Source: Outdoors Trinidad
The engraving on the tombstone reads:
LOUIS BICAISE
Natif de Saint-Vincent
Décédé à la Trinidad le 13 septembre 1838,
à l’age de 62 ans.
Il fut bon fils, bon père,
Bon frère, bon parent & bon ami.
Les excellentes qualités de son Coeur
Le font regretter par tous ceux qui le connurent.
(De Verteuil & de Wilde, 2009)
Louis Bicaise was born in St Vincent in 1776. His family was originally from France. He moved to Trinidad around 1811. He married Marianne Rambert also referred to as Marie Rose, daughter of Joseph Rambert, a wealthy Scottish planter who owned Rambert Estate. Through his wife he inherited land and he also purchased land in Trinidad. He owned La Resource Estate which was 230 acres in South Naparima. According to De Verteuil (2009), Louis and his wife were not wealthy initially but they worked hard and carefully managed their estate. The couple had six daughters and four surviving sons. They belonged to the free coloured planter class of South Naparima, a wealthy group which was discriminated against by the British colonial government of Trinidad. Louis was also part of the wealthy Rambert family through marriage which increased his prestige.
Rambert Village which is currently located on the outskirts of San Fernando, was named after the Rambert family, who were at one point in time the largest land owners in the Naparimas. The Naparimas was settled by planters from Scotland as well as French creole planters who came to Trinidad via the Cedula of Population in 1783. Rambert Estate was part of the larger holdings of Palmiste Estates. Palmiste was a thriving area in the 19th century. There were large cocoa, coffee and sugar estates and some estate owners reared cattle as well. The Rambert family was from Scotland, they owned several large sugar estates in the Naparimas.
In addition to La Resource Estate, Louis also owned Trafalgar Estate. However, Louis lived a lavish lifestyle and ran into financial trouble. In addition to this the price of sugar fluctuated in the 19th century and many sugar planters in Trinidad had to borrow money, including Louis. In in 1836 Louis and his family were compensated for the enslaved persons whom they previously owned. This money was used to pay off debts. However, the financial troubles did not end there, as apprenticeship did not provide sufficient labour for the estates to be profitable. The early end to apprenticeship was a further blow to Louis. Moreover, his estates had been managed by his brother and son in law. Louis publicly distanced himself and his business from the latter just three weeks before he died. He died on the 13th September 1838, at age sixty-two. He was buried near the top of a hill on his estate. His tombstone was a simple marble slab, and his wife was buried next to him thirty years later.
Louis Bicaise native of St Vincent, Died in Trinidad on the 13th September 1838 at the age of sixty-two. He was a good son, good father, good brother, good kinsman and good friend. His big-heartedness has left him regretted by all those who knew him. (De Verteuil & de Wilde, 2009, 239).
The enslaved persons who belonged to the Bicaise family were buried on a hillside nearby.
One of Louis Bicaise’s sons, John Nelson Bicaise, stands out as the most well-known Trinidadian slave trader. He conducted business off the coast of Guinea, West Africa. He became very wealthy but mismanagement and attack by the French forced the closure of the trading station. He died on the coast of Africa, and had lost touch with his family in Trinidad by this time.
Related to:
The tombs of John C Augustus (1882-1969) and his wife (Kathleen Maude Augustus (1883-1943) are located at Pond Street. John was the curator of the Botanical Gardens in Port of Spain.
Sources:
Anthony de Verteuil and Chis-Arthur de Wilde. 2009. The Black Earth of South Naparima. Port of Spain: Litho Press.
Homer, Louis. Rambert Village’s French-Scottish history. Trinidad and Tobago Express Newspapers. August 2nd, 2010. http://www.windiesfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4001&start=80
Outdoors Trinidad. Bicaise_Grave. https://www.trinoutdoors.com/pages/other%20places.htm#Bicaise_Grave
Address: Pond Street, Hermitage Village
Town/City: San Fernando
Region: Penal – Debe
Site Type: Cultural Heritage
Ownership:
Public Accessibility:
Cultural Community: French
Site Features: Tombs & Burial Grounds
Pond Street, Hermitage Village, San Fernando, Penal – Debe
