Notes on the Ribaud Family of Acadia and Philadelphia

Notes on the Ribaud Family of Acadia and Philadelphia Collected by FERN DuComa KAHLERT ENEALOGICAL research in Pennsylvania families of French exkJ- traction presents many of the same problems encountered in research on families of Swiss or German origin. Surnames were spelled by English clerks as they were heard — phonetically — with the result that a single surname often appeared in a great variety of forms. The surname Ribaud is no exception; it is found under no less than a dozen different spellings, ranging from the simplest Rebo, through Reabeau, Ribau, Ribbau, Ribaux, Ribot, to its accepted form of Ribaud. Even that has sometimes been misinterpreted as Riband by those unfamiliar with eighteenthcentury calligraphy! Among the families of French extraction who came to Philadelphia in the eighteenth century were the so-called "French Neutrals" or Acadians of Nova Scotia. Dispersed through the Colonies in 1755 by the British for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Crown, these unfortunates, however, had been subjects of Great Britain since 1713, though exempted from bearing arms against France on taking the oath of fidelity to the British Crown. After the outbreak of the Seven Years' War the British, fearing these French-speaking inhabitants might act as a fifth-column by supporting French maneuvers, in July, 1755, ordered the immediate expulsion of all those who refused to take the oath of loyalty. Those destined for Pennsylvania arrived toward the latter part of November, 1755, and by the following spring were being dispersed through the countryside, their maintenance assigned to the Overseers of the Poor in the several counties. Although many official records before the American Revolution refer to the "French Neutrals" as a body, there are few remaining notices' of individuals. The registers of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia occasionally noted that individuals were Acadians, but such notations were by no means consistent and, as the years progressed, finally disappeared entirely as the communicant members were absorbed into the local economy. Thus to trace any one Acadian family often pre183 184 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine seats insurmountable obstacles. No evidence has been found that Joseph Ribaud, subject of the following notes, was one of the French Neutrals, but as he did intermarry with an Acadian, he may very well have been one, in spite of family tradition. In the notes of Wilson Mitchell DuComb, grandson of Vincent DuComb, is the statement that "Joseph Ribaud, my grandfather, was from Virginia, of the Jamestown Colony area. . . • he came to Philadelphia before the Revolution and was a sea trader. . . ." While search uncovered two men surnamed Ribeau and Ribot in Virginia very early, their connection with Joseph Ribaud, father-in-law of Vincent DuComb, has not as yet been established. The earliest reference to Joseph Ribaud is found in Philadelphia: 11 May 1761, married Joseph Ribau and Margaret Benoit. ("Marriages, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia," Records of the American Catholic Historical Society, II [1886], 279, hereinafter cited as ACHS.) According to the Reverend Robert A. Parsons, S.J., "The Benoit family [into which Joseph Ribaud married] was an Acadian family. They arrived with other Acadians in Philadelphia in 1755. As of 1763, there were three Benoits in Philadelphia: Joseph and Marie Benoit, most probably the father and mother of the above Margaret Benoit, and a widow, Madeleine Benoit. This information came from Fr. Hector J. Herbert, S.J., who has been collecting material all his life about the Acadians." That the Benoits were Acadians is confirmed by a communication, dated 3 May 1967, from W. I. Smith, Assistant Dominion Archivist at the Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa. He has written that on a list dated 20 June 1763, in Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, correspondance politique, vol. 450, fol. 416V, "the names of Joseph Benoit and Marie Josephte Benoit appear on a list of Acadians in Pennsylvania. . . . The list indicates that they had their two children with them, but the names of the children are not given." Further search in Philadelphia records has produced additional information on Joseph Ribaud and his family: James Ribau, son of Joseph and Margaret Ribau, born 19 August, baptized 28 August 1763, by Father Harding. Sponsors: James and Sophia Robinson. ("Baptisms, St. Joseph's R. C. Church," ACHS, I [1884], 267.) Philadelphia 2. November 1771. Joseph Ribbau, Image Maker, a Wife & 3 Children . . . in family. ("Account of the Number & Situation of the French Neutral Family's Now in this City," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XXIV [1900], 249-250.) On this list of Acadians, Joseph Ribaud's family was one of twenty-two others, comprising in all seventy-eight individuals, considered by the Notes on the Ribaud Family 185 Overseers of the Poor as capable of maintaining themselves, and so not a charge on the public. The following two items are of interest because of the later marriage of Joseph Ribaud to Mary Sennar: License to marry, 11 November 1766, Francis Senner and Mary Harding. ("Names of Persons for whom Marriage Licenses were issued in the Province of Pennsylvania previous to 1790," Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, II [1890], 220.) Margaret Sennar, daughter of Francis and Mary Agatha Sennar, born 15 October, baptized 30 October 1774. Sponsors, Joseph and Margaret Ribau. ("Baptisms, St. Joseph's R. C. Church, ACHS, I, 341.) With the advent of the Revolution, Joseph Ribaud appears to have abandoned "image-making" for a more active occupation, perhaps linked to an earlier one which he had pursued before he came to Philadelphia: Brig Lion, 31 July 1777, Joseph Ribout, master. Owners, F. Daymon 8c Co. Crew: 200. Guns: 14. ("List of Armed Vessels from the Port of Philadelphia, 1776-1777 • . . ." Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, I, 609.) From Leaflet No. 3, Pennsylvania Navy, Division of Public Records, publithed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at Harrisburg, it appears that "The relatively minor role of the Navy throughout the war can be explained in part by the activity of the Privateers. More than 400 of these armed but privately owned and operated vessels were licensed by Pennsylvania. Privateers preyed upon enemy shipping to the great profit of their owners and their crew. Since their profits were so large, the officers and men of Privateers received no public funds." Francis Daymon, principal owner of the Brig Lion, is first noted in Philadelphia as master of French and Latin, proposing to open a school at his house in Front a few doors above Market Street, according to his announcement in the Pennsylvania Journal, 7 April 1773. By 1776, he was librarian "of the Public Library" — now the Library Company of Philadelphia — and was still keeping school, according to the same newspaper of 1 October 1776. The next year, he announced in the Evening Post, 25 March 1777, that he had a store in Water Street, a few doors above Market. He lived, however, in Front Street, the second door from the Coffee House, according to the Pennsylvania Packet of 23 July 1778. How long Joseph Ribaud remained in Damon's employ is not known. His occupation is not given in the next recovered notice of Ribaud: 28 July 1779, married at Philadelphia, with license of the governor and dispensation from affinity, Joseph Ribaut, widower, to Mary Sennar. Witnesses: Anthony Groves, Andrew Lotier. ("Marriages, St. Joseph's R. C. Church," ACHS, IV [1893], 142.) Francis Sinner had been assessed in Lower Delaware Ward, Philadel- 186 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine phia, early in 1779, on an estate rated at E5, according to the lists in Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XIV, 526. In this same ward, which extends from Locust to Walnut Streets, Joseph Ribaud's name appeared the following year on a Constable's Return in the Philadelphia Municipal Archives, City Hall as: Joseph Ribeau, Saylor [or Taylor], estate rated at £200. The same year and in successive years on other assessment lists, he was listed as: 1780: Joseph Ribeau, mariner, estate £2000, tax, £6.0.0. 1781: Joseph Ribeau, occupation rated at £50, tax, £0.10.0 1782: Joseph Ribeau, occupation rated at £80, tax, £0.8.4 1783: Joseph Ribeau, mariner, occupation £80 (Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XV, 226, 734; XVI, 294, 823.) Francis, son of Francis and Mary Hubert, born 18 December 1782, baptized 1 January 1783. Sponsors: Joseph and wife Mary Ribau. ("Baptisms, St. Joseph's R. C. Church, ACHS, IV [1893], 46.) Joseph Rebo, 505 Water Street. (Macpherson', City Directory, 1785, 111.) Vincent Ducomb, hairdresser, and Rose Riband [sic — Ribaud] of the City of Philadelphia; license 12 November 1785; Bond £200. Bondsmen: Vincent Ducomb, Francois Serre. Witness: James Trimble. ("Marriage Licenses, 1784-1786," Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series, VI, 291, 304.) When the war ended, privateering was no longer feasible. Joseph Ribaud therefore returned to a more peaceable way of life. To ensure his position in the country it was advisable for him to proclaim his allegiance to the State, and before Plunket Fleeson he took the test of allegiance, agreeable to the Act passed 4 March 1786. His name and new occupation, and the date on which he took the test were entered as: 8 May 1786, Joseph Rebeaud, Shopkeeper of Philadelphia. ("List of the names and surnames of those who have given test of allegiance to this State . . • ," Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, III [1890], 54.) At the end of that year he either contemplated removing from the city, or expected to take a trip, for he announced in the Pennsylvania Packet for 25 December 1786, that The subscriber, being about to leave this city, requests all persons who are indebted to him to pay immediately; and those who have any demands against him may receive payments by applying to JOSEPH RIBAUD, Church alley, Philadelphia. 23 December 1786. In 1789, Joseph Ribaud was again assessed in Philadelphia. His personal estate was rated at £1 5 ; he was renting Peter Field's dwelling in Dock Ward, was rated at £149, and was paying an annual ground rent of £5 8s., which, rated at £54, was deducted from the £149, according to the entry on page 35 of the original Dock Ward Duplicate in the Municipal Archives. The following year in the First Census he was enumer- Notes on the Ribaud Family 187 ated on Ninth Street between Walnut and Spruce, in the Southern District of the city (Dock Ward) : Joseph Reabeau, 1 male over 16, 1 female. (Heads of Families at the First Census . . 1790: Pennsylvania [Washington, D.C., 1908], 245.) Married, 18 January 1791, Joseph Ribaud, Jr. and Nancy (or Arm) Cockran. Witnesses: Andrew Warner and James Gibson. (Transcript of records of Gloria Dei [Old Sweden'] Church, Philadelphia, II, 890, in Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania [GS!).) The elder Joseph Ribaud was apparently not assessed in Dock Ward in 1791, but according to the original duplicate for 1793, for that ward in the Municipal Archives, he (or his son) was listed on page 16 as "Joseph Ribaud, personal estate f20." Buried Joseph Ribaux's [Jr.] child, Holy Trinity. (Burials August 1 to November 9, 1793, Yellow Fever Deaths in Philadelphia, 1793, 1797, 1798, 22, GSP.) Although no record has been found of the death of the elder Ribaud's second wife Mary, it is possible she, too, succumbed to the plague, and that her death occasioned his removal from the city to the town of Lancaster. 17 November 1795, Peter Miller of Manchester Township, York County, Weaver, and Barbara his Wife, convey to Joseph Ribaud of the Borough and County of Lancaster, Merchant, for £270 in real Gold and Silver current lawful money, a Stone Messuage and two lots in Botts Town, Manchester Township, York County, situate on the North side of the great Road from the Borough of York to Frederick Town (now called King Street), Bounded Eastward with a 20 foot Alley, Northward with Reinhard Botts Land, Westward with Lots of Ground now in Tenure of Margaret Salome Spangler, and Southward with King Street, containing in Breadth East and West 65 feet and in Length or Depth 460 feet, Exclusive of an Alley called Carlisle Alley, which in the plan of the said Lots divides the hereby granted two Lots of Ground (whereby the one is called a Front Lot and the other a Back Lot) . . which said Premises Everrard Harr and Wife Hannah conveyed to Peter Miller 1 September 1794. . . . Together with all Houses, Edifices and Buildings thereon Erected and Built . . . subject to the yearly payment of Twenty Shillings in Gold or Silver money Current to the Heirs and assigns of John Hagner deceased forever. . • • Wit: George Leaman, J. Lukens /s/ in German Peter Muller Recorded 25 November 1795 in her York Co. Deed Book LL, 140 Barbara (X) Miller mark A search by Mr. Charles J. Burgess of Gap, Pa., in the Lancaster County Court House and in the Historical Society in Lancaster failed to produce any evidence that Joseph Ribaud had actually ever lived in Lancaster. Deeds and the borough assessment lists contained no entries under his name or that of his son-in-law, Vincent DuComb. However. at York 188 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Mr. Burgess found that the 1797 York County assessment list for Botts Town, Manchester Township, did list "Joseph Ribau" as having 1 lot, rated at $250, and one cow rated at $8, for a total valuation of $258 on which the tax was eighty-two cents. The entry included the notation there was a "stonehouse" on the premises. That year Joseph Ribaud acquired another piece of property: 27 June 1797, Henry Korbman, Yeoman, of the Borough of York and Catherine his Wife, convey to Joseph Ribaud of Botts Town, Manchester Township, York County, Gentleman, for the Sum of £171 in Gold or Silver lawful money of Pennsylvania, a certain Messuage, Tenement and Lot or piece of Ground on the East side of Water Street and South side of King Street in the Borough of York, Known on the General Plan of said Borough as Number 134, Containing in Breadth on Water Street 57 feet 6 inches and in length on King Street 250 feet to a twenty foot Alley, Bounded on the West by Water Street, on the North by King Street, on the East by the said Alley, and on the South by Lot Number 235, now in the tenure of George Sefrentz, being the some lot and premises which Peter Meyer and Martin Cronemiller, executors of the last will of Jacob Meyer, late of the Borough of York, deceased, conveyed 4 April 1797 to Henry Korbman. Wit: Jno. Morris, Jon. Morris, Jr/5/ in German Henrich Korbman Recorded 11 July 1797 in her York Co. Deed Book MM, 480 Catherine (X) Korbman mark Although Joseph Ribaud may have moved to this property in York, his children were still in Philadelphia. Six months after the purchase of the York house and lot, his daughter Catherine was married in Philadelphia: Married 8 November (?) 1797, John Baptist Cade; French, and Catherine Ribau, American. (Baptisms and Marriages, 1790-1806, Holy Trinity R. C. Church, Philadelphia, 139, GSP.) Mary Rosina, daughter of John Baptist and Catherine Ribaud Cade; been 11 August 1798, baptized 2nd of September. Sponsors: Anthony Lirou, Rose Ribaud DuComb. (Ibid., 152 ) Assessment records searched by Mr. Burgess in the York County Historical Society, show that in 1800 one George Hartman was tenant on "Reboes property" consisting of one house and one lot in the Borough of York. It was assessed at $150 on which the tax was nineteen cents. Thus, it would appear that Joseph had returned to Philadelphia, perhaps making his home with one of his children. Search in deeds failed to locate the sale of the Botts Town property which he must have sold prior to writing his will: 28 September 1801, In Nomini Domini, Amen, I Joseph Ribaud, late of Yorktown in the County of York in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, now of Philadelphia, being very sick and weak. . . • To Catherine McLaughlin who has attended me and kept my Notes on the Ribaud Family 189 House since five years and now lives at Abbotstown in the County of York [actually in Adams County] in a house I lately did hire, I bequeath $213.35 silver dollars as an acknowledgement of her kindness and attention to me and in full compensation of the same during the aforesaid Term. Also all the Household Furniture of whatsoever kind and also the Kitchen furn;ture now in aforesaid House at Abbotstown. Executor named below to sell and dispose of my aforesaid House and lot at Yorktown. The Oct proceeds of all real estate, and money I have on interest in the Hands of John Fry of Lancaster, Merchant, after payment of debts and legacy above, is to be equally divided between my three children, Rose Ribaud, wife of Vincent Ducomb, Joseph Ribaud, and Catharine Ribaud, wife of John Baptiste Catez. My Son-in-law Vincent Ducomb of Philadelphla to be sole executor. . . . Wit: E. Perpignan /5/ Joseph Ribaud P. LeBarbier Duplessis John Meese of Philadelphia, Gent., attests to the signature of Joseph Ribaud, being well acquainted with him and his hand writing. The will was proved 8 October 1801, at Philadelphia and recorded in Will Book Y, 580, #88:1801. No inventory or settlement are included in the estate docket. Addenda Several deeds transferring real property to and from Joseph Ribaud were discovered too late to incorporate in the preceding notes. They are given below in abstracted form and furnish additional information about his life. On 3 November 1783, William Ransted, cooper of Philadelphia, conveyed to Joseph Ribaud for £236 Ils. 4d. one undivided third part of a messuage and lot on the east side of Front Street and west side of King (alias Water Street) 'm Philadelphia between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. (Recorded in Deed Book D-8, 267, 16 January 1784.) On the same day, Joseph Ribaud purchased at sheriff's sale the other two undivided third parts of the same premises, sold in execution as the estate of William Ransted. On 18 April 1785, Joseph Ribaud and his wife Mary sold this property, sixteen feet in breadth and extending thirty-four lost between Front and Water Street, to John Wood of Philadelphia, clock and watch maker. The consideration was £950 in "lawful Silver money of Pennsylvania." (Recorded 3 May 1785, in Deed Book D-12, 328, in which is recited the sheriff's sale of the property, first advertised for sale in the Pennsylvania Parket, 21 October 1783.) Seven months later on 19 November 1785, Robert Duncan, Jr., late of Philadelphia but now of Richmond, Virginia, merchant, conveyed to Joseph Ribaud of Philadelphia for £1005 a messuage and lot on the west side of Second Street from Delaware and the north side of Vidall's Alley, the first alley muth of Chestnut Street. (Recorded 24 January 1786, in Deed Book D-14, 526.) This property, twenty-seven feet in breadth on Second Street by sixty feet in depth along Vidall's Alley, on 9 December 1785, Ribaud mortgaged for £350 to Thomas Affleck, cabinet-maker of Philadelphia, who had sold the premises to Duncan 6 April 1784. On 19 December 1786, Joseph and Mary Ribaud conveyed the property to John Evans, merchant of Philadelphia, for the consideraelOn of £500, and 190 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine the payment of the mortgage monies and interest due to MEleck. (Recorded 1 February 1787, in Deed Book D-17, 443.) On 7 June 1788, Peter Blanchard, innholder of the city, and his wife Mary, sold to Joseph Ribaud for £218 a two-story frame messuage and two lots of land in the square between Delaware Eighth and Ninth and Pine and Lombard Streets. The lot on which the house stood was on the west side of an alley called Blackberry Alley which ran from Pine to Lombard, had a frontage on the alley of forty-two feet and extended westward fifty-eight feet. The other lot was at the southeast corner of Blackberry Alley and an eight-foot alley called Blanchard's Alley, having a frontage on the first alley of sixty-two feet, and along the south side of Blanchard's Alley of ninety-eight feet. (Recorded in Deed Book D-2I, 329.) Less than a month later on 1 July 1788, Ribaud bought from Charles White, merchant of Philadelphia, for £100 the two contiguous lots at the northwest corner of Delaware Eighth and Lombard Streets, each twenty-eight feet in front on Eighth by one hundred and eighty-eight feet on Lombard Street. (Recorded 19 July 1788, in Deed Book D-20, 313.) In all of these transactions Joseph Ribaud was described as a merchant of Philadelphia. But on 31 August 1795, it was as Joseph Ribaud, Gentleman of Philadelphia, that be and his wife Mary sold for £900 the two-story frame messuage and lot on Blackberry Alley purchased from Blanchard, and all the "lot of ground and garden" at the northwest corner of Eighth and Lombard Streets he had purchased from Charles White, to Joseph Henzey, chair-maker of Philadelphia. (Recorded 1 September 1795, in Deed Book D-51, 415.) From these records it is clear that Joseph Ribaud's wife Mary (who made her mark when they sold the various properties) was living as late as the first of September 1795. Whether she died in the yellow fever epidemic of that year, or after her husband purchased the house and lot in Botts Town, York County, the following November, has not as yet been resolved. Information Wanted Mrs. G. Arthur Gordon, 6149 Erdrick St., Philadelphia, 19135, is searching for the ancestry of JoHN and SUSAN PRESTON WBO Came to Philadelphia from Wales, place unknown, about 1825 with their young son, JOHN, JR., been 1 May 1823. The parents loft him with a family named Anaats who operated a shoe store at 187 N. 2nd Street, while they went to New York on business. Both parents died in that city in Bellevue Hospital of yellow fever. The Adams family adopted the little Preston boy who was raised as JOHN PRESTON ADAMS. He died in December, 1875. Where in Wales did the Prestons live before emigrating? Information on one MARGARET LEWIS is also desired. In 1820 she was living possibly in the north section of Philadelphia, and may have been related to a JENKINS Or BROUS family. CORRECTION: On page 76, Vol. XXV, No. 2, 1967, issue of this Magazine, the year of Captain William Penn's marriage to Margaret Van der Schuren should read 1643/4, not 1642/3.