(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
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He was born in Montreal on December 29, 1693. His family originated in Paris, whence Jean-Baptiste, the Canadian founder, emigrated to Canada in 1684. There he married, Nov. 29, 1686, Helene Picote de Bellestre, widow of Sieur de Brucy. Pierre Joseph was their fifth child and the oldest son.
Bred like his father to the career of arms, he obtained his first commission in 1715, and was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1731. Engaged in military duties until 1734, he was in that year chosen commandant of the important post of Michilimackinac where he was so successful in his administration, that he was returned for a second term of three years (1737 - 40), and was again at this post in 1741-42. He was beloved by the Indians about his station, and governed them firmly, with regard to justice.
While Celoron was stationed at Mackinac, the governor of Louisiana undertook a punitive expedition against the Chickasaw tribe, which had entrapped and destroyed a contingent of French from the Illinois. The Canadian authorities agreed to cooperate and in the autumn of 1739 sent a considerable body of troops from Montreal by way of the Ohio, at the same time ordering Celoron to gather the traders and tribesmen of his post and join the expedition. He met the other contingents on the Mississippi near Memphis, where a fort was built and winter quarters prepared. It was Celoron and his detachment who saved the expedition from entire futility.
In the spring of 1740 he penetrated to the Chickasaw towns, forced the Indians to make a treaty, and exacted a partial reparation.
In the summer of 1742 he visited Montreal with the Indians from his post; the governor told them that they could no longer keep their favorite officer. "He has been very kind to us, " said the Ottawa chief regretfully. In July of that year Celoron was transferred to Detroit, where he remained somewhat over a year.
In 1744 he was in command of the important fortress of Niagara, but because of some differences with the lessees was soon transferred to Fort St. Frederic, now Crown Point. After a short term (1746 - 47) he was recalled, and in 1748 took command of a convoy destined to relieve Detroit, which was in danger from a revolt of the Hurons and allied tribes. After the close of King George's War, La Gallissonniere sent Celoron on an expedition to the Ohio to expel the English traders from this region and to assert French claims. The expedition of about two hundred regulars and militia and thirty domesticated Indians left Lachine on June 15, 1749, going by way of Lake Chautauqua to the upper waters of the Allegheny River. As Celoron passed down that river and the Ohio he buried at strategic points leaden plates, with inscriptions asserting French sovereignty; some of these plates were found in the nineteenth century. He also drove off several English traders, sending by one a letter to the governor of Pennsylvania. The ultimate object of the expedition was to break up the Miami Indian town called Pickawillany, where the English had a trading house. Celoron went up the Miami River to this place; but he was unable to induce the rebel tribesmen to return to the French alliance. He then took his way eastward by way of Detroit and the Great Lakes. The next year he was promoted to a majority and sent to command at Detroit; there he failed to reclaim the recalcitrant Miami; and after a term of three years (1750 - 53), he was relieved, becoming major of Montreal. Celoron's share in the French and Indian War was not great; he was with Dieskau in 1755 on Lake George, and must have been in other battles, since his death was due to wounds.
(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
About this time he obtained a captaincy and was characterized as "intelligent, a very good officer. "
He was an able and popular officer, and left by his three wives a considerable progeny, most of whom returned to France after the British conquest of Canada.
His son Paul Louis, who was born at Detroit, served as a French officer under Washington during the American Revolution.
