Alexandre Le Sassier

Ancestor Number

A069407 »

Date of Birth

November 8, 1755

Place of Birth

New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Date of Death

January 8, 1837

Place of Death

Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas

Spouse(s)

Marie Francoise Pauvert

Children

Louis and Eugenie

American Revolution Service

Military Service: New Orleans Militia, under Governor Bernardo de Galvez

State of Service

Spanish Louisiana

Donor

Texas Society, DAR

Alexandre Le Sassier participated in three wars: the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the war for Texas Independence. He was born in New Orleans on November 8, 1755.

In 1777, when he was 22, Le Sassier volunteered for the New Orleans Militia under Bernardo de Galvez. The military record indicates that Le Sassier was from the “Rive Gauche au dessus de la Ville” (left bank above New Orleans). Galvez, appointed Governor of the Province of Louisiana at the beginning of 1777, was a supporter of the American War for Independence. Not only did Galvez obtain beeves from Spanish Texas to feed his troops, but he also engaged in battles around New Orleans and Mobile.

Le Sassier participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto 1895 painting by Henry Arthur McArdle (1836–1908).

Le Sassier was at the Battle of New Orleans; painting of The Battle of New Orleans (1910), by E. Percy Moran

Official portrait of Bernardo de Galvez, 49th Viceroy of New Spain in office 19 June 1785 – 30 November 1786.

LeSassier was part of the Spanish Louisiana Regiment in 1781 (white coats). Here they are seen with the Company of Free Blacks of Havana (in red coats) storming Ft. George, which concluded Bernardo de Galvez’ Spanish campaign against British forces along much of the Gulf Coast.

Galvez’ Theatre of Operations (map by Jon Platek), illustrating where Galvez’ troops were fighting the English forces.

Le Sassier participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto 1895 painting by Henry Arthur McArdle (1836–1908), Alexandre Le Sassier’s name appears on the Texas DAR Patriot Monument, Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas. Courtesy Martha Hartzog

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Le Sassier married Marie Francois Pauvert, in Saint-Domingue, then a French colony on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (modern-day Haiti).

Mme Pauvert brought considerable property to the union as detailed in the marriage contract, dated May 13, 1783. Their son, Louis, was born in 1795. A daughter, Eugenie, died at birth in 1807.

In the Early Census of Louisiana, dated 1804, Le Sassier is listed as living in German Coast, Orleans Parish, an area heavily settled by Germans, but also by French and Arcadians. In the War of 1812, Le Sassier again signed up, at the age of 57, serving as a Sergeant in the 16th Regiment. His wife died February 12, 1829, and is buried in the Le Sassier family plot in the Metairie Cemetery, Orleans Parish.

In 1834, Le Sassier arrived in Texas, just as the impetus for the Texas Revolution was fomenting. Ever ready for a fight, in 1836, now 71, he enlisted in Major General Sam Houston’s army and fought in the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21. For this service he received one-third league of land (1,476 acres) plus an additional 320 acres. He died on January 8, 1837, in Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas, and was given a burial in that city befitting a hero of San Jacinto. Alexandre Le Sassier’s name is engraved on the Texas Society DAR Patriot Monument in the Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas.