Daring Pioneers Tame the Frontier: The Generation That Built America

By Bettye B. Burkhalter

History, Romance, & Destiny...


Daring Pioneers Tame the Frontier is an exquisite saga of Dr. Jean (John) Baptiste Elzar Burels lifelong desire to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the beckoning new America. With his naval surgeon license in one hand and his medical chest in the other, he followed Marquis de Lafayette to Colonial America during the Revolutionary War. During the war he fell passionately in love and married a beautiful Acadian French woman in Philadelphia. After the war they made plans to return to his home at Ollioules, France.



Homeward bound, the bourgeois doctor boarded the ship in Philadelphia with his new bride and their few belongings. There on deck he was unexpectedly forced to choose between his beloved homeland and family in France and his wife with child. Disembarking the ship with grave disappointment, John knowingly forfeited his inheritance as sole heir. Struggling to survive in Philadelphia, oftentimes John sat quietly admiring the beautiful woman who owned his heart as he secretly yearned for his prominent family and lifestyle on the Mediterranean Coast of France.



Standing on the threshold of the newly independent America, the young doctor decided to take his wife and infant son and pioneer down the Great Wagon Road into the raw frontier of South Carolina. Believing he would build a new and prosperous life, he settled at Goshen Hill between the Tyger and Enoree Rivers within the lawless backcountry of South Carolina. Fighting the dangers and hardships of the frontier, and the recurring restlessness to return to France, John and his family carved out a simple life. Although disappointed at times, within the walls of his log home the enduring love and warmth of his wife and six children transcended adversity and hardships of the outside world. The heartwarming story is filled with humanity as John faced his inevitable destiny. The first novel in the trilogy closes with Dr. Burels widow standing helplessly in her front yard watching the wagon train take her spirited children and grandchildren west in search of richer land and prosperity. It was dj vu!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 31, 2010
• ISBN: 9781477287224

Bettye B. Burkhalter

Bettye Burrell Burkhalter is a Vice President, Associate Provost, and Professor Emerita at Auburn University. Academic research and fellowships with Auburn University, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the British Interplanetary Society sent her around the world. Upon retirement she teamed with her eighty-nine-year-old father, Cecil A. Burrell, to capture a way of life they both loved and valued quickly fading into the pages of time: country style living. Spanning four centuries, the saga is a testament to the author’s uncompromising vision to recapture the life and times of one man and his family in search of the American Dream. Bringing to life the colorful characters who blazed trails into the raw frontier, some critics compared her meticulously researched writing and techniques of creative nonfiction to the writings of Kenneth Roberts and Bernard DeVoto. Although Dr. Burkhalter worked and visited in over a dozen countries, she prefers the quiet countryside at her rustic log home retreat. There in the peace and quiet of nature she does most of her writing. “There is no substitute for awakening to a sunrise with singing birds, hearing a whippoorwill’s lonesome call to his mate at dusk, or watching lightning bugs flash by on a warm summer night,” she explains. Bettye and her husband, Boyd, also live in Auburn, Alabama.

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© 2010 Bettye B. Burkhalter. All rights reserved.

www.auburnauthor.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 6/23/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4389-9653-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-8722-4 (ebook )

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009906405

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Legacy Begins

Chapter One: La Burelle Bastide

Chapter Two: American Independence on the Horizon

Chapter Three: Williamsburg after Victory

Chapter Four: Acadian Mother Revisits Grand-Pré

Chapter Five: The Dark Cloud

Chapter Six: Philadelphians Struggle with Victory

Chapter Seven: Inheritance Calls Dr. Burel Home

Chapter Eight: Disappointed Doctor Takes Control

Chapter Nine: Waaa-gons Rooo-ooll!

Chapter Ten: Salem Moravians Welcome Burel Family

Chapter Eleven: The Land of Goshen

Chapter Twelve: First Pioneer Christmas

Chapter Thirteen: Living on the Raw Edge

Chapter Fourteen: Spring Calls the Frenchman Home

Treasured Documents

Philippe Burel & Catherine de Roure Descendants

Étienne Hébert & Marie Gaudet Descendants

Inventory of Furniture and Effects

Moravian Congregational Regulations

Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church

Charles Sims Mansion

Hardy Plantation Mansion

Orange Hall Plantation Mansion Ruins

Byrd Murphy (Cedar Bluff) Home

Seven Springs Plantation

Rose Hill Plantation

Flint Hill Plantation Mansion

The Oaks of Goshen Hill

Endnotes and References

Second Novel Preview: Raised Country Style from South Carolina to Mississippi

Third Novel Preview: The Generation that Saved America

Companion Cookbook to Novels Preview: Raised on Old-Time Country Cooking

To my daughters, Angie and April, who inherited an endearing legacy.

Acknowledgments

Over the long course of writing three creative nonfiction novels and a companion old-time cookbook, interests and assistance of numerous colleagues, friends, and family were immeasurable. Colleagues from universities and colleges went far beyond the call of duty, and information and data provided by archivists, genealogists, historians, and librarians with government offices, historical societies, and museums brought settings and characters to life. Work performed by artists, graphic designers, and photographers was priceless, for most would agree a picture is worth a thousand words. Of equal importance were French and German translators. They translated hand-scripted and printed documents, articles, and excerpts from books dating back to the early seventeenth century. To these colleagues and professionals I owe you a tremendous debt.

Since the saga was about their kinfolk, Burel (Burrell) descendants from France, Nova Scotia, and America anxiously helped develop the wide range of stories by sharing family Bibles, letters, diaries, journals, photographs, heirlooms, family genealogy, and family legends. Another faithful group eager to help was local historians. Overflowing with pride and kindness, these locals from every walk of life were a special treat, and they never failed to amaze me. Whether a legal family document, old map, local history bit, or tall tale entrenched in their memory as the gospel truth, the voice of everyday folk along the way made the seven-year journey a worthwhile endeavor and personal triumph. They, and those mentioned earlier, arranged special tours and interviews where old homesteads, mansions, hamlets, trading posts, country stores, gristmills, sawmills, distilleries, schools, churches, cemeteries, and deportation harbors once thrived. Onsite study not only clarified and corrected records, but oftentimes enriched and validated history, family legends, and in a few cases, longstanding folklore. I was inspired by perfect strangers who generously gave hours, and sometimes days, in search of one more piece of the lost puzzle to enrich a colorful character or complete a storyline. Each piece of data and information humanized the character or story in question, or added a new dimension.

Weaving and re-weaving each story into a relatively tight fabric could not have been accomplished without the unyielding patience and guidance of all these individuals and others behind the scene. Their years of experience and knowledge helped me gauge how far to go with family legends and folklore, yet stay within the bounds of historical facts to capture the period of history portrayed in the story. Never losing sight of the characters’ deep abiding love for God, country, and family, along with their old-fashioned devotion toward each other, a gentle touch of romance was added to special moments cautiously invaded.

At the risk of unintentionally omitting someone, I sincerely acknowledge the following individuals. To each of you I will forever be grateful.

University and College Colleagues: Dr. Wayne Alderman, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Brian D. Anderson, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Dr. Craig Atwood, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Dr. Paula R. Backscheider, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Beth Bilderback, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; Dr. Carl Brasseaux, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA; Dr. Allan D. Charles, University of South Carolina, Union, SC; Dannis Christian, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Stéphanie Côté, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; Debra A. Dowdell, Auburn University, AL; Dr. Wayne Flynt, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Gary S. Hawkins, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Patricia A. Harris, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Joyce Hicks, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Ann Irvin, Wadmalaw Island, SC; Louise Lambert Kale, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA; Dr. Fred Kam, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Dr. James E. Kibler, University of Georgia, Athens, GA; Dr. Donald L. Large, Jr., Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Dr. Terry Meyers, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA; Christopher H. Mixon, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Daniel J. J. Ross, The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, AL; Barbara C. Smith, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Dr. Allen Stokes, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; Dr. R. Phillip Stone, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC; Marliese S. Thomas, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Edith Comeau Tufts, Sainte-Anne University, Church Point, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Stephen A. White, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Archivists, Genealogists, and Historians: Ronnie Abrams, Whitmire, SC; Charles Barreras, Union, SC; Mike Becknell, Jonesville, SC; Charles Brookover, Union, SC; Bobbye Burke, Philadelphia, PA; Jack F. Burnett, III, Union, SC; Lucie LeBlanc Consentino, Methuen, MA; Frédéric Dhénaut, Ollioules, France; Norma Arsenault Doucette, Melbourne Beach, FL; Wylodean Burrell Edwards, Kosciusko, MS; Blanche Shrock Fields, Birmingham, AL; Trish Fry, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada; Michael Harmon, Lexington, SC; William B. and Jill S. Jeter, Union, SC; Ola Jean Kelly, Union, SC; Hope Latham, Union, SC; Robert Mackintosh, Columbia, SC; Jeannie Marion, Rock Hill, SC; Frances Martin, Union, SC; David Moltke-Hansen, Philadelphia, PA; Kay K. Moss, Gastonia, SC; Darlene Muise, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, Canada; Charles Overbrook, Union, SC; Dr. Paul M. Peucker, Bethlehem, PA; Chris Prince, Whitmire, SC; Mary Jo Sanders, Union, SC; Ray and Betty Sims, Union, SC; Edward D. Sloan, Jr., Greenville, SC; Charles E. (Buddy) and Norma Gene Smith, Union, SC; Robert Spicer, Greer, SC; Faye Jenkins Tillotson, Whitmire, SC; Eelco Tinga, Jr., Wilmington, NC; Stanley and Rita Vanderford, Union, SC; and Sheriff W. Howard Wells, Union, SC.

Artists, Photographers, and Graphic Designers: Nicole Saulnier Boudreau, Concessions, Nova Scotia, Canada; April Lynne Burkhalter, Charlotte, NC; Lucie LeBlanc Consentino, Methuen, MA; Marcy Cutrer, Auburn, AL; Miles Davis, Atlanta, GA; June Deveau, Saint-Alphonse, Nova Scotia, Canada; Randy Drew, Wilmington, NC; Wylodean Burrell Edwards, Kosciusko, MS; Blanche Shrock Fields, Birmingham, AL; Chief Deputy Roger Gregory, Union, SC; Ann Irvin, Wadmalaw Island, SC; Dick Killam Photography, Halls Harbor, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada; Betsy Skipper, Union, SC; Hal and Angeline (LeBlanc) Stirling, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Sam Timm, Lake City, MN.

French and German Translators: Nicole Saulnier Boudreau, Concessions, Nova Scotia, Canada; Bridget Carmody, Canton, MS; Paul Comeau, Grosses Coques, Nova Scotia, Canada; Stéphanie Côté, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; June Deveau, Saint-Alphonse, Nova Scotia, Canada; Frédéric Dhénaut, Ollioules, France; Daniel Girard, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Dr. (Pastor) Roy Ledbetter, St. Louis, MO; Bertrand Stefani, Paris, France; François Stefani and Madame Geneviève Stefani, La Burelle, Ollioules, France; Charlotte Ferguson Sloan, Greenville, SC; Edward D. Sloan, Jr., Greenville, SC; Dr. Sami I. Spencer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Hal and Angeline LeBlanc Stirling, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, Canada; Julije Topsakal, Cannes, France; Merih Topsakal, Boston, MA; Edith Comeau Tufts, Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Stephen A. White, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Burel (Burrell) Descendants: Jessie Burrell Arnold Family Collection, Goodman, MS; April Lynne Burkhalter, Charlotte, NC; Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Burel Buchanan, Bethlehem, GA; Frank ‘Jack’ Burel, Ellijay, GA; Cecil Allen Burrell, Auburn, AL; Margie McCrory Burrell, Auburn, AL; Wylodean Burrell Edwards, Kosciusko, MS; Olean Burrell Green, Pachuta, MS; Sam Allen Green, Rochester, NY; Angela Anne Henderson, Auburn, AL; Lady Arnold Pate, Goodman, MS; and Edward D. Sloan, Jr., Greenville, SC.

There are five exceptional people who warrant further recognition. First, I will forever be grateful to Cecil Allen Burrell, my father, who was a lasting inspiration and the reason I decided to write the novels and companion old-time cookbook. He worked diligently for nearly three years taping stories and proofing drafts, and he was always ready to kitchen test one more recipe.

Second, I sincerely thank my youngest daughter and dear friend, April Lynne Burkhalter. Lovingly, but with tough critique, she listened to one thousand ideas that never materialized, and one hundred more that did. She was an endless resource and sounding board for assessing the raw emotions of the creative dimensions of the stories, and her creative talents in photography, graphic design, and marketing never let me down. Always there for me, April was a refreshing joy to lean on.

Third, there are no words to express my gratitude to Sherrie Murphy Stanyard. With thirty-two years of experience in the publishing business and a keen interest in historical novels, her probing questions, editing suggestions, and discerning eye were immeasurable. Sherrie’s advice and contributions improved the overall quality of the narrative, and they were always welcomed.

Fourth, I will always be grateful to my dear friend Norma Gene Smith from Seven Springs Plantation near Union, SC. With thirty-three years of graphic design, editing, and proofing experience, she graciously volunteered to proof and edit the final galley before going to press. Her fresh eyes and suggestions were a great asset, and I will always be grateful to Gene for her enormous contribution.

And last, my patient and understanding husband, Boyd C. Burkhalter, who sustained me and was at my side from the first word written to the last. He played a key role in documenting historical sites through architectural re-engineering, and his illustrations visually enriched the narrative. When each book took control of my life, and at times our home, he gently, and sometimes not so gently, kept me grounded to the realities of the project. Only a loving husband and problem-solving engineer could do that and get away with it! Conversely, he made endless suggestions to improve stories and willingly escorted me on trip after trip to collect data, study story settings and old building structures, and conduct interviews. But most of all, he patiently listened to the never-ending ideas and stories throughout the three novels, and graciously sampled kitchen tested recipes selected for the cookbook. And when physical and emotional fatigue led to writer-tears, he was always there and gently wiped them away. For that Boyd, I thank you, and I love you.

Bettye Burrell Burkhalter

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The Legacy Begins

Cradle of Civilization

Before man touched the Mediterranean Coast it was virgin territory calmly displaying its natural beauty of sunny skies, green vegetation, and the largest blue sea in the world. A backdrop of steep rugged mountains isolated and protected the basin while the Mediterranean Sea lapped the shorelines with her gentle waves most of the year. The coastline offered beautiful bays with sculpted limestone cliffs, gorges, and caves created by the natural order of Mother Nature. Like other seas, certain times of the year brought rough waves and powerful gusts of wind sending sheets of penetrating rain across the whole coastal basin. Oftentimes seasons ended abruptly. As winter suddenly brought dismal days with cold rain, stinging sleet, and sometimes blankets of snow, the sheltered parts of the coast enjoyed mild weather awaiting heavy spring rains to restart the cycle of life and vegetation. Sunshine summers were scorching hot with occasional relief through quick downpours, until autumn suddenly arrived and rescued all. While the other parts of the world were being discovered and European Empires were being built and lost, the western side of the Mediterranean Basin remained secluded awaiting her first invaders.

In 600 B.C. a group of Phoenician seafaring sailors left their Greek port in Asia Minor on an exploration voyage. Phoenicians were an industrialist people harboring little racial or religious prejudice. In fact, they were known to avoid conflict. However, if their trading routes or land were threatened in any way they did not hesitate to react with arms. As these seamen sailed into the blackness of night upon uncharted waters guided only by the stars and their bold determination, they were the most powerful navigators in the world consistently exhibiting their enviable skills. These men were masters at controlling large fleets of ships designed and built to navigate turbulent waters and conquer the unforgiving powers of the sea. These visionary adventurers and sea traders explored the unknown with a fury to conquer and create their own world. As their fleet of ships cut through unfamiliar rough and rising waves and entered the calm Mediterranean Sea, a beautiful coastal paradise unveiled before their eyes. Looking upward toward the mountains, they saw native wildlife roaming aimlessly and confidently on their native land untouched by man. Maneuvering around the coastline, they envisioned a new homeland for their people flourishing by the protection of the steep rugged mountains on one side and the daring sea on the other. River valleys looked fertile and delta lands at the mouth of the rivers were prime for farming. This was an ideal place for these bold people to build a civilization from the sweat of the land and toil of the sea. And so it was in 600 B.C., the Phoenicians founded the first colony Massalia, later renamed Marseille.¹,² The new seaport colony prospered from their natural love of the sea and the fruit of the land: an entrepreneurial trait of a people passed down through sixteen generations in the Burel Clan.³

As time moved on invaders and settlers from Rome, Persia, and other empires followed. Marseille emerged as the largest seaport centered around trade. Decades became centuries and the irregular and meandering coastline provided unique and secluded pockets for additional colonies and villages to emerge and flourish. Among the natural indentures of the coast land, numerous bays and gulfs enriched the livelihood of its first people as additional seaport villages and cities dotted the Mediterranean coastline spreading wealth east and west. The colonial settlers turned the fertile coast land between the seashore and mountains into a thriving landscape of grape vineyards, orchards of citrus fruits, vegetable gardens, and groves of almond and chestnut trees. The hillsides skirting the mountains provided a lush and green background from groves of olive and fig trees bearing the oldest two fruits in the world. For centuries the mighty olive tree was a permanent part of the landscape providing healthy fruit and oil needed for food, soap, and home remedies. Ranking with the olive tree, figs were a sought after fruit with its unusual velvet beauty and high nutritional value. A quick scan across the landscape showed large bushy trees displaying their fruit at all stages of size, color, and ripeness. Clinging to sturdy limbs, tiny green figs burst with new growth while large deep-purple ones begged to be picked. A closer look under the shaded branches and large leaves showed honey bees perched on over-ripened figs collecting pure syrup oozing from the soft and limp fruit. It was these treasured fruits that carried the Phoenicians through long sea journeys, while Hebrews, Egyptians, and Persians used them to free their stomachs and make them clean again.⁴ From this time forward, fig trees and their fruit would always be an important part of the Burel landscape and diet in the old and new world.

While crops of fruits, nuts, and vegetables were cultivated by early colonists, mountainsides and valleys exploded with fragrance and color. Colorful fields and borderlines rich with pollen swayed in perfect rhythm with the wind. Honey bees buzzed from bloom to bloom working intensely in an ideal climate most of the year. Wild lavender flowers waved to those passing by as a gentle reminder pure honey was in the making. Just as Mother Nature’s beauty mesmerized and welcomed the first Phoenician explorers in 600 B.C., she continued painting her never-ending portrait on the earthen canvas as seasons changed. The open space and freshness of the new-found secluded area grew more fruitful and beautiful with each generation of people as they brought and left their influence. Individually and collectively, these explorers and colonists shaped a civilization and left permanent footprints for others to follow.

Centuries closed one by one, and Greek and Roman influences left their cultural presence and beliefs through towering churches commanding the skyline and quaint villages molded to the beliefs and customs of its mix of people. Where land joined the sea, wharfs reeked with strong fresh fish scent as fishermen wives sold their goods in the bustling market place. Village markets, seafaring military operations, and maritime occupations snaked the Mediterranean borders flaunting economic wealth and military security. Soon stately homes of the times, whether large or small, glowed in the afternoons with tinted rainbow colors as the sun slipped over the horizon gently bidding all good night. As envisioned by the first Phoenician explorers and by all those who followed, this wonderland became a paradise: a paradise because settlers through the centuries worked diligently, persevered religious and political wars, survived plagues, and progressed with the pain of changing times. The Mediterranean Basin was a unique part of the old world that earned the historical title it holds until this day: the cradle of civilization. It was in this cradle that the Burel Family emerged and prospered during the sixteenth century.

An imaginary triangle drawn from Marseille to Solliès to Ollioules and back to Marseille outlined the triangular area Philippe Burel’s family lived and developed a prominent and notable life. Who were Philippe and Catherine Burel, and how did this sixteenth century bourgeois family lay a solid foundation for their prolific descendants to prosper and leave a proud legacy spanning four centuries and sixteen generations?

It all began in 1544. The sixteenth century brought a time of unprecedented change in every aspect of life, and the economy was growing as a money-based system of international commerce fell into place. The timing was right for the average Frenchman to do well, and entrepreneurial bourgeois rapidly accumulated wealth and influence. New scientific inventions found their way to France and all European markets, while sea-faring trading fleets and the printing press opened up new worlds from every direction. New inventions and innovations such as gunpowder and cannons set a new kind of military in place and moved centralization of the government into motion. During Philippe Burel’s time, many villages and towns boldly ruled themselves daring interference from the faraway monarchy in Paris. Powerful nobility took advantage of their remote locations, local power, and lack of communication from the Crown. Unless war was on the horizon, they seldom heard from the king’s men.

Suddenly everything changed. The impact of the printing press abruptly made the world smaller with its permanent worldwide effect. This strange looking machine created a revolution in the way people communicated, thought, and learned of new ideas. Ranked only second to the monarchy, one of the greatest changes brought forth by the printed word was a new spirit of inquiry about the church and its teachings. The church was the unifying cultural foundation for over a thousand years, and the printed word led to the reformation which resulted in the universal faith and tie to the church being broken — never to be restored again. All scientific and philosophical changes directly influenced the way people lived; especially the way wealth and position were achieved by the rising middle class. The king in power cautioned his royal court, the church, and his nobility to keep a close eye on this new bourgeois class of rising French.

The bourgeois were industrious people who were land and money hungry. They bought every house and estate possible as families of nobility became extinct, fell into debt, or peasants lost their small farms to taxes and debt. Although working and accumulating wealth were viewed in bad taste by French elite, bourgeois turned their heads as they continued to work hard buying businesses, houses, and land. Simultaneously, they claimed every public office and elected position possible. Since upper-class bourgeois were prominent lawyers, notaries, physicians, apothecaries (pharmacists), and merchants, the French Crown soon recognized their value to the regime and began to employ their services. Royalty was pleased because this ambitious educated working class worked harder and cheaper than nobility. They represented the Crown better and they were more loyal to the Crown than the noble families. Bourgeois working relationships with the Crown, as well as their accumulated wealth and prominence, soon resulted in the monarchy borrowing money from them to fund the military for wars and other government needs. Although these major changes in social structure and working relationships proved efficient and effective, the monarch, church, and nobility continued to be skeptical of these climbing bourgeois families and their wealth.

Philippe Burel was one of many ambitious bourgeois striving for wealth and position.⁵ From the time Philippe was born around the middle of the sixteenth century in 1544, wars and rumors of wars were the trend. Conflict between Protestants and Catholics continued through his youth, but despite the years of war and financial drain on France, recuperative powers to overcome these obstacles were extraordinary. When King Charles IX took reign in 1560, Philippe was sixteen and already conditioned to political and religious strife, fighting between the dynasties, and the breakdown of traditional social and political order. Everyone knew King Charles was weak and his mother ran the Crown behind the scene. During this time the young and ambitious Philippe was diligent and worked hard to establish himself as a young man. It was a long held tradition for bourgeois men to accumulate enough wealth to provide their own household before thinking of marriage. And he did. When Philippe reached his twenty-fourth birthday, he was positioned to marry and have his heirs. He married Catherine de Roure from Aix-en-Provence near the port city Marseille, and they continued to live there until their first child Hubert was born in 1570. Did Philippe meet Catherine de Roure in a romantic setting, court her, fall deeply in love with her, and propose to marry, love, cherish, honor and be faithful to her for the rest of his life? Probably not! Marriages in the sixteenth century were oftentimes an economic arrangement to enhance position, power, and wealth. Regardless of the arrangement, Philippe and Catherine were married in c.1568 and had eight children.

During the last half of the sixteenth century the distribution of wealth continued to shift and scores of peasants lost their small farms becoming homeless. Religious wars also took a toll on Protestant nobility. Bourgeois families continued to rise in position and power as they served the Crown, administered royal and civil justice, and purchased available land and position. Philippe Burel and his family were no exception. He served as consular to Aix-en-Provence and represented Lord François de Forbin, Marquis of Solliès in Aix and later in Solliès.⁶ Towns and villages throughout France had independent town councils as their governance structure, and consul members were always elected from notary. Philippe served as First Consul in Aix, followed by titles of Second Consul, Third Consul, etc. The follow-up titles were important because they conveyed experience and established status. Each town council had technical support which included an attorney, a treasurer, assessors, auditors, court clerks, and archivists. In large towns as Aix, the area was divided into quadrants or sections with elected consuls representing each section. Election day was an important day held on a predetermined date each year, and as the new consuls took office they were privileged and recognized by position, title, and the consul cape. Worn at official meetings and events, the consul apparel was a spacious cape with one large button on the right collar: one-third of the cape one color and the other two-thirds another color. The consuls’ formal attire was stately, proclaimed magistrate importance, and was symbolic of their social class.⁷

The new class of rising French required persona. Elizabethan dress and costume with style and accessories signifying position and social class were worn by upperclass bourgeois and nobility. The old proverb prim and proper succinctly described this upper middle-class bourgeois Burel family. As their neighboring bourgeois, Philippe and Catherine were conservative, careful with language usage, exceedingly conscious of formality and appearance, and often perceived as being straightlaced and stuck-up. Extravagant and pompous clothes constricting and accenting one part of the body at the expense of the other were part of the social order. Although these distortions increased and decreased with periodic fashion change, falsifying the natural shape of the body for men and women was admired and considered to be stylish and correct. Late sixteenth and early seventeenth century clothes were wrought with pinking, fancy braid, embroidery, lace, ribbons, and pleated trim. Since accessories for men, women, and children sent clear messages of social class and rank, dressing each day was an important and painstaking task.

Rising before the dawning, Philippe stepped outside to watch another sunrise. As beams of the new day streamed over the horizon, he felt the rich red dirt under his feet and deeply inhaled the fresh breeze. Enjoying the simple pleasures of a cool dawn, he watched the inky-black shadows against his skin disappear as the sun replaced them with new light and warmth. A good day to attend Town Council affairs, he mumbled to himself as he walked back inside his house to prepare for another day in Aix. Philippe meticulously dressed for his meeting. With his hair relatively short and a well-trimmed beard and mustache, he sported a high-crowned hat with a firm brim matching his over-decorated outfit. Today he selected a standing collar rather than the ruffed one. Decorated with lace which framed his face, he wore a heavily metallic embroidered fitted vest with false hanging sleeves and deep fancy cuffs which matched the rich brocade and silk fashioned ruff collar. Full breeches matching the vest stopped just above the knee where stockings joined to complete his bourgeois look. White silk embroidered stockings with exquisite designs had matching garters to hold them in place. His shoes had a slightly raised heel with large rosettes made of fancy ribbon to match the attire he selected and to draw attention to his feet and handsome legs. Philippe mirrored other well-dressed men of his social rank and status. With his consul cape draped over his arm, Philippe said his good-byes to Catherine and left their home for another day of important duties.

Meanwhile, Catherine prepared for her busy day of a social function requiring formal dress. Her upswept hairstyle was brushed from her face leaving soft waves in place while large braids laced with pearls, feathers, and ribbons held her hair in place. Carefully arranged long and flowing locks of hair hung gracefully over one shoulder. A deep standing collar protruding away from her dress framed her beauty as it emphasized wide shoulder lines with hanging sleeves cuffed to match her collar. The v-pointed bodice outlined with pearls and buttons accented the elongated appearance, and her skirt gently opened from the point of the waist to the floor. When she walked across the floor the three-dimensional look was noticeable as the opening at the waist widened toward the floor exposing the beautiful petticoat edge with metallic lace. She selected low-heeled shoes with large rosettes similar to the shoes Philippe wore. The formal gathering today was important, and her ribbon bracelets with one attached to a ring on the left hand should be worn. Since Philippe held a position of importance and represented de Forbin family of nobility, all her accessories must be proper and in perfect order. For the final touches Catherine added ropes of pearls, a few jewels, a lace-edged handkerchief, and a feather fan.⁸

The children of Philippe and Catherine were dressed similar to their parents with the exception of the heavy accessories. Noble and upper class bourgeois mothers rarely raised their own infants; rather, they were turned over to wet-nurses immediately. Childhood usually ended at the domestic household when the child was around seven years old. At that time it was acceptable for upper class parents to send their daughters to a convent for education, and some families left them there until called home to marry. Oftentimes it was to a man the daughter had never seen. Marriages were primarily an economic and business relationship, and this arrangement often relieved the family the expense of a dowry. Sons of upper class families were usually put in the hands of a governor, tutored at home, or sent away to college. At college he learned Latin, rhetoric, and philosophy in schools with long hours, very harsh discipline, poor food, and unsatisfactory heating conditions. All of this was believed to build good character. At age fifteen the sons of bourgeois and nobility were sent to learn the traditional arts of his particular class. The young men of nobility mastered riding, swordsmanship, and dancing while the sons of bourgeois families became lawyers, apothecaries, doctors, or surgeons. Children had no rights, and it was clearly understood the father was the master and the child the valet. In effect, the children looked like little adults and were expected to act accordingly. The old adage children are to be seen and not heard fit perfectly in this narcissistic age and the Burel family.⁹

From all accounts, Philippe played an important role in the public governance of Aix and Solliès while serving the noble Forbin family.¹⁰ His role with Lord Forbin required he personally represent the family at Town Council meetings and other necessary business affairs. Lord Forbin’s trust and employment of Philippe illustrated how bourgeois families were rewarded outside the direct blood line of royalty. In addition to the many chattels, privileges, and responsibilities enjoyed by Lord de Forbin, he also provided a gateway of opportunity for Philippe and his descendants. When Lord Forbin decided to move from Aix-en-Provence and relocate as Lord of Solliès-Ville, Philippe and his family went with him. After they moved to Solliès, Philippe continued to represent both the Forbin family and the town authority of Solliès as chief magistrate. Old Solliès records revealed Philippe not only held a chief magistrate position, but he also owned land and paid taxes in 1570 at the age of twenty-six.

The seventeenth century arrived with new ideas and new fashions, while multitudes of bourgeois men served members of royalty and simultaneously administered civil justice in their local town. Across the countryside of France, Philippe observed that touted positions of magisterial responsibilities earned the well-deserved title men of the gown. Some become accepted as the noblesse de la robe or nobility of the gown. These achievements were important because men of heredity nobility had been recognized as nobility of the sword since medieval times. When the Crown found itself in the awkward position of desperately needing revenue, selling public offices became rampant. The Burels and many other new-found bourgeois invested in public offices that could be passed to their heirs. If bourgeois investors could not risk their assets in commercial ventures and purchase political positions, most of them chose the latter. It was obvious this nouveau-riche group were visionaries and planners as they quietly shaped and secured the future for themselves and their heirs.

Philippe was now in his mid-fifties, and he and Catherine had five daughters and three sons. The last ten years in France were often difficult because of the wars, a huge national debt, on-going tax increases, and lower wages. But aside all these problems, he had contributed his part in stabilizing the Burel family status and position for his descendants as a part of the rising bourgeois class. Philippe and Catherine Burel expected their children to improve and build their legacy on the foundation. As time went by, their expectations were met as their sons flourished and the surnames of Burel women married into bourgeois and nobility families of southern France.¹¹

Hubert was the first son of Philippe and Catherine who moved the Burel heritage to the next generation. Following in his father’s footsteps, Hubert accumulated and inherited ample wealth and position to establish his own household to marry Marguerita Charmoise in 1590. He first held the position of court greffier or recorder for the Aix-en-Provence Parliament which was one of twelve principal courts of justice in France. The first three children of Hubert and Marguerita were born in Aix, but the last three were born in Solliès. Toward the end of the sixteenth century (c.1595), their first son Michel was born, and it was Michel’s generation that set the cycle in motion of occupations as apothecaries and medical doctors. The next five generations repeated the alternating pattern of the first Burel son an apothecary and the second son a doctor of medicine. Although Michel was the first apothecary in the Burel family, he continued to maintain the Burel position as First Consul to Solliès.

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Moving swiftly through the years, the middle of the seventeenth century brought an interesting Burel character on the scene in Solliès. He was Michel’s grandson and he personified the aspiration of bourgeois in the Mediterranean Basin. Named Jean, he made a decided contribution to the Burel legacy. Jean accumulated substantial wealth, was married twice, succeeded as an apothecary, delved into farming, invested in country estates, and carried on the long family tradition of intrigue and love of the sea. Succeeding his grandfather Michel and his father Charles as an apothecary, Jean first married Françoise Bataille who was the daughter of Judge Pierre, the bailiff or mayor of Solliès. By the time he was thirty-four years of age in 1689, Jean gave his wife Françoise power-of-attorney and answered the call of the sea. Five years later Françoise’s 1694 Last Will and Testament revealed she and Jean had four children. As this chapter in his life closed, ten more years rolled by before he decided to marry again. On October 6, 1704, Jean married the daughter of one of the most prominent families from Ollioules: Lucréce Blégier.¹² They lived their first two years in Solliès where Jean was a master apothecary and served as Consul to Solliès. However, the following year brought major changes in his life when he agreed to leave Solliès and move to Lucréce’s home town of Ollioules.

Over the plain of the Reppe River and at the mouth of its famous gorge snuggled the quaint medieval village of Ollioules. Known as the olive tree capital of France and less than two miles from the Mediterranean Sea, this old village became the permanent home of the first Burel family to live in Ollioules. Upon arriving in Ollioules, Jean and Lucréce shared the three-story home at rue de la Place with her father, Antoine. With generous space available, Jean decided to open his apothecary shop on the first level. The narrow streets and close town homes provided him a convenient proximity to his customers to build his business. There he and Lucréce had five children, but only two survived. Since the survival rate of children was roughly fifty percent, Antoine and Jean-Baptiste were the only two children they raised. Although they lost Theresa, Christine, and Joseph as infants, their years in Ollioules were good ones.

As the good years passed them by, Jean and Lucréce watched their parents grow old and pass into history. Since women were allowed to inherit property in Ollioules, Lucréce inherited her father’s house. Today, over three hundred years later from the date Jean and Lucréce married, the rue de la Place continues to stand proudly in the old section of Ollioules with the new address rue Baudin, number 2. In addition to this property in Ollioules, Jean and Lucréce owned other estates. The La Castellane valued at 662 livres was located south-east of Ollioules and was planted with grapevines and fig trees. A third one in La Plaine valued at 129 livres was planted with olive and fig trees, and a fourth beautiful country home with gardens and orchards was valued at 2,192 livres. This fourth bastide ¹³ served as their country home near Ollioules: the La Burelle. From the beginning of the Burel legacy it was important to own land; consequently, this chain of land ownership was never broken. Every descendant in the direct Philippe Burel line of this story were land owners. Of all the Burel country estates, plantations, farms, or town homes built, bought, sold, or lost in America and France over the centuries, the La Burelle built around 1640 in the Chemin de Campourri area southeast of Ollioules, France, continues to reign with ancient beauty and intriguing mystic.

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One

La Burelle Bastide

The year was 1732. Jean Burel and his first son Antoine were seriously considering purchasing a Provençal bastide near their town home in Ollioules. From Ollioules the old estate was only five miles away, and this convenient location allowed the house to be used as a family summer home, weekend retreat, or a safe-haven during dangerous plagues and epidemics. As Jean pondered the decision of whether to add another estate to his holdings, he automatically assessed his seventy-seven years. It was natural at this stage in life for him to reflect on the good and bad years behind him, plan with his children for their future, and enjoy his remaining years. He had reaped a good life from all his occupations and investments, and the twenty-eight year marriage with Lucréce had been especially rewarding. Although they had a late start with their family, both were proud of their two sons and their positions of prominence in Ollioules. Their oldest son Antoine was now twenty-seven, owned his apothecary in Ollioules, was married to Jeanne Clére Réquier from Marseille, and their first son Jacques was born and baptized on the fourth day of May in 1732.¹⁴

As Jean meditated about the next generation, it was comforting to know he and Lucréce had a grandson who would carry the proud Burel heritage forward. Jacques’ brother, their second son, was now twenty-four and a medical doctor. Named for his father, Jean-Baptiste was married to Clère Martomec, and they owned a bastide complete with gardens and orchards. Jean, Sr. was proud and pleased with both sons. Yes indeed. It was a good move when he decided to marry Lucréce, and a better move when they decided to leave Solliés forty-four years earlier and establish a new life in Ollioules. His father-in-law Antoine Blégier was one of the most prominent men in Ollioules, and his influence made a difference for them. Forty-four years seemed so very long ago, yet the memories were of yesterday. With the exception of losing Therese, Christine, and Joseph, life had paid high dividends. His role as chief magistrate served the people well, his profession as an apothecary proved lucrative, and his agriculture and property investments reaped adequate profits. As he evaluated all aspects of buying this beautiful old country estate, it felt right. Since he and his descendants would enjoy this lovely old place for many generations, he decided to buy it and name it in honor of the Burel family: the La Burelle.¹⁵

It was December 12, 1732. Jean Burel paid Monsieur de La Lauzière 2,192 livres for the old bastide. The appraised value showed it to be one of the important estates in the area. The old Provençal manor dating back nearly three centuries had weathered the storms of time well, and today it continues to stand proudly overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Appearing during the Louis XIV period, the La Burelle bastide was a three-story Provençal classical with the main facade facing south. It was a quadrangular structure with arched windows and accompanying shutters gracing the first and second floors while those on the third floor were smaller and rectangular. As they walked through the old house assessing its structure and overall condition, Jean shared his ideas to renovate the old bastide.

Antoine my son, a new entrance opening into a circular salon with half-columns against the wall should be done. A crystal chandelier must be ordered, and a durable marble laid to grace the entrance floors and highlight its elegance. New shutters on the outside should be added and all the gardens cleaned and brought into a manicured state. These changes and more will bring our La Burelle into eighteenth century splendor. His son agreed and they made a pledge their family would continue to improve the old estate as long as they owned the property.

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As both men walked around their new country estate, they admired the sprawling gardens and farmlands landscaped with grape vineyards and almond, olive, fig, and orange orchards. Vast fields of wild and natural flowers flourished with color allowing honey bees to make their traditional honey. Looking up Antoine watched the doves as they glided aimlessly across the skyline finding their way back to the special dove houses built for them at the La Burelle. Generations of families had strolled through the gardens and enjoyed the leisurely walk down the hillside to the coastline and beaches. As Jean Burel walked the grounds and inspected the house for a final time, he wondered about all the families who had lived at this old estate. If only walls could talk, the La Burelle would have unlimited stories to tell about her people and their time within these old rooms and on the grounds. Nearly three centuries of history had seasoned the old house and grounds to a nostalgic beauty that soothed his soul. Jean believed the same would be true for his family and their guests for generations.

Time moved on and during the next twenty years Jean continued to reap benefits from his wise investments while he watched his children and grandchildren grow and prosper. Mother Nature was cruel as she ticked away the years and slowly turned Jean into an old man. As each day continued to slip away, the last one arrived on July 14, 1753. On that summer day Jean Burel died quietly at his three-story home in Ollioules at the age of ninety-eight.¹⁶ He was buried with his family with all sacraments in the Ollioules Parish and laid in his final resting place with Lucréce. The La Burelle now belonged to the next generation, and the children and grandchildren of Jean and Lucréce Burel would continue to enrich the Burel legacy at the grand old bastide for many seasons to come. The elegant country home always stood ready to welcome the Burel family home.

Winds of Change Sweep France

Sweeping winds of change roared through France. The second part of the eighteenth century spread an incurable fever to reach beyond unknown boundaries for a different kind of life. It was the eighth generation of Philippe and Catherine Burel, and the first generation to leave France and take the Burel legacy to America. It all began on November 26, 1757, in the little medieval village of Ollioules. On that day a baby boy was born and baptized to Captain Jacques and Madeleine Françoise Portalis Burel for the second time. Madeleine marveled at the wondrous miracle of her perfect son, and prayed she and Jacques would not lose him as they lost their first one in infancy. Jacques, Madeline, and the godparents made their way to St. Laurent Church for the baptism. Both Ollioules and St. Laurent Catholic Church were rich with history and steeped in tradition. It was the perfect place for this sacred occasion.

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When they entered the church, the ancient smell of oil and wood and the familiar surroundings reminded all present the church and the ceremony about to begin were holy. When everything was in order, the devoted and gentle endurance of Priest Mege’s presence commanded reverence. The ceremony began. As he officiated the baptism, the Burel family came together and joined in the Christian sacrament admitting baby Jean-Baptiste Elzéar Burel to the Catholic Christian community. The Sacrament of Baptism with water symbolized life, death, cleansing, and growth which was the first step in baby Jean-Baptiste’s lifelong journey of commitment to God’s love and obedience. As the candles were lit, Madeleine silently observed the flickering flames personifying the celebration of her new baby’s life (John 3:5) and freedom from ‘original sin’ into the light of a new world (Hebrews 6:4). In effect, the sacrament of baptism unconditionally announced to the Christian community that baby Jean-Baptiste Elzéar Burel had received the divine gift of God and was made holy as a child of God as he entered into the temple of the Holy Spirit.¹⁷

As Jacques, Madeline, and the godparents left the church to return home, they were flooded with relief that Jean-Baptiste had escaped original sin. They privately thanked God he was now a child of Christ. Jacques was proud and boasted he had a son to carry his legacy forward, and baby Jean-Baptiste Elzéar Burel was fortunate to have been born into a family with notable heritage and prominence.

Jean-Baptiste Elzéar grew up on the southern Mediterranean Coast where his ancestors endured generations of religious, political, and civil wars. King Louis XV was nearing the end of his reign, and the unified France he inherited in 1715 was in trouble. Self-serving parliaments continued to push for local liberties, the bourgeois were growing and more powerful than ever, governors exploited independent powers and bypassed the government when possible, farmers were buying more and more land, tax burdens were inequitable and becoming unbearable, infant mortality continued to hover around fifty percent, and poverty was a serious problem. If peasant families had meat on their table once a month they were fortunate. In forty-eight short years, Louis XV had drained the treasury, lost important empires, and France was headed toward bankruptcy. Whispers of a revolution were in the air. This turbulent climate led many merchants and bourgeois families to take their wealth and leave France for better opportunities, while others stayed and became entangled in political downfalls.¹⁸

It was during these times Jean-Baptiste Elzéar was educated as other bourgeois boys. Beginning at the age of six or seven, his first stage of education probably began with governesses at home, followed by tutors, and finally dance masters. The dance masters had the difficult job to teach both boys and girls together the art of standing, walking, sitting, talking, and gesturing with grace and courtesy. Because these behaviors coupled with proper dress clearly identify Jean-Baptiste Elzéar as bourgeois, they were required to be mastered. Higher education for Jean-Baptiste focused on developing a good and strong character and his commitment to the Catholic religion. Rigorous courses in the classics, philosophy, metaphysics, logic, and ethics were taught. Floggings were an accepted part of the curriculum, and beatings of students were applied freely regardless of parent’s rank and position. Parents did not interfere because they understood the importance of this training and education. It was a high probability Jean-Baptiste received his share of such applied psychology. One fact was certain and accepted. Tutors and professors were in total control of their students and teachings.

Growing up in Ollioules provided Jean-Baptiste Elzéar far more than a rigid education and position in bourgeois social circles. During his family travels, his Grandfather Antoine visited Constantinople in 1768. While there he commissioned a medical leather wallet with his name 29726.jpg and the year 29728.jpg stitched on the outside cover. Years later Antoine sent this wallet to his grandson Jean-Baptiste in Philadelphia to use in his medical practice and to keep as a family heirloom. This wallet was an important part of Jean-Baptiste’s life, and as an old man he gave it to his oldest son. It would be treasured for many generations to come.¹⁹ As a young man, Jean-Baptiste not only spent time at the La Burelle with his grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, but he was a part of special family events. At age fourteen he traveled to the grand wedding of his Uncle M. Antoine Andre Burel and Aunt Anne Catherine Lucrece Ricaud. As their special guest he was selected to act as one of the witnesses to their marriage.

As time went on Jean-Baptiste witnessed additional improvements and splendor as they were added to the grand old La Burelle estate. The original stone portal entrance into the house received a new facade on the east side, and the new look added three arched windows with accompanying shutters on each floor. Walking up three stoned steps through the main entrance, a beautifully decorated reception room greeted guests. A magnificent circular salon now showcased detailed carved crown moldings with ionic half columns from the base of the molding to the floor every few feet. Flickering lights from the crystal chandelier brought attention to the center of the domed ceiling that also reflected upon the gray and white marble tiled floor. As a young boy Jean-Baptiste often admired the exceptional decoration envisioned by this great-grandfather. It was made from gypserie — a special kind of Provençal plaster assuring guests they were in the midst of legendary craftsmanship and art. The walls exhibited seventeenth century paintings and prints, while small sculptured angels on the walls symbolized the four seasons. Above doorways landscaped sculptures brought attention to flowing rivers capturing a blissful beauty and art of its time. Leaving the salon and following the marbled tiled floor, the massive earthen colored marble table in the dining room awaited guests. For uncounted years the old table seated large crowds for dinners and special events. The eight-foot by three-foot slab of marble served as the dining table as it rested upon a pair of carved Mediterranean fish tails flipped high in the air. Extra chairs, a sturdy sideboard, and a lowboy resided around the walls. Obvious to any guest, this was a large comfortable room designed for family gala. Turning, guests saw the beautiful staircase ascending to the second and third floors. As a young boy, how many times did Jean-Baptiste Elzéar secretly race up the eighteenth century roped staircase three and four steps at one time with a final leap onto the second level? There on the second and third floors, the bed chambers, sitting rooms, and toilets continued to offer comfort and privacy. As family and guests walked through the upstairs, marred floors and gracious old rooms begged for forgiveness. These were the family rooms where unnumbered families had lived, loved, and died. It was an accepted and honorable fact the old bastide would always proudly display its family scars from centuries gone by.²⁰

The years slowly turned Jean-Baptiste Elzéar into a dashing and handsome young man. Growing up he enjoyed many glorious dinners and events at the La Burelle. Since it was located near the Mediterranean Sea, many special dishes were available all seasons. It was an unspoken fact that one day when he owned his home he would serve the same fine French dishes. Young Jean-Baptiste remembered his parents Jacques and Madeline discussing elegant events and meals served at the La Burelle. From their expressions, he knew they relished these special times with the family and friends. He often heard his father describe the old days when a typical French meal ran ten courses, but the modern times and younger generations often tapered evening dinners to six or seven. Regardless of the number of courses, these events left memories with Jean-Baptiste of afternoons and late evenings filled with exquisite dishes, fine wines, good friends, and stimulating conversations. He never tired of his favorite goose-liver Barquettes Strasbourgeoises with olives followed by pork tenderloin and apple brandy sauce. His grandparents’ favorite menu follows. Of all the desserts, Grandmother Anne knew Crème Brûlée was Jean-Baptiste’s favorite, and it was always there.

La Burelle Dinner Menu²¹

Hosts

Antoine & Anne Jeanne Burel

Ollioules, France

c.1775

L’ Aperitif

Lamothe Wine ~ Grandes Liquors ~ Fine Champagne

Goose-Liver Barquettes Strasbourgeoises

Shrimp Barquettes

Melon and Parma Ham

Friar’s Toast

Picholines and Fresh Figs

Hors d’ Oeuvre

Egg Cromesquis

Stuffed Cucumbers & Ham

Dry Toast Bits

Small First Course

Onion Soup Gratinée

Spiced Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Marseille Bouillabaisse

Chicken Bouchées à la Reine

Picholine Olives & Fresh Fig Compote

French Rolls

Entrée

Grilled Châteaubriand

Pork Tenderloin and Apple Brandy Sauce

La Cuisine Bourgeoise Potatoes Boulangère

Carrots Vichy

Peas Bonne Femme

Green Beans & Béchamel Sauce

Salad

Shrimp Salad

Beet Salad

Fruit & Cheese

Mixed Fruits Compote

Brie de Meaux

Port Salut

Roquefort

Dessert

Caramel Crème Brûlée

Langues de Chat

Petits Fours

Froid Red Wine Peaches

Glacéed Cherries

Café de la Paix Pralines

Le Cup de Vin Rouge

Café au Lait

As Jean-Baptiste Elzéar inculcated family traditions, he enjoyed his lifestyle and quietly charted his own life’s course. In addition to exposure to fines food and grand homes, he also had the burning desire to follow his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather’s footsteps. Interested in medicine and the love of the sea, it was inevitable he would become a naval surgeon. After the required years of study at the oldest medical school in the world, Universitè de Montpellier, the day of final examination arrived to determine if he had mastered the knowledge and skills to practice as a naval surgeon and doctor. It was a cold and windy Friday, and young Jean-Baptiste Burel was filled with great anticipation, anxiety, and confidence. Soon he found himself before the Masters of Surgery in Marseille, France, for his intensive examination. The group of medical examiners questioned and drilled him to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. They meticulously made sure the young doctor understood the required knowledge-base, and he was willing to accept responsibilities of a naval surgeon. Mistakes made by doctors often were fatal. When the Masters of Surgery agreed Jean-Baptiste Burel’s knowledge was sufficient, they awarded the young Frenchman his medical license to practice as a naval surgeon on December 4, 1775.²² Dr. Jean-Baptiste Burel was fulfilling another important family tradition.

Medical License Translated without Signatures

Original in Treasured Documents

We, Masters of Surgery of this City, appointed to this Port by His Serene Highness Monseigneur the Admiral, in execution of the King’s Ordinance of 5 June 1717, there having been presented to us Jean Burel from the place of Ollioules this province to serve as Naval Surgeon; and having learned that he is Catholic, Apostolic and