M. (1) about 1816 in (probably) Vincennes, Indiana
Wife: Elizabeth Turpin
M. (2) before 1850 in (probably) Vincennes, Indiana
Wife: Angeline
D. 7 Dec 1857 in (probably) Vincennes, Indiana
François Ravellette may have been a soldier in the Battle of Tippecanoe, although the evidence isn’t definitive. Even if he wasn't in the famous battle, he was close by when it happened.
François was born on November 9, 1791 to Louis Favel Ravelette and Françoise-Agnes Godere, one of about 12 children. The Ravellettes were Creoles living in Vincennes, in the territory that would one-day become Indiana. It’s likely that François received no formal education. His early life was spent during a transition of when settlers from Virginia and Kentucky were becoming dominant as the old French settlers sold off their land to them.
When François came of age, the people in and around Vincennes were under the threat of tribes nearby who raided their homes. In 1811, the Indians united under a Shawnee chief named Tecumseh who sought to keep the settlers from taking all of their land. This led to American forces confronting the Indians on November 9th at the Battle of Tippecanoe. There is a record that shows François served as a private in the 1st Regiment of Indiana from November 13th to November 21st. He was paid $1.99 for his nine days of service. The battle took place four days before the period of time on François’ pay stub, but it’s possible that he was involved in the battle as well.
When François came of age, the people in and around Vincennes were under the threat of tribes nearby who raided their homes. In 1811, the Indians united under a Shawnee chief named Tecumseh who sought to keep the settlers from taking all of their land. This led to American forces confronting the Indians on November 9th at the Battle of Tippecanoe. There is a record that shows François served as a private in the 1st Regiment of Indiana from November 13th to November 21st. He was paid $1.99 for his nine days of service. The battle took place four days before the period of time on François’ pay stub, but it’s possible that he was involved in the battle as well.
Battle of Tippecanoe.
Record showing François served as a private for 9 days.
The following year, François volunteered as a private in the War of 1812 as a part of the Indiana Rangers, but there are no other details about his service. The Indiana Rangers had been formed in 1807 as a mounted force who patrolled against Indian attack. During the War of 1812, the Rangers were used to help the regular American army fight the British; two companies were based in Vincennes and François joined one of them.
When the war was over, François got married to Elizabeth Turpin, a teenaged girl from a Vincennes Creole family. Between 1817 and 1833, they had at least seven children. Elizabeth died in about 1835, and François remarried to a woman named Angeline sometime before 1850, but there’s no record that they had children. The 1850 census shows that François’ youngest three sons were living his household and they had likely never attended school.
François died on December 7, 1857, probably in Vincennes. It isn't known when and where his second wife died.
Children:
1. Pierre Ravellette — B. 8 Oct 1817, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 9 Aug 1895, Muhlenburg County, Kentucky; M. Elenore Metaie, 29 Dec 1841, Vincennes, Indiana
2. François Louis Ravellette — B. 14 Sep 1819, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 26 Dec 1863, Vincennes, Indiana; M. Susanne Gaile (1827-1869), 23 May 1842, Vincennes, Indiana
3. Louise Ravellette — B. 24 Jul 1822, Vincennes, Indiana
4. Jean Baptiste Ravellette — B. 8 Oct 1824, Vincennes, Indiana
5. Joseph Arthur Ravellette — B. 10 Jul 1827, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 6 Nov 1875, Vincennes, Indiana; M. Marcellette Mette (1831-?), 5 Sep 1860, Vincennes, Indiana
6. Marie Joseph Ravellette — B. 12 May 1831, Vincennes, Indiana; D. (probably) Oct 1832, Vincennes, Indiana
7. Benjamin Ravellette — B. 21 Apr 1833, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 25 Aug 1864; M. Indiana Mahoney, 9 Jul 1853, (probably) Vincennes, Indiana
Sources:
“Ravellettes from Indiana Roys, Griffith, etc.,” Genealogy.com
1850 U.S. Census
United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records
Indiana Rangers (Wikipedia article)
Battle of Tippecanoe (Wikipedia article)
A complete survey of cemetery records, Knox County, Indiana, collected and compiled by Mrs. Alta Amsler
