PIERRE AUGUSTINE CROYEAU

 

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Pierre Augustine Croyeau was born about 1819 in Paris, France. His mother was Annette Paris Croyeau. The family stories about Augustine, as he was known in Baltimore, are that as a youth he played around the Arc de Triumph. His mother feared for his safety. Something to do with Napoleons soldiers. Whether she was afraid he would be conscripted for military service or perhaps that the Paris scene was potentially violent for a young teen. Whatever the reason, she sent him to America to live with an Uncle. The story told by his granddaughter to her granddaughter, who wrote it down while she was in college  is that he went to Philadelphia to live with her sister and brother-in-law.  When his uncle died, Pierre inherited the store, which he soon sold.  He married the beautiful sales clerk had a child and moved to Baltimore - all by the time he was 21 years old.

That is the story. Here is what I can confirm.

John August Paris was on the 1830 PA Census, roll 159, page 478.  It noted 1 male 30 - 40 and 1 female 20-30 living in the Walnut Ward. The 1833 Philadelphia City Directory has August Parris, wig maker and hair dresser at 56 S. 4th  He continued there until 1835-6 Directory.  Pierre Croyeau was never listed in the Philadelphia Directory.

August Crayeau arrived in New York from the port Le Harve on July 20, 1831 on ship France.  He was 13 years old.  This would be the right age and very close name for our Pierre.  He did not arrive with any family members.  New York Passenger List 1820 - 1957 roll M237_15.  

August Paris made a buying trip to France in 1833 noted in Philadelphia Passenger List 1800 - 1845..  On Sept 25, 1833 he arrived in Philadelphia from Bordeaux Port on ship Pacific as Merchant and US resident becoming a citizen   The Court of Common Pleas Declaration of Intention Philadelphia 1821 - 1849 Abstrcted by Jefferson Monk in 2000, page 125 lists Augustus Paris entered Philadelphia in 1828 from France.  He declared his intention to become a citizen May 7, 1834.  CP Vol 6, page 293

 We don't know exactly when John Augustus Parris died but the Index to Administration, Philadelphia Book O, page 268, names Margaret Parris as his widow on March 22, 1836.  The estate was valued at $14,600.  That sounds like a tidy sum  I could not find any record that Mr. Parris owned property and  there was no will naming Pierre as an heir. Perhaps he was given part of the estate by Margaret.  No way to know.

Pierre Augustine Croyeau married Phoebe Hubbard Ward about 1839.  Phoebe had been a clerk in the Uncle's store in Philadelpia.  It is not known why they moved to Baltimore but they were there by 1840  where he first opened a Ladies hair dressing store.  Later he expanded into Importing French goods.

Pierre returned many times to Paris, as he was an importer of "fancy goods" in later years. Once he brought his wife six silver spoons that were exact copies of the French family silver. They are still in the family.

The Baltimore 1840 City Directory lists Augustin Croyeau on 149 E. Baltimore St..," hairdresser and perfumes. Importer of French and English goods". The Baltimore 1845-1860 Directories list Augustin Croyeau on 171 W. Baltimore St. The 1845 said he was a hairdresser. By 1860 he was an Importer of French Goods.

 P. Augustine Croyeau was difficult to locate in the Census. No one could spell his name or read it and interpret it accurately. But he is in The 1860 Baltimore census, 9th Ward

Augustine Croyeau age 41, Fancy Store, born France
Phoebe age 40, born New York
Edward age 20, bookkeeper, born Maryland
Charles age 19, bookkeeper, born Maryland
Anna age 12, born Maryland.

From the Croyeau family Bible we get the following family information on their children and others:

Edward Augustin Croyeau, born Sept 24, 1839, died July 10, 1870. 
Charles Henry Croyeau, born may 23, 1841, died Feb. 11, 1897.  He wed Emma Shepard on March 13, 1872.
Theodore Ward Croyeau, born June 1, 1843, died march 11, 1848.
Anna Augustin Croyeau, born Dec. 24, 1847, died Feb. 23, 1897. wed Thomas Yates Walsh Jan 21, 1879 

Then the bible added:
Dear Mother died Feb. 10, 1863 - believed to refer to Phoebe's mother.
William H Ward died Sept 4, 1868 - Phoebe's brother
Aleis Evelyn Ward died July 28, 1871 and buried in South Sea Cemetery Portsmouth England (relation to family is unknown)
Aunt Fanny Roberts died Feb. 20, 1877. (relation to family is unknown)
Emma Croyeau died Dec 23, 1877 ( Charles' wife)
Phoebe H. Croyeau died May 26, 1882.

The 1880 Baltimore census, finds the Augustine and Phoebe providing a home for Nannie and her new family
at 203 W. Fayette St.
Augustine Croyeau, age 60, born France
Phoebe H. age 60, born New York
T. Yates Walsh, age 32 born Maryland
Nannie A., age 27, born Maryland
Emily, age 9 months, born Maryland.

The Baltimore Weekly Sun, May 27, 1882 reported under Deaths "CROYEAU -suddenly at 1 AM, 26th instant, Phoebe H., wife of Augustine Croyeau." Phoebe was buried in Greenmount Cemetery in the Croyeau plot. Her large tombstone reads " In Memoriam Phebe H. wife of Augustin Croyeau entered into rest May 28, 1882"

Next to her tombstone is a matching tombstone that simply reads "In Memoriam Augustin Croyeau Feb 23 1897"

 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
        1. Who was his father?
        1. What is the story of his mother?
        1. When and in what parish was he born?
        1. Where did he live after Phebe died?

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

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Date Last Edited: 12/21/2011