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Historical records matching Susanne Laroche Michaux
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About Susanne Laroche Michaux
Biography
Susanne Laroche Michaux (Rochet) was born on April 13, 1667 in Sedan, Ardennes, Champagne-Ardenne, France. Her parents were Jean Moise Rochet and Marie Poire Rochet (Trufet).
Susanne was the youngest of four daughters born to Moise Rochet, or de la Roche, and Marie Trufet. They were French Huguenots and Moise endeavored to get his children out of France and into Holland by those secret agents who bravely ventured the hazardous business of aiding the escape of the Huguenots. The first attempt failed and all four daughters were seized and imprisoned but were later returned to their father.
The three elder daughters made a second attempt, this time leaving Susanne with their father, and this time they succeeded in reaching Holland.
Fearing that letters would be intercepted they wrote their father to send the “little nightcap” they left behind, using this phrase to designate their younger sister Susanne, then 15 years of age.
Susanne was placed in a hogshead marked as merchandise and carried on board a trading vessel bound for Holland. She was removed from the hogshead when the vessel got fairly out to sea and reached her sisters in safety.
Ever afterward she was known as “The Little Night Cap”.
This story has been frequently told and perhaps has lost its savor with those already familiar with it, however, it is repeated for those who may not have heard it.
Susanne married Abraham Michaux, II on July 13, 1692 in the French Huguenot Church in Amsterdam, Holland. Together they had the following children:
They had issue of thirteen children, the first four of whom were born at Amsterdam, the last nine in Virginia.
- (1) Anne Michaux Ann Michaux
- (2) Jane Magdelen Michaux Jane Magdalen LeGrand, bp. 1697; m. Peter Le Grand.
- (3) Isaac Michaux Isaac Michaux, bp 1699.
- (4) James Michaux Jacques Michaux, bp 1700.
- (5) Jacob Michaux Jacob Michaux, m. Judith Woodson.
- (6) Susanne Michaux Susanne Quinn, m. John Quin.
- (7) John Michaux Jean Michaux.
- (8) Abraham Michaux Abraham Michaux, Never Married, d. unm.
- (9) Olive Judi Michaux Olive Judi Morgan, m. Anthony Morgan.
- (10) John Paul Michaux John Paul Michaux, m. Judith Wilmore.
- (11) Elizabeth Michaux Elizabeth Woodson, m. Sanburn Woodson.
- (12) Ester Mary Michaux Easter Mary Cunningham, m. Alexander Cunningham
- (13) Annmadlin Michaux Annmadlin Woodson
She died on December 18, 1744 in Manakin, Goochland County, Virginia and was buried in Manakin (now part of Manakin-Sabot), Goochland County, Virginia, United States.
Susanna ROCHET fled from France in the dark of night, hiding in a barrel placed aboard a ship to Amsterdam, Holland. There she met another refugee, Abraham MICHAUX, working in a gauze and lace factory.
The MICHAUX family had lived in Sedan, France, in the region of Champagne for over a century when Abraham MICHAUX was born in 1672. As members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, the MICHAUX family had the same freedom of worship issues as Susanna ROCHET in the previous post, so at age 19, Abraham and his father Jacob MICHAUX escaped from the Catholic persecution under King Louis XIV and went to Amsterdam, Holland, in 1690. The Dutch Reformed Church roll of January 28, 1691, includes Abraham MICHAUX in its roster of Amsterdam members. A little over a year later, that same Church would be the scene of the marriage of Abraham and Susanna ROCHET, whom he met while working in a gauze and lace factory. The young family continued to live in Amsterdam until about 1700, but due to a bad economy and a lack of opportunities, they moved to London, England, where they were listed as members of the Reformed Church on Threadneedle Street on August 25, 1702.
About this same time, the Huguenots, who were not really welcomed by the Church of England, had been of help to King William, and thus he decided to reward the French immigrants with an offer of free land in the Virginia Colony, set aside exclusively for the religious group. The King also gave them a 7 year tax-free grace period in the New World. The land granted to them covered 10,000 acres on the south side of the James River in the Virginia Colony, about 20 miles above present-day Richmond, along a 4 mile stretch between the Upper and Lower Creeks, known today as Bernard's Creek and Norwood Creek. About 700 Huguenots had already sailed from Gravesend, England, to the former Indian site that was fast becoming known as Manakin Town.
Abraham and Susanna MICHAUX decided to make the move to Virginia, and with the help of a Relief Committee in London, they sailed from Gravesend, England, to Stafford County, Virginia, where they remained for a short time, then moved to Manakin Town, Henrico County, Virginia, in 1705. Joining their fellow Huguenots was not quite as joyous as they had hoped, as it seemed that some of those who had been there for five years complained that it was not fair for the "newcomers" to get the same amount of land. But, in the end, Abraham MICHAUX received a grant for 574 acres on the south side of the James River in November, 1705, now in Powhatan County, Virginia. They became members of the Manakin Episcopal Church that had started in 1700, and is still in operation today. On the wall of that church in 2014 is a plaque dedicated "to the memory of " Abraham and Susanna MICHAUX, over 300 years later.
Abraham continued to acquire land around his initial grant, and in 1713 added over 1,000 acres to his holdings. In 1714, there is a note in the Manakin Church record that says Abraham MICHAUX was paid two shillings for "bringing the communion wine to the Church from Major Billings home".
By 1716, he and Susanna had raised 5 sons and 7 daughters in the Huguenot settlement. One son, Jacob, had settled up the James River away from the family, and the area became known as MICHAUX's Ferry. Another son, Abraham Jr., was killed by Indians in Lunenburg County in 1747.
Abraham MICHAUX died in 1717, and in his Last Will and Testament he left over 3,000 acres to his wife and children. Susanna ROCHET MICHAUX lived almost another 30 years before dying in 1744, after one of the most adventurous lives of any woman in her day.
Paraphrased from GRAVEYARD GOSSIP
Stories from the ancestors of Tony Martini and Tonya Willden. Read about soldiers, pioneers, intrigue, persecution, romance...and more.
- http://graveyardgossip.blogspot.com/2014_11_18_archive.html
- Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 5 2019, 11:11:52 UTC
WILL OF SUSANNA ROCHET MICHAUX Errors have crept into the copies of the will of Susanna (Rochet) Michaux. Her will was recorded in Goochland County on December 17, 1744, and was made March 22, 1740. A copy of her will is as follows:
In the name of God, Amen. I, Susanne Michaux do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form, as followeth: Imprimis: — “I will that all my just debts be paid by my Executor hereinafter mentioned. Item: I give to my loving son, John Paul Michaux, this plantation whereon I now live, bequeathed to me by my deceased husband. Abraham Michaux, containing one hundred acres same to him and his heirs forever. Items: I give to my said son, John Paul Michaux all the rest of my estate real and personal, of what nature or kind whatsoever. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my loving son, John Paul Michaux, whole and sole Executor of my last Will and Testament, and that it is my desire, that my estate shall not be appraised. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my and seal this 22nd day of March 1740 (Signed) Susanna Michaux (Seal)
“The word JOHN in the fifth line and the same word in the seventh was interlined before signed.” John Flournoy, Wade Netherland, Anthony Morgan.
At the Court held for Goochland County, Virginia, 17th Day of December 1744, this will be approved by the oaths of John Flournoy and Wade Netherland and solemn affirmation of Anthony Morgan (a Quaker) and was ordered to be recorded. P. G. Miller Dept. Clk. Goochland County Court.
This article is from: "YOUR HERITAGE", BUSH -SNEED; Estella Clark Herdeg; 1984, Mannis Printing, Knoxville; pp. 55-103; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, 929.273 B9&3h; Morton, Woodson, Michaux, and Ferris Families."
Links:
- http://graveyardgossip.blogspot.com/2014_11_18_archive.html
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=53563
- https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikitree.com...
- https://www.mullinsfamilyhistoryproject.com/stories-little-nightcap
- Reference: Netherlands, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1910 - SmartCopy: Apr 4 2022, 14:44:15 UTC
- Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 17 2022, 18:57:02 UTC
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Susanne Laroche Michaux's Timeline
| 1667 |
April 13, 1667
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Sedan, Ardennes, Champagne-Ardenne, France
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| 1693 |
May 7, 1693
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Oude Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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| 1695 |
August 15, 1695
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Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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| 1697 |
January 3, 1697
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Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands
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January 3, 1697
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Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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| 1698 |
April 13, 1698
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Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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| 1699 |
June 24, 1699
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Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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| 1700 |
August 13, 1700
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Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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1700
Age 32
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Henrico, Virginia, USA
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