Chevalier Alexandre de Clouet, son of Jean Martin de Clouet de Piedre and Dame Cesaire Gambier, both natives of Cambrai, France, was the first commandant of the Arkansas Post under Spanish rule. From there, he was sent south where he undertook duties in the Attakapas Territory in 1774.

His title was commandant and judge of the Attakapas and Opelousas Posts; he replaced Gabriel Fuselier de la Claire, until he, himself, was replaced by Captain Jean Farault de la Villebeuvre.

Whether or not the commandants of the Attakapas were so used to the military way of life that they carried it over subconsciously into the other affairs of the posts is debatable, but for some reason, they seemed to have trouble with the religious authorities. de Clouet was no exception, and he and the Church fell out over what were, essentially and totally, Church affairs.

One of the first projects undertaken by Father Cirillo de Barcelona after he was made Auxiliary Bishop of Cuba, was to deal with reported abuses in regard to marriage that "were finding their way into the colony," according to noted church writer, Roger Baudier."Father de Barcelona complained bitterly to Galvez. One of these cases was that of Colonel Alexander DeClouet, commandante of the Posts of Atakapas and 0pelousas."

According to Baudier, DeClouet ". . had surrogated to himself powers in connection with marriages. There was no priest at Opelousas at the time, the pastor of St. Martin's church of the Attakapas Post serving at intervals ad interim. DeClouet proceeded to render decisions on separations of married couples. This was peremptorily forbidden by Galvez when Father Cirillo complained sharply to the governor, and the Friar issued instructions for the reunion of the separated couples, three in number."

de Clouet was one of the French who had settled in Louisiana and who remained when the Spanish took over. Most of them were in the service of the king of France and automaticaly enlisted in the Royal Regiments of the king of Spain in the Louisiana Province.

DeClouet is believed to have been 31 years old when he first came to New Orleans in February 1758. He was an officer of the detached troops of the Royal French army.

While the expression was probably not known in those days, he apparently had a "shot-gun to his back," because he had comromised in a romantic affair a Beatrix de Choiseul, a sister to the Count de Stainville, who was French Minister under Louis XV.

A "lettre de cachet" was issued in his name, but devoted friends took him from his home and brought him to Nantes, France. From there he immediately embarked again for Louisiana, where he was placed in command at Fort Massaic until he was relieved by de Rocheblave May 22, 1768.

His romance with Demoiselie Louise Favrot ended more favorably. They were married in St. Louis chapel in New Orleans on May 11, 1761. The bride was a native of the Parish of Orleans and the daughter of Claude Francois Favrot and Louise Elizabeth Brule.

Both parties were of notable families and witnessses to the nuptials reflected that. They included Chevalier Ponfrac de Mazan, Louis Charles de Grand Pre, Gille Augustin Payen de Noyan, Pelletier de la Houssaye, Chevalier McCarty, Chevalier Francois Belisle, Francois Chauvin Delery, Chevalier Charles d'L'Hommer and Francois du Tillet.

Louise's godchild and brother, Pierre Favrot, served under his brother-in-law's command at the Arkansas Post.

I'Abbe Robin, writing in his "Voyage dans la Louisane pendant les annees" (1802-1806), described Louise thusly: "I found her with several of her children. Never have I seen old age more venerable. Her hair whitened by the years made her gentle open face more touching, a face which kept a freshness rare at her age in the colony.Ó

He said her manner had Ňnone of the backward coldness of the Creoles. They showed the affability and ease of a European who had spent her life in society. Her home was the best planned in the district. Her slaves, or rather her servants, were well-dressed, had a satisfied air, and seemed assured in her presence. She was indeed the best of mistresses."

Alexandre and Louise had 12 children: Alexandre Joseph, Joseph Marie, Charles-Philippe Auguste, Auguste Alexandre, Louis Jean Laurent " Brognier," Auguste Pierre Lanois, Jean-Baltazar Neuville, Auguste Albert Lanois, Marie-Louise Hyacinthe, Pierre-Auguste Lanois, Joseph Augustin Favrot de Clouet and Caroline.

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MISCELLANEY

Alexandre Joseph, their minor son married on 25 March 1784 Catherine Leyssard of Illinois, the daughter of Etienne Marafre Laissard and Helene Fazenda, at St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville (SM Ch. v.2). Witnesses were Louis Grevemberg, St. Marc Darby, Le Chevalier Delahussaye, Benoit St. Claire, Dauterive, Labbee pere. Fr. Geffrotin officiated.

Alexandre le Chevalier deClouet died July 31, 1789 and was buried in New Orleans.

A “Statement and general inventory dated Sept. 5, 1789 was recorded at the St. Martin Parish Courthouse (OA-vol.7, #98) with Armand Ducrest and Jean Berard, both the Atakapas Post; Martin Duralde of “Oppeloussas,” Francois Ceaar Boutte, Louis Grevember; de Lavillebeuvre as witnesses.

An “Act of the Widow and Children” is recorded in the St. Martin Parish Courthouse on Sept. 8, 1789 (OA-vol. 7, No. 90). The act by Louise and Alexandre Charles Chevalier Louis Brognier, her major son, brought the act. Witnesses were Berard, Martin Duralde, Armand Ducrest, Don Jean DelaVillebeuvre.

deClouet, Etienne (Alexandre and Catherine Lesar) born 1 April 1787, baptized 7 June 1787 Godparents Etienne Lesar and Anne Lesar. Fr. Maseda (SM Ch. v.4, #262)

deClouet, girl (Alexandre and Catherine de Laissard - of my parish) buried 29 Jan. 1799. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch. v.4, #172)

deClouet, girl - of this parish (Alexandre and Catherine de Laissard) buried I I Aug. 1800 at age 7 wks. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch. v.4, #210)

deClouet, Joseph Alexandre (Alexandre Joseph, fils and Catherine Charlotte Lessard) born 20 Nov. 1784, baptized 29 Jan. 1785 Godparents Alexandre Francois Joseph deClouet and Louise Favrot, wife of Mr. deClouet. Fr. Geffrotin (SM Ch.: v.3, #32)

deClouet, Joseph Augustin (Alexandre Chevalier and Louise Favrot) born 9 Jan. 1778, baptized 19 July 1778 Godparents Joseph Favrot and Magdeleine Victoire Labbe. Fr. Louis Marie - Cure of Opelousas (SM Ch.: Folio B-1)

deClouet, Joseph Augustin (Alexandre Chevalier and Louise Favrot) born 9 Jan. 1778, baptized 19 July 1778 Godparents Joseph Favrot and Magdeliene Victoire LEVILIE. Fr. Louis Marie (SM Ch.: v.1, p.62)

deClouet, Louise Marie Hyacinthe (Alexandre and Louise de Faverot) married 29 May 1793 Jean Baptiste Benoit De St. Clair (SM Ct. Hse.: OA-14-12)

deClouet, Marie Caroline Marthe (Alexandre Chevalier deClouet Captain and Civil and Military Commandant of Atacapas and Opelousas and Louise Favrot) baptized 30 April 1780 at age 5 mths. Godparents Alexandre deClouet Jr. and Julie OZENNE. Fr. L. M. GRUMEAU (Opel. Ch.: v. I -A, p. 34)

deClouet, Marie Francoise (Alexandre - of New Orleans and Catherine de Laissard - of Fort Chartres in Illinois country - parish of St. Francis Xavier at Post Vincent on Wabach River, referred to as Vincennes on the Wabash) born 9 Aug. 1795, baptized 24 April 1798 Pa Alexandre deClouet - of Picardie, France and Louise Faverot - of New Orleans; Mats: Etienne DE Laissard, - of La Rochelle, France and Helene Facinde - of New Orleans; Godparents Charles deClouet represented by Jacques Fontenot and Francoise Gerard, wife of Joseph Faverot represented by Caroline deClouet. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch.: v.5, #41)

deClouet, Marie Louise - of Atakapas married 21 Feb. 1792 Jean Charles Benoit de la Claire - of Atakapas. Fr. Pedro de Zamora (Opel. Ch.: v.1-A, p.38)

deClouet, Marie Louise Hiacinthe (Chevalier - "Capitaine d'Infanterie et Commandant pour le Roy des Postes" [Captain of the Infantery and Commandant for the King of the Posts of] Attakapas et Opelousas and Louise Favrot) born 8 April 1776, baptized 25 Aug. 1777 in parish of St. Bernard at Attakapas. (SM Ch.: Folio B-1)

deClouet, Marie Louise Hiacinthe (Mr. Le Chevalier and Louise Favrot) born 8 April 1776, baptized 25 Aug. 1777 Godparents Leon Francois Ledee and Hiacinthe Degruy. Fr. Louis Marie (SM Ch.: v.1, p.54)

deClouet, Alexandre Le Chevalier died 30 July 1789 in New Orleans, whose widow is Louise de Favrot. Statement and general inventory dated: 5 Sept. 1789 Wits: Armand Ducrest, Jean Berard - both of this Post; Martin Duralde - being of Oppeloussas Francois Cesar Boutte, Louis Grevember; de Lavillebeuvre (SM Ct. Hse.: OA-vol. 7, #98)

deClouet, Charlotte Caroline (dec. Alexandre - of Picardie, France, and Louise de Faverot - of New Orleans) married 10 Sept. 1801 Clair Benoit de St. Claire - of New Orleans (dec. lean Baptiste and Marguerite Poyret - of Illinois) Wits: N. deClouet, Joseph Jacques SORREL, Olivier de Vezin, Jean Berard, Antoine Boutte, Francoise Toussaint, Dominique Prevost. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch.: v.4, #235)

deClouet, Charlotte married contract dated: 24 May 1802 Clair Benoit de Ste. Clair Wits: Francois Gonsoulin, Jean Baptiste Peytavin du Bousquet, deClouet, Marin Lenormand, Louise Favrot, Alexandre deClouet, Charles deClouet, Balthazard deClouet, Louise deClouet widow BENOIT; Louis Charles DEBLANC (SM Ct.Hse.: OA-vol.21-1, #86)

deClouet, Etienne (major son of Alexandre and dec. Charlotte de Lessar) married 3 April 1809 Marie Aspasie Fuselier (minor daughter of Agricole and Christine Berard) Wits: Peter Regnier, Louis Veillon, Dominique Prevost, Alexis Ferry, Jean Berard, Jean Pierre Ozenne, deClouet Benoit, Levina White, --- Latiolais, Benoit de la Clair, Baptiste Berard, Marie Hortense Berard, Achille Berard, Alexandre de Clouet, A. Fuselier, Erasie Fuselier, Uranie Fuselier, Catiche deClouet, Edmond Ozenne, --- Labbe, Etienne Fuselier, Artemise deClouet. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.5, #143)

deClouet, Marie Charlotte (minor daughter of Alexander - of Bayou Vermillion and dec. Charlotte de Lessard) married 7 Aug. 1809 Francois Chevalier Delommee - of St. Charles Parish on River (major son of Edme Joseph - of St. Charles Parish and Jeanne Antoinette de Glapion) Wits: Marin Lenormand, Dominique Prevost, Francois Gonsoulin, Alexandre Delhomme, Clarice de Claiborne, Julie Darby, d Bnoist, Catiche deClouet, 0. Benoit, A. Fasetin, Levina White, Francois Marc, Ran. Eastin, Anna White. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.5, #158)

deClouet, Marie Lisima (dec. Etienne - of this parish and dec. Marie Aspasie Fiselier) born 21 April 1810, baptized 23 May 1816 Pats: Alexandre deClouet and dec. Catherine DE Laissard; Mats: Agricole Fuselier and Christine Berard; Godparents Alexandre deClouet - paternal grandfather, represented by Francois Benoist St. Claire and Marie Catiche deClouet. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.6, #2037)

deClouet, Mr. (Alexandre and Catherine de Laissard) buried 3 Aug. 1804 at age 20 yrs. Fr. Michel Bernard Barriere (SM Ch.: v.4, #356)

deClouet, Alexandre Children: Marie Francoise Arthemise - 20-1/2 yrs.: Marie Louis Catiche; Marie Charlotte married Christophe DELHOMME. Succ. dated 22 Feb. 1816 (SM Ct.Hse.: Succ.#227)

deClouet, Alexandre - colonel of the militia; died 23 Jan. 1816 at age 55 years at his home at la pointe; buried 23 Jan. 1816 in the parish cemetery. Signed: Aman Dugas, F.Penne, Charles delaHoussaie. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.4, #1017)

deClouet, Balthazar Neuville - of this parish, native of New Orleans (major son of dec. Alexandre deClouet - former Commandant for his Catholic Majesty of both Posts of Atakapas and Opeloussas and Louise Faverot) married 17 July 1811 Marie Louise deBlanc - of this parish, widow of Jean Valentin du Forest (major daughter of Louis Charles DEBLANC - former Commandant of this Post for his Catholic Majesty and Elizabeth Pomponne Derneville) Wits: Jean Berard, Dominique Pprevost, Louis Judice, Alexandre DelaHoussaye, St. Marc Darby, Ron. Eastin, Jean Darby, Pelletier DelaHoussaye, Louis deBlanc, Favrot deClouet. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.5, #216)

deClouet, Etienne (Alexandre and dec. Charlotte De LAISSAR) died 23 Oct. 1811 at age 24 years at the home of Mr. Lastrappe at Opelousas; buried 24 Oct. 1811 in the parish cemetery. Signed: Grevemberg, N. deClouet, Jacque Fontenette, Antoine Martinez, Th. Davisin (DEVEZIN), Louis Buhoty (Fr. Buhot of Opelousas). Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch,: v.4, #728)

deClouet, Etienne Alexandre (dec. Etienne and dec. Marie Aspasie Fuselier) born 7 June 1812, baptized 23 May 1816 Pats: Alexandre deClouet and dec. Catherine de Leissard; Mats: Agricole Fuselier and Christine Berard; Godparents Agricole Fuselier, maternal grandfather and Marie Louise deClouet, widow of dec. Jean Baptiste Benoist St. Claire; Signs: A. Fuselier. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.6, #2038)

deClouet, Joseph Favrot Succ. dated April 1818 (SM Ct.Hse.: Succ.#291)

deClouet, Marie Francoise Arthemise (Alexandre and Catherine Lessard) married 23 May 1816 Francois Benoit de St. Clair (SM Ct.Hse.: OA-30-2933

deClouet, Marie Francoise Arthernise - native of this parish (minor daughter of dec. Alexandre - former Colonel of the militia and inhabitant and dec. Catherine de Leissard) married 23 May 1816 Francois Benoist St. Clair - native of this parish (major son of dec. Jean Baptiste and Marie Louise deClouet) Wits: Theodore Biallet, Claire Benoit Ste. Clair, Joseph Dubuclet, Francois Gonsoulin, deClouet Delhomme, Darby Dubuclet, Joseph Gonsoulin, Martin Duralde, Catiche deClouet, veuve Benoit. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.5, #408)

deClouet, Marie Louise (Alexandre and Catherine Lessart) married 20 May 1817 Charles Henry LASTRAPE of Opel. (SM Ct.Hse.: OA30-3199)

deClouet, Marie Louise Catich married 1817 Charles Lastrape *entered in the St. Martin church registers (NI Ch.: OA453)

deClouet, Marie Louise Catiche - native of this parish (major daughter of dec. Colonel Alexandre and dec. Catherine DE Lessard) married 20 May 1817 Charles LASTRAPE - native of Opelousas (major son of Jean Henry - inhabitant of Opeloussas and Genevieve Boisdore) Wits: Andre Lastrape, Jean Baptiste Dejean, Clair Benoist de Sainte Clair, Charles Delhomme. Note: copy made from original left at the Opelousas church archives, not being able to carry the Register since a marriage was celebrated here in the Church on the same day. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.6, #41)

deClouet, Marie Louise Catiche - of this parish (major daughter of dec. Colonel Alexandre and dec. Catherine de Lessard) married 20 May 1817 Charles Lastrape - of Opelousas (major son of Jean Henry - of Opelousas and Genevieve Boisdore) Wits: Andre Lastrape, Jean Baptiste DeJean, Clair Benoit de St. Clair, Charles Delhomme. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: Folio F)

deClouet, Alexandre Succ. dated Dec. 1819 (Opel. Ct.Hse.: Succ. # 149)

deClouet, Caroline - spouse of Clair Benoist de St. Clair - inhabitant at La fausse Pointe, died 22 April 1820 at 11:30 p.m. at age about 42 years; buried 23 April 1820 in the parish cemetery. Signed: Jean Darby, Fr.Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.4, #1351)

deClouet, Charlotte married Andre Ffournier - In Succ. of Andre Fournier dated Nov. 1821 (Opel. Ct.Hse.: Succ.#245)

deClouet, Lisima (dec. Mr. deClouet and Aspasie Fuselier) died10 March 1820 at age about 10 yrs. at the home of Agricole Fuselier - her paternal [probably should be "her maternal, grandfather; buried I I March 1820 in the parish cemetery. Sig Laurent Sigue, Edied Varnier. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch. v.4, #1329)

deClouet, Louisa married 4 June 1825 Debruel Sallie (Frank. Ct.Hst~ Mar.#308)

deClouet, Louise - widowof Jean Baptiste Benoit; died I Sept. 1822 at age about 47 years at her home; buried 2 Sept. 1822 in the parish cemetery. Signed: Valery Martin, Baptiste Beauvais, Charles Potier. Fr. Gabriel Isabey (SM Ch.: v.4, #1523)

deClouet, Marie Succ. dated 28 Sept. 1825 (SM Ct.Hse.: Succ.#539)

deClouet, Marie Francoise - spouse of Francois Benoit de St. Clair, inhabitant at Bayou Capucin; died 15 Jan. 1825 at age about 29 years at her home at Bayou Capucin; buried 16 Jan. 1825 in the parish cemetery. Fr. Marcel Borella (SM Ch.: v.4, #1684)

deClouet, Marie Charlotte married Christophe Chevalier Delhomme, Suc., dated 22 Oct. 1829 (SM Ct.Hse.: Succ.#629)

Sources: de Villier, The Opelousas Post; Hebert, SWLR