Beaumont in Jefferson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Jean Baptiste Chaison

(August 7, 1745 - July 20, 1854)

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026

1. Jean Baptiste Chaison Marker

Inscription. Jean Baptiste ("Jonas") Chaison was born in Nova Scotia, of French parents. After imprisonment by the British during the French and Indian War, he and his parents fled in 1763 to France, where he was soon orphaned. He returned to North America, and joined the Colonial Army in 1775 at Quebec, to take revenge against the British. Continuing in the Continental Army, he served with Lafayette at Brandywine, 1777; fought at Germantown, 1777; was wounded serving under Greene and Marion at Eutaw Springs, 1781; and found under Lafayette's command at Yorktown, 1781.

Coming to western Louisiana as a cattleraiser and farmer about 1785, he married Marie LeBlanc and had eight children. About 1840 he moved to Beaumont to live with his son McGuire Chaison (1809-1859). He was strong and healthy of mind and body as long as he lived, and farmed here until 1854. Dying at a few days under 109 years of age, he was buried in Jirou Cemetery (3 mi. N). He was one of the few men of the American Revolution involved in Texas history. The Daughters of the American Revolution marked his grave site in 1944. The DAR marker was moved here to Pipkin

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Park when a church was built in 1969 in the extinct Jirou Cemetery.

Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10499.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.

Location. 30° 4.442′ N, 94° 5.519′ W. Marker is in Beaumont, Texas, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Emmett Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. In Pipkin Park, in front of Temple to the Brave building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1365 Pennsylvania Ave, Beaumont TX 77701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Golden Triangle.

It is also in the American South,

on the Gulf Coast,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026

2. Jean Baptiste Chaison Marker

distance of this marker: Temple to the Brave (a few steps from this marker); Jefferson County Courthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Port of Beaumont (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harry James' Childhood Homesite (approx. 0.4 miles away); William G. "Bill" Hall (approx. half a mile away); Henry Millard (approx. half a mile away); Beaumont (approx. 0.6 miles away); Saint Anthony's Cathedral (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaumont.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026

3. Jean Baptiste Chaison Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026

4. Jean Baptiste Chaison Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 59 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.