The Mayer Family Came 

To French Settlement

Germany’s religious factions had been simmering ever since 1517 when Martin Luther tacked 95 suggestions for improved service to his local church door in Wittenburg. As opposition to the Catholic Church grew, others took up the idea of reformation. In 1536 John Calvin went to Geneva to teach his form of the new protestant religion. His ideas spread from Switzerland down the Rhine River as far as the Palatinate area of Germany, linking some parts of Switzerland and this portion of Germany by religion.

By 1600 all of Europe was divided between the Catholic and the various forms of protestant religions – Lutheran and Calvinist being the most prominent. Friction between the religious factions grew, reaching a climax when Archduke Ferdinand was elected Emperor of Bohemia. He had been elected by the Jesuits and vowed to eradicate Protestantism wherever he ruled. The Bohemian Diet, upon the urging of protestant leaders, disposed Ferdinand as King and proclaimed Frederick of the Palatinate as King. The result of this action was the Thirty Years’ War which would grow to involve all of Europe.

In 1799 King Charles of Spain died after willing his throne to Prince Philip, grandson of Louis XIV of France. The potential for France to annex all of Spain and her possessions again stirred the fears of Europe and by 1702, Europe was at war again.

It’s easy to see that, with the continuing religious persecution and wars, in addition to the feudal system, heavy taxation, pestilence, famine and the example of others coming to America, a chance to start a new life in America, hard as it might be, seemed to make a lot of sense to a lot of people. The Germans were hard working, industrious people and certainly not afraid to test themselves.

After the war ended by the Treaty of Utrecht, Queen Anne of England offered Germans the privilege of emigrating to the English colonies in America upon the condition that they pledge allegiance to the Crown in the new world. At her death, she was succeeded by George, the Prince of Hanover, and the waves of German emigration began.

The usual method of the Palatinate Germans who chose to migrate to the new world was to build a large raft or flatboat on the Rhine River or its tributaries and load it with all of their possessions and household goods. Then, they would float down the Rhine to Rotterdam where they would sell the boat and such belongings that they could not take with them for passage money on the English ships. The ships took them to England where they were required to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown and then they were reloaded and taken to America, mostly landing in Philadelphia.

However, our ancestors didn’t quite agree with all of these rules. They were Catholics and would not have been given a chance to offer allegiance to England. (It was not the desire of Queen Anne to settle Catholics in the English colonies. Catholics were given the chance to become Protestants or return to their native lands). And, given the chance, they would have refused.

Georg Mayer, his wife Magdalena Fronberger (married 14 February, 1699)and their young son, Nicolas (born 1704) made the decision to settle in America after the John Law “Company of the West” started distributing pamphlets in Germany telling of enormous wealth and fertile lands in America and offering transportation to anyone interested in developing the land that would be given to them. But, sometime after they left their home in Southwest Germany, Georg died apparently. There are no confirming records, but it is generally thought that Magdalena and Nicolas made their way across France to the port of Lorient on the west coast. 

From the German side of the Rhine, families traveled on the Rhine to Strasbourg where they entered the Canal de la Marne au Rhin (a canal which connected the Rhine with the Marne River near Joinville). The Marne River flows into the Seine River. Continuing on the Seine, the immigrants passed through Paris and on to Lorient. This is presumed to be the route Magdalena and Nicolas started their journey.

From Lorient they sailed to the gulf coast of America in 1721 and disembarked at either Ship Island or Dauphin Island off the coast of Mobile, the same area where Simon Jacques Brignachad landed with the French marine in 1717. From there, they made their way, by inland waterways to the area of St. Charles Parish (The German Coast, or La Cote des Allemands) on the Mississippi River. 

The 1724 census of the German village of Hoffen, on the Mississippi River, lists the two of them (Magdalena as the widow of Georg) plus a twenty-year-old orphan as residents for three years. This confirms that they arrived in 1721.

Nicolas married Anna Marie Kautzen ca. 1729, and they farmed until his death sometime before 1766. Anna continued living on the farm with her grandson, Christophe until her death on 03 October, 1771. 

Alphonse Mayer and Celestine Lambert were married on 28 June, 1848 in French Settlement. He was born in St. James Parish, on 13 Dec, 1830; she in Ascension Parish, 26 July, 1834. It is not clear how they ended up in French settlement. Celestine probably moved from Ascension Parish with her family when she was a little girl, Alphonse probably moved to French Settlement when they married.

A History of the Voncannon Family and Early European History

German Coast Families – European Origins and Settlements

In Colonial Louisiana, by Albert J. Robichaux, Jr.

The Brignac Family and Their Relatives in Louisiana, by Janice Deitch Young

Terrebonne Life Lines – Winter, 1983 – vol.2, #4

Settling Colonial Louisiana

In 1682, the French explorer, Rene’ Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, traveled The Mississippi River from the north to it’s mouth, erected a cross on the banks of the river at what is now Plaquemines Parish, and claimed all the lands that drained into it for France.

In 1700, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur de Iberville, made his second voyage down the river in his own exploration. Among those with him was a man named Jean Baptiste Turpin. It is thought that Turpin’s daughter, Marie, was the one who married Simon Jacques Brignac at Ft. Toulouse, Alabama in 1725. Simon was the progenitor of The Brignac family in Louisiana.

Later in the 1700s, the French made attempts at settling areas along the West Bank of the river between New Orleans and what is now Baton Rouge. The First Acadian Coast and The Second Acadian Coast were the names given to the areas. These French people had been recruited and were being escorted to areas up-river called “The Demeuves Concession”, whereby workers, farmers, and others were given land in return for their developing those lands. However, they elected to stop at the Acadian Coasts because of some difficulties of the projects up river. Eventually, spring floods, Indian raids and a severe hurricane caused a lot of them to abandon the area and move on to places such as Opelousas, Natchez, Arkansas Post, St. Louis, etc. The hurricane occurred on 11 September 1722. 

“As the screaming winds swung from southeast to south, then southwest, the settlers were trapped between the Mississippi on the east, Lac des Canards and Ouacha Lac on the southeast and Lac des Allemands on the southwest. The hurricane lasted five days, New Orleans was destroyed as well as the bean, corn and rice crops. For five days, the people were exposed to the elements and by clinging to trees and other floating objects, many escaped drowning as the waters rushed in. Those fortunate enough to survive left this village for other lands in the colony”.

Then in 1721, the John Law “Company Of The West”, having gained exclusive rights (in 1717) to settle and exploit the products of Louisiana, began to settle German families on these lands, and it became known as “The Village Of The Germans” or “La Cote des Allemands” and other names. It started out in what is now St. Charles Parish and soon extended to include St. John the Baptist Parish: the First German Coast and the Second German Coast.

The census of 1724 listed 58 families residing in three German settlements: Marienthal, Augsburg and Hoffen. Among those families were some currently well known names as Darensbourg, Trosclair, Oubre, Haydel, Matherne, Mayer and others. 

Eventually, the descendants of the first settlers expanded to other locations in Louisiana, including the village of Cabanocey in St. James Parish, one of the main settlements. The area of “La Cote Francais”, which was to become French Settlement, was discovered as a place of higher ground and rich earth and proved to be ideal for habitation. Families such as Brignac, Haydel (Aydell), Wichner (Vicner) and Guitrau were among those making their homes here.

“Au Chaloupe” they came, in the cold month of January, eighteen hundred eight to clear and inhabit this land (defrechie’ et habite’ une terre). Three families joined a few settlers along the Amite River. They were the families of Alexandre Brignac, Joseph Lambert and Paul Guitreau.

Other related families came to the Amite River colony called “La Cote” and by eighteen     hundred ten starting at Bayou King George to Bayou Colyell, included the following settlers:

Alexandre Brignac married to Agnes Poche’

Joseph Lambert married to Theotiste Vickner

Paul Guitreau married to Josephine Vickner

Mathew Brignac (Alexandre’s brother) married to Marguerite Vickner

Henri Villar married to Rosalie Vickner

Louis Lobell married to Leonide Vickner

And six or so others 

The Vickner sisters; Theotiste, Rosalie, Josephine, Marguerite and Leonide were daughters of Nicholas Vickner and Apolonie Helfre of German Nationality

Joseph Lambert and Theotiste Vickner were to be the maternal great grand parents of both Henry Severin Brignac and of Alphonsine Mayer, our own grand parents. This made Henry and Alphonsine second cousins. The church records confirming the marriage of Henry and Alphonsine on 04 September 1875, listed the marriage as ‘third degree consanguinity’, meaning they married blood relatives. 

A partial listing of settlers related to the Brignac family in French Settlement follows:

Joseph Lambert was born in St. James Of Cantrelle the 26^thof August, 1772, son of Pieire Lambert and Marie Duaron. He was baptized 22 October 1772 at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, Louisiana. He married the 6^thof February 1794 in St. John The Baptist Church.

Theotiste (Osita) Vickner (no birth date listed on baptism records) was baptized 23 August 1777, Baptismal Book 1, page 34A, St John The Baptist Catholic Church, Edgard, Louisiana. She was the daughter of Nicolas Vickner and Apolina Helfre (Elfre).

Known children of Joseph Lambert and Theotiste Vickner:

1-a-Joseph Lambert - Henry Brignac’s grandfather

2-b- Pierie Leon Lambert

3-c- Eufrosyna Lambert

4-d-Michael Drausin Lambert -Alphonsine’s grandfather

5-e- Joseph Lambert

6-f- Marie Zelina Lambert

7-g- Jean Cyprien Lambert

4-d- Michael Drausin Lambert 

Born 07 May 1801, St James Of Cantrelle

Baptized 07 August 1802, St. James Of Cantrelle

First marriage to Arthemise Babin, 24 December 1828, Ascension parish

(vol R, page 56) Daughter of Eusebe Babin and Francoise Landry

Arthemise died 20 January 1829

Child of Michael and Arthemise: 

  4-1-d- Joseph Timeleon Lambert

Second marriage to Marie Eulalie Gautreaux, 29 May 1831

    Marie daughter of Charles Gautreaux and Marie Marthe Richard

    Children of Michael and Marie:

     4-2-d-Celestine Lambert - Alphonsine’s mother

     4-3-d- Sosthene Lambert

     4-4-d- Drogan Lambert

     4-5-d- Louise Lambert

     4-6-d- Alexandre Lambert

     4-7-d- Marguerite Utisea Lambert

    Michael Drausin is deceased before the 1850 census

    Marie Eulalie second marriage to Francois Delattes

    Paul Guitreau (Guidroz) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana about 1770. 

There are no records of his birth because of the fire that destroyed the early records of The St. Louis Cathedral. Paul was the son of Abraham Guidroz and Catherins Buquoy.

He married Josephine Vickner 28 April 1802 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Morganza, Louisiana. They were residents of False River, Pointe Coupee Parish. The marriage made legitimate their three children, Paul, age 7 years, Charlotte, age 4 years and Artimise, age 2 years. Josephine was born 19 March 1775.

Alexandre Brignac was born in 1763, son of Simon Pierre Brignac and Marie Louise Fontenot. He married Agnes Poucher (Poche)of St. Charles Parish. She was the daughter of Francois LaChapelle Poche’ and Agnes Mayer and the grand daughter of Nicolas Mayerand Anna Marie Kautzen.

Children of Alexandre and Agnes:

1. Alexandre II married to Marie Conrad
2. Eleanore married to (1) Alphonse Mayer and (2) Vincent Scivicque
3. Pierre married to Emelite Leche
4. Marie married to Auguste Gregoire
5. Louis died in New Orleans 29 May 1829 at about age 26
6. Francoismarried toDelphine Haydel - our direct ancestors
7. Henry
8. Celeste married to (1) George Millet and (2) Vincent Scivicque
9. Agnes

Alexandre and Agnes were both deceased by 21 March 1816. Succession in the St. Helena Parish Court House. (Parts of St. Helena and Ascension Parishes were used to form Livingston Parish later, in 1832). They settled on Bayou Colyell in section 60.ⁱⁱ

After the Germans settled into life in South Louisiana, they and the French who were left in the area melded together and took on the French culture, including the language. This was especially true of those German men who married French women. As you might imagine, the French mothers had much influence over their children and the French characteristics prevailed.ⁱⁱ

Another family of note to us is the Salassi family. They came to French Settlement somewhat later, around 1849. The progenitor of the Salassi family in Livingston Parish was Joseph Salassi. He was born on 24 November 1806 in Venice, Italy to Pietro Salassi and Stella Galvani. It is not known when Joseph migrated to Louisiana. However, he was married to Marie Louise Scivicque on 26 October 1837 at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. 

The more recent Salassi family history begins in Venice, although the name is apparently of Gallic or French origin. ‘The New Century Cyclopedia Of Names’ lists the family as living in Northwest Italy as early as 143 B.C. when they were in conflict with the Romans. Through the centuries the inhabitants of the area have been an ethnic French-speaking people. The family migrated to Northeast Italy and was found there in 1700.ⁱⁱⁱ

The connection between the Brignacs and Salassis has been made several times over the years: Joseph Salassi married Marie Louise Scivicque, the daughter of Vincent Scivicque and Eleanore Brignac. Eleanore was the daughter of Alexandre Brignacand Agnes Poche’. Vincent was her second husband, in 1817, after the death of Alphonse Mayer, who was the son of Christophe Mayer and Marie Josephe Haydel. Yes, Christophe is another of our direct ancestors, Alphonsine’sfraternal great grandfather.

• Eleanore died in 1832 and Vincent married her sister, Celeste in 1842.

• Grace Salassi, grand daughter of Joseph married Hercule Brignac

• Joseph Leonce Salassi, Grace’s brother, married Mary Brignac, Alphonsine’s daughter.

• Noemie Brigette Salassi, great grand daughter of Joseph, married Thomas Severin Brignac, Alphonsine’s son.

“The Brignac Family And Their Relatives In Louisiana” by Janice Deitch Young

Sources: “German Coast Families” by Albert J. Robichaux, Jr.

“New Orleans History” from the internet

“Saint-Jean-Baptiste des Allemands, 1753 – 1803” by Glenn R. Conrad

“History Of Livingston Parish – 1986” by Edward Livingston Historical Association

“The French Settlement Historical Register” – vol 1, December 1976

“The Salassi Family In Louisiana” by Michael E. Salassi