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 From:
Jean Baptiste Pratte, St. Louis des Illinois
Dated: 04 Jun 1787
To: Mr. Jean-Baptiste Jobert,
Montreal |
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 Born in Montreal, Canada in
1739, Jean Baptiste Pratte came to the Missouri
area when young. He married (1) Marianne
Lalumundiere in Kaskaskia, Illinois in 1766 and
had by her Bernard Pratte Sr. who married Emelie
Labadie, daughter of Sylvestre and Pelagie
(Choureteau); daughter Odile who married Henry
Diel; and son Joseph who married Marie Vallé,
daughter of Francois and Marie Louis
(Charpentier). Jean Baptiste Pratte's second wife
was Marie Theresa Billeron whom he married 19 Nov
1776. |
 Jean Baptiste Jobet
was a surgeon and husband of Charlotte
Larchevêque. In 1779 their daughter Charlotte
married Joseph Frobisher (1740-1810) of the
Northwest Company. The items included in the
invoice sent along with the letter (both written
in French) included 12 packs of beaver, 2 of
otter, 6 of bear skins, 5 of "cats," 10
of red deer, 1 of red lynx and 1 with 5 buffalo
robes |
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| Dear
Cousin, |
| Even
though we have not seen each other since a number
of years, the distance and the remoteness there
is between us has not the least diminished the
esteem which I have always had for you. Several
times I have desired to have the pleasure to see
you, as well as my dear cousin [Jobert's wife].
If I did not write you earlier, it is because I
was always hoping to come down [to Montreal] and
to surprise you, but I will make arrangements
later to be able to go to Canada without fail
next year. The confidence which I
have in you has made me decide to send you a
canoe load of thirty-six packs of furs. Herewith
I am sending you the statement of shipment and
invoices. I beg you to sell them and to act as if
they were for yourself, in other words to make
the best deal possible, and to remit the proceeds
to my dear mother. Please forgive me for the
troubles which I am causing you, and since all
troubles are worth a compensation, I plan to be
grateful for all troubles which you will take. I
hope to be useful to you in this country. I am
offering you my services whole-heartedly. Please
give my compliments to my dear cousin [Jobert's
wifel and to the whole family. Hoping to receive
your news next winter by way of Detroit and the
post of Vincennes. I greet you and am, with
esteem, Your affectionate cousin,
(signed:) Pratte.
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| P.S.:
You will be so kind as to pay every 'engage'
their dues for their wages, accordance with the
account I am forwarding to you. |
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Source of Letter:
Jean Baptiste Pratte by Charles E. Hanson, Jr.,
Fur Traders Quarterly - Vol. 31, No. 4, 1995
Contributed by Greg Bengard (2008) |
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 Letter
Index |
| Brief Biographical Sketch
of Bernard Pratte (1803-1886) |
| Brief Biographical Sketch
of Sylvester A. (1872-1935) |
| Family History of Jean
Baptiste Pratte by Greg Benard (Outside Link) |
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