Jean-Francois's mother owned sizable sugar cane plantations and came from an old naval family named Duquesne; her direct ancestry included captain-armator Abraham Duquesne (1570–1635) and admiral Abraham Duquesne-Guitton (1651–1724). Issu d'une vieille famille de marins, le marquis comptait parmi ses ancêtres le capitaine et armateur Abraham Duquesne (1570-1635) et l'amiral Abraham Duquesne-Guitton (1651-1724).
