Jean de Bérard-Moquet-Montalet

Bérard-Moquet-Montalet was born in 1762 to Jean-Baptiste Mocquet and Louise Gaillard, natives of Nantes, France. He was raised in Paris.^[1] He had one sister, Lucie Mocquet de Montalet,^[2] and one brother, William Polycarp Montalet.^[3]

He married Renee Michel Mirault in France.^[4]

Between 1794 and 1798, he commanded a militia in Saint-Domingue under English rule.

In around 1798, with a handful of slaves, he moved to Savannah, Georgia. He gave the slaves French names, including Mathurin, Dominique, Prene, Gustin, Antoine and St. Foix.^[1] Shortly after arrival, he purchased the 230-acre (93 ha) Hermitage Plantation,^[5] from Patrick Mackay, and a section of the northeastern part of Sapelo Island, where his father-in-law, Peter M. I. Mirault, had been living.^[4] He continued the plantation's brick-making history,^[1] producing more of the much-sought-after "Savannah Grey" bricks which were used in Savannah's buildings.^[6] He later spent more time on Sapelo Island and sold the Hermitage to his brother.^[4]

Bérard-Moquet-Montalet became a widower around 1802.^[4] In 1804, he married Angélique Servanne Charlotte de Picot-Boisfeuillet.^[7] She died the following year.^[1]

Bérard-Moquet-Montalet died in 1814,^[8] aged 52. He was interred in High Point Cemetery on Sapelo Island, Georgia.