De La Perriere Family
History & Graveyard
In Traditions of Braselton
By Jerry Hohman and Jim Barbieri
GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE…The De La Perriere family cemetery known as Plot 11 off of Rt 124 GMD 248, according to a book “Jackson County Georgia Cemetery Records”, It lists the following as being buried in this cemetery;
1. Major General Ange De La Perriere
(Born in Paris, France. May 3” 1797 — Died Nov 9, 1884, Age 86)
2. Mary Ann Thurmond De La Perriere
(Wife of Gen. Ange De La Perrier., Born 1814 — Died 1897, Age 83 )
3. Bertice Phillips De La Perriere
(Born Aug 11, 1892 — Died Apr 3, 1930, Age 37.
She was later moved to the Hoschton Cemetery)
4. Woodie Pearl De La Perriere
(Daughter of Angel A. & Maggie R. De La Perriere.
Died Aug 18, 1876, Age 14 Months 20 days)
5. Major James Cockram
(Born 1763 — Died Jun 2, 1835, Age 72)
6. Maggie R. D. wife of A.A. De La Perriere
(Died Jun 30, 1877, Age 27 years 10 months 13 days)
Ange de la Perriere, born in Paris France on May 3, 1797 to Ange de la Perriere and Rosalie Renie de Trobriand. Ange married Mary Ann Thurmond and had 8 children; he passed Nov 9, 1884 in Jackson County.
Parents
Ange de la Perriere & Rosalie Renie de Trobriand
Spouse
Mary Ann Thurmon (Born 1814 — Died Jan 13, 1897)
Children
Angeline Victoria, Emma (Born Nov 17, 1823 — Died Feb 26, 1917), James Bolivar, Rosella J (Born Jul 30, 1828 — Died February 8, 1905), Celeste Caroline, Harrison Tallerand, Marie Antoinette (Died at birth) & William Preston (Born Jan 1, 1856 — Died Jan 30, 1917
Admiral Ange de la Perriere and Rosalie Trobriand begot Ange and William. Ange de la Perriere and Mary Ann Thurmond begot 8 children.
During the American Revolution, Savannah was the capital of Georgia. It was conquered by the British. In 1779, France arranged to help the colonies in their fight against the British control. Count Charles Hector Theodat D’Estaing, a French naval officer, brother to Mada Renee Marie Claudine Yvonne Denis de Keredern dr Trobriand de la Perriere Gouvain, fought in the battle to free Savannah from the British. Count D’Estaing thought he could easily defeat the British within a week, so that he could go back to France where he was needed. The count along with American troops, attempted a siege that lasted two weeks. Supplies ran low, and many men developed Malaria. The British sustained few losses behind the well-fortified walls, but nearly one third of D’Estaing’s 4,000 men were killed or wounded. The siege stopped, and the Count and his wounded armada sailed for France
Rosalie’s first marriage was to French General Ange de la Perriere, and they had one son Ange, born in Paris. Another son William was born 3 years later to Rosalie, but the father’s identify is questionable since Rosalie was suspected of having an affair with the American Ambassador’s secretary.
General de la Perriere died and Madame Rosalie became Madame Gouvain when she married Michael Gouvain of Paris. Michael Gouvain served as Ambassador Monroe’s (later the 5th President) secretary. Meanwhile her Brother Count D’Estaing’s efforts to rally the American Revolution did not go unnoticed. In 1785, the Georgia General Assembly gave him 20,000 acres of land, a part of which became Jackson County. He died 9 years after his attempt to rescue Savannah in his efforts to help his beloved France in its own Revolution. He was beheaded and upon his demise, Admiral D’Estaing’s fortune went to his sister. Madame Gouvain and family came to Jackson County, Georgia, in the early 1800s, to see this land she inherited because it was safer than France. They settled in Athens because the rich cultural heritage was already established there.
Ange de la Perriere was only 16 when he joined the American army. He was unbearably upset by the death of his brother and outraged at the Indians who attacked them; he was wounded but recovered from his injuries. Ange later rejoined the military to fight in the first Seminole War. The U.S. Army believed Spain had incited the Seminoles against the white settlers and attacked the tribe in the first Seminole War. General Jackson led the American forces to quickly defeat the Indians. Ange was only 19 years old when General Jackson personally promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel. He later moved up the ranks to Major General.
Michael Gouvain was another problem for his wife Rosalie. He soon left Rosalie and went to New York. Perhaps he no longer felt comfortable in the presence of his wife, because she was from nobility and he was not. She divorced him in 1821.
Rosalie’s son Ange de la Perriere moved to the rural west side of Jackson County in 1826, the same year he married Mary Ann Thurmond. She was from a prominent family of Jackson County. He was 29, and she was 12. They had eight children.
He was again called to help fight the Creek Indians. On June 1, 1836, Col. Samuel Burns began his march against the Indians. The first man called to aid in this battle was the experienced Indian fighter, Ange De la Perriere.
Not only was Ange de la Perriere a famous general appointed by the soon-to-be United States president “Andrew Jackson”, but was a doctor as well. He also moved into the political arenas and served as a representative and State Senator.
On March 30, 1842, in Jefferson, Gerogia, Dr. Crawford W. Long, performed an operation using sulphuric ether. Dr. Ange de la Perriere heard of Dr. Long and his use of ether and visited him with the possible use by the U.S. army. They became lifelong friends.
In conclusion, Jerry talked to Joe Cumbie; he is long time resident and a developer of land in the area. He thought we were responsible for the grave sites and must provide access to the cemetery. He also stated that there are remains in the graves.
Jerry & I visited the De La Perriere cemetery and wrote down what we could read, one was not identifiable because the name was missing and the stone broken, but by deduction, I believe that Bertice Phillips De La Perriere was buried there and later moved to the Hoschton Cemetery. There were two tombstones marked M.A.D. which I believe to be one of the 8 children, Marie Antoinette De La Perriere; this stone was not identified in the book Jackson County Cemetery Records. There was simple small stone next to Mary Ann marked “A.D.” This could be Angeline Victoria, one of the 8 children. I believe all the plots identified in the book Jackson County Cemetery Record are now identified.
