The French Soldiers Commemorated at the North Burial Ground in Providence

A large granite monument (see fig. 1) in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island (at the intersection of North Main Street (Route 1) and Branch Avenue) commemorates the French soldiers who died in Providence between 1780 and 1783. Shortly after the French army landed at Newporton July 10, 1780, some of the sick were sent to the hospitals in Providence, Bristol and Poppasquash Point. The hospital in Providence was at University Hall of the College of Rhode Island, now Brown University (see fig. 2).

 

Part of the army later camped for the winter on the property of Jeremiah Dexter until June 1781.The camp was located between Pawtucket Avenue (North Main Street) and East Avenue (Hope Street). It extended south of Toll House Lane, which ran in a straight line between Pawtucket Avenue at Williams Street and Blackstone Boulevard at Hillside Avenue, to the north side of North Street, which ran in a straight line along what is now 2nd Street to Burlington Street. The troops headed to Phillipsburg, New York in June 1781 and eventually to the siege of Yorktown. When they returned north after the British surrender, the French army camped at Mathewson’s Plain in Providence on the night of November 11, 1782. The following day, they returned to their camp of the previous year where they stayed from November 12 to 30, 1782. [1]

 

The monument in the North Burial Ground is relatively new, as the granite has not aged as much as the nearby stones. It was dedicated on July 4, 1882. It lies at the base of rising ground fully populated by the graves of veterans of many of America’s wars. Colonel Israel Angel, commander of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, and his wife were reinterred in the plot immediately to the left of the monument to the French soldiers (see Fig. 1). While the monument looks like it could be a grave, possibly a mass grave, there are no names on it, so it is more of a cenotaph or commemorative monument. Personel supervising the North Burial Ground informed me that they believe the French soldiers are buried at the North Burial Ground but the exact locations are not known.

Who are the men commemorated by this monument? There were at least twenty-five soldiers who died in Providence or at the Providence hospital during this time: seven or eight from the Auxonne Artillery Regiment, eight from the Régiment Bourbonnais, and six each from the Régiment Saintonge and the Régiment Soissonnais. The Duc de Lauzun’s Regiment wintered in Lebanon, Connecticut, and were not part of this camp. The troop registers² identify other men who died during the period of these encampments. Often, they do not list a location of death. The registers for the Royal Deux Ponts Regiment, for example, do not indicate the location of death for any of the soldiers. [2] In other instances, soldiers died at hospitals in France while their regiment was stationed in America, indicating that these men were ill before their regiment sailed to America. Consequently, I only selected the listings of those men specifically noted as dying in Providence.

Most of the soldiers died in September (twelve) and October (six) of 1780. The registers do not indicate any cause of death, but many probably died of yellow fever, as there were periodic summer epidemics of yellow fever in the area south of Providence (near Fox Point, a short distance south of University Hall).

These soldiers include:

Jean-Baptiste Beginert of Captain De Rumigny’s Company of the Auxonne Regiment. Born at Saint-Jean in Lorraine in 1756, he enlisted on March 27, 1775 and died at the Providence hospital on May 29, 1781.

Pierre François Chapelain of Captain Olivier D’Hemery Cannoneer Company of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at St. Vit in 1760, the son of Jean Chapelain and Denise Jauguin. He was 5 feet, 6 inches tall, had short hair, an oval face marked with little spots, a raised chin and his nose was raised a little. He enlisted on April 20, 1779 and died at the Providence hospital on September 11, 1780.

François Chartillon of Captain Josserand’s Cannoneer Company of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at Montarlot in 1751, the son of Nicolas Chartillon and Jeanne Guillemin. He was 5 feet 5 and 9/16 inches tall, had black hair and eyebrows, blue eyes, a long nose, small mouth, tight chin and a thin face lightly scarred by smallpox. He enlisted on May 22, 1775 for eight years and died at the Providence hospital on October 28, 1780.

François Clavier, a member of Captain de Neurisse’s Cannoneer Company of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at Seiovo in Dauphine or Grenoble in 1738. He was the son of François and Catherine Clavier. He was 5 feet six inches tall, had dark brown hair and eyebrows, a large face, grey eyes, pointed nose, round chin, and a growth of skin near his eyebrows. He enlisted on March 29, 1769, re-enlisted in 1778, and died at the Providence hospital on November 7, 1780.

Vincent Marrais, a member of Captain Bonnay de la Rouvrelle’s Company of Bombardiers of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at Besamonan in 1747, the son of Philippe Marrais and Anne Charpiol. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had chestnut hair and eyebrows, brown eyes, a round chin, and his face was scarred by smallpox. He enlisted on September 1, 1779 and died at the Providence hospital on July 25, 1780.

Vincent Marraix, a member of Captain Bonnay de la Rouvrelle’s Company of bombardiers of the Auxonne Regiment. The son of Philippe Marraix and Anne Charpiol, he was born in Besançon in 1754. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had chestnut hair and eyebrows, and brown eyes. His face was a bit long and badly scarred by smallpox and he had a scar under his right eyebrow. He enlisted on October 8, 1779 and died at the Providence hospital on September 26, 1780. (He could be the same person as the preceding one but the birth, enlistment and death dates differ. He could have been a brother or other relative with a different name that was not properly recorded.]

Geste Meginest, a member of the Despinassy Cannoneer Company of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at St. Jean in Lorraine in 1736, the son of Pierre Meginest and Marie Jeanne Perron. He was 5 and one-half feet tall, had light blond hair, blue eyes, a big mouth, round chin, round face and was full of himself. He enlisted on August 8, 1775 and died at the Providence hospital on May 29, 1781.

Antoine Monnet, a member of the de Saziel Company of Bombardiers of the Auxonne Regiment. He was born at Artigue in 1747, the son of Claude Monnet and Antoinette Jeanne Palore. He was 5 feet 6 and one-half inches tall, had chestnut-brown hair, grey eyes, a large nose, a large mouth, small face and round chin. He enlisted on April 15, 1777, reenlisted on May 30, 1779 and April 15, 1780. He died at the Providence hospital on September 6, 1780.

Joseph Boilard (also known as Batude) of Captain de Cazals’s Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment, was born at Piederan in Brittany in 1761. He was the son of Jean Boilard and Jaquemine Guillot. He was 5 feet 3 3/16 inches tall, had a brown face scarred by smallpox, a round chin, large mouth, large short nose, narrow blue eyes, reddish hair and eyebrows. He was eighteen years old when he enlisted on September 18, 1779. He died in Providence on September 13, 1780.

Claude Boirard (also known as Albert) of the du Plessis Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was born at Moyenvic in the Saronne (Lorraine) in 1759. He was the son of Claude Boirard and Jeanne Vincenne. He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, had a long face, short nose and sky-blue eyes. He was eighteen years old when he enlisted on October 17, 1777 and died at the Providence hospital on October 26, 1780.

Jean Chenu (also known as Ajax) of the du Plessis Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was born at Toulouse in 1759, the son of François and Catherine Listol of Contonde in La Dorade. He was 5 feet 2 9/16 inches tall, had a long tanned face, long chin, large mouth and aquiline nose. He had grey eyes and chestnut hair and eyebrows. He enlisted at the age of 19 on November 24, 1776. He died at the Providence hospital on August 10, 1780.

Gabriel Despas (also known as Abagao)of the de Losse Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He wasborn at Lauraët [Guienne] in 1751. He enlisted on February 25, 1778 and died at Providence on September 13, 1780.

Joseph Gentil of the du Plessis Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was born at Toulouse in 1756. He was the son of Luc Gentil and Jeanne Lucnargue. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had a long face, blue eyes and a pointed nose. He enlisted at the age of seventeen on August 21, 1773. He died at the Providence hospital on September 26, 1780.

Pierre Genty (aka Graccure) of Captain Cazals’s Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was born at Bussan in Lorraine in 1763, the son of Genjaux Genty and Marie Caterine Bebolier. He was 5 feet tall, had a large face scarred by smallpox, a big mouth, flat nose, blue eyes and blond hair and eyebrows. He was sixteen years old when he enlisted on January 1, 1779 and died at Providence on September 20, 1780.

Jean Louis Malle (also known as Arnould) of the du Plessis Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was the son of Jean Arnould and Marie May Elaine Debaet, He was born at Lihons-Santerre in Picardy in 1756. He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, had a long face, a long pointed nose, gray eyes, blond hair and eyebrows. He was twenty-two years old when he enlisted on May 16, 1778. He died at the Providence hospital on October 21, 1780.

André Saget (also known as Sophocle) of Captain Cazals’s Company of the Bourbonnais Regiment. He was born at Villaneuve-Megrignu in Champagne in 1758, the son of Teroire Sophocle and Ann Marie Ragnier. He was 5 feet 6 1/8 inches tall. He had an oval face scarred by smallpox, a small mouth, short nose and gray eyes. He enlisted on October 23, 1778 at the age of 20 and died at Providence on October 7, 1780.

François Bonnot of Captain La Corbière’s Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at Caro in Brittany in 1748, the son of the late François Bonnot and the late Jeanne Dubois. He was 5 feet 2 1/8 inches tall, had black hair and eyebrows, blue eyes, a long covered forehead scarred by smallpox and a long nose. He was thirty years old when he enlisted on May 19, 1778. He died at Providence on September 9, 1780.

Claude Chartier of Captain De Boisbras Bedée’s Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at Sées in Alençon, Normandy in 1760, the son of Jean Chartier and Anne Buisson. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had blue eyes, a pointed nose and large nostrils. He had a finely chiseled mouth and his thin face was scarred by smallpox. He enlisted at the age of seventeen on October 2, 1777. He died at Providence on October 6, 1781.

Sébastien Guétard (aka Guétard) of the Chasseurs Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at La Bâtie Montgascon in Dauphine in 1756. He was the son of Jaques Guétard and Claudine Lallain. He was 5 feet 3 inches tall, had brown hair and eyebrows, reddish eyes, an aquiline nose and a full round face, scarred by smallpox. He had a small brown birthmark on the edge of his right cheek. He was twenty-three years old when he enlisted on May 1, 1779. He died at Providence on July 10, 1780.

Claude Le Comte (also known as Le Comte) of Captain de Brie’s Chasseurs Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at Signelet in Burgundy in 1757. He was the son of the late Marieanne Midau. He was 5 feet 2 9/16 inches tall, had chestnut hair and eyebrows, dark gray eyes, a large nose, a large mouth and a scruffy beard. He was well-built and badly scarred by smallpox. He enlisted on February 12, 1775 at the age of eighteen. He died at Providence on September 9 or 19, 1780.

Jean Martin (also known as Lagny) of Captain de Recusson’s Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at Nantes in Brittany in 1719, the son of Pierre Martin and Marie Levêque. He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, had brown hair, a thin face, russet eyes, a short nose, freckles and two birthmarks on his right cheek. He was thirty-six years old when he enlisted on September 25, 1755. He died at Providence on August 23, 1780 at the age of sixty-one.

Jean Claude Picaud (also known as Picaut) of Captain Le Febvre de la Faluère’s Company of the Saintonge Regiment. He was born at Saint-Lamain, Jura de Soligny in Franche Comté in 1742. He was the son of the late Claude Picaud and Marie Cardex. He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, had light chestnut hair and eyebrows, a large nose on the right, an oval face and a large scar at the right eyebrow. He enlisted on November 10, 1769 at the age of twenty seven. He died at Providence on October 11, 1780.

Georges Antonnau (also known as St. Georges) of the Rotulier Chef de Marin Company of the Soissonnais Regiment. He was born at Derbamont in the Duchy of Lorraine in 1759. He was the son of the late Jean Antonnau and Jeanne Galitin. He was 5 feet 3 ¼ inches tall, had light chestnut hair and eyebrows, gray eyes, a round tanned face, aquiline nose, average mouth and a scar. He was seventeen and one-half years old when he enlisted on April 11, 1776. He died at the Providence hospital on October 12, 1780.

Pierre Dufour of Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company, Soissonnais Regiment. He was born in the hamlet of Raphy in Picardy in 1748. He was the son of the late Pierre Dufour and the late Elizabeth Flahant. He was 5 feet 3/16 inches tall, had chestnut hair and eyebrows, gray eyes, a long face, badly scarred by smallpox, a flat nose pointed at the tip and smallpox scars on the left cheek. He enlisted at the age of twenty-seven on November 7, 1775 and died at Providence on March 9, 1781.

François Gogue (also known as Vaton Drummer) of Captain de Bien de Chevigny’s Company, Soissonnais Regiment. He was born at Souillance, Dauphine in the district of Crest in 1767, the son of the late Matthew Gogue and the late Catherine Quarme. He was one of the “enfants de troupe,” a son of a soldier or officer. Enfants de troupe were usually admitted at half pay at the age of six and served as drummers until the age of sixteen, when they could enlist as regular soldiers. He was 5 feet 2 3/16 inches tall. He enlisted on August 13, 1777 and died at the Providence hospital on November 5, 1780, at the age of thirteen.

André Jolas of Bedée’s Company of the Soissonnais Regiment. He was born in 1745 at Avanche-de-Brey in Lorraine. He enlisted on April 24, 1769 and died at Providence on September 18, 1780.

Jean Nouvel of Captain de la Corbière’s Company of the Soissonnais Regiment. He was born at Marcey in Normandy in 1757. He enlisted on May 15, 1779 and died at Providence on March 1, 1782.

Nicolas Roye of Bedée’s Company of the Soissonnais Regiment. He was born at Francières near Abbéville in 1756. He enlisted on March 1, 1778 and died at Providence on August 23, 1780.

The reenactment Régiment Bourbonnais and the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment will muster at the North Burial Ground at 9:30 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2015, to honor these soldiers. They will also pay tribute to the officers of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment (Colonel Israel Angel and Colonel Jeremiah Olney) and other soldiers of the regiment who are buried there. They will also honor Stephen Hopkins, one of Rhode Island’s two signers of the Declaration of Independence and many times governor of the colony.

 

[Banner image:  Soldiers of a reenactment unit (the Regiment Bouronnais), in front of a statue of General Rochambeau, attend a wreath-laying and dedication to the French Army and Navy at King’s Park, Newport, on July 9, 2015.]

 

Notes

[1] Stone, Edwin Martin. Our French allies.: Rochambeau and his army, Lafayette and his devotion, D’Estaing, De Ternay, Barras, De Grasse, and their fleets, in the great war of the American revolution, from 1778 to 1782, including military operations in Rhode Island, the surrender of Yorktown, sketches of French and American officers, and incidents of social life in Newport, Providence, and elsewhere … Providence: Printed by the Providence press Company, 1884 [1883] pp. 524-525. [1] Stone, Edwin Martin. Our French allies.: Rochambeau and his army, Lafayette and his devotion, D’Estaing, De Ternay, Barras, De Grasse, and their fleets, in the great war of the American revolution, from 1778 to 1782, including military operations in Rhode Island, the surrender of Yorktown, sketches of French and American officers, and incidents of social life in Newport, Providence, and elsewhere … Providence: Printed by the Providence press Company, 1884 [1883] pp. 524-525.

[2] The contrôles of the Auxonne Artillery are listed as 10 Yc 1 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. 80, 93, 18, 60,149, 154. The Bourbonnais contrôles are catalogued under 1 Yc 188 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. 117, 124, 256, 15, 254, 100, 113, 253. The Saintonge contrôles are 1 Yc 932 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. 472, 268, 214, 462,452, 399, 419. The Soissonnais contrôles have the number 1 Yc 966 (1776-1783 and 4 February 1784 to 1786). Pp. 134, 72. 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).

France. Ministère des affaires étrangères. Les combattants français de la guerre américaine, 1778-1783.: Listes éstablies d’après les documents authentiques déposés aux Archives nationales et aux Archives du Ministère de la guerre. Publiées par les soins du Ministère des affaires étrangères. U.S. 58th Cong., 2d sess. Senate Doc.77. Washington, D.C.: Imprimerie Nationale, 1905 First ed., Paris, 1903.

[3] Stone, Edwin Martin. The Life and Recollections of John Howland: Late President of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Providence: G.H. Whitney, 1857. Pp. 104-105.