Antoine Drouet de Richerville

      Antoine Drouet de Richerville is the origin of a large portion of the Southern Indiana Richardville's. The other is, Miami Indian Chief Jean-Baptiste Richardville, whose Grandfather Denis, is Antoine's brother.  Antoine is known by documentation, to have been in Vincennes as early as 1749, and most likely, several years before then. In addition to his French Military service, he was involved in the fur trade business from the 1720s. It is safe to assume, he would have been in Vincennes years earlier, whether it be for Military obligations, or the family's growing fur trade business.  Antoine is often mistaken for another Antoine-Joseph or Joseph-Antoine Drouet de Richerville. These names were used for several members of the family, in several generations and different families. They are also, often flip-flopped, adding to the confusion.  I've seen his baptismal name recorded as Francois. However, some other genealogy sites list his name as Joseph-Antoine or Antoine-Joseph. His marriage record from Kaskaskia in 1756 list his name as Francois-Antoine. Francois being his baptismal name. I believe this to be accurate. Of course, like most other French families, Jean-Baptiste was a popular choice, and the Richardville's have a number of Jean-Baptiste's. Anyway, he's often confused with Chief Richardville's Father, Joseph Drouet de Richerville (b 1723). This is not the same Antoine-Joseph or Joseph-Antoine. Antoine, as he was usually called, was born in 1699, and Joseph was his brother, Denis-Didier Drouet de Richerville's (b 1693) son. So, he (Joseph) was Antoine's nephew. However, as mentioned before, some of the Southern Indiana Richardville's are Descendants of Chief Peshewa/ Jean-Baptiste de Richardville, also making them Descendants of Joseph (b 1723), son of Denis (Antoines brother). Therefore, they are not descendants of Antoine (b 1699). Messire Antoine Drouet de Richerville (as he was referred to at his funeral) was laid to rest at the Old Cathedral French & Indian Cemetery, which is a large lot between St. Francis Xavier Bascilica (The Old Cathedral) and the George Rogers Clark Memorial. Around 4,000 early French and Indian inhabitants of Vincennes are buried here, mostly in unmarked graves........

Apparently, Antoine's first wife's was named Marie-Josephe Lamy Desfonds. He has at least one more son from his marriage to Francois Outelas, most likely named Jean-Baptise. I've found VERY little information regarding his marriage to Marie-Josephe Lamy DesFonds, and names of children, if any, from that union. They were thought to have been married in 1728 in Sorel, Quebec. Her parents names are Pierre Lamy and Catherine Salvail. I'm still searching for any information on her....
Included below, is an excellent history of The Drouet De Richerville (Richardville) Family, tracing their origins to France and the first of the family to arrive in New France. One thing I'd like to say is, in the article, the author says to this day (1978), Antoine Drouet de Richerville has several hundred direct descendants living in the greater Vincennes area. Now, I don't know what the author considers to be several hundred. There may have been at that time. However, currently, I'd be totally shocked if there were even 200. MANY have moved away for better opportunities. Families are currently much smaller than the past. The huge French Catholic families of the past, are no more. WAY more local descendants have passed than have been born. Also, being a Descendant of Chief Richardville, means you're not a Descendant of Antoine (b 1699). Having lived in Vincennes or Knox County, all of my life, with the exception of the 9 years I spent on the road, I believe I know, or know of, at least one person from most of the Vincennes Richardville lines. Vincennes was always home base, even when I was touring, so I've been here a long time. Here's the link.........

https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/100...