You probably haven’t heard of the Chevalier. He was a French Ambassador to the United States, living in Baltimore, MD. When the French Revolution broke out in his home country, he decided to stay in his adopted country. He eventually settled in the wilderness of Louisiana, leaving behind quite a story to tell.
Charles was born in Fecamp, Normandy, France about 1742. He was one of eight sons born to an aristocratic family. At the age of 12, he joined the French Merchant Marines on the Island of Martinique. During the French and Indian War with England he was captured. He learned to speak English during this time. After his release, he decided to travel to the New World. Charles served in various merchant houses, making a very decent living. He spent a couple of years back in France, where he wrote four memoirs about the American Colonies. Then war broke out. His adopted country decided to declare their independence. It is said that his knowledge and persuasion helped the French to join the American cause. The French king sent him to scout around the colonies to report back on what was going on. He became close friends of George Washington, Ben Franklin and other men who today are considered founding fathers of our country. After the Revolution, the French monarchy put him to work as the Pro-Consul for the five southern states of Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Charles decided to build himself a grand estate in Baltimore, his home base. It stood into the 1900’s when it was demolished. The home was a grand mansion with a lavish formal garden. One of the things he was known for during this period is setting up the first monument in honor of Christopher Columbus in the United States. It still stands at the Samuel Ready Institute. Also during this time, he met a girl named Julia de Recourt. According to Charles himself, he wanted to marry her, but it would take several months to get permission from the king. The couple decided to pretend they had secretly already married so they could live as man and wife. This was a big mistake. Six weeks into the agreement, the honeymoon phase was over. Apparently, there was mother-in-law trouble. Just what that was is not known. Julia, calling herself “Madame d’Annemour” began to “entertain other men” right under Charles’ nose. Julia left for the West Indies and then headed to France where she tried to turn the French Ministry against her “husband”. When that didn’t work, she came back to sue Charles, but she had no proof of their supposed marriage. Julia lost the suit and retreated to Jamaica where she eventually found love again.
After his job was lost during the French Revolution, Charles took the oath of allegiance to the US and turned his eyes to adventure. Spain needed help recruiting settlers to colonize their new territory along the Ouachita River. Charles was their man. In July, 1796 Charles arrived at Fort Miro and made his introductions to Commandant Filhiol. He brought with him, six enslaved, two English workmen, his library, scientific equipment, and his ward, Eleanor Hook, who would later marry Abram Morhouse. One more person came with him, who will come into play later, was his mistress Audrel Stephenson, who was described as “of color”.
Charles bought some land from Joseph de la Baume where he set up his plantation home. The site is now the location of Brightspeed Security Systems, across from the bus barn and overpass 123 N. 6th Street). He got his enslaved workers to set himself up a formal garden to match those back in France. Charles called himself a farmer and experimented with growing wheat. The French explorer Charles Cesar Robin stopped by in 1804 but wasn’t impressed. He sneered at the formal garden, considering it a waste of good farmland. Robin was impressed though, by the avenue of sycamore trees he had planted.
Charles wrote about the Louisiana territory, trying to entice others to come settle in the area. Thomas Jefferson even tried to interest the American Philosophical Society to publish it. He described Charles as a “a man of science, good sense and truth.”
Here is where his girlfriend Audrel comes into play. It is said he treated her as a wife in everything but name. She ate at the table with Charles, even when guests such as Jean Filhiol and his wife came calling. When Audrel died, he gave her a lavish funeral. Funeral notices were sent out. Four “white women” acted as the pallbearers. One of them was Mrs. Filhiol! Commandant Filhiol preached the funeral sermon. Audrel was buried near the house so that Charles could gaze upon it whenever he wished and grieve.
Charles didn’t grieve for long. He became infatuated with a young sixteen year-old girl from a poor family named Lucy LeBlanc. Her stepfather was agreeable, so Filhiol married the couple. There were no priests in the vicinity to bless the union. You would think Charles had learned his lesson by now.
Nineteen days of wedded bliss was all it took until Charles confessed the situation with Julia. Just how much he told Lucy is unknown, but it sent her running back to her family. There were also hints he had given her an STD. When Father Juan Brady came by, he told her to go back to her husband and let him investigate. Lucy refused. She told him she would go live with the Indians if he forced her back to Charles. Father Brady gave in and let her live in the home of Louis Badin while the matter was sorted. Charles painted her as a sort of innocent country bumpkin being manipulated by someone behind the scenes and Lucy’s lawyers painted Charles as a lecherous villain taking advantage of an innocent young girl. Lots of back and forth happened until the New Orleans Bishop declared the marriage null. Charles and Lucy were free to go their separate ways. Charles was required to fund a roof for the church being built on the Ouachita and help when the Commandant needed. Dr. Williams’ goes into great detail about the case in a chapter of his book, “Spanish Poste d’Ouachita…” if you want more information. Don’t worry about Lucy. She would go on to marry several more times, once to Jean Joseph Filhiol, Commandant Filhiol’s son!
Five years later, Charles retreated to New Orleans and put his plantation up for sale. Charles died at New Orleans in 1809.
Louisiana State Gazette (New Orleans) May 13, 1806.
Moniteur De La Louisiane, New Orleans, Louisiana · Saturday, February 25, 1809
OBITUARY.
Died yesterday, following a long paralysis, at the age of 70, Charles le Paulmier, Chevalier d’Annemours, former Consul General of France for the Southern States of the United States, who had been living in retirement in this Territory for about twelve years. A kind heart, a highly cultivated mind, and an unfailingly gentle nature endeared him to others during his lifetime and ensure that his loss will be mourned as long as any who knew him remain on earth.
New Orleans, February 24, 1809 .
The plantation home Charles built on the Ouachita was moved out to Horseshoe Lake Road. You may know it as the O’Kelly or Oliver Home. It is probably the oldest home in Ouachita Parish.
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 
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