Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice
A Short History of Asylum by
Ingham
|
 |
|
Bradford County PA
|
Chemung County NY
|
Tioga County PA
|
|
|
A Short History of Asylum
by J. W. Ingham, 1916
|
Photos by Joyce M. Tice
Retyped for Tri-Counties by Anne PRATT Slatin
(Joyce's Third Cousin)
and Formatted by Joyce M. Tice
Many thanks to the Tri-Counties guest who sent
this book to Joyce and who wishes to remain anonymous.
|
 |
CHAPTER VI.
DUPETITHOUAR, FOUNDER OF DUSHORE.
ONE of the most distinguished and popular residents
of Asylum had the long name of Aristide Aubert Dupetithouar. He had been
a post captain in the French navy and was usually called "The Admiral."
He could speak English better than many of the others, was of a frank,
generous disposition, friendly and sociable with Americans, was the one
liked the best, and longest remembered by them. He was born in 1760, educated
at the military school in Paris. He was in the French naval service in
the war with Great Britain and had lost one of his arms in battle and had
been retired with a pension. Later he became greatly interested in the
fate of the missing navigator, Laperouse, and in company with his brother
fitted out an expedition on their own account to search for the missing
ship. He sailed in September 1792, but a fatal malady broke out among his
crew, and one-third of them died. He then put into the nearest harbor,
which was on the island Ferdinand de Noronha, belonging to Portugal where
his vessel was seized, and he was sent a prisoner to Lisbon. The French
Revolution had broken out; as he belonged to the aristocracy; had served
under King Louis XVI, who had been dethroned; France would not be a safe
abode for him, and as soon as released at Lisbon, came to America. Landing
at Philadelphia he became acquainted with de Noailles, who persuaded him
to go to Asylum, where he arrived October 29th, and as he was
almost penniless, he immediately asked for work, of which there was a pressing
need in building houses for the exiles in Philadelphia who wanted to come
in the spring, in time to make garden. He was given work by Boulogne, the
Superintendent, and did as much with his one arm as the other laborers
with two. His conduct was a fine example of what a brave man, with a stout
heart, can endure with cheerfulness when overwhelmed with misfortunes.
He had earned enough in helping to build houses to pay for 400 acres of
wild land where the village of Dushore now stands, and where he commenced
a clearing, wielding the axe with one hand. It was at the request of Charles
F. Welles of Wyalusing, that the village was named Dushore in honor of
the brave Frenchman who had made the first clearing. The story of his giving
away his shirt to a man who claimed to have been robbed of all his clothing
by the Indians, is no doubt pure fiction. When the Duke de Rochefoucauld
and M. Blaçon visited Asylum and Niagara Falls in 1795 Dupetithouar
accompanied them. The two visitors went on horse-back and he on foot, keeping
up to the horses during the whole journey. He declared he had rather walk
than ride, but probably he was not able to buy a horse. When order was
restored in France he was among the first to return to his native country
where he was recommended by the foremost naval officers (who knew his former
service) for a commission in the navy. On presenting himself to the Minister
of Marine, (or secretary of the navy), was told that he could go on the
retired list, as he had lost an arm in service. His reply was: "I have
given one hand for France, and here is the other for her service." He was
given a commission and placed in command of the Letonant, an old vessel
of 80 guns, which was one of the fleet that conveyed Bonaparte's army to
Egypt, and which a short time after was annihilated by the British fleet
under Nelson at the battle of Nile. Dupetithoaur managed his ship with
great skill, but was killed just at the close of the battle August 1, 1798.
