The History of the Courtillier's |
|
|
The Coutillier, family begins in France the oldest member found at this time is Antyuame Courtillier in Paris in the year 1225-1292. The origin of the name is French, from Couture,Couturie,Couturier, Couturieaux (abb Coutor ;rank 3188...ss count 14,232 meaning seam...given to those who were tailors and owning a small piece of land. Variations of the word are Coutillier, Courtillier, Courtinay, Courtenay, Coutillion, Courtillion, Catillier, Cotillier, Cottineu, Cottineau, Catellier, Coteau, Cotinau as well as several other misspellings at the hands of those blessed census takers and a few others like family members and military personal. The name also appears in England, near 1249 Solomon Le Cotillier, Peter Le Cotillier both active in Pariliment when the only language used was French. One Henry Le Cotillier was a mortician for England near 1374 and a descendent John Le Cotellier was a well known knife maker. The name evolved to Coteller and also Courtenay which I suspect may have eventually became Courtney in the USA.
At any rate our line is French and came from France to Canada in 1578 then later to the States setting up house in Virginia in 1630. |
The family Tree
1225 Antyuame Courtillier, found in the cenus of that year in Paris France.
1340-70 Edward Courtinay, not much is known of him yet the name Edward is well used in colonial America as a tribute to him. Edward of 1630 Virginia is his name sake.
1500-1599 Nicolas Courtillier, in France is the father of Nicolas below it is not known if he ever set foot in the New World as he was an aged man in 1578.
1578 Nicolas Coutillier, spouse Jenne Pegot
sons Thomas and John...found in Canada,
near Quebec,,,,region was full of french trade.
They themselves were probably active in fur trading or some type of merchants. The couple made several trips between Canada, USA, France.
Their name could be found under Courtillier, Coutillier and Courtier but the spouse was always the same Pagot
1600-1609 Thomas and John Cotillier , enter into
USA NY, Mass, PA, and finally setting up
house in VA. They were the sons of the above but it is interesting that they dropped the letter U out of their surname. Other siblings remained in Canada using the spelling Catillier. Interesting since Edward of 1630 USA and Abram of 1652 USA used the same spelling Catillier. It should be noted that John Cotillier born 1792-98 restored this spelling which was spelled Cattilla for quite a number of years in York co. VA. It strongly suggest that he was educated and a family researcher as well. If not for his contribution we may have thought we came from England instead of our real land of France.
1630 Edward Catillier , spouse Anna, negro of
Portugal not known if she were free or bond but she did however speak both French and English. She was also a Christian and raised their children in such a manner. Proof was provided in the court case of her grandson William Cattilla.
note the parenthesis below guide us from generation to generation through the siblings exactly.
1652 Abram Catillier had to be a listed as a negro since his spouse Katherine Jewel,was stated to be a white woman sons {Matthew 1669 who we come from}, William 1670, and daughter Mary 1675.-of Virginia were all mulattoes.
1693 Matthew Cattilla , spouse Mary , sons
Matthew1697 and {Edward 1693} -Virginia
1700 Edward Cotilla/Curtillar, spouse Beth
sons Matthew 1720,{Abram 1733}, William
1749, John 1730,,,,daughter Elizabeth 1725
1733 Abram Cottillier, spouse Sarah, sons John ,
{Abram 1760}, Edward 1764, daughters Mary,
Sally, Betsy, and adopted Jane Lowman.
1760 Abram Cotillier/Curtillar, spouse Mary
Francis, daughters Nancy, Betsy, son {John
1792-98} in Virginia
1820 John Cottillier, spouse Elizabeth Berry,
sons John 1831, {Thomas B Cotillier} 1833, George 1836 Henry , Albert, James 1834, William 1852 daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy.
1864 Thomas Cotillier, spouse Adelaide Binga,
Daughters Elizabeth 1864, Adelphia 1870,
Mary, Addie, Charlotte, Leoma
sons Abram 1871, John 1884, James 1879, Jesse 1883. Addie's daughter Alberta born 1917 died in April of 2002 she will be greatly missed.
1890 Adelphia Cotilier, spouse Charles Ford
sons Richard, Theodore, Charles, Glen,
Morris, George.
daughters Jesse, Marion (Rene)
The rest will have to be listed later as many are still living.
The First Family (Nicolas Coutillier and Jenne Pegot
Nicolas Coutillier and Jenne Pagot husband and wife are responsible for bringing the family name to the Canadian shores in 1578 from France. Sons Thomas and John Cotillier would carry the name further south into the States in 1609 while the others remained behind near Quebec a prominent French region using the spelling Catillier and others. There are various other spellings from Kent co. Ontario which seems to have been some sort of mix up.....Even the Cartier name starts there near the year 1790....it does not appear in any records before that date.
Once in the UNITED STATES, life changed quickly!
In 1630 Edward Catillier would be the first to wed someone other than french descent. He married Anna of Portugal (dark in complexion as if negro yet African slaves were not yet known to Vinginia's shores at that time. It is not known if she were free or bond but there is a great chance that she spoke french as did many of the early negros associated with the Portuguese....Edward also spoke french.
Their son in1652 Abram Catillier , listed as a negro wed Katherine Jewel a white woman of Virginia. At this time so many indentured servants both black and white and indian began to marry that the laws were changed to forbide such a thing. The Population of VA. was about 25,000 ,,,5.000 of which were indentured slaves...of that number only three hundred were black or indian.
It was not the case of Abram a free man and Katherine a free woman they had three children Matthew 1669, Willam 1670 and Mary 1675 sometimes called Mary Jewel. Abram would die young and hender the young family. William was given by his mother to be indentured through the courts for 30 years to William Boosh. He later sued for his freedom after 24 years of sevitude. William was the only Cotillier to ever have to endure indentured sevitude. Though his mother could not provide for him it is not know why he was selected but the reason may have been because he was second born and she needed the older Matthew for work beside her and naturally she would not give up her only daughter. Ketherine did follow William and stay close bye she sought out in court to see that he was being givin his due. A proper education and a heifer and it's yield to be set aside for him at age 14 which Boosh did comply with for him. Mary the couples only daughter would be the mother of several illigitimate children two by an Englishman John Berry (white) who himself was indentured from England to America for a period of 12 years. He arrived in Jamestown near 1693 on board the ship "The Daniel" Though it is possible that he came from Elizabeth City County of the 1630 Berry Family. There just are not enough details at the time of this writing.
Mighty Mary Cotillier/Catilier born !675
Her Father, Abram Catillier(a french negro) 1652 VA.
Her Mother, Katherine-Jewel- Catillier(a white woman) 1652 VA.
Her brothers, Mathew 1669, William 1670
Sisters, none were all listed as mulattoes in Elizabeth City county. VA and York county VA.
Mary Cotilier/Catillier was born in 1675 mulattoe daughter of Abram and Katherine Cotilier/Catillier along with two brothers Mathew b. 1669 and Wililam of 1670. Having no sisters she was close to her mother well up into the later years. When she was thirty and her mother near 60 they settled the will of their neighbor Jane Merry, and got her to give Mary a voucher into a social society of white women of Virginia. Mary was all but a lady being a mulattoe she would not have been welcome in the upper social classes perhaps that is why she placed pressure on her departing friend to open the doors. Mary was the mother of several illigetimate children ,,,,James Berry, John Berry both of an indentured white englishman of the same latter name. James would later be called the father of all free negros of Virginia bearing the last name Berry. She had Ann by Christopher Robinson and Mathew by her cousin under pressured circumstances having to take refuge in his household,,,,,Catherine was her second daughter no father listed but was perhaps do upon pressure from her step father Stephen Pond who paid the fine of 500 lbs each for the first two children born of her body. After struggling as a youth Mary did well for herself and was often seen with a young lad about town to carry her bags like a real society lady an image that was dear to her.
William Coutillier born 1670 Virginia son of Abram and Katherine
Father Abram Catillier 1652
Mother Katherine Jewel Catillier 1652
Brother Mathew Cotilier 1669 Virginia
Sister Mary Jewel Cattilla 1675
Our Mathew born 1669 only went to court once as a witness for John Pond.....his brother was not so lucky.....
William Coutillier son of Abram and Katherine , would find himself in court several times in his life time. He sued for his freedom of 24 years of sevitude to his mistress Boosh, stating he was born of a free woman and raised a christian. The law of the land stated that a person's status followed that of his mother not his father. William was well aware of that law and thus we can conclude could read and write. He spoke with such grace during his trial that the judges noted a slave born in Virginia and raised a christian would be of far more use than one arriving directly from Africa.
William was once a witness to a friend Amistead, His cousin John Berry would testify against the same family at an earlier date.
Poor William, having wed Ann his spouse and Judith his daughter would fine his way one last time to the court room. This time for his daughter having brought forth a bastard child from her own body. The fine of which was 500 lbs or 25 lashes of a whip. William stepped forward and said he would be responsible for his daughter and her child and see to it's upbringing. He stated he would pay the fine but when the date arrived and the money due he did not have it and was forced to accept the whipping!
Edward Catillier born 1693
Mathew brother of William and Mary would turn out to be the better of the trio, he wed Mary and had two sons Edward b. 1693 and Mathew 1697.
Edward would wed Elizabeth and go on to have five children Matthew b. 1720 (see Will and Testament below) Abram born 1733 possibly as early as 1728, Elizabeth b. 1725, John born 1730 and William born 1749 who would spend the great deal of his adulthood as an invalid supported by the parish.
Mathew Cotilier/Catillier born 1697-1751
Matthew Cotilier/Catilier was born in 1697 to Mathew b 1669 and Mary Catilleir of VA. he had only one brother Edward born 1693 who we come from. Matthew would wed his first wife Judith Francis (cousin) and couple would parent to five children before her death in 1735. Edward born Dec 1724-1751,,,Sarah 1727, Abram 1729 , Matthew Sept. 1732 and Rachel born 1734 perhaps leading to her mothers death shortly after in 1735..........Matthew would then wed a second time to Sarah also a cousin their children were John 1737, Francis 1740 , Martha 1743, William 1746, Mary b. 1747 and Edward b. 1750. Matthew and his oldest son Edward would die only a week apart,,,,,the father only 53 and his son only 27...
Will. Mar 25, 1754. Being sick -
The Will and Testament of Mathew Cotillier born1720-1755
To my wife Lucy Curtillar - my land on Begellement [Bears
Element Creek], during her life, and after her death,
to the child she is with. Also, all my moveables, to be
divided between my wife and my child, except for my
wearing clothes.
To John - coat, breeches, and hat,
To my brother Abraham - the rest of my wearing clothes.
To John Curtillar and Edward Curtillar - if my child dies
without heirs, my land to be divided between John
Curtillar and Edward Curtillar, giving John the first
choice.
To Isaac Browne - my saddle and horse(?) and silver band
buckle.
Executors - my wife and father, Edward Curtellar, and Israel
Browne.
Signed - Marthew Curtillar (X his mark).
Witnesses - John Curtillar (O his mark), Lucy Curtillar (I
her mark), Israel Brown.
At Sep 3, 1754 Court, the will of the deceased was
exhibited by the 3 executors, and Edward Curtillar and
Israel Brown renounced and refused the execution thereof.
Thereupon the same was proved by the oaths of John Cutillar
and Israel Brown, two of the witnesses, and ordered to be
recorded. And on the motion of the executrix, certificate is
granted her for obtaining a probate of the will, she giving
security, whereupon she, together with Israel Brown and
Edward Curtillar, her securities, entered into and
acknowledged their bond
Page 139. Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Mathew
Cuttilo, deceased. Includes: 1 fiddle, 1 bed, 3 cows. Total:
£ 17.3.6. Per Court order, we, being first sworn before
David Garland, have appraised the aforesaid estate. Signed
Dec 30, 1754 - John Williams, Philloman Russell, George
Green. Recorded Jan 7, 1755.
Mathew was born in York Co. VA in 1720 to Edward and Elizabeth Cotillier, ones he left behind were Abram b 1733, William 1749, John 1720, and sister Elizabeth 1725
Cotillier's in his life time could speak French and English equally well but only a few could read and write. They dwelled in a colony of their own of a number less than three hundred and often inner married for safety and as a means to obtain wealth through property by inheritance....One generation looked out for the next!
Families that were related were Francis, Combs,
Stewarts. Epps and Berrys........continue below
Abram Cotillier/Catillier born 1733 brother of Mathew
Abram was a mulattoe born to Edward and Elizabeth Cotilier .
He wed Sarah and their children were John b.1754, Abram b. 1760, Edward b. 1763, Mary, Salley , Betsy, and Jane Lowman who was adopted upon her parents death.
A mulattoe man standing about 5' 7" tall he owned land, harvested both cotton and tobacco with help from seven slaves ( 1 over the age of 16 named Suck,,,the others under age 16) It was not uncommon for a black man to own slaves....most planters owned just 1 to five slaves to aid in the fields and most owners worked and ate along side them,,,the crop was the key to all their lives....Plantations of a hundred or more slaves were rare at this time as the country was brillantly young not even having her first President or the formation of the United States....Titles before Washington were called Presidents of congress.
Suck had a talent for cultivation (Tabacco drying house)
Nothing was known of Suck's family or if he even had one or if he was freed later. We do know that upon Abram's death he was willed along with the others to Sarah and her new husband a cousin Thomas Epps. Abram fought in the Revolutionary war along side his cousin also a mulattoe Christopher Francis at the Battle of Yorktown, which was near their homes. J W Gathaway listed Abram Cottiller as a free man of color who fought in Revolutinary War, in his book Old Sailors and Marines. They all endured the war and were still standing when Gen. Cornwallis of the British Navy surrenderd, a point that many considered the end of the war. He was denied a pention however. in his latter years he was taken car of by his son and grandson until his death.
Abram Cotillier b. 1760
Abram Cotillier born about 1760 fought in the war of 1812 He would wed Mary Francis his cousin and sister of Christopher Francis. They inherieted property from her great grand mother Hannah Francis. They had children Nancy, Betsy and John born about 1798.
Charles Cotilier, a cousin fought in the revolutionary war near Westpointe,,,,he was born in 1755 and enlisted in 1771 in the state of Mass. He is listed as a man of dark complexion standing 5' 4" tall hair and eyes dark being able to speak both French and English equally well.....his job was thus translator when Col Jackson in the heat of Battle seeking aid from the French called for someone who spoke the lingo! Charles was the only one to step forward.
John Cottillier born 1798 Virginia
John Cottillier was born between 1792-98 it is sometimes troublesome to pin point a date because the men in this family do not tell the truth about their age to the woman they are courting. He was born to Abram Cotillier (1760) and Mary Francis, his sisters were Nancy and Betsy.
John registered himself in the Charles Parrish courts near 1818 close to the age of 20. He is listed as a bright skinned mulattoe, with long bushy hair current to the time, about 5' 6" tall and having black firece eyes. Theodore Ford-Cotilier witnessed John's eyes stating they were indeed very dark and his great grandpa could make his sons right a wrong with just a steely glance. He said he looked the most like actor John Carradine, a square chin with dimple, slick back hair which was stylish and jet black eyes.
Seen in Michigan in his elder years.
In Virginia, John owned his own home wed first a woman named E. Smith, later wed Elizabeth Berry, great grand daughter of James Berry who was the son of a white indentured Englishman who had two children by Mary Catillier, and making Elizabeth his cousin. In the 1830's the couple had several children John born 1831, Thomas born 1833, George, James, Sarah, Elizabeth, then much later William born 1852.
He owned a home in Berkely county VA. for awhile as well as Henrico county. There he had his family as well as one negro male (free) , one negro female (free) and an elderman living under his care......it is not clear if the elder was her aged parent or his.....by 1849 The family disappears from Virginia, about the same time as Francis, Berry's and Combs alll cousins. They all headed northward Theodore Ford-Cotillier said it was known as the gypsy trail they lived in any abandon house or farm they found along the way to Michigan. Ohio and illinois.
It should be noted here the John must have been able to read and write and is the one who linked the last names together. In 1609 Thomas and John of Canada used the spelling Cotilier,,,,throughout VA. from 1650 to 1795 various spellings were used ,,,,He used Cottiller, while Elizabeth used Cattillier and they named their second son Thomas a clue perhaps as it was only the second time the name appeared. It was also the first time that I saw a middle name used,,,,Thomas B. Cotilier born 1833.
Thomas B. Cotillier/Catillier b. 1833
Thomas B. Cotilier was born in Richmond Va. in 1833 according to the Saginaw newspaper upon his death notice. Most of his life it was thought that he was just a few years older than his second wife. His first wife was Emma Swan who came north to Michigan with him before 1862.....He then wed Adelaide Binga in 1864. In that same year their first daughter was born Elizabeth Cotilier named after his mother. In 1870 Adelphia was born and in 1871 his first son Abram named after his grandfather and great grandfather who had fought in both the war of 1812 and the revolutinary was. Near 1875 the couple would leave Detroit and settle in Saginaw Michigan where Thomas worked as a dreyman (big wagon used for hauling) with a strong team of horses he prospered having both an estate and a personal wealth equal to that of an upper middle class person and rare at that time. He would father more children James1879, John 1884, Jesse 1843 and Charlotte, Leoma, Addie and little Mary. In his later years he would work as a cook and finally a saltmaker until he became ill after being injured on the job not to recover,,,,,He died of an illness in 1903 at the age of 73.
Adelaide Binga-Cotillier/Catillier
Adelaide Binga was the loving wife of Thomas B. Cotilier/Catillier. She was the mulattoe daughter of William Binga and Adelphia Powers-Binga of Buffalo NY. They came to Detroit near 1840 where William worked as a barber owning his own shop at 307 Woodward Ave.along with his brother Robert Binga. Madame Eugene Courtilier had a cleaning service at 207 Woodward known for dying ostrich feathers and cleaning laced curtains without damaging them....Woodward ave. was a coveted strip of prime real-estate in yester year and today! Jess Binga barber and first black bank owner of Chicago Illinois was her brother. She had a sister named Charlotte and another brother Thomas and an uncle Robert who all wed near the same time. Her daughter Elizabeth would wed Arzier Palmer, and go one to own much of Detroit's prime property including motels and hotels. One of which was located in the old city of Sandwich Ontario Canada. She employed both her brothers James and Jess as real-estate agent and courier .
Palmer Woods Estates is name after her brother-in-law featuring homes owned by the likes of Henry Ford, Max Fisher and countless other automotive barons,,,,tours are given of the homes today! The area was created because the Palmer brothers were jewish and not allowed to move into Gross Pointe Shores....they made their own way and opened a golf course as well......Palmer Park golf course was the first public course to allow blacks to play the game!
next page