M. 23 May 1842 in Vincennes, Indiana
Wife: Susanne Gaile
D. 26 Dec 1863 in Vincennes, Indiana
Many of the descendants of the original French settlers of Vincennes became second-class citizens of the town their ancestors founded. This was true of François Louis Ravellette; he owned little and left no mark on the community. But perhaps his wealth was in the Creole heritage he passed on to his children.
François (also known as Francis or Frank) was born in Vincennes, Indiana on September 14, 1819 to François Ravellette and Elizabeth Turpin, one of seven children. Both of his parents traced back to the 18th century French fur traders who were the first European inhabitants of the middle of North America. His parents also each had Native American heritage, another characteristic of being Creole. There are no photos of François, but the indigenous ancestry can be seen in images of some of his descendants.
Details about François’ life are unfortunately sketchy. He grew up on a farm in the Vincennes area and he likely lived his entire life in the same area. On May 23, 1842, he married a 15-year-old girl, Susanne Gaile, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Vincennes. Their first child was born in 1844 and died young, but they went on to have seven more, with the youngest one born posthumously. Two of the children were twins, born in 1850.
Details about François’ life are unfortunately sketchy. He grew up on a farm in the Vincennes area and he likely lived his entire life in the same area. On May 23, 1842, he married a 15-year-old girl, Susanne Gaile, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Vincennes. Their first child was born in 1844 and died young, but they went on to have seven more, with the youngest one born posthumously. Two of the children were twins, born in 1850.
On an Indiana farm. (AI-generated image)
Most of what we know about François comes from the 1860 census. The value of his property in 1860 was $340, which was well below average for the people in the area. He and his wife were illiterate and none of his children ages 10 to 14 attended school. It’s also safe to say that French was spoken in the home, likely a Creole dialect spoken in that region of America; later generations passed down the story that one of his daughters could speak French.
François didn’t live to a ripe old age — he was 44-years old when he died on December 26, 1863. His wife Susanne was pregnant with their final child and gave birth the following February. She remarried in 1866, but passed away in October 1869.
Children:
1. Joseph Ravellette — B. 5 Mar 1844, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 7 Sep 1845, Vincennes, Indiana
2. Elizabeth Ravellette — B. about 1845, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 1880, St. Francisville, Illinois; M. Jacob Charles Valle (1845-1899), 30 Dec 1872, St. Francisville
3. François Ravellette — B. 2 Apr 1848, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 20 May 1913, St. Francisville, Illinois; M. (1) Mary Channet (1848-1871); (2) Josephine Elizabeth Greemore (1853-1921)
4. Mary Louise Ravellette — B. 3 Oct 1850, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 2 May 1918, Vincennes, Indiana; M. (1) William L. Edeline (1848-1876), 24 Nov 1868, Knox County, Indiana; (2) Robert James Wilhite (1850-1938), 3 Sep 1880, Vincennes, Indiana
5. William Ravellette — B. 3 Oct 1850, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 10 Dec 1929; M. Melissa Gharst (1870-1952)
6. Andrew Ravellette — B. 13 Oct 1858, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 28 Mar 1931
7. Eliza Ravellette — B. 26 Jun 1861, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 23 Feb 1941, Vincennes, Indiana; M. Robert Baker (~1842-?), 15 Nov 1880, Vincennes, Indiana
8. Marguerite Helen Ravellette — B. 12 Feb 1864, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 22 Sep 1906, Lawrenceville, Illinois; M. Oliver Levi Stangle (1859-1923), 2 Apr 1883, Vincennes, Indiana
Sources:
“Ravellettes from Indiana Roys, Griffith, etc.,” Genealogy.com
1860 U.S. Census
Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993, FamilySearch.org
