Hello Cousins:
I just found this message board today. I have been researching Tannis Pequignot for years. He was my great great great grandfather. The following information is what I received from Ruth Schieltz in Versailles, Ohio, a number of years ago. I am combining it with other information compiled by Ursena Mong, Lois Ann Baker, and Jac Baker, also of Versailles.
Tannis Pequignot, the father of Andrew, was born in Frahier, Haut Saone, France on July 18, 1786. Research indicates that he came from the Belfort, Doubs area in Eastern France. Since military conscription was mandatory for the French male population, when a young man, he was drafted, served seven years as a private soldier in the Napoleonic Army, and was wounded in battle. He was with Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo. Stanislaus was also known as Tannis or Tanzy.
After returning home from the army, he married Mary Frances Grizza, who was born on March 29, 1786 in the same general area of France. They were the parents of eleven children, all born in the Belfort area and reared in the Roman Catholic faith. The family immigrated from France in 1833. The date and place of embarkation and date of arrival and place of landing have not been verified (that is as of 1987).
Family stories tell that the Pequignot family came to America in 1831 and first settled in Stark County, Ohio. (My personal research determined that this was before the County was platted.) We know that they came after June 2, 1831, because that is the death date in France of their daughter Elizabeth. They were early settlers of Stark County. Records show that land was bought in Stark County, Ohio on July 15, 1833. It is unlikely that they lived there two years before they purchased land. However, they may have settled on another piece of land, or in another community or state. This parcel of land was sold on April 28, 1836. Soon after this, Tannis purchased land in Wayne Township (Darke County) in 1836. It appears from the records that many of the early settlers of Darke and Shelby Counties had also been early settlers in Stark County. Five adult children came to America with the parents. They were: Margaret, John Baptist, Eugenie, Andrew (my great great grandfather), and August.
The Pequignot family were members of St. Valbert's Chapel and later transferred their membership to Holy Family Church at Frenchtown, OH. Mary Frances (Grizza) Pequignot became ill and died on February 7, 1856 at age 70. After her death, Tannis made his home with his son August. But after August moved away, he lived with his widowed daughter Margaret Marchal (Marshall)until his death at age 87. Tannis died on January 17, 1874 and is buried in the Holy Family Church Cemetery in Frenchtown (Darke County), Ohio, but his headstone is no longer standing.
They emigrated to the United States in 1831, and first located in Stark County, Ohio (Canton) and lived there three years, then removed to Darke County, where he died in 1876. His wife died on February 7, 1856 and is also buried in Holy Family Cemetery in Frenchtown. His son Andrew Joseph was born in France in 1825 near the border between France and Germany, and he lived with his parents helping his father with farm work until he was 21 years old. He then left home and found employment in Shelby County in Cynthian Township. He had sailed from France when he was about 8 years old. On August 17, 1848, he married Mary Maldena, who was also born in France curca 1739. In 1857, they moved onto a piece of wild virgin forest land in Cynthian Township - Shelby County. When Andrew settled on this land, there was not a stick cut. They cleared the land and followed the occupation of farming. They moved into their cabin without a roof. Although there had been settlements made in the township years before he came, yet this part of the township was an unbroken forest with plenty of wild deer and other game. They reared a family of six children, whose names are as follows: John, Josephine, Andrew, Frank, August and Alice (my great grandmother). The family attended St. Peter Paul Church at Newport (Shelby County). At one time, the town name was Wynant. They resided there most of their lives. After Mary died in 1872 at the age of 42, and after all of his children were married, Andrew made his home with his children. In 1900 he lived in Cynthian with his son Frank. In 1906 at age 80, the aged father-in-law of Frank Dapore (my great grandfather and spouse of Alice Mary), was run over by a runaway horse and severely hurt. He never recovered and died at age 81 on January 8, 1907 in Versailles. Andrew's daughter Alice (my great grandmother) was born October 3, 1867 in Shelby County and died on January 13, 1951; she was married to Frank Dapore, who was born in March 1862 in Frenchtown and died on February 21, 1923 in Darke County.
Mrs. Schieltz also found out that Stanislaus Pequignot was born on July 18, 1786 - the son of Laurent Pequignot (born circa 1750 and died October 14, 1830 at age 80)and Jeanne Marie Selegue (born circa 1754 and died January 18, 1820 at age 66). According to Mrs. Schieltz research, Tannis was 25 when he married Marie Francois Grisez (age 23)on August 16, 1811. Marie was born in Frahier, France, on March 29, 1788 - the daugther of Jean Jacques Grisez (who was born circa 1757 and died on February 6, 1794) and Jean Marie Ducotey (who was born circa 1757 and was 54 when her daughter was married).
[It explained why I was able to find information on all of Tannis' immediate family members buried in Holy Family Cemetery at Frenchtown, but was unable to locate Tannis, because I didn't know that was a nickname for Stanislaus.]
Mrs. Schieltz was able to find the names of all ll children of Tannis, all born in France:
1) Marie Celestine, born November 13, 1811, died February 16, 1815 in France.
2) Margaret, born December 25, 1812, died December 18, 1891 in Darke County, OH; marrie Jacob Marchal on November 2, 1836 in Darke County.
3) Felix, born September 29, 1814, died December 18, 1816.
4) Jean Baptiste (John Baptist), born June 1, 1816, died March 10, 1887 in Wayne Township (Darke County), OH; married Louise Papon on September 25, 1849 at Holy Family Church - Frenchtown.
5) Francis Xavier, born August 30, 1818, died May 19, 1819.
6) Mary Eugenia, born February 28, 1820 in Frahier, France; died May 24, 1862 in Darke County; married Joseph Schmitt (Smith) on November 23, 1839 at St. Valbert's Church in Wayne Township. She married her second husband - Peter Goffena on June 18, 1859 at Holy Family Church.
7) August, born November 4, 1821, died August 22, 1826 (age 5).
8) Felicite, born October 30, 1823, died March 30, 1825.
9) Andre (Andrew J.), born November 21, 1825 in Frahier, France, died January 8, 1907 in Versailles (Darke County), OH; married Mary Josephine Maldini on August 17, 1848 in Shelby County, OH. Mary was born circa 1830 in France, died on August 17, 1872 and is buried at St. Peter Paul Church in Newport, OH.
10) Elizabeth, born August 12, 1827, died June 2, 1831.
11) Augustine (August), born April 7, 1829 in Frahier, France, died July 16, 1904 in Anderson, IN; married Mary Josephine Dapore on April 8, 1856 in Darke County. After her death, he married Catherine Besconcancy and moved to Tipton County, IN, and then resided in Anderson (Madison County), IN.
Hope you find this information helpful.