Cane River collection, 1853. - Cane River collection, 1853.

St. Cyr Hypolite Metoyer (active 1841-1862) was a ferry boat operator, soldier, and free man of color from Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of Antoine Joseph Metoyer (1778-1838) and Marie Pelagie LeCourt, who were free people of color and landowners of the Cane River settlement in Natchitoches Parish. He operated a ferry in the village of Cloutierville and later served in the 1st Regiment of Native Guards at New Orleans during the Civil War.</br></br>Charles Nerestan Roques, Jr. was a free man of color and merchant born in 1819 to Charles Nerestan Rocques (1797-1859), also a merchant, and Marie Pompose Metoyer, both free people of color.</br></br>Nicolas Augustin (1768-1856) was one of ten children born to Marie Thérèze Coincoin (1742-1816?), a former enslaved person, slave-owner, and property owner, and Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer (1744-1815), a French-born, white plantation owner and businessman. He married Marie Agnes Poissot, a half-French, former enslaved person, who was born into the household of Pierre Derbanne. Their children were Marie Modeste, Marie Louise, J. B. Maxille, Auguste Augustin, J. B. Augustin, Marie Pompose, Joseph Augustin, Francois Gassion, and Marie Suzanne. Marie Thérèze Coincoin and Nicolas Augustin Metoyer are credited with founding the Cane River community, originally known as Isle Brevelle, in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.</br></br>François Metoyer (1784-1862) was one of ten children born to Marie Thérèze Coincoin (1742-1816?), a former enslaved person, slave owner, and founder of the Cane River colony, and Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer (1744-1815), a French-born, white plantation owner and businessman. In 1804, he married Marguerite Lafantasy, a half-French, former enslaved person whose sister, Marie Agnes Poissot, was married to François's brother, Nicolas Augustin (1768-1856). Their children were Marie Adélaÿde, Joseph François (1810-1883), Oliver, and François Valcour.