1804- A letter from Samuel Crawford, Jr. in Breckinridge County, Kentuckyto John Close in New Orleans, Louisiana dated 4 Sep 1804.
John Close Papers: Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
"Ihad the pleasure of seeing an epistle from your hand to your sister andbrother James Jennings which gave me great satisfaction to hear ofmaking out well in that country and also to thiink that you are in thehandsome business of making money. I have therefore thought proper tointroduce myself to you as a friend and wish to join in partnership soas to carry on business to perfection for I think it best to alwayshave a friend in a strange country".
It also includes the following postscript:
"NBI saw your sister a few days since and she and family are all well Mr.Jennings and family is well and all your friends severally well BrotherMason desires to be remembered to you and wishes you to send him asmall epistel by the first opportunity".
NOTE: EleanorCrawford, a sister of Samuel Crawford, Jr., married James Jennings 12Sep 1799 in Hardin County, Kentucky. "Brother Mason" was MasonCrawford, a brother of Samuel Crawford, Jr
1805 to 1845 - John Close Papers: Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TheJohn Close Papers include letters from Elisabeth "Betsy" Wells,daughter of Samuel Wells, dated from 1805 through 1845, where sheaddresses John Close as "Dearest Brother".
1805 St. Landry Parish.
1810 FEBRUARY 27 - ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECORD by Rev. Donald J. Hebert
CLOSE,John - of Kentucky (dec. Jacob & Jane FARRA) m. 27 Feb. 1810Euphrosine BARRE - of this parish (Charles & MadeleineDECUIRE) Wits: Nemesie BOSSIER, George KING, Daniel ZERINGUE,Nathaniel COCHRIN, D. L. TODD [David Lowe TODD]. Fr. Louis BUHOT (Opel.Ch.: v.1-A, p.199)
Photocopy of original marriage record.
1812-1815 WAR OF 1812
"Louisiana In The War of 1812" by Powel A. Casey.
1st Division Lousiana Militia War 1812
1st - 9th Regiments
John Clay 8th Regiment
1st Lt. John Close 2nd Div. 16th Regiment
Capt. Francois C. Devillier 2nd Div 16th Regiment
DeVillier and Close were from Petit Bois.
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/military/war1812/index/
Louisiana Soldiers in the War of 1812
Close, John
1 Lieutenant
16 Reg't. (Thompson's)
La. Mil.
John Close - Obituary
Opelousas Courier: Hill Memorial Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
JOHN CLOSE
DIED--On his plantationin this Parish [St. Landry Parish], on the 6thinstant [6 Nov 1865], JOHN CLOSE, in his 81st year of his age.
John Close was born in Kentucky, but inhabited our Parish for about 60years. In 1815, he fought at New Orleans under Jackson, as captain of amilitia company, where he was subsequently appointed Major. Heraised a numerous family, the greater part of which preceded him in thetomb. Those who were acquainted with Major Close knew him to be anexcellent citizen, an affectionate father, an honest man, anduniversally respected.
November 11, 1865
OPELOUSAS COURIER
1818MAY 27 - RELEASE OF LEAN - John Close Papers: Special Collections, HillMemorial Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
In 1817John Close purchased a slave named Betsy from the Estate of MichelPrudhomme. A release of lien was signed on May 27, 1818. Thisdocument is signed by John Close, Andre Neraut, and Michel Prudhomme,Jr.
1820 US CENSUS - ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
112
CLOSE , JOHN
No Township Listed
Federal Population Schedule
LA 1820 Federal Census Index
1830 US CENSUS - ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
007
CLOSE, JOHN
No Township Listed
Federal Population Schedule
LA 1830 Federal Census Index
1842 JANUARY 7 - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mdbquery.html
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1841-1842
FRIDAY, January 7, 1842.
Page 140
Mr.Moore presented evidence in support of the claim of J. Close, assigneeof Charles Barre, of the county of Opelousas, in the State ofLouisiana, to a certain tract of land therein described.
1850 ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA CENSUS and SLAVE SCHEDULE
1850 US CENSUS
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
October 7, 1850
Dwelling 191 / Family 216
CLOSE, John, 64, male, Planter
CLOSE, Euphrosine, 62, female
CLOSE, [_?_] [Alpeda ?], 20, female
1850 SLAVE SCHEDULE
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
583
CLOSE, JOHN
No Township Listed
Slave Schedule
LA 1850
1859 JUNE 4 - OPELOUSAS, ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECORD by Rev. Donald J. Hebert
BARRE',Euphroisine Administered by John CLOSE who in turn died. HisEstate is Administered by Emilie CLOSE. Estate dated 4 June 1859 (LSAR:Opel.: 1859)
1860 ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA CENSUS
1860 US CENSUS
Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
22 Sept 1860
Dwelling 1193 / Family 1193
CLOSE, JOHN F, 75, male, white, planter, Real Est. $16000, Personal Est.$10000, Birthplace: KY
ROBIN, Pauline, [widowed daughter in law], 32, female, personal Est. $1000, Birthplace: St. Landry
1865 NOVEMBER 7 - PORT BARRE, ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECORD by Rev. Donald J. Hebert
CLOSE, John d. 7 Nov. 1865 at age 82 yrs. at Port Barre (Opel. Ch.: v. 2, p. 200)
8 NOVEMBER 1865 - OPELOUSAS, ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECORD by Rev. Donald J. Hebert
CLOSE, John Succ. dated 8 Nov. 1865 (Opel. Ct. Hse.: Succ. # 2782)
11 NOVEMBER 1865 - OPELOUSAS, ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA
John Close - Obituary
Opelousas Courier: Hill Memorial Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
JOHN CLOSE
DIED--On his plantation in this Parish [St. Landry Parish], on the 6thinstant [6 Nov 1865], JOHN CLOSE, in his 81st year of his age.
John Close was born in Kentucky, but inhabited our Parish for about 60years. In 1815, he fought at New Orleans under Jackson, as captain of amilitia company, where he was subsequently appointed Major. Heraised a numerous family, the greater part of which preceded him in thetomb. Those who were acquainted with Major Close knew him to be anexcellent citizen, an affectionate father, an honest man, anduniversally respected.
November 11, 1865
OPELOUSAS COURIER
Because records exist showing Joanna Farrow using hermaiden name as late as 1782, I am estimating that Joanna Farrow marriedJacob Close of North Carolina around 1782 - 1783.
Our familysurname was "CLOSE" long before it evolved into "CLAUSE". The Change in Spelling. The change in the spelling of the surname beganto evolve in the generation of Alexandre Close, Jr., who was a grandsonof John Close. All of the children of Alexandre Close,Jr. spelled theirsurname "Clause".
Shawn Wyble:
"Recordsdo show that he [John Close] served his neighbors, friends, or clients,as their appraiser, estate administrator, or as guarantor for loans.
He co-owned the cotton gin which he helped build in 1821 with hisfather-in-law and brother-in-law. He also was partner with hissons, Placide and Charles, in a steam powered sawmill and a businessfloating logs down Bayou Courtableau. In 1853 his estate includedover 2,000 acres, 39 slaves, livestock, the sawmill, lumber, and theflatboat "Teche".
In one legal battle over land, he was fined$1,000. One of his slaves, Pierre, was taken as payment. Three days before Pierre was to be auctioned, John Close paid the finein cash and Pierre was returned to him."
The following is froma chapter of "Southwest Louisiana" edited by William Henry Perrin andpublished by Gulf Publishing Co. of New Orleans in 1891. Onlymodern-day photocopy pages of the original book may be found at theOpelousas library. The original is carefully preserved in theState library in Baton Rouge.)
(Perrin's Southwest Louisiana, 1891)
"Louis Chevalier de Villier, Francois de Villier, ________ Baldwin andMajor John Klose were early settlers. The last named died justbefore the late war (civil). He was in the battle of New Orleansin 1815. He was a wealthy planter in early years. Francois deVillier settled about ten miles in the country from Opelousas, and hasdescendants still living in that section of the parish"
1785 NELSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
TAXLIST: Nelson County Tithes 1785-1791, Nelson Co., KY
Close George & son 2 56 Philip Philips 1790
Close George and son; Christopher Nesley 3 21 Robt Hodgen 1791
Close George; Patrick Brown; 2 negros 3 2 Rbt Hodgen 1787
Close George 1 19 Andw Hines 1788
Close Jacob 1 46 Tho. Helm 1785
1793 NELSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Joannah Close shown with 3 cattle - no white males or blacks or land.
1782-1784 JEFFERSON OR NELSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
John Close, son of Joanna Farrow, was born in 1782-1784 in Kentucky. Joanna Farrow was married to Jacob Close.
1802 - 1872 - JOHN CLOSE PAPERS - SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, HILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY, LSU, BATON ROUGE, LA
"JOHN CLOSE - Louisiana State University
Author: Close, John.
Title: Papers, 1802-1872
Notes: John Close Papers, Mss. 1646, Louisiana and LowerMississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La".
"John Close was a contractor's agent for the United States Army post atOpelousas and a cotton planter of Petit Bois Plantation, Port Barre,Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana. He had relatives in Washington County,Kentucky, and Claiborne County, Mississippi.
Correspondence to John Close as an Army contractor's agent includesletters from New Orleans merchants (1805-1806) concerning orders forsupplies and other business at the Army post. Plantation papers consistprimarily of correspondence of cotton factors in New Orleans(1820-1871) which documents cotton produced at Petit Bois Plantation.Factors' letters contain references to the Panic of 1837 and tonational and international affairs affecting the cotton market andexpress a preference for accepting Louisiana State Bank notes overCitizens' Bank notes (1840). Business letters and legal notes documentland titles and claims belonging to John Close. Papers document salesof slaves, and a letter discusses a fugitive slave (1806). Personalcorrespondence (1805-1845) from Breckenridge County, Kentucky, givesinformation about outbreaks of yellow fever and asiatic cholera andabout Dominican brothers ministering to the sick. Correspondence fromClaiborne County, Mississippi, relates local social and economicconditions. A letter (1828) written by State Representative John Mooredescribes a fire in the State House, New Orleans, and the resultingloss of lives and property. Personal papers include genealogicalinformation about the Chauvin family."
Hill LOUISIANA (MANUSCRIPTS) (Non-Circulating) U:134-135
NOTE:Letters in the collection dated after War of 1812 and Battle ofNew Orleans were often addressed to Major John Close.
1795 - 1800 MISSISSIPPI
Records show John Close in Mississippi involved in Shipping under Carlos de Grand Pre'.
1802 - 1804 NEW ORLEANS
U. S. Soldiers 1784-1811 FAMILY TREE MAKER 146 - BRODERBUND
FTM 146 U. S. Soldiers 1784-1811
Military Records: U.S. Soldiers, 1784-1811
Close, John Militia : Orleans Territory
Entry Rank : Private
Exit Rank : Private
