Marie-Victoire Thibodeaux Hebert – one of two

My Fifth Great-Grandmother

Daughter of Charles Thibodeaux and Magdalena Henry 

Wife of Joseph-Yves Hebert 

Mother of Cirille, Joseph Mathurino, Maria Celestine, Contancia Escolastica, Julie Marie, Joseph Elias, Louis Laborias, and Fanny Adelise (there may be others, but I do not have proof at this time) 

Bon jour. It is me, Julie Marie Hebert Delaune again.  Last week I told you about my life. This week I’ll start the story of my mère, Marie-Victoire Thibodeaux. 

Mère had an exciting life. Though she was born in France, she traveled across the Atlantic Ocean when she was sixteen years old to Louisiana. She and her family were among the third wave of Acadians who immigrated to Louisiana through the invitation of Spain.  The first group were the Acadians who arrived in 1765 with the Broussards (who are the ancestors to my fourth great-granddaughter Sindi Broussard Terrien). Then there was the group who had been deported to the American colonies who made their way to Louisiana. (Sindi also has at least one ancestor from this group and she will be writing about her in the coming weeks.) The last wave, which my parents were in, was the Acadians in France who sailed to Louisiana at Spain’s expense. These Acadians helped tame Louisiana, just as they had tamed Nova Scotia more than a hundred years before. 

Mère was born in the village of St. Antoine, Pleurtuit, not far from Saint-Malo, France. Marie Victoire, my mère, was the daughter of Acadian immigrants, Charles Thibodeaux and Magdalena Henry.  Mère was born 23 April 1769 and baptized the next day at Saint Antoine. Her godparents were Xavier Bourg and Anne Henry. Also present at her baptism were Pierre Henry and Marguerite Pitre.^[1]Archives et patrimoine d’ille-et-Vilaine, “10 Num 35228 113 – Pleurtuit – 1769 – 1769 – Baptêmes/Mariages – … Continue reading

When Mere was three years old, a census of the Acadians was taken 15 September 1772. That census is now known as the Role of the Truly Acadian Families. Mere’s parents found work in St. Malo. Her père was recorded as a laborer and carpenter while her mère was spinning and cutting for employment.^[2]Milton P. Rieder, “Role of the Truly Acadian Families – September 15, 1772,” The Acadians in France, 1762-1776; Rolls of the Acadians living in France distributed by towns for the … Continue reading Many of her aunts and uncles lived nearby and everyone helped each other by taking care of the children and sharing meat, fish, eggs and the produce from our gardens.  

Credit: Google Maps – Pleurtuit, where Marie-Victoire was born and baptized. Zoom out to see Saint-Malo.

All while Mère’s family was in St. Malo and the surrounding area, they talked about going back to Acadia. Our people wanted to go back, but that dream seemed so far away. Then a man, probably Olivier Theriot, came to the area and started telling my grandfather and his brothers about going to Louisiana at the King of Spain’s expense.^[3]Oscar William Winzerling, Acadian Odyssey, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2015), p.94. There were letters from Acadians who were already in Louisiana, and they told of the vast amount of land that could be cultivated. Another major point for going to Louisiana was that our families could practice the Catholic faith freely, as they could in France. After much debate, Mere’s family boarded La Ville d’Archangel.^[4]Tim Hebert, “Passenger List for La Ville d’Archangle,” Acadian-Cajun Genealogy & History (http://www.acadian-cajun.com/ship6.htm : viewed 28 November 2019.

The original plan was to sail in July, but the winds did not allow sailing until 12 August 1785. On the ship were several Henry families, which included my mère’s brothers, sisters, and uncles, as well as her future husband, Joseph-Yves Hebert with his family. La Ville d’Archangel was a frigate and it was overcrowded, with 300 or more people on it. Of course, there was much sea sickness during the crossing. 

I have often wondered if Mère and Père talked to each other on the ship. Had their families already planned for them to marry? Maybe they met in secret on the ship and touched hands and professed their love to each other. I don’t remember asking Mère. You know, you have to ask certain questions before time runs out. 

Mère was so excited as La Ville d’Archangel neared Louisiana, but disaster struck. The ship ran aground upon arrival at La Balize near the mouth of the Mississippi River. They had even run out of food. Many people were sick. They were stuck in La Balize until 11 November. Martin Navarro, the intendant of Louisiana and a colony promoter, sent much needed fresh water, food, and medical supplies.^[5]Oscar William Winzerling, Acadian Odyssey, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2015), p. 150. With the help of a river pilot, they then traveled on the Mississippi for 110 miles when they finally docked in New Orleans after 113 days on ship, arriving 3 December 1785.^[6]Oscar William Winzerling, Acadian Odyssey, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2015), pgs. 147-148.

What a relief it was for Marie-Victoire to get off that frigate. For a few days, she thought she was still on the sea even though she was off the boat. She was amazed at what she saw in New Orleans.  How different it was from Saint-Malo. At the time, the buildings in New Orleans were made of wood instead of stone. But what really bothered Mère was the mosquitos.  She had never experienced those annoying, flying, biting, insects. Oh, and the heat and humidity. She had never experienced anything like that in France either. Now she understood why many of the Acadian leaders in France did not want to go to Louisiana. They had worried that the heat would be deadly. 

As promised by the Spanish government, each family was given many of the tools they would need to work the land.  Mere’s family then took barges to Bayou des Écores.^[7]Oscar William Winzerling, Acadian Odyssey, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2015), p.150. (What is today Hudson Bayou, near Baton Rouge.)  Mère was so excited to see where her new home would be. Then they quickly built houses and two or more families lived together for a while. 

Three years after arriving in Louisiana, Mère married Joseph-Yves Hebert 24 Aug 1788 at St. Francis in Pointe Coupeé Parish.^[8]Diocese of Baton Rouge, Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (Diocese of Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2009), 2:696-697. Citation reads “Maria, res. Bayou des ecors (Charles … Continue reading I wonder if a special dress was made for Mère ‘s wedding. If Mere had a special dress, I either forgot to ask or I forgot her answer. My uncle Pierre was a witness as well as two cousins who had been on the La Ville d’Archangel, Alexis Aucoin and Bartelemy Henry.

My brother Cirille was born first. He was born in Pointe Coupeé and was probably baptized at St. Francis Chapel.^[9]Diocese of Baton Rouge, Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (Diocese of Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2009), 2:357. Three years later my brother Joseph Maturino was born in Donaldsonville. ^[10]Diocese of Baton Rouge, Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (Diocese of Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2009), 2:364. My other brothers and sisters were born in Plattenville and baptized at La Parroquia de l’Assumption de Nuestra Senora de la Fourche de los Chetimachas de Valenzuela where I had been baptized. Mère probably had a total of twelve children. 

As my brothers and sisters married and started their own families, they began to move to other parts of Louisiana. So many grandchildren were born and Mère could not keep up with all of them. 

My dear ones, it is Christmas time so I will end my mère’s story here for now. My fourth great-granddaughter, Sindi, has a few projects that must be attended to.  The women in her family make a quilt each time someone in the family gets married. Emily Claire Provost Broussard Dobbs, my third great-granddaughter (and Sindi’s mother) started this tradition over forty years ago when her children began to marry. If you don’t hear from me next week to complete the story of Marie-Victoire and to start my grand-mere’s story, we will return the following week. 

Joyeux Noël.