Overview
Location
St. James Parish, LA
Date Constructed/ Founded
1837
Associated Surnames
Roman
Historical notes
In the early 1830's, Jacques Telesphore Roman, a wealthy Creole sugar planter from the French Quarter in New Orleans met and courted Celina Pilie. They were married in June of 1834. As a wedding gift for his bride, Jacques purchased from his brother-in-law, Valcour Aime, a plantation in St. James Parish that river boat captains would later dub "Oak Alley", due to an alley of live oak trees that were planted as early as 1700 by a French settler. The Greek-revival style mansioncalled "Bon Sejour" was constructed in 1837-1839. The Roman family resided at Oak Alley throughout the Civil War. Jacques had died in 1848 from tuberculosis, In 1866 after the conclusion of the Civil War, Henri, the only surviving Roman son, was forced to sell the plantation.
Associated Slave Workplaces
none
Associated Free Persons
- Jacques Telesphore Roman (b.?-d.1848) - owner
- Celina Pilie Roman - wife of Jacques T. Roman
- Henri Roman: son of Jacques T. Roman
Associated Enslaved Persons
Research Leads and Plantation Records
Miscellaneous Information
- Agriculture: sugarcane
- Bon Sejour: Mansion house; Construction was begun on the Greek-revival style mansion in 1837, the most notable feature being the twenty-eight classic columns surrounding the house. In 1839, the home was complete, with improvements and additions continuing until 1841.
References
Users Researching This Workplace
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