The following Bio was written by Linda Laberdee Grant, Contributor #47573262, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Medard Labadie. Any suggested corrections are welcomed.
As can be seen, Medard's last name on his gravestone and attached plaque is spelled "Labady." In all my years of research, I did not find one document, legal or otherwise, that spelled his last name in that way. There are several variations in later generations but none of them are "Labady." The "Labadie" name goes back to at least the late 1600's to the descendants of John Baptiste Descomps who added "dit Labadie" to their last name
So what does the "dit," pronounced "dee" before Labadie actually mean? It is essentially an alias, or alternate name, tacked on to a family name. Therefore, the first name is the family's original surname (Descomps), passed down to them by an ancestor, while the "dit" name is the name the person/family is actually called or known as. My research also showed that the name "Labadie" meant "of or near the Abbey." I cannot attest to this since I do not speak French but, if accurate, the family name can thus be interpreted as the "Descomps family who lived in or near the Abbey."
It should also be noted that this Bio differs slightly from my original Bio which stated that Mary Ann Manceau was the wife of John Baptiste and that Pierre Henri was born in 1702 rather than 1705, which later research determined. The initial 1702 information was obtained from the Genealogy of French Settlers in the River Raisin Region, written by Fr. Christian Dennison. Newer research contained in familysearch.org gave reasons why that information may be inaccurate. For the time being, however, the 1702 date will be retained.
Now, on with the Medard Labadie family history:
On May 13, 1799, at St. Antoine, River Raisin (Monroe), Michigan, Medard married Mary (Marie) Theresa Robert, born in Sandwich (Windsor), Canada, on July 27, 1780, to Antoine and Theresa (Drouillard) Robert. Medard and Mary apparently began their married life in River Raisin. Medard's father had acquired property there on a road now called LaPlaisance through a grant of land given to him by the Indian tribe of Potawatomies and it was on this land that he and Mary lived.
Medard and Mary had eleven children: Theresa Theotiste (Suzor), born June 5, 1800, died January 27, 1843; Alexis, born May 10, 1802; Mary Archange, born June 29, 1804; Peter, born September 25, 1806; Elizabeth, born June 29, 1809, died July 15, 1826, in a horse-riding accident, and buried July 16th. Mary Judith (Marie Judithe), born September 19, 1811, and buried June 1, 1816; Mary Matilda, born August 16, 1814, married Alexander Couseneau in 1837, and buried May 30, 1847; David, born October 8, 1816; Infant Daughter, born and buried September 12, 1818; George, born July 15, 1819; and Medard, born July 19, 1822, married Sophia Octavia Labadie, daughter of Pierre and Elizabeth (Delisle) Labadie, in 1846 (first cousins).
Medard was not an American citizen but he participated in the War of 1812 as a scout in the volunteer militia of the American army. Per Ancestry.com - "Soldiers of War of 1812," Medard enlisted at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was present just after the first Battle of the River Raisin and was running to join the second Battle when he was captured by Wyandotte Indians and taken to the British General Proctor in Detroit, where he was soon released. He served as a scout for the American army during the two sieges of Fort Meigs and a "reward was (subsequently) offered for his head." He was also present during the Battle of the Thames where Chief Tecumseh was defeated.
Medard and James Knaggs were credited with carrying a wounded Col. Richard Johnson (eventually Vice-President of the United States) off the field during that battle. During the Presidential campaign of 1840, General Lewis Cass was accompanied through the State of Michigan by Medard and James, who occupied the platform and were exhibited as the courageous soldiers who carried Johnson from the field.
Medard is buried in the Old Burial Ground which is next to St. Joseph's Cemetery on N. Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan. His wife, Mary, had died five days before him on April 18th and it is assumed that she was also buried in the Old Burial Ground but there is no documentation to support that assumption. Another researcher, name unknown, refers to Mary being buried in Monroe St. Mary Cemetery but I could find no information to validate that statement either. There was another Mary Labadie - Mary M. Labadie - who also died in April 1846 - on the 16th - and was buried in St. Mary Cemetery. That Mary was born in 1821 (as opposed to being born in 1780) and she was the wife of George Labadie and not Medard Labadie. Any information documenting Mary Theresa's burial location would be welcomed.
In 1987 Medard's original crumbling tombstone was replaced with a new one, with the same inscription that was on the original stone: "Medard Labady, died April 23, 1846, age 76 years. He was distinguished for his bravery at the Siege of Fort Meigs and bore Col. R.M. Johnson from the field of the Thames. May be rest in peace. P.S Underhill" (the engraver of the original stone).
The original stone, which stood about five feet tall, was donated to the Monroe County Historical Museum for its War of 1812 collection. The stone was subsequently relocated from the Museum to the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center.
Medard Labadie's Last Will and Testament, written a few days before his death and housed in the Monroe County Probate Court, lists real and personal property in Monroe which was divided among the following children: Alexis, Peter, Matilda, David, George, and Medard; his sister, Monique; and the children of his deceased daughter, Theresa (wife of John Baptiste Suzor). Alexis was my great-great-grandfather.
As can be seen, Medard's last name on his gravestone and attached plaque is spelled "Labady." In all my years of research, I did not find one document, legal or otherwise, that spelled his last name in that way. There are several variations in later generations but none of them are "Labady." The "Labadie" name goes back to at least the late 1600's to the descendants of John Baptiste Descomps who added "dit Labadie" to their last name
So what does the "dit," pronounced "dee" before Labadie actually mean? It is essentially an alias, or alternate name, tacked on to a family name. Therefore, the first name is the family's original surname (Descomps), passed down to them by an ancestor, while the "dit" name is the name the person/family is actually called or known as. My research also showed that the name "Labadie" meant "of or near the Abbey." I cannot attest to this since I do not speak French but, if accurate, the family name can thus be interpreted as the "Descomps family who lived in or near the Abbey."
It should also be noted that this Bio differs slightly from my original Bio which stated that Mary Ann Manceau was the wife of John Baptiste and that Pierre Henri was born in 1702 rather than 1705, which later research determined. The initial 1702 information was obtained from the Genealogy of French Settlers in the River Raisin Region, written by Fr. Christian Dennison. Newer research contained in familysearch.org gave reasons why that information may be inaccurate. For the time being, however, the 1702 date will be retained.
Now, on with the Medard Labadie family history:
On May 13, 1799, at St. Antoine, River Raisin (Monroe), Michigan, Medard married Mary (Marie) Theresa Robert, born in Sandwich (Windsor), Canada, on July 27, 1780, to Antoine and Theresa (Drouillard) Robert. Medard and Mary apparently began their married life in River Raisin. Medard's father had acquired property there on a road now called LaPlaisance through a grant of land given to him by the Indian tribe of Potawatomies and it was on this land that he and Mary lived.
Medard and Mary had eleven children: Theresa Theotiste (Suzor), born June 5, 1800, died January 27, 1843; Alexis, born May 10, 1802; Mary Archange, born June 29, 1804; Peter, born September 25, 1806; Elizabeth, born June 29, 1809, died July 15, 1826, in a horse-riding accident, and buried July 16th. Mary Judith (Marie Judithe), born September 19, 1811, and buried June 1, 1816; Mary Matilda, born August 16, 1814, married Alexander Couseneau in 1837, and buried May 30, 1847; David, born October 8, 1816; Infant Daughter, born and buried September 12, 1818; George, born July 15, 1819; and Medard, born July 19, 1822, married Sophia Octavia Labadie, daughter of Pierre and Elizabeth (Delisle) Labadie, in 1846 (first cousins).
Medard was not an American citizen but he participated in the War of 1812 as a scout in the volunteer militia of the American army. Per Ancestry.com - "Soldiers of War of 1812," Medard enlisted at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was present just after the first Battle of the River Raisin and was running to join the second Battle when he was captured by Wyandotte Indians and taken to the British General Proctor in Detroit, where he was soon released. He served as a scout for the American army during the two sieges of Fort Meigs and a "reward was (subsequently) offered for his head." He was also present during the Battle of the Thames where Chief Tecumseh was defeated.
Medard and James Knaggs were credited with carrying a wounded Col. Richard Johnson (eventually Vice-President of the United States) off the field during that battle. During the Presidential campaign of 1840, General Lewis Cass was accompanied through the State of Michigan by Medard and James, who occupied the platform and were exhibited as the courageous soldiers who carried Johnson from the field.
Medard is buried in the Old Burial Ground which is next to St. Joseph's Cemetery on N. Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan. His wife, Mary, had died five days before him on April 18th and it is assumed that she was also buried in the Old Burial Ground but there is no documentation to support that assumption. Another researcher, name unknown, refers to Mary being buried in Monroe St. Mary Cemetery but I could find no information to validate that statement either. There was another Mary Labadie - Mary M. Labadie - who also died in April 1846 - on the 16th - and was buried in St. Mary Cemetery. That Mary was born in 1821 (as opposed to being born in 1780) and she was the wife of George Labadie and not Medard Labadie. Any information documenting Mary Theresa's burial location would be welcomed.
In 1987 Medard's original crumbling tombstone was replaced with a new one, with the same inscription that was on the original stone: "Medard Labady, died April 23, 1846, age 76 years. He was distinguished for his bravery at the Siege of Fort Meigs and bore Col. R.M. Johnson from the field of the Thames. May be rest in peace. P.S Underhill" (the engraver of the original stone).
The original stone, which stood about five feet tall, was donated to the Monroe County Historical Museum for its War of 1812 collection. The stone was subsequently relocated from the Museum to the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center.
Medard Labadie's Last Will and Testament, written a few days before his death and housed in the Monroe County Probate Court, lists real and personal property in Monroe which was divided among the following children: Alexis, Peter, Matilda, David, George, and Medard; his sister, Monique; and the children of his deceased daughter, Theresa (wife of John Baptiste Suzor). Alexis was my great-great-grandfather.
The following Bio was written by Linda Laberdee Grant, Contributor #47573262, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Medard Labadie. Any suggested corrections are welcomed.
As can be seen, Medard's last name on his gravestone and attached plaque is spelled "Labady." In all my years of research, I did not find one document, legal or otherwise, that spelled his last name in that way. There are several variations in later generations but none of them are "Labady." The "Labadie" name goes back to at least the late 1600's to the descendants of John Baptiste Descomps who added "dit Labadie" to their last name
So what does the "dit," pronounced "dee" before Labadie actually mean? It is essentially an alias, or alternate name, tacked on to a family name. Therefore, the first name is the family's original surname (Descomps), passed down to them by an ancestor, while the "dit" name is the name the person/family is actually called or known as. My research also showed that the name "Labadie" meant "of or near the Abbey." I cannot attest to this since I do not speak French but, if accurate, the family name can thus be interpreted as the "Descomps family who lived in or near the Abbey."
It should also be noted that this Bio differs slightly from my original Bio which stated that Mary Ann Manceau was the wife of John Baptiste and that Pierre Henri was born in 1702 rather than 1705, which later research determined. The initial 1702 information was obtained from the Genealogy of French Settlers in the River Raisin Region, written by Fr. Christian Dennison. Newer research contained in familysearch.org gave reasons why that information may be inaccurate. For the time being, however, the 1702 date will be retained.
Now, on with the Medard Labadie family history:
On May 13, 1799, at St. Antoine, River Raisin (Monroe), Michigan, Medard married Mary (Marie) Theresa Robert, born in Sandwich (Windsor), Canada, on July 27, 1780, to Antoine and Theresa (Drouillard) Robert. Medard and Mary apparently began their married life in River Raisin. Medard's father had acquired property there on a road now called LaPlaisance through a grant of land given to him by the Indian tribe of Potawatomies and it was on this land that he and Mary lived.
Medard and Mary had eleven children: Theresa Theotiste (Suzor), born June 5, 1800, died January 27, 1843; Alexis, born May 10, 1802; Mary Archange, born June 29, 1804; Peter, born September 25, 1806; Elizabeth, born June 29, 1809, died July 15, 1826, in a horse-riding accident, and buried July 16th. Mary Judith (Marie Judithe), born September 19, 1811, and buried June 1, 1816; Mary Matilda, born August 16, 1814, married Alexander Couseneau in 1837, and buried May 30, 1847; David, born October 8, 1816; Infant Daughter, born and buried September 12, 1818; George, born July 15, 1819; and Medard, born July 19, 1822, married Sophia Octavia Labadie, daughter of Pierre and Elizabeth (Delisle) Labadie, in 1846 (first cousins).
Medard was not an American citizen but he participated in the War of 1812 as a scout in the volunteer militia of the American army. Per Ancestry.com - "Soldiers of War of 1812," Medard enlisted at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was present just after the first Battle of the River Raisin and was running to join the second Battle when he was captured by Wyandotte Indians and taken to the British General Proctor in Detroit, where he was soon released. He served as a scout for the American army during the two sieges of Fort Meigs and a "reward was (subsequently) offered for his head." He was also present during the Battle of the Thames where Chief Tecumseh was defeated.
Medard and James Knaggs were credited with carrying a wounded Col. Richard Johnson (eventually Vice-President of the United States) off the field during that battle. During the Presidential campaign of 1840, General Lewis Cass was accompanied through the State of Michigan by Medard and James, who occupied the platform and were exhibited as the courageous soldiers who carried Johnson from the field.
Medard is buried in the Old Burial Ground which is next to St. Joseph's Cemetery on N. Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan. His wife, Mary, had died five days before him on April 18th and it is assumed that she was also buried in the Old Burial Ground but there is no documentation to support that assumption. Another researcher, name unknown, refers to Mary being buried in Monroe St. Mary Cemetery but I could find no information to validate that statement either. There was another Mary Labadie - Mary M. Labadie - who also died in April 1846 - on the 16th - and was buried in St. Mary Cemetery. That Mary was born in 1821 (as opposed to being born in 1780) and she was the wife of George Labadie and not Medard Labadie. Any information documenting Mary Theresa's burial location would be welcomed.
In 1987 Medard's original crumbling tombstone was replaced with a new one, with the same inscription that was on the original stone: "Medard Labady, died April 23, 1846, age 76 years. He was distinguished for his bravery at the Siege of Fort Meigs and bore Col. R.M. Johnson from the field of the Thames. May be rest in peace. P.S Underhill" (the engraver of the original stone).
The original stone, which stood about five feet tall, was donated to the Monroe County Historical Museum for its War of 1812 collection. The stone was subsequently relocated from the Museum to the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center.
Medard Labadie's Last Will and Testament, written a few days before his death and housed in the Monroe County Probate Court, lists real and personal property in Monroe which was divided among the following children: Alexis, Peter, Matilda, David, George, and Medard; his sister, Monique; and the children of his deceased daughter, Theresa (wife of John Baptiste Suzor). Alexis was my great-great-grandfather.
As can be seen, Medard's last name on his gravestone and attached plaque is spelled "Labady." In all my years of research, I did not find one document, legal or otherwise, that spelled his last name in that way. There are several variations in later generations but none of them are "Labady." The "Labadie" name goes back to at least the late 1600's to the descendants of John Baptiste Descomps who added "dit Labadie" to their last name
So what does the "dit," pronounced "dee" before Labadie actually mean? It is essentially an alias, or alternate name, tacked on to a family name. Therefore, the first name is the family's original surname (Descomps), passed down to them by an ancestor, while the "dit" name is the name the person/family is actually called or known as. My research also showed that the name "Labadie" meant "of or near the Abbey." I cannot attest to this since I do not speak French but, if accurate, the family name can thus be interpreted as the "Descomps family who lived in or near the Abbey."
It should also be noted that this Bio differs slightly from my original Bio which stated that Mary Ann Manceau was the wife of John Baptiste and that Pierre Henri was born in 1702 rather than 1705, which later research determined. The initial 1702 information was obtained from the Genealogy of French Settlers in the River Raisin Region, written by Fr. Christian Dennison. Newer research contained in familysearch.org gave reasons why that information may be inaccurate. For the time being, however, the 1702 date will be retained.
Now, on with the Medard Labadie family history:
On May 13, 1799, at St. Antoine, River Raisin (Monroe), Michigan, Medard married Mary (Marie) Theresa Robert, born in Sandwich (Windsor), Canada, on July 27, 1780, to Antoine and Theresa (Drouillard) Robert. Medard and Mary apparently began their married life in River Raisin. Medard's father had acquired property there on a road now called LaPlaisance through a grant of land given to him by the Indian tribe of Potawatomies and it was on this land that he and Mary lived.
Medard and Mary had eleven children: Theresa Theotiste (Suzor), born June 5, 1800, died January 27, 1843; Alexis, born May 10, 1802; Mary Archange, born June 29, 1804; Peter, born September 25, 1806; Elizabeth, born June 29, 1809, died July 15, 1826, in a horse-riding accident, and buried July 16th. Mary Judith (Marie Judithe), born September 19, 1811, and buried June 1, 1816; Mary Matilda, born August 16, 1814, married Alexander Couseneau in 1837, and buried May 30, 1847; David, born October 8, 1816; Infant Daughter, born and buried September 12, 1818; George, born July 15, 1819; and Medard, born July 19, 1822, married Sophia Octavia Labadie, daughter of Pierre and Elizabeth (Delisle) Labadie, in 1846 (first cousins).
Medard was not an American citizen but he participated in the War of 1812 as a scout in the volunteer militia of the American army. Per Ancestry.com - "Soldiers of War of 1812," Medard enlisted at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was present just after the first Battle of the River Raisin and was running to join the second Battle when he was captured by Wyandotte Indians and taken to the British General Proctor in Detroit, where he was soon released. He served as a scout for the American army during the two sieges of Fort Meigs and a "reward was (subsequently) offered for his head." He was also present during the Battle of the Thames where Chief Tecumseh was defeated.
Medard and James Knaggs were credited with carrying a wounded Col. Richard Johnson (eventually Vice-President of the United States) off the field during that battle. During the Presidential campaign of 1840, General Lewis Cass was accompanied through the State of Michigan by Medard and James, who occupied the platform and were exhibited as the courageous soldiers who carried Johnson from the field.
Medard is buried in the Old Burial Ground which is next to St. Joseph's Cemetery on N. Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan. His wife, Mary, had died five days before him on April 18th and it is assumed that she was also buried in the Old Burial Ground but there is no documentation to support that assumption. Another researcher, name unknown, refers to Mary being buried in Monroe St. Mary Cemetery but I could find no information to validate that statement either. There was another Mary Labadie - Mary M. Labadie - who also died in April 1846 - on the 16th - and was buried in St. Mary Cemetery. That Mary was born in 1821 (as opposed to being born in 1780) and she was the wife of George Labadie and not Medard Labadie. Any information documenting Mary Theresa's burial location would be welcomed.
In 1987 Medard's original crumbling tombstone was replaced with a new one, with the same inscription that was on the original stone: "Medard Labady, died April 23, 1846, age 76 years. He was distinguished for his bravery at the Siege of Fort Meigs and bore Col. R.M. Johnson from the field of the Thames. May be rest in peace. P.S Underhill" (the engraver of the original stone).
The original stone, which stood about five feet tall, was donated to the Monroe County Historical Museum for its War of 1812 collection. The stone was subsequently relocated from the Museum to the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center.
Medard Labadie's Last Will and Testament, written a few days before his death and housed in the Monroe County Probate Court, lists real and personal property in Monroe which was divided among the following children: Alexis, Peter, Matilda, David, George, and Medard; his sister, Monique; and the children of his deceased daughter, Theresa (wife of John Baptiste Suzor). Alexis was my great-great-grandfather.
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