François-Marie Picoté

François-Marie Picoté de Belestre (1716 - 1793) was made famous during the war of the News-France against the Great Britain, as being one of the last French officers to resist the English troops.

Picoté de Belestre fought the English and American armies during 30 years, since 1745 of Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia), until the Kentucky, the Louisiana, while passing by the Minnesota and the Michigan, and it was the last one ordering armies of News-France with Fort Pontchartrain of the Détroit (today Detroit). It joined then the English troops of the British colonies and reconquered Fort Midsummer's Day American forces in 1775. He was colonel in the British army before dying.

Biography

François Marie Picote, sior of Belestre II (delivery " Bélètre" and sometimes written Beletre, said Mister de Bellêtre or of Belêtre, Bellettre or Bellestre by and evolution clerical error of the words) was born with Lachine (with the Quebec) the November 17th 1716.

François de Belestre begins his military career in the Troupes from navy of the colonies of the News-France, and is used in the countryside as Chickasaw. He was quickly promoted with the row of second Enseigne in 1741 and takes again Louisbourg with English in 1746. He is ordering strong Saint-Joseph (Niles, with the Michigan or Meadow of the Rock, Randolph, Illinois) in May or August 1747. In 1749, it is sent in France in order to give an account of the situation to the Minister for the Navy.

With 1749 to 1759, one gives the responsability it to protect and maintain the Commerce of the fur in the Michigan. In 1751 it leads a punitive raid to the " village of Demoiselle" and was sent in France of the autumn 1751 to 1752, to look after a wound. Promoted with the rank of lieutenant, It is of return in 1752 on the station of Wabash.

In April 1756, Belestre takes the command of a troop of 20 French, 150 Miami, Ouiatonon & Shawnee, in the battle of the Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) during which it is wounded with the arm. It orders with the Troupes of navy in 1757 a new raid on the Strong English of Cumberland in Virginia, with 12 French, 40 allied natives and 300 men. But they were attacked on the way of the return. Belestre was captured by Edmund Atkyn. Its nephew, Philippe Dagneau of Saussaye, Saint-Bears and three soldiers French are killed on May 30th, 1757.

He was questioned in the presence of the colonel George Washington and George Croghan, Député of Sir William Johnson. The files do not say if it were slackened or if it is escaped, but it succeeded in finding its way towards Montreal autumn 1757.

Then, on November 28th, it carried out its Troupes of navy - 300 soldiers - and the Indians of Quebec towards Fort Frontenac (Kingston, Ontario), to move towards the valley Mohawk and to attack a German camp (the battle of “German Flats”) or they destroy, kill and make 150 prisoners. The distance covered is difficult to imagine. This last raid was regarded as a considerable victory for France, by the fact that this small team had succeeded in penetrating without opposition in what became New York, and capturing many food products, horses and cows which they bring back to Montreal.

In 1758, Belestre became the 13th official commander of the Fort Ponchartrain with Détroit, founded in 1701 by his/her uncle Alphonse de Tonty with the French adventurer Antoine Laumet of Mothe, sior of Cadillac). It was then promoted captain, with the command of the fort (this as from 1758, during the Guerre Seven Year old.

It is made Chevalier of Saint-Louis in January 1759, assisted of Pierre Passerat of the Vault. When the town of Montreal was taken by the English troops and that France capitulated, Detroit of also going to the English, ordered by Major Robert Rogers (see English wikipedia ()), after many operations of resistance on behalf of Belestre. Finally, Belestre and the 35 prisoners of war French were sent to Philadelphia, escorted of an English garrison directed by lieutenant Holmes. It is led in England, slackened then returns to Canada, while passing by France. Although Belestre had accommodated with joy neither the English troops, nor the capitulation of Strait, it was disappointed abandonment of France which led to the stop of its French military career in 1760.

It was reconciled with English and was named colonel of the English crown with Quebec. It was even, in 1763, member of the Legislative council of Canada, this until its death. Respected citizen of Quebec, one says that he lived enough withdrawn. In 1767, it belonged to the large jury in the business of the merchant Thomas Walker. In 1775, during the American invasion, it went voluntary to the defense of the Fort Midsummer's Day, on Richelieu and was made prisoner with Philadelphia. It was named “Grand Voyer” of the Province of Quebec on May 1st, 1776 and provincial lieutenant-colonel on July 12th, 1790. Sworn in like member of the Legislative council on August 17th, 1775, he became member of the Executive council in 1784. He was decorated with the medal of Saint-Helene and was named to advise legislative in 1792, he dies in function with Montreal, on March 30th, 1793, at the 76 years and 4 months age. He was buried in the parish Notre-Dame, on April 2nd, 1793. Files report that it was in Paris the very same day of the execution of Louis XVI (to be checked).

The Treated of Paris, signed by Great Britain, France and Spain on February 10th, 1763, will put a term at the Guerre Seven Year old (1754-1763). France yielded the Canada and its territories of the east of the the Mississippi to Great Britain, and Spain gave Florida to the United Kingdom. France kept the islands of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon in the Golfe of the St. Lawrence.

Its family

Its family belonged to the nobility of the News-France, and had been established in the valley of the the St. Lawrence, mainly with Montreal.

Parents

His/her father who bears the same name, François-Marie Picoté (1677-1729), sior of Belestre I, was born with Montreal and was also officer in the Troupes of the Navy. His/her mother had been born Marie-Catherine Trottier from the Brooks of Beaubien (1681-1731).

Ancestors

François Marie Picoté is integrated in the middle-class of News-France. He is the grandson of Pierre Picoté de Belestre (born towards 1636 Paris, wire of François Picoté and Perrine Lambert) and Marie Part (born about 1638 in Paris, deceased on November 3rd, 1684, buried in Quebec). Married about 1655 in Paris (Saint-Andre-of-Arts), they are the first of the line to be left to Canada.

François Marie Picoté de Belestre is, with his friend Charles Moyne, one of the soldier chiefs of the town of Montreal when this one, still being born is threatened by the Iroquois.

François Marie Picoté and Marie Part will have as children:

François Marie Picoté, married to Montreal in 1709 with Francoise Boutier, then married to Montreal in 1714 with Marie Catherine Trottier says Desruisseaux.
Francoise Picoté (born about 1659 in Paris in France), married in 1687 in Montreal with Jacques Maleray of Mollerie.
Genevieve Jeanne Picoté, which had a resounding adventure with the large Canadian hero Pierre LeMoyne d' Iberville (wire of Charles Moyne.
Helene (born about 1655, died in 1701, buried in Montreal), married to Montreal in 1676 with Antoine Lafrenaye de Brucy, then married to Holy-Anne-of-Bellevue in 1686 with Jean-Baptiste Céloron de Blainville.
Marie Anne Picoté (born about 1674, died in 1714, buried in Montreal), married to Montreal in 1689 with Alphonse de Tonty de Paludy. Tonty will be one of the founders of Détroit and his wife will be the first woman of Strait ().

Descent

July 28th, 1738, François-Marie Picoté de Belestre Marie in the parish Notre-Dame of Montreal to Marie-Anne Nivard Saint-Dizier, girl of Pierre Nivard Saint-Dizier.

They will have six children. François - Louis (born in 1739) (known as Joachime Coulon de Villiers in 1762 in Fort Chartres), Marie-Joseph (born in 1741), Etienne (born in 1742), François-Xavier (born in 1743), Anne (born in 1746) & Marie-Archangel (born in 1748).

In the same parish, on January 29th, 1753, Belestre marries Marie-Anne Magnan, known as the Hope, girl of Jean-Antoine Magnan, known as the Hope.

One finds the descent of Sieur Picote de Belestre in Montreal, in the Michigan American, and other States like in France, with Chateaubriand, Dinan, Paris and in the Cher.

See too

Pierre Céloron de Blainville, cousin of François Marie Picoté de Belestre.

External bond

Biographies

Biography on the site of the National Assembly of Quebec
Biography At the '' Dictionary off Canadian Biography Online ''

Biographical elements

Reconstitution of the FM Picoté troops: " Marines of Belletre"

F Mr. Picoté in the Files of Indiana

F Mr. Picoté and the battle of German Flats

F Mr. Picoté in the History of Strait
History Files

Others

Source

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