 Early the following year , Benjamin married Natalie , who was Catholic and from a wealthy French Creole family . As part of her dowry , she brought with her $ 3 @,@ 000 and two female slaves , aged 11 and 16 ( together worth about $ 1 @,@ 000 ) . Even before the marriage , Natalie St. Martin had scandalized New Orleans society by her conduct , and William De Ville , in his journal article on the Benjamin marriage contract , suggests that the " St. Martin family was not terribly distraught to be rid of their young daughter " and that " Benjamin was virtually suborned to marry [ Natalie ] , and did so without hesitation in order to further his ambitions " . 
