Marie Olive Landry Boudreaux 

My Fifth Great-Grandmother

3 July 1766 to 12 May 1836 

Daughter of Anselme Landry and Agate Barriot 

Husband: Paul-Dominique Boudreaux 

Mother of Paul Marie (1784), Joseph Marie (1786), Charles Romain (1787-1857), Mathurin (1789), Marie Francoise (1792), Florentin Janvier(1795), Zacherie (1799), Jean Pierre (1801), Anselme (1805), Celeste (1808), Paul (1811) 

When Marie Olive wanted to send a letter to friends and family she hoped to stay in touch with, she may have asked her husband, Paul-Dominque Boudreaux, to write the letters for her. He could sign his name on sacramental records so it is probable that he could write. If he could not write, she may have asked a priest or a notary to write for her and paid a small fee for the service. A letter may have been sent by ship across the ocean to a cousin who lived in France, or it may have been delivered by pirogue to her best friend who lived across the bayou in Louisiana. Let us peek at a few of the letters Marie Olive may have dictated to her husband. 

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July 2022 

Dear Descendant, 

I celebrated my 256th birthday on July 3. How can that be? you say. I was born 3 July 1766 to Agate Barriot and Anselme Landry. My godparents were Olivier Barillot and Osithe Landry.^[1]Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., The Acadian Exiles in Saint-Malo 1758-1785  (Eunice, Louisiana, Hebert Publications), 2: 522. Now you know why I was named Marie Olive. I was named after my godfather. My godfather was a seaman in Saint-Malo.^[2]Rieder, Milton P., The Acadians in France, 1762-1776: Rolls of the Acadians Living in France Distributed by Towns for the Years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967), p. … Continue reading  

We were living in Pleudihen, near Saint-Malo, France. Pleudihen is on the river Rance. Mama and Papa had a hard life. They were Acadians from Nova Scotia who had been deported during the “Great Upheaval.” Many Acadians described the deportations from Nova Scotia and Ile Saint Jean (the British renamed it Prince Edward Island) as the Great Upheaval or Grande Derangement due to the magnitude of the dispersal of Acadians to American colonies, England and France. So many of their family and friends died between 1755 and 1763. Mama had been married before she married Papa and she had four children, but they and her first husband did not survive the deportation.^[3]Agathe Barrieau (abt. 1731 – aft. 1785) WikiTree.com (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Barrieau-59 : viewed 6 July 2022). Such a sad time for her.  

Mama and Papa met in France and married around 1765. All throughout my childhood I heard about the beauty of l’Acadie and how life was better there, but I was never to see that land. My future was in Louisiana, not l’Acadie where my parents were born nor in France where I was born.  

My dear descendant, may God bless you and keep you safe. 

With love and affection, your many times great-grandmother, 

Marie Olive Landry Boudreaux 

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No Date 

Dear Cousin, 

It has been many years since we played in the seaside town of Pleudihen near Saint-Malo where you and I were born. I loved the salty air from the sea. Remember how we would run up and down the ramparts of Saint-Malo with your brothers and sisters? Oh, how we would complain about having to watch my little brother or wish we didn’t have to take my sister, Charlotte Blanche, with us because we were five years older than she and thought she was a nuisance.^[4]Rieder, Milton P, The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967) p. 74. How I regretted those feelings when Joseph Charles died at three years old in 1773.^[5]Rieder, Milton P, The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967), p. 74; digital … Continue reading Poor little Charlotte Blanche died in 1780 when she was nine years old.^[6]Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., The Acadian Exiles in Nantes, 1775-1785 (Harvey, Louisiana, Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., 1978), p. 102. That was after we moved to Chantenay. Though I had you and my other cousins, I was lonely without them. 

Do you recall when a man came around to all the Acadian families in 1772 to ask our parents how they were making a living and who was living with them? I think he was taking a census for the king. I was six years old then. Papa was a seaman and Mama was a dressmaker.^[7]Rieder, Milton P, The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967), p. 74; digital … Continue reading I think your papa was a carpenter and your mother sewed. We were living in Saint-Malo at that time 

How about the time we moved to Chantenay? That was the small port town outside of Nantes with the steep streets. Many of our families moved there after the awful time in Châtellerault. Our families were supposed to be farmers in Châtellerault, but the land was terrible. I was nine years old when we joined the third convoy to Chantenay.^[8]Rieder, Milton P, The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967), archive.org … Continue reading  I later married Paul-Dominque Boudreaux.^[9]Chantenay – Saint-Martin – BMS – 1783, Archives départementales de Loire-Atlantique, digital image 32 of 101, M 27 Paul Dominque Boudrau Marie Olive Landry … Continue reading His parents were also Acadians. How I wish you could have been at our wedding. Paul-Dominque was as on the first convoy to Chantenay with his family. They left in October 1775 while we left in December.^[10]Rieder, Milton P, The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the years 1762 to 1776 (Metaire, Louisiana, 1967), archive.org … Continue reading Do you know which convoy your family was on? There were three or four groups of families that left. 

I miss you dear cousin. Please write to me and let me know how you and your family are doing. 

With love and longing, 

Marie Olive Landry Boudreaux 

Thibodaux, Louisiana 

^{Ramparts of Saint-Malo. Original photographs taken 27 May 2019 and held privately by Sindi Broussard Terrien.}

^{Châtellerault farmland and tools used by Acadians. Original photographs taken 20 May 2019 and held privately by Sindi Broussard Terrien.}

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10 January 1786 

St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Louisiana 

Dear Most Reverend Father, 

With the birth of our second child, Joseph Marie Boudreaux, my husband and I would like to arrange for his baptism. He was born a week ago and I understand that you will be in the area in April of this year. 

My name is Marie Olive Landry, and my husband is Paul-Dominique Boudrot. We were married at Saint-Martin Catholic Church in Chantenay, France 6 May 1783.^[11]Chantenay – Saint-Martin – BMS – 1783, Archives départementales de Loire-Atlantique, digital image 32 of 101, M 27 Paul Dominque Boudrau Marie Olive Landry … Continue reading Though I was 16 years old, and Paul was 21, we had our parents’ blessing.  

Our first child, Paul Marie, was born in Chantenay and baptized at Saint-Martin 5 May 1785.^[12]Chantenay-Saint Martin-BMS-1784, Archives départementales de Loire-Atlantique, digital image 36 of 98, Bapt 101 Paul Marie Boudrau … Continue reading 

We arrived in Louisiana from France six months ago, so I am not familiar with your customs. Please give us any instructions you require of us beforehand. 

Your obedient servant, 

Marie Olive Landry 

Manchac, Louisiana 

^{Saint-Martin in Chantenay. Photo taken by Sindi Broussard Terrien 24 May 2019.}

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1795 

Dear Cousin, 

So much has happened in the ten years since we left Nantes in May of 1785. From Nantes, Paul-Dominique, our son, Paul Marie and I, traveled to Paimboeuf to board the frigate Le Bon Papa with my parents.^[13]Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., The Acadian Exiles in Nantes, 1775-1785 (Harvey, Louisiana, Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., 1978), pgs. 25-26. We were on the first of seven ships that went to Louisiana. It took eighty-one days for us to cross the Atlantic Ocean. We were so blessed not to have encountered any storms at sea. I was so sorry to learn that the King of France did not allow more Acadians to join us in Louisiana when the King of Spain offered us the opportunity to populate Louisiana. Spain and Louisiana have been good to us. I pray that this letter finds you well and prospering in France.  How I wish you would have been able to board the last ship that sailed to Louisiana in October 1785. 

With God’s blessings and grace, our first-born son Paul survived the crossing. He is now twelve years old. I was pregnant with our second child Joseph when we sailed, and he is now ten years old. I lost my first little girl, Marie Francoise, when she was an infant.^[14]Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Diocese of Baton Rouge, 1980), 2:92.  I also have Charles who is eight, Mathurine who is five and Florentin, who is one.^[15]Albert Robichaux, Colonial Settlers along Bayou Lafourche 1770-1798 (Harvey, Louisiana, 1974) 2:51. Five boys! My hands are full. The older boys are such a help to their father. There is so much work to be done in Louisiana. Mama and Papa are still with us. We all now live in Valenzuela, Louisiana.^[16]Albert Robichaux, Colonial Settlers along Bayou Lafourche 1770-1798 (Harvey, Louisiana, 1974) 2:51. 

You will find this funny: for all formal and legal documents, the Spanish government translates our names to the Spanish version. So, Paul is Pablo and Charles is Carlos and Paul-Dominique is Pablo-Domingo.

When I think about the journey to Louisiana, it was an adventure for the young mother and wife I was, but I cannot forget the seasickness that plagued me. Some of us got smallpox and one child died. When we arrived in New Orleans, we stayed there for a month to get acquainted with the climate and gather our strength. Paul-Dominique was given tools and supplies for farming our new land. We took small barges to the land our delegate had chosen for us. Mama said it was so different than when she was deported to France. This time we were able to take our possessions.  She lost everything when she arrived in France forty years ago. We were first settled in Manchac with many of those who were on Le Bon Papa. We immediately began building huts to live in, roads and levees. We all worked so hard.  

Cousin, this place was so untamed. I had never seen anything like it in France. Let me just say, it was nothing like Pleudihen, Chantenay, and Nantes. No houses. No churches. No roads. The Acadians who had been in Louisiana since 1765 assisted us and showed us how to farm this new land. Papa is like a new man and cannot believe how fertile the land is! He said it was like being in l’Acadie when he was a young man. It is so good to see Mama and Papa happy. 

Mama and I have learned to spin cotton. It’s too hot to wear woolen clothing. A traveling priest comes around a few times each year.  

I have gone on and on. You must write when you can. I want to know all about you and your family.  

With love, 

Marie Olive Landry 

Valenzuela, Louisiana 

March 1815 

Dear Cousin, 

I pray that you and your family are doing well. Please give them all my love as well as Paul-Dominque’s.   

These last few months have been frightening. The British tried to invade New Orleans! They arrived in December. This time, the Acadians did not stand neutral as they had done in Nova Scotia so many years ago.  We fought with the Americans and General Andrew Jackson. Though, I should say we are Americans now. France sold Louisiana to the United States in 1803. Louisiana came into statehood in 1812.  

My eldest son, Paul Marie was a sergeant in LeBeuf’s 7th Regiment.^[17]”Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812″ database with images, Fold3.com, Paul Marie … Continue reading Florentin also served with Captain Hubbard’s Mounted Company.^[18]Compiled by John Bennett Pierson, “Index to Louisiana Soldiers During the War of 1812,” (Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society) … Continue reading It was such a stressful time. My other sons, Joseph, Mathurin, and Charles did what they could to assist. Of course, Paul-Dominque wanted to join in the fighting, but at fifty-four years of age, I would not have been happy if he had. It was hard enough worrying about my sons. When the final battle was over, bells were ringing from all the churches. My youngest boys, Zachary, Anselmo and Jean Pierre, were marching up and down the roads with other young boys pretending to fight the British. My daughter, Celeste, helped me make bandages. She was so scared for her older brothers. 

Tell our friends and family still in France that Acadians can beat the English! I wish Papa had been alive to celebrate this victory. 

With tears of joy and much affection, 

Marie Olive Landry

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June 1836 

Dear Cousin, 

With a heavy heart I send you this letter. Your cousin, my beautiful Mama, Marie Olive Landry, passed away last month.  Mama talked so much about you over the years and was so fond of you and your family. She would tell us stories of her time in France when she played with you and your sisters and brothers. She shared with us all the letters you sent her over the years. She so wanted another girl so she could name her after you. Mama died two months before her seventieth birthday on 12 May 1836 and was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux, Louisiana, next to Papa.^[19]Rev. Donald J. Hebert, South Louisiana Records (Cecilia, Louisiana: Rev. Donald J. Hebert, 1978)1:338.  

These last few years had been especially hard on Mama. Celeste, her only daughter and my sweet sister, died in 1831.^[20]Rev. Donald J. Hebert, South Louisiana Records (Cecilia, Louisiana: Rev. Donald J. Hebert, 1978) 1:80. Celeste had been married to David Gautreaux and left a precious little girl and newborn without a mother.  Celeste died two days after her son was born.^[21]TraycieEllen, “Isaacson, Boydstun, … Continue reading Mama’s heart was broken. I think Mama wrote to you when my brother, Joseph Marie died in 1823.^[22]Rev. Donald J. Hebert, South Louisiana Records (Cecilia, Louisiana: Rev. Donald J. Hebert, 1978)1:89. Before Joseph Marie died, he had married Anne Joseph Dugas and they had five children.^[23]Sindi Broussard Terrien, “Carrow-Walker Family Tree,” Joseph Marie Boudreaux, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/76901568/person/46353451876/facts : viewed 11 … Continue reading Charles has eight children.^[24]Steve Dollinger, “Dollinger/Barbour Louisiana Gumbo,” Charles … Continue reading Zacharie’s wife gave birth to their sixth child just before Mama died.^[25]Amymandrews, “Good Tree-Amy Andrews family tree1,” Zacharie Boudreaux, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/37785387/person/20367509302/facts : viewed 11 July … Continue reading

My wife, Marie Modest Gautreaux, and I have six children and hope to have many more.^[26]Roger Brown “bwb1,” Anselme Boudreaux, ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151084883/person/112007836065/facts : viewed 8 July 2022).  Mathurin had one child before he died in 1817.^[27]plavigne2059, “patsy McGowan Family Tree,” Mathurin Boudreaux, ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/84190972/person/122181164601/facts : viewed … Continue reading I am sure Mama sent a letter to you concerning his death many years ago. Florentin is quite busy with his eleven children.^[28]AnnaProctorLeBlanc, “”Anna’s Research Tree-Subject to Change,” Florentin Januaries Boudreaux, … Continue reading And finally, my baby brother Jean Pierre, married Anne Josephine Gautreaux and they have eight or nine children.^[29]Priscilla Peltier, “Cadaro – Gondolfi – Giarrusso – Simmons – Peltier Family Tree.” Jean … Continue reading So, three of us married into the Gautreaux families. I have so many nieces and nephews that I cannot keep up. Mama was so proud of all her children and grandchildren. She loved having us all around. 

Papa died on 16 December 1832.^[30]Find A Grave, database with images … Continue reading His death was such a blow to Mama. The two cared for each other so deeply and they had been married nearly fifty years, but Celeste’s death set them back too much. 

Nevertheless, Mama and Papa had prospered in Louisiana. They had property in Assumption Parish, Louisiana. The farm work was so hard, so they had three enslaved people helping them.^[31]1830 U.S. census, Assumption Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 108, Paul Boudreaux household; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M19, roll … Continue reading  I took over the property from Mama after Papa died. My brother, Charles lives on the adjoining property. 

Many blessings to you and your family. With much affection, 

Anselme Boudreaux 

Thibodaux, Louisiana 

The next biography that will be presented on MyManyMothers.com will concern Agate Barriot, Marie Olive Landry’s mother.