Hardy Pioneer Family

Europeans who came to America in it's early days were a hardy lot and underwent many trying experiences but it is doubtful if many faced the trials that befell the Nicholas Ducray family who settled east of Meadville, PA in 1839. The family, as far as Crawford county is concerned, is down to its last surviving member, Mrs. Eva Ducray Brunot, granddaughter of Nicholas, now living at the old homestead. In her family's past there has been one thing outstanding and that has been its strong Christian faith. This has been centered around a hand-carved crucifix, which came into the family long before the Ducrays came to America and has become a part of the family history. Nicholas Ducray was 50 when he and his wife and nine children, then living in France, left their homeland to find a new life in a new nation. As a young boy Nicholas had been blinded in one eye and in later years this was enough to exempt him from conscription into Napoleon's army.

Sought A Peaceful Land

When he became a man with a family of his own, he was determined that his sons would grow up in a land where they would not become victims of war. He chose America and Crawford County, Pennsylvania in particular as he had friends living here in the predominately French settlement in the Pettis area. The family set sail on June 20, 1839 from LeHavre, on the ship Navire Marie, bound for the United States via Newfoundland. Their possessions included a chest containing the crucifix and some $2000 in gold coins. Their passage was prolonged by frequent storms, which caused the vessel to spring a leak and to rapidly take on water. The passengers were forced to throw overboard their scant food supply, clothing and all other possessions, including the chest containing the gold and the crucifix in hopes of lightening the ship. It was not enough and the Navire Marie broke up and cast her passengers and crew onto a small island of sand off the coast of Newfoundland.

Chest Recovered

Among those on board was Jean Francois Poly, who also settled near Pettis. He was the grandfather of the late Rex Poly of Guys Mills, PA. It was Francois who discovered the Ducray's chest floating off the island the day after they were cast ashore. As days passed and the food supply ran out, not a single ship was sighted to rescue them, the sailors gradually became maniacs and it was then that the Ducrays found themselves confronted with a form of human savagery few people have ever had to face. The story, which has been passed down through the generations of the Ducray and Poly families, is that Francois overheard the sailors making plans to kill some of the passengers to eat in order to keep themselves alive. Among those singled out to be killed were Nicholas Ducray and one of his sons. Francois disrupted the sailors' plan by hiding the Ducray family in the sand. The following day a ship was sighted which rescued the castaways interrupting the horrible intentions of the sailors. The immigrants landed in New York late in October 1839. They were originally scheduled to arrive September 9^th.

Prayers Credited

The Ducrays credit their prayers and the crucifix with saving them from death during their journey. It is little wonder that the hand-carved ivory figure of Christ nailed to its simple, unadorned cross means so much to the Ducray family. The Ducray and Poly men found a friendship stronger than the bonds of family ties. Their trip from New York to northwest Pennsylvania was made by way of the Hudson River and the Erie Canal to Buffalo. Misfortune struck again when Nicholas broke a leg and had to complete the journey in pain. Their family treasure had been seriously depleted by the purchase of clothing, food, supplies, and transportation for the overland trip. The Ducrays settled in the Pettis area on an eighty-acre farm purchased in November 1839 from Daniel Quelot, for $174. The farm was located near the southern end of what is now Tamarack Lake in southeastern East Mead Township. A year after arriving here the tenth child, Julius was born to Nicholas and Francis Ducray. Only two of the Ducray children remained in northwestern PA, Augustus and Julius. The rest moved westward and settled.

Inheritance Collected

Julius, when 21, went to France with his mother to collect an inheritance left to the family by a relative. Julius' daughter, Mrs. Eva Brunot, recalls that her father came back to America carrying $2200 gold in a carpet bag tied to a cane to give the general appearance of a tramp with nothing of value to rob. She said that Julius was often called the "Yankee Frenchman." In August 1846, Nicholas was one of several men who were trustees of "the Catholic Church" in Fairfield Township (SS Peter and Paul at Pettis) At this time an acre of ground was purchased next to the church for a cemetery. The deed spelled his last name "Ducri." In December 1864, Nicholas purchased a 72-acre farm from Nicholas Poupeny for $3195. This was an unusually high price to pay for a farm of that size and none of the descendants today have any explanation for this high price. When Nicholas bought it the farmhouse contained only two rooms on two floors with a family on each floor. It is located on Township Route 441 near Boussons Corners in East Mead Township. Julius Ducray married Julia Groglode and their children were Francis (Mrs. Arthur LeComte) who died about 1960; Nestor who never married and who died this past April (?); Laura Ducray who died in April 1962; Eva (widow of Basil Brunot) the sole surviving member of the family, now 81; and Julius who died in November 1961. The crucifix, which the family found so sacred, continues to serve the family. From Nicholas it was passed to his youngest son, Julius. Near the end of his life it was at his bedside. His daughter, Eva keeps it near her. One of the final chapters of the Ducray Family in this county now is being written. Today an auction sale will be held at the old homestead to dispose of the possessions last owned by Nestor. Many items of antique furniture, including a parlor organ, will be sold to the highest bidder. The crucifix will not be sold. It will be passed on to another member of the family even though they no longer bear the name of Ducray.

(The above was transcribed from a yellowed, typewritten sheet of paper which may have been copied from a newspaper article.)

Additions and Continuation

Eva has died since this was written, leaving a son Jule Brunot. The other son of Nicholas who remained in Pennsylvania, Augustus, married and had a daughter, Adelade Ducray. Adelade was married to Earnest Star Vincent. Of this union were born five children; Albert, Ralph, Marie (Mrs. Leo Harrington), Alexander, and Julian. Julian Augustus Vincent, 23, married Marie Alva Mailliard, 21, on October 8, 1919. They had four children, Mildred Isabell (Mrs. George R. Enlow), James Harry, Winnifred Carrie (Mrs. Don Smith) and Shirley Vincent. Mildred, 19, married George R. Enlow, 24, on October 21, 1939. They had five children, the first died as an infant, Leonard, Nancy Lee, Dale Edward, and Jeffrey Scott Enlow. Dale Edward, 22, married Patricia Ann Smith, 23, on August 3, 1974 and have 2 sons Julian Edward and Jesse Orion Enlow.