How Chaumette Winery Got Its Name
By: Rodney Toombs, Tasting Bar Manager
I get asked every day what the mural behind me at the Tasting Room Bar represents or how Chaumette got its name. It is a story rich with history and we were lucky enough to have the incredibly talented Missouri artist Bryan Haynes paint a mural depicting the story of Jean de la Chaumette.
It starts in 1664 when Jean de le Chaumette was born in Rochechouart, France. Due to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the Huguenots (French Protestants) started being persecuted. Jean and his family fled to England. This was the biggest exodus of people out of France in history. Over 450,000 people left France because of this persecution. Almost immediately Jean joined the British army and served under William of Orange in the Battle of Boyne.
After leaving the army Jean marries Elizabeth Bourgeois Bouvet and they have 4 sons. They decide to move to Martinique in the British West Indies and go into the indigo dye business. At the age of 44, his wife Elizabeth dies in an epidemic. Later, Jean decides to leave Martinique. Jean leaves his oldest son Antoine and his wife to run the business while he takes his 3 youngest boys and goes to Stafford County Virginia.
It is 1723, so keep in mind that it is still a British colony. He decides, “Since I am going to live the rest of my life on British soil, I will anglicize my name.” Jean changes his name to John Shumate, which is Hank Johnson’s (Chaumette Winery’s owner) mother’s maiden name. Hearing the story of Jean de la Chaumette his entire life, when Hank purchased the property it was a no-brainer to name the winery Chaumette. Next time you come to the Chaumette Winery Tasting Room, take a good look at our mural and ask about the game hidden in the work of art.
Hi, I am a direct descendant of Jean de la Chaumette, and am one of the St Louis Shumates. Since I am the historian for my family, I am very interested to know where/how you obtained some of your information about Jean, such as that he joined the British army and fought at the Battle of the Boyne, as well as any information about their time in Martinique working in the indigo dye business. I have the two main Shumate history texts and don’t find this information therein. Thanks, Kathleen Shumate
Hi Kathleen, Thanks for reaching out! We just emailed you.
I gave been researching my husband’s family and have come across much of the same information. Basically we were looking for Cherokee roots and we’re surprised by the French connection. We are related to the Rockwall, Texas family. My husband’s grandmother was Mattie, she had a sister named Betty Swan, they were married on the same day. She married Charles Liles, they ended up in Oklahoma after they lost their farm during the dust bowl. I would love to share information. Philipliles@frontiernet.net
Jean De La Chaumette is my 6th great grandfather. My great grandfather was Enoch Shewmake who lived in St. Charles County from around 1850 to his death around 1876. Enoch’s father, grandfather and great grandfather all had the first name of Samuel.
Would you please email me with any genealogy information you have about the De La Chaumette/Shewmake families?
Hi Mary,
How interesting! At what email can you best be reached?
Thank you!
My husband is also a descendent of Jean de la Chaumette. As he tells me, Jean had a son Samuel.
Samuel -> Moses (by this time the name was Shoemake and this portion of the family had moved to SC, where we currently live) -> Moses Jr -> Ervin -> My husband’s grandfather
We are definitely looking into coming to visit the winery.
How interesting! Our owner would love to chat more about your family tree. Feel free to give us a call at 573-747-1000 and ask for Hank!
Jean Baptiste DeLaChaumette is my 7th great grandfather ! The article cleared a lot up for me. I would love to come to the bar !
Please do! Hank would love to meet you. Let us know in advance if you plan on coming. You can email marketing (at) chaumette (dot) com.
I’m also from the De La Chaumette line – the name on our end was changed to DeLashmutt and the Lashmit, which was my mother’s maiden name. My line came through Pierre. I’d love to see any documentation you have on Jean De La Chaumette married to Elizabeth Bourgeois. Have you been able to go back beyond Jean De La Chaumette? His father, mother, etc?
Hank would be happy to speak more about the family lineage with you. Feel free to email him at hankj (at) chaumette (dot) com.
I am a descendant a Jean la de Chaumette through the colored (Mulatto) line. I have not yet found firm facts if my colored line started as a slave owned by the Chaumette family and later freed OR was born a freed person of color within the Chaumette/Shumake family but they were obviously “free” to be able to marry, have children and migrate south with their families. My line married other freed persons of color (mulatto) and lived in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and finally made their way into Ohio which was a free state and they settled in a tri-racial settlement founded by James and Sophia Clemens, called Longtown located in Darke County, Ohio. My Shumake/Shumate/Shoemake/Shoemaker family worked alongside other folks of color within the settlement as conductors of the Underground Railroad by hiding runaway slaves, providing farm work to make money, providing education through the Union Literary Institute (a mixed race school for ALL color founded by James and Sophia Clemens and the Quakers), camouflaging runaway slaves from slave catchers and transporting runaway slaves along other UGRR stops to find their freedom in Canada. Levi Coffin, an abolitionist was also involved.
There is another colored Shumake/Shumate/Shoemake/Shoemaker line that migrated further south instead of following my line to Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. This line migrated south to Alabama and settled among the Cherokee Indians, AKA The Tribe of The Lower Cherokee Band of Alabama as they are known today. This line also walked The Trail of Tears. I recently connected with a descendant of this Shumake/Shumate/Shoemake/Shoemaker line. She shared that her tribe are the ones that send cyclists to ride their bikes on a 950 mile trek retracing the route of The Trail of Tears during the Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson and along the way they perform a traditional ritual of smudging along the route with sage. I do not know much about this lineage as I just recently connected with a descendant of this line and I am excited and interested in learning more about this line.
My Uncles, 1st cousins and myself have done the DNA test and we have been proven through our DNA results that we descend from Jean de la Chaumette. I have to say…we come from a long line of strong, smart, loving and BRAVE ancestors going way back to the original Chaumette family who escaped persecution because of their religious beliefs and made the hard and horrifying trip by sailing to the colonies for religious freedom. The bravery and sacrifices they made, learning a way of life, wars that were fought, fighting for freedom and the list keeps going on to this very day….we have a lot to be thankful for and to be proud of!
I HAVE ALSO BEEN INVESTIGATING JEAN DE LA CHAUMETTE. I HAVE FOUND HE WENT TO MARTINIQUE IN 1708. HE HAD FOUR SONS, HREE OF WHOM EMIGRATED TO THE USA O/S 1718. HIS OLDEST SON ANTOINE STAYED ON MARTINIQUE AND DIED THERE IN APPROX 1784. HIS NAME APPEARED ON HE MARTINIQUE PLANTERS LIST IN 1725.
HIS FAMILY WAS STILL LIVING ON THE ISLAND IN THE 1800’S HIS MOTHER ELIZABETH IS RECORDED IN STEPHEN OLIVER’S BOOK “MONUMEMTAL INSCRIPTIONDS OF FRENCH MARTINIQUE” I WONDER IF ANTOINE’S MONUMETS IS
ALSO RECORDED IN THIS BOOK. I WANT TO GO BACK TO MARTINIQUE AND FIND HIS AND ELIZABETH’S GRAVE SITES.
Does the name Mcgarr or Shoemate mean anything to you guys on this blog
This is officially being added to my travel destinations list.
Recently stumbled on info about Chaumette winery. Am just interested in my family history and don’t have much info outside my own relatives.
Hello! I’m in Virginia and my cousin owns the place where he lived –it’s been in my couin’s family for about 200 years–and in mine. I am also a Shumate descendent, through Mary Elizabeth Shumate, daughter of George Nelson Shumate. I’m a Fauquier County native and have been finding out quite a bit about him locally. This is a wonderful article. I did not know about his military service and would love to know more. If you’d be kind enough to send an email, I would be so grateful.
I came across this blog while researching my 10th great grandfather, Jean! My line is through the Samuels, with the spelling changed to Shewmake. From South Carolina, Samuel moved to Tennessee and then the next Samuel to Illinois. His son John was my 2x gr grandfather. His son James (gr grandfather) moved to Kansas. I am amazed at the family history!
Awesome write-up! Jean De La Chaumette is my 9th Great-Grandfather. Since I’m in St. Louis, I will make it a point to stop in for dinner the next time I am down your way. Looks like a great place!
My family descends from Daniel de la Chaumette, Jean’s son. We settled in NE Missouri from Fauquier County, VA with a short stop in Ohio. From there, my line of the family went to Saline County, MO. As I’m writing a history of my line of the Shumates (the spelling our line adopted), I’d love to make contact with other cousins.
Kind Regards, Robert Risner
Shoemake, hello from Mississippi, would love to come for a tasting.
Shoemake from Mississippi, would love to come for a tasting.
Have been on a hunt for the Shumate/Chaumette family I have done a lot of work into their journey. I am a descendant of Missouri Shumate and have been trying to find my gggrandfather’s parents. Know I am in the Chaumette/Shumate line. Jane Lewis
Hi, I am a Lashmit too! Pierre de la Chaumette is my 6th great grandfather, and I think he was Jean’s brother. He was born in approx. 1664 in Rochechouart as well. Another Jean de la Chaumette born in 1590 was his grandfather (my 8th great grandfather). My info is that Pierre and two brothers fled France and came to Quebec. Pierre went on to NJ, Virginia then NC where I am. In the US immigration records, de la Chaumette was recorded as Delashutt when he entered, which I guess they just wrote down what they heard him to say. I assume he spoke little to no English and the officials spoke no French. Two generations later, it is spelled Lashmit for the first time. I was just Googling to try to find any of my connections to Quebec and here you are! I will have to come tour and buy some wine.
I am a descendant of Jean as well following the the change to Shoemake into Davis.
Hi – I’m a descendant of Jean De La Chaumette through his son John Shumate Jr. who married Judith Bailey. We will definitely be checking out Chaumette Vineyards & Winery the next time we are done your way. Love the mural!
Hello, My last name is Shumate. Corie D Shumate is my full name. My fathers name is Wavie Gene Shumate. My grandfathers name was Carl D Shumate. And that is about all I know. How did the Shumate’s spread through the United States? What is the genealogy before Jean Chaumette? I got questions. corieds@hawaii.edu
Corie
Hi, I’m Sarah Shewmake. I just recently found out about my ancestor Jean De La Chaumette. Ive been told that after the name was changed to Shumate it was then changed to Shoemake, then after that it was changed by my great grandfathers father to Shewmake.
I would love to learn more about the Chaumette family!
I am also a descendant of Jean Baptiste de la Chaumette! We are related through his son Samuel. I am also in SC like one other commenter said. Would love to see the winery someday!
My name is Max Ray Shumack—The spelling of our name has been altered over the years , but my research shows me that we did indeed begin with Jean De La Chamette from Poitou, France—My grandfather , Jesse Allen Shumack was the son of Moses Floyd Shumock—–Papa changed the spelling of his name to Shumack —He was the only one of his brothers and sisters who did this—My grandfather’s grandfather first showed up in Evergreen , Alabama in 1860—His name spelling was also Jesse Allen —He was alone in Evergreen and walked to a place called Rabbit Creek near Grove Hill—I have, after many years, been able to trace him to “Moses Shoemake Jr from Carolina to Moses Shumate Sr.(Note differences in spelling) and on to Samuel Shumake to Jean De La Chaumatte—Any comments and or information will be greatly appreciated—–shumackmax@aol.com—904 614 7515 or Max Shumack 79 Baybridge Drive Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
Would love to know more about the descendants of Jean de la Chaumette. My great grandmother, Mary Alice Lockey Shumaker was a direct descendant, and I would like to know more about the members of that line from Jean de la Chaumette to Mary Alice, better known as Lockey. She was born in Overton County Tennessee October 1853.
Hello my name is Hunter Shumate. I began researching my surname’s background and came across the Chaumette history as a result. I don’t know exactly where I would fit in this family timeline at but it surely is very interesting! Maybe someday I will visit the winery and learn more
You know I find all of this fascinating… 🙂
I am from the Jean De La Chaumette line—–My grandfather–Jesse Allen Shumack—told stories about his grandfather with the same name who showed up in Evergreen Alabama around 1865-He had the first name of my grandfather(Jesse Allen)–He was the son of Moses Shumake Jr who was the son of Moses Shumake Sr who was the son of Samuel Shumatte who was the son of Jean de la Chamatte—-My name “Shumack” originated from the name Chaumette and then to Shumake etc—Census records show that Jesse left home to join the confederate army , but I have found no record of that—When he got to Grove Hill, Alabama he married —had one son–named him Moses F Shumock(again spelling change) after his father Moses Shumake Jr—Although the name has changed my line goes directly back to Jean De La Chaumette and Samuel Shumate—-My grandfather lived to age 100 plus 9 months and growing up I remember him telling about how his grandfather showed up in Evergreen , Alabama and walked to Grove Hill , Alabama(about 60 miles) married Martha Floyd —had one son and obviously named him after his father–Moses Shumate Jr—Finding this information about my ancestry completes almost a lifetime of research for me–Max Shumack(Chaumette–Shumate—Shumock etc.)
My name is Max Shumack(Shoemake etc) Growing up in South Alabama I heard my grandfather –Jesse Allen Shumack tell about how his grandfather showed up in Evergreen, Alabama traveling with a group of people who would travel along and pick cotton around 1865—According to my grandfather his grandfather’s name was also Jesse Allen Shumack(Shoemake) —Census data from South Carolina shows him to be the son of Moses Shumake Jr who was son of Moses Shumake Sr who was the son of Samuel Shumake who was the son of Jean De La Chamatte—I am 82 years old and I have spent many years researching where my Shumack family came from—Now I know that we came from France—-Max Shumack
My name is Max Shumack—Spelling is different , but I came from the line of Jean De La Chaumette as follows—-Jean De La Chaumette—Samuel Shumake—Moses Shumake Sr—Moses Shumake Jr—Jesse Allen Shumake(same name as my grandfather)—Moses Floyd Shumack—Jesse Allen Shumack(My grandfather)—-Colonial Scott Shumack(My father)—Max R Shumack(me)—For many years I searched for my ancestors and I am so pleased to finally complete the line to France–
Great to know where we came from
Hello! I’m also a descendant of Jean De La Chaumette through John Shumate born in Londan Aug. 1707, married to Judith Bailey. Their son was James Shumate and his daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Champ. Their son James Champ had a son william Champ, then his son was James Marshall Champ who was the mother of my grandmother Catherine Elizabeth Champ.
Hi. My name is Hunter Shoemake and I am 23 years old. I am a direct descendant of Jean De La Chaumette. Is there anyway I can speak to hank to get more information? I would love to know more so i can share this with my grandparents.Aslo I would love to come and visit the winery.
Best, Hunter.
I too am a direct descendent of Jean de la Chaumette. My grandmother was Ruby Shoemake. My mom was born in St. Louis and we have many relatives in that area. I would also like to discuss the ancestral details as I am researching my own family tree at this time. Haven’t been to St. Louis in some time, as I live in SE Tennessee, but the next time I’m there I will definitely be making the trip to visit the winery!
Great story. I am also a descendant of of Jean de la Chaumette. His son Samuel, who was born in the West Indies, had a son named Samuel. The younger Samuel was thought to have married a Melungeon woman, but recent DNA evidence shows she was most likely of African decent. This Samuel’s name by that time was Shumake, or Shoemake. He had several children, among them Dicey Shumake, a mulatto who married William Chavis, and was my 6th great grandmother. I would love to see any information you have on this family.
Thank you for this new information.
I think there is a statue of Jean de la Chaumette at Jamestown Va.
I am a direct descendent as well. He was my 6th greatgrandfather. My Mother’s side. I just today found out this local connection and I am thrilled. I am planning to visit. Can you email me the link to your information. Thank you
Seems like a lot of family hunting leads us here. Anne Shumate would have been a great+grandmother her father would have been Daniel Jean’s son. Happy to see yall enjoying the history. Hopefully can visit sometime.
Just found out that Jean de la Chaumette was my 9th Great Grandfather. So cool to see history so far as France come so close as Ste. Genevieve! We will have to give you all a visit!
Hester Ann Shumate is my great great great grandmother.
Hello,
I have been researching my paternal family history and have found that one of side of my family is somehow related to the DeLaChaumette family through a previously unknown connection. I would love to learn more of the DeLaChaumettes and their time in Martinique and any other places in the West Indies. Have a great day!
Daniel