

Auxonne Regiment

Jean Besson enlisted in Captain Bonnay de la Rouvrelle’s Bombardier Company on November 18, 1777. He died at Newport on March 16, 1781.

Louis Buyrettier enlisted in Captain Bonnay de la Rouvrelle’s Bombadier Company on February 7, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on August 28, 1780.

François Delaporte enlisted in Captain Josserand’s Cannoneer Company on September 28, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on October 2 or 8, 1780.

Claude-Antoine Demougeot (aka La Grenade) enlisted in Captain de Neurisse’s Cannoneer Company on November 21, 1771 for 8 years. He reenlisted on January 23, 1779 until November 21, 1782. He died at the Newport hospital on October 2, 1780.

Captain Paul-Alexandre-François-Xavier de Monginot de Noncourt of the Auxonne Regiment died at Newport on October 6, 1779.

François Dubrez enlisted in Captain De Boislogé’s Cannoneer Company on December 3, 1778. He died at the Newport hospital on April 21, 1781.

Corporal Louis Gauché enlisted inCaptain Josserand’s Cannoneer Company on May 12, 1760. He reenlisted in September 1767 and died at the Newport hospital on May 23, 1781.

Jean Mazet enlisted in Captain de Neurisse’s Cannoneer Company on December 10, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on September 8, 1780.

François Denis Regneaule enlisted in Captain Bonnay de la Rouvrelle’s Nacoy Bombardier Company on April 5, 1780. He died at the Newport hospital on August 23, 1780.

Jean-Humbert Ricarraud enlisted in Captain de Morcourt de Foy’s Cannoneer Company on April 7, 1763. He reenlisted on January 9, 1770 and May 25, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on March 22, 1781.

Jean-Pierre Richard enlisted in Captain de Morcourt de Foy’s Cannoneer Company on December 15, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on September 18, 1780.

Nicolas Sterveo (aka Nicolas) enlisted as a sapper in Captain de Maisonneuve’s Bombardier Company on February 1, 1769. He died on board the frigate l’Amazone on the way to America on May 23, 1780.

Floricourt Teillier enlisted in Captain de Neurisse’s Cannoneer Company on January 17, 1780. He died at the Newport hospital on October 31, 1780.

Bourbonnais Regiment

Ignace Ackev enlisted in Captain de St. Aubin’s Lieutenant-Colonel’s Company on June 20, 1778. He died at the Newport hospital on October 13, 1780.

Thomas Buquet (aka Abel) enlisted in Captain Desondes’s Company on January 1, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on March 14, 1781.

Andre Burlon enlisted in Captain Chennevières’s Company on April 24, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on January 14, 1781.

François Chabrefils enlisted in Captain de Lanet’s Grenadier Company on November 4, 1772. He died at the Newport hospital on September 13, 1780.

Georges Collet (aka Cléomène) enlisted in Captain de Chalvet de Rochemonteix’s Company on April 4, 1777. He died at Newport on July 16, 1780.

Dominique Charon Charoz (aka Pausanias or Sansunive) enlisted in Captain Desondes’s Company on August 25, 1777. He died at the camp in Newport on July 20, 1780.

Naro Dautry (aka Cinna) enlisted in Captain Chennevières’s Company on June 23, 1778. He died at the Newport hospital on August 3, 1780.

Aimé-Joseph Débonnaire enlisted in Captain de La Brue’s Company on January 1, 1779. He died at Newport on March 17, 1781.

Simon Deroy enlisted in Captain de Montfort’s Company on August 24, 1778. He died at Newport on December 22, 1782.

François Ferry enlisted in Captain Chennevières’s Company on October 13, 1775. He died at the Newport hospital on November 13 or 19, 1780.

Louis Frémaux enlisted in Captain Lassuderie de Campanes’s Chasseurs Company on March 2, 1771. He reenlisted for eight years on March 2, 1778 and died at Newport on September 4, 1780.

Joseph Laumont (aka Locke) enlisted in Captain de Montfort’s Company on October 24, 1778. He died at Newport on October 13, 1780.

Joseph Laurent (aka Lisiare) enlisted in Captain du Chevallier’s Company on November 1, 1778. He died at Newport on November 13, 1780.

François Maréchal (aka Claudinol) enlisted in Captain Desondes’s Company on December 6, 1777. He died at sea on July 14, 1780.

Raimond Mongy (aka Beziers) enlisted in Captain La Brue’s Company on August 17, 1777. He died at Newport on December 4, 1780.

Simon Peroi enlisted in Captain du Faure de Prouilhac’s Company on August 24, 1778. He died at Newport on December 22, 1782.

Louis Perrot (aka Colomb) enlisted in Captain de Montfort’s Company on April 20, 1774. He died at the Newport hospital.

Théophile Phiginel (aka Amand) enlisted in Captain de Chalvet de Rochemonteix’s Company on December 24, 1776. He died at Newport on August 6, 1780.

Jacques Picoux enlisted in Captain du Chevalier’s Company on January 1, 1775. He died at the Newport hospital on August 10, 1780.

Olivier Ravaille (aka Sertorius) enlisted in the du Plessis Company on March 3, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on October 9, 1780.

Jean Renaud enlisted in Captain de Chalvet de Rochemonteix’s Company on May 20, 1767. He died at Newport on September 8, 1780.

Louis-François Roger (aka Zoroastre) enlisted in the du Plessis Company on March 1, 1780. He died at the Newport hospital on July 1 or September 8, 1780.

Louis François Roget (aka Zaroastre) enlisted in the du Plessis Company on March 24, 1768. He died at the Newport hospital on September 16, 1780.

Berthelemy Roulet enlisted in Captain Chennevières’s Company on April 6, 1776. He died at the Newport hospital on October 16, 1780.

Jean Sabatier enlisted in Captain de Lanet’s Grenadier Company on November 9, 1772. He died at the Newport hospital on August 3, 1780.

Louis Serron (aka Colomb) enlisted in Captain Chennevières’s Company on April 20, 1774. He died at the Newport hospital.

François Stibal enlisted in Captain de Lanet’s Grenadier Company on April 24, 1775. He died at the Newport hospital on April 27, 1780.

Joseph Suarmon (aka Locke) enlisted in Captain du Faure de Prouilhac’s Company on October 24, 1778. He died at Newport on October 13, 1780.

Nicolas Martin (aka Salins) enlisted in Captain Lassuderie de Campanes’s Chasseurs Company on July 19, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on August 20, 1780.

Jean Torignel enlisted in Captain deMauny’sCompany on February 24, 1776. He died at Newport on August 1, 1780.

Nicolas Vautry (aka China) enlisted in Captain de Montfort’s Company on June 23, 1778. He died at Newport on August 3, 1780.

Joseph-Michel Ybor (aka Ibor) enlisted in Captain Desondes’s Company on December 21, 1775. He died at Newport in 1781.

Saintonge Regiment

François L’Ainé (aka L’Ainé) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on November 1, 1779. He died at Newport on August 27, 1780.

Etienne François Alard (aka Alard) enlisted in Captain Ferrette’s Company on November 27, 1779. He died at Newport on January 7, 1781.

Pierre Alexandre (aka Alexandre) enlisted in Captain Courvol’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on July 11, 1778. He died at Newport on April 6, 1781.

Mathurin Louis Arnaud enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on October 6, 1768. He died at Newport on April 4, 1781.

Antoine Barbet enlisted in Captain Saint-Florent’s Company on April 2, 1778. He died at Newport on June 15, 1782.

Jean Baudin (aka Sgt. M. Sansgacon) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on September 7, 1755. He died at Newport on June 30, 1780.

Louis Beguinot (aka Beguinot) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on September 28, 1776. He died in Newport on September 6, 1780.

Pierre Joseph Belleville (aka Belleville) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on August 29, 1777. He died at Newport on September 9 or November 4, 1780.

Claude Bertol enlisted in Captain De Boisbras Bedée’s Company on August 18, 1776. He died at Newport on November 24, 1783.

Louis Bigaut or Bigot (aka Bigot) enlisted in Captain De Boisbras Bedée’s Company on May 8, 1777. He died at Newport on December 24, 1780.

Pierre Biason enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on November 1, 1763. He died at Newport on August 5, 1780.

Jacques Bureau (aka Bureau) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on January 1, 1780. He died at Newport on September 24, 1780.

Etienne Carré enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on December 11, 1776. He died at Newport on July 1, 1782.

Antoine Jacques Cayeux (aka Abbéville) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on November 28, 1777. He died at Newport on September 13, 1780.

Noel Ceysse (aka Rustique) enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on August 22, 1774. He died at Newport on July 26, 1780.

Benoist Constant (aka Constant) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on March 1, 1766. He died at Newport on May 27, 1781.

Vincent Le Cornee (aka La Tulipe) enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on April 20, 1764. He died at Newport on August 15, 1780.

Pierre Louis Daubermelle (aka Daubermelle) enlisted in Captain De Boisbras Bedée’s Company on June 6, 1778. He died at Newport on April 16, 1780.

Pourchin de Terme enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on June 14, 1777. He died at Newport on September 17, 1780.

Pierre Devis (aka Lafitte) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on April 2, 1773. He died at Newport on August 5, 1780.

Jean Doüi (aka Doüi) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on January 3, 1780. He died at Newport on September 13 1780.

François L’Ecuyer enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on December 17, 1777. He died at Newport on September 8, 1780.

Charles Filiatre (aka Filiatre) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on March 16, 1778. He died at Newport on August 23, 1780.

Pierre Griphon (aka Lapierre) enlisted in Captain de Courvol’s Company on November 11, 1763. He died at Newport on August 5, 1780.

François Groslot (aka Groslot) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on July 8, 1777. He died at Newport on August 9, 1780.

Pierre Guenoix (aka Guenoix) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on February 26, 1777. He died at Newport on January 22, 1781.

Louis-Marie Le Jeune (aka Le Jeune) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on October 30, 1776. He died at Newport on November 17, 1780.

Marc Labrue enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on March 1, 1770. He died at Newport on September 15, 1780.

François Laine enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on November 1, 1779. He died at Newport on August 27, 1780.

Jacques Joseph Lambert enlisted in Captain de Boisbras Bedée’s Company on November 4, 1777. He died at Newport on June 10, 1780.

Claude Laurent (aka Laurent) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on March 30, 1776. He died at Newport on November 10, 1780.

Vincent Le Corme enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on April 20, 1764. He died at Newport on August 15, 1780.

Claude Lechaudet (aka Lechaudet) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on October 9, 1776. He died at Newport on January 9, 1781.

Jean LePier (aka Laviolette) enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on January 1, 1773. He died at Newport on August 13, 1780.

Raymond Loisseau (aka La Rose) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on January 1, 1759. He died at Newport on October 10, 1780.

Guilhaume de Lisse (aka Bienvenu) enlisted in Captain de Brie’s Chasseurs Company on August 18, 1768. He died at Newport on September 30, 1780.

André Lizé (aka Lizé) enlisted in Captain de Boisbras Bedée’s Company on May 1, 1779. He died at Newport on September 10, 1780.

Jean Baptiste Longevy enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on January 20, 1767. He died at Newport on September 15, 1780.

Dominique Mangout enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on March 2, 1780. He died at Newport on April 24, 1781.

Constant Marinier (aka Marinier) enlisted in Captain Gorot de Beaumont’s Grenadier Company on March 20, 1778. He died at Newport on November 17, 1780.

Jerome Maurel (aka Sgt. Maurel) enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on April 19, 1767. He died at Newport on October 11, 1780.

Nicolas Meuniers (aka Meunier) enlisted in Captain de Bertier des Forets’s Company on May 3, 1767. He died at Newport on April 19, 1781.

Pierre Joseph Moneau or Morneau (aka Nisneau) enlisted in Captain de la Falnère’s Company on March 22, 1776. He died at Newport on September 17, 1780.

Jean-Baptiste Munier (aka Longury) enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on January 20, 1767. He died in Newport on September 15, 1780.

Georges Petillon (aka Lafrance) enlisted in Captain de Boisbras Bedée’s Company on April 7, 1757. He died at Newport on December 27, 1780.

Georges Petillon (aka La France) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on April 7, 1767. He died at Newport on January 10, 1781.

Raymond Poisseau enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on January 1, 1759. He died at Newport on September 10, 1780.

Louis Rattel (aka Rattel) enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on December 11, 1772. He died at Newport on June 1, 1781.

Grégoire Rattio (aka Rattio) enlisted in Captain Duchesnes’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on March 25, 1778. He died at Newport on November 22, 1780.

Jean Révol (aka Sans Chagrin) enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on September 10, 1769. He died at Newport on April 29, 1781.

Henri Richard (aka Richard) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on May 13, 1778. He died at Newport on March 3, 1781.

Toussaint Richard (aka Richard) enlisted in Captain de Brie’s Chasseurs Company on February 13, 1778. He died at Newport on October 6, 1780.

Claude Richoux (aka Richoux) enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on April 11, 1780. He died at Newport on November 12, 1780.

Léonard Rousseaux (aka Rousseaux) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on April 30, 1775. He died at Newport on October 20, 1780.

Guilame Ruban (aka Ruban) enlisted in Captain Duchesnes’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on May 10, 1778. He died at Newport on December 20, 1780.

Jean Perol Sansagrin enlisted in Captain de Wouves’s Company on September 10, 1769. He died at Newport on April 29, 1781.

Françoix Serette enlisted in Captain Duchesnes’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on February 25, 1778. He died at Newport on October 29, 1780.

Louis Seuveur (aka Seuveu) enlisted in Captain de Boisbras Bedée’s Company on May 28, 1777. He died at Newport on May 12, 1781.

Louis Sourchin de Cerme (aka de Cerme) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on June 14, 1777. He died at Newport on September 17, 1780.

Deil Stergue (aka Stergue) enlisted in Captain de Brie’s Chasseurs Company on November 20, 1777. He died at Newport on April 17, 1781.

Jean Tessier (aka Laviolette) enlisted in Captain de la Falnère’s Company on January 1, 1773. He died at Newport on August 13, 1784.

Noël Teysse (aka Rustique) enlisted in Captain de la Falnère’s Company on August 22, 1774. He died at Newport on July 26, 1780.

Charles Thibault (aka Thibault) enlisted in Captain de Ferrette’s Company on July 2, 1768. He died at Newport on August 15, 1780.

Pierre-Alexandre Vasseur enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on July 11, 1778. He died at Newport on April 6, 1781.

Victor-Joseph Vendal (aka Vandal) enlisted in Captain de la Corbière’s Company on July 6, 1777. He died at Newport on August 23, 1780.

Dominique Verette (aka Dominique) enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on February 25, 1778. He died at Newport on December 11, 1780.

François Verette enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on February 25, 1778. He died at Newport on November 29, 1780.

Leanlois Verette (aka Verete) enlisted in Captain Duchesne’s Company on February 29, 1778. He died at Newport on November 2, 1780.

Soissonnais Regiment

Louis Belamy (aka Belamy) enlisted in Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company on December 21, 1777. He died at Newport on August 10, 1780.

Louis Bernard (aka Bernard) enlisted in the Soissonnais Regiment on April 18, 1778. He transferred to Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on September 1, 1780 and died at the Newport hospital on March 30, 1781.

François Binard (aka Binard) enlisted in Captain de la Boyère’s Company on December 28, 1776. He died at Newport on October 21, 1780.

Jean Bourgongnioux (aka Gramat) enlisted in Captain de Bazin’s Colonel’s Company on March 11, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on September 16, 1780.

Antoine Chervet (aka Chervet) enlisted in Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on November 10, 1770. He died at the Newport hospital on August 25, 1780.

Jean Chomard enlisted in Captain de Saint-Léger’s Company on December 1, 1776. He died at the Newport hospital on September 12, 1780.

Jean Chouard (aka Chouard) enlisted in Captain de Bazin’s Colonel’s Company on October 1, 1776. He died at the Newport hospital on November 12, 1780.

Jean-François Clément (aka Clément) enlisted in Captain de Saint-Léger’s Company on November 29, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on January 3, 1781.

Charles Colet (aka St. Louis) enlisted in Captain de Saint-Léger’s Company on June 27, 1769. He reenlisted for eight years on June 27, 1773 and died at the Army hospital in Newport on August 4, 1780.

Claude Collin (aka Monplaisir) enlisted in Captain de la Gardette’s Company on April 23, 1758. He died at Newport on September 10, 1780.

Thomas Connot (aka Corporal Connot) enlisted in Captain de Baudré’s Chasseurs Company on December 2, 1773. He died at Newport on October 4 or 14, 1781.

Jean Dubois enlisted in Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on January 1, 1780. He died at Newport on March 22, 1781.

Louis Debrie (aka Bellepointe) enlisted in Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on June 8, 1774. He died at Newport on April 30, 1781.

Anzias Farine (aka La Motte) enlisted in Captain du Palais’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on January 7, 1767. He died at the Newport hospital on September 2, 1780.

Jean Flamand enlisted in Captain de Gilbert’s Company on January 23, 1780. He died at Newport on July 29, 1781.

Bernard Gautier (aka Bernard) enlisted in Captain Dubois de Saint Gemme de la Grange’s Company on August 26, 1779. He died at Newport on July 9, 1780.

Bernard Gauthier enlisted in Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company on August 26, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on July 5, 1781.

Jean Gay (aka Gay) enlisted in Captain de la Boyère’s Company on December 9, 1776. He died at Newport on September 14, 1780.

Pierre Giroud (aka Giroud) enlisted in the Soissonnais Regiment on September 11, 1777. He transferred to Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on April 6, 1780 and died at the Newport hospital on September 18, 1780.

Jacques Henousse (aka Henousse) enlisted in Captain de Gilbert’s Company on February 25, 1780. He died at Newport on February 3, 1781.

François Hinard enlisted in Captain de la Boyère’s Company on December 28, 1776. He died at Newport on October 21, 1780.

Jean Humeau enlisted in Captain du Palais’s Lieutenant Colonel’s Company on October 6, 1775. He died at the Newport hospital on September 5, 1780.

Le Gendre enlisted in Captain de Saint-Léger’s Company on July 12, 1777. He died at the Newport hospital on October 2, 1780.

Jean Magna (aka Bellefin) enlisted in Captain Didier’s Company on March 13, 1756. He died at the Newport hospital on August 14, 1780.

Laurent Marillat (aka Blondin) enlisted in Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company on April 10, 1766. He reenlisted for eight years on April 10, 1774 and died at Newport on August 13, 1780.

Jacques-Laurent Mialoux (aka Mialoux) enlisted in Captain du Palais’s Company on January 22, 1778. He died at Newport on December 4, 1780.

Charles Moncroy enlisted in Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company on May 19, 1778. He died at the Newport hospital on September 18, 1780.

Jacques Montesuit enlisted in Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company on December 31 1778. He died at Newport on August 11, 1780.

François Morillon (aka Prestaboire) enlisted in Captain de Baudré’s Chasseurs Company on June 18, 1773. He died at Newport on September 28, 1780.

Jacques Poulain enlisted in Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on July 19, 1774. He died at the Newport hospital on September 21, 1780.

François Reboul enlisted in Captain de la Gardette’s Company in 1777. He died at Newport on March 30, 1781.

Philippe Le Rebourg (aka Le Rebourg) enlisted in Captain de Marin’s Company on April 13, 1779. He died at Newport on October 27, 1780.

Claude Royaux enlisted in Captain Menou’s Grenadier Company on November 6, 1779. He died at Newport on August 26, 1780.

Auzias Savine (aka La Motte) enlisted in Captain du Palais’s Company on January 7, 1767. He died at the Newport hospital on September 2, 1780.

Barthélémy Soulier enlisted in Captain Didier’s Company on April 15, 1779. He died at the Newport hospital on September 4, 1780.

Jacques Surget enlisted in Captain de Marin’s Company on August 13, 1774. He died at Newport on January 31, 1781.

Jean Waringaux enlisted in Captain de Saint-Léger’s Company on November 9, 1775. He died at the Newport hospital on September 30, 1780.

Memorial to Admiral de Ternay from King Louis XVI, Trinity Church, Newport.

Memorial to Admiral de Ternay from King Louis XVI, Trinity Church, Newport.

The following is a list of sailors known to have died at Newport.

Jean-Louis Bacon, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on June 18, 1781.

René Binquet, apprentice on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on March 16, 1781.

Claude Boulard, boatswain of Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on December 2, 1781.

Pierre-Vincent Bouvet, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on August 5, 1781.

Guillaume Couic, signal man of Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on April 24, 1781.

Jean-Louis Desmelliers, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on April 21, 1781.

Jean-François Dinan, sailor on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on December 8, 1780.

Claude Fascouet, cannoneer’s assistant on L’Ardent, died at the Newport hospital on April 6, 1781.

Pierre du Rousseau de Fayolle was struck in the temple off Newport when a small boat carrying him collided with l’Hermione on June 8, 1780. He died instantly.

Claude Ferchal, sailor on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on March 28, 1781.

Gilles Gauchet, sailor on Le Jason, drowned in Newport Harbor on December 26, 1780.

Jean Gaudet, of Le Jason, drowned at Newport on March 21, 1781.

Louis-Joseph Hébert, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on June 8, 178Î.

René Le Marchand, sailor on La Provence, died at Newport on May 6, 1781.

Jacques Merlier, sailor on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on March 26, 1781.

Thomas Morderet, a young sailor of 15 or 16 on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on October 31, 1780.

François Prigent, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on April 23, 1781.

Charles Ratel, an apprentice on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on March 20, 1781.

Barthélémy Saillard, sailor on Le Jason, died at Newport on July 10, 1781.

François Scolou, a young sailor of 15 or 16 on La Provence, died at the Newport hospital on May 11, 1781.

Jean-Jacques Simon, sailor on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on November 7, 1780.

Simon Valliot, apprentice on Le Jason, died at the Newport hospital on May 16, 1781.

de Villemarais, first lieutenant on board l’Hermione, was buried on July 22, 1780.

Notes

1. McBurney, Christian M., Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2014), pp. 82-85 (French put ashore 1,500 sick sailors and 800 sick soldiers); Ternay to Lafayette July 16, 1780 in Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776-1790, Stanley J. Idzerda, editor (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1977-1983), vol. 3, p. 108, n 5 (“Ternay put ashore some 1300 invalid sailors”).

2. Communication with Bert Lippincott, Librarian and Genealogist at the Newport Historical Society July 29, 2015. See also Hattendorf, John B., Semper Eadem: A History of Trinity Church in Newport, 1698-2000 (Newport, R.I.: The Church, 2001), pp. 130 and 469. Hattendorf, John B., Newport, the French Navy, and American independence (Newport, R.I.: Redwood Press, 2004), pp. 45-46; Mason, George Champlin. Annals of Trinity Church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1698-1821 (Newport, R. I., 1890), 1:162.

3. The contrôles of the Auxonne Artillery are listed as 10 Yc 1 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. [152, 97, 60, 43, 27, 29, 155, 46, 47, 6, 29]. The Bourbonnais contrôles are catalogued under 1 Yc 188 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. [297, 62, 159, 29, 66, 158, 147, 416, 418, 68, 334, 213, 380, 336, 108, 129, 132, 124, 150, 27, 144, 26, 207, 429, 378, 73]. The Saintonge contrôles are 1 Yc 932 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. [162, 370, 112, 7, 248, 154, 265, 209, 271, 158, 404, 250, 6, 214,148, 271, 319, 110, 364, 363, 155, 5, 209, 150, 362, 402, 141, 444, 215, 43, 64, 415, 112, 249, 407, 218,351, 65, 111, 368, 75, 351, 111, 44, 110, 210, 157, 457, 299, 458, 157, 110]. The Soissonnais contrôles have the number 1 Yc 966 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. [423, 29, 367, 254, 10, 252, 256, 237, 328, 182, 150, 366, 27, 484, 304, 257, 144, 312, 481]. The Royal Deux-Ponts contrôles are 1 Yc 869 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). The contrôles are preserved by the Service Historique de la Defense in the Château de Vincennes except for those of Lauzun’s Legion which are in the Archives Nationales in Paris. They have the catalogue numbers D 2c 32 (March 1780-1783) and 8 Yc 17 (beginning on 4 February 1784 to 1786).