Franchimastabe

 In my research I have come across information from Jennifer Meirs that Franchimastabe is likely the Indian chief that the Favre's are descended from.
 Jennifer stated on her site:

(1)1839 testimony of John Jones Sr, Sumter county, Alabama testified Simon Favre married Maron (maryann) daughter of Franchimastubbee, not Pushmataha. I spoke with Mr. Heitzmann, the author of the book on the Favre's, records for Simon's family show that Maryann was his widow (aka Piskotanay)
Posted by: Jennifer Miers

I tracked down the excerpt she was speaking of, it is as thus:

(2)John Jones affidavit, received and recorded April 2nd 1839. The state of Alabama, Sumter County. Before me John A. Cowan as acting justice of the peace for said county ? affidavit John Jones who being duly sworn according to law deposes ? and sayethe that he was acquainted with Simon Favre in his lifetime that said Simon Favre ? forty and fifty years ago married an Indian woman named M? daughter of France Mastubbee as I understood from communications and by his had Simon's children said Favre married in the Choctaw tribe of Indians and resided on the Tombigby river. Deposee sayeht that he is satisfied and confident the above named ? unreadable were married although he was not there from the fact that he was invited to the marriage and from what ? who was there told him and also from the fact that he was not more than two miles and a ? from (unreadable) at the time of the wedding.

This led me to search more about Franchimastabe and in doing so I have seen just how often he and Simon Favre interacted. Leaving me to believe that he must indeed be the father of Simon's Indian wife and not Pushmataha as was previously believed.

(3) During a presentation by the Mississippi Humanities Council it was said that Franchimastabe was a head of a village of the West Yazoo who was engaged in intense and significant diplomatic negotiations over the question of ownership of the site of Nogales (present day Vicksburg) and other matters with Manuel Gayoso de Lemos the Spanish governor of the Natchez District from 1787 to 1797.

 From the letters of M. Delavillebeuvre to Carondelet,  Delavillebeuvre wrote that:

(4)After making my first speech there [Yasou, Franchimastabe’ village] I went to the Small Part where I am going to reside with Favre, who is employed by the king and who will serve me as interpreter. He is the best one of the province, with a great influence over the minds of the Indians, and he knows how to lead them firmly whenever necessary. When he found out that I was coming as commissioner to this nation, he had a comfortable hut built for me. I shall live there if you will allow me because I find that life there will be simpler. Since it is only four leagues away from Franchimastabe’ village, I shall therefore be able to know what is going on in both parts with equal facility.

He was certainly speaking of Simon Favre here. Showing there was a relationship between Favre and Franchimastabe.

(5,6)There are historical elements about Chief Frantimastabe 's actions with the French, British and Spanish that closely parallel Simon Favre's relationships with the same parties. He was not a friend of the Americans and led in combat against them. Chief Frantimastable encouraged family relationships and marriages between his family and the French and English for stronger ties and alliances.

 "Chief Pushmataha" is strongly considered a possible father for, " Pistikiokonay" by some sources. He was a strong friend and allay of the Americans.



Simon Favre was present at Fort Nogales, near the mouth of the Yazoo River in Choctaw territory, for the signing of the Treaty of Nogales on October 28, 1793.[iii] This treaty was signed between the King of Spain and Emperor of the Indies and the Chickasaw, Creek, Talapoosa, Alibamon, Cherokee and Choctaw nations.
The Spaniards were represented by Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, colonel of the royal armies, military and political governor of the post and district of Natchez, commissioned for this purpose by the Baron de Carondelet, governor of the province of Louisiana and West Florida.
Representing the Choctaws was Franchimastabe’, principal chief, and Pushamataha, who apparently was closely tied to Simon Favre, possibly through marriage.
 The text of the treaty detailed where the different tribes were to pick up their gifts to maintain the terms of all treaties since 1784. The Choctaw were to pick up their yearly gifts at old Tombecbe’, “which it has recently ceded to His Catholic Majesty”. The treaty was signed for the Choctaw by Franchi Mastabe’, Mingo Puscus, and Mistichico. Simon Favre was one of the witnesses.(7)

Of Note: relationships with Frantimastabe given by Simon Favre himself from his personal correspondence

"Favre wrote from the Choctaw to Bouligny[i] on November 8, 1785: I learned from Taskaopa in the presence of Nanoulimastabe’ that Monsieur Jorge, a trader in the village of Ousapalchito for Monsieur Maxent, had told him that he has heard from Naquisabe’, chief with a small English medal, that Mr. Fraisiere, trader at Yazoo, in the Large Part, had assured him and the English chief Frantimastabe’ that the stores established in Mobile belonged to Sieur Tourneboul. He also said that all the English, who had formerly been in the different villages of the nation, were going to come back and chase out the French and Spaniards who were there. Mr. Fraisiere stated that he was a good Englishman who did not want to do as the French and Spanish traders and steal their horses. He said that he would take their pelts for two, three or four times as much, that this boat was sent ahead, and that the chiefs and party were following. He also asserted that the Spaniards did not know how to do anything and they were not men, I affirm that I have written exactly what I heard from the Indians.”  In addition, in 1787 Simon reported to Vicente Folch, Governor of Spanish Florida, on a series of assemblies held by Choctaws, Chickasaws and Talapuches about approving the establishment in their territories of whites and the desire of Chief Franchimastabé to visit them.
 Simon Favre’s information went to the highest officers in the Government. On June 29th, 1792, Favre wrote from the Choctaws to Louisiana Governor Carondelet: My Lord: Allow me to take the liberty of having the honor of writing you this letter to send you the enclosed copies which were brought to the Choctaw nation by two Americans the 25th of June of this month. They went back the same day. These messages were translated by a trader for that nation named Jean Pitchlyn. This is one of several similar activities of this man, who does nothing but give bad advice to the savages. That is why I hope, my Lord, that you will be so kind as to give me your orders about this matter. They brought two large medals and two complete suits. They have given one to Franchimastabe’ and the other to a respected chief of this nation called Tloupouye Nantla’, but all this was of no use. They have been unable to take either of them along with them There is nothing else of enough importance to inform you. My Lord, begging you to excuse me for the liberty which I dare to take, I have the honor of being, with respect and submission, my Lord, Your most humble and most obedient servant Simon Favre.
Delavillebeuvre wrote to Don Manuel Gallozo de Lemos from Boukfouca, on September 10, 1792 “At the house of Monsieur Favre where I am staying”: …but as Franchimastabe’ had left for Mobile upon the demand of the commandant, as I had the honor of telling you in my previous letter, he [Jean Pchiline <sic> the interpreter living near the Chickasaw road] did not see him, of course, and stayed with Mr. Favre and myself until Franchimastabe’s return so that he may confer with him and afterwards with all the chiefs of the nation. (8)




List of Sources:
 (1) Jennifer Miers
(2)Sumter County, Alabama deed book 3, page 223
(3)Ms Humanities
(4) From the letters of M. Delavillebeuvre to Carondelet
(5,6,8)Choctaws in a Revolutionary Age
(7)Russell Guerin