The Noisette Families:
Philippe, Antoine and Louis Noisette: Came from a family of well known horticulturists in France. Their grandfather, father, and uncles were ‘Jardiniers’ for such royals as Louis the XVI, and future King Louis XVIII. Louis was superintendent of the Botanical Garden at Val-de-Grâce. He later established his own botanical garden and became one of the leading gardening authorities in Europe.
Philippe Stanislas and Celestine Noisette: It is believed that Philippe went to Saint-Dominque at such a young age (15 years) because there were already Noisettes living there. There he met Celestine. They later married and fled with her to Charleston where they lived until his death in 1835. Celestine continued living in the Noisette house after Philippe’s death with their seven children. History tells us that, at the time they met, Haiti had many free people-of-color to whom France had awarded full citizenship.
Antoine and Marie-Jeanne Lecolier Noisette: Departed Paris for Nantes in 1822. In 1823 he was named director of Le Jardin des Plantes de Nantes. He and Marie-Jeanne had five children, Jean Dominique, Marie Josephine, Andre Charles, Antoine Frederick, and Emile Antoine. Robin Noisette and I traveled to France this spring, and visited with descendants of Andre Charles who live in Caen and Paris. We also visited descendents of Antoine Frederick who live in Nantes.
Ellen Noisette ( a descendant of Philippe and Celestine): Was born in 1849, and died in 1891. She married Francis “Frank” Sparks Lee, the colored son of John Francis Lee of Barbados and Anna Borch. They had seven children of which five lived: Norman, William, Frank, Samuel, and James. This information was taken from the historical notes of Willie Lee dating back to 1844.
Jacob and Celeste Noisette: Harry Noisette, born in 1883, knew little about his grand-parents Jacob and Celeste. Harry’s grandson, 85 year-old Harry Noisette, his children, nieces and nephew, ironically now living on former Noisette farm land, continue to search for more information on their Noisette lineage and their connection to Philippe and Celestine.
Benjamin and Anna Noisette: Benjamin’s master was Judge Singleton, and Anna’s master was James Hopkins, both of Charleston. They had one son, Henry Benjamin Noisette, (b. in 1841). Benjamin and his second wife, Mary, had three children, Jasmine, Benjamin and Louis (b. 1847). In 2009, after an extensive search, Lex Musta was able to connect half brothers, Henry Benjamin and Louis Noisette through Civil War deposition records discovered in their claims for military pensions for their families.
Rene and Medelice Merceron Noisette: From the National Archives of Port au Prince, Haiti: Noisettes have been found in Saint-Dominque as early as 1770. Rene and Medelice Noisette, circa 1848, came from France. Rene’s city of origin is unknown. The Merceron family came from Nantes. Haitian Mimi Jolicoeur (now living in Florida) whose mother is Nicole Noisette Fabien, traveled to Port au Prince last summer, continuing her search for the origin of their Noisette roots. Unfortunately future searching in the National Archives will be delayed as a result of the damages from the earthquake.
Frank and Eva Noisette moved to Jacksonville in 1921. Frank born in 1900 was the son of Marion Noisette ( b. 1858) and Carrie Davis (b. 1862). They had more that ten children but only five children lived: Sarah 1882, Marie 1884, John 1894, Frank 1900, and Viola, 1906. Eva’s parents were Essa and Paul Jenkins. Marion and Carrie were married in 1882 in Charleston. On the 1900 census, Marion was listed his occupation as a farm laborer. Viola Noisette was found on the 1920 census living in New York, at age 14, as a lodger of JT and Lucy Harrod. Eva also had two sisters, Anna and Luceile. Dorothy Noisette of Jacksonville recalls Anna coming to visit them in Jacksonville from Charleston. Anna would braid her hair, but much too tight. She did not look forward to Anna’s visits.