| Notes |
- From Descendants of Francis LeBaron of Plymouth, Mass. (citation details below):
His gravestone on the Ancient Burial Hil in Plymouth, now in good preservation, marks the date of his death and age, and gives the latter as thirty-six years. Substantially the same tradition in regard to him has been handed down in the various branches of his family, namely, that a French privateer, fitted out at Bordeaux and cruising on the American coast, was wrecked in Buzzard's Bay. The crew were taken prisoners and carried to Boston. In passing through Plymouth, the surgeon, Francis LeBaron, was detained by sickness, and on his recovery performed a surgical operation so successfully that the inhabitants of the town petitioned the executive, Lieutenant Governor Stoughton, for his release, that he might settle among them. The petition was granted, and he practiced his profession in that town and vicinity until his death.
In regard to his religious faith there are different opinions: some have claimed that he was a Roman Catholic, while others are just as strenuous in declaring that he was of a Huguenot family. It is possible that both claims are right, as, for a long period preceding 1696, the severest affliction of the Huguenots was due to the abstraction of their children and youth from their homes, to be educated in the Roman Catholic faith.
We think best to express no opinion in regard to this matter, but place in the Appendix various statements and notes which have come to our attention, leaving each one interested to draw his own conclusions.
From History of the Town of Plymouth from its First Settlement to the Year 1832 by James Thacher (Boston: Marsh, Capen, & Lyon, 1832):
1696. A French privateer fitted out at Bourdeaux, cruising on the American coast, was wrecked in Buzzard's Bay. The crew were carried prisoners to Boston; the surgeon, Dr. Francis Le Baron, came to Plymouth, and having performed a surgical operation, and the town being at that time destitute of a physician, the selectmen petitioned the executive, lieut. governor Stoughton, for his liberation that he might settle in this town. This was granted, and he married and practised physic here during life, but died in 1704, at the early age of thirty-six years. Dr. Le Baron did not relinquish the Roman Catholic religion, and was so strongly attached to the cross, that he never retired to rest without placing it on his breast. This constantly reminded the people of a religion which they abhorred, and which they were scarcely willing to tolerate in a single instance. He made a donation of ninety acres of wood land to the town. His son, Lazarus, studied medicine, and enjoyed an extensive course of practice in Plymouth and its vicinity, and died lamented in 1773, aged 75 years. Two of his sons, Joseph and Lazarus, were also physicians, both of whom, after residing a short period in the West Indies, died in Plymouth, as did three other sons, and the only survivor is Rev. Mr. Lemuel Le Baron, minister of a church and society at Mattapoiset (Rochester,) where he was ordained in 1772. Fron this stock, all that bear the name of Le Baron in this country are descended, and they are numerous and respectable.
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Nielsen Hayden genealogy
1668 - 1704 (36 years)
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