Louis DU BOIS

                   or 28th

Reformation Church of Lille


See DuBois family association web site: www.dbfa.org
According to this association the name DuBois rhymes w/ voice.

The city of Mannheim is located on the east bank of the Rhine River, opposite Ludwigshafen at the confluence of the Neckar River and the Rhine in southwestern Germany. First mentioned as a village in 764, it was expanded and fortified by the Elector Frederick IV in 1606. It was heavily damaged and rebuilt in the Thirty Years' War and in the prelude to the War of the Grand Alliance in the 17th century. The Electors of Palatine moved their residence there in 1720, and built many structures in the Baroque style, notably the Jesuit Church, the castle, the town hall, and the pilgrimage church. The city became a center of high culture in the 18th century, which it has remained to this day, famous for its music, art museum, and Germany's National Theater. Destroyed again in 1795, it was once more rebuilt and was a center of revolutionary activity in 1848-1849. A harbor constructed there on the Rhine in 1834 encouraged economic and industrial activity. The city was heavily damaged again in World War II, but most of its principal historic buildings have been restored. Its principal manufactures include textiles, chemicals, fertilizer, and food products, and coal and iron are traded through its river harbor. The 2004 population estimate was 309,600.

Per Stew Willoughby , ÒLouis served in the 2nd Esopus War and was the leader of New Paltz, New York, Patentees. Louis fled from his home in France to Mannheim, Germany before 1650. Louis was a Huguenot and fled France to avoid religious persecution. He and his family came to Kingston, New York in 1660. They then moved to Hurley, New York in the same colony as Kingston. The name DuBois was also spelled duBois. The wife and three children of Louis, where taken captive by the Esopus Indians in the massacre of June 7, 1663. They were rescued after three months in captivity in the Shawangunk Mountains, by an expedition commanded by Captain Martin Greiger. Catherine DuBois was singing the 137th Psalms, that of Babylonian captivity, when rescued. Captain Greiger, in his journal of the Second Esopus War, states that, Louis DuBois while working in his field, was attacked by three Indians, and although wounded and unarmed, slew one of the Indians with a piece of palisade, whereupon the others fled. Louis DuBois was appointed Magistrate of Hurley, N.Y. on August 10, 1669 by Governor Francis Lovelace. The site of New Paltz, N.Y. was bought from the Esopus Indians on September 15, 1677 by Louis DuBois. A patent was therefore granted the "Twelve Patentees" by Governor Edmond Andross, September 29, 1677. Louis DuBois was chosen Elder of the French Church at New Paltz when Rev. Pierre Daille visited there. In 1686, Louis DuBois returned from New Paltz to Kingston where he purchased a house and lived at this location ten years until his death in 1696. The vast real property holdings in New Paltz were divided among his children.Ó

The following article was copied from the New Paltz, New York Home Page

Louis DuBois was born on October 28, 1626, in Wicres France (near Lille). He came to America with his wife Catherine Blanchan in 1660. He first settled in Kingston, then New Paltz, where he was one of the founders and sat upon the Duzine, the governing body. His grandson Daniel built the DuBois Fort which still stands today on Huguenot Street in New Paltz. Little is actually known of his mother and father, though there is much speculation. His fathers name was Chrietien and his mother (while not proven) is suspected to be Cornelia. His brothers and sisters were Francoise, Jacques and Anne. Louis returned to Kingston where he died in June 23, 1696. There is a memorial to him in the Dutch Reformed Churchyard, right across from the Post Office. His actual burial place is unknown, but it is somewhere on the ChurchyardÕs grounds.


The Data on the Descendents Louis DuBois came from research done by Major Louis DuBois.

1- Wicres, France Church records,
2- Mannheim, Germany Church Records,
3- Old Dutch Church, Kingston, New York,
4- New Paltz, New York records,
5-Reformed Church of Manhattan, New York,
6- Barant DuBois bible records, Salem County, New Jersey Historical Society,
7- Record of the family of Louis DuBois, Robert Paterson DuBois, and William Ewing DuBois, 1860,
8- Bicentennial DuBois Reunion, New Paltz, N.Y.,
9- Nieukirk Family Genealogy, 1934,
10- General data, Cumberland City, New Jersey, and
10- Michalin Map 51, Boulogne-Little French and European Publications 610 Fifth Ave., New York, New York.

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"All these names under the conditions I have named, underwent same change and many came to be written with a radical variation from the original. . . and that of Dubois, as: D'boy, Debois, Dibois, Deboys, du Bois, Buboy, and so on."

"Louis du Bois, as he always wrote his name, - 'Dubois' being wholly a modern usage, - was born in 1626. He was about thirty-four years old when he arrived in America with his wife, Catherine, whose maiden name was Blanshan, and their two sons, Abraham and Isaac. Old Testament names were much used by the Huguenots, and Louis and Jacques du Bois were Huguenots. Louis and his wife had been married in Germany. They settled in Kingston, New York, where their house is still in the possession of the family. Louis du Bois was one of the founders of the historic old Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston."

"The Coat-Armor here embazoned is ascribed to Louis du Bois, the Huguenot settler of Kingston. It is: Argent, a lion rampant sable, armed and langued gules. Crest: Between two tree stumps vert, the lion of the Arms. Motto: Tiens ta foy."

He and Jacques have often been said to have been sons of Chretien du Bois.

"Louis du Bois, born at Wicres, near Lille in Artois, France, 1626, migrated to Manheim in the Palatinate of the Rhine, Germany, to escape religious persecution. He married, October 10, 1655, Cahterin Blanshan or Blanjean. They emigrated to America 1660 with their two sons, Abraham and Isaac. Louis du Bois died 1696, and his wife Catherine survived him several years."

"On June 7th, 1663, an Indian war party raided the settlement, taking Catherine, three of their children, and others as prisoners. Louis, with Captain Martin Kreiger and a party of thirty men set out in pursuit of the Indians and their captives. They surprised and killed one of the Indian's rear guard, and took another captive. From him they learned the whereabouts of the main party, and on the second day found them. The Indians had bound the captives ot trees, in preparation for torture and death, but Catherine led the group in singing the 137th Psalm, which laments the affliction of the Israelites as they sat by Babylon's stream. So sweet was the sound of this song that the savages hesitated. Louis and his party also heard them, surprised the Indians, and set the prisoners free."

"Three years later, remembering the fertile Walkill valley, where this had taken place, Louis and eleven others bought from the Indians a large tract of land and founded the historic 'New Paltz' colony. Louis became the first Elder of the Walloon Church there - the Walloons were French speaking Protestant Belgians - and died at Kingston in June, 1696. "

"Jan Joosten was selected, October 6, 1673, as one of the four magistrates of Hurley and Marbletown - to supervise the merging of the vilalge of Niew-Drop into those of Hurley and Marbletown under the English rule. The other magistrates were Jan Broerson, Louis du Bois, and Roelof Hendricksen."

"Louis du Bois de Fiennes, Huguenot ancestor in Colonial wars, (father of Sara of Meteren) born 28 Oct. 1626 in La Basse near Lille, in Province of Artois, France. He is said to have been a descendant of Guelph, Prince of the Scyrii (A.D. 476) (Italy to Bavaria) but the line is broken, the names of some being erased and their property confiscated, when they espoused and held to the faith of Protestantism. Louis took refuge from religious persecution at Mannheim in Lower Palatinate of Germany, where he married a refugee from French Flanders, Catherine, dau. of Mathese Blanchan of Wicres, Artois or Marseilles, France, 10 Oct. 1655. Their two eldest children were b. in Mannheim. Emigrated to America 1660, settled in New Village (Hurley) near Kingston, Ulster Co., N.Y. - was one of the original patentees of New Paltz. Fought in Second Esopus war 1663 . . served with Colonial forces against Indians 1670 - Louis d. Kingston, 1696. Will was proved 27 Mar. 1696."

"Louis Du Bois is the ancestor of the Huguenot family of Du Bois. He was born October 27th, at Wierer, in France. Driven from France by religious persecution, he sought refuge in Germany. While at Mannheim, in Germany, he married, October 10th, 1655, Kathryn, the daughter of Matthys Blanshan, afterward the distiller at Hurley. He came over to this country and settled in Esopus about the year 1660; from thence he removed to Hurley. In 1667 he and his eleven associates became the patentees of New Paltz. He then removed with his associates and formed the settlement at New Paltz. After a residence of then years in New Paltz he returned to Kingston. he purchased a house on the northwest corner of what is now Clinton Avenue and John Street, and there spent the remaining ten years of his life. What is remarkable, that plot of land, after having been out of the family only two generations in this century, is again in the family and owned and occupied by his descendants. Louis had a large family of children, ten in number, and many of them have been as fruitful as he; so that they are very numerous, and scattered about the Union in every direction."

In Dutch Records of Kingston:
"First Session, held Wednesday, November 16, Anno 1661 . . .
Bart Sybrantse, plaintiff, demands of Lowys Dubo the amount of seven schepels of wheat as payment for the freight of cattle. Lowys Dubo, defendant, says he paid his share. Whereas, the defendant admits having ordered the cattle of Bart, he is therefore, after deliberation, ordered to pay."

In Dutch Records of Kingston:
"Ordinary Session, held Tuesday, March 19, 1662. . .
Lowys Dubo, plaintiff, vs. Coenraet Jans or Ham and Christiaen Andrissen, defendatns. Plaintiff demands from defendants payment of five schepels of rye, on account of ribbons sold them. Defendants admit the debt. The Commissaries order defendants to pay within three weeks."

"Ordinary Session, held Tuesday, April 18, 1662. . .
Lowys Dubo, plaintiff, vs. Coenraet Ham and Christiaen Andrissen, defendants. Default.
Lowys Dubo, plaintiff, vs. Pieter Hillebratse, defendant. Default."

"Ordinary Session, held Tuesday, May 2, 1662. . .
Lowys Dubo, plaintiff, demands from Pieter Hillebrantse payment of the amount of two schepels of wheat due for ribbons sold him. Defendant, Pieter Hillebrantsen admits owing the debt to plaintiff. The Commissaries order defendant to pay plaintiff the amount sued for, within two months' time."

"Mattheus Capito, Plaintiff vs. Louwies DuBois, Defendant
Plaintiff says that defendant refuses to contribute to the preacher's salary for the two lots of plaintiff's which he occupies. Defendant answers, having contracted with plaintiff to use the lots till May 1665 in consideration for fencing them in, chopping the trees and manuring the land. Plaintiff answers and denies the same, and demands that defendant shall quit the lots, in case he remains unwilling to satisfy plaintif's demand. The hon. court orders defendant to prove his assertion at the next session."

All of the above quotes with sources are from:
Barbara Fleming
barbpretz@aol.com
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~barbpretz
3245 Chadbourne Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44120


Dates of birth, marriage, and death from Samuel Gordon Smyth, Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-VanMetre Family, pp. 22-24 (Lancaster, PA 1909).  Immigrated to America about 1660. Smyth, p. 24.