Patriot Jean Roger

George Rogers Clark Chapter
Ohio Society
Sons of the American Revolution

 BERNARDO DE GALVEZ

Jean Roger and the Galvez Expeditions

The name of my patriot ancestor is Jean Roger. He was born in 1752; a third generation descendant of Roger Caissy, the son of Alexis Caissy dit Roger and his second wife Marie-Joseph LeBlanc. Roger was an Irishman who had escaped the British and took refuge in French Acadia, marrying an Acadian woman; Marie Francoise Poirier. His grandson Alexis changed his name from Alexis Caissy to Alexis Caissy dit Roger, adopting his grandfather’s given name as his surname. Alexis’ son Jean later dropped the Caissy name altogether and called himself Jean Roger.

Jean’s birth occurred three years before the beginning of the Acadian diaspora. In the year 1755, the British decided to solve the "Acadian problem" by imprisoning and deporting the Acadians to the colonies. The British rulers in Acadia did this without regard to the welfare of the Acadians nor any warning to the colonies who were expected to receive them. Many of them died at sea during the voyages, some escaped, and many of the escapees, a once peaceful people, would live to fight on against their British oppressors.

Alexis, his wife and children including his baby son Jean probably were on the ship Cornwallis used to transport the deportees and piloted by Captain Andrew Sinclair. Listed among the Cornwallis deportees was an Alexander See Casie along with his wife and children. That name on this list is not the only name so badly broken up by the captain; it is safe to conclude that this refers to Alexis accompanied by his second wife Marie-Joseph LeBlanc and their children including their baby son Jean. Further, there were no Alexander Caissie’s known to be living in Acadia at that time. That list is the last indication of the existence of Alexis. On 17 November 1755, in the company of 3 other transports the Cornwallis carrying 208 deportees arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina from Beaubassin, Acadia.

But, how did Jean get to Louisiana? It remains a mystery, but there is at least one theory that would explain how he got there, if the above theory that Alexis and his family were on the Cornwallis is correct. If able to do so, the Acadians were allowed to go elsewhere. Some made their way to Louisiana. A party left in May 1756. The route required approximately 2 months to travel from South Carolina to Louisiana. This could explain one way that Jean might have been brought to Louisiana. Needless to say, no records of Jean Roger for the period 1755 to 1770 have been found. In July of 1770 we find Jean Roger in the first company of the Spanish militia of the Acadian Coast serving under Captain (Don) Nicolas Verett. He is listed as Jean Roger, 18, from Acadia, a bachelor and he functions in the militia as a fusileer (a militiaman who carries a light flintlock musket).

In 1779 Jean is in the list of men who compose the four companies of militia and grenadiers for New Orleans and its districts. This militia, fought under the command of Benardo de Galvez, Governor of Spanish Louisiana.

Throughout the years in which he sought solutions for Louisiana's domestic problems, Galvez was rendering important though unostentatious assistance to the patriots in the American Revolution. In view of the spectacular campaigns of George Rogers Clark, and of the inconspicuous but momentous work of Oliver Pollock, the two Americans most instrumental in securing the trans-Allegheny region for the United States, it would be folly to claim for Galvez entire credit for the success of the Revolution in the West. It is justifiable, however, to include him with Clark and Pollock in a triumvirate to which the honors are due. Much of Galvez' assistance was given before Spain had entered the war against England. Of course Spain took a lively interest in the Revolution from the start. Her Louisiana officials in particular were directed to submit full and frequent reports on whatever echoes of the struggle reached them.

Between 1779 and 1781, Gálvez defeated the British in Baton Rouge, Manchac, Mobile and Pensacola. On 8 May 1779 Spain authorized Galvez to harass English colonial possessions along the Gulf of Mexico to aid the Americans. On 27 August 1779, Galvez left New Orleans with 600 of the militia. On 7 September they attacked the English and captured Fort Bute on Bayou Manchac across from the Cajun town of St. Gabriel. On 21 September they attacked and captured Baton Rouge. On 14 March 1780, the English surrendered Mobile to Galvez and the Cajuns. Pensacola fell 9 May 1781. These victories relieved British pressure on General George Washington's armies and opened supply lines for money and military goods from Spain, France, Cuba and Mexico. Gálvez's heroic exploits greatly helped the cause of the American Revolution.

Allen John Rogers

Bibliography: "Bernardo de Galvez in Louisiana 1776-1783" by John Walton Caughey, 1972, Gretna, La. "The Acadian Miracle" by Dudley J. LeBlanc, 1966, Lafayette, La. "Louisiana’s French Heritage" by Truman Stacey, 1990, Lafayette, La. "Galvez and Other Louisiana Patriots" by Leroy E. Willie, SAR, 1995, Baton Rouge, La. "Roger/Rogers – The Caissy Family in Louisiana by Allen J. Rogers, 1999, Springfield, Oh. Web Sites of Interest :

http://www.caissy.com

http://www.coloquio.com/galvez.html

http://www.crt.state.la.us/crt/profiles/people.htm

http://www.polaris.net/~rblacks/fdh/pensacola-war.htm

http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/galvez1.htm