Answer · confidence: partial
Did Henri Peyroux expect or get a Spanish reward for the 1785 trips?
Research question: Do Spanish royal treasury accounts, reward claims, and correspondence about Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière and the 1785 transports confirm that he expected or received a royal reward, and do they name the Acadian intermediaries beyond Olivier Terriot?
The records show that Peyroux secured a commission and pension from Spain to facilitate Acadian resettlement 15. He also claims the Minister General of the Indies promised him a high-ranking civil or military post on arriving in New Orleans 11. As of 1800, however, he was still serving in New Madrid without any reward or indemnity, though he continued to hope for favors 10. The verified facts do not draw on treasury accounts, reward claims, or correspondence directly, so they cannot confirm what those documents say 10. Olivier Terrio, spelled Terriot in the question, is the only Acadian intermediary named as a business partner, and Peyroux says his document does not mention Terrio even though Terrio claimed to have organized the petition, so no other intermediaries appear in these facts 69. The newest fact is dated 1800, so the evidence is more than two centuries old as of October 2026 10.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Henri Peyroux secured a commission and pension from Spain to facilitate the resettlement of Acadians.
"Securing a commission and pension from Spain, he took the Acadian exile, Olivier Terrio, as a business partner, and together they worked with French and Spanish officials, as well as with the Acadian exiles, to coordinate the resettlement project."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière - Wikipedia
[2] supported
Peyroux held the rank of captain in the Spanish Army and served as commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois.
"Henri Peyroux also went to Louisiana, where he benefited from his commissions as a captain in the Spanish Army and a commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois , now Missouri ."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière - Wikipedia
[3] supported
Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière immigrated to Louisiana in 1783 and initially focused on recruiting Acadians to settle in the region.
"Peyroux and his wife immigrated to Louisiana in 1783, where he at first occupied himself recruiting Acadians to settle in Louisiana."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière (1743?-?) - Missouri Encyclopedia
[4] supported
Peyroux served under the Spanish Bourbon colonial regime despite being born a Frenchman, indicating his alignment with Spanish authority during the period in question.
"Although born a Frenchman, he, like many other cosmopolitan persons in colonial Louisiana, had no qualms about serving the Spanish Bourbon colonial regime."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière (1743?-?) - Missouri Encyclopedia
[5] supported
Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière secured a commission and pension from Spain to facilitate the resettlement of Acadians.
"Securing a commission and pension from Spain, he took the Acadian exile, Olivier Terrio, as a business partner, and together they worked with French and Spanish officials, as well as with the Acadian exiles, to coordinate the resettlement project."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière explained
[6] supported
The only Acadian intermediary named in the text as a business partner to Peyroux is Olivier Terrio.
"he took the Acadian exile, Olivier Terrio, as a business partner"Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière explained
[7] supported
Peyroux held the rank of captain in the Spanish Army and served as commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois.
"Henri Peyroux also went to Louisiana, where he benefited from his commissions as a captain in the Spanish Army and a commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois , now Missouri ."Henri Peyroux de la Coudrenière explained
[8] supported
Peyroux held the rank of captain in the Spanish Army and served as commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois.
"Henri Peyroux also went to Louisiana, where he benefited from his commissions as a captain in the Spanish Army and a commandant of the post at Sainte-Geneviève in Spanish Illinois, now Missouri."Henri Peyroux de la Coudreniere - Alchetron
[9] supported
Peyroux de la Coudrenière explicitly states that his document does not mention the name of Terrio, despite Terrio claiming to have organized the petition.
"A noter que ce mémoire ne cite à aucun moment le nom de Terrio et ce qu'il a fait. Peyroux s'attribue tout le mérite et tout le travail ; il mentionne la pétition signée par quatre ou cinq pères de familles ; Terrio dit que c'est lui qui l'a fait signer ; Peyroux se l'attribue entièrement."Septentrion. La référence en histoire
[10] supported
As of 1800, Peyroux was still serving in New Madrid without having received any reward or indemnity, though he continued to hope for favors from the government.
"Enfin, M. de Gayoso au commencement de l'an dernier 1799 me donna le commandement de la Nouvelle Madrid où je suis maintenant, sans autre récompense ni indemnité mais espérant toujours quelques faveurs du gouvernement, et particulièrement des chefs de cette colonie."Septentrion. La référence en histoire
[11] supported
Peyroux claims that the Minister General of the Indies promised him a high-ranking civil or military position upon his arrival in New Orleans, which increased his confidence in the Spanish government's generosity.
"Cette confiance augmenta par l'assurance du ministre général des Indes qui manda à S.E. le comte d'Aranda qu'aussitôt mon arrivée à la Nouvelle-Orléans je pouvais demander une des premières places, soit dans le civil, soit dans le militaire ; et qu'elle me serait accordée."Septentrion. La référence en histoire
[12] supported
Upon arriving in New Orleans, Peyroux requested the rank of infantry captain but was instead assigned the command of the worst post in the colony, Sainte-Geneviève des Illinois.
"A mon arrivée à la Nouvelle-Orléans je fus à la solde du Roi et je demandai la paye et le grade de capitaine d'infanterie avec le commandement d'un poste. Ma commission de capitaine fut signée à Madrid le 9 avril 1786, mais comme la nomination du commandant des postes était à la disposition de M. Miro, j'obtins de lui le commandement du plus mauvais poste de la colonie, c'est celui de Sainte-Genev"Septentrion. La référence en histoire
[13] supported
Peyroux states that he spent a significant portion of his limited fortune on travel and negotiations in Brittany, Normandy, and Paris to secure the Acadian migration project.
"Pendant cette négociation je fis beaucoup de dépenses pour la faire réussir ; mes voyages en Bretagne, en Normandie, mon séjour à Paris et autres dépenses consumèrent la majeure partie du peu de fortune que je possédais"Septentrion. La référence en histoire