Dr. José Montégud had arrived in New Orleans in 1769 from Armanac in southern France. He had been born in Rocqueford, the son of Ramon de Montégud and Juana Bayole. They were probably Basque as indicated by the "d" on the end of Montégud.
José changed his name to Joseph Montégut.
He was appointed Surgeon Major of the Spanish Colonial Army and, in 1794, Chief Surgeon of Charity Hospital. During the Battle of New Orleans in 1812, he was commander of the sloop "Carolina."
Among his many other civic services, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the College D'Orleans.
Joseph and François had six children.
François Ramon Joseph Montégut served as State Treasurer under Governor William
Felicite married Louis Phillipe de Roffignac who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 1820 to 1828.
Jean Raymond, the progenitor of this family, served as a lieutenant of marines in the Battle of New Orleans.
Jean Raymond remained legally a bachelor but engaged in plaçage with a "quateron libre" from Port au Prince in Saint Domingue. Her name was Françoise Jerome and she was born in 1793, the daughter of Gabriel Jerome of Saint Domingue (1774-10 Dec 1835) and Marie Therése Forse Marin of New Orleans (1763 -20 Oct 1841). Françoise died 12 June, 1845 after bearing Jean Raymond several children who he legally accepted. One of these children was Jean Ferdinand, who was born 10 April, 1821.
Little is known of the childhood of Jean Ferdinand, except that he was born and grew up in the faubourg Marigny. He was evidently well educated for the times. Various censuses refer to him as a "professor" or "teacher." He served as secretary-treasurer for many burial societies of free people of color.
Jean Ferdinand married Carmelite Jacinta Scarpentier, the daughter of José Escarpen