ANTOINE REYNAL (17400000)
Dr. Antoine Reynal, one of the pioneer doctor's of St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, was born around the year 1740, the exact date and place unknown. He most likely came from France, but may have traveled to Louisiana from Canada or even from the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. It is not known where he spent his early years, however being a physician, he may have been educated in France as there were few, if any, medical schools in the United States prior to 1750. Reynal appeared in Louisiana in the late 1760's or early 1770's, where (according to his will) he was married to Marie Toupart at Cote des Allemans in "base" Louisiana. The present town of des Allemands is located about thirty miles southwest of New Orleans in the Mississippi River delta. The year of the Reynal-Toupart marriage is not known. The territory of Louisiana had been explored by Robert Cavelier in 1682, and was named by him for King Louis XVI of France. The early settlers of Louisiana were creole's, meaning mixed-blood. This Louisiana Territory in 1682 covered most of the land west of the Mississippi River. New Orleans was founded in 1718 and became the capital of the Territory in 1722. By 1731 this area was considered a royal colony of France. In 1762, France secretly ceded the town of New Orleans and all the area west of the Mississippi to Spain. Spain took possession of this land, against the opposition of the French extraction settlers, in 1769. The Acadians from Nova Scotia had moved into this area between 1760 and 1790 and it is possible that Dr. Antoine Reynal could have been with this distinct group of early settlers.
By the year 1774, Antoine and Marie Toupart Reynal were living in the village of Ste. Genevieve, located on the Mississippi River in Upper Louisiana, in present-day Missouri. Ste. Genevieve was settled originally by pioneers from present-day Illinois in 1735, the first permanent settlement in present-day Missouri. This village on the Mississippi River is located about forty miles south of present-day St. Louis. The record of their stay in Ste. Genevieve is documented by the record of the birth of their child, Andre Reynal. The Catholic Church of Ste. Genevieve Baptismal Register 1759-1810 records the baptism of Andre, son of Antoine Raynold (sic) and Marie Doupard (sic) on July 8, 1774. The Reynal name is spelled several ways in various records, as is the Toupart name, however, they all show the first names as Antoine and Marie. No other mention of their son, Andre, is found in any of the later family records.
In the History of St. Louis City and County, Vol. II, 1883, by J. Thomas Scharf, states "Dr. Antoine Reynal appears from the archives to have been the third surgeon in St. Louis, from the year 1776. In the year 1777, he purchased from one Jean Huge, the west half of the block on the east side of Third Street, from Market to Chestnut Streets, with a log house at the south end, fronting on Market Street, opposite the Catholic Graveyard. The north end of this lot, at the southeast corner of Chestnut and Third Streets, is now (1883) occupied by the Missouri Republican building. Dr. Reynal lived here for about 23 years, and sold the property to Eugenio Alvarez, in November, 1799. He subsequently removed to St. Charles, where he died." In Pioneer Families of Missouri, 1876, by Wm. S. Bryan and Robert Rose, states
Billion' says that Dr. Antoine Reynal came to St. Louis circa 1776 and remained there until 1799, when he sold his property and moved to St. Charles.
It is thus established that Antoine and Marie Toupart Reynal came to live in St. Louis in 1776, the same year that America declared its independence.
During the years from 1776 until Dr. Reynal and his family moved to the village of St. Charles in 1799, various documents surface from many sources, mainly the Missouri Historical Society, indicating that Reynal was a well known and active frontier doctor. Most of these documents were written in French or Spanish script, the majority being in French. Examples include the following; an April 24, 1778 paper is a testament of Andre Vignon, stating "in whose house (Reynal's) Mignon resides, and also a recipient in his will." Another document dated February 2, 1780 mentions "bounds Francois Bissonett on side of the street." A document dated July 22, 1780 describes " in whose house (Reynal's) Pierre Masse, also Picard resides." A September 29, 1783 paper deals with Reynal as a buyer in the Chaurion public sale, referring to Reynal, but not signed by him. A July 4, 1784 document, signed by Antoine Reynal and Marie Toupart, is listed as a will by the Missouri Historical Society. One of the more interesting papers regarding Reynal, signed by him and written in French, is dated December 28, 1785. It is a part of the Chouteau-Papin Collection at the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, and was translated from the French by Marie Avery of Eastfield College, Mesquite, Texas, and reads as follows:
Concerning the orderly of Francois Auzat, Lieutenant Colonel of the Armies of his Very Catholic Majesty, Commander in Chief, First Lieutenant Governor of the western part of Illinois: Our Antoine Reynal took on the duties of this job at St. Louis.
We report that the 21st of the month of December, 1785, after eight hours of travel (search) we managed to arrive at La Cotte. Near this village at the side of the barn belonging to Dame Veuve Chouteau (the widow of Chouteau) we found a black man lying dead on the ground in front of the door of said barn, flat on his back, turned with his head toward Cotte, the east, and the feet to the west, lying all stretched out. We found nearby a shell (ball) coming from a -- firearm named 'Pretoralles' (perhaps musket or flintlock) which had come from one side to the other passing between the first ribs from the back and we notice the wound (to be) four fingers from the spine (backbone), and this had undoubtedly caused his death. In view of this we gave him (the corpse) a blessing (burial?) and left him there as is the proper thing to do. This is from Raifon at St. Louis, the 28th of November, 1785.
(signed) Reynal
Several other documents, including a July, 1787 paper signed by Reynal and Francois Cruzat, lists receipts for calls (as a doctor?) on Louis Cancellier, from 1783 to 1785. Another paper dated August 24, 1789, written in French and signed by Antonio Reynal, y Marie Tupar (sic), indicates they received a donation from Jean Baptiste Bouvet in their favor. On December 21, 1790, Antoine Reynal was a witness on a paper written in Spanish.
In 1791, Antoine and Marie Toupart Reynal became, it is believed for the second time, the parents of a son, which they named Antoine Reynal, Jr. The St. Louis Genealogy Society Quarterly, Vol. III, No. 4, 1970, states:
Antoine Reynal was baptized on May 10, 1791, with Antoine Reynal and Marie Touport (sic) as parents. This baptism should have been in the St. Louis Cathedral.
According to other records, Dr. Reynal would have been around fifty years of age at the date of the birth of his son, Antoine Reynal, Jr.
A document in French, dated August 16, 1793, from the P. Chouteau Moffitt Collection at the Missouri Historical Society states:
Dr. Reynal was paid in lead on his account with Joseph Hortiz.
This account may have been for medical services rendered by Reynal.
On September 1, 1796, Dr. Reynal sent a letter, written in Spanish, to the Baron de Carondelet in New Orleans, the headquarters of the Spanish Regime. Due to the secret agreement with France, the Spanish controlled the Louisiana Territory from 1762 until 1800. The letter from Reynal to the Baron was concerning certain mining rights in Illinois and was translated by Marie Avery as follows:
FOR GOVERNOR ONAL
Don Antonio Reynal, surgeon, in this town of St. Louis, Illinois, a resident in good standing, taken on this after careful reflexion and in the most respectful manner possible. He asks for the honor, under your permission, to be allowed to establish an underground mine of good quality with the only purpose of making some money for his use and letting the citizens be informed of it. He will hire citizens and they are obligated to conduct the work so that the prices will not be exhorbitant for him. As for the proximity and conduct of the mine, he will put the most practical methods to use and will see that some examiners oversee the mine as they take out the ore, and he asks that he may send you this request for you to examine. Since this will do nothing other than benefit for the citizens and it will make jobs for some individuals in these jobs (a living for), it will be advantageous to permit him to do this. It will be of use to you and will keep the prices equalized without prejudice in the state and without hurting any persons as a result of your decision. He really begs you do concede to him the exclusive right to exploit this material (profit from the mine) for a term of six or seven years that large gains will be made and that the experimentation will enhance things. So the supplicant plans to establish himself in these parts of Illinois (remain a citizen here) and perhaps after he has established this other riches than he will contribute 11, 15, 16 (?-money) to the exploration. (he plans to expand his company) Other mineral exploration without permission should not be permitted, although such person may be ignorant that this (such exploration) may be an infraction. Also the hopeful supplicant begs you to give him a Property Title to place where this mine is located. I want to name as witnesses M. Rio and the wife of Bager until the establishment of Sr. Carlos de las Pequenas (presumably the name of the mine or person who will manage it) until it can be situated on the Missouri River. Many people without Reauthorization and not having asked for mining rights, tho they may not realize their infraction, are mining and I don't know precisely where these mines are situated, might poorly influence the whole thing. My request might get them to ask permission, thanks to you if you can grant me this request with great justification from his Majesty Luis I --
September 6, 1796
(signed) Antoine Reynal
The reply from the Baron of Carondelet is as follows:
New Orleans, 17 of October, 1796 --
Conceded (granted) with the primary condition that tract of land begins to be of benefit precisely within six months and that the supplicant limits himself exclusively to the land to which he will hold title and that the Governor of this part of Illinois establish its (the mine's) boundaries and lines (metes and bounds) so that it will be of understood extension (size). The Government will expedite this Decree of Concession (Land Title) for the correspondent.
(signed) The Baron of Carondelet
An attached note written personally by the Baron of Carondelet read as follows:
I commend the correspondent on his discretion in the way he handled this tract of land in his concession in arranging all as it should be. May God guard you for many years-
New Orleans
For Don Antonio Reynal
(Signed) The Baron of Carondelet
The letter by Dr. Reynal and its reply would indicate that the good doctor was not only a successful surgeon, but also an aspiring businessman. Present-day Missouri may have been known as Illinois in 1796, as both St. Louis and the Missouri River, near where the mine was likely to be located, are in the State of Missouri today. St. Louis was founded in 1764 by Pierre Linquest, twelve years before Reynal arrived there. No mention is made in Reynal's letter of the type of mineral to be mined if granted permission. His letter mentioned "ore," but not what kind of ore. The area around St. Louis had been first explored by Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet and in 1673 they marked the spot where the Missouri River joins the Mississippi, a few miles north of present-day St. Louis.
Early Indian tales of gold and silver attracted many Frenchmen to the area and several trading posts were built along the Mississippi River. They found salt and lead instead of silver and gold. Many remained to mine these minerals, primarily in St. Francois county, south of St. Louis, adjoining the Mississippi River. No later records have surfaced concerning this mining venture of Dr. Reynal's, and whether it was a success or failure is not known.
Reynal named one Louis Barthelemiues as his attorney in a document dated March 30, 1797, written in French and explaining the appointment. Two years later, in 1799, another document in French lists the receipts of Reynal as part of the accounts owing of Victorie Richelet, deceased. It was in the year 1799 that the Antoine Reynal family left the small city of St. Louis, moving west a few miles to the even smaller city of St. Charles. This move may have been to enhance the doctor's land purchase opportunities and also to practice medicine in an unknown area.
The same year (1799) that Reynal moved to St. Charles, another man known as the "greatest frontiersman of America" - Daniel Boone pulled up stakes in Point Pleasant (in present-day West Virginia) and headed west to live in the St. Charles territory. The Spanish Regime controlled this land under it's agreement with France and these Spanish granted Daniel Boone an 800 acre tract of land in the Femme Osage District, about forty miles west of St. Louis. In 1800 the Spanish appointed Boone a "Syndic" or Judge. Dr. Reynal may have become acquainted with Daniel Boone shortly after both moved into the St. Charles area. In the History of St. Charles County (p.p. 125-126), the meeting of the two men is documented, as follows:
William Henry Harrison (later President of the U.S ), who was in 1803 Governor of Indiana Territory, and under whose jurisdiction was Upper Louisiana (Missouri) appointed Francois Saucier, Arend Rutgers, Daniel Morgan Boone, Francois Duquette and Robert Spencer, or any three of them, to hold a Court of Common Pleas in and for the District of St. Charles. The first term of the court was held on the first Tuesday in January, 1805, in the house of Dr. Antoine Reynal on the site of the present courthouse (late 1800' s) . Francois Saucier was chief justice, Daniel Morgan Boone, Francois Duquette and Robert Spencer, associates Justices. Rufus Eaton was Attorney General and Makay Wherry, Edward
Hemphill and Antoine Reynal performed the duties of Sheriff, Clerk and Coroner, (respectively).
In 1805, Sheriff Mackay Wherry made the first tax assessment for the St. Charles District. At this time the returns showed a population of 765 in the district, consisting of 275 head of households, 95 single men, and 55 slaves. The County of St. Charles was established or organized in 1812. The county had no definite limits, extending from the Missouri River on the South, to the British possession to the North, the Mississippi River on the East and the Pacific Ocean on the West. In 1818, after several reorganizations, St. Charles county was reduced to its present dimensions.
The Spanish had controlled the Upper Louisiana Territory until 1800, when its power over this land was returned to France. In 1803 the French sold this vast Louisiana Territory to the United States, resulting in the subsequent appointments of Antoine Reynal and Daniel Boone to district offices by William Henry Harrison that same year. There may be some question whether Daniel Morgan Boone is the Daniel Boone. No middle name is usually associated with this famous frontiersman. The World Book Encyclopedia, (1973 Edition), does not include a middle name for Daniel Boone, however all other details of his move to St. Charles Territory are in agreement with the above details. Boone remained in the St. Charles Territory until his death in 1820 at 86 years of age. In 1812 he had lost his land that the Spanish had granted to him in 1799, due to the change of authority from France to the United States. In 1814, the U.S. Congress restored this land to Boone as a reward to the man that had "opened the way for millions of his fellow men." Boone hunted to the west, making only one trip back to his old home in Kentucky. He was visiting his son Nathan, who also lived nearby in Missouri, when he died in 1820. He and his wife's remains were later removed in 1845 to Frankfort, Kentucky for reburial. His home near Defiance, Missouri still stands today.
The home of Dr. Reynal in St. Charles, used as the site of the historic meeting place in 1805, was also the later site of the courthouse in St. Charles in the late 1800's. What type of home did this French extraction family build when they moved to St. Charles? There are descriptions of what the Reynal home looked like and its surroundings. In 1869, the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Charles, William A. Lynch, a friend of the Reynal's, wrote a letter describing the Reynal home in that city:
The first settlement in Saint Charles, on the Missouri River, was made in the year 1769, just one hundred years ago. Prominent among the inhabitants of that ancient village, was Dr. Antoine Reynal; a gentleman of cultivated taste, a liberal education, and in affluent on easy circumstances; as evidenced by the improvements he made upon his grounds, and the style he lived. He erected the largest and finest dwelling house in the village at that time; It was built in the old french style, with porches or verandas all around the house, he cultivated a large garden, adorned with flowers and shrubbery, and enriched with a variety of fruit trees, of the finest quality. In sinking a well, in the rear of his house, at the depth of 20 feet, the workman came upon the remains of a camp fire, that had been built on the rocks; also an Indian, or stone axe. The fire brands was in a good state of preservation; and apparently in the position, as when first placed there. The stone axe was of large size, well made of a hard greyish coloured stone, and finely finished. The axe was retained in the family of his only son, as late as 1829 or perhaps later. I have often seen and handled the axe. I occupied a room in the old family mansion in 1824. And was familiar with the premises, and the location of the well at that time.
The grounds and dwelling house of Dr. Reynal, was on the west side of the main street, and the present courthouse in St. Charles, is built on the site of the old Reynal mansion. The well must have been some five or six hundred feet east from the river bank. The bluffs, or hills in the rear; must have been very large and high at some former time, for it must necessarily have taken a very large amount of earth, to have created so large a plateau of ground, as the town of St. Charles was built on. It is evident the fire was built on the rocky shore between the bluffs and the river. And the enquiry naturally arises, at what time, and by whom? was these remains left there? was the axe forgotten and left by accident or was the party surprised and left in haste? was the fire extingused by rain, or covered over by an avalance from the bluffs, alas: there is no one to answer them. There was a tradition among the old Indian tribes, and give to the earlier settlers, by an aged Indian, that the river was at one time, extended from bluff to bluff, at St. Charles, and it is apparent that the general stage of the river, was formerly much higher than at present. The above facts, and history of finding the axe, was given to me by Mr. Antoine Reynal; a son of Dr. Reynal, Sr.
St. Louis
August. 1869
(signed) Wm. A. Lynch
The above letter is contained in the St. Charles Papers at the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis. There is no doubt that Lynch knew the Reynal's, as he had attested a document dated December 29, 1832, between Antoine Reynal, Jr. and Chas. S. Hempstead.
In 1960, a controversy erupted regarding a building that Dr. Reynal may have built in St. Charles. The razing of the old St. Charles Fur Trading Post structure at 10-14 East Clay St. was imminent by the property owner, the First National Bank. The bank, owners of the property, wanted to convert the site into a parking lot. The St. Charles Daily Banner News carried the headline: "Delay Razing of Historical Site." Mrs. Edna McElhinney Olson of the St. Charles Historical Society reported in the story that "offers of donations to save the structure have been made." The story stated that "the trading post was built in 1804, and it is a 2 story building with full basement. The original stone masonry is covered with cement." Research by the St. Charles Historical Society regarding this building included the following memorandum:
No. 10-14 East Clay Street Between Main and River St. Charles Fur Trading Company
This building is one of the most outstanding historical buildings in St. Charles and is one of the oldest. I am sorry to tell you that this marvelous old building is to be torn down to make way for a parking space soon. It was built in 1804 by Dr. Antoine Reynal. It is made of beautiful clear Burlington stone. It is a two-story building with a complete basement. It is a perfect example of pure French architecture, with its overhanging 36 inch French roof and the French curved brickwork in the chimney. Originally the windows were of small pane glass (These have been replaced by large plate glass windows). The windows were arranged to provide crossventilation, and originally all four front doors and all the windows had shutters with adjustable slats. The walls are 18 inches thick. This building was originally built to be used for protection in case of an Indian siege. It was surrounded by a stockade and extended to the River so as to furnish water in case of a siege. (In the early 1800's, the Indians were still very much abundance in the St. Charles area).
In 1808 this historical building became the famous St. Charles Fur Trading Post. Dr. Antoine Reynal operated the post. This building was perfect for the fur trade business. The basement was used for curing furs. The main floor which was originally also one large room was used for fur storage. The St. Charles Fur Trading Company, as it was called, had its own boat landing. Records tell us of the keel boats docking at this pier. The largest transaction of furs and peltries is recorded in Book # 283. Thirty-eight packs of furs were sold in this one deal, which consisted of 120 fox skins, 80 beaver skins, 80 raccoon skins, 600 muskrat skins, 9 elk skins, and 8 bear skins. Again our records show that Manuel Liza (Lisa), one of the most prominent fur traders of St. Louis, was a frequent trader here. One of the most unusual stories in the archives of the St. Charles Fur Trading Company is that Black Buffalo, chief of the Tebon Sioux Indians, came to St. Charles on a conference and a fur trading expedition. He became ill, and Dr. Antoine Reynal took care of him. This was in January of 1812. He died in St. Charles that same month. The bier of this famous chief was held at the St. Charles Fur Trading Post. During that time all business transactions were suspended. This was due to the fact that the Sioux Indians furnished more furs for the trading post than did any of the other Indians. Records show that Jean Baptiste Point de Sable (the founder of Chicago) transacted sales at this famous post. We have an original transaction signed by him. No. 126 tells of transactions of Pierre Chouteau buying furs here. Dr. Antoine Reynal was not well, and in 1820 at the age of 79 he decided that the fur business was slacking and it was time to quit. In 1820 the Masonic Lodge rented this entire building, and this remained as the Masonic Lodge approximately 30 years. The moving of the Masons to this building became necessary in the year 1820 when they received notice to vacate 214 Main Street (Peck's Row), as the rooms in Peck's Row were to be remodeled to make the great Assembly Hall to be used as the first capitol of Missouri. Next this building was used as a soap factory. An interesting ad in the archives reads "The Saint Charles Soap Factory offers 1¢ a pound for pure clean grease, or will trade one pound of pure clean grease for one cake of pure clean soap." The soap factory was followed by a candle factory. Another ad tells us "Buy our candles. They will make your home at night as light as day." Then followed the starch factory, and then it became the St. Charles Pottery Factory. A few of these flower pots and milk churns have been found and are exhibited with the St. Louis Historical Society. Then this old - (End of Memorandum)
Mrs. Olson of the St. Charles Historical Society had written to a Mr. Charles van Ravenswaay, most likely with the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, during this 1960 period in regard to the razing of the building on Clay Street. Mrs. Olson submitted to van Ravenswaay the information contained in the above memorandum. His reply to Mrs. Olson is as follows:
2/1/60
Dear Edna: After a good many days of searching, Mrs. Ellen Harris, our Manuscript Room Librarian, has assembled a good deal of information which simply boils down to the fact that Dr. Antoine Reynal owned a Creole type house (apparently wooden) on the site of the old Court House, and we have a manuscript account of this house and adjacent orchards and gardens, written in the 1860's by William A. Lynch who visited the house in 1824. (See Lynches letter above) There is no evidence anywhere that Reynal was ever a fur trader, and I suspect that most of your information has come from fairly recent and inaccurate accounts, such as Walter Williams' History of Missouri and other sources, in which authors became confused about Duqette's windmill on top of the hill, which historians have sometimes called a fort. (Probably the same Francois Duquette that was appointed an associate justice by Harrison in 1803) On January 13, 1800 Reynal did buy a lot 120 feet wide and 150 feet deep, with a log house and outbuildings surrounded by a picket fence, on Rue Royale, from Pierre Gagon. Could this have been lot No. 13? If Reynal later built a stone house on it, we have no record of it, and we do have the 1815 tax list and other manuscript material which we have checked.
Mr. van Ravenswaay also wrote a memorandum to Mrs. Olson, which included the following excerpts. "In the same year (1800) Dr. Reynal acquired a tract of land in the village of St. Charles from the same Claude Panneton" and "One can question the spelling in the articles. Although there are many versions of Reynal, the first name is invariably Antoine."
These various memorandums and letters include the following tax list entries:
Antoine Reynal appears in the 1815 Territorial Tax Records, a 'Triplicate List' of Taxable Persons in Townships of Portage des Sioux, St. Charles, Dardenne, Lower and Upper Cuivre and Femme Osage in the County of St. Charles, as follows:
P. 116-Antoine Reynalds (sic), 40 arpens near St Charles, original claimants unknown, town lots 4, valuation $1500, Slaves 3, amount of taxes $6.61½.
P. 38-Antoine Reynalds (sic), 40 arpens, Town lots and improvements, 4, valuation, $800, slaves above 10 years old, 3, amount of taxes $4.51.
P. 222-Antoine Reynolds, Jr. (sic), town lot 1, St. Charles Field, original owner P. Ripley, valuation $600, slaves over 10 years old, 1, taxes $2.42½.
Antoine Reynolds (sic), original claimant A. Raynolds, town Lot 1, valuation $5000, slaves 2, taxes $16.25.
P. 328-Antoine Reynald (sic), 80 arpens confirmed land, St. Charles 4 town lots.
Although there is a question as to whether Dr. Antoine Reynal actually founded and operated the St. Charles Fur Trading Post, the records of the fur trading post seem to strongly indicate that he did own the building and did remain in the business until 1820. Although the tax records researched by van Ravenswaayts staff found no entries regarding this building, these early day records were many times incomplete or lost and the fur company's records seem to hold more credence in this question. Reynal's son, Antoine, Jr., was also later connected with the fur trading business, lending more credence to the likelihood that the building was a fur trading post and was owned and run by Dr. Reynal.
During this period, Dr. Reynal purchased land outside St. Charles in the nearby village of Portage des Sioux. He most likely never lived in this village, which is a few miles north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River, however many of his later day relatives, including his son, Antoine, Jr., did live there for many years. The name of the village Portage des Sioux, is French meaning "Crossing of the Sioux". The Court Records - Township of St. Charles, Taxable Property at Portage des Sioux, Missouri 1807 lists: "Antoine Reynold (sic) being taxed on 10 acres, 1 house, 1 horse mill, 3 houses, 8 neat cattle and 1 slave. "
Other recorded information on Dr. Reynal during this period of the early 1800's included: A June 29, 1807 document that Reynal signed to a Jn. Hortiz, which spoke of his "obligation and money held by a Mr. Harte."
In Pioneer Families of Missouri, (Pub- 1876) by Wm. Bryan and Robert Rose, the following excerpt states:
Pierre Pallardie, who was probably the oldest living native of St. Charles County, being born there in 1800, stated he remembered Reynal as one of the several early day physicians that practiced in St. Charles city and county in his early years there.
From a clipping in the Doctors Scrapbook, (p. 44), in the archives of the Missouri Historical Society, entitled: "Passing of the Old-Type Country Doctor and his Shay" published in the 1920's or 1930's in either the St. Louis Globe-Democrat or the St. Louis Post-Dispatch according to Lois Stanley, St. Louis genealogist, the following excerpt stated:
A year after Conde's death another Doctor, Antoine Reynal, came to St. Louis and settled. He remained here a number of years before going to St. Charles where he engaged in practice. For a whole year after he arrived he was the only doctor here and his practice was so lucrative that he purchased Considerable land. Among that which he purchased was the west half of that block bounded by 2nd, 3rd and Market and Chestnut Streets. After he departed there was no doctor in St. Louis for several months, the sick having to depend upon a doctor coming from St. Charles.
In 1812, the United States Congress organized the Missouri Territory, which had a population of around 20,000 at that time. The farming and mining industries were fairly well established. The Indians of this territory resented the influx of the many settlers and led frequent and bloody attacks on them. The War of 1812 erupted the same year between the U.S. and Britain, with the British supplying weapons to the Indians and encouraging them to attack the Missouri settlers. Forts and blockhouses were built, such as the ones mentioned earlier in St. Charles, with the Indians persisting in their raids for the next three years. In 1815, the U.S. Government Officials and the Indians signed a peace treaty at Portage des Sioux, where Dr. Reynal owned land and where his son, Antoine Reynal, Jr. was living at the time. The Reynal family must have felt in jeopardy from these Indian raids during this period.
The wife of Dr. Reynal, Marie Toupart Reynal, is mentioned in several documents during this time, as is their son, Antoine Reynal, Jr. Marie's signature is affixed on several of these papers and the son is mentioned as a witness with his father to two marriages in 1806 and 1807. During the years from 1800 until 1821, Dr. Reynal practiced medicine and invested in real estate in the St. Charles and Portage des Sioux area. Several documents indicate land transactions and he was apparently the recipient of a land grant from the Spanish after his move to St. Charles in 1799. Other tax lists record his ownership of acreage on considerable size. His investment in this land and possibly the fur trading business, along with his medical practice, resulted in Reynal being probably one of the wealthiest men in St. Charles by the year 1820.
Antoine Reynal's last will and testament was written in French and is dated April 24, 1820. The original of his will is in the archives of the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis. A copy of this will was obtained by the author and was translated into English by Mr. Francois Vigeron, a French native living in Rowlett, Texas. This will reads as follows:
County of St. Charles, January 17, 1822. Then filed for record the last will & Testament of Antoine Reynal, pere deceased - Marie Toupart his widow named executrix there in hearing date the 24th April 1820 - of which the following is a Copy of:
________________________________________
May it be known, to those who present themselves, that I, Antoine Reynal, father, who married at Rote des Allemans in base Louisiana, Marie Toupart, without marriage contract, and to put ourselves on the safe side, so that no trouble will occur after my death, and today residing in the town of St. Charles du Missouris, in St. Louis County, in the Louisiana Territory, being sound in spirit and reason, and having good and firm intentions, as it appeared to the witnesses who signed below, considering that there is nothing more certain than death, and notioning more uncertain than the hour, afraid to be unable before having though of my sound destiny and disposed of my business, I dictated myself my will and last wishes. In the name of the father, the son and the spirit.
First of all, I want to live and die under the authority of our father, the Pope, in the catholique apostholique and Roman Religion. After have the sign of the cross and having recommended myself to God the Creator, asking him humbly, by the death of his son Jesus Christ, to forgive my sins, washed by his precious blood, and when his will be to call me from this world, to let him put me with the Happy-ones, in his heavenly kingdom, I pray to his saints and to the glorious Virgin Mary, his dignified mother of St. Michel, St. Jean, and all the saints of Heaven, and so, I ask all of those offended to forgive me as I forgive to those who offended me.
First of all, I want my body to be buried in the cemetery of the place where I will die. 2nd, I order that 100 piastres to be given to the poor, widows and orphans, in one year or 18 months, so that they will pray for me. 3rd, I give fifty piastres for the need of the church. 4th, I ask my wife to have a requiem service on my body, and to have 50 masses performed when she can, and a service after one year. 5th, regarding the wealth that Marie Toupart, my wife, and myself have acquired in our marriage, I want her to be the only managing party and for her to dispose of it as if it was hers. However, I reserve myself a child born in bondage, son of Pouponne of mixed blood. But, our slave named Andre, natural son of Replit, to whom I give freedom because he is my Godson, when he will reach the age of 15, he will be put with an Artisan to learn the trade of his choice, during 5 or 6 years, and the artisan, in return, will teach him to write and read, and if the artisan is not catholic, he will have to send him to the catholic training classes, and if he fails (the artisan) to do so, we will take him away and place him with Eloe, under the same conditions. 6th, I give properties to Antoine Reynal, my grandson and godson, a little nigger named Bath (Bain) that I bought from Mr. Williams, I give him conditionally, that he will not sell or Hypotheque, neither will he be able to dispose of him until my grandson Antoine Reynal reach the age of 25. 7th, Antoine will not be able to ask to have access to the succession, as long as his mother will be alive, and he will receive land and money in the amount of 200,000 piastres. 8th. The first thing that my wife Marie Toupart will do, will be to pay the debts contracted in our society. 9th I give credit to all of those who are in my books, if they are poor and needy. 10th, regarding the slaves, and animals, cattle, horses, they will all belong to my wife, as all the other goods in my possession. 11th, If Charles still owes us for the land that we sold him, and if it is not paid before my death, this money will go to my wife, with nobody having the right to pretend for it. 12th, If it happens that there is any other testimony or will prior to this one, they will be canceled, and would not have any effect on this one. 13th For the execution of this will, I name Marie Toupart administrator, without anybody else by herself.
Finally, I declare that those are my last wishes, that I wrote with my own hands, done, at St. Charles du Missouris, County of St. Louis, after reading done to the witnesses, who signed below, at St. Charles due Missouris on April 24, 1820.
(signed) Antoine Reynal
Pere
Timoins F. Miller
Hiram Beber
??? Durocher
Patrice Lee
W. L. Solomon
A. Janis Fils
________________________________________
The above will was later filed for record on the 9th of February, 1822, in the office of William Christy, Jr., the Official Recorder of St. Charles County, Missouri.
The last will of Dr. Reynal, written in his hand at the age of 79 years, reveals to the reader many facets of his life. To whom and where he was married, his place of residence, his religion, the members of his family and to a great extent, his wealth. Reynal states that he was married to Marie Toupart, without marriage contract, which probably meant that a formal marriage contract with her family was not drawn up. This was to put them on the "safe side." He also reserved himself a child born in bondage, son of "pouponne" of mixed blood. Reynal also stated that his slave, Andre, natural son of Replit, was to have his freedom. During this period many wealthy men had their legal or social family and also had a second family with mixed-blood women. This child of "pouponne" was probably his own and he felt responsible for its welfare. This may have been the case with Andre, who was not yet of legal age when he wrote his will.
The Marriage Records of St. Charles County, Missouri 1805-1844 lists the following entry:
15 August, 1827, Francis St. Croix Du Richeve married to Clarisse Reynal, called Pouponne, having formerly belonged to Anthony Reynal, Sr. -(married) by Verhagen, C. P. (Priest)
Clarisse Reynal was most likely the "pouponne" mentioned in Reynal's will of 1820. She may have been a very young mixed-blood girl when the child was born, and as a mature women in 1827, was married to Du Richeve, six years after Reynal's death. The sixth entry of his will is confusing, stating that "I give properties to Antoine Reynal, my Grandson and Godson." None of the records that I have secured mention a grandson Antoine {so we assume son was the correct translation}. The 200,000 piastres left to his son Antoine, Jr., was apparently a handsome sum in 1820. Dr. Reynal was also a slave owner for many years according to the records and was also the owner of a large amount of land. Another document dated in 1836 describes land in field notes of property on the Doit Delany land near Creve Coeur Lake and the Mississippi River, and indicated that it was a part of land granted to Reynal by the Spanish Government.
Dr. Antoine Reynal was to die in St. Charles, Missouri in 1821 at the age of eighty years. This was the same year that Missouri became a state of the United States. The St. Charles Missourian of December 20, 1821 carried this notice:
A notice of the death of Dr. Antoine Reynal of this place, Monday, Age 80.
Houck's History of Missouri, Vol II, states:
Item: Antoine Reynal died in St. Charles in 1821 at the age of 80.
These recorded dates of his age at death indicates Reynal was born around the years 1740 or 1741, probably in France, Canada, or possibly the Martinique Island in the Caribbean. The de Reynal families of the Toulouse section of France had settled there in the 1600's. His parentage, early life and education in not known at this writing. Lynch's letter of 1869 states that Reynal was an intelligent and educated person, which would lead one to surmise that he may have been born and schooled in France. Whether he attended a medical school is not known, however he was a surgeon and likely did receive formal medical training.
The Original Probate Records of St. Charles County, Missouri, (p. 2), shows that Reynal's will was probated in the County Court on the 17th of January, 1822. Marie Toupart Reynal was named sole executrix of the estate and the probate was recorded on February 19, 1822. These same probate records, pages 35 and 36, dated April 2, 1824, state that the last will and testament of Antoine Reynal-Pere- was probated on October 4, 1821. The original will of Antoine Reynal was written on April 24, 1820 and this October, 1821 probate would have been two months before his death. In the 1824 probate records, Antoine Reynal fils (son) was named the Administrator of the estate. This could indicate that Marie Toupart Reynal, his widow, had either died or had become incapacitated, with her son assuming the role of administrator.
An 1830 document describing a mortgage for land mentioned in the 1820 will reveals that Marie Toupart Reynal was deceased at the date of the document. Marie Toupart, the widow of Dr. Antoine Reynal, was to die within ten years of his death. It is assumed that she is also buried in St. Charles, Missouri. Jump up to parent
THE CHILDREN OF ANTOINE REYNAL (17400000) AND MARIE TOUPART
(17740708) ANDRE REYNAL, b. July 8, 1774 at Ste Genevieve, Upper Louisiana Territory, baptized at the Catholic Church of Ste. Genevieve. Date and place of death unknown. Jump down to biography and offspring
(17910500) ANTOINE REYNAL, JR., b. May, 1791 at St. Louis, Upper Louisiana Territory. Baptized May 10, 1791 at St. Louis Cathedral, m. Louise Saucier prior to 1812, d. June 6, 1859 at Portage des Sioux, Missouri, bu. Portage des Sioux, Missouri. Jump down to biography and offspring