Frederick L. Villepigue
Encyclopedia
Frederick L. Villepigue served as Secretary of State of Florida
from July 1, 1853 to January 13, 1863.
Villepigue was born in South Carolina
. He was descended from a Frenchman
, Francois Villepigue, who immigrated from France to Santo Domingo
, a French colony
, in 1788, but was killed by his slaves in a slave rebellion
in 1800 in the Haitian Revolution
. Francois' wife received last-minute warning and escaped with their two sons, arriving with Pierre Laurent Jumelle at Charleston
, and settling in Camden, South Carolina
. One of the Villepigues' sons, Paul Francis became a prominent merchant
in Camden, and one of his seven children was Fredrick L. Villepigue.
Villepigue graduated from South Carolina College
and moved to Florida in the 1840s. The 1850 Census listed him as a 21-year-old lawyer living in Jefferson County
. Villepigue was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Charles W. Downing, Jr.
as Secretary of State of Florida
on July 1, 1853, and was elected to that post on July 25, 1853, serving until January 13, 1863.
The 1860 Census listed Villepigue having a personal estate of $200.00. On April 19 of that year, he was married to Margaret Watson Armstrong, the eldest daughter of General James Watson Armstrong, in the Presbyterian Church by the Rev. David Willis, in Macon, Georgia
.
On January 11, 1861, at the outbreak of the American Civil War
, Villepigue publicly affixed the Great Seal of the State of Florida
to Florida's Declaration of Independence on the east portico
of the State Capitol
, turned to faced an assembled crowd, and "in a clear distinct voice proclaimed Florida an independent nation. A second later 15 cannon
were fired in salute
of the new state and shouting broke fourth."
Villepigue enlisted in the Confederate States Army
on March 3, 1862, at Tallahassee
, joined Robert Howard Gamble's Artillery. In April 1862, he was appointed first lieutenant
of the Leon Light Artillery under Gamble, then a captain. Villepigue was promoted from lieutenant
to captain of the Kilcrease Light Artillery
on May 26, 1863. He served with the Kilcrease Light Artillery until November 22, 1864, when he resigned his commission
to become Secretary of the Confederate Senate
.
On January 22, 1867, he began to serve as a judge of the criminal court in Monticello until the next session Florida Legislature
, and was paid an annual salary
of $200 and $5 for each case tried. 1867 tax records show Villepigue as owning 50 acres (202,343 m²) assessed at $700 and one horse valued at $50, while records two years later show him as a lawyer worth $10. The 1870 Census listed Villepigue as having a personnel estate of $300.
Villepigue had one son, Harry, born in November 1863, and a daughter, Jeanne, born around 1861. He is interred at Roselawn Cemetery in Monticello, Florida
.
Secretary of State of Florida
The Secretary of State of Florida is a constitutional officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established by the original 1838 state constitution....
from July 1, 1853 to January 13, 1863.
Villepigue was born in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He was descended from a Frenchman
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, Francois Villepigue, who immigrated from France to Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, a French colony
French colonization of the Americas
The French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America...
, in 1788, but was killed by his slaves in a slave rebellion
Slave rebellion
A slave rebellion is an armed uprising by slaves. Slave rebellions have occurred in nearly all societies that practice slavery, and are amongst the most feared events for slaveholders...
in 1800 in the Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
. Francois' wife received last-minute warning and escaped with their two sons, arriving with Pierre Laurent Jumelle at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and settling in Camden, South Carolina
Camden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
. One of the Villepigues' sons, Paul Francis became a prominent merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
in Camden, and one of his seven children was Fredrick L. Villepigue.
Villepigue graduated from South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
and moved to Florida in the 1840s. The 1850 Census listed him as a 21-year-old lawyer living in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Florida
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
. Villepigue was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Charles W. Downing, Jr.
Charles W. Downing, Jr.
Charles W. Downing, Jr. was the third Secretary of State of Florida. He served from July 23, 1849 and June 30, 1853, when Florida was still Florida Territory ....
as Secretary of State of Florida
Secretary of State of Florida
The Secretary of State of Florida is a constitutional officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established by the original 1838 state constitution....
on July 1, 1853, and was elected to that post on July 25, 1853, serving until January 13, 1863.
The 1860 Census listed Villepigue having a personal estate of $200.00. On April 19 of that year, he was married to Margaret Watson Armstrong, the eldest daughter of General James Watson Armstrong, in the Presbyterian Church by the Rev. David Willis, in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.
On January 11, 1861, at the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Villepigue publicly affixed the Great Seal of the State of Florida
Seal of Florida
The Great Seal of the State of Florida is used to represent the Government of the State of Florida, and for various official purposes, such as to seal official documents and legislation. It is also commonly used on state government buildings, vehicles and other effects of the state government...
to Florida's Declaration of Independence on the east portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
of the State Capitol
Florida State Capitol
The Florida State Capitol, in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, is the state capitol of the U.S. state of Florida. The building is an architecturally and historically significant building, having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
, turned to faced an assembled crowd, and "in a clear distinct voice proclaimed Florida an independent nation. A second later 15 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
were fired in salute
Salute
A salute is a gesture or other action used to display respect. Salutes are primarily associated with armed forces, but other organizations and civil people also use salutes.-Military salutes:...
of the new state and shouting broke fourth."
Villepigue enlisted in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
on March 3, 1862, at Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, joined Robert Howard Gamble's Artillery. In April 1862, he was appointed first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
of the Leon Light Artillery under Gamble, then a captain. Villepigue was promoted from lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
to captain of the Kilcrease Light Artillery
Kilcrease Light Artillery
The Kilcrease Light Artillery was a Confederate army artillery company.Headed by Captain Patrick Houston and Captain Frederick L. Villepigue, it was formed in Leon County, Florida in the spring of 1863 upon the dividing of the Leon Light Artillery. The Kilcrease company was assigned to the...
on May 26, 1863. He served with the Kilcrease Light Artillery until November 22, 1864, when he resigned his commission
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
to become Secretary of the Confederate Senate
Congress of the Confederate States
The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
.
On January 22, 1867, he began to serve as a judge of the criminal court in Monticello until the next session Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, and was paid an annual salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
of $200 and $5 for each case tried. 1867 tax records show Villepigue as owning 50 acres (202,343 m²) assessed at $700 and one horse valued at $50, while records two years later show him as a lawyer worth $10. The 1870 Census listed Villepigue as having a personnel estate of $300.
Villepigue had one son, Harry, born in November 1863, and a daughter, Jeanne, born around 1861. He is interred at Roselawn Cemetery in Monticello, Florida
Monticello, Florida
Monticello is a city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,533 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,572. It is the county seat of Jefferson County...
.
External links
- Record of Civil War Veterans of the Kilcrease Light Artillery
- Collections of the Florida State Archives