Pure French in 19th Century Midwest — Susanne Gaile

B. 26 Mar 1827 in Vincennes, Indiana
M. (1) 23 May 1842 in Vincennes, Indiana
Husband: François Louis Ravellette

M. (2) 22 Oct 1866 in St. Francisville, Illinois

Husband: Charles Moyse
D. 29 Oct 1869 in St. Francisville, Illinois

Susanne Gaile had a heritage that was 100% French-Canadian—a descendant of Indiana settlers from before the American Revolution. She was born in Vincennes on March 26, 1827 to Joseph Diel and Archange Baillargeon, the third of their seven known children (the surname Diel changed to Gaile sometime during the early 1800s). Susanne likely never attended school, and she grew up poor.

Susanne was only 15 when she got married. Her husband was François Louis Ravellette, and the wedding took place on May 23, 1842 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Vincennes. It was the same church where her parents and grandparents had been married, and her marriage was likely celebrated in a traditional Creole style. Often engagements happened just before Lent, with weddings taking place later in the spring; they were lively occasions followed by receptions usually held in the bride’s home. Susanne gave birth to her first child in 1844; the family grew to include eight children, with only the firstborn dying as an infant.

Like other people of French descent in Vincennes, the 1860 census showed that Susanne and her husband didn't own much land, and their children didn't attend school. A Creole dialect of French was likely spoken in their home instead of English; one of their daughters was known to be able to speak French as an adult. Susanne’s husband died in December 1863 at the age of 44; she was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a baby girl about two months later. 

With several underage children, Susanne needed a husband and on October 22, 1866, she remarried to Charles Moyse, a widower living across the Wabash River in St. Francisville, Illinois who was also her cousin. In September of 1868, she gave birth to one more child, a baby girl. Susanne died about a year later on October 29, 1869 at St. Francisville. Second husband Charles passed away in 1878.

Children by François Louis Ravellette:
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, Illinois

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 Marion 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 

Child by Charles Moyse:
1. Frances Moyse — B. 25 Sep 1868, Vincennes, Indiana; D. 1 Jun 1933, Vincennes, Indiana; M. (1) Peter Delisle (1857-1889), 11 Sep 1887, Knox County, Indiana; (2) John Baptist Stangle (1862-1899), 7 Apr 1891, Vincennes, Indiana; (3) Henry Louis Wheatley (1864-1935), 14 Feb 1905, Vincennes, Indiana 

Sources:
“Ravellettes from Indiana Roys, Griffith, etc.,” Genealogy.com
Creole (French) Pioneers at Old Post Vincennes, Joyce Doyle, Loy Followell, Elizabeth
1860 U.S. Census