Explorers & Settlers of Fort Caroline

People of Fort Caroline

NPS/Schlecht

Three hundred colonists left France to establish a permanent settlement in North America. Included were some of the leading families of France, wearing gilded armor and brightly colored clothes. Other representatives of French society included artisans to provide entertainment and produce drawings, and laborers to build the fort. The desire for permanency was illustrated by the inclusion of women, of whom at least four had husbands. Most were Huguenots, but there were also Catholics and agnostics. The colonists were seeking opportunity and freedom in a distant land. Much of the Fort Caroline story is often told referencing the leaders, Timucua, French and Spanish alike but history is made of many more individual experiance's. Here are just a sample of the named people listed in historic accounts, many of the others who helped build the colony were left off the records.


Aimon French soldier who sailed with Jean Ribault in 1562 and René Goulaine de Laudonnière in 1564; sent with Captain Vasseur to visit King Audust at former Charlesfort site.

d’Antigny Accompanied Captain Vasseur on an expedition to the “Tymangoua” country.

d’Arlac Laudonnière’s ensign, a Swiss gentleman.

Martin Atinas From Dieppe, was on 1562 voyage, came to Fort Caroline English ship under general John Hawkins.

Louis Ballard Jacques Ribault's lieutenant on the ship "La Perle"

Nicholas Barre, or Nicholas Mason Became governor of Charlesfort after Captain Albert de la Pierria was killed in 1562.

Bartel Émy Fought alongside Laudonnière inside fort during Spanish attack.

Miguel Basur Pilot of one of the ships in 1564, native of Dieppe.

Thomas Basur Native of Dieppe; served as admiral on Laudonnière’s ship in 1564.

le Beau Reference is to the nephew of le Beau, le Beau is called the treasurer; survived Spanish attack.

Beauhaire Source mentions Beauhaire's servant being with Ribault in 1565.

Bellot French commander.

Etienne Bertrem Master gunner on the French ship Emérillon, under Captain Corsette as part of Ribault’s reinforcements in 1565.

Sieur de la Blonderie Listed as a survivor of Spanish attack on fort by Nicolas le Challeux, who met him in the woods afterwards.

Bontemps French ship commander who rescued de Pompierre and an unidentified sailor when he captured a Spanish ship bound for Portugal.

Bourdet Captain under Laudonnière; arrived on September 4, 1564, with more settlers and food; left on November 10, 1564, taking seven or eight soldiers considered untrustworthy; left several sailors and two Flemish carpenters who plotted the first mutiny at la Caroline.

François la Caille Laudonnière’s sergeant; presented mutineers’ plea for more food to Laudonnière in December 1564; shipwrecked with the French fleet in September 1565; killed by Spanish soldiers.

Nicolas le Chaleux Sixty-year-old carpenter and lay preacher at la Caroline who arrived with Ribault’s relief fleet in August 1565; escaped the 1565 Spanish attack by leaping over fort walls; wrote about his adventures in The Last Voyage of Ribault, printed in London in 1566.

Jean du Chemin Escaped from Fort de la Caroline September 20, 1565; helped Laudonnière as they waited for rescuers and prevented him from drowning in marshes.

Captain Cosette, Captain of French ship that sailed with Ribault to reinforce la Caroline colony; killed by Spanish in September 1565. Pedro de Avilés Menéndez called him Captain Corceto.

Niguese de la Cratte Listed as a survivor of Spanish attack on Fort de la Caroline in a narrative by le Challeux. la Crete Escaped from fort during Spanish attack; met with Jacques le Moyne de Morgues; from Rouen.

la Croix One of the leaders of the la Caroline mutiny in against Laudonnière.

Jean du Den Companion of le Moyne killed at fort on September 20, 1565.

Doublet Killed when la Caroline mutineers attacked a Spanish brigantine in December 1564.

Dronet French drummer; shipwrecked en route to San Agustin and spared by Spanish.

Jean Duboys Captain of a ship on the French expedition to resupply the la Caroline colony.

Jacques Dulac From Bordeaux; one of four trumpeters at Fort de la Caroline.

Francis Duval From Rouen; survivor of Spanish attack on fort.

Eustache Fayet Boatswain or master under Captain Corsette of the French ship Emérillon.

Martin Ferrant Master gunner on the Emérillon under Captain Corsette.

Fourneaux One of the leaders of la Caroline mutiny against Laudonnière.

Jean FranchommeThe boatswain's mate of the French ship Emérillon captained by Nicolas Dornant and sent with relief supplies to La Caroline in May 1565.

Pierre GambrÉ Soldier from Fort de la Caroline; businessman and a trader with the Timucuan; married the daughter of a chief; killed by two Indiginious people in his canoe as he was cooking fish.

la Gaule One of le Moyne’s companions killed at La Caroline Colony.

Estienne le Genevois Leader along with la Croix and Fourneaux of the la Caroline mutinyin November 1564.

le Genre, or de GiÈvre Confidant of Laudonnière; a mutineer, hid in the forest; he wrote a false ledger against Laudonnière.

Estienne Gondeau la Caroline mutineer captured in December 1564 after attacking a Spanish brigantine.

Michel Gonor One of 16 men chosen to accompany Thomas le Vasseur in a small boat to la Caroline to get help after Ribault’s shipwrecked fleet.

Captain la Grange A gentleman of the house of the Admiral Châtillon; died when Ribault’s fleet shipwrecked in September 1565.

Sieur de Granpre From Normandy; member of 1565 French expedition to Florida to reinforce Fort de la Caroline; captured and imprisoned at Havana according to Jehan Memyn’s 1566 deposition to the Spanish.

Gros Commander on the expedition to resupply the la Caroline colony.

de Groutaut From Poitiers; Fort de la Caroline soldier; lived in Outina’s village.

Hance Keeper of munitions at Fort de la Caroline in 1564-65.

Jean des Hayes Laudonnière’s artificer, from Dieppe.

François Jean Led the Spanish to the fort from San Agustin.

René de Goulaine Laudonnière Born in 1529 in province of Poitou, perhaps in Dieppe, in an area called Laudonnière; possibly related to Admiral Coligny; governor of la Caroline until relieved by Ribault in August 1565; escaped during the Spanish attack on fort; returned to France and wrote Notable History of Florida; continued navigation; died about 1582. Menéndez called him Ludovic or Ludunice.

Jean Lucas Came over with Laudonnière, sailed "Elizabeth of Honfleur" back to France.

de Lys French lord; left in charge of fort by Ribault because Laudonnière was sick.

Machonville French Captain of one of seven vessels to arrive with Ribault in 1565.

Captain Maillard Captain of a French ship that brought supplies with Ribault to the La Caroline colony.

Nicolas le Maistre la Caroline mutineer; killed when attacking a Spanish brigantine in December 1564.

Nicolas Mallon One of the men from the Charlesfort settlement that attempted to sail back to France.

Pierre Marchant Captain of Laudonnière’s 80-ton vessel, Falcon, in 1564.

De Marillac According to le Moyne, Marillac told Laudonniere he had Information "of the utmost Importance" (presumably revealing the plot to slander and kill him) for a promise of return passage on one of the next ships to return to France; He says he will give papers to Laudonnière with the information with the provision not to open them until his departure.

Martina French commander on the expedition to resupply the la Caroline colony.

Masselin French fiddler; from Dieppe; shipwrecked with French fleet in 1565; his life was spared by the Spanish.

Robert Melenche French mutineer from la Caroline; captured in Caribbean by the Spanish.

Jehan Memyn 23- or 24-year-old son of Guillaume Memyn a citizen of La Rochelle; on the resupply mission to La Caroline sent to Cuba.

le Mesureur French soldier killed in an encounter with Outina’s warriors.

Jacques le Moyne de Morgues Mapmaker who arrived with Laudonnière in 1564; escaped the 1565 Spanish attack; his narrative, drawings, and map were translated into Latin, his artwork turned into engravings, and published in 1591 by DeBry; fled to England to escape St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572; died in 1588.

d’ Ottigny Laudonnière’s lieutenant, killed by the Spanish after Jean Ribault.

Albert de la Pierria Captain and governor of Charlesfort settlement; killed in 1562.

Elie des Planques Belgian; escaped during Spanish attack on Fort de la Caroline; rescued with Laudonnière and le Moyne by French ships.

de Pompierre One of Laudonnière’s men; a Norman, wanrned Le Moyne about conspirators plot to murder his roomate Capt. La Caille.

Giles de Pysiere Wrote a letter from la Caroline that was published in Paris in 1565 in which he stated that “moors, savages, and criminals were brought to Florida;” also reported mutinous activities of discontented colonists and seeing flying, man-eating alligators.

Pierre Rennat Identified as a French commander on the resupply mission to la Caroline.

Jacques Ribault Captain of the French vessel Pearl; son of Jean Ribault, picked up survivors of Spanish attack on Fort de la Caroline; son of Jean Ribault; referred to as “Loys” Ribault.

Jean Ribault Leader of expeditions from France to Florida in 1562 and 1565; born 1520; discovered River of Mai (St. Johns River) on May 1, 1562; led ill-fated French attack on the Spanish at San Agustin in September 1565; killed by Spanish at Matanzas Inlet in October 1565; high school in Jacksonville named after him.

Maître Robert Listed as a survivor of the Spanish attack on Fort de la Caroline in a narrative by Nicolas le Challeux.

la Roquette Mutineer from la Caroline; claimed to be a great magician and to have discovered, through magic, the location of gold and silver mines.

Bertrand Sonferrent Elected sergeant of la Caroline mutineers in November 1564.

Vallard From Dieppe, Lieutenant under Captain Jacques Ribault onboard the Pearl.

Valvot French captain who helped rescue survivors from Spanish attack on Fort de la Caroline.

Michael le Vasseur and Thomas le Vasseur Navigators for Laudonnière in 1564; had close associations with Outina.

Nicholas Verdier Laudonnière’s captain. de la VigneIn charge of the French guards at the time of the Spanish attack on the fort in 1565.

Visty In Laudonnière's tent during his conversation with Ribault about whether or not to attack the Spanish.

Yonville One of Ribault’s officers in 1565.

 

Capturing the Events on Paper

French artist Jacques le Moyne de Morgues came with Laudonniere to Florida in 1564. His job was to paint images of the people, flora and fauna, and geography of this part of the New World. Le Moyne was one of the few who escaped from Fort de la Caroline when the Spanish attacked in 1565. He found refuge on a French boat, along with Laudonniere and several others, and returned to Europe, where he recreated from memory scenes of the New World. Learn more about Le Moyne and Theodore de Bry…

Proceed to Settlement and Conflict.

Return to History of Fort Caroline.

This memorial stands at the center of the fort exhibit at Fort Caroline National Memorial and helps commemorate the French colonists.

NPS