Massacre at Fort Rosalie - November 28, 1729

Natchez, Adams Co., MS

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The first white settlement in the Natchez area was a trading post established by the French, in 1714. In August, 1716, a palasade was established on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, in what is now the city of Natchez. The post was called Fort Rosalie, and served as protection from the Indians.

Years of mistreatment, by the Commandant of Fort Rosalie, De Chepart, was met with retaliation in November, 1729. The Natchez Indians gained access to Fort Rosalie by porporting to be friends. However, early on the morning of the 28th, the Indians surprised the garrison with a brutal attack. Most inhabitants were slayed, except for one member who managed to excape, and eventually make his way to New Orleans.

Among those massacred, were four women whose abdomens were ripped open and whose children, included in the list below, were killed.

The Natchez Indians retained control of the area until 1730 when Territorial Governor Perrier, from New Orleans, sent a force to the area. Fighting alongside of the Perrier expedition were the Choctaw Indians, and after several days of hard fighting, the Natchez surrendered previously captured French women and children, and withdrew from Fort Rosalie. The tribe then temporarily settled in what is today Catahoula Parish, LA.

A year later, another expedition against the Natchez Indians was ordered, by Governor Perrier. That battle took place in Louisiana. That same year, a replacement fort was built at Natchez.

Fort Rosalie was later occupied by the British, from 1763-1779, the Spanish from 1779-1798, and the Americans from 1798 until the fort's abandoment in 1804.

The following is a list of those killed during the November, 1729 Massacre. The list was drawn on the 9th of June, 1730, by F. Filbert Capuchin, priest and missionary, aboard the Duc de Bourbon.

Translation by Dr. A. G. Sanders - Source -- Ministry of the Colonies C. 13, v. 12 Folios 57 to 58 verso

For information on some surviors, as submitted by researchers, click HERE

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BIBLIOGRAPHY  NOTE:  Dr. Charles Nolan wrote a recently published history of St Marys Church.  He included in an end note the name of every single survivor (female) and who they remarried, their original husbands having been slain.

Napolean himself [sic] took a personal intrest in these survivors and wrote to the Ursilines that they were to give the finest of care to these women and (I think!) that the "Crown" would pay a large part of the expenses.

All of this correspondence is still intact in the Ursilines archives and all of the marriages are listed in the New Orleans Sacramental records.

For detailed information on these marriages see Earl C. Woods and Charles E. Nolan, eds.,
Sacramental Records of the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, (New Orleans: 1987-1991), 1:passim.
                                                                  - Bob Shumway

Adams Co., MS wishes to thank Bob Shumway for providing this list.

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Known survivors, submitted by researchers:

Pierre Lambremont's wife Marie Francoise Martin and one child Pierre

"In the bloody massacre of the French by the Natchez Indians on November 19, 1729, the father and a child whose name is not known were killed.  The surviving French women and children, captives of the Indians for two to three months, suffered horribly until the French and their Choctaw allies freed them in January and February of 1730.  They were taken to New Orleans, where the Ursulines cared for many of them.  French accounts of the period do not give the names of most of those rescued, but it is probable that the Lambremont mother and child were among them.  "

Thanks to Beverly Martin for providing this information!

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My ancestor named Saint Noel Soileau was at the Natchez and survived the massacre but, his uncle Gerard Pellerin who was living there with him did not. Geraard is not listed in the victims list and he should be. Saint Noel Soileau was also appointed Quarter master of the Royal Warehouse of the fort after helping to rebuild it. He evaded capture of the indians by hiding our and living in the woods and in the trees. He was a very resourceful man.

Thanks to Holly Guidry for providing this information!