Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Private Claim 236, Lot of George McDougal
— River Raisin National Battlefield Park —
Photographed By Craig Doda, June 29, 2020
1. Private Claim 236, Lot of George McDougal Marker
Inscription.
Private Claim 236, Lot of George McDougal. . George McDougal, a wealthy and prominent cousin of Col François Navarre, owned the property occupied by 25-year-old Pierre Jacob and his mother Magdelaine Godet-Jacob-Leblanc. Unaware of the imminent declaration of war, Magdelaine peacefully stood on their front porch feeding chickens while her son Pierre chopped wood in preparation for the long cold days of winter. The Leblanc's French pear trees, grafted from the famous Jesuit pear tree, were in full bloom. The twelve trees represented the twelve disciples of Christ. Eleven were planted together, and one, the Judas Tree, was separated to remind the settlers of the scriptures.
Tranquility in Flames
The peaceful homestead along the River Raisin became eerily quiet as the neighboring Wyandot warned the settlers of their growing tensions with the U.S. After the U.S. surrendered the Michigan Territory in August of 18 12, the Leblanc's found themselves at the mercy of the Native warriors and British soldiers who soon occupied the French settlement.
On January 18, 1813, the Leblanc's found themselves in the middle of the first Battle of the River Raisin. Upon liberating Frenchtown in the long running battle to the north of Mason Run, the U.S. returned to the Frenchtown settlement. U.S. Commanders de- manded use of Leblanc home as barracks, their stable to board military horses, and their bakehouse to serve as an armory. Magdelaine insisted on charging the U.S. room and board, but was never paid.
On January 23, the morning after the second Battle of the River Raisin, the Leblanc house burnt to the ground and all contents were lost. The property owner George McDougal claimed his destroyed prop- erty was worth $2000 and awarded $800 for his loss, but the Leblanc's were never paid for their loss.
George McDougal, a wealthy and prominent cousin of Col François Navarre, owned the property occupied by 25-year-old Pierre Jacob
and his mother Magdelaine Godet-Jacob-Leblanc. Unaware of the imminent declaration of war, Magdelaine peacefully stood on their
front porch feeding chickens while her son Pierre chopped wood in preparation for the long cold days of winter.
The Leblanc's French pear trees, grafted from the famous Jesuit pear tree, were in full bloom. The twelve trees represented the twelve
disciples of Christ. Eleven were planted together, and one, the Judas Tree, was separated to remind the settlers of the scriptures.
Tranquility in Flames
The peaceful homestead along the River Raisin
became eerily quiet as the neighboring Wyandot
warned the settlers of their growing tensions with the
U.S. After the U.S. surrendered the Michigan Territory
in August of 1812, the Leblanc's found themselves at
the mercy of the Native warriors and British soldiers
who soon occupied the French settlement.
On January 18, 1813, the Leblanc's found themselves
in the middle of the first Battle of the River Raisin.
Upon liberating Frenchtown in the long running
battle to the north of Mason Run, the U.S. returned to
the Frenchtown settlement. U.S. Commanders de-
manded use of Leblanc home as barracks, their stable
to
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board military horses, and their bakehouse to serve
as an armory. Magdelaine insisted on charging the
U.S. room and board, but was never paid.
On January 23, the morning after the second Battle of
the River Raisin, the Leblanc house burnt to the
ground and all contents were lost. The property
owner George McDougal claimed his destroyed prop-
erty was worth $2000 and awarded $800 for his loss,
but the Leblanc's were never paid for their loss.
Erected by U.S. National Park Service, City of Monroe, Michigan.
Location. 41° 54.776′ N, 83° 22.733′ W. Marker is in Monroe, Michigan, in Monroe County. Marker is on East Elm Avenue east of North Dixie Highway, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Monroe MI 48162, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Private Claim 236, Lot of George McDougal Marker
Private Claim 236 Lot of Lot of George McDougal Marker seen from River Raisin Heritage Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 28, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
