Véronique Tourville Roland (née Caillou) (~1812-1841)

When I look at the public member trees on Ancestry with regard to Véronique Caillou, I note that details about her come in various ways:

  • Most of the trees give no parents for her with an approximate birth year of 1813,
  • Others show her with François Thomas Caillou and Marie-Eugénie Harpin, as parents, with a birthdate of June 3, 1813,
  • And, finally, some with no parents with a birthdate of June 3, 1813.

I think these members might have been misled.

As it is often the case upon the husband’s death, some people don’t really care what happened to the widow and are already gone climbing another branch of their tree. Well, I stayed on Véronique’s branch and here is what I was able to discover.

First of all, on the 1829 Florissant’s St. Ferdinand’s Catholic marriage record of Véronique Caillou and Toussaint Tourville, the parents’ names are not given. What to do in such a case? Let’s take a look at the witnesses that might be of interest: namely, François Caillou and Louis Caillou. These two are most likely relatives of Véronique. Father, brothers, cousins?

Véronique gave birth to two boys: Charles, in 1831, and Joseph Toussaint, in February 1833, after Toussaint’s death.

After Toussaint died intestate in October 1832, the estate’s administrator was Anthyme Lenoire dit Roland who became Véronique’s second husband on September 23, 1833. They were married in St. Louis King of France Church. On that occasion, thankfully, the priest provided more details; Véronique is the daughter of Louis Caillou and Marie Lalande, and the widow of Toussaint Tourville. Among the witnesses were Louis Caillou and Régis Lalande.

Louis Caillou and Marie Lalande are a very interesting couple. I found baptism records for two of their children:

  • Louis, born on January 24, 1811, baptized on May 20, 1811, in St. Louis King of France Church; and
  • Monique, born on May 29, 1812, baptized on June 9, 1813, in St. Louis King of France Church.
First_Catholic_church_in_St_Louis_Missouri

Image of St. Louis King of France, the first church of St. Louis, MO, built in 1770.
Source: http://books.google.com/books?id=scUUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=copyright#PPA155,M1

At first, I couldn’t locate this couple’s marriage record because I was looking at pre-1811 records. And then I noticed that the baptismal record for Louis stated: […] from the legal marriage of […]. I therefore decided to investigate further and got their marriage at St. Louis King of France Church:

On the 25th of May 1816, by us, undersigned priest, was ratified the marriage of Louis Cailloux and Marie Lallande, widow of joseph lamarche, and without any impediment to the said marriage, we, undersigned priest of this parish, have received their mutual consent and have given them the nuptial blessing following the rites of our Holy Catholic Church, in presence of jean baptiste Morin, françois Castongué, francois Cailloux, and alexis Lallande. [Translated from French]

Although this is only guess-work, as I have no official document to rely on, I think that maybe Louis and Marie first marry in a civil ceremony.

What happened to Louis Caillou and Marie Lalande? Well, I know that Marie’s father, Alexis, died in 1820 in St. Louis and that Louis Caillou was the estate’s administrator and identified as being the son-in-law of Alexis. In 1828, Louis Caillou was summoned to appear before the County Court regarding his work as administrator and it seems he never showed up. I also found out that one Louis Caillou and one Marie Lalande Caillou were the defendants, respectively in 1833 and 1834, for a forfeited recognizance with respect to Louis’ indiction for grand larceny. Which Louis Caillou are we talking about? Her husband or her son? These files are not available online but guess who will order them?

Véronique died in St. Louis in January 1841, after giving birth to three children born from her second marriage: Anthyme, Geneviève and Michel Charles Borromée. Anthyme Roland died in August 1860, and his estate lists three children still living: Anthyme, Charles B. (indicated as living in Illinois) and Amelia. Amelia might be born from his second marriage to Margaret Rebenach. I may have traced Charles B. with wife Martha in Jersey County in 1860 (he was the neighbour of Peter Tourville). He fought in the Civil War. This couple later moved to Texas. I am still looking for proofs about them or the other children. Definitely a case to follow up on.

Basilica_of_St._Louis,_France_(color)

The Old Cathedral was consecrated in 1834 so Véronique’s funeral took place here.
Basilica of St. Louis. Photo taken by Tom Bastin, 5 June 2011 ~ Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/5946075593/

Here is an excerpt from Véronique’s brother, Louis Caillou’s testimony at the Supreme Court case concerning the administration of Toussaint Tourville’s estate by Anthyme L. Roland in 1855:

“Plaintiff then called Louis Caillon who testified that he knew the relator & defendant Roland; and that he has known Roland 15 or 17 years. Toussaint Tourville, father of the one here in court was my brother in law. After his death, Roland married his widow & lived on the property of my brother in law. The house mentioned in this suit & in the evidence witness thinks was built prior to 1840. The basement story rented at from $3 to $4 per month. The upper fraction of the house in which Roland lived was worth $8 to $9 per month. There were two other tenements on the lot which he rented out also. Our cross examination by defendants witness said: I was here when my brother in law died. My brother in law owned the property mentioned and he left two children only Charles and Toussaint. Roland married the widow of my brother in law and she died I believe in 1841. I think I left St. Louis in 1833, 4 or 5 I went into the Spanish country. I don’t recollect the time when I returned. I was here in 1844 the year of the high water, and had been here a year I suppose. The new house not already built when I came back. I cant tell the year in which the new house was built. I was here in 1851. I know when Roland left to go to New Orleans. That might have been in 1851. He left his family here. They continued to live in the house spoken of. His family staid in it after he left a good while, can’t say the exact time. I do not recollect positively the time the house was built. I am sure Mrs. Roland lived in the house when the basement was not rented. Roland occupied the whole. Mrs. Roland after Roland left lived in the basement a while and then moved up stairs.”

I can’t help noticing that Louis Caillou left the country around 1833-1835 and that those were the years during which his father or himself was in conflict with the law.

Now, back to Véronique. Would it be possible that the second child, Monique, could have been Véronique? The only other Véronique Caillou referred to in the records is born from another couple. If one considers accurate her birthdate as May 29, 1812, she would have died at age 28, as mentioned in her burial record.

Food for thoughts.

2 thoughts on “Véronique Tourville Roland (née Caillou) (~1812-1841)

  1. Wow! Not only a great post of finds but also very well written. I loved your opening paragraph and how you walked me through each step of the process clearly. I don’t know your family but I did follow your train of thought.

    • Devon, Thank you very much! I am always flattered because English is not my mother tongue.

      I’m glad you enjoyed the story 🙂

Comments are closed.