Jean Ferdinand Rozier
Encyclopedia
Jean Ferdinand Rozier was born in Nantes, France to Francois Claude Rozier (born: November 20, 1739 in Orleans, France - died: September 6, 1806 in Nantes, France) and Renee Angelique Colas (born: July 17, 1745 - died: February 9, 1824). In 1802 he served in the French Navy. Jean Ferdinand immigrated from France to New York in 1806, eventually settling in the village of Ste. Genevieve
in the Louisiana Territory
(later to become the Missouri Territory
). He married Constance Pelagie Roy, the daughter of Andre Roy and Constance Barbeauon, on August 19, 1813 in Ste. Genevieve, MO. She was born October 8, 1795 in Prairie du Rocher, IL, and died August 24, 1878 in Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Rozier became business partners with John James Audubon
in France before they came to America in Partnership. Their partnership continued at Audubon's father's property in Pennsylvania, to Louisville and Henderson, Kentucky and to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Audubon eventually sold his portion of the business to Rozier April 6, 1811 to continue his studies and art interests.
The business partnership between Audubon and Ferdinand Rozier was moved west at various stages, ending ultimately in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, the first European settlement west of the Mississippi River. Shipping goods ahead, Audubon and Rozier started a general store in Louisville, Kentucky; on the Ohio River, it was the most important port between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Soon he was drawing bird specimens again. He regularly burned earlier efforts to force continuous improvement. He also took detailed field notes to document his drawings. Because rising tensions with the British resulted in President Jefferson's embargo of British trade, Audubon's business was not thriving.
TRANSLATION OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF JOHN AUDUBON AND FERDINAND ROZIER; NANTES, FRANCE, MARCH 23, 1806
We, the undersigned, Ferdinand Rozier and John Audubon, who are intending to go to the United States, are agreed to form a partnership in business upon the following conditions:
Article First.
The partnership shall be administered under the joint names of Ferdinand Rozier and John Audubon, and each of us will have the power of signature for all matters of our business only.
Art. 2.
Upon arrival we will take possession of the farm of Mill Grove, and we call to account Mr. Decosta, who has the power of attorney of Mr. Audubon, Senior. We shall take measures to improve the establishment, or make an investigation of the lead mine discovered, and before continuing the work already begun we will ascertain whether the expenditures made by Sr. Decosta have been, and can still be, advantageous to us. Finally, we shall prepare or attempt to prepare estimates of the expenses, or the products which accrue from these, and we shall undertake nothing upon which we are not both perfectly agreed in principle; consequently we shall both subscribe to the project which we shall decide upon, in order neither of [us] may depart from it, and it shall be the same for all new expenses which might alter the plans that are reached.
Art. 3.
It is agreed that half the product of this plantation shall be divided between us on a one half basis, and in order to recognize this [profit], as well as the loss, we shall keep a special book for the purpose; on one side shall be entered the items of expense, day by day, and at the moment this is done on the other side [shall also be given] the sales and products of the farms, and all that can result from this business, in such a way that the profit shall always be apparent by the additions of the items which compose the debit and the credit.
Art. 4.
The house above mentioned [Mill Grove farmhouse] shall be an object separate from all business, in order that we may control this property as long as we desire. It is agreed that we shall add to the expenses of this exploration those necessary for life, and others of a common character, so long as it shall suit us to live and dwell together.
Art. 5.
We cannot be prevented from engaging in any other kind of business, but before undertaking it we shall remain six months in order to gather from the country of a kind that would be advanteous to us; we shall then apply ourselves to some commercial occupation, whether inland or maritime.
Art 6.
We are both at liberty to make any journey in order to procure information for our use, and should it happen that we persuade any merchants to send goods to Mr. Rozier, Senior, we would establish the condition that the benefit which might result from these consignments would be divided between us and Mr. F Rozier, Senior.
Art. 7.
All the benefits as well as the losses resulting from our commercial transactions shall be divided equally between the partners.
Art. 8.
The expenses of the journey and others of a common nature shall make the first item of our social expenses.
Art 9.
We both resolve to maintain friendship and mutual understanding, and we agree very expressly that, upon the least difficulty we shall select one arbitrator, who will be authorized to choose a third, and we promise upon our honor to fully accept the decision that shall be reached, without ever having it in our power to make an appeal from it before any courts.
Art. 10.
In case of the death of one or the other (which God forbid), the survivor shall have full charge of making a settlement, in order to give an accounting to those entitled to it by law, that is to say to the heirs of the deceased, but the partnership cannot be dissolved until after nine years, counting from the day of the date of this [instrument]. Only in this event, the survivor shall be allowed a commission upon the products of the establishment fixed at ten percent .
Done in duplicate and in good
faith between us.
Nantes, this 23 March 1806.
(signed) J o h n A u d u b o n
(signed) F e r d i n a n d R o z i e r
(Source: Gabouri, Rozier)
The partnership was dissolved April 6, 1811, Ferdinand agreeing to pay Audubon $3,000 (equivalent to @ $120,000 in 2010 dollars) by the payment of $1,000 cash and the balance being owed to Audubon over time. The terms of the dissolution of the partnership include those by Audubon:
I John Audubon, having this day mutual consent with Ferdinand Rozier, dissolved and forever closed the partnership and firm of Audubon and Rozier, and having Received from said Ferdinand Rozier payment and notes to the full amount of my part of the goods and debts of the late firm of Audubon and Rozier, I the said John Audubon one of the firm aforesaid do hereby release and forever quit claim to all and any interest which I have or may have in the stock on hand and debts due to the late firm of Audubon and Rozier assign, transfer and set over to said Ferdinand Rozier, all my rights, titles, claims and interest in the goods, merchandise and debts due to the late firm of Audubon and Rozier, and do hereby authorize and empower him for my part, to collect the same in any manner what ever either privately or by suit or suits in law or equity hereby declaring him sole and absolute proprietor and rightful owner of all goods, merchandise and debts of this firm aforesaid, as completely as they were the goods and property of the late firm Audubon and Rozier.
In witness thereof I have set my hand and seal this Sixth day of April 1811
[seal]
John Audubon
Ed D. DeVillamonte
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...
in the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana Territory
The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805 until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed to Missouri Territory...
(later to become the Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
). He married Constance Pelagie Roy, the daughter of Andre Roy and Constance Barbeauon, on August 19, 1813 in Ste. Genevieve, MO. She was born October 8, 1795 in Prairie du Rocher, IL, and died August 24, 1878 in Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Rozier became business partners with John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
in France before they came to America in Partnership. Their partnership continued at Audubon's father's property in Pennsylvania, to Louisville and Henderson, Kentucky and to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Audubon eventually sold his portion of the business to Rozier April 6, 1811 to continue his studies and art interests.
The business partnership between Audubon and Ferdinand Rozier was moved west at various stages, ending ultimately in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, the first European settlement west of the Mississippi River. Shipping goods ahead, Audubon and Rozier started a general store in Louisville, Kentucky; on the Ohio River, it was the most important port between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Soon he was drawing bird specimens again. He regularly burned earlier efforts to force continuous improvement. He also took detailed field notes to document his drawings. Because rising tensions with the British resulted in President Jefferson's embargo of British trade, Audubon's business was not thriving.
TRANSLATION OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF JOHN AUDUBON AND FERDINAND ROZIER; NANTES, FRANCE, MARCH 23, 1806
We, the undersigned, Ferdinand Rozier and John Audubon, who are intending to go to the United States, are agreed to form a partnership in business upon the following conditions:
Article First.
The partnership shall be administered under the joint names of Ferdinand Rozier and John Audubon, and each of us will have the power of signature for all matters of our business only.
Art. 2.
Upon arrival we will take possession of the farm of Mill Grove, and we call to account Mr. Decosta, who has the power of attorney of Mr. Audubon, Senior. We shall take measures to improve the establishment, or make an investigation of the lead mine discovered, and before continuing the work already begun we will ascertain whether the expenditures made by Sr. Decosta have been, and can still be, advantageous to us. Finally, we shall prepare or attempt to prepare estimates of the expenses, or the products which accrue from these, and we shall undertake nothing upon which we are not both perfectly agreed in principle; consequently we shall both subscribe to the project which we shall decide upon, in order neither of [us] may depart from it, and it shall be the same for all new expenses which might alter the plans that are reached.
Art. 3.
It is agreed that half the product of this plantation shall be divided between us on a one half basis, and in order to recognize this [profit], as well as the loss, we shall keep a special book for the purpose; on one side shall be entered the items of expense, day by day, and at the moment this is done on the other side [shall also be given] the sales and products of the farms, and all that can result from this business, in such a way that the profit shall always be apparent by the additions of the items which compose the debit and the credit.
Art. 4.
The house above mentioned [Mill Grove farmhouse] shall be an object separate from all business, in order that we may control this property as long as we desire. It is agreed that we shall add to the expenses of this exploration those necessary for life, and others of a common character, so long as it shall suit us to live and dwell together.
Art. 5.
We cannot be prevented from engaging in any other kind of business, but before undertaking it we shall remain six months in order to gather from the country of a kind that would be advanteous to us; we shall then apply ourselves to some commercial occupation, whether inland or maritime.
Art 6.
We are both at liberty to make any journey in order to procure information for our use, and should it happen that we persuade any merchants to send goods to Mr. Rozier, Senior, we would establish the condition that the benefit which might result from these consignments would be divided between us and Mr. F Rozier, Senior.
Art. 7.
All the benefits as well as the losses resulting from our commercial transactions shall be divided equally between the partners.
Art. 8.
The expenses of the journey and others of a common nature shall make the first item of our social expenses.
Art 9.
We both resolve to maintain friendship and mutual understanding, and we agree very expressly that, upon the least difficulty we shall select one arbitrator, who will be authorized to choose a third, and we promise upon our honor to fully accept the decision that shall be reached, without ever having it in our power to make an appeal from it before any courts.
Art. 10.
In case of the death of one or the other (which God forbid), the survivor shall have full charge of making a settlement, in order to give an accounting to those entitled to it by law, that is to say to the heirs of the deceased, but the partnership cannot be dissolved until after nine years, counting from the day of the date of this [instrument]. Only in this event, the survivor shall be allowed a commission upon the products of the establishment fixed at ten percent .
Done in duplicate and in good
faith between us.
Nantes, this 23 March 1806.
(signed) J o h n A u d u b o n
(signed) F e r d i n a n d R o z i e r
(Source: Gabouri, Rozier)
The partnership was dissolved April 6, 1811, Ferdinand agreeing to pay Audubon $3,000 (equivalent to @ $120,000 in 2010 dollars) by the payment of $1,000 cash and the balance being owed to Audubon over time. The terms of the dissolution of the partnership include those by Audubon:
I John Audubon, having this day mutual consent with Ferdinand Rozier, dissolved and forever closed the partnership and firm of Audubon and Rozier, and having Received from said Ferdinand Rozier payment and notes to the full amount of my part of the goods and debts of the late firm of Audubon and Rozier, I the said John Audubon one of the firm aforesaid do hereby release and forever quit claim to all and any interest which I have or may have in the stock on hand and debts due to the late firm of Audubon and Rozier assign, transfer and set over to said Ferdinand Rozier, all my rights, titles, claims and interest in the goods, merchandise and debts due to the late firm of Audubon and Rozier, and do hereby authorize and empower him for my part, to collect the same in any manner what ever either privately or by suit or suits in law or equity hereby declaring him sole and absolute proprietor and rightful owner of all goods, merchandise and debts of this firm aforesaid, as completely as they were the goods and property of the late firm Audubon and Rozier.
In witness thereof I have set my hand and seal this Sixth day of April 1811
[seal]
John Audubon
Ed D. DeVillamonte
Children of Jean Rozier and Constance Roy
- Ferdinand Roy Rozier, born June 4, 1814 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died May 30, 1880. Spouse: Harriet Gillaspy Brady July 14, 1836; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Francis Claude Rozier, born February 1, 1816 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died May 8, 1879 in Ste. Genevieve, Ste. Genevieve Co., MO.
- Joseph Adolphe Rozier, born December 31, 1817 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died December 20, 1896. Spouse: Marie Clotilde Pelagie Valle October 17, 1846; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Firmin Andrew Rozier, born July 31, 1820 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died February 11, 1897. Spouse: Mary Marguerite Valle January 22, 1850; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Felix Rozier, born August 2, 1822 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died June 10, 1908. He married Marie Louise Valle February 23, 1845; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Mary Lucille Rozier, born September 5, 1824 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died April 24, 1907. Spouse: Charles Sebastian Hertich November 5, 1847; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Jules Rene Rozier, born November 7, 1826 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died October 24, 1915 in St. Marys, MO.
- Felicite Louise Rozier, born September 6, 1828 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died January 31, 1913. Spouse: Frederick Christian Flamm November 26, 1841; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Charles Constant Rozier, born September 1, 1830 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died January 24, 1897. Spouse: Marie Emelie La Grave November 16, 1857; born Unknown; died Unknown.
- Amable Edward Rozier, born April 7, 1833 in Ste. Genevieve, MO; died October 16, 1858. Spouse: Lavinia Mary Skewes October 5, 1854; born December 17, 1840; died September 17, 1903.