Pierre Belly
Encyclopedia
Pierre Belly was a Louisiana
planter, lawyer and judge. Originally a native of France
, Belly arrived in Louisiana in 1774. Pierre had an extensive and successful military career serving as an officer with the Spanish colonial militia and participated in the Galvez expedition against the British in 1779. Pierre retired from the militia in 1792, but returned to duty in 1814 joining a company of men from Iberville
in the defense of New Orleans during the War of 1812
. The 8th Regiment under the command of Colonel Nathan Meriam was responsible for digging and improving the second line of defense of New Orleans.
, a small village near Blaye
, north of Bordeaux. He was the son of Jean Belly, a textile merchant, who was the son of Jean Belly and Renee Billoneau, and Valerie Goyer de la Rochette, a daughter of Pierre Goyer de la Rochette and Francoise Videau. Valerie's father, Pierre Goyer de la Rochette, was a royal engineer who also resided in Eyrans.
Pierre's father founded a textile firm in 1729 in partnership with Pierre de Saint Aigan. Jean, the eldest son, later inherited the family estate. Upon Jean's death in 1753, Valerie and their four minor children, Etienne, Pierre, Jean-Baptiste and Marguerite were left with many debts. Valerie, after many court appearances, received the family estate of Mornon and renounced all claim to the textile business.
Pierre (aka Peter) and Pedro, received several large Spanish land grants, the first being 3,756 acres in the then Iberville
District, the Baltimore Tract. This land grant lies in what is now known as the White Castle area and encompasses parts of White Castle and Texas plantations.
Though primarily a planter, he also supplied lumber to the Spanish colonial government. In 1786, Pierre and business partner Nicholas de Verbois agreed to supply masts and spars to the King of Spain. Later in life Pierre was among the first officials appointed for Iberville Parish
and served as a civil judge from 1805 to 1807.
In August 1779, Pierre received a shipment of 30 slaves from Jamaica
, including Marie Rose (1768 - August 14, 1828), whom he grew to love and with whom he had 6 daughters, Rosalie (b 1785), Marie Marguerite Antoinette (b 1786), Marie Genevieve (b 1788), Marie Francoise Manette (b 1799), Valerie Octavine (b 1802), Heloise Marguerite (b 1808). Pierre freed Rose and left her and her children the disposable portion of his estate. They were unable to marry because the law forbade marriage between blacks and whites.
, also in Iberville Parish, built in 1860 by Pierre Cyprien Ricard, their grandson, and lying some miles upriver from their original home. The tomb can still be seen today (2010), a bit battered, but nonetheless impressive. Pierre and Rose's love story is famous in the countryside there.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
planter, lawyer and judge. Originally a native of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belly arrived in Louisiana in 1774. Pierre had an extensive and successful military career serving as an officer with the Spanish colonial militia and participated in the Galvez expedition against the British in 1779. Pierre retired from the militia in 1792, but returned to duty in 1814 joining a company of men from Iberville
Iberville Parish, Louisiana
Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Plaquemine. The 2010 population of the parish was 33,387....
in the defense of New Orleans during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The 8th Regiment under the command of Colonel Nathan Meriam was responsible for digging and improving the second line of defense of New Orleans.
Early life and career
Belly was born 17 August 1738 at Mormon, France (now Maurenon) on his family's estate in EyransEyrans
Eyrans is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.-Population:...
, a small village near Blaye
Blaye
Blaye is a commune and subprefecture in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:Its inhabitants are called Blayais or the Blayaises.-Geography:...
, north of Bordeaux. He was the son of Jean Belly, a textile merchant, who was the son of Jean Belly and Renee Billoneau, and Valerie Goyer de la Rochette, a daughter of Pierre Goyer de la Rochette and Francoise Videau. Valerie's father, Pierre Goyer de la Rochette, was a royal engineer who also resided in Eyrans.
Pierre's father founded a textile firm in 1729 in partnership with Pierre de Saint Aigan. Jean, the eldest son, later inherited the family estate. Upon Jean's death in 1753, Valerie and their four minor children, Etienne, Pierre, Jean-Baptiste and Marguerite were left with many debts. Valerie, after many court appearances, received the family estate of Mornon and renounced all claim to the textile business.
Pierre (aka Peter) and Pedro, received several large Spanish land grants, the first being 3,756 acres in the then Iberville
Iberville
-Electoral districts in Canada:* Iberville * Iberville * Iberville , federal electoral district* Saint-Jean—Iberville—Napierville, federal electoral district...
District, the Baltimore Tract. This land grant lies in what is now known as the White Castle area and encompasses parts of White Castle and Texas plantations.
Though primarily a planter, he also supplied lumber to the Spanish colonial government. In 1786, Pierre and business partner Nicholas de Verbois agreed to supply masts and spars to the King of Spain. Later in life Pierre was among the first officials appointed for Iberville Parish
Iberville Parish, Louisiana
Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Plaquemine. The 2010 population of the parish was 33,387....
and served as a civil judge from 1805 to 1807.
In August 1779, Pierre received a shipment of 30 slaves from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, including Marie Rose (1768 - August 14, 1828), whom he grew to love and with whom he had 6 daughters, Rosalie (b 1785), Marie Marguerite Antoinette (b 1786), Marie Genevieve (b 1788), Marie Francoise Manette (b 1799), Valerie Octavine (b 1802), Heloise Marguerite (b 1808). Pierre freed Rose and left her and her children the disposable portion of his estate. They were unable to marry because the law forbade marriage between blacks and whites.
Death & Legacy
At the time of Pierre’s death in 1814 his extensive holdings were in excess of 5,500 acres (five individual plantations were included). Pierre and Rose were buried on their plantation. The remains were later removed to a large family tomb in the St. Raphael Cemetery at Point PleasantPoint Pleasant
- Places :In Canada* Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova ScotiaIn England* Point Pleasant , Tyne and WearIn the United States* Point Pleasant Township, Warren County, Illinois* Point Pleasant, Indiana* Point Pleasant, New Jersey...
, also in Iberville Parish, built in 1860 by Pierre Cyprien Ricard, their grandson, and lying some miles upriver from their original home. The tomb can still be seen today (2010), a bit battered, but nonetheless impressive. Pierre and Rose's love story is famous in the countryside there.