FRANCE to New Orleans, LA: Mercier, Jacques - immigrated bef 12 Nov 1871
FRANCE to New Orleans, LA: Mercier, Francois - immigrated 1872
Originally, the hunt for immigration records was just for Francois Mercier but ended up including his father, Jacques Mercier. Since Francois “Frank” was age 29 when he immigrated, he spent most of his life in New Orleans. On the other hand, Jacques “Jacob” was about age 57, but technically, he was the first one who arrived. So, they both earn the “boat” icon in the family lineage at the end of this post. More about Jacques’ life in France can be found in a future post under the category “Across the Pond”.
As of this post, no passenger lists have been found for Jacques or Francois Mercier or their wives. Interestingly, documents tied to their sons give us information that may lead to future discoveries.
While checking the detailed records for all of Jacques’ children while they were in France, I came across Francois’ marriage certificate in 1865 that gives his parents names and where they were living. When I came across another son, Pierre’s marriage certificate dated 12 Nov 1871, it records that his parents Jacques Mercier and Catherine Flotat had both emigrated to the United States of America. (From Belfort, Alsace, France, Birth, Marriage and Death Registers, 1599-1919, at Ancestry.com, accessed 8 Nov 2023.)
So, some time between Oct 1865 and Nov 1871, Jacques emigrated to America. I wonder why was he in such a hurry to leave everything behind and start over in another country at age 57? My husband suggested that he might have wanted to avoid conscription into a war with Germany that seemed imminent (and that DID break out 19 Jul 1870). Other Merciers had settled in New Orleans decades before this time period. Perhaps, they had written letters to relatives talking about how great life was in Louisiana.
So Jacques’ timeline looks like this:
1814 Apr 25 - Jacques Mercier is born in Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France
1842 Jul 7 - Jacques Mercier marries Catherine Flotat in Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France
1861 Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France, Census - Jacques Mercier, age 47, and Catherine Flotat, age 36, living in the “neighborhood of factories” with:
Francois - age 18
Catherine - age 16
Pierre - age 14
Julie - age 12
Marie - age 5
Eugenie - age 2
Julie(-Louise) - age 8 days old
1871 Nov 12 - Jacques’ son, Pierre’s marriage certificate states that his parents, Jacques Mercier and Catherine Flotat, have already emigrated to the United States
1878 New Orleans City Directory - Mercier Jacques, gardener, residence north side of N. Rampart between Bartholomew and Mazant Sts.
1880 Jun 30 U.S. Census - Jacques and Catherine Mercier (Francois’ parents) are in New Orleans living on Jeanne St., he is age 66 and a gardener, she is age 56 keeping house, both born in France, and living with adopted son, Jules Mercier, age 18, a baker born in Louisiana.
1892 February - New Orleans City Directory - Mercier Jacques, laborer, residence north side of Royal between Mazant and French Sts. Jules, the adopted son, is living at the same address.
1892 Apr 3 - Jacques “Jacob” Mercier dies in New Orleans age 77. Burial location not known.
Now, on to Francois “Frank” Mercier:
The first clue starts with the 1900 U.S. Census where “Frank” Mercier says he immigrated in 1872. However, no passenger lists showing him and/or his family have turned up for the time period 1868-1874.
On Nov 8, I decided to check naturalization records and found a naturalization record for Francois’ oldest son, Joseph Jules Mercier, that sheds light on how they got to America. From “Louisiana, U.S. Naturalization Records, 1836-2001: Eastern District Court, Questionnaire for Naturalization Petitions, 1911-1929”:
Joseph Jule Mercier
Residence: 4221 Dauphine St., New Orleans
Occupation: Laborer
Born: 7 Dec 1866 at Grandvillars, France
Emigrated from: Le Havre, France, on 25 Nov 1872
Arrived at: New Orleans on 18 Dec 1872 on the vessel Frankfort
Declaration of intention to become a U.S. citizen: 21 Feb 1888 at Camp and Lafayette Sts. in the Criminal District Court of New Orleans (these courts handled naturalization)
After naming his wife and four children, he goes on to state he has lived in the U.S. since 18 Dec 1872 in the state of Louisiana.
Two Witnesses: Nicholas J. Fraiche, Dec 1895 and Andrew J. Kieran, Nov 1900
Even though I have not found a passenger list, the above is a good source given that Joseph Jules Mercier would have been age 6 in 1872 and was probably with his parents.
Through baptismal records, marriage records, and census lists from Belfort, Alsace, France, we can piece together Francois “Frank” Mercier’s life:
1843 Aug 24 - Francois Mercier is born in Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France, to Jacques Mercier (1814-1892) and Catherine Flotat (1825-aft 1880)
1865 Sep 11 - Francois Mercier and Catherine Thomas marry in Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France.
1872 May 10 Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France, Census - Francois Mercier age 28 and Catherine Thomas age 28 are with Joseph age 5 and Dominique age 3
1872 Oct 1 - deadline to let German authorities know if they will retain French citizenship (more about this in “Across the Pond”)
1872 Nov 25 - family departs Le Havre, France, bound for New Orleans, LA
1872 Dec 18 - family arrives in New Orleans, LA
1874 New Orleans City Directory - Mercier Francois, laborer with Lhote & Co., residence N. Claiborne at the corner of Spain St. This same year, there are other Merciers already established in New Orleans:
Peter Mercier shown above is Francois’ brother. Out of Jacques’ nine known children, three are known to have lived in New Orleans (Francois’ sister, Julie, being the third).
1880 Jul 1-2 U.S. Census - Francois and Catherine Mercier are in New Orleans living at 59 Lesseps St., both age 36, both born in France, both sets of parents born in France. He’s a laborer. She’s keeping house. Four children:
Joseph - age 14, a laborer born in France
Dominique - age 11, at school born in France
Marie - age 6 born in France (incorrect)
Jacques (“Jack”) - age 1 born in Louisiana
1892 New Orleans City Directory - Mercier Francois, laborer, residence 23 Lesseps St.
1900 June 13 U.S. Census - Frank is in New Orleans living with his daughter Amelia and her husband, Gabriel Biane, at 619 France St. He is a widow, age 57, born in France, immigrated in 1872, is naturalized, and cannot read, write or speak English.
1903 Dec 27 - two days after Christmas, Francois “Frank” Mercier dies age 60. Burial location not known.
For more about Jacques and Francois’ lives in France, see “Across the Pond: Lailhengue > Mercier - Alsace, France.
Here’s our direct lineage back to Jacques and Francois:
7) Francois “Frank” Mercier, b. 24 Aug 1843 Grandvillars, Belfort, Alsace, France, d. 27 Dec 1903 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana m. Catherine Thomas, b. 30 May 1843 Boron, Belfort, Alsace, France, d. 29 Apr 1899 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana
6) Marie Amelia Mercier, b. 1 Oct 1874 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana d. 8 Feb 1938 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana m. Gabriel Bernard Biane, b. 9 Aug 1873 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, d. 10 Aug 1931 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana
5) Marie E. Biane, b. 10 Oct 1901 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, d. 7 Jul 1972 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana m. Pvt. Paul Leon Lailhengue, b. 8 Nov 1890 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, d. 2 Aug 1962 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana.
4) Andrew Charles Lailhengue, Sr., b. 17 Apr 1926 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, d. 15 Feb 2004 Chalmette, St. Bernard, Louisiana, m. Virginia Iris Botkin, b. 13 Jun 1924 Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, d. 17 Oct 1983 Chalmette, St. Bernard, Louisiana
3) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)
2) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)
1) BAC, my son-in-law (living - information withheld)
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