David and Marsha Grady Family
Our GEANDREAU FamilyMarsha's third great-grandmother was Mary Margaret GEANDREAU who married Joseph Waring BAAS on 8 May 1855 in Mobile, Alabama. What an interesting family!
Mary Margaret was the granddaughter of John (or Jean) GEANDREA, Sr. Jean GEANDREAU was born in France probably sometime between 1750-1765. He is listed in the register of "Les Combattants Francais de le Guerre Americaine", 1778-1783, listing French participants in the American Revolutionary War. He was among the French troops in the squadron of the Count de Ternay, who sailed to America aboard the French ship "Le Neptune" in Febuary 1780 and June 1783.
Nothing is known of Jean GEANDREAU's family or his life in France (Marsha is just starting to attempt genealogy research in French records!) However, he next appeared in America with a group of exiled supporters of Napoleon Bonaparte. After Bonaparte's defeat at Waterloo and his exile, many of his loyal followers were compelled by the Bourbons to flee France. A large number of these Bonapartists arrived in America around 1817-1818 in Philadelphia, where they formed an association to establish a colony where they hoped to raise olives and grapes.
On 3 March 1817, the United States Congress granted group ownership of certain tracts of land in the area that is now known as Marengo County, Alabama. Records in the Alabama Department of Archives and History show that Jean GEANDREAU was assigned 240 acres. The colonists fared badly - the climate was not well-suited to growing grapes or olives and the colonists weren't prepared for the harsh conditions, and many of them quickly abandoned the colony.
Jean GEANDREAU and his wife, Marie Louisa (maiden name unknown), moved from the colony to Mobile, Alabama within a few months after arriving. Marie Louisa was reportedly born in Santa Domingo (now Haiti) on 20 August 1762. She had fled Santa Domingo with her family during the slave uprisings. Many of those refugees had joined the Vine and Olive Colony.
Jean GEANDREAU, Sr. died around 8 December 1822, and his obituary appeared in the 9 December 1822 edition of The Mobile Register.
Jean and Marie Louisa had at least one child, a son, John (or Jean) GEANDREAU, Jr. He born probably between 1800-1810 (some sources say his place of birth is Mobile, but it is more likely that he was born in Philadelphia) and married Margaret LIONI on 12 December 1828 in Mobile. They had at least three known children, John, William, and Mary Margaret who was born 25 January 1833 in Mobile. She was baptized 12 May 1833 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Both John GEANDREAU, Jr. and Margaret LIONI GEANDREAU died young, he about 1832, and she about 1835. John's mother, Marie Louisa GEANDREAU, served as guardian for her grandchildren until her own death about 1845.
At that time, Mary Margaret GEANDREAU went to live with her guardian, Rowland (or Roland) Boullemet. Mary Margaret was among the first graduates of the Visitation Convent Academy, and on 9 May 1853, she married Joseph Waring BAAS, at St. John's Church in Mobile.
Joseph and Mary Margaret BAAS moved from Mobile to Monroe County, Alabama around 1868, due to Joseph's poor health. They settled in what is now Frisco City, where they appeared in the 1870 Federal Census with their children. Joseph died soon after on 2 June 1872 and is buried at Baas Cemetery which is located on what was the original Baas homestead. Mary Margaret kept the family business going and raised her children alone until her death on 28 January 1906. She is buried alongside her husband.
Joseph and Mary Margaret BAAS had eleven known children: Florence Elizabeth; William Geandreau; Walter Joseph; Joseph Waring, Jr. (died at about age 2); Eugene (died at age 3); Harry; Annie Boomley; Edgar; Mary Ella; James Harrison; and Josephine Waring (born one month after her father's death).
Josephine Waring BAAS was born 11 July 1872 and married William Henry COLEMAN, son of James Richard COLEMAN, Jr. and Sarah A. BILBRAY, on 29 November 1889. She died 1 December 1925 and is buried next to her husband at Coleman Cemetery in Wildfork Community, Monroe County.
Reports:
Photographs:
Mary Margaret Geandreau BaasRelated Articles and Transcriptions:
Transcription from The Monroe Journal, Supplemental Edition, 1969, pg 80Related Families:
Marsha's BAAS Page
Marsha's LIONI Page (coming soon)
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