English/French translation by Frederic K. Baldwin and Russell Jacquet-Acea

Some very interesting notes can be taken from this 1867 marriage document. Edouard (Edward) and Onezime were sons of Jean Baptiste Jacquet but were not listed in the “claim to recognize legitimate” along with the seven above. This could mean that although they were sons of Jean Baptiste Jacquet, Celeste was not their mother. This is probably unlikely since the previous slave inventory records show that Celeste was with “Four children”, one of which was Edouard, and also that the marriage record of Edouard does list Celeste as his mother. Birth and Marriage records do however show that Jean Baptiste Jacquet had three perhaps four other children in which the mother was different - Casimir (Marthe Celaisse but this could be the same as Marie Celeste Augustine), Oscar (Victorine Onesime Narcisse), and quite possibly Albert (Victorine Narcisse), and his brother Jules (Victorine Narcisse). None of these children were at the wedding or mentioned. One likely scenario here was that the only ones present at the wedding, as real witnesses were Edouard, Onezime and Felix. The other seven children mentioned: Belizaire, Jolivet, Pierre, Angele, Zoe, Josephine and Rose; were not present at the wedding and thus their father and mother Jean Baptiste and Celeste had to give account of their children and legally recognize them in the document. We know that the records show that Celeste had a son named “Charles”, but why is he not mentioned? He fought in the Civil War and may have died in it. And who is this “Felix” that signed this marriage document as witnesses with the other brothers Edouard and Onezime? Could this be the son Hyppolite Jacquet? Or perhaps this is another name for Charles?

Another puzzling item on the document is the ages given for the children. For example, on the slave inventory of Jean Berard’s wife Marguerite Decoux’s estate, we read “Jolivet was eleven years of age.” Since exactly 18 years had passed between this episode and the marriage of Jolivet’s father and mother, he should be listed as 29 years of age, but instead is listed as “24”! Zoe was five at the time of the 1849 inventory and should be 23 years old at the time of the marriage but is listed as only 21 years of age. Could it be possible that the parents could not remember their own children’s age? Probably yes, since they had been split up for several years and probably not had contact with each other. Also, judging by the fact that Celeste and Jean Baptiste were illiterate, and did not know how to sign their names, it is very possible that they did not fully understand the passage of time in terms of years and reading a calendar. Another possibility is that someone else wrote down their “estimated” ages without consulting the parents. Estimating ages in those days must have been a common occurrence that unfortunately resulted in many errors. For example, Celeste herself is listed as “55” years old on the 1870 census, but ten years later on the 1880 census, she is now “60” years old. Her son Belizaire, who was living with her at the time of the 1870 census, is listed as being “30” years old, but ten years later on the 1880 census he is now “48” years old!

The break-up of the Jacquet family in 1851 during the sale and distribution of the former slaves of the Berard family saw Jean Baptiste Jacquet go one way, and what would then be considered his “common law wife” Celeste go another. If we are to take the marriage certificate ages as being correct, and in some cases we have nothing else to go on, then it would appear that Jean Baptiste and his future wife Celeste had a few occasions to “get together” just after the time of the break-up of his family. For both Marie Josephine and Marie Rose would have been born between one to three years after the sale of Celeste Augustin to Mr. Maurice Olivier. Or it could be that these were the last two to be born due to the fact that Jean Baptiste and Celeste found it impossible to reunite again? How many more children they might have had if they had not been split up would be a good guess.

It was the 26^th of January in the year 1870, that Jean Baptiste Jacquet would make his untimely death. At only 62 years of age, freed from slavery, recently married and ready to retire on his newly acquired property purchase, Jean Baptiste Jacquet was certainly not ready to die yet. Nevertheless, his son Belizaire Jacquet would have to petition for the lawful inventory and appraisal of his father’s property. Thus on the 22^nd day of April 1870, a public inventory was made to decide what belonged to the community of Jacquets and his surviving wife. The St. Martin Parish court appointed both Francois Scheuer and Desire Lessard to appraise the estate. (*27*) Jean Baptiste Jacquet had purchased a small lot of land about a one-minute walk from the Church and the Berard house where he was born and raised. The church cemetery was across the street. He had a lot of materials that showed he was raisng a few horses and living the simple life of retirement with his wife Celeste. The following is what was appraised on 5 July 1870, in regards to the small piece of property he owned:

Property belong to the community (of Jacquets)

Art. 1 “A certain lot of ground situated in the town of St. Martin’sville, parish of St. Martin, on the east side of Bayou Teche, measuring more or less, one arpent front by, more or less, one arpent in depth, bounded south by a lot of Mistress Clara Landry, east by the public road, west by lot of succession Pierre Laviolette and north by a street running from the Bayou towards the catholic grave yard and opening on the public road, by which said lot is bounded on the east, appraised at the sum of seventy five dollars.” $75. (*27*)

This date is but four weeks after the most recent government census of 1870 came to the Jacquet residence. According to the 1870 census taken on June 7^th, in what was called “The Corporation of St. Martinville”, Celeste was living on the small one arpent property with her sons Belizaire and Pierre whose occupations are laborers, and her daughters Zoe and Rose whose occupations are listed as domestic servants. Oscar Jacquet is listed as living in the next dwelling house, which probably means that they had two houses on the property. Marthe Jacquet lives with him and is a housekeeper. This is most likely Belizaire Jacquet’s wife Mathida Pillet as her age is given as 36 years old.

Jean Baptiste Jacquet lived but a short 62 years. Nevertheless, his legacy of the black Jacquets lives on for eternity. The fathering of at least thirteen children along with the resulting estimated offspring of nearly 80 grandchildren and more than two hundred great-grandchildren, assured that his legacy would live on far into the future. The story of Jean Baptiste Jacquet is a typical story of a black man growing up in the United States of America at this time period of our history. Born into slavery from a black mother and white father, toiling day after day for his master, fathering children and raising a family only to see them be broken apart from him, and finally being freed from slavery. It is a story of happiness mixed in with mishaps and hardships but a typical story of the Black American heritage. We shall now take a look at the children of Jean Baptiste Jacquet, the black Jacquet families and their “extended families” that followed after him and the children they brought forth in the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries.

The Children of

Jean Baptiste Jacquet

Jean Baptiste Jacquet was born on 25 June 1808 in St. Martinville. He was baptized on 30 March 1809 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church. His father was François Hyacinthe Jacquet, a French seaman who appears to have served in the French Marines and may have been from Verdun, France. Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s mother Rosine was a slave under the ownership of Jean Baptiste Berard. Rosine was born ca. 1790 and was the daughter of Ambroise and Angelique. Jean Baptiste Jacquet bore twelve children with Marie Celeste Augustin whom he married on 20 July 1867 in St. Martinville. He also bore at least one and quite possibly three children with Victorine Onesime Narcisse. Jean Baptiste died on 26 January 1870. As of the most recent research, Jean Baptiste had 77 grandchildren and 195 “Documented” Great-grand children!

Children of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Celeste Augustin:

1. Cazimir Jacquet born ca. 1826. A marriage document says his mother was “Marthe Selaisse”, but the name “Selaisse” is the same name as “Celeste” so this is probably the same mother as the rest of the children. Cazimir married Martha Provost Blondin on 1 August 1869 in St. Martinville. He fathered one child with her. He died on 24 April 1891.

2. Belizaire Jacquet born ca. 1831. He married Mathilda Baptiste Pillet on 28 November 1869. He fathered six children with her. Belizaire died on 26 August 1907.

3. Onezime Jacquet born ca. 1832. He married Philogene Arcene Allen ca. 1863 when their slavemaster gave them their marriage blessing. This caused a controvery in court years after his death when his one daughter Virginia had to prove her descendancy from Onezime.

4. Angela Jacquet was born ca. 1834. She married Jean Pierre Manneaux on 15 October 1874. She bore at least one daughter with him. Angela died ca. 1887.

5. Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet born ca. 1836. He fathered two sons with Maristeen Bourque during the Civil War. He may have fathered two more sons with Victorine Angelique Onesime Narcisse right after the Civil War but they may have been sired by his father who went by the same name. Jolivet Jacquet married Rosa Jean Louis, the daughter of Roseline Antoine and Jean Louis, on 15 March 1867 in St. Martinville. He fathered 14 children with her. Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet died on 21 May 1899.

6. Charles Jacquet was born ca. 1840. Charles served in the US colored Infantry during the Civil War. It is believed he died during the war because no records of him can be found after that time.

7. Edouard Jacquet was born ca. 1842. He married Estelle Ambroise but no record of their marriage has been found. He fathered seven children with her. He died on 23 March 1916.

8. Marie Zoée Jacquet born ca. 1845. She married Prosper Berard on 11 October 1871. She bore 11 children with him.

9. Pierre Jacquet born in June 1848. He married Aimee Gaspard on 26 May 1875. He fathered seven children with her. Pierre died on 14 June 1942.

10. Marie Josephine Jacquet born ca. 1851. She married Raphael Kerlegand Jr. on 11 Feb 1879. She bore at least four children with Raphael before she died sometime before the year 1887. Raphael had re-married by February 1887 to Alphonsine Collins.

11. Oscar Jacquet born October 1850. His mother was Victorine Narcisse and he is with her during the February 1851 inventory of her slave master. Oscar married Louise Etie on 7 February 1872. He fathered seven children with her. Oscar died on 13 December 1940.

12. Marie Rose Jacquet born ca. 1853. She bore one son with Gilbert Urbain Wilson and three children with Joseph Farin Malveaux. Rose died ca. 1932.

13. Hyppolite Jacquet born ca. 1854. He fathered a son with Lucie Pellerin. He married Angelique Rosemond on 30 June 1900. Hyppolite and Angelique had already had eight children together before they married. He died on 8 July 1903.

14. Albert Jacquet born ca 1864. Albert’s mother was Victorine Angelique Onezime Narcisse. Since Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s son Jolivet also went by the same name it is not totally clear which one is the father of both Albert and Jules. Most of the evidence points to the elder, however, his younger son fathering 2 children between his two relationships with Maristeen Bourque (1861-1864) and his wife Rosa Jean Louis (1866 – 1899) seems more logical than the older father at age 57 and 15 years after he fathered Oscar with her. Albert married twice – the first time to Arcene Lasseigne on 9 December 1890. When she died and his brother Jules died, he married for a second time to Arcene’s sister Odile Lasseigne on 16 March 1918. Albert died 25 September 1919.

15. Jules Jacquet born ca. 1866. His mother was Victorine Narcisse. Jules married Odile Lasseigne on 16 Dec 1884. Her sister Arcene married Jules’ brother Albert. Jules died at an early age on 16 Mar 1888. It appears no children were born.

Jean Baptiste Jacquet Scroll

Part 2

Chapter on

(François?) Hyacinthe Jacquet

Hyacinthe Jacquet can be said to be the Grandfather of the Black Jacquets in America. In brief, he came over to the Louisiana territory from France with the French military or while he was still in the service of the French military during the latter part of the 18^th century. He briefly lived in Attakapas Parish which later would be re-named St. Martin parish. Although he would die at a fairly young age, Hyacinthe Jacquet lived long enough to father a mulatto son who became Jean Baptiste Jacquet.

As of the writing of this book, not much is known about the family of Hyacinthe Jacquet. What is known is that he was a very close friend of the Berard family, particularly Jean Baptiste Berard (père b.1734). Hyacinthe was an officer of the French military, more specifically, the French Navy, and was living in the St. Martinville area at least as early as July of 1806, for in a record of the sale of the estate of Michel Doucet on July 25, 1806, Hyacinthe Jacquet is listed as one of the people that Michel Doucet owed debts to. (*25*)

How François Hyacinthe became the father of Jean Baptiste Jacquet can only be proved through circumstantial evidence since there are no birth documents that can be found to indicate the father as being Hyacinthe. Nevertheless, the evidence is clear based on four main points. To begin with, we know that Jean Baptiste’s father was a Jacquet because his last name became “Jacquet”. When slavery ended, ex-slaves had to choose a surname and Jean Baptiste’s surname became Jacquet. No Jacquet had been in the St. Martin Parish area since François Hyacinthe Jacquet died in 1810. It is with certainty that Jean Baptiste always knew who his father was while growing up. On his marriage license of 1867, Jean Baptiste is named as the “oldest son of the deceased Jacquet” (*1*). Jean Baptiste Jacquet was of mixed race, his father white, his mother black, for on the slave inventory of August 6, 1849 upon the death of Rosemond Berard’s mother Mrs. Jean Baptiste Berard (Marguerite Decoux), Jean Baptiste is listed as “Mulatre de 43 ans.” (Mulatto of 43 years of age.) (*2*) Hyacinthe Jacquet is definitely listed as those in the category of “free white males” on the 1810 census of the Attakapas Parish (later St. Martin Parish). Although it is known that there was at least one family of “Jaquets” living in New Orleans, census records of the time show that there were no other Jacquets in the Louisiana area at the time, specifically in Attakapas Parish. Hyacinthe was the only Jacquet listed as residing in the entire Attakapas Parish which at that time, before the carving up of Attakapas parish, comprised the areas of what is now present-day St. Mary, St. Martin, Lafayette, Vermilion, and part of Iberia parishes, which had a parish total of 3,269 inhabitants. 934 free white males, 653 free white females, 150 free persons except Indians, and 1,532 slaves in 1810. (*3*) The spelling of the name “Jacquet” does not come up in the census records in the entire state of Louisiana until the 1830’s when four Jacquets in New Orleans parish appear on the records! However, we do know that there were several people going by the name “Jaquet” who lived in New Orleans during the turn of the century and there may be a connection. According to the 1810 census, which must have been completed in Hyacinthe’s area just before he died, Hyacinthe lived on the property that was the plantation of the Berard family and was listed as “head of household”.

The original Berard house built by Jean Baptiste Berard, Sr. was built right next to the Evangeline Oak tree and across the road from the St. Martinville Church. The house burned down and according to his great-great grand-daughter Carol Asher, Jean Berard Sr., “Got out of the burning house with the clothes on his back!” Berard had the house rebuilt and it was eventually donated to the St. Martin church by him and became “Mercy High School” run by the nuns of the church. It next became a bed and breakfast place and still remains so as of the year 2004. When F. Hyacinthe Jacquet died on October 1, 1810, he apparently died while at the house of Jean Baptiste Berard, as is stated in his succession record of 6 Jan. 1811, “...The deceased taken at the house of Jean Berard in the same parish...” (*4*), as well as his death certificate from the church which said “…décidé la veille par l’habitation de Mr. Berard Pere pres de l’eglise...” which translates to English that “...he died the night before in the house of Mr. Berard Sr. near the church...”(*8*). Clearly we can see the close connection between Hyacinthe Jacquet and the Berard family. Jean Baptiste Berard (b.1737) was the owner of 39 slaves at the time of the census and his son Jean Baptiste Berard (b. 1773) owned 17 slaves. Amongst the more or less figure of 39 slaves that Jean Berard owned, one was named ROSINE who would become an important name in the history of the Black Jacquets in Louisiana, for it was her who was to become the mother of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and the grandmother of the sons and daughters of Jean Baptiste Jacquet.

It must have been somewhere between three to five years before the death of Hyacinthe that he met one of the beautiful slave girls of Jean Berard and was able to romance her. How long it lasted is not known. Was it love? Lust? Rape? That part will never be known, nor is it clear if Jean Baptiste was the only child fathered by Hyacinthe. Nevertheless, the 16 or 17-year-old Rosine became pregnant with what appears to be her first child and gave birth in 1808. Rosine’s slave master at the time was the elder Berard – Jean Baptiste Berard (b.1737), but she was also very familiar with his oldest son Jean Baptiste Berard (b.1773), and with the elder Berard’s grandson Jean Baptiste Berard (b.1795). Rosine herself, having been born in 1790, had grown up knowing three generations of Jean Baptiste’s living concurrently and side by side with her. Was it any wonder when her first son was born that she would name him “Jean Baptiste”?

According to the 1810 census of Attakapas parish, Hyacinthe’s age is checked off in the box marked “26 – 44 years old”, a very unreliable method of finding out someone’s exact age. However, the death certificate from St. Martin de Tours church indicates that he was 54 years of age at the time of his death. Hyacinthe’s date of death is listed as October 1, 1810. He was buried from St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, La. And according to the certificate was: “Officier de la Marine au service y de la Republic Françoise.” (Officer of the Navy in the service and of the French Republic.) (*8*) While the date of his birth as of this date is unclear, we can place him being born somewhere between 1754 and 1764, with the death certificate being the most reliable of the two sources.

Searching the National archives of France shows us that there were two men with the last name “Jacquet” who enlisted in the French Marines in the 1700’s. Among the two Jacquets found on the lists of the Archives Nationales who were enlisted in the Marines in the 1700s, were Pierre Jacquet, who was an ordinary seaman in 1787, and Charles Jacquet, who was a boatswain on the river Loire in 1782. Their files can be studied at the Archives Nationales in the Bibliothèque National in Paris. Could one of these men be Hyacinthe? Based on tradition in Louisiana, I strongly believe that Hyacinthe was his “worldly” name and his “Christian” name was not used. So we are probably looking for our Jacquet ancestor with the name ___?___ Hyacinthe Jacquet. Upon the visit to the Paris Archives at the Bibliothèque National, the document entitled “Dossier de Pierre Jacquet (Matelot 1787)” actually turns out to be a series of three correspondences regarding a person named François Jacquet from the city of “Verdun” in France. No mention of a “Pierre Jacquet” is made within any of the three documents and what is the reason for this mix-up is just another mystery. The main story behind the three documents sent to and from Rochefort, France between April 4^th, April 25^th and August 28^th of the year 1787, is that “...François Jacquet natif de Verdun a embarque sur Le Vaisseau du Roy Le Tonnant...” with the English translation being: “François Jacquet, native of Verdun has boarded the King’s vessel “The Tonnant”. However, the documents report that François has not come aboard and is missing or dead. Just where did he disappear to??? With the first of the three documents dated 4 April 1787, a letter is addressed to the representatives of Mr Dela Grandville of the French Navy to “make verification of the condition of François Jacquet.”

4 Avril 1787

“Il a été adressé des representations à M.(Monsieur) Le M^al de Castrier, à l’effect de savoir ce que pouvait être devenu Le nommé François Jacquet, natif de Verdun, qu’un expose avoir été embarqué pendant la guerre dernieresur le Vaisseau du Roy, le Tonnant. Ce Batiment ayant Désarmé a Rochefort, M. Dela Grandville est prié de faire constater le sort du dit Jacquet, et s’il y a lieu d’adresser au Ministre son extrait mortuaire ou autres pieces equivalente.”

Vrai copie signé de la Grandville (*173*)

(French translations by R. Jacquet-Acea and Edwin Hébert)

With the translation to English sounding something like the following:

4 April 1787

“The representations to Mr. Le Maréchal de Castrier have been addressed for the purpose of knowing what might have become of the named François Jacquet, native of the city of Verdun, who is stated to have been embarked during the last war on the King’s vessel, Le Tonnant. That ship having been disarmed at Rochefort, Mr. Dela Grandville is invited to make verification of the condition of the said Mr. Jacquet and if there is cause, to appeal to the ministry his death certificate or other equivalent papers.”

True copy signed by de la Grandville

With the second document entitled “Réponse du Bureau Des Armement”, the documet talks about a search for François Jacquet on the ship Le Tonnant, but he could be found. It has been three weeks since Mr. Grandville’s inquiry and the Bureau of armed forces writes the following directed at Mr. Grandville:

“Le Bureau des Armement a infructueusement fait la plus scrupuleuse recherché sur les roles d’equipage et de rations du vaisseau, Le Tonnant, pour avoir trouvé que le nommé François Jacquet y ait été employé et le seule noms qu’il ait rencontré les plus aprochant à celui de ce marin sont ceux de Jean F^oisGasquet de Toulon aid cannonier à 27 qui a fait tout la campagne de ce batiment, et celui de Joseph Gasquet de Creste, timonier, à 20 qui est entré à l’hopital du Cap Leig avril 1779, où il est mort le 6 mai de la même année.”

Rochefort le 25 Avril 1787.

With this second letter, it sounds like the François Jacquet in question could not be found but that there may be a mixup between him and two other men named Jean François Gasquet and Joseph Gasquet. The translation into English sounding something like:

“The Bureau of Armament has unfruitfully made the most scrupulous search of the registers of the crew and rations of the ship le Tonnant, in order to have found if the one named François Jaquet had been employed there, and the only names that have been found the closest to his of this sailor are those of Jean François Gasquet of Toulon a gunner’s aide age 27 who has made all of the campaigns of that ship, and the one of Joseph Gasquet of Creste, helmsman age 20 who entered the hospital of Cap Leig April 1779, where he died the 6^th of May of the same year.”

Was he really on the ship? Is someone covering for him? The Bureau of arms uses the name “Jaquet” and perhaps this mis-spelling is the name they were looking for instead of the proper spelling of “Jacquet”. The matter has not come to a conclusion by August of that year as a third document appears to be a letter verifying that François Jacquet did embark on Le Tonnant vessel during the last war but that something in the letters “could be susceptible”:

Rochefort Le 28 Août 1787.

Diréction Gale Taner No. flumin 3 May

M. Dela Grandville Monseigneur

“J’ai l’honneur de vous renvoyer la copie d’une note qui m’a été addressé de vos bureaux le 14 decembre au sujet du M. François Jacquet natif de Verdun embarqué pendant la guerre derniere sur le vaisseau, le Tonnant, et sur lequel on demande des renseignement. Cette note est emargée des réponses don’t elle peut être susceptible.”

Je suis avec respect

Monseigneur

Votre très humble et très obeisant serviteur de la Grandville.

Somehow it seems as if this third letter should have or could have been the first letter. If the date is correct, and this letter was written after the first two we now have verification that François Jacquet was indeed on the ship Le Tonnant but the answers to his whereabouts seem to have become “classified.” The translation into English would sound like:

I have the honor of sending you a copy of a note that has been directed to your offices on the 14^th of December on the subject of Mr. François Jacquet, native of Verdun, embarked during the last war on the ship Le Tonnant, and of whom is requested some information. This note is marked with some answers that might make it sensitive.”

I am with respect

My Lord

Your humble and obedient servant

De la Grandville.

How did he all of a sudden “re-appear” on the Tonnant when he could not be found four months earlier? Was François a late addition? The last line talks about giving answers that might make it sensitive. We are not priviledged to see what was said as no other documents were in his file. What exactly was so sensitive that could not be read by anyone? Did he “jump ship” and go AWOL?

LEFT: “Le Tonnant” Classified as a Privateer Corvette Marine Ship flying the French flag. It was armed with 80 canons with over 800 Marines aboard. François Hyacinthe Jacquet probably served on it.

RIGHT: The Berard House. The original house built by Jean Baptiste Berard near the church. François Hyacinthe Jacquet lived here when he died. The house burnt down and was rebuilt and later donated to the St. Martin Church and became Mercy High School. As of the turn of century Y2K, it was a bed & breakfast lodge. Distance from Evangeline Oak Tree – 50 feet. Distance from Bayou Teche – 100 feet. Distance from St. Martin de Tours Church – 100 feet.

Just what did happen to François Jacquet at this time? 1787 was a very tumultuous time for the French. They had just helped the Americans in the U.S. war of Independence. The French army and navy performed creditably during that conflict, and the prestige of France in Europe was greater in 1783 than it had been for 40 years. But the war was not an expedient one and the French problem was not military but financial. It was in February of 1787 when French leaders summoned to Versailles the Assembly of Notables, which represented the privileged orders – great nobles, bishops, parliamentarians in the hope of transforming France back to order, but the notables refused and in August 1787, the Paris Parliament was exiled to Troyes, then recalled, dismissed and recalled once again in September of 1788 to help stop a breakdown in law and order in France. A constant struggle between the French Crown and aristocratic groups grew stronger. The stage was set for the coming French Revolution of 1789. What began in 1787-1788 as a conflict between royal authority and traditional aristocratic groups had become a triangular struggle, with “the people” opposing both absolute rulership and privilege. Heads began to roll and by 1793 King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette would be sent to the guillotine and lose their heads. If François Jacquet wanted to escape all of the turmoil in France, getting aboard a ship and sailing west to the “New World” would not have been a difficult task for him. He was an experienced navigator and was familiar with sea charts.

We look at the life of another contemporary French figure named Jean François Jacquet born on 9 Nov 1756 in Montigny, a city about 120km (75mi) directly south of Verdun. His parents were Jean-Baptiste Jacquet, a shoemaker (cordonnier), and Marie Ambroise. He became a priest and entered the priesthood at the city of Reims in 1781. He was the Vicar at Montblainville starting in 1784 and faithfully served until 1793 when he was stopped and transported out (“s’est soustrait à la deportation…” ) for using the most criminal of laborers to corrupt the public spirit (“…emploie les manoeuvres les plus criminelles pour corrompre l’espirit public.”) He took refuge at the Le Château of Imécourt before leaving the religious order there (*252*). But did he stay? Could we include this particular Jean François Jacquet in our search for the father of our French-Creole Jean Baptiste Jacquet? Hyacinthe Jacquet worked for the church while he was in St. Martinville so it would not have been impossible for him to be in the religious orders while in Louisiana if that was his true profession. It is difficult to believe that he was both a warrior and a priest but the death document does indicate that he worked for the church and was a French Marine. So did he come over to the land that became the United States to escape something? While the birthplace in France has not been definitely determined as of this date, we do have a good estimation of where he was born. The complete information on the death certificate of Hyacinthe by the St. Martin church was written as follows:

L’an mil huit cent dix le premier octobre a été inhumé dans le cimetière de cette paroisse par moi le curé de l’église le corps de F. Hyacinthe Jacquet native de la ville de BR_ _ _ _, officier de la marine, au service de la republique française décídé la veille par l’habitation de Mr. Berard père pres de L’église, agé d’henviron cínquante quatre ans. En foi de quoi j’ai signé avec le temoin...

F. Marc Gabriel Isabey, Cure Louis Chemins

The very badly written and two century old document in French was not easy to translate. This Death Certificate of Hyacinthe Jacquet from the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville dated 1 October 1810 is not accessible to the public. The church is real strict about NOT letting the public view documents. I was given a very rare and special dispensation during the summer of 2000, from the chief archivist at the Lafayette, Louisiana Archdioses Archives which has all of the St. Martin church records on private microfilm collections which act as a backup copy in case the St. Martinville records are lost or destroyed. In a US State that often gets battered by hurricanes and floods, that is a very good idea. They did not have a copy machine for the tape reels but I was allowed to take a photo of the document with my 35mm camera.

A magnifying glass helps to give a very close examination of the document. It begins by saying:

“…on the 1^st of October 1810 was buried in the cemetery of this parish by me, the Cure (Parish Priest) of the church was the body of F. Hyacinthe Jacquet…”

One important clue as to the full name of Hyacinthe comes on the second line just before stating the name of the deceased. At first glance it appears that the statement is made out to be “...le corps de M. Hyacinthe Jacquet...” (the body of Mr. Hyacinthe...) in which Father Hebert has translated just “Hyacinthe Jacquet“ in his monumental “Records of SW Louisiana.” However, a closer examination and comparison of similar lettering on the page reveals that Father Hebert’s team has overlooked and missed a very large letter before the name Hyacinthe! The letter is not “M” but most definitely an “F” as in Francis or the French version of “François.” Other lettering in the documents written by the Reverend Paul Isabey are consistent with this letter being an “F”. The best example is the same document which has “F. Marc” signing the death document. We know from many sources that this F. Marc was a close friend of Hyacinthe and had many business dealings in St. Martinville. His full name was “François Marcot” who also went by the name François Marc and also Marc François (*9, 20*). We see this name reversal with another local named “François Raymond” who also went by the name “Raymond François.” Therefore it is clear that this was how they wrote the abbreviated name since it was so common. Since no other records outside of St. Martin parish can be found of anyone with the same name as “Hyacinthe Jacquet” the strong possibility exist that he had a not-so-often-used first name while in St. Martinville. Since the name “François” was such a common name, many recorders abbreviated it. F^cois was the most common abbreviation seen and F by itself is also seen in place of the name “François”. We can also see the same type of abbreviation for the common name of “Jean Baptiste” which was often written as “Jn Bte” and “Chas” for “Charles” during this era. Thus the name François has to be the frontrunner in the possible first name of Hyacinthe Jacquet.

One of the biggest misfortunate occurrences in Jacquet history research has to be the fact that some careless recorder spilled a bit of liquid – glue? Coffee? Ink? on the edge of the page right where the name of the city of Hyacinthe’s origin is being written... “natif de la ville de BR_ _ _” is all we are able to see according to Father Hebert‘s translations. It is the last word on line two, the second of five lines written and from the looks of when the recorder stopped writing at the end of the page, there could not be more than five or six letters in the name of the city. The first two letters are almost pretty clear that it is B and R, and the third letter looks more like an “i” rather than an “e” so that gives us a search parameter of looking for cities in 1750 France having four or five letters, maybe six starting with BRI or BRE. Where could that be??? Could it be the major city named BREST? BRIEC is also southeast of Brest. BRIEY is southwest of Luxemberg. BRIE appears to be a region of northern France between the Seine and Marne valleys southwest of Paris. The region is known for it’s rose culture, introduced about 1795 by the navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, but more famously known for the soft white cheese called Brie. We have never questioned Father Hebert’s translation of the two or maybe three letters being B and R. However, upon closer examination, we may have to realize that they may be two other letters. If the letters turn out to be V and U or V, E and R then we are no doubt dealing with the François Jacquet born in Verdun who left the French Marine and Le Tonnant sometime around the year 1787. Historical documents around the year 1790 classified the ship “Le Tonnant”, as a French Privateer Corvette. In the late 18^th century “privateers” were small fast merchant vessels carrying large areas of sail and highly armed with small caliber guns. Unlike “pirate” ships they flew their national flag. The Tonnant had 80 canons and 812 marins (marines). Its commandant was Amiel.

The next words on the death certificate written after the unknown city of origin are the words:

“…officier de la marine, au service de la republique française…”

Officier de la marine translates in the French to mean “naval officer”. Au is a contraction of “a le” meaning “to the” followed by “service of the French Republic.” It seems quite clear that F. Hyacinthe Jacquet was indeed a naval man and one that had a higher degree of responsibility. Finally we are given the statement that:

“…décidé la veille par l’habitation de M. Berard père pres de L’église…”

Translated to say that he died at the house of Mr. Berard, Senior near the church. That statement there turns out to be a major clue that this particular Jacquet was the father of the first Black Jacquet of Louisiana Jean Baptiste Jacquet, the mulatto son of the slave Rosine.

ABOVE: Death Certificate of “F. Hyacinthe Jacquet” made out by Church Father Gabriel Isabey and witnessed by Louis Chemins and François Marc. He died on 1 October 1810 in St. Martinville at the house of Jean Baptiste Berard.

BELOW: Close up of death certificate. The damage at the end of the second line cloaks the revelation of François Hyacinthe Jacquet’s French birthplace.

While he was in St. Martinville, F(rançois) Hyacinthe Jacquet had other close associates other than Jean Baptiste Berard. Some of these people he worked with and this may give us a clue as to where they came from. Hyacinthe Jacquet worked for the church as was noted on his succession record and from the marriage documents of many who were married by the church. Some St. Martin clergy say that Hyacinthe could have been a sacristan of the church, helping the church with its sacraments and daily rituals. However, current Pastor Austin Leger of the St. Martin church as of the year 2001 said the following:

“It is unlikely that he would have been an employee of the church having been a naval officier. Besides, tradionally sacristans have been women. He apparently lived close to the church which may account for his many times that he witnessed.”

Dispite what Pastor Leger says, the church owed François Hyacinthe Jacquet $49.56 for work done in the year 1808 according to his succession record when he died in the year 1810. He did perform services for the church in some way and was due payment for it, a late payment that was never received.

Living near the church with Mr. Jean Baptiste Berard (père) could have been the reason he worked for the church, or perhaps working for the church was the reason why he lived with Mr. Berard. It would have been a one-minute walk from one place to the other. Never the less, the records show that he was the witness to 130 weddings at the church from the years 1804 to 1810. In the year 1804 he witnessed two marriages that may have begun his career with the church. Both marriages took place on the same day starting with the marriage of David Hayes and Pelagie Leleu on 26 Dec 1804 at the St. Martinville church. He witnessed five marriages in the year 1805, four of them on 5 Feb 1805. In 1806, he witnessed a career high 36 marriages with the busiest day occurring on 6 May 1806, when he witnessed five marriages. In 1807, Hyacinthe witnessed 27 more marriages and in 1808, 13 more. The year 1809 saw him witness 29 marriages with the last one for him that year occurring on 12 Sept 1809. His last year working for the church was 1810. That year he witnessed 18 marriages with the last one occurring on 10 July 1810 when he was the witness to the marriage of Celeste Breaux and Constant Braud. This date is 12 weeks before his death. So just why did he stop witnessing for the church? Did he become ill? The two previous years he did not work for the church as a witness after September. Never did he witness any marriages in October. Only in the year 1807 did he work in November and only in 1810 did he work in March. These patterns may someday help to gain more information about the life of Hyacinthe by future researchers. Hyacinthe also was a witness to a sale of property between Louis Guido de Kerlegan and Jean & Celeste Launier Nipper. The document was dated 5 Jan 1810, but finalized at the St. Martin Courthouse in conveyance book 1, #116 on the date of 18 March 1811, a few months after Hyacinthe Jacquet had died.

People that Hyacinthe was associated with while he lived in the St. Martinville area were: Marc François a native of Malan (or Malon), France who was born on 18 Jan 1783 and died 19 Sep 1826 (succ.#423, Opel.ct.hse). Marc François is most likely the witness (le temoin) to the church burial of François Hyacinthe Jacquet whose named is signed “F Marc”.

Louis Chemin, a native of Paris and a 70-year-old sacristan to the church of Attakapa of Paris. Louis Chemin was also a former sacristan to the St. Martinville church. He also lived near the St. Martin Church and was one of Jean Berard and Hyacinthe Jacquet’s neighbors. He died on 8 Nov 1819 at the home of Mr. Bernier Sr. (succ. #343, sm.ct.hse.);

Nicholas Collins born on 4 August 1752 in Jersey, in Franche county, diocese of Besançon in France. Nicholas Collins died on 23 Dec 1813 (succ.#147, sm.ct.hse.);

Reverend Gabriel Isabey, (père) Cure of St. Martin de Tours Church and “Native de Malan en Franche Comte”, who was born on 16 July 1759 at Dole, France and who died on 2 July 1823 (succ. #482 sm.ct.hse).

Was there a common thread to all of these associates who originated in France and found their way to the Louisiana territory during the late 18^th century? The city of Besançon, near the Switzerland border, is but a mere 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the city of Verdun on the river Meuse. Besançon is located in the French region of Franche-Comté and that is the county where three of his closest associates appear to be from.

Upon the sudden and early death of Hyacinthe, the court appointed Nicolas Collins, a merchant, and Louis Judice, local appraiser, to be responsible for the appraisal of the estate of Hyacinthe Jacquet:

“...and there being no heirs nor representatives of the heirs of the deceased Hyacinthe Jacquet within this territory of Orleans (lower half of present day Louisiana), so far as can be now known, I do therefore appoint Nicolas Collins of the parish aforesaid curator of the aforesaid...this 26^th of January 1811.” (*4*)

Jean Baptiste Jacquet, being the “illegitimate” two and a half year old son of Hyacinthe, and the son of a slave woman, would have had no legal status in becoming the heir to his father’s property. The estate of Hyacinthe Jacquet was a small one and was as follows:

7 Sea charts appraised @ $.75 each -$5.25

1 volume of a treatise of navigation -$1.00

1 Sea chart (torn) -$ .75

9 linen shirts @$1.25 -$11.25

8 pair of overalls @$1.00 -$8.00

7 vests @ $.75 -$5.25

4 handkerchiefs @ $.25 -$1.00

A looking glass & shaving instrument

appraised together -$3.00

1 pair spectacles, 1 brush, 1 snuff box,

1 small jacket, 2 pair of suspenders,

a small trunk -$2.00

a Musketto net -$1.00

1 blanket (Capot) -$ .50

1 jacket -$ .50

1 hat -$2.00

1 trunk -$2.00

In cash, sixty-two and ½ cents. -$ .62 ½

An amount against the church stating

to be due for the year 1808, forty nine

dollars, four bits* and a half equal to -$49.56 ¼

total appraisal of Estate -$93.68 ¾

The estate was owed debts by Chauvet and Lenormand, bringing the value of the estate to $141.18. Debts were owed for funeral, legal services and other charges, and to Joseph A. Parrott and Louis Chemin. The remainder, amounting to $91.11 was to be divided between creditors. The items were sold at the public auction of May 19, 1811. Included were some items not on the original appraisal list. Most of the items were sold for more or less than were originally appraised. A sample is as follows:

1 watch to Rosemond Leblanc -$8.00

10 old vests and jackets to

Pelletier Delahoussaye -$1.50

1 looking glass & shaving instrument

to Theophile Broussard -$ .75

1 pair of spectacles, 1 brush, 1 comb

to Marie Declouet -$1.00

1 Musketto net to Marie Declouet -$2.12 ½

8 sea charts & treatise on navigation

to Louis Gary -$3.00

Eight dollars and five bits* from

Maurice Abat security -$8.62 ½

*(one bit = 12 ½ cents)

The total monetary figure from items sold was $41.68 ¾. Interestingly, no mention of a small piece of property Hyacinthe had purchased very recently was made. At a public sale of the assets of the company of Garrigou (he died 9 June 1810) and Abat, Hyacinthe purchased at this public sale, a small piece of property (lot #75) for $17.00 sometime during the latter part of August and the early part of September of 1810 when the public sale was opened. (*9*) Perhaps his sudden and untimely death prevented the transaction from being completed.

Whenever Hyacinthe came to Louisiana for the first time is still unknown. Did he come over to escape the turmoil of the French revolution? Did he come as an active French military marine man? Did he want to escape religious persecution? He obviously was a sea going man due to the list of sea navigation charts he held in his possession at the time of his death. The death document does say “in the service of...” and does speak of his service in the French Marines in the present tense. The French certainly were active on the high seas during the 1700’s. During the time of the American Revolution, the French succeeded in holding and even reversing the advance of England. A contemplated invasion of England did not take place, but for a brief period, the French navy had control of the high seas. More credit should have been given to Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse (1722 – 1788), the real victor of the battle of Yorktown, Pa (1781), where the British were defeated, rather than to General George Washington. It was de Grasse’s fleet that had entered the fight in Chesapeake Bay to help out the early American Colonist and change the tide of the war.

The First Jacquets in New Orleans

If François Jacquet wanted to escape all of the turmoil in France, getting aboard a ship and sailing west to the “New World” would not have been a difficult task for him having already been associated with the marines at sea and life aboard a ship. So when did he come over to the land which became the United States? When we look to Louisiana at the end of the 18^th century for Jacquets, they are almost non-existent except for a few references in New Orleans. Francisco Jaquet a “native” to the city of New Orleans, married on 25 October 1796, Dona Francisca Carrel. Francisco was the son of Santiago Jaquet and Maria Sabois (or Savoie or Savoy). Francisca was also a native of New Orleans and the daughter of Don Carlos Carrel and Dona Petrona Dubal (*171*). Since the Spanish now ruled the territory of Louisiana and New Orleans, records were kept in Spanish with French names being translated into Spanish. In the marriage records we see examples such as “Don Juan Bautista Felix Epervie, a native of Leon in France...” and “Francisco Renee Benoit, a native of Nantes, France, son of Juan Carlos Benoit...” Even though these people originated from France and obviously had French names, they were translated into their Spanish equivalences. The French Charles became Carlos. The French François became the Spanish Francisco. The French Jacques (English James) became the Spanish Santiago and the French Jean Baptiste (English John (the) Baptist) became Juan Bautista.

A year and a half after his own marriage, Francisco Jacquet witnessed a marriage between Agustin Silve and Felicitas Stoupe on 31 May 1798 at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans (*171*), and again Francisco Jaquet witnessed the marriage between Francisco Dionisio Picault, a native of Thouars, France and Jazinta Clarisen, of New Orleans on 10 May 1804 (*171*). At the St. Martin Courthouse (act #22-227), we find a Jacquet who purchased items at an auction on 10 April 1805: “…item cinq chausses, trios paires ?unlottes et six ?nouchoirs adjugeé au S^d. Jacquet…”. In the land records of Attakapas and St. Martin Parish, we find a Procuration of land on 22 August 1806, when Adelaide Navarro, resident of Attakapas and wife of Louis Desmaret who has been absent for seven years, gave François Jaquet, resident of New Orleans, her power of attorney to sell a lot and house on Burgundy Street (*9*, 172). Is this the same person? Is this in fact “the missing François Jacquet of Le Tonnent“? Or is this the grandson of the one named Jean François Jacquet, probably the earliest Jacquet to arrive in the Louisiana area? There was in fact a François Jacquet, who most likely was the descendant of the earliest Jacquet to Louisiana and who certainly was alive after 1810, when F. Hyacinthe Jacquet had already died in St. Martin Parish. According to slave sale records, François Jacquet bought “Antoine” from Miss Nieto on 6 April 1809 in New Orleans. He sold “Gotton” and “Laurette” to Adelaide Mouton Vve (widow) Olivier on 16 Feb 1817 (*197*). In a New Orleans probate record (page 474), the deceased François Jacquet had property described on Burgundy Street that was adjudicated to Carlos Jacquet. Who were these earlier Jacquets in Louisiana?

With the colonization and settlement of the French that began in 1702, the name of Jacquet began to appear in the Louisiana area. Embarked on the ship Mutine bound for New Orleans, Louisiana from Lorient France, on 14 November 1720 was Jacques François Jacquet with his wife Jeanne (Marie Dubois), and sons Etienne, André, Jean Guillaume, and Jean Jacques Jacquet. (*16*) Also from Lorient France to Louisiana, 21 August 1720, on the ship Saint Andre was Toussaint Jacquet, a gardener. By the year 1724, Jacques François Jacquet was in court regarding some trouble with his wife. The court’s council sent him a memo ruling that “Jacquet’s wife is now French, and continues her life of debauchery, selling brandy etc…” He also had to act as a witness to a payment refusal and property seizure (*233*). On the Louisiana troops roll, there is a Charles Jaquet who enlisted in 1768, but deserted in September of 1769. Another of the earliest Jacquets on record according to the Cabildo records of New Orleans, is that of a Santiago Francisco Jacquet. According to the court records, of May 25, 1773, a certain Maria Theresa Leiveille wanted to donate property to Mr. Santiago Jacquet, a soldier of the battalion of Louisiana, as payment for room and board. Maria’s estranged husband Philippe Flotte contested the case in court. (*7*) Santiago Jacquet, soldier of the battalion, would have to sue Maria Theresa Levielle as a 3^rd party to compel Theresa’s husband to pay the debt on her behalf:

“…He wants husband living separate from his wife to pay room & board and his wife’s debts… She had lived in his house for three years and had never paid for food and lodging…” The case was made 18 Jan 1774 in the court of Governor Unzaga. Phillipe Flotte contested that he had been “…separated for many years and is not responsible as he pays her 60 pesos/annually and has allowed her to use the slave Rosa and her two children to serve her…She sold Rosa and her son Philippe to Mr. Lorraine for 280 pesos and the daughter Mariana to Mr. Duplessis in 1770 for 150 pesos…she still has a slave of mine called Francisca and asks she be prevented from selling or disposing of her…” (*233*)

On 5 August 1774, Santiago Jacquet and Philippe Flotte arranged their differences by notary act and applied for leave to discuss the suit to prevent further expenses.

Since the Spanish name for Jacques translates to Santiago, and François to Francisco, then Santiago Francisco Jacquet has to be the original Jacquet named Jacques François Jacquet who came over from Lorient France in 1720. But which one of the four sons is François Jacquet who married Françoise Carrel? The greater possibility is that François Jaquet is the son of Jean Jacques (Juan Santiago) Jacquet, the youngest of the four sons of Jacques François Jacquet from Lorient France.

FRENCH SPANISH ENGLISH

Charles Carlos Charles Translations

François Francisco Francis of common

Henri Enrique Henry proper names in

Jacques Santiago James, Jim French/Spanish

Jean Juan John Louisiana

Pierre Pedro Peter

If this is the same François Jacquet/Francisco Jaquet that may have came to St. Martin parish, then what about his life in New Orleans before he came to the St. Martinville area. From the records we can see that he had at least two children. With the death of Carlos Jaquet on 17 January 1847, the death certificate tells us that his parents were “François Jaquet” and “Franchionette Carrel”, the same couple who married in 1796:

“...in and for the Parish and city of New Orleans personally appeared Mr. Gustave Jaquet a native of this city, merchant residing on St. Peter street between Chartries and Royal streets, in the first municipal by ?okis? by these presents, declares that Carlos Jaquet born in this city aged forty five years, legitimate son of Mr. François Jaquet and of Ms. Franchionette Carrel, died in this city on the seventeenth of January of this present year (17^th January 1847). Deceased was a widower.” (*174*)

The document was witnessed and signed by Gustave Jaquet. Carlos Jaquet, born circa 1801, had married Josephine Gaspard and what appears to have been the couple’s first child was a girl named Armantine Jacquet born on 8 Oct 1832 in New Orleans Parish. The records do not show any more children being born and with the title of widower by 1847, it is possible that Josephine died in childbirth. The fact that it is Gustave Jaquet who is the key informer for the death certificate information may indicate that he was the son of François Jacquet/Jaquet. The record books of New Orleans births show that Gustave Ursin Jaquet and Marie Corinne Verloin Degruy gave birth to Joseph Alcee Jaquet born on 7 October 1845, and Louis Stephen Jaquet born on 26 August 1847. Both sons are “white male” according to their birth records. The census of New Orleans taken in 1830 shows one Carlos Jacquet aged between 30 and 40 living between Esplanade street and Marigny street. Living with him were two female children aged: one is under 5 and the other is between 15 – 20 years old. His wife is aged between 40 – 50. Living in the same area between Esplanade and Marigny streets were F^cis Jacquet and G? Ursin Jacquet who live next to or in the same building. F^cis is most like the abbreviated form of the common name “François/Francisco/Francis” with an age given as between 50 – 60. Two females live with him aged between 15 – 20 and his wife is aged between 50 – 60. The G? Ursin has to be Gustave Ursin Jacquet with age given as between 30 – 40. A boy under 5 and a female under 5 along with his wife aged between 20 – 30 years of age live with him. Carlos and Gustave Ursin are most likely the two sons of François Jacquet who appears to be still living at the time of the census in 1830. If this is truly the François Jacquet, son of Santiago Jacquet then he is most likely the grandson of the original Jacquet immigrant Jean Jacques Jacquet (Juan Santiago Jacquet) and this cannot be the same François Hyacinthe Jacquet of St. Martin Parish. Jean Jacques lived on Royal Street according to a 1732 census of New Orleans. It turns out that Royal street runs between both Esplanade and Marigny streets and thus we can almost positively conclude that these are the descendants of Jean Jacques Jacquet who arrived in New Orleans on the ship named the “Mutine” from Lorient, France on 14 November 1720 with his wife Jeanne, sons Etienne, André, Jean Guillaume and Jean Jacques Jacquet (fils). By the 1732 census, only two of the children are shown living with Jean Jacques. The area between “Esplanade and Marigny” on Royal street is about 3 – 4 blocks north of the Mississippi River and about 1 – 3 blocks east of the Eastern border of the “Vieux Carré” or “Old Square” known today as the “French Quarter”. There may be more children that are descended from François Jacquet, born circa 1775 as there are many more Jacquets born between 1834 and 1884.

Rosine, the mother of Jean Baptiste Jacquet, had more children later on. She may have ended up moving to and living in New Orleans as a free person of color. When her original slave owner Jean Baptiste Berard, Sr. gave his last will and testament on 11 July 1817, he bequeathed 1/5^th of his property to his wife “…in the form of a slave: Rosine, and her four children…” (*23*). From earlier slave inventory records we believe that three of the children were named Josephine, Angelique and Louise (or Louis). Later slave inventory records say she had additional children named Rose, Victoire baptized in 1821, and Augustin baptized in 1824. A New Orleans death record shows a colored female named Eulalie Rosine Jacquet who died on 11 May 1833 at the age of 39. Did Rosine gain her freedom from the Berard family and move to New Orleans?

Eulalie Rosine Jacquet’s estate was not appraised and inventoried until well after her death. It was the petition of Rosine’s son-in-law Clement Camp f.m.o.c. (free man of color) on 26 Jan 1851 when the estate was finally settled.

“…the petition of Clement Camp f.m.o.c. that Eulalie Rosine Jacquet…mother of your petitioner’s wife, died in New Orleans on 11 May 1833. That the only heirs are her three natural children named Joseph Telisphone Varion, Marie Louise Selasie Varion the wife of your petitioner and Elida Varim all of age and residing in this city…Clement Camp residing at No207 Maine St…declares that his mother-in-law Eulalie Rosine Jacquet a f.w.o.c. age 39 years, a native of this city died in this city on 11 May 1833…the opposition of François Varim…the said Eulalie Rosine Jacquet died leaving five children, 2 died, all are the natural children of himself and of the late Eulalie Rosine Jacquet f.w.o.c….who has left no other children natural or legitimate who are now living…Antoine Jacquet…is the brother of the late Eulalie Rosine Jacquet…François Barim is the natural father of the said Jean Telisphone Barum, f.m.c.; Marie Louise Selisie Barin wife of Isaac Clement Camp f.m.c. and Elida Barim, f.w.c. be recognized as heirs, each for 1/3^rd…

1. A lot of ground on Frenchmen Street between Love and Crape Streets;

2. Jules a mulatto boy aged now about 16 years;

3. Bolivar, a mulatto boy aged now about 14 years…further ordered that the opposition of François Barin to the account presented by Clement Camp administrator of succession be dismissed, ordered this 24 March 1851 (*231*).

Further research will have to be made to determine if this woman named Rosine is the mother of Jean Baptiste Jacquet who came from the Berard plantation and also if the man named François Jacquet fits the description of F. Hyacinthe Jacquet, born circa 1754 in the city of what looks like BR_?_ on the death document but may turn out to be two other different letters which would most likely be the city of Verdun, France. There are plenty of records to look at for the city of Verdun, France. To begin with, there are three cities in France with the name Verdun: VERDUN-sur-Garonne; VERDUN-sur-le-Doubs and VERDUN-sur-Meuse (Verdun on the Garonne river, Verdun on the Doubs river and Verdun on the Meuse river). By far, Verdun-sur-Meuse is the largest of the three and one of France’s major cities and is well known by the name “Verdun”. The other two cities with the name Verdun, are quite small and can almost without a doubt be excluded as the “Verdun” from whence the documents are talking about. Verdun sur Meuse is located in the northeast part of France, near Luxemberg and Germany. The city is so large that there are at least eleven major Cathlolic diosese that baptismal, marriage and death records can be researched (*244*):

Saint Amand Parish

Saint André Parish

Saint Jean Parish

Saint Jean Baptiste Parish

Saint Médard Parish

Saint Nicholas Parish

Saint Oury Parish

Saint Pierre-L’angelé Parish

Saint Pierre le Chéry Parish

Saint Sauveur Parish

Saint Victor Parish

A search through the records, although not nearly exhaustive, found a few surnames with the names Jacquet, Hacquet, Jacquot and Jacques. If we are looking for a spelling exclusively of “François Jacquet” within the time frame sometime around 1754, we find the following:

François Jacquet, born 14 February 1747, St. Pierre L’angelé Parish, Verdun, France.

François Jacquet, born 19 September 1755, St. Pierre L’angelé Parish.

François Jacquet, born 17 April 1758, St. Pierre L’angelé Parish.

This particular St. Pierre L’Angelé Parish has more Jacquet names to search because we find a marriage certificate at Saint Victor Parish from 19 Jan 1745, which says:

“…Pierre Manget fils de defunt Nicolas Manget et de defunte Lucie Jacquet de la Parroisse de St. Pierre L’Angelés, …mariage Elizabeth Champion…”

Pierre Manget’s mother was the deceased Lucie Jacquet and the spelling in the document is exact. We also get a reference about a Jean Jacquet from the same Parish who came to either witness or act as Godfather during a baptism of two twin children at St. Victor Parish Church on 24 Oct 1760:

“…baptisé de Marie Oury fille de Pierre Oury et Jeanne Georges…à L’eglise, en presence de Jean Jacquet le (parrain? or passant?) de la Paroisse de St. Pierre le Chery et de Marie Oury la (Marrain? or Masane?) soeur de Cónfant…et de Jean Baptiste Oury L’enfant a été nomme Jean Baptiste par Jean Oury le Parrein oncle de L’enfant et pas Nicole Gastand la (Marraine? or Maiseine?) femme de Jean Jacquet la (couleur?) de la Paroisse St. Pierre La Chery…”

The French writing in this document was difficult to read. My limited knowledge of French was not good enough to translate the questionable words into their proper context while at the library viewing the tapes without a French dictionary. The document sounds like Jean Jacquet is playing the role of Godfather for at least one of the children. He has traveled from the Parish of St. Pierre and plays some kind of role as a go-between or mediator between the two church Parishes. Nicole Gastand is somehow closely associated to Jean Jacquet as “the woman” (la femme) of Jean Jacquet who helped name one of the children. The word couleur means “color” but it could be “couler” which means to run. Was Jean Jacquet a “homme de couleur”, a man of color?

Since there were at least three François Jacquets born in St. Pierre L’Angele Parish with the exact spelling of Jacquet during the eleven-year period from 1747 - 1758, we can assume there are many more Jacquet families there. We find a few names in some of the other parishes that come close but the spellings are slightly different.

Jean François Jacquot (Jean Jacques McCharpenties Jacquot & Jeanne Marie Remy) was baptized on 4 Dec 1753 in St. Medard Parish.

François Hacquet was one of many of the “noms des Confirmeés de L’anné 1754…” at the Saint Victor Church on 22 Dec 1754.

We find references to quite a few more Jacquot families in St. Sauveur Parish and a few Jacquet families as well. We find Jean Jaquet who is married to Lucie Bonnet. We see that Nicolas Jacquet and his wife Catherine Diard had their one-day-old son buried by the church on 3 March 1742. Nicolas Jacquet and Catherine later had a son named Jean Nicolas Jacquet that was baptized on 26 Feb 1743. The same couple had children in another parish in the city of Verdun, France: Pierre Jacques is the way the surname is spelled when his parents Nicolas Jacques and Catherine Diard had him baptized at St. Pierre L’Angelé parish on 5 Sep 1752. The name goes back to the spelling of “Jacquet” when their daughter Jeanne Catherine Jacquet is baptized at the same church on 12 June 1754, and finally, another daughter named Elizabeth Jacquet is baptized there on 16 Feb 1756. Nicolas signed the baptismal certificate as “Nicolas Jacquet.” This shows that future researchers should investigate all the names “Jacques”, “Jacquot”, and “Jacquet”. By the year 1760 Nicolas Jacquet is dead, for we read “…le cure baptisé…la fille posthumes de défunt Nicolas Jacquet et de Catherine Diard…Louis Jacquet, le parrain, frere a l’enfant et la marraine Marie Anne Diard, tante…a nom Marie Rose...” Nicolas and Catherine’s daughter was baptized on 28 Aug 1760 after Nicolas Jacquet had died (*244*). It appears that Nicolas’ brother Louis Jacquet played the roll of Godfather, and Catherine’s sister Marie Anne Diard played the roll of Godmother to Marie Rose Jacquet.

François Hyacinthe Jacquet died too early in his life to leave us with more clues in the search for finding out his ancestry. The Church recorder/curator that damaged the death document in the location revealing Hyacinthe’s origin made it more challenging for family historians to find it. Just who are the parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents of François Hyacinthe Jacquet? Perhaps a future family researcher who writes volume 3 will answer that question!

Scroll chart
Chapter

4 Angèle Jacquet

(4^th Child and 1^st begotten Daughter of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

In the first volume, we placed Angéle as being the sixth born child to Jean Baptiste Jacquet. The birthdate however, was always uncertain. We have three birth dates for Angela Jacquet:

1. The slave inventory of Marguerite (Decoux) Berard (*2*) of August 6, 1849 which states that Angela was 15 years old at the time which would place her birth year at circa 1834, younger than older brother Onezime but older than younger brother Jolivet. The 1849 slave inventory lists the children in order of their age and she was listed between her two brothers and this appears to be a reliable source of information.

2. The 1867 marriage document (*1*) between her mother and father legitimizing Angèle as their daughter says “Angèle Jean Baptiste Jacquet of twenty six years old…” which puts her birth year at 1841.

3. We have the marriage certificate (*170*) between Angèle and Jean Pierre Maneaux of 15 October 1874 that states that she was 32 years of age, which would place her birth year at 1842. Hebert’s Southwest Louisiana records have her listed under the name “Jacquot.”

The marriage certificates appear to be the least reliable because we have verified more reliable ages of the children that are different than what was stated on the marriage document. Also, due to the fact that if Angéle was born circa 1842 she would have been seven years old at the time of the 1849 slave inventory. In that case she would have been kept under her mother’s care and would have been inventoried with her mother Celeste and sold and transferred with her as “mother and child” according to Louisiana slave laws which did not happen. “…Céleste, negresse de 42 ans et les 4 enfants, Edouard de 7, Zoé de 5, Charles de 9 et Pierre de 18 mois…” Charles was nine and Edouard was seven years old so Angéle would have been included if she was in fact close to the ages of the two. From the August 1849 succession of Marguerite Decoux and paraphrasing from the French language it was written in:

“...(Their son) Belisaire was 18 years old, (their daughter) Angela was 15, (their son) Jolivet was 11, ...and Celeste was with four other young children: Charles who was 9, Edouard who was 7, Zoe who was 5 and Pierre was 15 months old...” (*2*)

With this re-evaluation of the evidence, we are re-positioning Angéle Jacquet as being born before both her brothers Jolivet and Charles and making her the 4^th child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet instead of the 6^th as had been written of in volume one.

The distribution and sale of the estate of Marguerite Decoux Berard after her death in 1849, meant the break-up of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s family. Angela went to Euranie Berard, Jolivet was sold to Nicolas Cormier, Belizaire went to Balthazaro Berard, Celeste and her four children Edouard, Zoe, Charles and baby Pierre were sold to Charles St. Maurice Olivier, the husband of Aminthe Berard. Pierre’s father Jean Baptiste Jacquet went into the possession of Rosemond Berard (*2*).

Dispite the question of Angela’s birth year, it is with almost certainty that she was the oldest daughter. Since the marriage document of her mother and father lists the children in the following order: Bélisaire; Jolivet; Pierre; Angele; Marie Zoé; Marie Josephine; Marie Rose (*1*); we have to conclude that the order was chosen not for the order of birth, but to separate all of the boys in their order of birth, and then the girls were listed in order of their birth. Unless the Angele listed on the slave inventory is another Angele on the Berard/Decoux plantation, the conclusion is that Angela was born ca. 1834 and not ca. 1841-42 and was really about 40 years of age instead of 32 when she married Jean Pierre Manneaux on 15 October 1874. Jean Pierre was the widower of Mary Miller, his first wife. Angela was the widow of Charles Prescott her first husband. From the St. Martinville courthouse, we have the marriage license that said:

Église paroissiale de St. Martin

(Attakapas)

“Le quinze Octobre mil huit cent soisante quatorze, après une publication faìte dessous l’eglise de cette paroisse sans opposition ni empiétement connu, vû la dispense des ?deron? derniere bans, vû aussi la licence délivirée en cour à la dâte du six courant, nous prêtre soussigné avons célébré la mariage de Jean Pierre Manneaux veuf de Mary Miller fils majeur de feu François Manneaux et Rosette né et domicilie en cette paroisse d’une part, et d’Angèle Jacquet veuve de feu C^has Prescott fille de feu Jn Baptiste Jacquet et de Céleste née et domicilieé en cette paroisse d’autre part.

Ont assisté commenter avec à le mariage Bélisaire Jacquet, Alexandre Jacquet, et Marcellin François qui n?os sac?hirst? signer out? Fait leurs croix avec les Épouse.” (*170*)

The document clearly states that Angèle’s husband before this marriage named Charles Prescott is dead. Jean Pierre’s former wife Mary Miller is also deceased. All six persons present – Angèle Jacquet, Jean Pierre Manneaux, Bélisaire Jacquet, Alexandre (Jolivet) Jacquet, Marcellin François and the Reverend A. M. Jan signed the document. The marriage party members made their “cross-mark” while Reverend Jan signed his name.

The Descendants of Angéle Jacquet

As far as the records show, Angela and Jean Pierre had one child named Marie Clementine Manneaux born in February 1876 and baptized on 23 April 1876. Clementine married Berthenance François on 8 November 1898 in St. Martinville. Berthenance was the son of Marcellin François (Sr.) and Adele Ambroise. (sm.ch.v12,p56). The first two children born to Clementine and Berthenance were:

1. Catherine Manilla François born on 6 April 1899

2. Laurence Phocas François born on 5 March 1901.

Berthenance’s parents Marcellin François and Adele Ambroise were married on 25 July 1868 in St. Martinville (sm.ch.v10,p85). Marcellin was a freed slave and the son of Louis François and Celine. Adele was the daughter of Alexandre Ambroise and Lucie Abram. There is a Louis François in the record books that married “Melite” on 7 September 1858 at the Opeloussas church, so “Melite” and “Celite” may be the same person. Louis was a slave of Mr. François Jean and Melite was a slave of Mr. Clement Holier.

As far as the records show, Louis François and Celine had at least two children:

1. Marcellin François Sr. affranchi, married Adele Ambroise on 25 July 1868. Marcellin and Adele had at least three children:

A. Marcellin François Jr. He married Rosalina Gerard on 17 April 1900 in St. Martinville. St. Martin courthouse marriage record #7674 says they received their marriage license on 31 March 1900. Rosalina was the daughter of Georges Gerard and Rosalie Sam. Marcellin Jr and Rosalina’s first-born child was Marie Mertrice François born on 24 February 1901 in St. Martinville.

B. Berthenance François. He married Marie Clementine Maneaux on 8 November 1898. The first two children born to Clementine Maneaux and Berthenance were:

i. Catherine Manilla François born on 6 April 1899 in St. Martinville.

ii. Laurence Phocas François born on 5 March 1901 in St. Martinville.

C. Celina François. She married Sebastian Phillips on 5 November 1900 in St. Martinville.

2. Azelie François was a second child of Louis François and Celine. Azelie married Valsin Pierre Fontenot on 6 December 1869 in St. Martinville.

Adele Ambroise’s parents Alexandre Ambroise and Lucie Abram had at least five children as far as the records show:

1. Adele Ambroise. She married Marcellin François on 25 July 1868. Marcellin and Adele had at least three children (see above).

2. Felicie Ambroise. She married Honnore Ledai on 30 March 1869 in St. Martinville.

3. Celestine Ambroise. She married Narcisse Louis on 14 August 1869 in St. Martinville.

4. Alexandre Ambroise. He married Zoe François on 29 November 1869 in St. Martinville. Both of Alexandre’s parents had died by the time of the marriage. Zoe was the daughter of Alexandre François and Mirthee Alexandre.

5. Alexis Ambroise. He married Arthemis Symphane on 30 February 1870. Arthemis was the widow of W. Sam. There is a high probability of an error in the record books with these two names, which may in fact be reversed. Octavia Jacquet was the second child born to Oscar Jacquet and Louise Etienne born in 1873. Octavia married Joseph Regis on 12 April 1899 in St. Martinville. According to the records of both Joseph and another Regis sister named Louise, It says that Joseph and Louise were the children of Alexis Symphore Regis and Arthemise Ambroise.

Jolivet Scroll Chart
Chapter

5 Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet

(5^th begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste Augustine)

Part 2

The children of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis

In Volume one we discussed the lives of the first four children born to Jolivet Jacquet. He fathered two sons with Maristeen Bourque during the early 1860’s – Jean Baptiste “Fils” Jacquet and Alexandre “Alakeson” Jacquet. Rosita Bazille Jacquet and Oscar Jacquet were the first two of 14 children born between Jolivet Jacquet and his wife Rosa Jean Louis during the late 1860’s. There is also the high probability that Jolivet fathered two more sons in between his romances with Maristeen and Rosa with a woman named Victorine Angelique Narcisse. The father of Victorine’s two sons named Albert Jacquet and Jules Jacquet was “Jean Baptiste Jacquet” according to their marriage and death documents. Since both Jolivet and his father went by the same name, it not absolutely certain who is the father. The weighing of the evidence tips toward the elder Jacquet being the father at 57 years old but the younger 28-year-old Jolivet seems more logical when other facts are looked at.

Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet was born ca. 1836 according to the best estimates of census records and other documents. Rosa Jean-Louis became the wife of Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet. The two married in 1867 in St. Martinville and had already begat one child between the two of them. Rosa may have possibly bore at least one child before her marriage to Jolivet, and Jolivet had at least two and quite possibly four more sons from two different women before his marriage with Rosa. The marriage document at the St. Martin courthouse between Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis on 16 March 1867, says that Rosa’s parents were Jean Louis and Roseline. (*59*) Her parents had been slaves under the ownership of the Cormier family for on the marriage certificate it states (in French), that “Rosa Jean Louis affranchie de veuve Nicolas Cormier (Jean Louis & Roseline) m. 16 Mar 1867, Alexandre Jean Baptiste, affranchi de veuve Nicolas Cormier...” which in English translates to mean that they were both freed by the widow Mrs. Nicolas Cormier (Emily Ledoux). Jolivet Jacquet had been purchased by Nicolas Cormier from the Berard family in 1851 during the estate sale of Jean Baptiste Berard’s deceased wife Marguerite Decoux.(*2*) Rosa may have come into the Cormier possession from elsewhere. The possibility that Rosa Jean-Louis is a descendant of the Jean-Louis of the Congo, who was bought over to the American continent from Africa as a slave, will have to be further examined.

Jean-Louis of the Congo was one of, if not the first slave to go by the name of Jean-Louis. He was bought over to the American continent in the late 1760’s or early 1770’s and sold to the Simon Broussard plantation. He was probably born sometime during the early to mid 1750’s, because records show that his first child was a daughter named Marie Jean-Louis born circa 1775. Jean Louis of the Congo had at least three children: Jean Jean-Louis, born circa 1783; Genevieve Jean-Louis, born circa 1786; and Marie Louise Jean-Louis. Jean Louis became a “free person of color” (FPC) sometime about the turn of the century. It was shortly after this time that he began to purchase members of his family and free them from slavery. In March of 1805, he paid $500 for the purchase and emancipation of a slave Marguerite who was most likely the mother of at least two of his daughters (*64*). In December of 1807, Jean Louis purchased from Amand Broussard, for the ownership and emancipation of a slave who was his 21-year-old daughter Genevieve, native of Attakapas Parish, for the price of $500 (*65*). In October of 1810, Jean Louis purchased from Jean Berard, for the ownership and emancipation of a slave who was his 35 year old daughter Marie, for the price of $600. He had to mortgage his farm at Côte Gelée (*66*). This Jean Berard is the same who was in the possession of the slave Rosine, the mother of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and the first matriarch of the Black Jacquets. Jean Louis of the Congo was probably not able to purchase and free his son Jean Louis (Fils), (or perhaps Jean Louis Jean-Louis may have been his entire name), and he remained in the possession of the Broussard family until Anne Thibodeaux, the widow of Edouard Armand Broussard, granted him his emancipation in 1845 at the age of 62. Although records do not clearly indicate that Jean Louis (FPC) bought his son Jean Louis Jr. out of slavery, there is evidence to indicate that the possibility did exist. The problem with historical records such as the one we are searching for is that more than one person in the same area possessed the same name and sometimes it is difficult to determine which one is the correct person you are researching. Nevertheless, conveyance records at the courthouse in Attakapas Parish (later St. Martin Parish), show the following: On 1 April, 1811, “...Catherine Wisse, widow of Armand Ducrest, declared she had freed her slave Jean-Louis (FPC)...” (*67*); on 27 Nov 1815, “...Jean Louis (FPC) sold to Thomas Béraud a slave named Jean (16 years old) he purchased from Henry Pintard in December 1809...” (*68*); but this transaction appeared to be more of a “six month loan” because on 20 July 1816, “...Thomas Béraud sold to Jean Louis (FPC) a slave named Jean (16-17 years old), the same slave Jean Louis sold to him in November of 1815...” (*69*); on 30 Nov 1816, “...Jean Louis (FPC) sold to Ignace Viator a slave named Jean (17 years old) for $720...” (*70*); and finally, on 30 July 1817, “...Jean Louis (FPC), sold to Joseph Landry a tract of land at Côte Gelée, 6x40 arpents for $600...” (*71*). Only the last entry could definitely be considered to be the Jean Louis (FPC) of the Congo, the first person of color in Louisiana named Jean Louis, since he owned property in Côte Gelée, an area west of Bayou Tortue and north of New Iberia. The other entries do not make it clear if either of the two are Jean Louis of the Congo or his son Jean Louis Jr.

Slave Ownership by Negros in Louisiana

It was not all uncommon for people of color to own slaves in pre Civil War Louisiana or other southern states. Slavery in Louisiana however, was unique. It arrived nearly a century later than on the East Coast and it did not fair so well in the beginning. Between 1719 and 1731, the French who colonized Louisiana imported 6,000 Africans. Slaves soon composed more than 60 percent of the population in which the French could not control. Hundreds fled into the wilderness followed by periodic raids of French settlements and a great rebellion in 1729 in Natchez where escaped slaves and Native American Indians left more than 200 settlers dead. The French would cease to import slaves for 30 years. To stabilize things it was necessary to modify existing law regarding slaves. Louisiana’s “Code Noir” came into being. This “Black Code” specified that slave families were to be kept together when possible and all slaves were to be instructed in the Catholic Church. Slave Children younger than 14 were not to be separated from their parents. Slaves can have no right to any kind of property. A slave master who fathered children with his slave was to lose both slave and child, a rule often ignored, as were many other codes. Many Blacks were set free by their White slave-owners and became known as “gens de couleur libre” or “free people of color”. They in turn would also buy and sell slaves. The minutes of a 26 August 1846 Citizens board meeting, show directors considered a request from Marie Rosette, a free woman of color. Marie Rosette wanted to trade a slave of hers for her son, who was owned by a plantation that had been seized by the Citizens Bank of Louisiana in a foreclosure. The board approved the swap (*265*). One such notable freed Louisiana slave was Marie Therese Coincoin. Born in 1742 into the household of French founder/governor of Natchitoches Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, she was the second daughter of African slaves on the Louisiana frontier. At the age of 25 she caught the eye of Frenchman Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer and he arranged with her owner to live with her for 19 years in defiance of both church and politics. She fathered ten children with him. In addition, she bore four children in her younger days. Metoyer ultimately set her free with 68 acres of land. Gradually she managed to buy all of her children out of slavery. She acquired more land and 16 slaves of her own. By the time she died around 1817 at the age of 75, she and her children had amassed nearly 12,000 acres of plantation land and at least 99 slaves (*191*).

Once free in a frontier area like Natchitoches, slave ownership was virtually the only proven path to economic security and advancement. Free Blacks who worked scores of slaves on their own plantations often bought, sold and employed them just like their White counterparts but in this case much of the slave ownership was not solely for economic reasons. Coincoin and her descendants apparently treated their slaves much as others in the area were treated but generally with less physical abuse and punishments. It took lots of time and money to free a slave even if it was a close relative. The 1830 census documented 3,600 “Negro slaveholders” but the deceptive figure does not show that the vast majority of those “Negro slave owners” were holding as slaves their spouses or relatives and were forbidden by various state laws from formally setting them free (*191*). Marie Coincoin’s eldest son Nicolas Augustin Metoyer, founded the Catholic Church of St. Augustin near Melrose, Louisiana which still stands. White people sat in the back. Coincoin’s descendants would become the wealthiest family of free Negroes in the United States. Coincoin’s descendants sent their sons to France to be educated.

The Descendants of Jean-Louis

There was more than one slave who went by the name “Jean-Louis”, and which one is the father of Rosa Jean-Louis has yet to be determined. The evidence is very strong however, that they all descended from the original Jean-Louis of the Congo. When Marguerite Decoux, the wife of Jean Berard died in 1849, it caused the break-up of the family of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s family. His son Jolivet Jacquet came into the possession of Nicolas Cormier while Jean Baptiste Jacquet himself came into the possession of Rosemond Berard. Along with Jean Baptiste Jacquet was sold a 23-year-old slave by the name of Jean-Louis. Could this have been the father of Rosa Jean-Louis? His birth year circa 1826 would be about the correct age since Rosa was born circa 1847. Rosa Jean-Louis and Jolivet married in the year 1867, but Rosa was not the only Jean-Louis to marry that year for according to Hebert’s records of South-west Louisiana:

Celestine Jean Louis (Jean Louis & Amelie) m.31 Jan 1867 Pierre De, affranchi de Mr. Jean Baptiste Barrat (SM.ch.10#6).

Martin Jean-Louis, f.m.o.c., m.25Feb1867 Dina Latoussaint (Charenton ch.1,p.142)

Rosa Jean Louis (Jean Louis & Roseline), affranchie de veuve Nicolas Cormier m.16Mar1867 Alexandre Jean Baptiste, affranchi de veuve Nicolas Cormier. (SM.ch.10#17)

Jean Louis (Jean & Nancy), affranchi de veuve Alexandre Babin, m.20Jul1867, Eloise Etienne, affranchie de Desire Judice. (SM.ch.10#36)

Jean Louis of Vermillion Parish (Simon & Bethsy), affranchi de Charles Trahan, m.30Sep1867, Felonise, affranchie de Gabriel Fuselier. (SM.ch.10#53.)

Martin Jean Louis, f.m.o.c. m.25Feb1868, Marie D. Louis f.w.o.c. (Lafayette Ct.hse.Marr.#931)

* affranchi = set free, emancipated; veuve = widow; f.m.o.c = free man of color

In trying to trace the roots of Rosa Jean-Louis, we look back at the succession record #1423 at the St. Martin Courthouse of Mrs. Nicholas Cormier and find out that she had died on 20 November 1838. However, the succession was re-opened on 9 May 1854, and there we find an inventory of some of the slaves involved including the most likely parents of Rosa Jean-Louis:

51... “un mulatre nomme Philogene age d’environ vingt ans” - $1000 piastres;

(a mulato named Philogene age of about 20 years)

52...”un negro nomme Jean Louis age d’environ vingt huit ans” - $1000 piastres;

(a negro named Jean Louis age of about 28 years)

77...”Roseline negrissa age d’environ vingt deux ans avec er deux enfants Rosa et Hermogene” - $1650 piastres

(Roseline negro age of about 22 years with (her) two infants Rosa and Hermogene) (*188*)

However, a year and a half later on 29 October 1855, on the succession record #1481, at the St. Martin Courthouse of Nicholas Cormier Sr. we find that Roseline now has three children...

21...”une negresse nomme Roseline et ses trois enfants, Rosa environ huit ans, Hermogene, mulatre d’environ quatre ans, et Baptiste negre d’un an et Roseline est age vingt cinq ans - $1800 piastres.”

(a negro named Roseline and her three children, Rosa about 8 years old, Hermogene a mulatto of about 4 years old, and Baptiste a negro of one year and Roseline is age 25 years.) (*188*)

Although not listed here as a daughter of Roseline, a sister of Rosa Jean-Louis may have been Siciane Jean Louis. Siciane married Jack Boulet on 13 April 1883 in St. Martinville and Siciane’s parents are listed as Louis and Roseline. Jack’s parents are Daniel Boulet and Silie Gibson. The first succession document gives us the age of Jean-Louis, most likely the father of Rosa, as 28 years of age on the date of 9 May 1854, giving Jean Louis a birth year circa 1826. In Hébert’s Southwest Louisiana records of Blacks, there are five candidates relating to a baptism of a “Jean Louis” and who his mother was. All of those Jean Louis males were born baptized between the years 1826 and 1828 at the St. Martin Parish Church.

Jean Louis (Julie), bt. 1826, (SM.ch.; v.3S, #970)

Jean Louis (Caroline, esclave a Charles Comeau)

bt. 23April1826 at age 3 months. (Laf.ch.; v.2, p.40.

Jean Louis (Eugenie), bt. 1827, (SM.ch.; v.3S, #1008)

Jean Louis (Charlotte), bt. 1827, (SM.ch.; v.3S, #1009)

Jean Louis (Adele) bt. 1828 (SM.ch.; v.3S, #1042

The second succession document of 1855 gives us a better estimate of the age and birth years of the three children of Roseline. The document also puts Roseline’s age at 25 years. The earlier document from 18 months prior said that Roseline was 22 years of age. From these two succession/inventory documents, Roseline was born circa 1832 according to the first inventory and circa 1830 from the second inventory. Since there is very little documentary evidence of her true birth year other than these two, for now the average of the two years of 1831 will be taken as the birth year of Roseline, the mother of Rosa Jean-Louis. The birth years of the three children of Roseline can be estimated to be 1847 for Rosa (Jean-Louis); 1851 for Hermogene (Daniel), and 1854 for the younger Baptiste. The age and birth year for Rosa would match up with what was indicated on her marriage license. Rosa’s age being determined as a “minor” when she married Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet in March of 1867 which means she had not yet reached the age of 21. With Roseline listed as negro and two of her children listed as negro and mulatto and Rosa’s race not listed, it is almost with certainty that the children did not have the same father. Hermogene, is without a doubt the half brother of Rosa. The Philogene who was listed as 20 years of age in the 1854 inventory has to be her mother’s younger brother (by about 17 years) who came to be known to many families as “Samuel Philogene Daniel” aka S.P. Daniel.

The estimated ages and birth dates are important to us as we can get some sense of history here in looking for the genealogy of Rosa Jean-Louis. We know from more than one document that Jean-Louis was Rosa’s father and Roseline, later Roseline Antoine, was her mother. To find Roseline’s mother, we have to go back to the original succession record #875 of 20 November 1838 of Mrs. Nicholas Cormier. Searching the slave inventory of her estate, we find the apparent mother of Roseline...

“un negre nomme Sophia age vingt huit et quatre infants – Audopous six ans, Roseline, Lorince, Adeline et Hypolite.” - $1500 piastres.

(“A negro named Sophia age 28 and four children – Audopous six years, Roseline, Lorince, Adeline and Hypolite...”)

There is a note in the margin that one of the children is “free” but does not state which one is free. Since the record entry says “and with her four children” followed by five children listed, it appears that one of the children has been entrusted in her care. This is most likely the child that was “free” since the Louisiana “Code Noir” states that “if the mother is a slave, the child shall be born a slave”. Sophia could be the Godmother or has temporary custody of the child. The date is 1838, and unfortunately the document does not give the ages of any of the children except for Audopous stated as six years of age. It is difficult to assume the ages of the rest of the children. If we are to take the birth year of Roseline as 1831, she should be around 7 years of age at this time. Roseline’s mother Sophia is said to be 28 years of age, which would place her birth year circa 1810. We do find two matching names of a “Roseline” whose mother was “Sophie” in volume 33 of father Hébert’s Southwest Louisiana Records in the “Records of Blacks” but only one of them matches the approximate dates:

Roseline (Sophie) bt. 1838 (SM Ch.: v.3s, #1594)

If this is the family ancestors we are looking for, that would mean Roseline was baptized much later after her birth. Not so common but certainly not impossible. The baptismal took place at the St. Martin church so we are at least in the right parish. An examination of the original document, or at least a copy of what was translated and sent upon request reveals that we have found a match. The document states that Roseline was “eight years of age” at the time of the baptism (*196*). It also indicates that Sophie was “a Nicholas Cormier” which means she belonged to and was owned by Nicholas Cormier, the same person or family that came into the ownership of Roseline’s daughter Rosa Jean Louis. There can be little doubt about the maternal lineage from Sophie to Roseline to Rosa as being correct. Can we look back another generation to find Sophie’s mom? Looking at the Southwest Louisiana record books of father Hebert, the only “Sophies” that possibly match up with an 1810 birth were the following two:

Sophie (Celeste) bt. 1811 (SM.ch.v.3s, #427)

Sophie (Benedicte) bt. 1806 (SM.ch.v.3s, #214)

After a request from the St. Martin Church, the certificate of baptism for Sophie, daughter of Benedicte, tells us that Sophie was a “griffe libre”, which means that she was about 3/8ths colored and born free, and that her mother Benedicte was a Negro woman liberated by Jean Berard. Sophie was 3 years old at the time of the July 1806 baptism giving her a 1803 birth. All of these factors lead up to the conclusion that this particular Sophie, could not be the mother of Roseline. If we were to look at the other Sophie born to Celeste and take the birth year as 1810, that entry for a Sophie being baptized during the year 1811 would seem to be the correct one. Here we find that Celeste had two of her children baptized on the same day who according to the church record:

(English Translation) “The year 1811 the 11^th day of August I have baptized Eloy 2 years of age. Natural son of Celeste, slave of David Babineau. Sponsors: Henry slave of David Babineau and Angelique slave of widow Paul Thibodeau. The same day I have baptized Sophie 5 years of age natural daughter of Celeste – Sponsors: Poupaire slave of Widow Paul Thibodeau, Colette slave of Michel Martin.” (*241*)

We find out that if this is the Sophie we are looking for, she was born under the ownership of David Babineau. To authenticate this as the mother of Roseline, a search must be made for a slave sale or slave transfer to the Nicholas Cormier estate.

If we are to continue searching the Southwest Louisiana records for a “Celeste”, we find:

Celeste (Maria) bt. 1790, (SM.ch.v.1s, #122)

Celeste (Hance), quarteronne esclave, esclave a Gadenigo, bt. May-Oct 1787 at age 1 year (opel.ch.v.1.p.2)

Celeste (Iris), bt. 1795 (SM.ch.v.1s, #186)

The Celeste born and/or baptized during the year 1790 seems to be the best choice. She would have been around the age of 20 when she gave birth to Sophie. The quateronne Celeste would also match up age-wise, but does not seem to be a good choice being that she was baptized in Opeloosas, whereas the other two Celeste were baptized in St. Martinville. Since slaves were bought and transferred to a different Parish, we cannot rule out this Celeste. The Celeste baptized in 1795 was probably born around the same time and would have been about 15 when and if she gave birth to Sophie. So far, the Celeste whose mother was Maria seems to be the most likely choice. Thus far, the list is slim of “Maria or Marie’s” in the record books that could be the mother of Celeste and we may have reached the impassable wall:

Marie Stephanie (Charlotte), bt. 1759, (Arnaudville Ch.v.1, p.23)

Most of the women with the name Maria were born too near to or after the date of 1790 to have been the Marie of Celeste baptized in 1790. A few others are listed, but no date is given but we have to include them because we are getting close to a person “who may have come off the ship!”:

Maria – A negro adult of the Meyendet nation. Baptized at age 28 years (SM.ch)

Maria Ana – Negro from the Chiambas nation – parents are unknown. Baptized at age 24 years (SM Ch.)

Mariana – adult slave of the Mandingo nation (SM Ch.: v.1)

and finally we have, perhaps a connection with the Celeste of Opeloosas, as well as a connection with the mother of Marie, is the death of:

Magdeleine, negresse esclave a Gradenigo, died 18 Dec 1787 at age 36. (Opel.ch.v.1, pg.4)

Looking back into the history of the Cormier family. Marie Ozéa Boudreaux was the wife of Nicholas Cormier Sr. and when she died in 1854, an inventory of her estate was taken on 30 May 1854 (*188*). We find that “Sophie” age 42, has three more “infants” with her: St. Ville, Juliette and Belizaire. On the 1855 succession of her son Nicholas Cormier Jr., the ages of the children are then respectively given as 9 ½, 8 and 3. If this is still the same Sophie, she would have been born ca 1811-1812 which means this is most likely the same Sophie but with three additional children. Her older daughter Roseline is 22 years old and with two children – Rosa (Jean-Louis) and Hermogine (Daniel). A more detailed look at the records backed up by additional references and documents to prove direct lineage between Sophie and any of these possible ancestors will have to be performed by future researchers. On future succession documents we find that both Sophie and Roseline have more children.

The Cormier family was in the possession of some of the Jacquet family before slavery ended. On the succession document of Nicholas Cormier Jr submitted by his wife Emelie Ledoux, on 24 October 1864, we see Jolivet (Jean Baptiste Alexandre Jacquet) age 25, and what was to become Jolivet’s wife Rosa (Jean-Louis) age 16. Rosa is with her mother Roseline, a Negro age 35. Roseline has three additional children with her: Adeline age 8, Theodule age 6 and St. Clair age one. Roseline’s mother Sophie is also present at age 54. Listed on the inventory of the estate are Sophie’s younger children – Sainville age 17, and Belisaire age 12. What is most likely Jolivet’s brother is a listing of “Charles” age 24. Charles, Jolivet, Sophie and her children, Roseline and her children along with Maurice age 8, Zenon age 16 and Jean Baptiste age 10 are under a special listing on the document which says (in an unsure and unclear translation):

“…Esclaves appartenant à la communauté partis avec les fédéraux, partis ici pour mémoire:” (Slaves belonging to the (French) community parted with the federalist, parted here as a reminder”) --- Jacob negre de 60 ans, Pierre negre de 52 ans, Charles de 24 ans, Sainville negre de 17 ans, Belisaire, negre âgé de 12 ans, Hermogène negre de 11 ans, Sophie négresse de 54 ans, Peggy mûlatresse de 48 ans, Roseline négresse âgée de 35 ans avec ses enfants, Adéline de 8 ans, Theodule de six ans, St. Clair d’un an, Betsy negresse âgée de 33 ans avec son enfant Leontine de 9 ans, Victoire négresse de 32 ans avec ses enfants Celismine de 8 ans et Célima de 6 ans. Juliette negresse de 17 ans, Rosa négresse de 16 ans, Clara 12 ans, Martial 10 ans, Maurice de 8 ans – Zénon de 6 ans, Ernestine de 2 ans – Jean Baptiste de 10 ans.” (*188*)

The slave listing was again listed on another (duplicate?) succession at the St. Martin courthouse just a week later on 29 October 1864. The handwriting is difficult to read so this may not be an exact translation but is the document speaking of slaves who were taken off by the Federal Union troops? Were they rescued by the Union troops and sent elsewhere? Here we again see the matriarchal side of the Jacquet family. They are listed by the only name they had but they would soon take on surnames. Rosa (Jean-Louis) is here at 16 years old. She would marry Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet in 1867. Rosa’s mother Roseline (Antoine and Daniel) is with this party with her children Hermogene (Daniel) and Theodule (Daniel) and other children of hers. Roseline’s mother Sophie is also present. According to the succession document of Nicholas Cormier, it was September of 1864 when his slaves were taken by the Federal Union troops (*188*). Slave owner Nicolas Cormier most likely died as a war casualty and the Civil War was nearing its end. All slaves would soon be free. Earlier that same month of September in 1864, General William Sherman captured Atlanta. After victoriously marching through Georgia and North Carolina, he receved the surrender of J. E. Johnson on 26 April 1865 and bought the war to its conclusion. Ex-slaves now with deep concern but with composed enthusiasm, looked far and wide to decide on which surname they would choose. Rosa chose the name of her father Jean Louis and became Rosa Jean-Louis, Jolivet’s family chose the surname of their father Jean Baptiste at first but after he chose the surname of his French father François Hyacinthe Jacquet, they changed it to Jacquet as well. Rosa’s mother Roseline chose Antoine and her children chose Daniel and some also chose Antoine, probably the name of each of their fathers.

Since Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis were both owned by the Cormier family, they obviously met during their time at the Cormier plantation. Jolivet however would have one and possibly two major romances before his marriage to Rosa Jean-Louis. He would first have a relationship with Maristeen Bourque in the early 1860’s and have two sons; Jean Baptiste “Fils” Jacquet, born circa 1861, and Alexandre “Aléxson” Jacquet born circa 1863. In between his relationship with Maristeen Bourque and his marriage to Rosa Jean-Louis in 1867, was the tumultuous Civil War, and it must have caused more than one up heaval in the lives of many families. As we have seen on the Cormier succession document, Federal Union soldiers took Jolivet, Rosa, and other family members away before September 1864. But where did they go? It was during this interlude that Jolivet Jacquet most likely had a relationship with a woman by the name of Victorine Narcisse. Living in the St. Martinville area during the latter half of the 19^th century was Albert Jacquet. According to the marriage certificate of Albert, he married Arsene Lasseigne on December 9, 1890. On the certificate his father is named as Jean Baptiste Jacquet and his mother was Victorine Narcisse (*61*). As has been discussed in volume one, we are not absolutely sure if it was in fact Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet who fathered this child, or his father Jean Baptiste Jacquet who was in fact the father. Nevertheless, the two ages of the father and son Jacquets gives us the probability that the most logical occurrence is that Jolivet was the father because Albert Jacquet was born circa 1865-1866, and Jolivet would have been about 29 or 30 years of age when he fathered this child. If we say that Jolivet’s father Jean Baptiste fathered this child, then he would have been about 57 or 58 years of age when he fathered the child, not improbable just unusual. The fact that there is no indication that the groom’s father is “deceased” on the marriage certificate of Albert Jacquet and Arsene Lasseigne, a normal notation when a parent has already died, leads more credence to the fact that it was Jean Baptiste “Jolivet” Jacquet and not his father Jean Baptiste Jacquet who sired Albert, since Jolivet’s father had died in January of 1870 and Jolivet was still alive at the time of the marriage in 1890.

On the 1880 census taken on the 12^th day of June, we find that Victorine Narcisse lives near her son Aristide Landry and his wife Alice Jacquet. The census shows her living there with her two sons Albert, 14 years old, Jules, 13 years old, and her daughter Eloise, 12 years old. If this is indeed the “Albert Jacquet” that married in 1890, and thus far there is no evidence to prove otherwise, then Albert would have been born around the year 1865-1866, his brother Jules born about the year 1866-1867, and his sister Eloise born about the year 1867-1868. There is the very strong possibility that Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet was the father of both of the two sons, which leads to the speculation that he may have been the father of all three children. We find that the records show that there was a Jules Jacquet who married Marie Lasseigne and then died on 16 March 1888 at the age of 23. This Jules Jacquet would have been born about the year 1864 - 1865 which indicates that this must be the same Jules that lived with his mother Victorine Narcisse and his brother Albert Jacquet, the son of Jean Baptiste Jacquet. If Jolivet Jacquet is indeed the father of these three children, then the total of his offspring would be 19; two children with Maristeen Bourque, 3 children with Victorine Narcisse and 14 children with Rosa Jean-Louis.

Rosa Jean Louis may have also bore at least one child before bearing children with Jolivet. Whatever the past was for the two, it seems that it was quickly forgotten as both Jolivet and Rosa agreed to marry each other. Thus it was on the 12^th of March 1867, that Rosa and Jolivet went to the St. Martin Parish courthouse to file for a marriage license. (*59*) On the marriage license document they recognized and claimed legitimate their daughter Rosita. Rosa is said to be the “minor daughter” of the deceased Jean Louis and Roseline. This means Rosa could not have been over 20 years of age yet and would place her birth around the year 1846-1847. Rosa and Jolivet were married at the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville four days later on March 16, 1867, by the Reverend A. M. Jan (*60*). Thirteen other children would follow Rosita between the years 1867 and 1889. Rosita Bazille and Oscar Jacquet were their first two children and were discussed in the first volume. Jean Louis Jacquet was their third child and we continue discussing their children in volume 2.

Scroll of Jolivet’s section

JEAN LOUIS JACQUET

(3^rd begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Jean Louis Jacquet was born in the year 1868 and was the third child born to Rosa Jean-Louis and Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet. Jean Louis married Rachel Brown on 17 March 1892 (SM.ch.v.11,p.220), and the two had at least four children: Louis Murphy Jacquet born on 16 Feb1893; Philomene Ephy (or Effe) Jacquet born on 13 Mar 1894; Marie Edwige (or Elphege) Jacquet born on 14 Aug1896; and John Rufus Jacquet born on 30 Jan1898. There was a very unfortunate catastrophic family accident, which caused the early deaths of the first three children born. Louis Murphy, Philomene Ephy and Marie Edwige all died on the date of the 17^th of November 1897. There was a fire at the home of Jean Louis Jacquet and the three children were burned to death. A newspaper article entitled “THREE CHILDREN BURNED”, from the St. Martinville “Weekly Messenger”, published every Saturday, gives an account of what happened that day:

“Tuesday evening a most horrible accident occurred in this parish near Cade Station, when three colored children were burned to death while their parents were in the field nearby picking cotton. The children were those of a young colored man named Jean Louis Jacquet, and were aged 7 and 5 years and one 23 months. There was no fire in the house, and it is presumed that the children while playing with some matches, set fire to the house, and when they saw the building on fire instead of running into the yard they hid themselves under the bed where they were burned to a crisp holding themselves in one another’s arms.

When the fire was discovered the small building was wrapped in a mass of flames and all help to save the children who were yet alive was impossible. The children in their horrible agony understood that their father and others were trying to rescue them, and the oldest one appealed to his father to relieve them of their horrible condition, but all human efforts were in vain against the devouring element, and in a short time the work was done, the cabin was burned to the ground and the charred remains of three unfortunate children were picked up and could only be recognized by their size.” (*144*)

For some reason, the date of births of the three children listed on the death document are given as much as two years earlier as those given on the birth/baptismal documents. (SM.ch.v.6,p.70). The age and birth-year discrepancy is also shown by the ages given to the children in the news article. According to the news article of 1897, Louis Murphy was said to be seven, Philomene was said to be five years of age, and the youngest child Marie was said to be 23 months old placing here birth year circa October 1895. The Death certificates say that “Murphy Jacquet” died at age 6 years, 8 months which would put his birth circa March 1891. “Ephy Jacquet” died at the age of 5 years putting his birth circa November 1892, and “Elphege Jacquet” died at the age of 1 year 6 months putting her birth circa May 1896. However, these ages do not match up with the baptismal certificates of the three children that say that Louis Murphy Jacquet was born on 16 Feb1893; Philomene Ephy (or Effe) Jacquet was born on 13 Mar 1894; and Marie Edwige (or Elphege) Jacquet was born on 14 Aug1896. The age differences could be that all three children were in fact born much earlier than the birth dates indicated on their baptismal certificates or due to simple error on the part of the parents who did not remember the children’s exact ages, especially in the light of the stress they must have been under at the time.

When Jean Louis Jacquet’s father Jolivet Jacquet died in 1899, Jean Louis inherited along with his 12 other surviving brothers and sisters, a portion of his father’s estate. Jean Louis was allotted 9 & ⁴¹/100 arpents (8 acres) of a tract of land in St. Martin Parish listed as property #2 on his fathers estate inventory. The value of the Real Estate had a cash value of $248.05 at the time of the Real Estate distribution in 1904. (see volume one, pages 84-86).

Rachel Brown and Jean Louis Jacquet did not remain married because the records show that she married a second time to Jules LeBlanc. Jean Louis died sometime about 1910 – 1911, and this could be the reason why Rachel Brown married a second time. The St. Martin de Tours church in St. Martinville recorded that there was a funeral in early 1911 for a Jean Louis Jacquet, which must certainly be the Jean Louis of this chapter (*104*). Rachel Brown died about the year 1924. Before her early death, she married Jules LeBlanc. For Jules, Rachel became his second wife, being that his first wife Mathilda Hardy had died (*72*). It appears that Rachel and Jean Louis did not have any other children after the birth of their fourth child John Rufus Jacquet born on 30 January 1897, just 10 weeks after the family tragedy that took the lives of their first three children. When Rachel Brown died in the early 1920’s, she left behind some property in the Parish of Lafayette. Thus is was on the 16^th of April, 1926, that her second husband Jules LeBlanc and her son Rufus Jacquet appeared in the Lafayette courthouse to try and settle the matter of the Real Estate that Rachel had left behind:

STATE OF LOUISIANA,

PARISH OF LAFAYETTE,

Be it known that on this sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord nine-teen hundred and twenty-six, before me Charles D. Caffery, Notary Public, in and for the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana, duly commissioned and sworn as such,

Personally came and appeared (1) JULES LEBLANC, widower by first marriage of Mathilda hardy, deceased, and by second marriage of Rachael Brown, also deceased, and (2) RUFUS JACQUET, sole heir of his mother the said Rachael Brown, who was first married to John Louis Jacquet, both residents of Lafayette Parish, and which said appearers declared that they are owners in indivision of the following described property, to wit:-

FIRST: “One certain lot of ground, with all improvements thereon, situated in the Mouton addition in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana, and being a portion of lot number three hundred and twenty-three (323) of said Mouton addition; said portion herein referred to having a front of forty-three (43) feet more or less, on Jackson street, starting from the corner of the store building, as it now stands, and running easterly, with a back line of thirty-six (36) feet ; the depth thereof being as shown by map of J. D. Torrence, and is bounded north by Jackson street; south by lot number two hundred and forty-one (241); east by that part of lot three hundred and twenty-three (323) not included herein, and west by Gordon street. See act number 53963, Clerk’s Office, Lafayette Parish, and also act of partition among the heirs of Mary Plonsky, widow of B. Falk, recorded in book A-5 page one, Clerk’s Office, Lafayette Parish, number 48492.”

SECOND: “Another parcel of ground, with all improvements thereon, situated in the Mouton addition in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana, and being a portion of lot number one hundred and fifty two (152) and is located in the southwest corner of said lot number 152, and measures thirty (30) feet front on Convent street, by the depth in parallel lines of sixty (60) feet, and being bounded north and east by balance of said lot 152; south by Convent street; and west by lot 153. See act number 60260 dated October 1^st., 1921, also act 33441 book X-5, page 383, Clerk’s office, Lafayette Parish.”

It is agreed that the said Rachael Brown, wife of said Jules Leblanc, died about two years ago, and that both of the above described properties were acquired during the existence of the marriage community; that accordingly the share of Jules Leblanc in said property is one-half of the first and one-fourth of the second, and that the share of the said Rufus Jacquet is one-half of the first and three-fourths of the second. It is further agreed to by the said Rufus Jacquet that the community of acquets (assets?) and gains between his mother, said Rachael Brown, and the said Jules LeBlanc, is indebted unto the said Jules LeBlanc in the sum of FOUR HUNDRED ($400.00) DOLLARS, for money derived by him from the sale of property belonging to him before marriage, situated at Grand Coteau, Louisiana. It is further agreed that the said Jules LeBlanc has or will pay all legal charges necessary for the settlement of said succession, and that upon the basis of the above declaration said appearers do now make the following partition of said above property.

(A) The said JULES LEBLANC takes and accepts and there is allotted to him the following described property:-

“That certain parcel of ground, with all improvements thereon, and being a portion of lot number three hundred and twenty three (323), and which is FIRST herein above fully described.”

(B) And the said RUFUS JACQUET, sole heir of his mother, the said Rachael Brown, takes and accepts and there is allotted to him as his distinct share of said property the following:-

“That certain parcel of ground, with all improvements thereon, situated in the Mouton addition in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana, and being a portion of lot number one hundred and fifty two (152), and is otherwise hereinabove fully described following the word “SECOND” on the first page hereof.”

It is further agreed that considering all of the foregoing tract that the property taken by Jules Leblanc, allowing for the obligations assumed by him, still exceeds in value, that taken by the said Rufus Jacquet by the sum of SEVENTY FIVE ($75.00) DOLLARS, which amount is paid to him by the said Jules LeBlanc at the signing of these presents, and for which acquittance and discharge is granted by the said Rufus Jacquet, and accordingly this partition is final and definitive and the parties hereto agreed that the same is made with full warranty of title and possession one unto the other.

THUS DONE READ AND SIGNED at Lafayette, Louisiana, on the date first above written in presence of (signature of) John J. Marsh and (signature of) Ethel Bacquet , competent witnesses, and me officer. (*72*)

WITNESSES:

(signature of) Jules Leblanc

(signature of) J. J. Marsh

(signature of) Rufus Jacquet

(signature of) Ethel Bacquet

(signature of) Char. D. Caffery

Notary Public

It would be but a few days later that for some reason, Jules LeBlanc would make his last will and testament at the Lafayette Parish courthouse and bequeath the section of property named lot #323 that he had just inherited over to Rufus Jacquet:

“...Jules Leblanc, widow of Rachael Brown in the parish court house presented his last will and testament. “I give and bequeath unto RUFUS JACQUET, my step son, in full ownership of the following property...That certain parcel of land...in the Mouton addition in the city of Lafayette, lot #323 – 43 feet on Jackson street by 36 feet....” (*73*)

The document was signed and witnessed by Ethel Bacquet, John J. Marsh and Felix Duhon.

The property once owned by Rachel Brown, Jean Louis Jacquet, John Rufus Jacquet and Jules LeBlanc is located in the eastern part of the city of Lafayette about five to six city blocks north-east of the University of Louisiana Layfayette, (formerly known as University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL)), and west of Evangeline highway (route 167), about equal distant from the two landmarks and on the east side of Johnston street.

ROSELINE JACQUET

(4^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Roseline (or Rosaline) Jacquet was the fourth child born between Rosa Jean Louis and Jolivet Jacquet. She was born in the year 1869. As soon as Roseline reached adulthood she married Julien Lambert on 21 December 1891, in St. Martin Parish. Julien Lambert was the son of Magloire Lambert and Cecile Thomas (SM.ch.v.11,p.198). Julien was born circa 1865 according to both the 1870 and 1880 census. Julien came from a large family. He is seen on the 1870 census with his other brothers and sisters who were named Lucille, Joseph, Mary, Florence, Scholastic, Clara, Marie, William and Pacifer Lambert (*106*). Julien’s father Magloire Lambert is listed as 50 years old on the 1880 census, but only 30 years old on the 1870 census. Julien’s mother Cecile is listed as age 38 on the 1880 census, and 35 on the 1870 census. Julien is 14 in 1880 and (as “Jules”) 6 years old in 1870. All of the ages of the Lambert family don’t match up ten years later. Because of the ages and name deciphering, some of the names listed above as Julien’s brothers and sisters may be the same person. The Marriage document of Roseline and Julien says that Roseline’s parents were Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Daniel. As was previously discussed, Rosa had at least one half brother whose name was Philogene Daniel (also written as Samuel Philogene Daniel and S. P. Daniel), who quite probably went by the name Philogene Antoine before he reached his adulthood. Rosa’s mother was Roseline Antoine and her father was Jean Louis. The surname “Antoine” may be giving us a clue to who was Roseline’s father. Both Rosa and Philogene probably briefly used the last name “Antoine” and/or “Daniel” and then had their surnames changed to what their father’s name was. Philogene changing his name from Philogene Antoine to Philogene Daniel and Rosa changing her name from Rosa Daniel to Rosa Jean-Louis. Another half-brother of Rosa was most likely Samuel Daniel who married Olivia M. Readom. The marriage date given at the New Iberia Courthouse (succ. #3000, marr. #7056) indicates the date of 23 Nov 1931, however it probably occurred earlier. Witnesses to the marriage were Sanville Jacquet, Gilbert Jacquet and A. M. Daniel.

Roseline Jacquet and Julien Lambert had at least three children, the first three of which were all daughters: The first child born to the two was Louise Lambert born on 7 April 1893, and baptized on 24 June 1893 (SM.ch.v.13,p.275). The next child born to Julien and Roseline was Marie Rita Lambert who was born on 17 July 1896 (SM.ch.v.14,p.73). The next child born to Julien and Roseline was Liliane Lambert who was born on 4 October 1898 (SM.ch.v.14,p.173).

On the census of 1880, we find Roseline living with her parents, her eight other brothers and sisters and her uncle Onezime Jacquet. She is eleven years of age and she and her other five younger brothers and sisters have not attended school yet. Her older siblings Rosita, Oscar and Jean Louis are at school at the time of the census. When Roseline’s father Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet died in 1899, Roseline inherited a part of her father’s estate. She received 7 & ⁸/10 arpents (6.63 acres) of property #4, and 1 & ⁵³/100 arpents (1.3 acres) of property #2 of her father’s Estate during the Real Estate distribution to the wife and 13 children of Jolivet on February 4, 1904. The property was located in St. Martin Parish and had a total cash value of $243 (see pages 84 – 86 in volume one for a more detailed description).

ALBERT JACQUET

(5^th begotton son of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Albert Jacquet was the fifth child born between the union of Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. No birth/baptismal record has been found of him from the church but the birthdate of 21 June 1872 is given on his Louisiana death record (*74*). Albert Jacquet married Coralie Laurence (also spelled Lawrence and sometimes Lorins, as was the original French spelling) on 11 December 1893. Coralie was born circa 1870, and may have been the first child born to her parents Leon Laurence (also Lorins) and Cèlasie Trahan. Cèlasie’s brother Pierre Trahan would have a daughter named Marguerite Trahan who would later marry Albert’s brother Gilbert Jacquet.

Albert Jacquet and Coralie Laurence had at least eight children as far as the records show: The first child born to Albert and Coralie was Mary Bertha Jacquet. The second child born to Albert and Coralie was Joseph Lynch Jacquet. The third child born to Albert and Coralie was Joseph Turner Jacquet. The fourth child born to Albert and Coralie was Joseph Randolph Jacquet. The fifth child born to Albert and Coralie was Agnes Jacquet born on. The sixth child born to Albert and Coralie was Joseph Dallas Jacquet born. The seventh child born to Albert and Coralie was Marie Serina (or Corinna) Jacquet. Her baptismal record has her name spelled “Marie Serina”, but later documents, including the 1920 census has her name spelled “Corinna”. Fanuel Jacquet appears to be the last child found to be born between Albert and Coralie.

On the 1920 census taken in the first Ward of St. Martin Parish on the 14^th of January 1920, we find Albert Jacquet and his wife Coralie living with his younger brother Willie Jacquet and Willie’s wife Leontine Lawrence (also spelled Lorins and Laurence). The two brothers Albert and Willie Jacquet married the two sisters Coralie and Leontine Laurence. Also living under the household of Willie Jacquet were the rest of Albert’s children; sons Lynch at 23 years of age, Turner at 20 years of age, Randolph at 18 years of age, Dallas at 10 years of age and Fanuel listed as 7 years of age. Two daughters are also living with them: Anice (probably Agnes) listed as 14 years of age, and Corinna Jacquet listed as being 8 years of age. All of the ages seem to be from one to three years off according to their baptismal records. Albert, Lynch, Turner and Randolph are listed as farm laborers.

Albert Jacquet, the son of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis, died on the 20^th of February 1924 in St. Martinville at the age of 53, according to his death certificate, however he would have been 51 at the time of his death and would have reached his 52^nd birthday in June of 1924 according to his birth record. His death certificate says that he died of chronic lepolitis brought on from the overuse of alcohol and complications from a spirochete bacterium infection (*74*).

The Descendants of Albert Jacquet son of Jolivet & Rosa

1. Mary Bertha Jacquet born on 17 Oct 1894.

2. Joseph Lynch Jacquet was the second child born to Albert and Coralie. Joseph was born on 7 Jan 1896 in St. Martinville. Joseph Lynch died on 15 Dec 1948. He is buried in St. Martin de Tours Church cemetery. His tombstone says he served in World War I.

3. Joseph Turner Jacquet was the third child born to Albert Jacquet and Coralie Laurence on 3 Oct 1898. He married Evelyn Johnson. Turner and Evelyn had at least two children:

A. Gertrude Jacquet born circa 1925. Gertrude married Aaron Williams in New Iberia, Louisiana on 22 Feb 1944. Aaron was the son of Weekly Williams and Helen Broussard.

B. Robert James Jacquet born circa 1928. Robert James Jacquet married Lillie Lucile Latulas, born circa 1930. The couple was married in New Iberia on 2 May 1949. Lillie Latulas was the daughter of Aristide Latulas and Mabel Walker.

4. Joseph Randolph Jacquet was born on 15 Aug 1900. Randolph died in July 1972 in Louisiana. He may be the Randolph buried with his brother Lynch Jacquet in St. Martinville.

5. Agnes Jacquet was born on 1 May 1904.

6. Joseph Dallas Jacquet, the sixth child born to Albert Jacquet and Coralie Laurence, was born on 2 February 1907 and died in July 1958. He is buried in the St. Martinville Church cemetery. Joseph Dallas married Eliza Martin on 10 May 1941 in St. Martin Parish. Dallas and Eliza had five children:

A. Dallas Jacquet Jr.;

B. Embry J. Jacquet born on 19 Jan 1944. Embry died on 2 Sep 1982.

C. Warren Jacquet was the third child born to Dallas Sr.

D. Aaron Jacquet. Aaron had a son named Chandler Jacquet and a daughter named Lana Jacquet.

E. Janice Marie Jacquet.

7. Marie Serina (or Corinna) Jacquet was born on 30 Mar 1909. Her baptismal record has her name spelled “Marie Serina”, but later documents, including the 1920 census has her name spelled “Corinna”.

8. Fanuel Jacquet was the eighth child and last son born to Albert Jacquet and Coralie Laurence. He married Elisa Martin. Fanuel Jacquet died on 27 Jan 1977. Fanuel and Elisa had at least eleven children:

A. Gloria Jacquet who had three children: Cyd, Kim and Dominque;

B. Albert Jacquet

C. Jeanita Jacquet

D. Joyce Jacquet who had a son Nicolas

E. Josephine Jacquet who had a daughter Tamesha

F. Donna Jacquet who married and became Donna Rhinehart and had two sons named Robert and Joshua Rhinehart

G. Amanda Jacquet

H. Jocelyn Jacquet

I. Timothy Jacquet

J. Cora Jacquet

K. Tami Jacquet.

WILLIAM ALEXANDRE JACQUET

(6^th begotton son of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

William Alexandre Jacquet was the sixth child born between the union of Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. William was born on 25 Mar 1874 in Louisiana. At the age of 21, on 27 Nov 1895, William married Leontine Laurence (also seen spelled as Leontine Lorins) (*120*). Leontine Laurence was born on 5 May 1876 in St. Martin Parish Louisiana (SM.ch.V.11B,p.284). Leontine’s parents were Leon Laurence and his wife Cèlasie Trahan. Cèlasie’s brother Pierre Trahan would have a daughter named Marguerite Trahan who would later marry Albert’s brother Gilbert Jacquet. Leontine was a younger sister of Coralie Laurence, who became the wife of William’s older brother Albert Jacquet.

The spelling of Leontine’s surname as well as her sister’s and brothers can be also seen as “Lawrence” and it seems that on many documents the name is spelled as “Lorins”. This is due to the fact that the original name came from Leon’s father Hyppolite Lorins who was born in France. The name “Lorins”, which when spoken in French, sounds and translates to the English sound and spelling of “Law-rance”. On the succession document of William’s father Jolivet, the Real Estate inventory gives an account of a tract of land owned by Jolivet Jacquet as: “...acquired by Leon Lorins...bounded south by Leon Lorins, east of Bayou Tortue...”, however, four years later when the Real Estate was re-appraised, the same property is described in the exact manner as the first appraisal with the exception of the name spelling which is spelled in two different ways on the same page: “...bounded north by public road, south by land of Leon Lawrence, east by Bayou Tortue...same land bought by deceased from Leon Laurence...” (*35*) It would definitely appear that the spelling of Leon’s surname was changed from Lorins to Lawrence or Laurence during the second inventory. With the birth records of Leon’s children born between 1882 and 1893, we see the spelling evolve from Lorins to Laurens to Laurence!

William Jacquet and Leontine Lawrence had at least two children as far as the records show: Marie Laurie Jacquet who was born on 3 Feb 1902; and Aurelia Jacquet who was born in 1906. Aurelia Jacquet married twice. The first marriage was to Foster Coleman on 26 Jan 1921. There were three children born: Ethel Coleman who married Warren Marks; Joseph Coleman who married Bertha Trahan; and Mary Almetta Coleman who married Clarence Davis (*120*). The second marriage was to Paul Simon on 12 Feb 1934, but no children were born of the second marriage.

On the 1920 census we see Willie and his wife Leontine living on their property in St. Martin Parish. His older brother Albert Jacquet along with Albert’s wife Coralie Laurence and seven of their children are living with them. They live next to the Laurence families, which means that most likely this is the property of Leontine Laurence bequeathed to her from her father Leon Laurence. Pierre Trahan and his brother Jean Trahan live on both sides of the Laurence/Jacquet families. Celasie Trahan, the wife of Leon Laurence is the sister of both Pierre and Jean. Pierre Trahan’s daughter Marguerite Trahan had already married into the Jacquet family by wedding Willie’s younger brother Gilbert Joseph Jacquet.

Willie Jacquet almost lived to be 100 years old. He fell just six weeks short of his 100^th birthday. He died on 22 Feb 1974 in St. Martin Parish Louisiana. His granddaughter Ethel Coleman would petition to the St. Martin court for the inventory and distribution of her grandfather’s property.

“...The petition of Ethel Coleman, wife of Warren Marks of Texas, and Mary Almetta Coleman wife of Clarence Davis...that Willie Jacquet and Leontine Lorins were married once on 27 Nov 1895, and only one child was born: Aurelia Jacquet who married twice:

First to Foster Coleman, 26 Jan 1921 (Sm.ct.hse.marr.#11849), there was born three children: Ethel (Jacquet); Joseph (Jacquet) husband of Bertha Trahan; and Mary Almetta (Jacquet).

Second to Paul Simon on 12 Feb 1934 (Sm.ct.hse.marr.#14218). No children were born...”

“Willie died on 22 Feb 1974 in St. Martin Parish; Leontine died 10 Nov 1964 in St. Martin Parish; Aurelia died on 19 July 1973; Foster died in May 1926; Paul Simon died in 1942. The petitioners and their brother Joseph as being the only children of Aurelia Jacquet, the sole heirs of Willie Jacquet and Leontine Lorins are entitled to be placed in possession of all property left by their grandparents...

First – land on the west side of Bayou Teche 9 & ⁶/9 arpents north by public road, south by Leon Lorins, east by Albert Jacquet and west by Sanville Jacquet - $6,062

Second – Land on the west side of the Bayou Teche, 12.3 arpents bounded east by T. J. Labbe and west by the Coulee LaSalle - $8,610. Total real estate value = $14,672...” (*120*)

Although virtually all of William’s brothers and sisters had lost the property bequeathed to them when their father Jolivet died in 1899, it appears that Willie still retained his. Nine of Jolivet’s children drew the 87-arpent track of land listed as property #3 on the revised 1904 inventory/appraisal and each received 9 & 6/9 arpents (8.22 acres) each (*35*). This would be the property listed on William’s succession record as “First – land on the west side of Bayou Teche…”
MARTIN JACQUET

(7^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Martin Jacquet was the seventh child born to Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. Born on 23 Dec 1875, in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Martin was an early Christmas present for his parents. Martin did not have the opportunity to live a long and productive life, as he died three months before his 24^th birthday on 29 Aug 1899. This was but three months after his father Jolivet had passed away in May of the same year. There are no records found that would indicate Martin married or had children.

(sign that document line drawing)
PIERRE ST. VILLE JACQUET

(8^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Pierre St. Ville Jacquet was more commonly known by the Jacquet family as Stanville Jacquet. The name can also be seen as being spelled “Sanville” which is probably more correct in it’s pronunciation. This is probably due to the French pronunciation of the word “Saint” (St.) as “San”. Was Pierre Stanville named after a French Saint? If so, who was Saint Ville? No record can be found of any such Saint. Since Ville = City, perhaps there is a “holy city” he was named after. Stanville was the eighth child born to Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. Stanville was born 17 Feb 1877 in St. Martinville, Louisiana. Through the partitioning of Real Estate bequeathed from his deceased father Jolivet Jacquet, Pierre Stanville inherited 8.2 acres of land near Cade Louisiana, which at the time was worth the sum of $255 in 1904. (*35*)

Since there appears to have been another Jacquet in the same area with the same name, it is difficult to piece together the correct information about his marriages and children. The other possibility is that it could be the same Stanville Jacquet. Nevertheless, it appears that Stanville Jacquet married Marie Lea Augustin on 1 August 1905, in St. Martinville (SM.ct.hse.marr.#8739). We also see a marriage between Stainville Jacquet and Lillie Mouton on 21 August 1920 listed in the St. Martin courthouse (#11780) which says that Stainville Jacquet, age 37, is the son of the deceased Jean Baptiste Jacquet and the deceased Rosa Jean Louis. It says that he was never married. Born in 1877, Stanville is actually 43 years of age. Lillie Mouton is age 24, and the daughter of Urbin Mouton and Mary Alexense/or Aluyense/orAlufense. If this is indeed the correct “Urbin” then the wife he married was Angele Williams. Urbin (also Urbain) is the son of Augustin Mouton and Emerenthe Trahan/Schexneider. Emerenthe’s grand-daughter Margerite Trahan had married Stainville’s brother Gilbert Jacquet in 1903, so St. Ville was already an “In-law” of the Mouton family. Both of Lillie’s parents are still living.

There could be a good reason why the marriage license of Stanville’s second marriage to Lillie Mouton had the term “…was never married…” He may have been on one end of a “shotgun wedding” and married against his wish. There appears in the St. Martin Courthouse records a court-suit dated 2 November 1911 that Stanville bought against his wife Marie Lea Augustin:

“…The petition of Stainville Jacquet, that he was married August 1905 to Marie Lea Augustin and since the said marriage they have never lived together as man and wife. There were two children born of their marriage but both are dead. Petitioner said Marie Lea Augustin has never taken residence with him since marriage and has been guilty of adultery, especially during the year 1911 at or near Duchamp Station with one George Burke. He desires a divorce from her “A Vinculo Matrimonii”. Request that during the pendency of this suit that her domicile be fixed at her mother Leontine Broussard’s residency on the plantation of Mr. Louis Olivier at Duchamp Station, La…” (*275*)

There was also additional testimony from some of Stanville’s friends or relatives. One such notable testimony was from Joseph Jacob who testified that:

“…I live at Duchamp Station on Olivier’s plantation and had sexual intercourse with Marie Lea Augustin one time…I have seen the defendant at night goint to Balls at 11 or 12 o’clock at night. The marriage between plaintiff and defendant was a shotgun affair and immediately after marriage plaintiff left and did not live with her…”

It took the court case a little more than five months to conclude and for the court to come to a ruling after hearing all the evidence “…that in the support of plaintiff’s demand, the evidence being in favor of the plaintiff Stanville Jacquet, decreeing a divorce and that defendant pay all costs of this suit…” Stanville won this court battle but future court battles would not be so good. Stanville would be in the midst of his Jacquet brothers and sisters who had to fight to save their properties from being seized by creditors during the next 15 years. Stanville wasn’t the only Jacquet family member bringing their spouse to court on the charges of adultery. It was during the same time during Stanville’s currently open case, that his cousin Angelle Jacquet, the daughter of Belizaire Jacquet came to the St. Martin Courthouse on 1 February 1812 to sue (#10842) her husband for adultery:

“…The petition of Angelle Jacquet that she was legally married to Alcide Malveaux in the year 1887, from their marriage four children were born…she alleges that since over 3 years her husband has abandoned her…and committed adultery…and has lived in an open concubinage with one Italia Gardner of St. Martin Parish…”

Angelle Jacquet was victorious in her court case and was granted a divorce as well as permanent care and custody of her two minor children Wade Malveaux and Lilly Malveaux. Ex-husband Alcide had to pay the court costs.

Stanville Jacquet was next to be found living in the city of Lafayette. He purchased some property on 14 October 1926 from Edna Trahan, the wife of the late Danton J. Veazey:

“…Stanville Jacquet, who was married to Lilly Mouton, bougtht from Edna Trahan a lot of ground in the city of Lafayette, lot #6, of block #18 – 50 feet front on Foch Street, depth of 125 feet, bounded north by Fosh Street, south by lot #7, easty by lot #5, and west by Warne Street…sale was for $175.00 in which $58.00 was paid as a downpayment and $117.00 due in two equal annual installments of $58.50…” (*166*)

This piece of property was almost lost by Stanville in 1936. It was during this time that Stanville Jacquet on 19 September 1938, “...paid the city $10.02 in taxes owed for the year 1936...property lot #6, block #18 of the Veazey Addition...property redeemed, restoring rights, liens and mortgages of the city of Lafayette...” (*166*)

Stanville Jacquet’s wife Lillie Mouton would die in the year 1948 and Stanville would again marry for what is believed to be the third time in 1949 to Harry Lee George. Stanville did live a long and fruitful life well into his eighties, and was still fathering children at the age of 76! He had moved to Lafayette Louisiana with his family sometime in the 1920’s and would die there in June of 1963. His sister HeLouise Jacquet and nephew Mitchell Jacquet would petition to the Lafayette courthouse on 14 Feb 1964 for the settlement of his estate:

“...The petition of Louise Jacquet, her brother was Stanville Jacquet who died 22 June 1963, Mitchell Jacquet (nephew) appointed administrator. Stanville married Lillie Mouton who died in 1948. There was property left in the city of Lafayette...

Lot in city, lot #6, block #18, 50 feet on Foch street by 125 feet, north by Foch street, west by Marine street. $5350.00

He married second to Harry (Carrie) Lee George on 22 December 1949. Born from this marriage were:

1. Peter Stanville Jacquet Jr. born 3 September 1950, died in infancy.

2. A girl, no name, born in 1951, who died in infancy.

3. Joseph A Jacquet, born 18 October 1953. (now 12 years old)

Mrs. Harry Lee Clay will become the natural tutrix of Joseph...and is in custody of his mom Harry…” (*137*)

Stanville Jacquet married Harry Lee George on 22 December 1949. Harry was the daughter of Daniel George and Mary Alexander. Their first child Stanville Jacquet Jr. born on 3 September 1950, was baptized on 24 September 1950. His sponsoring Godparents were Felix George and Yola Mae Davis. Stanville Jacquet Jr. died in infancy. Things began to transpire between the interlude of their marriage and three children born that caused a short-term marriage. Harry Lee George was a 17 or 18-year-old girl when Stanville married her. Since he was 75 years old, it was an odd relationship. Stanville’s nephew Willie Jacquet recalls the odd relationship destined to end up in a bad way:

“…Uncle Stanville was 75 years old when he married Harry Lee who was only 17 or 18 years old at the time. Stanville was an insurance agent and he kept giving her money and I think she thought he had a lot more money so she married him. When she was about 20 or 21 years old, Stanville caught his wife with another guy in the act. The guy was a 25-year-old policeman. Stanville was crazy about the girl but it broke his heart and he had to let her go…”

It would be in 1956 that Stanville would seek to sever the bonds of matrimony with his wife Harry Lee George. On 4 Dec 1956, Stanville’s attorney Kaliste J. Saloom Jr. represented Stanville in court:

“…the law and evidence being in favor of the plaintiff…it is ordered that the preliminary default entered herein on 20 Nov 1956, be now confirmed and made final that there be judgement in favor of plaintiff, Stainville Jacquet and against defendant Harry Lee George, decreeing a divorce “a vinculo matrimonii” between them, forever dissolving the bonds of matrimony her to for existing…” (*223*)

Although we are not sure if Stanville in fact married three times, one certainty that we do know of is that Stanville must have been an extraordinary popular uncle and cousin, for no one attended and was witness to more family weddings than Stanville Jacquet! Illinois Jacquet described him as “Uncle Vin” and said he was the administrator of the legal aspects of Jacquet family property matters. The final words of Illinois about his uncle during an interview with the author were:

“Uncle Vin had a big house in Lafayette with lots of pecan trees on it. He was a playboy and was responsible for some of the legal screw-ups that led to many of the Jacquet family members losing their property.”

ATHANAISE JACQUET

(9^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

Athanaise Jacquet (also seen spelled as Athenais) was the ninth child born to Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. She was just the third daughter born to them. Athanaise was born on 8 Sep 1878 in St. Martinville Louisiana. Her name is sometimes seen in the record books as Adelaide Jacquet. When Athanaise was at the age of 23, she married Adolphe Allen on 16 Apr 1902. Adolphe Allen was the son of Charles Allen and Adalaide Alexandre (*105*). Athanaise’s brother Sanville Jacquet, her uncles Jean Baptiste Daniel and Pop Fils Jacquet were witnesses at the wedding. Athanaise and Adolphe had at least six children: Rose Allen; Ulysse Allen; Edreck Allen; Mary Effie Allen; Norris Allen who was born in 1905, but died at a very young age in the year 1911, and Laura Allen born in 1907, but died at the age of 9 in May 1916.

Athanaise Jacquet died on 7 June 1912, and it was her husband that petitioned to the St. Martin Parish court in 1926, for the appraisal and inheritance of the estate of Athanaise:

“The petition of Adolphe Allen, this 29^th day of May 1926, that his wife Athenais Jacquet died 7 June 1912, whom was married once on 29 March 1902. Six children were born: Rose Allen (major), Ulysse Allen (Minor), Edrick Allen (minor), Mary Effie Allen (minor), Norris Allen who died September 1912 age 6, and Laura Allen who died May 1916 age 9... On 29 May 1926, Adolphe Allen sold and transferred to daughter Rose all titles inherited by Laura and Norris.

Property:

1^st – Undivided 1/13 of land at Coteau, 60 acres bound north and east by Mrs. C. M. Olivier, south by public road, west by Louis P. Olivier formerly of Anatole Cormier. Value = $150.00.

2^nd – Land – 36 arpents, north by Rufus Jacquet, south by Bourque, east by Anatole Cormier, west by Edouard Jacquet. Value = $90.00

3^rd – Land at Coteau, 7 ⁷⁹/₁₀₀ arpents, north by Henry Thomas Sr., south by road, east by Roseline Jacquet, west by Rosita Jacquet, said parcel designated as lot #2 of sketch #2 of partition between heirs of Jean Baptiste Jacquet = $300.00 (see sketch on page 88 of volume 1)

4^th – Land in same local, 1 ⁵³/₁₀₀ arpents, north by Rosita Jacquet, south by Roseline Jacquet, east by Anatole Cormier, west by Edouard Jacquet and designated lot #3 of sketch #3...The other 12/13 of the above described property being owned by petitioner Louis P. Olivier, under a sheriffs sale in the matter of suit of Mrs. Francis Kiernan, vs Stanville Jacquet, et.als. and which sheriffs sale (64 ¼ arpents) was recorded in April 1926, in book 101, folio 254, under #47122 of convenyances of St. Martin Parish.” (*134*)

When the remaining 12 brothers and sisters of Athenaise Jacquet Allen sold their property to Charles Smedes in 1913 for a short-term loan, Athenaise was the only portion of the 13 not involved. The Jacquet brothers would later buy it back but could not keep up with the mortgage payments and eventually lost the property to the Smedes brothers.
Chapter

5-J Gilbert Joseph Jacquet

(10^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis)

This chapter on Gilbert Jacquet will no doubt be the longest chapter of the history book. Within the life story of Gilbert Jacquet includes the Trahan historical side belonging to his wife Margaret Trahan; the famous music careers of his two sons Russell Jacquet and Illinois Jacquet; the children of Russell Jacquet of which one includes the author of this book Russell Jacquet Acea; and the author’s mother Elizabeth Egas and her family history, the Egas, Mallory and Acea families.

Gilbert Joseph Jacquet was the tenth child and the seventh son born to Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. Gilbert was born on a hot summer’s day on the 28^th of June 1881, in St. Martinville Louisiana. He was but 17 years of age and still a minor when his father Jolivet passed away in 1899. There was much Real Estate owned by Gilbert’s father that had to be distributed among the 13 surviving brothers and sisters, approximately 210 acres worth. The land was equally distributed amongst the children and Gilbert’s mother Rosa Jean Louis. Gilbert received 8.217 acres as his inheritance (*35*). Gilbert’s portion of land was originally a 92 arpent tract of land his father Jolivet Jacquet had purchased from his in-law Leon (Lorins) Laurence. Leon’s neice Marguerite Trahan would marry Gilbert in 1903. The land, in St. Martin parish at The Coteau, near Cade Louisiana, was bounded north by public road, east by the Bayou Tortue, south by lands of Leon Laurence and west by lands of Charles Honore and Constance Honore. The 92-arpent tract of land was divided up into nine separate parcels of land to be distributed to the children of Jolivet, each portion to be 9 & ⁶/9 arpents (8.2 acres). Five arpents had previously been allocated to Constance Honore (*35*, and also SM.ct.hse.convey #30239). Gilbert’s land was the western most portion that bordered the land of Charles Honore. He was bounded east by his sister Rose Jacquet, wife of Louis Jean Baptiste. Some of the land as of this day is in dispute at the courthouse level with oil companies that had “leased” the land from Gilbert Jacquet. The oil companies claim that “no oil was ever drilled out of the land!”

Since Gilbert as well as four of his other younger brothers and sisters were under the age of 21 and still minors, the family of Jacquets initially decided to wait until all of the children were of adult age before partitioning the vast amount of Real Estate their father had left behind. This was initially decided at a family meeting following the death of Jolivet Jacquet in 1899 (*38*). The court had confirmed their mother Rosa to be the natural tutor of the five minor children. Under the guidance of the five brothers of Jolivet Jacquet – Pierre, Belizaire, Oscar, Edward and Onezime Jacquet, the family of Jacquets would later reconsider this decision in 1904 as the family of Jacquets would then collectively decide that it was not in the best interest of the family to wait until all five of the children had reached adult age before dividing up the property. They would have had to wait until at least the year 1910, before Michel (Mitchel) Jacquet, the youngest son, would have reached the age of 21 years. Thus in the year 1904, the family decided to partition the Real Estate of the deceased father Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet. Gilbert was allotted 8.2 acres of land near the city of Cade, Louisiana. The land at that time had a cash value of $255. Gilbert by this time had reached legal adulthood. Gilbert had been under the natural tutorship of his mother Rosa. His uncle S. Philogene Daniel had acted as the under-tutor between the time of his father’s death and his adulthood.

On the eve of the new-year of 1913, came the requests for loans from the Smedes brothers using their inherited Jacquet property as collateral. On the 27^th of December 1912, Gilbert Jacquet and two of his brothers – Willie and Albert Jacquet, came into the St. Martin courthouse to sign a “cash deed” contract with the Smedes brothers:

“…Personnally came and appeared Gilbert Jacquet the husband of Marguerite Trahan…he did and does grant, bargain, sell, transfer…unto Charles E. Smedes and Harry Smedes, both batchelors…that certain tract of land with all the buildings and improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto belonging, situated in the first ward of the Parish of St. Martin, Louisiana, measuring nine and six ninths (9-6/9) arpents in superficial area, bounded north by public road, south by property of Leon Lorins, east by property of Rose Jacquet, and west by property of Willie Jacquet; being lot no. 9 (nine) of the plat annexed to the partition effected between Oscar Jacqet et.als., recorded in book of conveyances no.59, folio 715 under no.30240, of the conveyance records of the clerk’s and recorders office of the Parish of St. Martin, Louisiana…This sale is made and accepted for and in consideration of the price and sum of Three hundred and ninety one & 51/100 dollars, $391.51…” (*211*)

The property Gilbert signed over to the Smedes for a loan was what he inherited when he father Jolivet Jacquet died in 1899 (*35, 38*). The Jacquet families would soon learn that the Smede brothers were prompt in calling in their loans and eventually seized the Jacquets property when they did not pay. According to the St. Martin Courthouse records, it was on 11 January 1916 that the petition of Charles E Smedes and Henry D Smedes was entered there suing Louis Jacquet for money he owed them. Louis would not be able to pay up and lost his portion of the property to the Smedes brothers. (*162*)

“…the 10^th of January 1917, Charles E. Smedes sold unto Stanville Jacquet, Michel Jacquet husband of Rosalie Jean Louis, Albert Jacquet husband of Coralie Lorins, Gilbert Jacquet husband of Marguerite Trahan, Willie Jacquet husband of Leontine Lorins, Louis Jacquet husband of Valerie Gardner, each purchasing by equal undivided shares: The undivided 12/13^th owned by the vendor by purchase from above named purchasers and Rosita Jacquet wife of Demosthenes Stiener, Oscar Jacquet, Rufus Jacquet, Roseline Jacquet wife of Julien Lambert, Rose Jacquet wife of Louis Jean Baptiste, Heloise Jacquet wife of Auguste Michel, in and to the estate of Rosa Jean Louis, widow of Alexandre Jean Baptiste (Jolivette) Jacquet estate…at Coteau in the first ward of St. Martin Parish, 60 acres (70.84 arpents), north by C.M. Olivier, south by public road, east by C.M. Olivier, west by Anatole Cormier. 2^nd land in same locality 42 acres belonging to Rufus Jacquet (9 ½ arpent, Roseline Jacquet (1 ½ arpent), Rosita (1 ½ arpent), Rose (1 ½ arpent) taken from north portion of said land bounded north by Rufus and others, south by Bourque, east by A. Cormier, west by Edward Jacquet…sale made for $3485.00, payments in 4 promisary notes for $871.25 annually…” (*224*)

Everyone signed the document in his or her own signatures except for Demosthenes, Louis Jean Baptiste and Auguste Michel who made their “X” mark as their signature. The final blow to the loss of the Gilbert Jacquet portion of property probably came in 1926, when Gilbert and his family had already moved to Houston. On 17 February 1926, the widow of Francis Kiernan sued Gilbert for an unpaid amount of $2600.39 that had been two years past due as of 1 January 1924. Gilbert had paid $6.90 on 1 Jan 1925 for interest and $130.19 on 1 Jan 1926. Mrs Francis Kiernan sued in court. The St. Martin courthouse document says:

“…she alleges that Gilbert Jacquet, now residing in Houston, Texas and has no known agents in this state to represent him…desires that after the legal delays a writ of seizure and sale be issued from the court…”

The judge ordered Valsin A. Fournet, an attorney of the court, as special attorney to represent Gilbert Jacquet an absentee as well as legally represent the minor children Dallas Jacquet, Agnes Jacquet, Fanuell Jacquet and Cerina Jacquet. All are the minor children of the deceased Albert Jacquet, husband of Coralie Laurence. With the exception of “one cabin and one corn brib belonging to Gilbert Jacquet…” All of the property by 12 of the 13 Jacquet children of Jolivet and Rosa were lost in “…a writ of seizure and sale shall issue against you, directed to the Sheriff and ex-officio tax collector…” (*224, 225*). So Gilbert was off to Texas and it appears that he was not intending to return to live in Louisiana nor to re-claim his property. What was the reason for giving up on the property? The great flood of 1927, which drove many black families out of Louisiana when their lands were destroyed, had not arrived yet. Was it the opportunity to launch his music career? Or was it a new opportunity to raise his six children in a better environment in Texas?

It was Gilbert Jacquet who would lay the foundation of musicianship that would become a family tradition for his sons and daughters. At an early age Gilbert learned to play instruments, ALL OF THEM in fact! Gilbert’s son Illinois Jacquet said “he learned them all from his father.” Amongst the many friends and neighbors of Gilbert and the Jacquet family were the Trahan family and it was not too soon that Gilbert met and courted a beautiful young woman named Marguerite Isola Trahan. Just a few weeks after Gilbert had notched his 22^nd birthday, he would marry Marguerite Trahan on 18 July 1903. The Reverend Justin Mirat, Vicar of Vermillion Parish, married the two at the Saint Mary Magdalen church in Abbeville, Louisiana according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Gilbert’s brother Willie Jacquet along with Henry St. Briggs and William Smith, witnessed the marriage. (*75*) Marguerite was but 18 years old at the time of their marriage. Marguerite Trahan was the daughter of Pierre Trahan and Marie John or Johns or more likely “Jones”. Later documents refer to her as Mary Jones. Marguerite’s mother Marie John had died sometime in the last three or four years of the 19^th century (circa 1896-1899), and so it was probably easier for her father Pierre to give away his young daughter in marriage. Marguerite was born in Abbeville, Louisiana on 2 Nov 1884, or at least the baptismal certificate says so. Records from St. Mary Magdalen church in Abbeville indicate that both Marguerite and her brother Jean “Troy” Trahan were both born on 2 Nov 1884, thus the baptismal certificates of both Marguerite Isola Trahan and her brother Jean Troy Trahan (known to the family as John “Deuce” Troy), indicates that both Marguerite and her brother Jean Troy Trahan were a set of twins born on 2 Nov 1884. This was indeed a big surprise as no one in the Jacquet and Trahan families had ever remotely heard, in past family historical discussions, of any talk of Margaret and John “Deuce” being twins! The Reverend M. Simon baptized both children on 19 Nov 1887. The fact that the baptismal took place three years after the supposed birth date gives speculation to the theory that 2 Nov 1884, is the true birth date of only one of the two children with the other child being given the same birth date as the other for a number of possibilities. Both baptismal certificates give the father as Pierre Trahan and the mother as Marie John. Marguerite’s sponsoring Godparents were Hilaire William and Natilia Baudoin. Jean’s sponsoring Godparents were Ophelias Baudoin and Artemise Divaille (*76*). It seems likely that Ophelias and Natilia were sisters or close relatives. Whose side of the Trahan or John family they were related to, if at all, remains to be determined.

Marguerite Trahan and the Trahan Family

Gilbert Jacquet’s wife Marguerite Trahan, known to the Jacquet family simply as Margaret and also as “Maggie”, was the third or fourth child of six born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John. Since we do not know with absolute certainty that Margaret and her brother John were truly a set of twins born on 2 Nov 1884 as baptismal records show, it will remain undetermined who was the older sibling. Even if they were in fact twins, there still remains the unanswered question, who was born first?

Margaret Trahan’s parents were Pierre Trahan and Marie John. The Reverend Alexandre Méhault married Pierre and Marie in Abbeville Louisiana on 27 Oct 1879, at St. Mary Magdalen church in Abbeville, according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. Witnesses to the marriage were Willis Green Jr., Jos. Williams and Eloi Broussard (*189*). It must be noted that Marie John’s name is written on the marriage certificate from the Abbeville church as “Mary Jones” and this may or may not be the true spelling of the name. The phonetic pronunciation of both the names “Johns” and “Jones” are almost identical, especially in the light of French pronunciation in those days. The fact that the original recorder of the baptismal information in 1879 wrote down her name in the Anglo version “Mary” instead of the French version of “Marie”, gives credence to the possibility that “Johns” was Anglicized to “Jones” as well. It also indicates the possibility that the name could also have been “Jean” since the French pronunciation of Jean is virtually the same as the English pronunciation of “John”. All other documents after the marriage indicate Marie’s surname as “John” and sometimes as “Johns”. About Marie John’s genealogy, little is known as of this point. It was very difficult to find anything at all on her and for many years not even her name was known. Family relatives had previously said “you will never find any information on her”, and to this day they were almost correct. Stories of family history passed down through the generations told that Margaret Trahan’s mother was of pure Sioux Indian decent. Illinois Jacquet remembers as a young boy how the family talked about “Margueret’s Indian Mother.” How much truth there is to this story has yet to be determined. Mary Jacquet Simmons, grand-daughter of Marie John, has told the story passed down to her from her mother Margaret Trahan that:

“...My grandfather Peter (Pierre) Trahan, came down from Canada on his way to Louisiana. He wanted to marry but did not want to marry a White woman, he did not want to marry a Black woman. One day he came across a Sioux Indian tribe and became very friendly with the people of the Indian tribe. When he was ready to depart, he wanted to leave with a Sioux Indian woman he had become quite fond of and he wanted to have her as his wife. The only problem was that she happened to be the daughter of the Sioux Indian Chief of the tribe. Peter Trahan asked the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The Sioux Indian Chief’s response was that Peter could have her for his wife but the price would be the exchange of nine horses. Somehow Peter came up with the herd of horses and departed with his wife, the daughter of the Sioux Indian Chief, en route to Louisiana...”

How much of absolute truth there is to this story still remains to be seen. Pierre’s nephew was Baptiste Trahan Jr. and It seems that this particular story would have been better associated with the parents of Baptiste Trahan‘s wife Mary Nolan. Nevertheless, the story would fit someone like Pierre Trahan who was very fair skin and passed for white on many occasions. However, being branded as “mulatto” would have put him under great peer pressure to continue tradition and marry into the same mulatto race, a situation which Pierre appears to have not followed. Thus far, no records have been found in the research that would indicate that Marie John was or was not full blooded or part Sioux Indian, so we cannot rule out the possibility that she did in fact have Sioux Indian blood of some portion in her. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the story told probably has it’s truth somewhere in the ancestry of Marie John, perhaps it was her father or grandfather who was the main character in this story, or perhaps it was an earlier ancestor of Pierre Trahan who in fact is the subject of this story. The only “Indian John” that can be found in the record books of the area was a “Marcelina John” who was “an Indian” according to the death record when she died on 14 September 1900 at the age of 75. She had married Jackson Courteau and was buried in Gibson according to the church record (mc.ch:sh:v.1,p.23). Could there be a relation? Since no one had known of the names of these Native American Indian father and daughter, we have always called them “Chief Sioux” and “Princess Sioux” and will continue to do so until proof for or against has been established that they are indeed part of the Jacquet/Trahan family history legacy.

The Native American Sioux Indian Tribes

The tribes of the Sioux Indian nation originally lived in the area around Lake Superior. “Dakota” is the name the Sioux called themselves. The French ruled the area in the early American history and gave them the name Sioux. There were three main divisions of the Sioux: Santee, Yankton, and Teton, calling themselves, respectively, Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota. The Santee, or Eastern Sioux, comprised the Mdewkanton, Wahpeton, Wahpekute, and Sisseton; the Yankton included the Yankton and Yanktonai; and the Teton, or Western Sioux, had seven main divisions – the Sihasapa, or Blackfoot; Brulé (Upper and Lower); Hunkpapa; Miniconjou; Oglala; Sans Arcs; and Oohenonpa, or Two-Kettle. During the middle of the 17^th century, prolonged warfare with the Ojibwa tribe drove the Santee into Minnesota and both the Yankton and Teton divisions relocated to the plains of North and South Dakota. By the 19^th century, the territory of the nomadic Teton and Yankton Sioux included the area between the Missouri River and the Teton Mountains and between the Platte River on the south and the Yellowstone River on the North, an area of land which today consists of the Northern portion of both Wyoming and Nebraska, the western portion of both of the Dakota states, and the southwestern portion of Montana. Of all the plains tribes, the Sioux were the most warrior-like and the most resolute in resisting white men’s incursions upon their land. Trouble began with the Gold Rush of 1849, followed by the U.S. government’s attempt to build a road to Bozeman Montana across their favorite hunting grounds in the Bighorn Mountains. In 1865, Red Cloud (“MAHPIUA LUTA” b.1822-1909), an Oglala Sioux Chief, led thousands of Sioux warriors in a campaign to halt the construction of the road. A treaty was made only to soon be broken when Gold was found in the Black Hills of North Dakota. On June 25^th of 1876, one of the most famous battles took place at Little Bighorn. There was a great tribal celebration of the big Buffalo hunt among the Sioux and Cheyenne Indian Nation tribes in the valley of the Little Big Horn river and Big Horn mountains that was suddenly interrupted with a surprise attack by Colonel Custer and his troops. Led by Sioux Nation Chief Sitting Bull (“TATANKA IYOTAKE” b.1831-1890), Oglala Sioux Chief Crazy Horse (“TA-SUNKO-WITKO” b.1842-1877), Oglala Sioux Chief Low Dog (‘XUNKA KUCIYEDAN” b.1846), Sioux Chief Red Horse (“TASUNKE LUTA”), Hunkpapa Sioux Chief Crow King (“KANGI YATAPI” d.1884), and Hunkpapa Sioux Chief Gall (“PIZI” b.1840-1894), a large contingent of Sioux and Cheyenne tribes were able to overwhelm Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and wipe out his entire band of 266 men and Crow Indian scouts. As can be seen by old photographs of the Sioux Indian Chiefs, the Sioux people were a very darkskinned race, much darker than most Black people in America today! There can be no doubt that whether by African/Egyptian explorers who traveled to the Americas centuries before Christopher Columbus, by runaway slaves or free men of color, this particular race of people had infusions of black people into their gene pool sometime during the preceding centuries.

The SIOUX Nation

Santee(Dakota) Yankton(Nakota) Teton(Lakota)

I I I

Mdewkanton Yankton Sihasapa (Blackfoot)

Wahpeton Yanktonai Brulé

Wahpekute Hunkpapa

Sisseton Miniconjou

Oglala

Sansarc

Oohenonpa (Two-Kettle)

Other information given on the Marriage certificate between Pierre Trahan of New Iberia Parish and Marie John tells us that “Mary Jones” is the daughter of Etienne Jones and Marguerite and that she was under 21 years of age. Since the marriage took place in October of 1879, and Marie John has not reached her 21^st birthday, Marie could not have been born before October of 1858. The 1880 census thus far has shed the only light on this subject as it gives Pierre, a Mulatto of age 26, and his wife Mary, a Black female of 20 years of age placing her birth year at 1860. Pierre’s birth-year appears to be circa 1854, which would put him at approximately 25 years of age at the time of the marriage. Marie most likely was between the age of 17 and 20, placing her birth year circa 1860-1861. Attempts to verify and cross reference information given by the Abbeville church with similar information given at the Abbeville courthouse proved to be difficult as we run into an outcome of bad luck. There was a fire at the courthouse in 1893, which destroyed virtually all of the courthouse records in Abbeville prior to the year 1893. Only six volumes entitled “Burnt Remains” are all that is left of older records at the Abbevile courthouse, most of which are re-inscribed records which occurred between 1900 and 1912 when Abbeville residents came back into the courthouse with copies of documents they had in order to prove ownership of property, spousal relationships and items bought, sold or owed. The Abbeville Catholic Church also caught fire in the early decade of the 20^th century and was rebuilt in 1910 and for a while the church changed the name to “St. Anne’s” from 1911 until 1918, then the name of St. Mary Magdalen was used once more. On 12 February 1911, the first High Mass was celebrated by Father Laforest in the new Catholic Church. On 20 February 1911, “Mr. Ode Trahan and Miss Constance Frederick of Perry’s Bridge” became the first couple to take marriage vows in this new church. The first funeral was that of Mrs. William Myers which also took place on that day.

Since only one name “Marguerite” is given for Marie John’s mother, the possibility exists that Marguerite was a slave, however, no indication was given on the marriage document that Marie’s mother Marguerite was dead, and by the time of 1879, all ex-slaves had surnames. So why just the one name? If this is Marie’s “Indian mom” it might make sense that she would retain only one name, a tradition many Native American Indians followed centuries ago. If Marie was born circa 1860, then she would have been born when slavery was still the law of the land. With this marriage in 1879, we are only 14 years removed from the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of all Slaves. It was a time when all slaves took on a new surname. In order to fit in as citizens of the United States it would have been in their best interest to do this. Only a few had not done so yet. Pierre Trahan was extremely fair skinned and passed for white in most circles of society in his days, but evidence shows that he was considered “colored” or “mulatto” as listed on various documents. The census takers in Louisiana always made a distinction between “Black”, “White” or “Mulatto” with regards to the race of each individual, and Pierre was always checked off as “Mulatto”. Pierre’s wife Mary is listed as “Black” on the 1880 census but could it be that the two of them, Pierre and his wife Mary were of the same cloth? That is, of mixed race parents? Dalton Trahan, grandson of Pierre, tells the story of the time in the early to mid 1920’s when Pierre became ill and had to check into a “white hospital”. However, when his children came a week later to visit him, the hospital found out that he was really “colored” and ordered him to check out of the hospital immediately. The grandchildren of Pierre who knew him before he died said that with his bald head and handlebar mustache, you could stand him next to any white man and you could not see any difference in race between the two. Stories tell of some of Pierre’s relatives making him an outcast for marrying into a “colored” family. Since Pierre’s brother and sister both married into mixed race or Black families, then perhaps it was Pierre’s White relatives on his mother’s or father’s side who shunned the “colored side” of the Trahan tree.

Information regarding the birthplace of Marie John has been elusive as of the time of this writing. Perhaps there is some truth to the story that Pierre brought his wife from outside of Louisiana. Records of Louisianans with the last name John or Johns are very limited. There is an Etienne Jones who earns a living as a “field hand” listed on the 1870 census taken on 14 June, as living in St. Mary Parish, a neighboring parish to the south of St. Martin Parish. This particular Etienne Jones is listed as a black male of 47 years of age. Living with him are Jane Jones, 40 years of age; John Jones, 5 years of age; and Etienne Jones Jr. at the age of one. Ten years later, we see another man named Etienne Jones age 40, black male in the city of Franklin, St. Mary Parish. His wife is Clara Jones age 29, and there are two children – Edward Jones 13 and Cornelius Jones 10. Since there are far more families with the name “Jones” than “Johns” who live in St. Mary Parish, and that Mary Jones was said to have come from St. Mary Parish, and that no one can be found with the name Etienne Johns, it is almost with certainty that the name of her father was Etienne Jones and could very well be the man born circa 1823. The only other “Mary Jones” that would match the description of the one in question is from the same census of St. Mary Parish which lists a ten year old Black female named Mary Jones living with a 39 year old Black male named Edward Jones, a field hand born in North Carolina. Two younger children – Alphonse Jones (2 years old) and Kitty Jones (7 months old) along with 22-year-old Charlotte Jones live there with Edward.

Another possible connection to Mary Jones/John/Johns family may come from the 1920 census. There we find in the same area in five successive households – four Jacquet families and a family of “John”. Gilbert Jacquet and his wife Marguerite Trahan Jacquet live in the middle of the five successive households along with their children (including 3 month old Illinois Jacquet). In the next household we find Gilbert’s older brother Oscar Jacquet and family, and next to them is a household headed by 43-year-old Pharness John and his wife Corille John. Their eight children live with them, all with the name John. Pharness John’s brother Macina John and Pharness’ 79-year-old aunt named Cecilia Leroy both live with him. Could this family be relatives of Marguerites mother Mary John? Marguerite Trahan Jacquet is 37 years old according to the census and birth records, which match up. Pharness John is 43 so this could indicate a first cousin if this is a John family related to her mother.

Trahan Family Photos

Pierre Trahan (lower right)

Born on 21 September 1853 in Vermillion

Parish. He married Marie John (or Jones)

Three of Pierre Trahan and Marie John’s

Six Children:

Marguerite Trahan (lower left)

Born or baptized on 2 Nov 1884 in Abbeville.

She married Gilbert Joseph Jacquet

Marie Noella Trahan (upper left)

Born on 16 March 1889 in Abbeville, La.

She married 1^st - Johnny Mayfield,

2^nd – Mr. Broussard, 3^rd – Mr. Butler

Ambroise Trahan (upper right)

Born on 4 April 1896 in Abbeville, La.

Pierre Trahan and the Trahan Family

The Trahan name is of French origin and is one of the original Acadian names. Settlers came from Northern France during the 1600’s in search for the new world. When the French came over to North America, many of them settled in the Canadian provinces, particularly in the Nova Scotia area. Guillaume Trahan, the son of Nicholas Trahan and Renee Desloges, was the first Trahan to come over from France into North America. All of the Trahans in this country are related to Guillaume Trahan. Guillaume (William in English) is “the father” of all Trahans of North America. The circumstances that bought Guillaume from France to Acadia, North America may never be known. One theory is that he came here as a means of escaping to a new land abundant with forestation. Guillaume was a toolsmith and this would have been a perfect environment for him in those days. Previous to his decision to leave France, Guillaume had been charged with illegally cutting wood for his hearth from the private forest of Cardinal Richeleau, a top minister of the French government. Regardless of the reasons, Guillaume Trahan and his first wife Françoise Charbonneau, and their two young daughters along with a valet, sailed on 1 April 1636 for Acadia on the ship “St. Jehan” (*187*).

Guillame Trahan was born in France in the year 1611. He married his second wife Madalaine Brun in 1665. Madalaine was born in 1646, and was but 19 years of age. Madalaine was the daughter of Vincent Brun (b.1616), and Marie Brot (perhaps Reneé Brode). The two had three sons which became the forerunners of the Trahans in America, Alexandre Trahan who married Marie Pellerin; Guillame Trahan Jr. who married Jacqueline Benoit, and Jean-Charles Trahan, born in 1671, who married Maria Thibodaux-Boudrot. Alexandre Trahan is the line that Pierre and his father Evariste Trahan descended from. Alexandre Trahan, his wife and family were listed in census of Les Mines, Acadia in 1693, 1700, 1703 and 1709. They were at Pisiquid, Acadia in 1714. They fled to ILE-St-Jean, Acadia in 1750. Alexandre’s wife died on 27 August 1756.

The TRAHAN Direct Descendancy Line

NICOLAS TRAHAN

b. in France ca. 1570’s

m. Reneé DeLonges

GUILLAUME TRAHAN

b. 1611, Montreuil-Bellay, France

d. 1682, Port Royal, Acadia, Canada

m.1^st Françoise Charbonneau 1630

m. 2^nd Madelaine Brun 1665

Guillame Jr. ALEXANDRE TRAHAN Jean Charles

b. 1670, Port Royal, Acadia, Canada

d. May 1751, Ile-St. Jean, Canada

m. Marie Pellerin, 1689, Port Royal, Canada

Etienne Alexandre Claude Marguerite Paul JEAN TRAHAN Madeleine Rene Jn Bte AnneMarie Claire Joseph

b. 1690, Port Royal, Acadia, Canada

Buried 25 Mar 1758, St. Charles, Bellechase

m. Marie Girouard 1714

Josephine Benjamin Oliver Brigitte Charles Honore Françoise Paul Louise Jn Bte Agatha Marguerite Pierre

JOSEPH CLAUDE TRAHAN

b. 1740, Acadia, Canada

d. in Acadia, Canada

m. Elizabeth Aucoin

JOSEPH TRAHAN

b. 1762, Acadia, Canada

d. ca. 1792, Louisiana

m. Françoise Pitre 24 June 1783, St. Martinville, Louisiana

Caroline Joseph b.1784 Anastasie b.1787 CHARLES TRAHAN Jean b.1789 Marguerite b.1792 Aspasie

b. 1786, Vermillion Parish, Louisiana

d. 12 Nov 1862, Louisiana

m. Marie Helöise LeBlanc, 13 Jan 1807, St. Martinville

Clarisse1807 Carmelite1810 Eloy1812 Onezime1814 EVARISTE TRAHAN Charles Aspasie1818 Arthemise1824 Cèleste1826

b. 29 Mar 1821, Vermillion/St. Martin Parish

d. 21 Jan 1891, Abbeville, La.

m. Adelaide Savoy 17 Oct 1841

Fathered 3 children with Emerante Trahan/Schexneider

Edezie Deire1843 Adeline Philomon1850 Odilon PIERRE TRAHAN Gustave1857 Euphemon Arthur1860 Célasie Jean

b. 21 Sep 1853, Vermillion Parish, La.

d. 30 Dec 1930, Lake Charles, La.

m. Mary Jones/Johns 27 Oct 1879. Abbeville, La.

Pauline1880 Leonard1883 Jean Troy1884 MARGUERITE ISOLA TRAHAN Marie Noelie1889 Pierre Ambroise1896

b. 2 Nov 1884, Abbeville, La.

d. 24 June 1943, Houston, Tx.

m. Gilbert Joseph Jacquet, 18 July 1903, Abbeville, La.

The Land of Acadia, Origin of the “Cajuns”

The North American area of French settlers in the Nova Scotia area became known as “Acadia”. The Acadians arrived in what is now eastern Canada in the early 1600’s. War between France and England was continuous and the area came into English control. It was in 1713, when the fall of Acadia came about and they became British subjects under the treaty of Utrecht. Between the years 1755 and 1763, French speaking Acadians, the original French speaking settlers in eastern Canada, fled the area or were exiled and deported back to France or to other North American areas. The English gave the French the choice of paying allegiance to the King of England or leave the area. Many refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Britain and chose to leave rather than risk the chance of fighting against their own French brothers in the likely and highly probable case of another war between France and Britain. Some Trahan families fled to Halifax, Nova Scotia; Princess Anne, Maryland; Port Tobacco, Maryland; and various places in Louisiana to become one of the original Louisiana Acadians. Martin Navarro helped settle some Acadians in the Spanish colonial territory of Louisiana and this began the seven Acadian expeditions to Louisiana in 1785. The Trahan name became a very common name in Louisiana after this time. The name Acadian was meant to identify a particular group of people who had come from France and settled in Acadia, the area of Nova Scotia. When they came south into Louisiana, the name was kept, but the sound of “Acadian” became corrupted to “a Cajun”. It would take 240 years after this event Acadians call “Le Grand Derangement” (The Great Upheaval), that Canada would formally acknowledge publicly that a great wrong had been done to some 11,000 French speaking Acadians deported from Atlantic Canada between 1755 and 1763. In December of 2003, a royal proclamation was issued in the name of Queen Elizabeth II, who was Canada’s head of State, that 28 July 2005 would begin a commemorative day each year in remembrance of the great deportation (*195*). Acadians were allowed to return in the year 1764, and by the turn of the 21^st century, there were about 300,000 Acadians living in Atlantic Canada.

Pierre Trahan was born on the 21^st of September in the year 1853. He was baptized on 20 January 1855 in the Abbeville St. Mary Magdalen Church. Records of his birth and family had been hard to locate due to the fact that most of the records were in the Abbeville courthouse when it burned down in the great fire of 1885 and that the Abbeville church failed to have their slave baptismal records copied into Father Hebert‘s “Records of South-West Louisiana“. Pierre Trahan was married in Abbeville and most of his children were baptized there, however, New Iberia may be the location of Pierre’s wife’s roots as he moved there before he married her. The marriage document of 1879, at the Abbeville church in Vermilion parish says that Pierre “was from New Iberia parish” and on the 1870 census, just eight months after the marriage, Pierre is living with his newlywed wife Marie John in New Iberia parish.

About the birth-year of Pierre, several sources gave us the approximate date of 1854. We know from the marriage certificate that Pierre was over 21 years of age at the time of the marriage on 27 Oct 1879. This places Pierre’s birthday before October of 1858. The 1870 census recorded in June for the 2^nd Ward of St. Martin Parish, says that Pierre was 16 years of age which places his birth year at 1854. The 1880 census taken in June says that his age was 26, placing his birth year at 1854. The 1910 census taken on April 30^th, says that Pierre was 55, placing his birth year at 1855, unless his birthday is after April which would make him 56 years old later on in the year placing his birth year once again to 1854. The 1920 census taken in January gives Pierre’s age as 70 and places his birth year at 1850. On the succession record of Helöise LeBlanc in July 1855, Pierre’s age is given as “12 months”, placing his birthdate at July 1854. The church records at Abbeville give his birthdate as 21 September 1853, and baptized on 20 January 1855. Finally, the death certificate of Pierre made out on 31 Dec 1930, gives the age as “about 75” placing his birth year at “about 1855”. Although there is evidence pointing to the identification of the names of Pierre’s parents, there still remains some uncertainty. We see two different females listed as his mother in the records. Although it will never be found written on any birth document, we are certain who his father is. The marriage certificate of 1879 indicates that Pierre Trahan was the son of Emerenthe. Emerenthe or Emerante is a name commonly given to Acadian or French females. There is no English translation. However, it may have an origin with the Latin word “amaranth”, an imaginary flower that never fades, or to the dark reddish purple flower that people enjoy. Some of the Amaranthus species yield high protein grain crops. The name of Pierre’s father is not given on the marriage certificate (*189*). The first document giving us a clue thus far about the name of Pierre’s father is his death certificate, which contains badly written handwriting but the name Varrice Trahan is given (*185*). The first and the sixth letters of the name were very difficult to decipher but it is known that Varice is a nickname for “Evariste“. Pierre’s mother’s name on the death certificate is given as Moriah Schexyndia. This name has been seen before on another census document as Mary Schexnayder. Schexnayder has many various spellings but the name is of German origin. German emigrants settled along the banks of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge in the 18^th century and this became known as the “German Coast”. The confusing fact with the search for Pierre’s mother is that we also see the name “Emerenthe” on some documents as well! Is it possible that Pierre had a stepmother? On the June 1880 census taken in Iberia Parish, we see the newlywed couple Pierre and Mary living with a Mary Schexnyder, Mulatto at age 60 and listed as “mother” of Pierre along with Pauline Labbé, a mulatto female of age 7 listed as “niece” of Pierre. Pierre’s occupation is listed as farmer and Mary’s as housekeeper. Neither of them can read or write and their birthplaces are given as Louisiana. This is consistent with their marriage certificate at the St. Mary Magdalen church in Abbeville a year earlier that indicated that Pierre and Mary “both signed their names with an X”. Ten years earlier, we saw the 1870 census that had Pierre Trahan living with Trahans and Moutons. Family history stories have been passed down that have said Pierre was related to both the Labbé and Mouton families. Pierre’s occupation here is listed as “domestic servant”. The 1870 census also tells us that living in the same household with 16 year old Pierre are his sister Celasie Trahan, age 18 of mixed race, and one Emerante Trahan, a mulatto female of 45 years of age, placing her birth year in 1825, in whom Pierre and Celasie are in the care of. Just which one is the true mother of Pierre? Mary Schexnyder or Emerante Trahan??? Or is it possible that Schexnyder was her maiden name and Emerante another middle or first name? Can it be possible that Mary Schexnyder was his grandmother? Or perhaps his new mother in law, the mother or grandmother of Mary John (Jones)? There is a document that may lead to the Schexnyder-Emerente-Trahan connection. According to the succession record dated Feb 1826 of George Buck (or Bock) who died on 21 Apr 1821, his wife was named Mary Ann Schexnayder. The couple had the following children: Charlotte, Marguerite, Marie, John Baptiste, Emerante and Rose. Emerante is given the age of 12 at the time of the succession which would place her birth around 1814 (*77*). The birth year of the Mary Schexnyder on the 1880 census as the mother living with Pierre Trahan can be calculated as 1820, since her age is given as 60 on the census. This would not match up with the dates unless there was a big underestimation of her real age on the 1880 census. As of this date, the relationship between Pierre’s Mary Schexnyder and George Buck’s Mary Ann Schexnayder is inconclusive, but the puzzling question still remains, which one is the true mother of Pierre? Mary or Emerente?

As it turns out, it is with certainty that Pierre’s mother was named Emerenthe or a similar spelling. Taking a look at the succession record of Evariste Trahan’s mother Helöise LeBlanc in the year 1855, we find the following information under the inventory of slaves owned by Helöise under item #35:

“…Negro woman Mérenthe aged 39 years & her three children Aurelia 8 years, Célasie 6 yrs, & Pierre 12 months. Appraised at sixteen Hundred dollars…” (*183*)

This is without a doubt Pierre Trahan, his sister Célasie and his mother. Slave women were always allowed to keep their young children with them. The ages listed here possibly gives us a good approximation of the birth dates of Pierre, his sister Célasie and his mother Emerenthe which would be July of 1854 for Pierre, 1849 for Célasie and 1816 for Emerenthe. It appears that the birth and baptismal records at the Abbeville church are the most reliable source for the two children which give the exact month, day and year for Pierre and an approximate year for Célasie.

If it had not been for the family historical stories regarding Pierre having other brothers and sisters, then perhaps the mystery of which woman was his mother would never have been solved. But with the unveiling of Father Donald Hebert’s new book of birth and marriage data for 1908, volume 40, of the monumental collection “Southwest Louisiana Records”, the door was opened! Here we find in the records of 1908, that Walter Labbe married into the Trahan family, and with that information we were able to track down the true mother of Pierre and his other brother and sister.

Family historical stories told by relatives said that Pierre Trahan had at least one brother named Baptiste Trahan Sr. who had a son named Baptiste Trahan Jr. Either one or both of the Baptiste Trahans were supposed to have been born in Crowley La. And the elder died circa 1948 near Cade La. Baptiste Trahan Sr. was said to have had at least four children other than his son named Baptiste Trahan Jr.; and a daughter who is supposed to have married a certain Walter Labbé. The full name of his father was actually Jean Baptiste Trahan but most of the records say only “Jean Trahan” and it was Jean Trahan who was the father of Stanley and Marie Laura who married Walter Labbe. With this marriage between Marie Laura Trahan and Walter Labbé, we find that the parents of Marie Laura turn out to be Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianne. We had always suspected that Jean Trahan was a brother or close relative to Pierre, and check into the marriage records revealed that Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianne married on 13 May 1880 in St. Martinville. The parents of Jean Trahan listed on the marriage certificate are given as Evariste Trahan and Merende Theesnot. A closer look at the marriage license at the courthouse in St. Martin Parish that was written in French, appears to give the spelling “Thiesriot” for the surname of Jean Trahan’s mother, which is very close to the Acadian name of Thierriot (or Thieriot). The surname of Theesnot appears nowhere in any records so we must conclude that the surname Thierriot is probably more correct, and with Merende Thierriot probably being close to the true spelling. We have to continue to search for the other brothers and sisters of Pierre and Jean to come up with a more conclusive identification of their parents. We know that on at least two documents, the name “Emerenthe” is given as Pierre Trahan’s mother and the death document that gives the name “Varrice Trahan” as his father. Obviously, the phonetic sounds of the names are very close to the names of the parents given on Jean Trahan’s marriage license but where do we search for more clues? As fate may have it, living in the midst of the Jacquet and Trahan families are the Laurence family, the patriarch of the family being Leon Laurence. A check back into the marriage records revealed that Leon Laurence married on 29 Aug 1870, Celasie Trahan, who as we have seen on an 1855 succession and 1870 census, was a sister of Pierre Trahan. The parents of Celasie Trahan on the marriage certificate are given as “Evariste Trahan and Emerande” (*79*). With this evidence, it seems clear that the parents of all three children was Evariste Trahan as the father, and Emerende, Emerente or Emerenthe as the mother of at least two of the children as family stories have come down to us that at least one of the three Trahan children had a different mother. The only document that gives the surname of the mother being the marriage document of Jean Trahan which gives the name Emerende Thierriot. Are there any other brothers and sisters? The name Evariste Trahan comes up more than once in the 19^th century and it appears that this was a common Acadian name back in that century. Thus far it appears that there are at least two and possibly three children born to Evariste Trahan and Emerende Thierriot/Trahan/Schexneider, with one possibility that one of the children fathered by Evariste was with a woman named Marie Jeanne: Celasie Trahan who appears to be the oldest, Pierre Trahan, and Jean Baptiste Trahan. Another child born to “Mérende” living on the same Trahan plantation as the other children was Adele. The burning down of the Abbeville courthouse in 1885 was a difficult blow to those researchers seeking information prior to that year. However, the St. Mary Magdalen church still has records of slave baptismal records that somehow have never been recorded into Father Hèberts “Records of South-West Louisiana” records. Thus the information has rarely been seen. With the gracious opportunity granted to me by the church genealogist Edwin Hébert, I was allowed to come in and look at the records. There in the Abbeville church records we find the following:

Name Birth-date Mother Owner Source

Adele ca. 1850 Meronde Eloi Leblanc vol.1, p.161

Pierre 21 Sep 1853 Merente Charles Trahan vol.1, p.170

Jean Baptiste 29 Nov 1856 Marie-Jeanne Evariste Trahan vol.1, p.188

With this information, we have found the three Trahan children fathered by Evariste Trahan. Evariste Trahan was the son of Charles Trahan and Marie Heloïse Leblanc. The family connection is clear. Evariste was married at the time so it is clear that this is another one of many stories of a “married white man and his slave concubine”, and although the name Evariste was never written on any of the children’s birth records, it is now clear that he, the son of Charles Trahan and the in-law to Eloy Leblanc through his mother Heloise (also Eloise) Leblanc, is the father. Pierre was baptized on 20 January 1855 at the same time along with six other children. He was fourth in line to be baptized in this order by the priest S. J. Foltier: 1. Suvame 2. Isabelle 3. Artemise 4. Pierre 5. Louise 6. Jacques 7. Augustine.

The exact words in the French from the document was as follows:

#4. ”Pierre né le vingt et un Septembre mil-huit cent cinquante trois, fils de Merante, esclave de Charles Trahan, ont été parrain, Garçon et marriane Carmelite.” “Fr. S. J. Foltier“ (*175*)

The translation to English says that:

“Pierre, born the 21^st of September 1853, son of Merante, slave of Charles Trahan, his Godfather was Garçon and the Godmother was Carmelite”.

The succession record of Charles Trahan in 1862 has listed among more than 50 slaves owned by Charles, a woman named “Carmelite” age 35 (b. ca.1832) and child Ermine aged nine. Is this Pierre’s Godmother? What is the relationship with this woman? Garçon had been sold to Charles Trahan just five years before this time on 13 June 1850 when Charles Lamarque Jr. of New Orleans sold to Charles Trahan who was accepting the sale for Mrs Joseph Leblanc of Vermillion Parish…”Garçon negre age de onze ans” (11 years old)…(*210*) Also sold to the Trahan/Leblanc family was Marcelite, “negresse agée de quatorze ans” (age 14) or Marguerite. The first name appears in the first paragraph while the name Marguerite appears in the next two.

The Mother of Pierre Trahan – Emerande

We find in the record books, various spellings of Pierre’s mother Emerande, also spelled Emerante, Emerenthe, Emeranthe, Merante, Merente and Meronde. The earliest records found about her are contained within the succession of her owner Helöise LeBlanc, mother of Evariste Trahan, who died on 15 May 1855. Her succession was opened on 11 July 1855 at the Lafayette courthouse:

“The petition of Charles Trahan, of Lafayette Parish, presents that his wife Helöise LeBlanc died…leaving Clarisse Trahan wife of Joseph LeBlanc, Eloy Trahan of Vermillion parish, Carmelite Trahan wife of Charles Lemet, Onezime Trahan of Lafayette Parish, Evariste Trahan of Lafayette Parish, Celeste Trahan wife of Hilarie Broussard…” (*183*)

Joseph LeBlanc and Heloise LeBlanc were actually third cousins. Their common great-great grandfather had been Daniel Leblanc who was born in France circa 1626. Helöise Leblanc’s father René LeBlanc was a wealthy man who amassed a considerable amount of property that he left to his nine children and heirs when he died in 1810. When you are trying to trace back the roots of your ancestors who were slaves, it becomes very difficult to trace a person’s origin when very little paper recordings were made of that person who only had one name, a first name but no surname. It is very difficult for people of today’s generation to understand how that could have been so hundreds of years ago in America. A very successful method of research has been to look at succession records of deceased slave owners and look at the records of their property, both real estate and slaves. If you can match up dates and names you may be lucky enough to find who you are looking for. For example, we find here within the inventory of the succession of Helöise, that one of the slaves she owned was:

“Negro woman Mérenthe age 39 years and her three children Aurelia 8 years, Célasie 6 years and Pierre 12 months…”

With this information we are certain of finding our ancestors and in this case a birth year around 1816 for Emerenthe. The next step would be to look up any slave sale records at the courthouse pertaining to a particular person of a particular age. The other solution would be to look at earlier succession records of family members who the slave may have been inherited from. This was easy with some names but difficult to impossible with others. For example, researching the succession records of the Cormier family allowed us to find the mother of Rosa Jean Louis named Roseline, then an earlier succession record gave us the name of Roseline’s mother Sophia (*188*). Unfortunately, Helöise’s father René LeBlanc, whom she may have inherited some of her slaves from, died in 1810, before the birth of Emerenthe, so that would prove to be a dead end because we are looking for a record that would say something similar to “…woman named Jane Doe with her child Mérenthe age 5…” for example. We just keep tracing back until we reach a dead end, which has indeed been the case for many ancestors in this research project. For the record, Helöise LeBlanc had an extraordinary amount of slaves in her possession. Seventy-four according to the inventory of which consisted of 46 adults and their 28 children. A list of the slave inventory is as follows:

1. Negro boy Célestin age 37

2. Negro William age 37

3. Negro boy Therence age 20

4. boy Lessin age 25

5. boy Sylvestre age 24

6. boy Alesis age 26

7. boy Garçon age 20 (this is most likely Pierre Trahan’s godfather)

8. boy Simon age 45

9. boy Alexandre age 22

10. boy Jean Louis age 18

11. boy Narcisse age 23

12. boy Beloni age 27

13. Jean Baptiste age 36 (this is most likely Jean Trahan’s godfather)

14. Charles age 35

15. Ozemé age 15

16. Justin age 15

17. boy Norbert age 12

18. boy Alfred age 11

19. boy Stainville age 12

20. boy Joachim age 15

21. boy Jean age 12

22. Negro girl Josephine age 16

23. Negro girl Liza age 17

24. Negro girl Seraphine age 12

25. Negro girl Marguerite age 17

26. Negro girl Angelique age 12

27. Negro girl Azema age 11

28. Negro girl Rósnine (or Rémine) age 8

29. Negro girl Phelonine age 17

30. Negro girl Pelagré age 6

31. Negro girl ?Irma? age 9

32. Negro girl Betsy age 50

33. Negro woman Céleste age 23 with her 2 children Clémence 2 years, Nathalie 2 months.

34. Negro woman Clasemce? Age 24 and her 2 children Zabelle 4 years and Cisille 1 month

35. Negro woman Mérenthe age 39 years and her 3 children Aurelia 8 years, Célasie 6 years & Pierre 12 months

36. Negro woman Mélanie age 22 and her 2 children Urenni 3 yrs & Louisa 2 yrs

37. woman Jeanne aged 22 and her 2 children Jacques 3 yrs and Susan 10 mos

38. Negro woman Marie age 43 yrs and her 2 children ?Enzini? 8 years and Cleónine 2 years

39. Negro woman Rosila aged 22 years and her 2 children Uranie 3 years and Arthemise one year

40. Negro woman Carmelite aged 30 years and her 3 children Théodule 9 yrs, Casimir 6 yrs and Arminie 3 yrs (this is most likely Pierre Trahans godmother)

41. woman Prudence age 25 and her child Louise age 2 years

42. Negro woman Zelmise age 28 with her 3 children Arséne 9 years, Cécile 5 years, & Zélia 7 years

43. Negro woman Tarzib aged 48 years and her child Adeline 9 years

44. a young orphan girl aged about one month

45. Negro woman Célanie aged 24 years and her child Séville 4 years

46. Negro woman Julie aged 30 years and her four children Julienne seven years, Joseph 5 years, Zénin 3 years and Justine 7 months

The slave inventory finally comes to an end! They ranged in value from 50 year old Betsy appraised at $250, to Julie and her four children appraised at a value of $1,750. Emérenthe and her three children were next highest in value at $1,600. The total inventory value of the 74 slaves was given at $40,275.00 in 1855 US dollars. The total value of the estate of Helöise was appraised at $67,817.50, which included eight separate tracts of land collectively valued at $9,895.00. The smallest being a tract of land measuring one by eight arpents and appraised at $40.00. The largest and most important tract of land being:

87. “…A certain tract of land bounded north by lands belonging to Robert Cade and those of LeRoy, south by Louis Langlinais and Evariste Trahan, east by Ursin Langlinais and Joseph J Broussard & Ros? Louvien, west by R. Cade and John H., Eveston and Bary, F. Flanders containing 1080 acres appraised at the sum of $2,800.00, it being the plantation upon which Charles Trahan is now living…” (*183*)

It is important to note that in many examples, a slave was worth more than the real estate they lived and worked on. Slaves, under Louisiana law were real estate and were treated as immovable property (*236*). Charles Trahan, the husband of Helöise LeBlanc, father of Evariste Trahan, and owner of Pierre Trahan at birth (*175*), had become the owner of the slave Emerenthe after his wife died in 1855. The document gives us the location of where Emerenthe lived and worked. The plantation appears to be in the northeast section of Vermillion parish or the southwest section of Lafayette parish. Much of Vermillion parish became Lafayette parish so it is most likely a part of Lafayette parish at this time in history and would explain why many of the Trahan/LeBlanc records are stored in the Lafayette courthouse and not in the Vermillion parish courthouse in Abbeville. Perhaps we are lucky here as a fire burned all of the Abbeville courthouse records prior to 1893 so whatever records the Trahans and LeBlancs had there are long ago destroyed. The 1855 succession document of Helouise LeBlanc was only ten years away until the time of the emancipation proclamation and the end of the Civil War when all slaves would be free. The succession document does not specify who became the owner of Emerenthe but later documents indicate it came back to her son Evariste Trahan for the next ten years before her emancipation. After slavery ended, it was a mad scramble for slaves to find a surname and legally marry under the law. The year 1869 was especially a busy year for marriages. Many slaves had the blessings of their masters as a marriage vow during slavery and had children. They were lawfully marrying right after 1865 under state law with full rights as United States citizens. We have found no records of Emerenthe marrying. We do know that just after slavery ended, she chose the name “Trahan” as her surname, similar to her two children Célasie and Pierre. We see this on the 1870 census of St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish. (*186*) We then see her surname change to Schexnayder on the 1880 census. We even have the surname Thierriot on the marriage license of Jean Trahan. There are many confusing points with what was the name of the children’s mother. Stories say it was Jean who had a different mother and this is well known by the descendants of Jean’s first son with Julie Pierre named Baptiste Trahan. However, the marriage license of Jean Trahan when he married Rosema Victorian does not support that as his parents are listed as “Evariste Trahan and Emerende Thierriot” (*82*). On the 1880 census, Pierre Trahan and his wife Mary Jones have Mary Schexnyder living with them and she is listed as Pierre’s mother. The same name is given on Pierre’s death certificate for his mother as “Moriah Schexnydia” (*185*). When Pierre was born, his mother is written as “Merante” (*175*) on his baptismal record, and a year and a half later he is listed on the LeBlanc Succession document with his mother named “Mérenthe” (*183*). Fifteen years later his mother has taken the surname Trahan on the 1870 census and is listed as Emerante Trahan. Listed with her are Silasie Trahan, Pierre Trahan and Urbain Mouton, which we know are three of her children (*186*). On the marriage record between Pierre and his wife Mary in1879, his mother is listed as “Emerethe” but no surname is listed (*189*). It seems quite clear that Emerante is the mother of Pierre and then either she changes her name to “Mary Maria or Moriah Schexnayder” or this is in fact another woman. The time between her name being listed on the 27 Oct 1879 marriage document as Emerenthe and on the 8 June 1880 census as Mary Schexnyder is seven and one half months. Somewhere in this time frame, the name was changed from Emerenthe Trahan to Mary Schexnyder or we see here another woman who played the roll of Pierre’s mother after this time. There is one person with the name “Emerenthe Schexnayder” who married during that “transition period”. She married Auguste Deslatte on 24 Feb 1876, at the Lydia Church. This Emerenthe was the daughter of Ludger Schexnayder and Amanda Rouselle (or Baurel). At present, there is no positive clue that would indicate this is the woman in question.

It was well known to present day Trahans that they were related to the Mouton family but no one had been able to find a link. The link was because Emerenthe had a connection with the Mouton family in two ways: That one or both of her original slave owners were Jean Baptiste Mouton Pére and/or Jean Baptiste Mouton Fils; and that another former slave of the Mouton family who took on the Mouton name after slavery ended, bore children with Emerenth. On the marriage license of Urbain Mouton when he married Angele William it says his parents were Augustin Mouton and Emerende Shicnaider. The couple were from Lafayette parish and were married on 27 Jan 1879 in St. Martinville. Angele was the daughter of Louis William and Eugenie Lorins. Witnesses and assistants to the marriage were Thomas William and Henri Allen. They were married by the reverend A. M. Jan. Since the document says “Urbain Mouton fils mineur” and ”Angele William, fille mineur…” this indicates that both are minors indicating births in 1958 or later, and proving that they were born after the Trahan children of Emerende (*194*). We have seen Urbain with Emerenthe and what turns out to be his half brother and sister Pierre Trahan and Célasie Trahan on the 1870 census (*186*). Urbain Mouton, at 10 years of age, is listed after Emerante Trahan, Silasie Trahan and Pierre Trahan. However, their family is living in the same household as six other Mouton family members including a 40-year-old “Gustin” Mouton who no doubt is Augustin Mouton and the father of Urbain. Urbain and Angele had at least four children: Marie Amynthe Mouton born 30 Jul 1879; Columbus Mouton born 7 Feb 1888; Marie Eugenie Mouton born 17 Nov 1889; and Joseph Clovis Mouton born 1 Jun 1891. These four Mouton children would have been the grandchildren of Emerenthe as well as the nephews and nieces of Pierre and Celasie Trahan and the first cousins of Pierre and Celasie’s children.

There is also a family story of another Mouton named Aurelien Mouton who was either the brother of Urbain and/or the son of Emerenthe. The marriage license does not reflect that however as when he married Celestine Bell on 29 Jan 1874 in St. Martinville, his parents were listed as Norbert ?Mire? and Henrietta André. Celestine Bell is the daughter of Bell and Fannie Jean Louis. Both were of major age indicating a birth year of 1853 or before for Aurelien. The couple had a very large family of 15 children. Celestine Bell died on 3 April 1929. Aurelien Mouton who was still alive by then opened her succession record in St. Martinville on 25 June 1945 (*193*). The succession document records that Celestin Bell had died on 3 April 1929, and that Aurelien Mouton be recognized as surviving spouse. Three of her surviving sons – Alphonse, Charles and Alphey Mouton petitioned to the St. Martin parish courthouse as heirs to their mother’s estate. The document lists 15 children born between Celestine Bell and Aurelien Mouton:

1. Aurelia Mouton, married Adras Louis in 1891, died in 1912. She had 10 children.

2. Celiza Mouton, married Alexis Broussard in 1895.

3. Ozea Mouton, married Valmon Williams in 1894

4. (Joseph) Alphonse Mouton, born on 16 Nov 1880, married Marie Edmee Calais at Breaux Bridge’s St. Bernard Church on 1 June 1903. Edmee was the daughter of Louis Calais and Celestine Breaux.

5. Alphey Mouton, married Mary Green

6. Amelie Mouton, born on 29 Apr 1887, married Joseph Brothers.

7. Regina Mouton born on 29 Dec 1888, married Adolph Brothers.

8. (Joseph) Charles Mouton born on 3 Dec 1891, married Mathilde Damas

9. Mary Eve Mouton born on 3 Dec 1893, married Paul Amiss.

10. Emma Mouton married Noe Singleton.

11. Robert Mouton died in infancy.

12. Celina Mouton, born on 2 May 1884, died in infancy.

13. Mary Mouton, died in infancy.

14. Alcee Mouton died at the age of 19,

15. Jeonine Mouton died at age 11. This child may in fact be Marie Cleonilla (or Jeonilla) born in 1890.

Celestine Bell Mouton died on 5 April 1929 at the age of 74 according to the Lousiana death records (#5818). She died from chronic pain, chymatous nephritis contributed by exhaustion. She was the wife of Aurelien Mouton, the daughter of Charles Bell and Fonalie Jean Louis and born in Arnaudville, La. The informant was Charles Mouton of Cecilia, Louisiana.

There may have been an original connection with the Moutons from the plantation held by Jean Mouton. According to the record books, Emerante, daughter of Magdelaine – a slave of Jean Mouton, Fils, was born 13 Aug 1821 as recorded at the Grand Coteau church:

“L‘an 1821 le 24 Décembre, j’ai baptisé Emerante née le 13 août dernier fille de Magdalaine esclave à Jean Mouton, fils.” – H^le Brassac, Curé (*206*)

The English translation of the French writing says “The year 1821, the 24^th of December, I have baptized Emerante born the 13^th of last August, daughter of Magdalaine, slave of Jean Mouton, Jr.”– Father Hercule Brassac, Curé. (Parish Priest)

Father Brassac also baptized two other children that same day that were owned by Jean Baptiste, Fils: Stephen born on 18 September 1821, son of Lucie. (*206*) This could be the same Stephen who was baptized again at the Arnaudville church in 1860 with the parents given as Lucie and Arnaud Wilson; and Bellezire Irma born on 1 October 1821, daughter of Fanchon. The Grand Coteau Church has several baptismal records of Blacks that have yet to be looked at. Jean Mouton Fils originally purchased Fanchon from his brother Joseph Mouton in July 1817 who was about 18 years of age at the time of the sale (*207*). Joseph’s father Jean Mouton Pére, in what may have been the formation of his will had given the slave Franchon to Joseph a month before. He had given all of his children property. To his son Jean Mouton Fils, he may have given him Emerenthe’s mom as it reads that “…a Jean Mouton (fils), une terre de cinq arpents…une negresse Magdelaine…($600piastres)” (*208*)

If this is the Emerenthe, the daughter of Magdelaine and the future mother of the Trahan children we are searching for, where is the connection with the Trahan family where Emerenthe would become a slave? The evidence could quite possibly be from a slave sale that was recorded at the St. Martin Parish Courthouse on 22 September 1816, when Charles Theriault sold to Charles Trahan a slave named Magdelaine age 15 for the price of $900 (*9, 226*). This would indicate a birth year of ca. 1801 for Magdelaine. Emerenthe was a slave under the ownership of Charles Trahan until Charles died in 1855. Through inheritance, she then came under the ownership of Charles’ son Evariste Trahan who fathered at least three mulatto children with Emerenthe.

There are also family stories and unexplained changes of “mother’s name” on documents regarding Emerante. Did she have a sister? Marcelite, daughter of Susanne – a slave of Jean Mouton, peré was baptized on 24 Sep 1826 at the age of 11 months at the Lafayette church. Is there a connection here between our Emerante and a possible sister named Marcelite that we have heard of before? Emerante could originally have been born on the plantation of the Mouton’s and later sold or transferred to the LeBlanc/Trahan plantation that she and her three children Pierre, Célasie and Jean Baptiste would have been “affranchi-ed (freed) from”. If there is also a connection with Augustine coming from the same place we may have found her birthplace. Since the 1870 census puts her birth year at 1825, and the 1880 census at 1820, the year of 1821 comes within range. This would make the age of 39 given for Emérenthe on the 1855 succession be the most incorrect since it would put her birth at 1816. There were many slave sales made between the Mouton and Leblanc/Trahan families and Emerenthe most likely was one of them. Records tracing slave sales can be hard to trace. On 3 September 1818, Constance Leblanc, wife of François Bernard sold to Jean Mouton Pére’s son Charles Mouton “un negre Ursin age about 18 years” (*208*). On 24 November 1825, Marin Mouton fils, the brother of Jean Mouton, Pére, sold to Onezime Trahan, one Negro girl Adelaide about 10 years old. On 24 March 1830, Marin Mouton sold to Eloi Leblanc one Negro boy Louis age eleven (*209*). It is not likely that Emerenthe came from the Mouton family over to the Trahan family as a pre-adolescent so most likely no earlier than the early 1830’s is when that occured. On the west side of the Vermilion River/Bayou was a very large tract of land certified for Marin Mouton upon whose land the town of Lafayette was founded. Marin had purchased 4,251 acres of land on the west side of Bayou Vermilion from Bernard Medal, chief of the Attakapas Nation of Indians approved by the commandant on 19 August 1802 (*245*). About 30 acres away, just south of Marin’s large tract of land was the land of Joseph Leblanc. He held 276.64 acres according to the Plat of T.13.S, R.3.E. of Vermilion Parish by the Surveyor General’s Office made on 3 May 1856 (*245*). Joseph married Clarissee Trahan, daughter of Marie Heloise LeBlanc and Charles Trahan. If Emerande was born and raised in the Mouton estate and then sold to or inherited by the Leblanc/Trahan clan, this was the most likely route. Both Heloise Leblanc, then her husband Charles Trahan, then their son Evariste Trahan during the decade of the 1850’s and 1860’s, would own her. Joseph Leblanc also owned a small farm on a bluff on the Vermilion River about three miles upriver from Perry’s Bridge. In July of 1843, he sold to Pére Megret some of his farm of 160 arpents, some of it fronting the river. Joseph’s home was remodeled and dedicated in 1844 as St. Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church. Thus Joseph Leblanc’s farm became La Chapelle, and eventually “La Ville de L’abbe” or Abbeville (*245*). St. Mary Magdalen’s Church is where most of the birth, marriage and death records of the Trahan clan are found.

One other child of Emerenthe we have yet to find information on is one named Aurelia. Born circa 1847. She was listed with Emerenthe on the 1855 inventory of real estate and slaves owned by Helöise LeBlanc:

“…Negro woman Mérenthe aged 39 years & her three children Aurelia 8 years, Célasie 6 yrs, & Pierre 12 mos …” (*183*)

She is most likely the Aurelia that appears on the succession of Charles Trahan’s long list of slaves as a 14 year old girl. Since the succession date of 13 November 1862 would put Aurelia’s birth in 1848, and the July 1855 inventory of Heloise Leblanc would put her birth year at 1846 or 1847, it is most likely the same female. As of the present, no death, marriage record nor any other document has been found about this mysterious daughter. With the exception of family stories passed down through the ages, no information about the elderly life of Emerenthe has been found. We have the story of Emerenthe’s granddaughter Regina Trahan who has said that “Emerenthe never lived in an ordinary house, instead she lived in an Indian style TeePee hut.” If that is true, there had to be some kind of Native American Indian connection, but with whom?

Pierre Trahan and his Family

On the 1880 census taken on June 8^th, we see Pierre Trahan and his newly wed wife of eight months, Marie John, living with Pierre’s mother or “stepmother” Mary Schexnyder and his niece Pauline Labbé in the 5^th ward of Iberia Parish. They live in the midst of three LeBlanc families headed by Joseph Leblanc age 43 and are one of the few non-white families in the vicinity. The patriarch appears to be Drosin LeBlanc age 72. If this is the same Drozen Leblanc who married Clarissa Trahan, the daughter of Charles Trahan and Marie Louise Leblanc, then Joseph is the oldest son of Drosin and Clarissa and the first cousin of Pierre Trahan.

Since Pierre is listed first on the census as head of the household, we have to assume that Mary Schexnyder and Pauline are visitors. Marie would be three months pregnant by now as she would give birth to the first of six children born between Pierre Trahan and Marie John. Marie Pauline Trahan was born on 1 Dec 1880. Marie Pauline married Gabriel Fulgence on 3 Feb 1902. Leonard Trahan was the second child born on 10 Apr 1883. Leonard married Olivia Williams on 19 Jan 1905. Leonard died on 10 Dec 1945. The third and fourth children born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John were a set of twins according to their baptismal certificates that said that the two were both born on the same day. Jean “Troy” Trahan and Marguerita Isola Trahan were born on 1 Nov 1884, and both baptized on 19 Nov 1887 in Abbeville, Louisiana at the St. Mary Magdalen church. Since there were three years between their suppossed date of birth and their baptism, the probability that Margaret and her brother Jean were born at different times is high. Margaret married Gilbert Joseph Jacquet on 18 July 1903. Jean was known as John Troy and married Ester Lewis. The fifth child born to Pierre and Marie was Marie Noelia Trahan born on 16 Mar 1889. Noelia married first Johnny Mayfield on 25 Feb 1908 and then second a Broussard. The last child born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John which was Pierre Ambroise “Dan” Trahan who was born on 4 Apr 1896. The Trahan children which included the twins Jean and Margaret did not have the joy of having their mother Marie John for too long as she would pass away at a very young age which must have been some time shortly after the birth of Ambroise.

It must have been sometime between the birth of Ambroise Trahan in April 1896, and the marriage of Marie Pauline Trahan in February 1902, that the death of Marie John I. No documents have been found as of this date to verify the exact date of Marie’s death, where she died, and where she is buried. Pauline had just had her 21^st birthday only two months previously, legally becoming an adult when she wed Gabriel Fulgence. Their marriage document indicates that Pauline’s mother was deceased (*87*). Family history stories from Margaret Trahan’s side says that Margaret did not get the opportunity to know her mother well, losing her at a very early age. Just how early is unknown but she could have been anywhere between eleven and seventeen when her mother’s death I. Pauline Trahan did not live a long life either as she died and was buried on 5 Nov 1902 at the age of 20 according to the St. Martin church records. It is possible that Gabriel Fulgence married again for a second time to Marie Jacques in which a son named Henry Fulgence was born on 9 Sep 1905.

On the 1910 census taken on 30 April, in the third ward of Vermilion Parish, we find Pierre Trahan living with his son Leonard Trahan. He is listed as being a mulatto of 55 years of age, married for 31 years, able to speak French as his first language, but not able to read or write. Also living at the residence are Leonard’s wife Olivia and their first three children: Elmira Trahan, Columbus Trahan and Mabry Trahan as well as Leonard’s younger brother Ambroise. On the 1920 census, we find that Pierre has moved to the 1^st ward of St. Martin parish. It appears that he is living in the same location as other Jacquet families. Pierre lives right next to or on the same property as his sister’s husband Leon Laurence, who also is the father-in-law of both Albert Jacquet and Willie Jacquet, two of Gilbert Jacquet’s brothers. They are all related as in-laws. Leon married Pierre’s sister Celasie, Albert and Willie married two of Leon’s daughters and Gilbert of course married Pierre Trahan’s daughter Marguerite Trahan, so clearly there are some close family connections here. Willie Jacquet and his family live six dwelling houses away from Pierre, and eight dwelling houses away live Pierre’s brother Jean Trahan and his wife Rose Emma Victorian Trahan.

Pierre in his elder years lived with his son Leonard Trahan in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Pierre Trahan died on 30 December 1930, appearantly from chronic prostatitis in Lake Charles Louisiana. His body is buried in a tomb along with his two sons Leonard and Ambroise Trahan at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lake Charles.

The Decendants of Pierre Trahan

Pierre Trahan had six children with his wife Marie John (or Jones) before she died sometime between 1899 and 1901:

1. Marie Pauline Trahan was the first child born to Pierre and Marie on 1 December 1880. The Reverend A. M. Jan baptized Pauline on 16 Jan 1881. Her sponsoring Godparents were William Henri and Emma Eulasse. The name “Eulasse” may have been mis-spelled. Pauline married Gabriel Fulgence on 3 February 1902. Sanville Jacquet and his brother Gilbert Jacquet, who at the time was the fiancé of Pauline’s sister Margeret, were witnesses at the wedding (*87*), proving that the Jacquets and Trahans were already associated with each other before Gilbert Jacquet‘s marriage to Marguerite Trahan. Edward Martin was also a witness to the marriage. Marie Pauline probably died in November 1902. On the 1910 census, of Pierre’s six children, five were said to be still living and one deceased. All of the other five children have been documented to have lived past the year 1910.

2. Leonard “Lodias” Trahan was the second child born to Pierre and Marie. Leonard was born on 10 April 1883, in St. Martin parish. Leonard’s parents waited until the year 1899 before having him baptized. This may be a possible clue that his mother Marie John died after 1899. Thus on 4 April 1899, the Reverend A. B. Langlois baptized Leonard at the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville. His sponsoring Godparents were his uncle and aunt Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianne (*96*). The name Marie John is given as his mother but there was no indication on the baptism that she was deceased. Since his aunt and uncle stepped forward as Godparents, the other possibility is that Marie John did already die and Jean and Victorianne may have helped raise Leonard. Leonard married Olivia Williams on 19 January 1905 at the Abbeville church. By 1930, we see Leonard and his family living in Calcasieu Parish, with Lake Charles as the principal city. Leonard is given the age of 48, his wife Olivia 49, his daughter Almeda 23, son Columbus is 22, Mabry 20, Theressa 18, Dalton 16 and Hervey is 10 years old. His father Peter Trahan is also living with him and is 66 years old. He is actually about 76 years old. It was April of 1930 and Leonard’s father was still living. It would be December of that same year when Leonard’s father Pierre Trahan would die. Leonard Trahan died in January 1944 in Fishville, a small Louisiana town in the central part of the state, north of Alexandria near Pollack, La. He is buried with his father in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lake Charles, La. The first child born to Leonard and Olivia appears to have been a daughter named

A. Almeda Trahan born on 25 Oct 1905, and baptized in Abbeville La. On 25 February 1906. Almeda (or Elmeda) married Horace Dumars on 26 Dec 1931. Almeda had three children:

i. Joe Dumars born in April 1932,

ii. Andrew Dumars born in May 1933.

iii. Evelin Dumars born on 30 September 1934. Evelin married a Lewis. Evelin Lewis had six children:

a. Horace Lewis Sr., born on 11Aug1958;

b. Ronald Lewis, born on 25Sep1959. Ronald Lewis’ children were Norvell, Shannon, Joshua, Jaime and Ronice.

c. Shiela Lewis born on 21Apr1961. Sheila Lewis’ children were Amos Jr., Terron, Desiree, and Brandi.

d. Anthony Lewis born 28Apr1962;

e. Tony Lewis born 6Nov1963;

f. Kathy Lewis born 18Jan1969.

There is a high probability that the famous NBA basketball star Joe Dumars is related to one of these Dumar families. Joe Dumars, the NBA star that won two world championships with the Detroit Pistons was born on 24 May 1963, in Shreveport, La. He attended Natchitoches Central high school and went on to Mcneese State College in Louisiana. He became the General Manager of the Pistons and guided them to another world championship against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

B. Columbus Trahan was the second child born to Leonard and Olivia. Columbus was born on 4 December 1907. Columbus Trahan married Mary Guillory. Columbus died on 13 October 1990.

C. Maybray Joseph Trahan Sr. was the next child born to Leonard and Olivia. Maybray was born circa 1909. Maybray Sr. married Minnie Ola Sherman. Maybray had a son named Maybray Joseph Trahan Jr. born on 24 Oct 1944 in Hattisburg, Mississippi and baptized on 9 June 1945.

D. Dalton Trahan was the fourth child born to Leonard Trahan and Olivia Williams. Dalton was born and baptized on 25 January 1914, in Abbeville, La. Dalton married Georgia Lee Hayes on 9 May 1936 in Lake Charles La., where his uncle Gilbert Jacquet was a witness to the wedding. Dalton and Georgia had an only son named Matthew Trahan born on 8 Oct 1936, and baptized on 5 Dec 1936, but who unfortunately died at the age of two years and seven months.

E. Theresa Trahan was the fifth child born to Leonard and Olivia. Theresa was born in October 1912. Theresa had no children.

F. Herbert Trahan was the sixth and last child born to Leonard and Olivia. Herbert was born in April 1919. Herbert married Olivia Bell but the couple had no children. Herbert died on 4 February 1962.

3. Jean Troy Trahan was the third child born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John. Jean, commonly known as John Troy, was born with his sister Margaret as a set of twins on 2 November 1884, according to his baptismal certificate. Nearly all of the relatives of this family have John’s birthdate as 2 November 1885. There is an error here somewhere and quite possibly we shall never find out. The Reverend M. Simon baptized both Jean and his “twin” sister Marguerite on 19 Nov 1887. Jean Troy’s sponsoring Godparents were Ophelias Baudoin and Artemise Divaille. John Troy died in October 1960 in Port Author Texas and was buried in Johnson cemetery. All of John Trahan’s descendants go by the last name “Troy” because of a translation error that occurred many years ago. Jean Trahan had a speech impediment due to throat cancer in addition to being partially deaf in one ear and was not able to pronounce his words as clearly as other people. Added to this speech impediment was the inability to read and write. When John Trahan moved out of French speaking Louisiana and moved to the state of Texas, he had to apply for identification. He was asked his name and with his out of state French accent and his speech impediment, when he spoke the name “TRA-HAN”, they thought he said “TROY” and wrote it down on his identification and the name stuck! Thus in Texas “John Troy” was born. It would be shortly after the death of John Troy that his children would learn his true name. During a family legal dispute over the inheritance of John Troy’s estate, it was necessary to find John’s birth certificate. At the church in Abbeville Louisiana, the name “Troy” was added to his birth certificate after his death, as if it was a middle name. John Troy married Ester Lewis. Ester was born in Olivier La., in 1896 and was the daughter of Page Lewis and Victoria Green. John Troy (Trahan) and Ester Lewis had five children: Mabel Troy, William Troy, Alonzo Troy, Melvia Troy and Ruth Troy.

A. Mabel Troy was born on 10Aug1913. Mabel married Eugene Williams and the couple had a son Eddie Williams who married Christel Stull. Eddie and Christel had a daughter Ester Williams, born 18 May 1957 who moved to Germany and married Heinz-Werner Schneider. Ester and Heinz-Werner had a son named Maximillian Fritz Eddie Schneider born 4 Jan 1993. Mabel Troy married a second time and became Mabel Samuel.

B. William J. Troy was born on 4 June1915. He first married Goudeau? His second marriage was to Mary who was born on 28 October 1922. William J Troy was a native and lifelong resident of Port Arthur Texas. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he was a longtime member of both the male chorus and the senior choir. He was also retired from Southwestern Greyhound Lines. William J. Troy died on 12 Feb 1993. His body was interred at the Johnson Memorial Cemetery in Port Arthur, Texas.

William and his second wife Mary had two children:

i. Shirley Troy. Shirley was born on 22 January 1941 and married Patrick Foley on 19 December 1959 in Port Author, Texas. Shirley and Patrick had two children: Anthony Foley born on 19 December 1961, and Christopher Patrick Foley born on 18 September 1960.

ii. Robert Troy. Robert Troy had a daughter Lisa Troy. Lisa married Preston Cain and became Lisa M. Cain having a son named Preston Cain, Jr.

C. Alonzo Troy Sr. was the (third?) child born to John (Deuce) Troy Trahan and Ester Lewis. Alonzo Sr. had a son named Alonzo Troy Jr.

D. Melvia Troy married a Olivier. Melvia Troy Olivier had three children:

i. Mickie Olivier who had two children: Darryl Olivier born on 8July1960, and Danyielle Olivier born on 21Jan1981.

ii & iii The other two children were a set of twins named Barbara Olivier and Mary Olivier. Barbara married Leonard Valsin Sr. and the couple had three children: Leonard Valsin Jr., Christopher Valsin and Tonya Valsin born on 13Mar1973. Christopher had a son Alexis Valsin. The other twin named Mary first married a Johnson and then a Green. Mary Johnson had four children:

a. Barnabe Johnson,

b. Andrea Johnson who had a daughter Essence Macmillian;

c. Tina Johnson,

d. Sandra Kay Johnson who had a child Star Johnson.

Mary Olivier as Mary Green had three children:

e. James Burt Green,

f. Melvia Fay Green

g. Edward Joseph Green.

E. Ruth Troy had a daughter named Carolyn; a set of triplets who unfortunately all died; a son named Vernon Jerry and a son named James. Vernon had a son Jerry Jr. and a daughter Angela. James had four children: Darrell, Giselle, Todd and Prudence. Giselle had a set of twins.

When John Troy died on 28 Oct 1860, it caused a great family controversy between the five children and other relatives. It seems that for some reason, Willie Troy, the elder son, petitioned to the Texas court that he was the rightful and only heir to his father’s estate. When public announcement was released about the situation, the other children shouted “hold the phone, for there are other heirs yet to be named!” The surname difference between the Troys and their father’s original name of Trahan made the situation more complicated. William Troy had to practically “buy his name back” in order to prove his relationship to his father John Trahan. According to family stories, the suit was opened up in New Orleans and was managed by their uncle Ambroise Trahan living in New Orleans and acting as supervising agent in order to allow the children of John Troy who lived in Port Author Texas to not have to come all the way to New Orleans to settle the court case.

4. Marguerite Isola Trahan was the other twin that Marie John/Jones supposedly gave birth to with John Troy Trahan on 2 Nov 1884, according to their baptismal certificate. The Reverend M. Simon baptized both Marguerite and her “twin” brother Jean Troy on 19 Nov 1887. Marguerite’s sponsoring Godparents were Natilie (or Nastilia) Baudoin and Hilaire William. Marguerite Trahan married Gilbert Joseph Jacquet in Abbeville on 18 July 1903. Marguerite and Gilbert had six children: Julius Jacquet; Isabelle Jacquet; Johnny Linton Jacquet; Mary Jacquet; Robert Russell Jacquet; and Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet. The story of the descendants of Gilbert and Marguerite is discussed later in this manuscript within the chapter on Gilbert Jacquet. Marguerite died on 24 June 1948, in Houston, Texas.

5. Marie Noelie (or Noella) Trahan was the fifth child born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John. Noella Trahan was born in Abbeville La., on 16 Mar 1889, (Abbe.ch.V.5,p.306). Noella first married Johnny Mayfield on 25 Feb 1908, in St. Martin parish (SM.ch.V.13,p.65; SM.ct.hse.marr.#9401). Noella and Johnny had two children: Mary Mayfield born in 1909, and Lawrence Mayfield. Noella married a second married to a Broussard and had three children: Mazel Broussard; Howard Broussard; and Viola Broussard born on 27 Oct 1921. Viola had a daughter Josephine born on 7 Nov 1944, and another daughter named Sheri L. Rielly born on 15 May 1960. It is also said by family members that Noella married a third time to a Butler and had two sons named Howard Butler and Mazel Butler. The obituary of her brother Pierre Ambroise mentions the name “Nuella Butler” as his sister. Noella died in the year 1930 while at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

6. Pierre Ambroise Trahan was the sixth and last child born to Pierre Trahan and Marie John. The family commonly knew Ambroise as “Dan”. Ambroise was born on 4 April 1896, in Abbeville La. It is not known if Ambroise married, however he did had a daughter named Charlene Trahan born in New Orleans. Ambroise Dan Trahan died on 29 November 1962, in New Orleans. His obituary read as follows:

“At Veterans administration hospital on Thursday November 29, 1962 at 1:55 O’clock p.m., Mr. Ambrose (Dan) Trahan of 2000 Bienville st., son of the late Mr. And Mrs. Pierre Trahan, brother of the late John & Leonard Trahan and the late Marguerite Jacquet and Nuella Butler, also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives. A native of Abbevile La. And a resident of this city for many years. Father John H. Dorsey council no. 50, Knights of Peter Claver, requests the officer and members to attend the wake of our late brother, Daniel Ambrose Trahan, on Sunday night December 2, 1962 at 8 o’clock to recite the rosary. Also the funeral on Monday December 3, 1962 at 9 o’clock a.m. from the Louisiana undertaker parlor, 1449 N. Claiborne avenue. Religious services at St. Katherine’s Catholic Church, Tulane avenue. All Knights welcome.

By order of Lester M. Laurence, Grand Knight.” (*89*)

Ambroise Dan Trahan is buried in a tomb along with his brother Leonard Trahan and his father Pierre Trahan in Lake Charles Louisiana at the Sacred Heart Cemetery. (See Cemetery Photo of Gilbert Jacquet, Julius Jacquet, Johnny Linton Jacquet and Pierre Trahan in this chapter.)

The Brother and Sister of Pierre Trahan

Célasie Trahan the sister of Pierre appears to have been born around the year 1852. The 1870 census puts her age at 18, which places her birth year at 1852. The marriage license of August 1870 indicates that she was a minor, which meant she was not 21 years of age yet and is consistent with the 1852 birth year as she could not have been born before September of 1849. This turns out to be true if we are to believe that her name or one of her names at birth was Adele. It would not have been unusual for her mother to change her name after the birth/baptismal event was recorded. We find in the Baptismal slave records of St. Mary Magdalen church a record of “Meronde” giving birth to an Adele:

“Adele...Je sousigne certifice avoir baptiste Adele de 4 ans, fille de Mèrende, esclave de Mr. Eloy Leblanc ont été parrain – Alcide Hebért et Ms. Norbert Bourque.” “Fr. S. J. Foltier” (*175*)

The date of the baptism was sometime in 1854 and the exact dates of both the baptism and birth are not given. S. J. Foltier became the priest of the church in January of 1854 and then J. A. Poyet took over as priest of the church in September of 1856. So it seems that the priest before Foltier did not keep good records and when Foltier baptized Adele and other children in 1854, he was making up for past neglections by the previous priest because later baptisms by Foltier show their current birth and baptismal dates. The 1850 birth would be consistent with Pierre’s older sister being about 2 years older than him. Both Adele and her mother (E)mérende are both owned by “Eloi Leblanc” who is a relative of “Eloise Leblanc” the wife of Charles Trahan and the mother of Evariste Trahan. Eloi Leblanc served as Sheriff of Vermillion Parish from 1856 – 1858 (*245*).

With the 1870 census of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana taken on the 5^th of June, we see Célasie (Adele) living with her mother Emerante Trahan, her brother Pierre along with George Borel and a host of Mouton, Boutte and Theophile family members, the oldest which are Alexandre and Charlotte Theophile; and William and Celestine Mouton. Célasie is listed as being “without occupation”. The Trahans, Theophiles and Moutons appear to be living on the property of Claire and Daard? Or Baard Sandiz, a white farmer of age 69 with the value of his property listed as $20,000, indicating a substantial amount of land. The time period is only five years after the end of the Civil War so the connection to this Sandiz family may indicate some pre-emancipation association. It would not be too long, a short 12 weeks later, when Célasie and her fiancé Leon Laurence (Lorins) would appear at the St. Martinville courthouse on the 29^th day of August of 1870 for the purpose of matrimony. The marriage license is in French but gives a good amount of information. Excerpts from the document include the following:

“...célèbre le mariage de Leon Lorins fils mineur d’ Hyppolyte Lorins et de Henriette Madison...et de Célasie Trahan fille mineur d’ Everiste Trahan et d’ Emerande née dans la paroisse Vermillion...”

The translation to English says:

“...to celebrate the marriage of Leon Lorins (Laurence) minor (under age) son of Hyppolyte Lorins (Laurence) and of Henriette Madison...and of Célasie Trahan, minor (under age) daughter of Everiste Trahan and of Emerande born in Vermillion parish...” (*80*).

Witnesses at the occasion were Jean Bart Boutte and Thomas Williams. Document translations may not be complete here as Bar or Bart may in fact be the abbreviation of “bte” which stands for “Baptiste”. The Trahans and Boutte families were definitely closely related because just two months earlier on the 1870 census, Jean Bar Boutte, his wife Celeste Boutte and a child Edgard Boutte are living in the same dwelling house with “Silasie” Trahan, her brother Pierre Trahan, her mother Emerante Trahan and another family of Moutons headed by William and Celestine Mouton. Célasie is 18 years of age according to the census. Leon is also “under age” and if we were to take the somewhat reliable birth-year of Leon as 1852, then he would have been 17 to18 years of age at the time of the marriage license acquisition. To some generations, this may have seemed too young of age for the two to get married, but back in the days of reconstruction, it was acceptable. When the couple married at the church later, there is the possibility that Célasie went to the altar pregnant with Leon’s child and in that case the couple were compelled to marry. From the time the marriage license was granted on 29 August 1870, and Leon and Celasie’s first child Marie Odile was born on 19 May 1871, there is nine months less one week between the two dates.

The Genealogy of Leon Lorins (Laurence)

Leon was the mulatto son (3/8ths black to be more specific) of Hyppolite Lorins, who was born in France and arrived in St. Martinville around 1840. Hyppolite fathered at least four children with Mulatresse Zaïre Noël when he came to Louisiana. Zaïre was the daughter of Noël (a mulatto) and Thérèse Isidore a négresse africaine (born in Africa). Hyppolite Lorins also fathered children with Henriette Madison, a negro slave he owned.

Zaïre Noël bore children for Hyppolite Lorins and Aurélien Babinaux. She would later marry Alcindor Prévost on 9 May 1870 and then Joseph Bourdin on 30 March 1880. Hyppolite Lorins and Zaïre Noël appear to have had four children:

1. Hyppolite Lorins (fils) born circa 1842. Also written in later record books as Hippolyte Laurence II, he married Eliza Louisa Gordon in 1864, (Arnaud.ch.v.1,p.5). Louisa was the daughter of Henry Gordon and Susan White. Children of Hyppolite II and Elizabeth were:

A. Zaïre Lorins born ca. 1864 who married Joseph Polycarpe Bourda.

B. Casimir Lorin, born on 4 Mar 1867.

C. Corine Lorin born on 12 Sept 1869 who married Paul Antoine, the son of Louis Antoine and Louisa Lee (Lor.ch.v1,p186). Their daughter Helene Antoine married Leonard Jacquet on 26 May 1919 in New Iberia. Helene (also Ellen) was 18 and Leonard was 24 years of age at the time of the marriage certificate (#2139) received in New Iberia on 10 May 1919. It appears that Helene died at the age of 25 on 20 Oct 1927.

D. Antonia Laurens born on Aug 1872.

2. Ulysses Poupon Lorins born circa 1850 and married Eléonore Wesley; Fifteen children were born between 1870 and 1898, one of which was Thereza Lorins.

3. Clement Lorins was a quarteron esclave born circa 1855. He married Augustine Brown on 5 May 1883. Augustine was from New Orleans and was the daughter of Brown and Heleine. Children of Clement and Augustine were:

A. Léon Laurence born ca. 1877 who married Eva Lambert 15 Feb 1897.

B. Louis Albert Lorins, born on 17 Apr 1878 who married Antonia Prade on 28 Apr 1898.

C. Mathilde Lorins born ca. 1879 who married Augustin Aubry 20 Mar 1898.

D. Auguste Lorins born on 4 Dec 1882 who married Agnes De La Houssaye of New Iberia on 20 Feb 1906.

E. Oscalie Lawrence born on 18 Jun 1897.

F. David Laurens born on 3 Sep 1903.

4. Adelmar Lorins, a quarteron esclave born ca 1858. Adelmar married 20 Aug 1888 to Joséphine Régine De Blanc of Loreauville.

A. Regina Laurence was the first child born to Adelmar and Josephine on 21 Sept 1888.

Hyppolite Lorins also had children with Henriette Madison of which one was Léon Lorins (later known as Leon Lawrence) born circa 1850 –1856, with somewhere around 1852 being more reliable.

5. Leon Laurence, born circa 1852. Leon appears to have done well in the matters of acquiring Real Estate because records show that he was able to own and sell large amounts of Real Estate, including some 118 arpents (100 acres), that he sold to Jolivet Jacquet before 1899 (*35*). As has been mentioned previously, the surname of Leon Laurence has been spelled on many earlier documents as “Lorins” and would appear to be an obvious spelling mistake if not for the understanding of the French/English pronunciation and translation. Because Leon could not read nor write he, as well as many others of his time, literate or illiterate, were at the mercy of the spelling literacy of the recorder of legal documents. Leon married Célasie Trahan on 29 Aug 1870, at the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville. Célasie was the daughter of Evariste Trahan and Emerenthe Trahan/Therriot/Schexneider. The Reverend A. M. Jan married them. Witnesses at the marriage were Jean Baptiste Boutte and Phomont? Williams (*79*). There appears to be at least 13 children that were born between the two:

A. Marie Odile Lorins appears to have been the first child born to Leon Laurence and Célasie Trahan. Marie Odile was born on 19 May 1871. Odile married Isaac Johnson on 25 April 1894.

B. Marie Louise Lorins was the second child born to Leon and Célasie Trahan. Louise was born on 14 Aug 1872.

C. Coralie Laurence appears to have been the third child born to Leon Laurence and Célasie Trahan, born circa 1873, but quite possibly 1870, which means she could be the first child born. Coralie Laurence married Albert Jacquet, son of Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis on the 11^th of December 1893 in St. Martin Parish.

D. Pierre Willy Lorins the fourth child born to Leon and Célasie was born on 7Jan1874. Willie married Thereza Lorins on 24Jan1894, in St. Martinville. Thereza’s parents were Ulysse Lorins and Eleonore Wesley. Willie and Thereza were blood relatives and first cousins of each other. Their common grandfather Hyppolite Lorins had two sons from two different women. One was Ulysses Lorins who was Thereza’s father, and the other son was Leon Lorins, Willy’s father. A spelling change made Willy become “Willie Lawrence”. Willie had one child named Clifton Lawrence.

E. Leontine Lorins the fifth child born to Leon and Célasie was born on 5May 1876. Leontine married Willie Jacquet, son of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis on 27 Nov 1895. Thus there were two Jacquet brothers who married two Lorins (Lawrence) sisters.

F. Marie Elise Lorins the sixth child born to Leon and Célasie was born on 19 May 1878. Elise married Olivier Celestine.

G. Marie Corine Lorins the seventh child born to Leon and Célasie was born on 16 April 1880. Corinne Lawrence married James Comeaux. Corinne and James had 5 children:

i. Bertha Comeaux who married Roosevelt Gravenberg.

ii. James Comeaux

iii. Roy Comeaux

iv. Margaret Comeaux

v. Lily Comeaux

H. Augustin Wilfred Lorins the eighth child and only the second son born to Leon and Célasie was baptized on 20 May 1882 at St. Martin de Tours Church.

I. Anatole Lasseigne Laurence the ninth child born to Leon and Célasie was born on 8 Feb 1888 (SM.ch.v.13,p.31). He married Lillie Mae. Anatole’s birth record was found by accident. No record of him was found under the name “Lorins” or “Laurence”, however, as luck may have it, on the previous page is the last name “Lasseigne” and for some reason, Anatole is listed in Father Hébert’s SW Louisiana Records under the name “Anatole Laurence Lasseigne”. If it had not been for the 1920 census, which had Anatole living with or next to his father Leon, then perhaps he would have not been noticed and found. The parents of Anatole are given as “Leon & Selasie Trahan” so we know this is their ninth child.

J. Joseph (Fontelieu)? Laurens the tenth child born to Leon and Celasie was born on 21 Jan 1890.

K. + L. Beatrice Laurence and Bertha Laurence the eleventh and twelfth and possibly last children born to Leon and Celasie were a set of twins born on 26 Dec 1893. Beatrice married Laodice Broussard.

M. Octavie Lorins married Jules Broussard.

All of the children born to Celasie and Leon have baptismal records at the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, La. We see the spelling of the name go from Lorins to Laurens and finally to Laurence between the years 1882 and 1893. There is the strong possibility that there were more children born to the couple. On the 1920 census taken in January in the 1^st Ward of St. Martin parish, we see Leon Laurence listed as age 68, living with his wife “Sara” at age 72, and a daughter named Belle Laurence who is listed as age 23, placing her birth year at 1896, and this may or may not be one of the twin sisters. Living on the same property are Anatole Laurence and his wife Lillie Mae. Anatole is listed as age 32. The couple has five children present: Melba, Eula, Erma, Gladys and Edward Laurence. Also on the same property is ?Fontilier Laurence and his wife Volina. Fontilier is listed as age 29, placing his birth year at 1890. And finally we have an M. D. Laurence and his wife Lauraine Laurence living on the property. M. D. is listed as age 33, placing his birth year at 1886. The close proximity of these Laurence “relatives” and the ages and birth years of the other three besides Anatole give strong speculation that these are more children of Leon Laurence and Celasie Trahan.

Leon Laurence would make his passing on 1 Dec 1934, in Louisiana. The death certificate says that he was 88 years of age placing his birth year at 1846. This is most likely an error of a few years because Leon’s marriage license of 29 Aug 1870 says he was a minor so he could not have been born before September of 1849. The 1920 census age places his birth year at 1851 making 1850 a more likely birth year. Leon died of chronic nephritis and old age and was buried in the St. Martinville cemetery (*81*). It took a few years after the death of both of their parents that the children of Leon and Célasie would petition to the St. Martin Courthouse for an appraisal of their parent’s estate (*262*):

“…Leon Lawrence died intestate 1 December 1934, wife Celazie Trahan also died May 1937, were born 13 children, all living except (2 of them) Willie Lawrence who died leaving his son Clifton Lawrence and Mrs. Corinne Lawrence Comaeux, widow of James Comeaux both deceased – five children: Bertha Comeaux Gravensberg resident of New Orleans, married Roosevelt Gravensbert, James Comeaux a resident of Chicago, Roy Comeaux resident of Memphis, Margaret Comeaux, resident of New Orleans, Lily Comeaux, resident of New Orleans. Leon and Celazie had land in St. Martin Parish: 150 arpents, north by hiers of Jolivet Jacquet, Lawrence et.al., south by Fernado Foti, Jean Trahan et.al., east by Ernest Honore and Coulee Lasalle, west by T.J. Labbe et.al. and Bayou Tortue, acquired by Leon Lawrence from John H Gay et.al. on 30 Oct 1893…”

Each of the 13 children and heirs received 1/13^th of their parents property which was appraised at $6,000 of immovable property and $377 worth of movable property for a total appraised value of the Lorins estate at $6377.00.

The Brother of Pierre Trahan – Jean Baptiste Trahan

Jean Baptiste Trahan was the brother of Pierre Trahan who appears to have been born circa 1856. The 1920 census of St. Martin parish lists Jean’s age as 63, placing his birth year at 1856. The dates were not too far from the actual birthdate found in the Baptismal slave records of St. Mary Magdalen church. In the same place as we found Jean’s brother Pierre and sister Adele Celasie, there we find the birth-date of a child who is most likely Jean Baptiste Trahan:

“Jean Baptiste L’an mil huit cent cinquante sept le onze de Juillette Je (la ?nigrese?) au baptisme Jean Baptiste né l’an mil huit cent cinquante six le vingt neuf de Novembre, fils de Marie Jeanne, appartenant à Evariste Trahan, parrain Jean Baptiste, marraine Céliza.” “J. A. Poyet”. (*175*)

Here we find that Jean Baptiste has a different mother from his other brother and sister. It was already believed by family members that one of the children had a different mother being that the name Moriah/Mary/Marcelite Schexneider and Emerende Trahan kept appearing as the mother for the three children at various times. Now it appears that Marie Jeanne may be the mother known as Marcelite Schexneider and Merende as Emerende Trahan then later called Mary Schexneider. Lots of evidence points to the fact that the two were sisters. One of them probably raised all three of the children. On the 1880 census we find Jean Baptiste Trahan and his wife Rosema and living with them is Jean Baptiste’s “aunt” Marcelite Shixnider at age 50 and a widow. In the same month, we find Jean’s brother Pierre Trahan and his newlywed wife Mary Jones/John and Pierre’s 60-year-old “mother” Mary Schexnyder”. Are there two Schexnayder sisters or is this the same woman? Could the same woman have been in two places just when the census was being taken at each one of the brother’s house a few days between each other?

The 1920 census indicated a close proximity between the residencies of both Jean Trahan and Pierre Trahan, and it led to the speculation that Jean was a brother of Pierre. We find in the records of marriage at the St. Martin courthouse that Jean Trahan appeared with one Rose Emma Victorianne on 13 May 1880, for the purpose of matrimony. Following in his brother’s footsteps, it had only been less than seven months since his older brother Pierre Trahan had married. Both of the brother’s older sister Adéle Célasie Trahan had married ten years ago. Again, we have a marriage document in French and the following is an excerpt:

“...célèbre le mariage de Jean Trahan fils majeur D’ Variste Trahan et de Mérende Thiesriot né dans la paroisse de Vermillion...et de Rosema Victorina fille legitime de Jean Pierre Victoriana et de Rosemarie Gobert, née dans la paroise St. Landry...”

The translation into English would be such:

“...to celebrate the marriage of Jean Trahan, major (over 21) son of Variste Trahan and of Merende Thiesriot born in Vermillion parish...and of Rosema Victoriana legitimate daughter of Jean Pierre Victoriana and of Rosemarie Gobert, born in St. Landry parish...”

The Reverand A. M. Jan married the couple. Witnesses at the marriage were Alphonse Jean Louis, Demosthenes Mallet and Alphonse Duval (*82*). The writing of the names is not too well written and deciphering the surname of Jean’s mother after studying the original was a challenge. Father Hebert’s team has deciphered “THEESNOT” as will be found in his SW Louisiana records, while I have deciphered “THIESRIOT”. While the name Theesnot could not be found anywhere, the name Thierriot, or Thieriot is a fairly common Acadian name leading to the assumption that her name may have well been Emerende Thierriot. Amongst the handful of various spellings of the name Thierriot, one variant is “Theriault.” What exactly was the marriage document recorder trying to write? Thus far this is one of four documents found that gives a surname for Pierre, Celasie and Jean’s mother Emerende (or Emerenthe). This still raises more questions than answers as to whether or not Emerende was the mother of all three children. The marriage documents of all three indicate that Emerende is their mother. She is listed on the 1870 census with her son Pierre and daughter Célasie as Emerende Trahan. Choosing the name Trahan without marrying one can easily be understood because it was just after the emancipation proclamation and the end of the Civil War and ex-slaves were scampering to find a surname. Some choosing the surname of their previous slave owner, some choosing the first name of their mother or father as their new surname and changing surnames sometimes more than once before settling with a permanent last name. Both Pierre and Célasie Trahan are with her on the 1870 census but not their brother Jean Trahan. Where is he? He should be about 14 years of age at this time. Emerante’s other son Urbain Mouton is with her but not Jean. Later documents such as the 1880 census and Pierre’s death records show the mother under a different name, mainly one Mary Schexneider, Marcelite Schexneider or Moriah Schexneider. Marcelite is “Jean’s Aunt” in 1880. Mary is “Pierre’s mother” in 1880 and “Moriah” on his death certificate. Louisiana Creole family researcher Christophe Landry-Höegan believes that Emerente Trahan and Mary Moriah Schexneider were sisters and that Emerente first bore children for Evariste Trahan and then for Augustine Mouton of St. Martin Parish (*213*). Emerente bore at least two children for Augustine – Augustin Aurelien Mouton born ca. 1854 and Urbain Mouton born ca. 1859. Aurelien married Celestine Bell and Urbain married Angele William. Urbain Mouton is one of the children living with Emerente Trahan, Silasie Trahan and Pierre Trahan on the 1870 census. Urbain is listed as ten years old and is a mulatto without occupation. This would put his birth year at 1860. Since he is living with and listed with Emerente and her two children, it would give credence to Urbain being a family member. Since Jean Baptiste, the brother of Pierre and Celasie is not living with them, this would also give credence to Jean probably living elsewhere with his natural born mother.

Just where was Jean during the 1870 census? If Emerenthe Thierriot/Trahan/Schexneider is his true biological mother, why is he not with his mom, brother and sister during the census taking? As we search through the 1870 census records, none of the Jean Trahans match up with an exact age for what we believe was an 1856 birth at Abbeville. We are looking for a young man around 14-15 years old at the time of the census. We find many Jean Trahans but there is only one in the South-Western Louisiana area that come close to his age description – that of Jean Trahan, a white male age 19 living in Vermillionville, Lafayette Parish. We would expect to see his race listed as “mulatto”. Since all of the Jean Trahans on the 1870 Louisiana census are white males, we cannot rule out that Jean was considered a white male growing up, even though it was known that his mother was colored. Sometimes this was a problem for fair-skinned, mixed race people who needed or wanted to pass as white. If you were away from your hometown, you could get away with it, but if you were near people who knew your family history they could “tell on you” and cause problems. Jean’s brother Pierre was said to have been thought of as a white male in the same sense. This particular Jean Trahan, age 19 is working as a field hand and is enumerated with Severin Vincent, age 25, a planter. Severin’s wife is Eulalie Vincent, age 24. Also there are Marcel Trahan, 17 and Vincent Sosthene, 22. Both are field hands. Sarazin Trahan, 36 and his wife Azama Trahan, are the head of the household in the dwelling right before Severin’s. Placide Trahan, 26 and his wife Margeret Trahan, 25 and family, heads the household after Severin’s. There are lots of Trahan families in the area. All of them are white men and women.

TRAHAN FAMILY PHOTOS

TOP: Jean Baptiste Trahan Sr. and his wife Rosema Victorian

Jean Trahan was born on 29 Nobember 1856 in Vermillion Parish.

Jean married Rosema Victorian on 13 May 1880 in St. Martinville.

BOTTOM: Jean Baptiste Trahan Jr. and his wife Mary Nolan

Before Jean Trahan married Rosema, he had a son named Baptiste Trahan Jr.

Baptiste Trahan Jr. was born 15 October 1877 in Louisiana to Julie Pierre.

Baptiste married Mary Nolan on 17 April 1899 in Acadia Parish.

Rose Emma Victorian’s Parents

Rose Emma Victoriana and Jean Baptiste Trahan married on 13 May 1880 in St. Martinville. Rose Emma (also Rosema and Rosemma) was the daughter of Rosemire Gaubert and Jean-Pierre Victorian. Both were “de couleur libre” (free colored). Jean-Pierre was the son of Joseph Élie Victorian and Marie Chévis, both “gens de couleur libres” according to their marriage (#1524) at the Opelouses Courthouse of 19 Nov 1856 (*213*). Rosemire Gaubert was born in Thibodaux on 29 Nov 1837 and was the daughter, the second of seven children born, of Victor Joseph Gaubert and Héloïse Billiot. Victor (de couleur libre) was born 23 July 1806 and baptized on 27 Aug 1806 in Ascension Parish. His baptismal sponsors were Guillaume Joseph Gaubert and Élise Verret. Guillaume was Joseph’s uncle who was also born in Nantes, France. Elise Verret could very well be “Héloise Verret”, octovonne libre who married Guillaume and Pierre’s brother André Gaubert in 1819 in Donaldsonville. Joseph married Héloïse Billiot, the daughter of Joseph Billiot and Marianne Marguerite Iris Corteau (sauvagesse du Bayou La Fource) in 1835 (*213*). Victor Gaubert was one of three children born to Pierre Gaubert and Marie Céleste Lamothe. Pierre Gaubert was born ca. 1789 in Nantes, France and was the son of Guillaume Gaubert and Marie Modeste Gaudet of France. He married 6 Aug 1817, in Donaldsville, to Marie Céleste Lamothe, a quarteronne libre and the daughter of Nicolas Degrande De La Mothe of La Rochelle, France and Josine Duhamel, a “morena libre” of Assumption Parish but originally from New Orleans. The wedding was annulled due to illegalities with inter-racial marriages (*213*). Pierre Jacques Gaubert died on 29 April 1860 at the age of 88 in St. Landry Parish. Rosemire Gaubert married a second time to Philippe Chévis on 24 Nov 1869 in St. Martinville. Rosemire died on 24 June 1894 in St. Martinville.

We find that the newlywed couple Jean and Rose-Emma stayed in St. Martin Parish, for just one month later we find them on the 1880 census. Here we find some interesting information. We see that Jean’s name is listed as Baptiste Trahan, a mulatto of age 24 and placing his birth year circa 1856. We know this to be the Jean Trahan in question because his wife is named as Rosema Trahan, a mulatto female of age 21 and others listed as living with them are Marcelite Shixnider a mulatto female, widowed, age 50 listed as Baptiste’s aunt, and Ernest Victoriane a mulatto male age 19 listed as the brother in law of Baptiste Trahan. Since the maiden name of Jean Trahan’s wife was Victorian, this must be her brother and without a doubt is Jean Trahan’s family. But we certainly now know that his full name is Jean Baptiste Trahan. Since we only see the name “Baptiste Trahan” on the 1880 census, and all other documents say “Jean Trahan” (*82*),(*111*), this is most likely because Jean chose to be called that instead of Jean Baptiste.

About the aunt named Marcelite Shixnider, this is consistent with the woman named Mary Schexnyder, mulatto female age 60, found living with Jean’s brother Pierre Trahan and his newlywed wife Marie John in Iberia Parish on the 1880 census of the same month. She is listed as Pierre’s mother and on his death certificate she is also listed as his mother with the name Moriah Schexyndia. The two women must be sisters, with Mary being the elder of the two and as we have already discussed was probably a woman who raised Pierre as a stepmother. If the Schexnyder sisters were indeed the aunts of the two brothers, then how were they related to the Trahan family or the Trahan name? Schexnyder could not have been their maiden name, but a chosen surname after slavery ended. They could have been sisters on their mother’s side who may have had any combination of the names Emerende, Thieriott or Schexnayder. One or both of them could have had a thus unknown marriage into the Schexnyder family. With Marcelite Shixnader listed as a “widow” on the 1880 census, she is the likely candidate. One of the things slaves did after slavery ended, was to choose a surname of their parents original owner. Could this be the case here? We are compelled to believe what Louisiana researcher Christophe Landry-Höegan claims: that Mary Moriah Schexnaider and Emerente Schexnaider/Theiriot are sisters (*213*). Emerente first bearing children for Evariste Trahan of Vermillion Parish, and then for Augustin Mouton of St. Martin Parish and that the father of the two Mouton brothers was Augustin Mouton. Two of the Mouton children were: Augustin Aurélien Mouton, born in 1854 who married Célestine Daniel Bell; and Urbain Mouton born in 1859 in Lafayette parish who married Angèle William. Other clues can be found in the record books: Eugene Montet of Vermillion Parish, married on 4 Nov 1872 to Adele Chretien of St. Martin Parish. Eugene’s mother is listed as Marcelite Schexnayder. Adele was the daughter of Adele and Antoine. Could this be the same “Marceline Sixnayder” born as a “free woman of color” in Lafayette on 5 June 1828 (Laf.ch.v.2,p101), whose parents were Urbin Sixnayder and Claire Juste, both free people of color? There were a set of twins also born to Urbin and Claire named Marie Louise and Malvina Sixnayder born on 15 Oct 1823 in Lafayette. New Iberia researcher Christophe Landry thinks there is a parential relationship here with this particular Marceline/Marcelite Sixnayder, and Emerente Schexnayder, the daugters of Urbin Sixnayder and Claire Juste as being the same women, one or both, who gave birth to the three children fathered by Evariste Trahan (*213*).

At least eight children were born between Jean and Rose Emma. The first child born to Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianna appears to have been Ernestine Trahan born on 12Oct1881. Aurora Trahan was born in March 1883. Regina Trahan was born in June 1885. The Fourth child born to Jean and Rose Emma was Marie Laura Trahan born on 11Sep1887. The Fifth child born to Jean and Rose Emma was Ulysse Fernando Trahan born on 11Mar1889. The sixth child born to Jean and Rose Emma was Anthony Trahan born on 25Jul1891, and baptized on 28Sep1891. The seventh child born to Jean and Rose Emma was Marie Bertha Trahan born on 29Jun1893. The eighth child born to Jean and Rose Emma was Jean Stanley Trahan born on 21Sep1896. All of the children have birth and baptismal records at the St. Martin de Tours church in St. Martinville Louisiana. Quite possibly, there are more children yet to be found.

On the 1920 census taken in January in the 1^st ward of St. Martin parish, Louisiana, we find Jean and his family living in the midst of the Jacquet and Laurence families. Jean is listed as a mulatto of 63 years of age and “Rosema” is mulatto of 54 years of age. Jean is able to both read and write English but not Rose Emma. Jean can speak both French and English. A total of ten people are living at this dwelling. Living with Jean Trahan is his wife Rosanna; his daughter Ora Carligan, mulatto of 29 years of age. Ora may have been another child born between Jean’s two sons Ulysse and Anthony but the most likely scenario is that this is actually Jean’s daughter “Aurora“ born circa 1883 however, the ages certainly do not match because Aurora should be close to 37 now. Given the ages of the “Carligan” children, the age given on the census is most likely wrong if we are to believe that they are Ora/Aurora’s children. Also living with Jean is his son Tony Trahan, mulatto of 28 years of age; grand-daughter Estella Carligan, mulatto of 14 years of age; his grand-daughter Bernadette Carligan, mulatto of 12 years of age; his grand-daughter Agnes Carligan, mulatto of 10 years of age; his grandson Audry Carligan, mulatto nine years old; his youngest grandson Wilson Carligan, mulatto of 14 months of age; and his grandson Hermine Labbé, mulatto of 9 years of age. The name “Carligan” is the better-known name “Kerlegan”. These Kerlegan children are from Jean’s daughter Aurora Trahan who married Jean Kerlégan in 1905. The Hermine child is really “Hamilton” from another daughter of Jean’s named Marie Laura Trahan who married Walter Labbé. Walter Labbé’s mother’s maiden name was Kerlegan. Living in the next dwelling house is a Mouton family of nine headed by Marcille or Marcelli Mouton and his wife Octavie Mouton. The grandchildren of Pierre Trahan have always maintained that Pierre was related to the Labbé and Mouton families. Relatives all living here together prove that statement to be true.

With the death of Jean Trahan, we once again see the name of Emerant Schexnayder show up again. According to the Louisiana death certificate information. Jean Trahan died on 30 September 1947. Although he could have easily been though of as white or Mexican, his race was listed as colored. He was given the age of 94 and six months old at death having been born in March 1853, in St. Martinville. Since documentary evidence shows his brother Pierre Trahan was born on 21 Sept 1853, this date is definitely wrong unless the theory that Jean had a different mother is true making both half-brothers born around the same time. Jean’s parents are listed as Varic Trahan and Emerant Schniter (*234*). Those names should be spelled Evariste Trahan and Emerante Schexnayder. The birthplace of both parents were said to be in Calcasieu Parish according to the informant Ernest Honoré, Jean’s son-in-law, who gave the information. For sure we know from documentary evidence that Jean’s father Evariste was born in the Abbeville/St. Martinville area and was baptized in St. Martinville (*248*). The birthplace of Jean’s mother Emerante is thought to have been in the Lafayette/Grand Coteau area. Jean’s last residence was in Broussard, Louisiana, Route 1, box 78. Jean died in St. Martinville and was buried there. He had heart disease and died of congestive heart failure brought on by generalized arterio-sclerosis (*234*).

The Descendants of Jean Trahan

At least eight children were born between Jean and Rose Emma. The first child born to Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianna was:

1. Ernestine Trahan born on 12 Oct 1881. Ernestine married Ernest Honoré who was born 12 Oct 1876 in St. Martinville, La. Ernest was the son of Charles Honoré and Maryanne (Bela?). Ernestine Trahan and Ernest Honore had at least six children:

A. Velma Honore, born 21 Feb 1914 in Cade, La. Velma married Wilson Broussard in New Iberia. Wilson was born on 10 July 1908 in New Iberia and was the son of Adolphe Broussard and Virginia Legnon. Velma Honore and Wilson Broussard had six children: Merlin Broussard born on 31 May 1936 in New Iberia who married Gail Porche on 30 Dec 1961 in New Orleans; Milton Broussard born on 24 Feb 1939 in New Iberia who married Marie Edna Bastian on 2 Oct 1968 in Jeanerette, La.; Donald Broussard, Yvonne Broussard, Kenneth Broussard and Carolyn Broussard were the other four children born to Velma and Wilson. Velma Honore died 15 Aug 1998 in New Iberia. Wilson Broussard died 26 June 1989 in New Iberia.

B. Auguste Honoré, was born 24 Nov 1915 in Cade. Auguste married Rosetta Bryant who was born 5 Jan 1918 in St. Martinville. Rosetta died 6 Apr 1989 in Lake Charles. There were nine children born to Auguste Honore and Rosetta Bryant:

i. Charles Honore born on 3 Aug 1938;

ii. Palmer Honore born on 14 Sep 1939 who married Gladys Station;

iii. Barbara Honore born in May 1940 who married Frank Rocker;

iv. Ronald Honore born on 24 June 1943 who married Jennie Fontenette;

v. Wanda Honore was the fifth child born to August and Rosetta and was born on 9 June 1944 in Lake Charles. She first married Dalton Guillory and her second marriage was to Joseph Ardoin;

vi. Wynetta Honore was born 7 Sep 1946 in Lake Charles. Wynetta married Alvin Smith of Orange, Texas.

vii. Michael Honore was born 2 Feb 1948 and married Tina Delafosse;

viii. Larry Honore was born on 23 Sep 1950 and married Kathy of Houston, Texas;

ix. Lamar Honore was the last child born to Auguste Honoré and Rosetta Bryant. Lamar was born 11 June 1954 in Lake Charles. Lamar married Debra of Lake Charles.

C. Lucille Honore was the next child born to Ernestine Trahan and Ernest Honore. Lucille married Harry Olivier;

D. Louise Honore had a child named Xavier Fontenot.

E. Antoinette Honore married Charles Labbé. Antoinette and Charles had the following children: Ira Labbé, Glenn Labbé and Laverne Labbé.

F. Elvina Honore married Clifton Cormier. Elvina and Clifton had the following children:

i. Calvin Cormier,

ii. Woodrow Cormier was born in 1927. He married Rosemary Pierre. Woodrow died in June 2000 in New Orleans.

iii. Rudolph Cormier

iv. Reoland Cormier.

Ernestine Trahan Honore died on 3 Mar 1982 in Lafayette, La. And was buried in St. Martinville. Ernest Honore died in December 1955 in Cade, La.

2. Aurora Trahan was born on 15 Aug 1884, in St. Martin Parish. Aurora died on 15 Jan 1973. She suffered with Alzheimer’s disease, something that seemed to afflict some of her daughters as well. Aurora married Jean Kerlégand on 23 Jan 1905 (sm.ch.v.13.p.17). Jean Kerlégand was the son of Aubin Kerlégand (mulâtre libre) and Eugénie Décuir. Aubin’s first cousin Raphael Kerlegand Jr. (h.d.c.l.) married Josephine Jacquet. Aubin De Kerlégand, the son of Jean Baptiste De Kerlegand and Florence Ozenne, was born on 1 May 1850 in St. Martinville. Aurora (also Aurore and Ora) Trahan and Jean Kerlégand had at least six children:

A. Estella (also Stella) Kerlegan was born on 2 Dec 1905, in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Estella can be seen living with her grandparents Jean Trahan and Rosema Victorian on the 1920 census of St. Martin Parish, 1^st Ward. The name is spelled “Carligan”. Estella is listed as a 14-year-old mulatto who has not attended school yet. Four of her other siblings along with two cousins and an uncle also live with Jean and Rosema. Stella married Gabriel Abatte on 21 April 1924. The Abatte name can also be seen in the record books as Abat, Abbat, Abbatt, Abatt and Abbott with the original name being Abat. Gabriel Abatte’s ancestry can be traced back to Maurice Abat, a prolific businessman of St. Martinville regarding legal matters and real estate during the early 19^th century (*9, 20*). Just before Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s father François Hyacinthe Jacquet died, he bought a lot of land from Maurice Abat’s company – “Garrigou and Abat” when Abat’s partner Garrigou died in June of 1810. Estella Kerlegand and Gabriel Abatte had ten children:

1. Emma Abatte born in March 1925;

2. Delton Abatte born on 16 Dec 1926;

3. Sereta Abatte born on 28 Sep 1928;

4. Santney Abbott born on 27 Sep 1930;

5. Lucille Abatte born in June 1932;

6. Raymond Abatte born in 1934;

7. Lionel Abatte born in 1936;

8. Stella Abatte born in 1938;

9. Stanley Abatte born in 1938;

10. Irene Abatte born ca. 1942.

ABAT FAMILY PHOTO

TOP: Irene & Stanley Abatte

BOTTOM: Gabriel Abat born on

11 February 1898 in New Iberia.

He married Estella Kerlegand

On 21 April 1924. Estella was born

on 2 December 1905 in St. Martin

Parish

Gabriel Abatte was born on 11 Feb 1898 in New Iberia. He was the son of Felix Willy Abat and Emma Destouet. Gabriel died on 10 Nov 1969 in New Iberia. Gabriel’s father Felix Abat was born on 16 Nov 1876 in St. Martinville. His first marriage was to Emma Destouet on 29 June 1900, in New Iberia. Emma was from New Iberia and was the daughter of Jacques Destouet of France and Rosette De Kerlégand. Felix Abat was the son of Arthur Alcide Abbat (quarteron libre) and Désirée De La Houssaye. Alcide Abbat was born on 8 July 1841 in St. Martinville. Alcide was the son of Norbert Abat and Clémentine Lemelle (aka) De La Houssaye, both gens de couleur libres. Norbert and Clémentine married on 19 Mar 1834 in St. Martinville. Norbert also fathered children with Victoire Chauvet a mulâtresse libre and the daughter of François Chauvet of France and Magdeleine a négresse libre. His son with Victoire Chauvet was Alphonse Abat whose daughter Elisabeth Abat was the grandmother of Robert Russell Jacquet’s wife Lenola Neveu. Norbert Abat (quarteron libre) was born on 20 Dec 1810 and was the son of Maurice Abat of New Orleans and Elöise Fontenette. Éloïse was a mulâtresse libre born ca. 1798. She also bore children for Honoré Dartès – mulâtre libre and an unknown man with surname Wiltz (*213*). Elöise Fontenette died on 28 June 1833 at the age of 35 years old in St. Martinville.

B. Bernadetta Kerlegan was the second child born to Aurora Trahan and Jean Kerlegand ca. 1908. She married Rolly Gobert. Bernadette died in 2003.

C. Agnes Kerlegan was born on 27 Oct 1909, in New Iberia. Agnes married Joseph Wiltz. Joseph and Agnes had at least two children: Agnes Wiltz and Joseph Wiltz Jr. Agnes died in 1936 while giving childbirth.

D. Audry Kerlegan was born on 22 Aug 1913. Audry died on 20 Sept 2003. Audry had a child named Elizabeth.

E. Wilson Kerlegan was born in November 1918. He is living with his grandparents Jean Trahan and Rosema Victorian at the time of the 1920 census in St. Martin Parish. He is listed as a mulatto, 14 months old. Wilson had a child named Seer Kerlegan. As of 2005 he was still living in Louisiana.

F. Livingston Kerlegan was the last child born to Aurora Trahan and Jean Kerlegand ca. 1922. Livingston Sr. had a child named Livingston Kerlegan Jr. and as of 2005 was still living in Texas.

3. Regina Trahan was the third child born to Jean Trahan and Rosema Victorian. Regina was born on 25 Dec 1886, in Youngsville, La. Regina Trahan Durousseau died on 1 Apr 1962, in Opelousas, La. Regina married Gustave Stanislas Durousseau. Gustave was born on 10 Oct 1875 in Mallet, Louisiana. Gustave died on 2 Aug 1950 in Lafayette, La. where he is buried.

The Genealogy of the Durousseau Family

Gustave S. Durousseau was the son of Augustave Durousseau and Célima Louise Simon. Augustave and Célima married at the Opelousas church on 7 March 1864. Augustave was born ca. 1844 and was the third of six children born to Jean Baptiste DuRousseau, pére and Gertrude Ramón. Gertrude was a free woman of color who married Jean Baptiste, pére on 15 Mar 1839. in Opelousas, La. Gertrude was from Texas and was the daughter of Joseph Trinidad Ramón and Marie Tomassa Vásquez. Gertrude Ramón’s origin appears to be from Monterrey, Mexico. The first child born to Jean Baptiste Durousseau, pére and Gertrude Ramón was Jean Baptiste DuRousseau fils de couleur libre. Jean Baptiste fils was born ca. 1838 and he married Augustine Simon, also of “free color” on 2 Sept 1861 at the Opelousas church (*213*). Augustine was the daughter of Louis Simon and Célestine De La Fosse. Jean Baptiste Durousseau, pére, was the son of Pierre Durousseau and Caroline (or Catherine) LaCasse (*213, 229*). Pierre (Pedro Dulcido) Durousseau was born 4 May 1792 in New Orleans. Since the Spanish were still in command of Louisiana during this time, Pierre’s name is seen in the Spanish version of “Pedro”. The question of whether or not Caroline LaCasse is Jean Baptiste’s mother is still an unanswered question. Many of the colored line Durousseau’s believe that the LaCasse woman was not Jean’s biological mom because Caroline Lacasse was a white woman. The family belief is that the mother of both Jean Baptiste and his brother Auguste was a mulatto or free woman of color and this is where the black Durousseaus originated from.

Pierre was the son of Jean Alexandre Cadouin Durousseau and Catherine Susanne Bello. Jean Alexandre Cadouin Durousseau was born ca 1765 in St. Michael Parish, Bordeaux, Gironde, Guyenne, France. He was the son of Jean Simon Durousseau and Marie Vigneras (*229*). Pierre Durousseau married Catherine LaCasse on 2 Nov 1813 in St. Landry Church (*229*). Catherine was born on 24 Dec 1798 in Opelousas and was the daughter of Phillip LaCasse and Genevieve Carriere. Phillip LaCasse was born in 1766 in Point Coupee Parish, La. He was the son of Charles LaCasse Jr. and Felicia Langlois. Charles LaCasse Jr. was born on 17 March 1736 in Beaumont, Quebec, Canada. Charles arrived in Opelousas in 1757 and obtained a land grant in the area that the present day Opelousas courthouse sits on (*229*). Charles’ grandfather Antoine Casse (dit LaCasse) born in 1641, immigrated to Quebec from his hometown of Ste-Pierre-de-Doue-La-Fountain, Maine et Loire, Anjou in France.

Regina Trahan and Gustave Durousseau had at least seven children:

A. Rufus Durousseau, born on 28 Aug 1915;

B. Albert Durousseau, born in 1917;

C. Dolores Durousseau, born on 30 May 1919;

D. Lucille Durousseau, born on 18 Sep 1922;

E. Antoine Durousseau was born on 11 Jan 1924 in Opelousas, La. Antoine married Ruth Estelle Lewis on 1 June 1946 in Los Angeles, Ca. Ruth was born on 27 Oct 1927 in Denver, Co. and died on 7 Jan 2000 in San Diego, Ca. Antoine married a second time to Joyce Maxine Pleasants on 14 March 1981 in Los Angeles. Joyce had two children from a previous marriage. Antoine Durousseau and his first wife Ruth Lewis had three children:

i. Pamela Estelle Durousseau born on 27 Oct 1947 in Los Angeles. Pamela died on 14 Jan 1994 and was buried in Los Angeles on 22 Jan 1994.

ii. Patricia Ann Durousseau was born on 27 Oct 1947 in Los Angeles. Patricia married Prosper Yaovi Adodo on 22 Dec 1972 in Paris, France. Patricia died on 30 Nov 1990 in Los Angeles where she is buried.

iii. Antoine Pierre Durousseau was born on 13 Feb 1949 in Los Angeles. With his high school sweetheart Cherie Judice, Antoine had a son named Antoine Marlowe Durousseau III born on 13 November 1969. Antoine married Jo-Billie Fussy on 12 Nov 1968 in Houston, Texas. Their one child was a daughter named Desiree Nicole Durousseau born on 23 November 1970.

F. Doris Durousseau, born on 8 Nov 1925,

G. Linzay Durousseau born on 6 Apr 1927.

Durousseau Family Photos

Top:

Three Durousseau Brothers in a

World War II photo.

Left – Rufus Durousseau, born on

28 August 1915.

Center – Linzay Durousseau, born on

6 April 1927.

Right – Antoine Durousseau, born on

11 January 1924 in Opelousas, La.

Bottom:

Jean Baptiste Durousseau, Pére (Sr.)

Born circa 1823 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. He married on 15 March 1839

Gertrude Ramon of Mexico via Texas. She was the daughter of Joseph Trinidad Ramon and Marie Tomassa Vásquez.

Direct Durousseau Ancestor Lineage

Pierre Marchand Durousseau m. Marie Dammand??

Pierre Durousseau m. Elizabeth Besson

b. ca 1650, Barbezieux, Charente, Saintonge, France

Pierre Durousseau m. Marianne Cadroy

b. 1690, St.Pierre Parish, Bordeaux, Bironde, Guyenne, France

Jean Simon Durousseau m. Marie Vigneras

b. 1714, St.Pierre Parish, Bordeaux, Bironde, Guyenne, France

Jean Alexandre Cadouin Durousseau m. Catherine Bello

b. ca 1765, St. Michael Parish, Bordeaux, Gironde, Guyenne, France

Pierre (Pedro Dulcido) Durousseau m. Catherine Lacasse

b. 4 May 1792, New Orleans, La.

Jean Baptiste Durousseau, Pére m. Gertrude Ramon

b. ca.1823, St. Landry Parish, La.

Augustine Durousseau m. Celima Louise Simon

b. ca April 1843, St. Landry Parish

Gustave Stanislas Durousseau m. Regina Trahan

b. 10 Oct 1877,

Antoine Durousseau, Sr. m.1^st Ruth E. Lewis; m.2^nd Joyce M. Pleasants

b. 11 Jan 1924, Opelousas, La.

Antoine Pierre Durousseau, Jr. m. Jo Billy Fussy

b. 13 Feb 1949, Los Angeles Ca.

Antoine Marlowe Durousseau III (mother Cherie Judice)

b. 13 Nov 1969

4. Marie Laura Trahan was the Fourth child born to Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorianna. Marie Laura was born on 11Sep1887. Marie Laura would marry a farmer named Walter Labbé of Lafayette Parish on 16 Jan 1908. The two had received their marriage license at the St. Martin courthouse (#9333) on 28 Dec 1907. Witnesses to the marriage were Emile Labbé, Raoul Aubry and Willie Aubry. Walter was the son of Fernise (or Fernest) Labbé and Marie Kerlegan. The Church document provides us with some slightly different information when they married at the St. Martin de Tours Church on 16 Jan 1908 (*258*). Walter Labbe is the son of Francis Labbe and Marie Kerlegan. The same three witnesses are spelled the same. Marie Laura Trahan died on 24 Jan 1976. At least three children were born:

A. Hamilton (or Hermine) Labbé born ca. 1911, appears to be the first child born to Marie Laura and Walter. Hamilton Labbé married Maggie Catalon the daughter of Oscar Catalon and Cora Derouen. Hamilton Labbé and Maggie Catalon had a child named Jacqueline Labbé who married Michael Robertson. Hamilton is seen living with his grandparents Jean Trahan and Rosema Victorian on the 1920 census of St. Martin Parish, in the 1^st Ward. His name is listed as “Hermine”, a mulatto nine years old.

B. Marie Rosemar Labbé born on 26 July 1926 appears to be the second child born to Marie Laura and Walter Labbé. Marie married Frank Lopez. Frank was born on 16 April 1924 and died on 18 May 1991. Frank Lopez was the son of Octave Lopez and Louisiana Vallot. Marie Labbé and Frank Lopez had five children:

i. Dolores Lopez born on 3 Aug 1947;

ii. Doran Lopez born on 23 Feb or Mar 1949;

iii. Rosanna Lopez born on 15 July 1957;

iv. Michael Lopez born on 1 Nov 1959;

v. Lolita Lopez born on 26 May 1961 in San Francisco. Lolita married Clyde Anthony Lemelle on 29 May 1982 in Lafayette, La. Clyde Lemelle was born on 18 May 1958 in Opelousas, La.

C. Sydney Labbé was another child born to Marie Laura and Walter Labbé. Sydney had a granddaughter named Carla Broussard of Lafayette who moved to New Orleans when she married in 2002.

5. Ulysse Fernando Trahan was the Fifth child born to Jean Trahan and Rose Emma Victorian. Ulysse was born on 11 March 1889. Ulysse had a daughter named Ulma White.

6. Anthony Trahan was born on 25 July 1891, and baptized on 28 Sep 1891.

7. Marie Bertha Trahan was born on 29Jun1893.

8. Jean Stanley Trahan was the eighth child born to Jean Trahan and Rose Emma. Jean Stanley was born on 21 Sep 1896.

Baptiste Trahan, First Son of Jean Trahan

For many years during this research, it was thought that another brother that we could find very little information about was Baptiste Trahan Sr. The confusion stemmed from the fact that one branch of Trahan family descendents knew this person as “Baptiste Trahan” while another branch of Trahan family descendents knew this person as “Jean Trahan”. As it turns out, they are one and the same, with the full name being “Jean Baptiste Trahan”. The main clue that tied the two together was the insistence by both trees that “Jean Trahan/Baptiste Trahan Sr. had a daughter who married Walter Labbe!” as well as family stories saying that he died in Louisiana circa 1948 at an old age and that “Baptiste Sr. outlived them all“. We had speculated that Baptiste Sr (Père). Was a younger brother of Pierre Trahan simply because his son Baptiste Jr. (Fils) spent a lot of time with Pierre’s family and it was thought by many family members for a long time that Baptiste Jr. was Pierre’s son. We were correct in that aspect but it just took a closer inquiry to come to the conclusion that the two names were one and the same.

Jean Baptiste Trahan Jr. commonly known as Baptiste Trahan appears to have been born around the year 1877, with the date of 15 Oct 1877 being given as his birth date, so it is obvious that Jean Baptiste Sr. had a relationship before he met and married Rosemma. Julie Pierre is the name of Baptiste Trahan’s mother. Family stories say that Baptiste Jr. had green eyes, a very light skin complexion and kinky hair. He was a man of may talents and made a living in a multitude of ways. With the large family of 17 natural and adopted kids he ended up raising, he needed to! A farmer and woodcutter he was but he also worked many years for the sugar refinery in Cade owned by the Smedes family. Baptiste made his own candy and would go to local baseball games played by teens and adults to sell his homemade candy, roasted peanuts and pecans. Local sandlot baseball games by teens and men in their 20’s and 30’s was a popular pastime in the area in the early 1900’s. The games between St. Martinville and Cade were especially well attended. Baptiste also was seen with his own “icy cart” where he would bring a large block of ice along with various flavors to scrap the ice, pour it into a cup and drench it with liquid colored flavorings called a “snowball”. Baptiste would also fry fish and sell them at the Friday/Saturday night card games played by the locals. It is said by his descendants that his mother died young and he ended up being raised by the Smedes who owned the sugar refinery. His mom worked for them up until the time she died. If his mother Julie Pierre died in 1896 as her death certificate says, then Baptiste was only about 19 years old when she died. Charles Smedes, the owner of the sugar company was said to have lived 104 years and his sister was 106 years of age when she died. There were many property transactions that occurred between Charles Smedes and various Jacquet families, most of which turned out to be disasterous. Since the Baptiste Trahan family religion was Baptist, they all attended St. Marks, the local Baptist Church in Cade.

Baptiste Jr’s death certificate of 20 Dec1940, says that he was age 63. The document, which has his name spelled Battiste Trahan, says that his father was Battiste Trahan and his mother was Julie Pierre (*83*). We are sure that (Jean) Baptiste Trahan (père) and Julie Pierre did not marry. Nevertheless, one son, Baptiste (fils) was born between them. Julie Pierre died at an early age on 20 Mar 1896 at the age of 34 (SM.ch.v.6, p.51). Her birth year is thus placed at ca. 1862. We find Julie Pierre living with her sister Arthimise Gaspard on the 1880 census of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. This seems certain to be the same Julie Pierre. The information given for her is a Black female at 20 years of age which is closely consistent with the age of her death document and giving a birth year circa 1860. Julie Pierre appears to have recently had a daughter born in December 1879 named Alida Adam. Alida is 7 months old. Other children living in the house are all the children of Julie’s sister Arthimise with the last name Brown. William Brown age 10; Alice Brown age 8; Corinne Brown age 6; Laure Brown age 4; and Amélie Brown age 6 months (*106*). If this is indeed the same Julie Pierre that was the mother of Baptiste Trahan Jr., then we can probably conclude that she did not marry (Jean) Baptiste Trahan Sr. and had additional children that are Baptiste’s half brothers and sisters.

Baptiste Trahan Jr. married Mary (Mae) Elizabeth Nolan on 17 Apr 1899, in Acadia Parish. A marriage record was found at the Crowley courthouse but gives no important information. It appears that the couple registered at the Crowley courthouse for a marriage license on this day but did not marry in Crowley in the Catholic tradition. Their family instead followed the Baptist Church tradition according to family stories. But where did they marry? According to the Abbeville courthouse document:

“...Baptiste Trahan as principal, and John Louis as security, were held and firmly bound unto the Governor of the State of Louisiana, in the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, for the payment of ... a license being issued...to unite in the bonds of matrimony...”

The monetary sum was a sort of traditional promissory deposit that in the case of the couple changing their mind and not marrying they would forfeit or owe the parish the money. The other document attached to the courthouse document is another Acadia Parish document stating that a certain Reverend J. Barker performed the marriage ceremony. Not much information can be obtained from the document, which simply says:

“This is to certify that, I Rev. J. Barker, Minister of the Gospel have this day, the 17 day of April A.D. 1899, united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Batist Trahan with Mary Nolan in the presence of the undersigned witnesses.”

Witnesses were: F. Barker, Chaplain ?Jacksen?, John Louis and Reverend J. Barker (*78*). The marriage obviously took place at a Baptist (protestant) church but where in Acadia Parish?

Mary Elizabeth Nolan is said to have been of Cherokee Indian heritage and to have moved from Oklahoma City to Grand Cotaeu Louisiana then to New Orleans before moving to Crowley Louisiana where she met Baptiste Trahan Jr. The couple supposedly first lived on Foulteley road. Mary Nolan was not the name she was born with. Having been of native American Cherokee heritage, her real Indian name was “not pronounceable by non-Indian people” so she and her brother changed their names. Her brother was known as Joseph Nolan. Mary is said to have been a master of languages being able to speak English, German, French and her native Indian language. When Mary’s mom died, her dad remarried and her father was said to have relatives by the name of Benoit in the Carencro area, just north of Lafayette. For many years Mary worked for Albert Schreiber an eye specialist in New Orleans. He and Mary were about the same age and both had the same prescription for eyeglasses, so when Mary needed a new pair, he would deliver them personally to her at her home in Cade. In the Cade/St. Martinville/New Iberia area, Mary also worked as a mid-wife and is said to have delivered more than 250 babies in the area, some of which she adopted.

This was the second marriage for Mary Nolan, for she had first married John Reed only to divorce him in St. Mary parish just prior to her marriage with Baptiste Trahan. Mary had two children with John Reed: Adam Reed Sr., and Joseph Reed (*86*). Adam Reed died in December of 1918. Mary had a third husband named Joseph A landry who was born on 7 July 1914. Joseph was the son of Willie Landry and Lavia Stewart.

Baptiste Trahan and Mary Nolan had at least seven children who survived into adulthood:

1. Margery Trahan was born on 30 April 1900 and married George Euotes?

2. Jean (Johnny) Baptiste Trahan who married Louise Kicknick.

3. Joshua David Trahan born 29 Nov 1902.

4. Patsy Trahan born 2 Aug 1904 who first married Joseph Isadore. Patsy Trahan married a second time to George Bonhomne and the couple had a daughter named Antonia Pecola Bonhomne born on 9 Mar 1922 who married Tony George. Antonia and Tony had eight children:

A. Lloyd George born on 18 Jan 1941;

B. Brenda George born on 15 June 1945;

C. Clyde George born on 24 Sep 1946;

D. Carolyn Janet George born on 14 Jan 1948;

E. Sharon George born on 6 July 1949;

F. Myrna George born on 10 Dec 1950;

G. Marjore George born on 15 Apr 1953

H. Mark George born on 7 Sep 1955.

5. Samuel Trahan who married Stella Richmond;

6. Mary Trahan was born in 1910 and married Allen Bonhomme. Mary and Allen had a daughter Corinne Bonhomme born in 1926. Allen’s brother George Bonhomme married Mary’s sister Patsy Trahan. Allen was the son of Alcide Bonhomme and Corine Williams. Allen was born circa 1869 and died after being hit by a car at the age of 77 in 1946. Allen’s sister was Serina Bonhomme Daniel was born on 15 October 1900. Serina married Jefferson Daniel, the son of Theodule Daniel and Julia Honoré. Theodule was the nephew of S. P. Daniel, the brother of Rosa Jean Louis. Corine Bonhomme, although a very young girl at the time, remembers the stories when S.P. (Samuel Philogene) lost his home in December 1929: “…SP ended up losing his house and everything he owned to the Moutons who came and trucked everything away, even the chickens in cages!” Serina and Jefferson’s children were John, Edward, Marguerite, Jefferson Jr., Earl, Mary Louise, Warren and Julia Daniel. Julia, who was born in 1929, was named after her grandmother. Serina Bonhomme Daniel died on 8 December 1999. The St. Martin Courthouse marriage record (#10345) also says that Theodule Daniel married Angelle Jacquet on 30 Oct 1913. Witnesses to the marriage were Sanville Jacquet, and S. P. Daniel. Angelle signed her name “Angel Jacket.” Alcide Bonhomme married Corine William on 25 Feb 1895. Alcide was the son of Edward Bonhomme (peré) and Felicie Etienne. Alcide’s brother was Edward Bonhomme (fils) who was born on 11 May 1869. Edward and Felicie married on 16 May 1868 in St. Martinville. Edward (peré) was the son of Apollon Bonhomme (peré) of Orleans Parish, and Lucie Wittman of Norforlk. Apollon and Lucie were married 25 Nov 1869 in St. Martinville. Apollon and Lucie had at least three other children: Andre Bonhomme who married Clementine Humphrey 2 May 1868; Apollon Bonhomme (fils), who married Corine Ursulie Ben on 23 May 1868; and Felicite Bonhomme who married Augustin Zenon on 7 Jan 1871. Apollon Bonhomme (peré) was the son of Bonhomme and Mariage. Mary Trahan died at the young age of 22 circa 1928 from pneumonia.

7. Sarah Trahan born in Cade, La. On 6 Nov 1912, was most likely the last child born to Baptiste Trahan Jr. and Mary Nolan. Sarah married Pierre Harpins. Sarah lived in Lafayette, Louisiana during the last decade of the 20^th century.

There were supposed to be other children under the care of Baptiste and Mary. Some of the children, including at least one of the above mentioned, most likely Joshua David, were supposed to have been adopted.

After their marriage in April of 1899, Baptiste Trahan Jr. and his wife Mary Nolan were seen living in Acadia parish. They had already owned a small lot in the city of Crowley because on 11 Jan 1900, Baptiste sold a lot in Crowley to the great Real Estate man W. W. Duson for $49.00. He had previously purchased this lot from Duson on 12 July 1898 for $25.00. The property was lot#13 on block #86, on Avenue B, between Sixth and West Hutchinson Avenue, only five blocks west of the public courthouse square (*84*). The family must have moved to the Cade/St. Martinville area soon after because Baptiste and Mary purchased several parcels of land in the area. There they build a large nine-bedroom house for their large family. The house eventually caught fire and burned down. Baptiste and family rebuilt a smaller version on the same property. This time only a three bedroom house. The house still stands there at 1013 Cemetery road where Baptiste and Mary Nolan’s grand-daughter Corinne Bonhomne presently lives as of the turn of the 2000 millennium. Baptiste Trahan Jr. died at Charity Hospital in New Orleans on 20 Dec 1940, of carcino-matosis of the stomach brought on by metastasis to the liver. In short – stomach and liver cancer (*83*). The remains of Baptiste Trahan were shipped to New Iberia where he would be buried in the Cade, Louisiana cemetery. The house he originally built on cemetery road, leads directly to the cemetery.

When Baptiste died in New Orleans on 20 Dec1940, he had left no will. His estate was obviously being kept for by his wife Mary Nolan until she herself passed away on 31 Mar 1949. It would be almost 15 years after the death of Baptiste Jr. before Sarah Harpins, their daughter, would petition the court for a legal inventory and appraisal of her parent’s property. When a person does not leave a will, then a family member must “petition” to the court to have the remaining estate inventoried and appraised in what is called a “succession”. Other states call it a Probate. Then the court will decide who are the legal heirs of the estates movable and unmovable property, and what taxes if any, are to be paid. The estate, in a way, remains in limbo until someone makes a legal claim. Sometimes it takes many years after the death of a family member before someone realizes what must be done. In the case of the death of Baptiste Trahan Jr., it took 15 years before his succession record was made by his daughter. Thus it was on the 14^th of September in 1955, that Sarah Trahan Harpins petitioned to the St. Martin parish courthouse for the inventory and appraisal of her deceased father and mother’s property.

“...The petition of Sarah Harpins, of her father Baptiste Trahan, deceased on 20 Dec 1940, who married Mary Nolan surviving widow but who died on 31Mar1949 in Cade. Mary married two times, first to John Reed and were born two children, Adam Reed Sr., and Joseph Reed. Adam Reed died Dec1918. They were divorced in St. Mary parish. The second marriage to Baptiste Trahan and there were six children – Sarah Trahan, married Pierre Harpins; Majorie Trahan, married George ?Euotes?; Jean Baptiste Trahan, married Louise Kicknick; Patsy Trahan, married Joseph Isadore; Samuel Trahan, married Stella Richmond; and Mary Trahan...” (*86*)

Property from the estate of Baptiste Trahan Jr. and Mary Nolan inventoried and appraised included the following:

A lot in St. Martin parish measuring 72’ x 125’ Mary bought from Baptiste Trahan Jr. valued at $1,100 (*85*).

Lot #1 appraised at $500 in St. Martin parish measuring 72’ x 125’.

Lot #2 appraised at $600 in St. Martin parish measuring 3 acres.

Lot #1 appraised at $1500 in Cade, measuring 72’ x 125’ (*85*).

Lot #2 appraised at $300 near Cade, measuring 2.28 arpents.

Lot #3 appraised at $500 in Cade, lot #10 (*85*)

lot #4 appraised at $500 at Cade station, measuring 2 acres, bounded west by Demosthenes Styner.

Lot #5 appraised at $500 at Cade station measuring 72’ x 125’ bounded east and north by Jules Bourque, south by Baptiste Trahan Sr. The property was originally bought by Baptiste and Mary from Ida Guilbeau, wife of Joseph Delcomme for $150.00 (*85*).

The total value of Mary Nolan’s estate was $1,100 and of Baptiste Trahan’s was $4,400. (*86*) Lot #4, was said to be bounded west by Demosthenes Styner. This would be the husband of Rosita Bazile Jacquet, the first-born child of Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Jean-Louis. By this time it should have probably read “children of or assigns” because Louisiana death records (#5270 v.12) show that Demosthenes died on 31 January 1931 at the age of 66.

Pierre Trahan and the Trahan Ancestry

Pierre Trahan, born on 21 Sept 1853, was the mulatto son of Evariste Trahan. His mother was Emerethe (Trahan/Therriot/Schixneider) who was a slave in the possession of Evariste Trahan in the decade preceeding the end of slavery. Evariste inherited Emerenthe from his father Charles Trahan who’s wife Heloise LeBlanc may have originally owned her. The circumstances of Evariste as the father are proven within a number of documents presented in this manuscript. Evariste, born on 29 March 1821, was the son of Charles Trahan and Heloise LeBlanc. Charles Trahan, born in 1786, was the son of Joseph Trahan and Françoise Pitre. Joseph Trahan, born in 1762 was the son of Joseph Claude Trahan and Elizabeth Aucoin. Joseph Claude Trahan was born in 1740 in Acadia and was the son of Jean Trahan and Marie Girouard. Jean Trahan was born in 1690 in Port Royal, Acadia and was the son of Alexandre Trahan. Alexandre Trahan was born in 1670 in Port Royal, Acadia and was the son of Guillaume Trahan and Madeleine Brun. Guillaume Trahan was born in 1611 in Montreuil-Bellay, France and was the son of Nicholas Trahan and Renee DeLonges. Nicholas Trahan was born in France, date unknown.

Evariste Trahan’s maternal grandmother Françoise Pitre, married four times. Her first marriage was to Joseph Trahan, (the son of Joseph Trahan Sr. & Elizabeth Aucoin) on 24 June 1783 in St. Martinville. The seven children born between Joseph and Françoise have been discussed earlier. Joseph Trahan died circa 1792 – 1793. Shortly after the death of Françoise Pitre’s first husband Joseph died, Françoise would re-marry. Her second marriage was to Jean Joachim Deshormaux on 20 May 1793 in St. Martinville. Jean was born in 1740 and died on 23 Jan 1815. Françoise and Jean Deshormaux had four children:

1. Garazime Deshormaux born in April 1794;

2. Pierre Deshormaux born in 1796 who married Marguerite Bourk in 1814. Jean and Marguerite Deshormaux were the first two of ten children between Pierre and Marguerite Bourk; 3. Jean Joachim Deshormaux born in July 1798 but who died two months later;

4. Placide Deshormaux was the fourth child born to Françoise Pitre and Jean Joachim Deshormaux born in September 1799. Placide died in August 1800.

Once again the “kiss of death” had re-surfaced when Françoise’s second husband died in January of 1815 and she would seek a new husband. Françoise Pitre’s third marriage was to Pierre La Bombarde (Pierre & Marie Archambault) on 30 September 1816. As far as the records show, there were no children.

Françoise Pitre’s fourth and final marriage was to Jean Baptiste Trahan (Jean Baptiste & Madeleine Hebert) of Lafayette parish on 14 November 1832. The couple was married at the residence of Jean Baptiste Trahan in the presence of Joseph Bourgousis, Jean Duhon and Onesime Duhon. The marriage document shows that both of the two “could not write their names making their ordinary marks” with an X (192). Jean Baptiste Trahan was born 3 April 1761 in Liverpool, England. Jean first married Marie Françoise Trahan (Michel & Anne Vincent) on 3 Jan 1785. Marie was born in Acadia in the year 1760. Jean Baptiste Trahan died on 13 June 1840.

Marriages and children of Françoise Pitre (François Modeste Pitre & Magdeleine Vincent)

Husband Children

1. Joseph Trahan 1. Joseph Trahan b. 1784

b. ca. 1762 2. Charles Trahan b. 1786, d. 1862

m. 24June1783 3. Anastasie Trahan b. 1787, m. Onezime Beaudreax

d. ca.1793 4. Jean Trahan b. 1789

5. Marguerite Trahan b. 1792

6. Caroline Trahan, m. Aurelien Duhon

7. ?Aspasie Trahan, m. Césair Hebert

2. Jean Joachim Deshormaux 1. Gerazime Deshormaux, b. apr1794

m. 20 May 1793 2. Pierre Deshormaux, b. 1796 d. d. 23Jan1815 3. Jean Joachim Deshormaux, b.Jul1798

4. Placide Deshormaux, b.Sep1799

3. Pierre La Bombarde ??

m. 30Sep1816

4. Jean Baptiste Trahan none

m. 14Nov1832

d. 13Jun1840

When Françoise Pitre died In the year 1840, her fourth husband Jean Baptiste Trahan petitioned to the Lafayette courthouse on 28 August 1840 for an appraisal of her property. The document confirms some of the children she bore with previous husbands:

“…The petition of Jean Baptiste Trahan…that his wife lately died leaving children and grandchildren from former marriages. Joseph Trahan, Charles Trahan, Marguerite Trahan wife of Panteleon Landry, Evariste Trahan, Aspasie Trahan wife of César Hebert, Astasie Trahan wife of Onezime Beaudreax, Caroline Trahan wife of Aurelian Duhon all of full age of Lafayette Parish and Pierre Desarmeaux also of this parish…They are the legal heirs of Françoise Pitre…” (*230*)

All of the children listed were children of Françoise from her first marriage with Joseph Trahan except for two. Evariste Trahan must be her grandson via her son Jean Trahan. Pierre Deshormeaux was her son from her second marriage with Jean Joachim Deshormaux. In addition to property, there was one slave “une nigresse nommé Marianne ageé entre 45 o 50 ans…”

The Geneaology of Evariste Trahan – Father of Célasie, Pierre and Jean Trahan.

Evariste Trahan was born on 29 March 1821 in Louisiana and was the son of Charles Trahan and Heloïse Leblanc. Father Marcel Borella at St. Martin de Tours Church baptized him on 23 May 1821 (*248*). His sponsoring Godparents were Charles LeRoi and Marie Bourg. His Paternal grandparents are given as Joseph Trahan and Françoise Pitre. His maternal grandparents are given as Marguerite Trahan and René Leblanc. The Leblanc line can be traced all the way back to 17^th century France. Eloise (also Louise and Heloïse) Leblanc was born 6 July 1788 and was the daughter of René Leblanc (fils) and Marguerite Trahan. René Leblanc (fils) was born in 1752. René (fils) was the son of René Leblanc (pére) and Anne Theriot. René (pére) was born at Grand Pre, Acadia Canada in 1701. He died ca. 1759 at Miramichi, Acadia, Canada. René married Anne Theriot ca. 1722. René Leblanc (pére) was the son of Antoine Leblanc. Antoine was born at Port Royal, Acadia, Canada ca. 1662 and was the son of Daniel Leblanc and Françoise Gaudet. Daniel Leblanc was born ca. 1626 in Martaize, Poitou department of Vienne, France. Daniel married Françoise Gaudet ca. 1644. Françoise Gaudet was born in France ca. 1623 and was the daughter of Jean Gaudet and Françoise Marie Doussey (*176*). Françoise Gaudet’s father, Jean Gaudet, who was born ca. 1575 and died ca. 1672, is known as “The Abraham of Acadia”. At the age of 96 years, in the 1671 census of Port Royal, Acadia, Jean was shown to be the oldest inhabitant of that settlement. The 1686 census of Port Royal showed Daniel and Françoise to be 60 years of age. They owned 2 shotguns, 15 horned animals, 20 sheep, 7 pigs, and six arpents of cleared land. Daniel Leblanc, on the 15^th of October 1687, was one of 12 Acadians to sign a document sent to Paris, France by Sir William Phipps after Phipps had captured French Acadia for the English Crown. The document concerned the state of the work done in Acadia by D’Aulnay. On May 24, 1690, Daniel was one of six citizens chosen by the inhabitants of Port Royal to serve on a council created by Sir William Phipps to guard the peace and administer justice among the inhabitants of Port Royal, Acadia (*176*). It was to be a few decades later when the English would begin to deport and place the French Acadians into exile beginning the history of the “Acadians (Cajuns) in Louisiana.”

It is believed that Daniel Le Blanc was born at Martaize, Poitou Department of Vienne, France about the year 1626. Daniel Leblanc’s father Rene Le Blanc was one of four children born to Alphonse Le Blanc and Isabeau de Estrade. Alphonse and Isabeau married on 17 July 1582 in France. Sometime around the year 1647, Daniel, a farmer, was recruited to be a Franch Acadian Colonist becoming the first Le Blanc to come from France to Acadia, Canada. Other Acadian Genealogist such as Janet Jehn, Leandre de Entremont and Phillis Le Blanc tell us that Daniel Le Blanc descended from a royal line of Le Blanc’s in France going back to Hughes Le Blanc Magnus Duc de France as the father of Hughes Capet de Paris King of France (986 – 996 A.D.) over a thousand years ago (*176*).

Evariste’s Father Charles Trahan

Evariste Trahan’s father Charles Trahan was born ca. 1787 and was the son of Joseph Trahan of Acadia, Canada and Françoise Pitre of France. Françoise was the daughter of François Pitre and Magdeleine Vincent. Françoise died in August 1840. Charles Trahan married Marie Louise Leblanc on 13 January 1807 in St. Martin Parish. The marriage was witnessed by Louis Gary and F(rançois) Hyacinthe Jacquet who was still working for the church. It would be later that year, sometime in September of 1807, that François Hyacinthe Jacquet would take part in the conception of a mulatto child who would become Jean Baptiste Jacquet born to the slave Rosine in late June 1808. The listing in Father Hébert’s books has Charles Trahan’s parents listed as “the minor son of deceased Joseph – of Vermillion and Françoise Poiter.” The spelling should be Françoise “Pitre” and is either a copying mistake by Hebert’s staff from the original church document, or a recording error in spelling on the original church document. As far as the records show, Charles and Eloise LeBlanc had seven children:

1. Clarisse Trahan was born on 21 October 1807. Clarisse married (?Drozen?) Leblanc.

2. Marie Carmelite was born on 6 January 1810. Her maternal grandparents René and Marguerite were her sponsoring Godparents.

3. Eloy Trahan was born on 9 June 1812.

4. Onezime Trahan born on 20 May 1814. Onezime married Marie Eliza Luguet on 27 July 1835.

5. Charles Chavalier Trahan was born 28 July 1816 but died on 5 October 1827 at the age of 11.

6. Cèleste Trahan was born in September 1826.

7. Evariste C. Trahan was born 29 March 1821. Evariste married Adelaide Savoy on 17 March 1841. Evariste died on 21 Jan 1891, in Abbevilee. Evariste and Adelaide had seven children: Marie, Desiré, Philomon, Odilon, Arthur, Gustave and Euphemon Trahan. Evariste also fathered three mulatto children with Emerente: Célasie, Pierre and Jean Baptiste Trahan. There is the possibility that Arthur and Gustave may be the same person. The census of 1860 in Vermillion Parish shows Evariste age 39, with his wife Adelaide Savoy 36, Desire 17, Philomon 10, Odilon 7, Gustave 3 and Euphemon 2 years old. As Evariste neared his last years, he bequeathed a portion of his land to three of his sons Euphemon, Arthur and Odilon. This may be a clue that Gustave is Arthur or was left out. Evariste’s four older daughters were left out and this may be due to them marrying and moving away. One of the daughters is mentioned in the first paragraph one. The document was re-inscribed after the great fire at the Abbeville Courthouse and some to the words are un-readable:

“…Be it known, that on this 26^th day of October A.D., one hundred and eighty…to make good over to the said Philomine…???… Evariste C. Trahan and his wife, Adelaide Savoie that they are no longer possessed of any movable ??? enable them to give and donate to those of the ???…they therefore, give and donate unto their children Odilon Trahan, Euphemon Trahan, and Arthur Trahan here present accepting the same…one certain tract of land lying and being on the bank of the bayou Vermilion, at a place called ???measuring ??? arpents in front on said bayou by forty arpents in depth, bounded ??? by Hyppolitte Bernard, below by Mrs. B.?? Langlinais and ??? by Demas LeBlanc…” (*255*)

Each of the three boys, all in their twenties, received a strip of land measuring 1 arpent and a quarter in front of the bayou, and 40 arpents in depth. The children were given the rights to cultivate the land and have use of the timber on the land. The land Evariste gave away to his sons was in the hands of his father Charles Trahan who inherited the land when his wife’s father Réne Leblanc died. Of the five Trahans, Evariste and his son Odilon were the only ones to sign their name on the document. His wife and two other sons made their “X” mark signifying their illiteracy.

Charles Trahan amassed a considerable amount of property and business during his lifetime. Charles inherited property from his father Joseph and also through the Leblanc family when he married Louise Leblanc. Louise Leblanc’s father René (fils) Leblanc died 30 August 1809, just two years after her marriage to Charles. The succession record at the St. Martin Courthouse (*177*) gives an 1810 value of René’s property at $6,861.95. The appraiser went to the house of the deceased René Leblanc and recorded:

“...First a tract of land in the Bayou Vermillion on the East side containing 44 arpents in front with a depth of 40 arpents appraised at $3075...a total of 68 cows, 23 steers, 8 bulls, 27 yearlings, 5 mares, 2 colts, 5 horses, 6 oxen, 6 sheep worth $1549; 5 slaves worth $2125; and cotton valued at $112.95..” (*177*)

The total amount of land was 44 x 40 arpents or 1,760 arpents. In addition, there was an amount of money to what was given to his children via advance amount, the total was:

“...to his daughter Celeste now deceased who was later the wife of Jean Langlineé - $107.00

to his son Julien LeBlanc - $106.00

to his daughter Eloïse - $107.00

to his daughter Margarette - $107.00

to his daughter Adelaide - $106.00

making a total of - $7,394.95...”

“...of which I assign one half to Margarette Trahan, widow of the deceased as follows:

nine arpents in front of the said dwelling house - $950

A negro wench Euphroiselle with child - $900

A negro boy named Charle - $500

A negro girl Angelique - $300

A negro boy Celestin - $250

A negro girl Tarzílle - $175

1 horse, 6 work oxen, 7 iron pots + plates and dishes - $11... totaling $3,696.97...the share of each of the heirs amounts to $528.21 and assigned to each of them their respective shares as follows:

To Charles Trahan in behalf of his wife Eloïse: 5 arpents in front of the aforesaid land - $325

former advancement to his wife - $107

4 cows, and calves, steer, 4 bulls, a yearling - $96

total = $528

The amount of land inherited by Charles and Eloise would have been about 40 x 5 or 200 arpents. All of the parties involved – Charles and Marguerite Trahan, Jean Langlinee, Louis Beourgeois, Julien, Marguerite, Adelaide and Heloise Leblanc all made their “marque ordínaire” with an X to the document written in English (*177*). Marguerite Trahan now a widow of her deceased husband René Leblanc, in 1823 decided to donate a total of $8,863.98 “piastres” to her children including “...Charles Trahan époux de Dame Eloise Le Blanc...” (spouse of madame…) (*178*). The money was to be paid in January of each year commencing with the present year of the donation began in 1823 and continuing into the future. Eloise and Julien Leblanc signed their names to the document written in French but all the rest of the children “made their mark”. What could possibly be the mother of Jean Baptiste Trahan, if we are to accept the Baptismal certificate as true with Marie Jeanne as his mother could be a clue about her with the following statement:

“...Margeurite Trahan veuve de feu René Leblanc” sold a slave to Charles Trahan “...une negrillonne nommee Marie agée d’environ sept ans esclave pour la vie...la somme de quinze cent une piastres...” (*179*)

What could possibly be the largest succession record on file anywhere could very well be the estate record of Charles Trahan. It is about three inches thick of various papers, documents and receipts. It would take weeks to analyze the record. It shows that Charles Trahan was probably one of the richest men in Lafayette/Vermillion parish. Charles Trahan died on 12 November 1862 in Lafayette Parish. His youngest son Evariste Trahan made the petition to the Lafayette courthouse for the appraisal of his father’s property:

“The petition of Evariste Trahan that Charles Trahan on 12 Nov 1862 departed this life...The heirs are Carmelite Trahan widow of Charles Lemain of Vermillion, Eloi Trahan, Onesime Trahan, Evariste Trahan of Vermillion, the heirs of Clarisse Trahan: Euphemee, Joseph, Severin, Perry, Alcide, Jeln?in and Marguerite Leblanc; the heirs of Celeste Trahan: Ursule Aspasie, Carmelite, Jules, and Erasti Broussard. Two of them Euphemir Leblanc, wife of Emile Broussard and Marguerite Leblanc wife of Theophile Broussard, reside in Texas. Joseph Leblanc, Severin Leblanc, Alcide Leblanc are in the Army of the Confederate States and are not represented as required by law (*180*).

Evariste, although the youngest of all the children was doing the job of his older brothers due to them being away, fighting in the Civil War for the Confederates, a battle which would eventually see them on the loosing side. Since the three brothers were away on military duty, Evariste requested a “seal” to delay the results of the alloting of the assests. It was later on the 3^rd of December 1862, that all of the children of Charles Trahan could be present. There were 15 heirs and assigns to divide the sum that Charles had amassed. And it was a large amount indeed. The amount of immediate available assets, most likely cash or similar items, was $24,329.42. There was also “...Received in Confederate money for a wagon and mules impressed by Confederate officiers and other property taken by Confederate officier collected on the notes inventoried - $1,053.00...” (*180*) There were a considerable amount of slaves to be divided to amongst the heirs. Fifty five (55) were listed and many of the women had children with them which totaled 33 children. Land value that Charles owned and the stuff in and on the land was appraised at $205,301.30! An astonishing pricetag amount in 1862 value. The piece of land inherited from his wife’s father René Leblanc was valued at $7700 which means it had more than doubled its value since 1810. Evariste Trahan’s final share after debts had been paid was $12,384.00. Evariste signed the document but some of his brothers made their “X” mark. The slaves that were adjudicated to Evariste were as follows:

Narape age 28 to Evariste

Therance age 26 to “

Norbert age 21 to “

Ozimi age 21 to “

Joachim age 21 to “

Theodule age 16 to “

Seville age 11 to “

Liza age 24 to “

Pelagee age 14 to “

Adeline age 17 with child Adrian to Evariste

Angela age 20 with child Angela age 2 to “

Julienne age 15 to Evariste

Remire age 15 to “

we also see what may be the Godmother of Pierre Trahan:

Carmelite age 35 and child Ermine age 9 (*180*)

Evariste Trahan died on January 21, 1891 at the age of almost 70 years old. The death record at the church in Abbeville indicates that he had received the sacraments of the church just before he died. This most likely is an indication that his death was expected. The death record says that he was buried on the 22^nd of January and that he had “décédé heir” which means that he died the day before or on the 21^st of January (*181*).

Joseph Trahan and the Pitre Family

Charles Trahan’s father was Joseph Trahan. Joseph Trahan was born circa 1760 and was most likely born in Canada in Acadia. On his daughter’s baptismal record it reads “Anastasie Trahan, daughter of Joseph Trahan of Canada and Françoise Pitre of France” (sm.ch.v4,#296) Joseph married Françoise Pitre on 24 June 1783 in St. Martinville’s Church. Francoise Pitre was the daughter of François Pitre and Magdaleine Vincent. Joseph Trahan died circa 1805. Françoise Pitre died in August 1840.

Children of Joseph Trahan (pére) and Françoise Pitre:

1. Joseph Trahan (fils) was the first child born to Joseph (pére) and Francoise. Joseph fils was born 10 June 1784. Joseph married Anastase Landry on 14 January 1806.

2. Charles Trahan was the second child born either at the end of 1886 or very early in 1887. Charles married Marie Louïse Leblanc on 13 January 1807.

3. Anastasie Trahan was born in December 1887 and baptized on 5 May 1881 at the age of 5 months. She married Ónezime Boudreax.

4. Jean Trahan was born circa 1789. Jean married Cesaire Baudouin. The death record from the Lafayette church says he was “from La Grosse Isle” and died on 26 Oct 1822 at the age of 33. Jean and Cesaire had a son named Evariste Trahan born on 24 February 1815. Jean’s brother Charles also had a son named Evariste so the two “Evariste’s” were first cousins. Evariste (of Jean and Cesaire) married Louise Zoé Marceaux. Records show that Evariste, (son of Jean), died in 1896. Their five children were named Evariste, Oscar, Jean Voohries, Emelia and Marie. Evariste and Louise Zoé also had a son they named Evariste who was born in August 1856 and married Azeline Marceaux on 28 February 1870. Since there are no middle names ever listed to distinguish the three relatives all named “Evariste Trahan”, it would be easy to confuse the three without referring to their birth dates. Adding to the puzzling search for Evariste records is yet another Evariste Trahan who had two children with Julienne Sinegal. No marriage record has been found between the two. Their two children – Jean Trahan married Marie Broussard in 1886 and Ellene Trahan married Phileas Comeau in 1888. That means they were most likely born in the 1860’s and could represent yet a fourth Evariste to contend with or it could have one of the two earlier Evariste who fathered children outside of marriage. The younger of the three born in 1856 lived in the town of Abbeville in the year 1900. Since the Abbeville courthouse burned down in the 1890’s, many records were lost. However, a few burnt records shed some light on the life of Evariste, the younger. In burnt record #4352 at the Abbeville courthouse dated 23 Feb 1891, the document records that Evariste’s wife had sued him on 12 Nov 1890 and that Evariste “…was in debt to his wife Azelinza Marceaux of $2,044.75, the vaule of property by her bought in community at the time of their marriage and by inheritance from the succession of her mother Bazeline Hargrave which the appearer received from his said wife…” The two had married on 28 Feb 1870 and his wife Azelina had already had $950 worth of horses, cattle and cash and had inherited $826.75 in cash from her mom, $368 from her dad and had given control of her possessions to Evariste (son of Evariste & Louise Marceau). Now she wanted her property returned. He gave her two lots #9, #13 of Megretts position, bounded south by blvd Lafayette, east by Rue Duebas de Ville, west by Quai de Français and other lots totaling $2200.00. Neither of the two parties could sign their name except with an “X”. (*198*)

There were many other Trahan transactions that involved real estate. One transaction which may give us a clue as to the date of the courthouse fire is found in burnt record #225 which says that Evariste Trahan (Jr.) sold to Arvenne Marceaux 80⁷⁸/₈₀ acres on the west side of Bayou Vermillion, #SE quarter of SE quarter #25 and NE quarter of NEQ of sec 36 TR12 for $110. “Property was destroyed by fire at the burning of the courthouse on 7^th of April 1885.”

5. Marguerite Trahan appears to have been the fifth child born to Joseph Trahan and Françoise Pitre. Marguerite married Panteleon Landry on 30 January 1810. Panteleon was the son of Joseph Landry and Marie Melancon. Panteleon was baptized at the age of 5 on 11 Nov 1795. Marguerite and Panteleon had at least two children: Anastasie Landry born on 14 July 1812, in St. Martin Parish; and Felonise Landry born on 25 Aug 1814, in St. Martin Parish.

6. Caroline Trahan married Aurelian Duhon.

7. Aspasie Trahan. She married César Hebert.

The Evariste Trahan Identity

Name born died Parents Wife

Evariste Trahan 24 Feb 1815 9 Sept 1847 Jean & Cesaire Baudouin Louise Zoé Marceaux

Evariste Trahan 29 Mar 1821 22 Jan 1891 Charles & Helouise LeBlanc Adelaide Savoy

+3 Children with Emerante

Evariste Trahan August 1856 Evariste & Louise Zoé Marceaux Azelina Marceaux

Evariste Trahan ?? ?? ?? He Fathered two children with Julienne Sinegal:

Jean Trahan (married Marie Broussard in 1886)

Ellene Trahan (married Phileas Comeau in 1888)

Evariste Genealogy chart

The Descendents of Gilbert Joseph Jacquet & Marguerite Trahan

Gilbert Joseph Jacquet the son of Jolivet Jacquet married Marguerite Trahan, the daughter of Pierre Trahan and granddaughter of Evariste Trahan. Gilbert was just 17 years old and still a minor when his father Jolivet passed away in 1899. There was much Real Estate owned by Gilbert’s father that had to be distributed among the 13 surviving brothers and sisters, approximately 210 acres worth. Gilbert received a tract of land that was originally a 92 arpent tract of land Jolivet Jacquet had purchased from his in-law Leon (Lorins) Laurence. The land, in St. Martin parish at The Coteau, near Cade Louisiana, was bounded north by public road, east by the Bayou Tortue, south by lands of Leon Laurence and west by lands of Charles Honore and Constance Honore. Some of the land as of this day is in dispute at the courthouse level with oil companies that had “leased” the land from Gilbert Jacquet.

With Gilbert and his other brothers and sister’s property being bordered south by Leon Laurence and his family, it was no small wonder that two of Gilbert’s brothers would marry two of Leon’s daughters. Gilbert must have had plenty of opportunity to meet the daughters of Leon’s brother-in-law Pierre Trahan, for Leon Laurence had married Pierre’s sister Celaise Trahan. It was not too soon after Gilbert reached the age of adulthood that he married one of the daughters of Pierre Trahan, that of Marguerite Trahan, who at the age of 18, had not quite reached adulthood when she married Gilbert Jacquet. Pierre, having very recently lost his wife Marie John, must have thought the marriage to be a blessing, somewhat lifting the burden of having to care for and raise a family without a mother around. It was on the 18^th of July 1903, when Gilbert and Margaret came into the Vermilion parish courthouse to apply for a marriage license. They did not wait any further than the same day to go to the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. There in Abbeville, Louisiana on 18 July 1903, the Reverend Justin Mirat married Gilbert Jacquet and Marguerite Trahan. Witnesses at the marriage were Henry St. Briggs, William Smith and Gilbert’s brother Willie Jacquet (*75*).

There were six children born between the union of Gilbert and Marguerite: Julius Joseph Jacquet born on 17 Nov 1905; Isabelle Jacquet, born on 14 May 1908; Johnny Linton Jacquet, born on 23 July 1911; Mary Jacquet born on 14 July 1915; Robert Russell Jacquet, born on 4 Dec 1917; and Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet, born on 31 Oct 1919. The first five children were born in St. Martin parish and have birth/baptismal records at St. Martin de Tours church in St. Martinville Louisiana. Illinois Jacquet was born in Broussard La., in Lafayette parish.

It was sometime after the birth of their fifth child Russell Jacquet, that Gilbert and his family moved from St. Martin parish to nearby Lafayette parish Louisiana. Gilbert was a music man and knew how to play all of the instruments. Possessing music skills passed down from his father, Gilbert taught all of his children how to play musical instruments. The music of New Orleans had been important to Gilbert’s father Jolivet Jacquet, who not only played all the instruments as well but had no difficulty passing on the authentic aspects of the roots of jazz music to his children and his grandchildren when he had time off from managing his racetrack out near the Broussard-Cade area. Coming from Lafayette on route 90 and heading east on route 92 towards St. Martinville, there is an old racetrack on the borderline where the two parishes – Lafayette and St. Martin Parish meet. Is this the location of the old Jacquet racetrack? Horse racing was nothing new to Blacks as free people or slaves in the south. Horse racing was a tradition in West Africa before the slaves were bought over to America. Slave jockeys were very popular. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had slave jockeys ride for them. The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875 and 13 of the 15 riders were Black.

Origins of Jazz Music

The turn of the century saw the emergence of jazz music in the Louisiana area. Although it is not well known exactly when jazz emerged, plantation brass bands existed as early as 1835, and starting in that same year, blacks would gather in Congo Square in New Orleans and sing and dance to the rhythms of the African voodoo beat. Eventually authorities disbanded these gatherings, but in 1885 Charles “Buddy” Bolden picked up the spirit of his people and started playing music a new way. Minstrel shows, which preceded jazz and made important contributions to its development, toured the Northwest on a theater circuit that was well established by the 1890’s (*89*). Starting in the late 1890’s Charles “Buddy” Bolden’s band is thought to have played ragtime with improvised embellishments, and by the turn of the century many New Orleans bands had copied his style, playing in a collective improvisational style. Ragtime, a syncopated form of music, developed in the 1890’s and is considered the forerunner of jazz. Syncopation, along with improvisation are two important aspects of jazz music. A century or more before Bolden, there was the singing of the “Blues” and the singing of the “Spirit” by slaves who lamented their captivity. With the year 1716 came the transfer of the people of Africa to the Louisiana area, and they are not bought here under freedom but under slavery, and so with the blues they sing about their bondage and their pain, they sing about their ancient memories of homeland and they begin to give the lamentations of Jeremiah in their spirituals. The great Negro spirituals have come down to us as the speaking of our own souls in their longing for the motherland. We find in the 18^th and 19^th century that the singing of the blues reflected the oppression of the people. After a century or more the blues began to gain a new rhythm, a rhythm that had not been heard before, and soon there came in New Orleans the birth of jazz, where the earliest jazz band styles developed. New Orleans, a city with an extended racially mixed cultural tradition was fertile ground for the emergence of something new. Had it not been for the traffic in slaves from West Africa to the United States, jazz would never have evolved, either in the United States or Africa, for jazz originally was the expression in music of the African native who was both socially and geographically isolated from his natural environment.

In the year 1920, we see Gilbert Jacquet, his wife Margerite Trahan, and his family of six children living in Lafayette parish. The census of 1920, taken on the 20^th of January, indicates that they lived in the 5^th ward of Lafayette parish. Living either right next to on either side of Gilbert, or perhaps even on the same property are the families of Gilbert’s brothers Mitchel Jacquet, Lo Lo Louis Jacquet, and Oscar Jacquet. All of the Jacquet brothers are listed as “renting” the home they live in. The question arrises as to what happened to the property, 8.2 acres each, they all inherited from their father Jolivet Jacquet almost 16 years ago? (*35*). Since the property was near or on the borderline of the three parishes – St. Martin, Lafayette and Iberia parishes, could this in deed be the property inherited? The fact that the order of distribution of property #3, of Jolivet’s estate went like: GILBERT-ROSE-OSCAR-ELOISE-MICHEL-LOUIS LOLO... from west to east, and the four brothers listed above all live next to each other could have one of two main possibilities: that the property is in fact that which was inherited and the parish boundery lines were changed, or they all sold or lost the 8.2 acres they each inherited.

Gilbert is listed as age 39, Margaret as age 37, Julius as age 14, Isabelle as age 12, Linton as age 8, Mary as age 5, Russell as age 2 years and 4 months, and John Baptiste (Illinois) is listed as three months old. Gilbert can read and write but Margaret cannot. Julius and Isabelle have attended school and can read and write but the other children have not been to school yet. With the exception of Aimee Chevis, the 2^nd wife of Oscar Jacquet, all of Gilbert’s neighboring brothers are educated but their wives are not. Two dwelling houses from Gilbert and Margaret Trahan and next to Oscar and his family is the family of Pharness John with his wife Corille, his eight children, his brother Macina John and his aunt Cecilia Levoy (or Leroy). Could this possibly be relatives of Marie John, the mother of Margaret Trahan?

Economic hardships in Louisiana in the 1920’s would cause Gilbert Jacquet to seek economic success elsewhere. In nearby Texas, jazz musicians and big band music were hot and up and coming. It would be but three years and six months after the birth of their last child Illinois Jacquet, that Gilbert Jacquet along with his wife Margaret Trahan and their six children, would pack their bags and make the move 205 miles west to Houston Texas in May of 1923. Pioneering the way westward for other Black Jacquet families to follow, the family settled in Houston.

The date of 1923 may or may not have been the first time nor the permanent time for their move to Houston. Gilbert Jacquet had inherited property from his father Jolivet Jacquet after he died in 1899. Gilbert and his other 12 brothers and sisters each received approximately 8.2 acres of land each that was subdivided from six tracts of land from 210 acres their father had purchased between 1875 and 1893 (*34,35,38*). Gilbert’s share was one of nine children who received 9 & 6/9 arpents (8.22 acres) each that divided up the original 87 arpent land their father Jolivet had purchased from Leon (Lorins) Lawrence. The property during the appraisal in 1904 was valued at $2295, which would be worth about $26.38 per arpent. The property would soon be lost. Family stories say the land was “loaned”, “leased”, “stolen”, no one really knows the truth but lawyers are still investigating how Gilbert lost the property. According to St. Martin Courthouse documents there was a “Sheriff’s Sale” on 26 April 1926. Did Gilbert abandon the property? Did he fail to pay taxes on the property? Did he fail to make mortgage payments? Looking back at documents which the sheriff sale refers to, it was on 27 December 1912, when Gilbert, along with his brother Albert Jacquet, husband of Coralie Lorins; and his brother Willie Jacquet, husband of Leontine Lorins all came to the courthouse for a “Cash Deed” sale of their property to Charles E. Smedes and his brother Harry Smedes. It was never intended to be a permanent sale but only a lein on their properties for the loan the Smedes would provide. Each delivered their 9 & 6/9 arpents of inherited land to the Smedes brothers - Albert for the price of $448.23, Willie for the price of $225.00 and Gilbert for the price of $391.51 (*211*). Charles Smedes was the owner of the local sugar company and was obviously involved in real estate and possibly banking as many of the Jacquet members had property sales go through him. Were the land sales to the Smedes a lien on their property for when the crops came in? This has been a common story told many times by family relatives. If there was drought, hurricane or someother unfortold disaster and the crops did not “come in” then the family would not be able to raise the money to pay the mortgage on their property.

Whatever was the truth of the story of the property loss, Gilbert’s family by 1926 at the latest, had lost their property and had moved to Houston, Texas. There in Houston, Gilbert would form his 16 piece big band and travel the circuit of big band battles. As his children grew up, they would also perform with their father Gilbert. During those formation years, they got to witness the “battles of music” that took place when other big bands came to Houston and worked both the Aragon Ballroom and the Eldorado Ballroom where old man Gilbert Jacquet was a regular hit, always ready to unleash his local men on the visitors when the music battles began. Here, in those music battles of big band competition were the first experiences of what jazz music was in it’s infancy and what it was to become in the imaginations of his four sons Julius, Johnny Linton, Russell and Illinois Jacquet. Gilbert Jacquet, who played both sousaphone and string bass among many other instruments, saw and encouraged the talent in young Illinois and the rest of his children, grooming them for careers in show business whenever he had time away from his own 16 piece band. At three years old, baby Illinois was singing and dancing “If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight” in order to promote the minstrel show of one of his older brothers. It was his first radio appearance. Those talents continued to develop and were utilized as part of a dance team with his three brothers Julius, Johnny Linton and Russell that performed for their father Gilbert’s orchestra. With the two sisters Isabelle and Mary occasionally thrown in, the young Jacquet family formed their own six-piece band.

By the time of the 1930 census, we see Gilbert Living on Welton Street, between Dan Street and 24^th Street. They live in the 5^th ward that was commonly known as “French Town” where Louisiana people lived and spoke French, their native tongue. That was after all, the first language of Gilbert and family. They learned English as a second language after they moved to Texas. The census taken on 21 April, says Gilbert Jacquet is a 49-year-old Negro and his marital situation is “widowed.” Has he separated from Marguerite? She is certainly not dead at this time. He was age 20 when married. The value of his home is $2700. He can read and write. His occupation is as a pipe fitter for the railroad. Living with Gilbert is his son Linton Jacquet, 18 years old, his son “Jewel” Jacquet age 25. Both of the sons are musicians working for the orchestra. Linton is single and Jewel was married at the age of 23. Jewel is no doubt Julius Jacquet. The fact that the recorder gets Julius’ name wrong probably means he didn’t get the marital situation of Gilbert correct also. With Gilbert most likely speaking French and the recorder speaking English, it is easy to understand the errors recorded here. Also living with Gilbert are Ethie Brooks, a border from Louisiana and a dressmaker, age 35 and widowed, her daughter Mildred Brooks, age 15 and her son Glen W. Brooks age 11. Everyone in the household was born in Louisiana. Living in the next house on Dan Street 59 year old Sam Harris. He is a railroad forman from Texas. His son Charlie Harris is a forman for the railroad also. Four houses away on Oats Street lives 34 year old Quincy Oliver, born in Louisiana and working as a railroad brakeman. There is an obvious connection between the people who were Gilbert’s neighbors and their common employment.

Gilbert Jacquet was a great musical influence on his children and they carried forth the Jacquet legacy in the field of music when Gilbert retired from the band music world in the 1940’s. Gilbert and Margaret were still living at 4602 Welton street, the place they had lived at for 20 years since coming to Texas, when came the date 24^th of June 1943, in which Gilbert would lose his wife Margaret Trahan. She died of a sudden pulmonary embolism at the Houston Negro Hospital after being hospitalized for two weeks due to mitral valve stenosis (*90*). Margaret was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. She was known then as Maggie Williams Jacquet. Gilbert Jacquet passed away on December 21, 1954 at the age of 73, also in Houston Texas. He is buried at the Blessed Martin Cemetery, a Negro burial section of the Paradise North Cemetery in Houston Texas.

The children of Gilbert Joseph Jacquet

1. Julius Joseph Jacquet was the first child born to Gilbert Jacquet and Margaret Trahan. Julius was born on 17 Nov 1905, and baptized on 17 Jan 1906, at St. Martin de Tours church in St. Martinville by the Reverend E. Royer. Julius’ sponsoring godparents were Ernest Washington and his aunt Leontine Laurence (SM.ch.V.14, p.540). When the family of Jacquets moved to Texas, Julius became the first of the family to marry, preceding his sister Isabelle Jacquet by just one month. Julius Jacquet married Mildred (Mildy) Gallion on 25 Jan 1928 in Houston Texas (Harris County marr.#80059). Mildred had a sister named Eva Collier. It was only the third marriage in Texas of the Black Jacquets as far as the records show. Gilbert B. Jacquet, son of Pop Fils Jacquet, appears to have been the first, having married Divine Comeaux in 1919, in Port Author Texas. Julius Jacquet had a daughter named Winona Jacquet. Winona had two sons: Larry and Kevin. Julius had two other adopted sons named Harold and Alonzo. Harold’s three children were Maurice, Laron and Dimetrius. Alonzo’s two children were Alonzo Jr. and Arlene. Julius, like his other Jacquet brothers was a musician. He played alto saxophone and played with his father Gilbert Jacquet’s band as well as with his brother Russell Jacquet’s band The California Playboys. With World War II upon them, Julius as well as his brother Johnny Linton, had to leave the band and serve in the military. Julius served as a Private in the U.S. Army. When the California Playboys band broke up after the war, Julius and his brother Johnny Linton went to Oakland California to seek their own fame and fortune in the music world. Julius worked in the California Club in Oakland. Julius Jacquet died on 9 Oct 1961 and was buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery for military veterans in San Bruno, California. The cemetery is just west of the San Francisco airport. His tombstone says that he was born on 16 Sep 1907, but this is a mistake according to the document of his birth/baptismal certificate which says he was born on 17 Nov 1905 (Sm.ch.v.14,p.540).

2. Isabelle Jacquet was the second child born to Gilbert Jacquet and Margaret Trahan. Isabelle Jacquet was born in St. Martin parish, Louisiana on 14 May 1908 (SM.ch.V.15,p.7). Isabelle married Russell Goodbeer in Houston Texas on 20 Feb 1928. (Harris county marr.#80369). Reverend Carl F. Schappert married them. It was but one month after her brother Julius had married. Russell Goodbear was said to have been of Cherokee Indian heritage.

A. George Goodbeer was the first of four children born to Isabelle and Russell in the year 1928. George had a son named Nathan Goodbeer.

B. Theresa Goodbeer was the second child born to Isabelle and Russell was born on 2 Oct 1929. Theresa married Charles Matthew and had four sons: Walter Matthew, Ralph Matthew, Brian Matthew and Charles Matthew Jr. Charles Jr. had a daughter named Marissa Matthew. The third child born to Isabelle and Russell was

C. Maggie Margarite Goodbeer born in the year 1932. Maggie had four children: Cynthia, Jerome, Evette and Pam. Jerome had a daughter named China. Evette had two children: Cheryle and Earl.

D. Linton William Goodbeer was the fourth child born to Isabelle and Russell. Linton was

born in the year 1933. Tragedy struck the family in the year 1938 when Isabelle Jacquet was six months pregnant. It appears that her husband Russell Goodbear lost control of himself and murdered her at the age of 30. With no parent to supervise them, the children were shanghaied off to the Coleman orphanage home. It seems that the Coleman family had no legal recourse to take the children. Consequently the children’s Uncle Russell Jacquet and their grandfather Gilbert Jacquet had to get the police to force the Coleman’s to give up the children. Theresa and her sister Maggie were sent to Our Mother of Mercy Catholic school. While still a schoolgirl, Theresa became involved in the affairs of her Uncle Russell Jacquet’s band The California Playboys. At first, Theresa was simply an avid supporter and fan of the band. She was present when Russell’s band had the distinction of being the opening act at the famous Eldorado Ballroom in Houston when the club opened in 1941. The band gave Wednesday thru Sunday evening performances in addition to a Sunday matinée. Not too long afterwards, at the age of 13, Theresa would become the band’s treasurer in 1942. She took care of financial matters and washed the band member’s clothing between engagements. When the war ended in the mid 1940’s, the California Playboys began to go on their own. Johnny Linton Jacquet went off to the Oakland music scene before returning to Texas. Julius Jacquet went to Oakland and performed at the California Club. Illinois Jacquet went to Lionel Hampton’s band before forming his own band. Theresa’s brother Linton Goodbeer managed Illinois’ group and George Goodbeer was the group’s valet. Theresa Goodbeer Matthew passed away on 5 May 2001 in Los Angles after an unsuccessful fight with cirrhosis of the liver. A relative of the Goodbeer family named Mary Belle Goodbeer, passed away on 29 November 1968. Mary Belle was interred at Calvary Cemetery (and mausoleum) in Los Angeles California on 7 December 1968. She is located at grave 12, lot 1119, Section D.

3. Johnny Linton Jacquet was the third child born to Gilbert Jacquet and Margaret Trahan. Johnny Linton was born 23 July 1911, in St. Martin parish Louisiana. After playing the drums for his brother Russell Jacquet’s The California Playboys band, Johnny Linton went off to serve his country with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served mainly as a musician with the Navy. The tombstone of Johnnie Linton Jacquet indicated that he was “MUS 2 US NAVY”. The MU stands for musician, the S indicates the instrument he played which was most likely the saxophone, and the 2 indicates his rank was second class. Upon his return to the United States, Johnny Linton formed his own band in Oakland California. Johnny Linton had two daughters:

A. Brenda Jacquet born on 22 Sep 1949; Brenda married a Ross and became Brenda Jacquet-Ross and had two children: Kimberly Ross born on 18 May 1978; and Tracy Ross born on 8 Nov 1984.

B. Terri Lynn Jacquet. Terri Lynn had a son named Ammar.

Johnny Linton Jacquet died on 9 May 1974, and was buried at the St. Joseph’s cemetery of the Diocese of Oakland California.

4. Mary “Mae” Jacquet was the fourth child born to Gilbert Jacquet and Margaret Trahan. Mary was born in St. Martin parish Louisiana on 14 July 1915. Mary married Wilson Simmons Jr. Mary Jacquet and Wilson Simmons Jr. had one son named Wilson Simmons III born on 16 August 1944. As the Godmother of her brother Russell’s first child Jacqueline Jacquet, Mae took the responsibility of raising Jackie as her own daughter when Russell’s wife Lenola Neveu died just after giving birth. Mary passed away in the summer of 1997 at the age of 82.

JACQUET FAMILY BURIAL SITES

Upper Left: Julius Joseph Jacquet Upper Right: Gilbert Joseph Jacquet

Son of Gilbert Jacquet & Marguerite Trahan Son of Jn Bte Jolivet Jacquet & Rosa Jean-Louis

Born on 17 November 1905, St. Martin Parish Born on 28 June 1881, St. Martin Parish, La.

Married Mildred Gallion on 25 Jan 1928 Married Marguerite Trahan on 18 July 1903

Died on 9 October 1961. Died on 21 December 1954.

Gravesite: Golden Gate National Cemetery for Gravesite: Blessed Martin Cemetery, Negro section

Military Veterans in San Bruno, California. of the Paradise North Cemetery, Houston, Texas.

Section X, #2229

Lower Left: Johnnie Linton Jacquet Lower Right: Pierre Trahan

Son of Gilbert Jacquet & Marguerite Trahan Son of Evariste Trahan & Emerenthe

Born on 23 July 1911, St. Martin Parish, La. Born on 21 September 1853, Vermillion Parish

Died on 9 May 1974. Married 27 October 1879, Mary Jones/Johns

Gravesite: St. Joseph’s Cemetery of the Died on 30 December 1930, Lake Charles, La.

Diocese of Oakland; San Pablo, California. Gravesite: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Lake Charles

Location V-17-34 Leonard Trahan, son of Pierre Trahan is also

Buried in this tomb. Herbert Trahan’s tomb, a possible relative (April 1919 – 1962) is to the left.
Chapter

5-J-v Robert Russell Joseph Jacquet

5. Robert Russell Joseph Jacquet was the fifth child born to Gilbert Joseph Jacquet and Marguerite Isola Trahan. Russell Jacquet was born on 4 Dec 1917, in St. Martin parish. The Reverend J. Peeters baptized Russell on 2 Feb 1918, at the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville La. His sponsoring Godparents were Turner Jacquet and Beulah Dionne (*276*). Turner Jacquet was most likely his older cousin born in 1898, the son of his uncle Albert Jacquet and Coralie Laurence. His father Gilbert Jacquet trained Russell at an early age with musical instruments. He began his music career at the tender age of five. It was the trumpet that became his main instrument. When the family moved from Lafayette parish Louisiana to Houston Texas in May of 1923, it became an education in music as best as anyone could have. Russell and his brothers would watch their father Gilbert Jacquet and his 16-piece band take on other big bands from out of town, as well as in the area of Houston, in the musical battle of the bands. The famous Aragon ballroom was ‘home court’ for Gilbert and when the bands came there, they had all they could handle with the clan of Jacquet musicians. It wasn’t too long before the four brothers were good enough to play with their father. After all, they had started the music business at an early age. When Russell was eight years old, he and his six-year-old brother Illinois and his 14-year-old brother Johnny Linton, performed for their older 19-year-old brother Julius Jacquet’s minstel show. The show also played on radio.

Out of high school in Houston, Russell went to Wiley College in Marshall Texas, about 25 miles from the border separating Texas and Louisiana near Shreveport. His music career however would take precedence over education and he would have to wait many years to return to college. He later went to Grambling state University in Grambling, Louisiana about 90 miles east on interstate 20 from Marshall Texas. At Grambling, Robert Russell graduated on 30 July 1970, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Liberal Arts. He would later teach for many years with the Los Angeles Unified School District, including many years at Lynnwood high school. He became a credentialed music instructor for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Learning the roots of jazz first hand by playing with his father set the foundation of Russell’s jazz music career and before the end of the decade of the 1930’s, Russell had formed his own 17-piece band, The California Playboys. His other three brothers played in the band with him. Julius Jacquet played the alto saxophone; Johnny Linton Jacquet played the drums, and younger brother Illinois Jacquet played the alto saxophone. Like his father Gilbert had done before him, Russell and his big band was a big draw at the Eldorado Ballroom in Houston. Ernestine Anderson, a great jazz singer, was there as a child before moving to Seattle Washington, and in her own words:

“...When I was 12, I won a contest and got to sing at this ballroom in Houston, every Thursday night...This Eldorado Ballroom where I won the contest used to have dances for the kids on Sunday. Big, big huge ballroom, upstairs. Russell Jacquet, Illinois’ brother, had a seventeen-piece band there, and it was terrific. I l-o-o-oved to dance. I used to go every Sunday and dance and dance until I just dropped.” (*89*)

Rose Thompson Ashford, remembers well the time her second cousins Russell and Illinois and their Jacquet band of musicians would come to Houston:

“…We loved Russell and Illinois. When they came to play at the Pilgrim Temple dance hall in Houston, everybody came and boogied. I’m telling you when Russell Jacquet came everybody came. It was our main place to go and boogie. All his stuff was good to dance to. Walter and I had not married yet but we were courting each other. I was not yet 20 years old yet and Walter would want to take me to the Pilgrim Temple to dance but brother Wallace or sister Alice had to chaperon me. Years later when Illinois got famous and came back to play there in the mid 1940’s at the Eldorado everyone came down to jitterbug, chow-chow, waltz and swing. I was almost 30 years old and still had to be chaperoned until Walter and I married in 1945. Those were the good ole days, swinging and dancing. That’s probably why my knees are shot now…”

During the World War of the 1940’s, each of the Jacquet brothers left Russell’s band to form their own bands. Russell himself moved to California. Julius and Johnny Linton both went to Oakland Ca., and Illinois went to Lionel Hampton’s band in 1942, before forming his own band in 1947. By then, the roles had reversed and it was Russell who was playing in his brother Illinois’ big band. From the old Apollo in New York to the Cotton Club in Los Angeles, Russell Jacquet toured the world sharing his wonderful music. Russell blew his trumpet with a sound so unique that it was copied by many of today’s top trumpeters. Russell is listed in the publication “who’s Who” in the music world.

Robert Russell Jacquet married Lenola Neveu, who died shortly after giving birth to the couples only child Jacqueline Jacquet born on 22 May 1944. Russell continued to perform music, playing coast to coast from the Apollo theatre in New York, to the Oasis Club in Los Angeles. Russell opened up his own record company and produced a few albums, some of which including Live at Town Hall Jazz Festival: “On The Sunny Side of the Street”, “Russ in Nice”, and”The Valentine Waltz.” The loss of his wife indeed made Russell into a “California Playboy”, for more than one child was born after his daughter Jacqueline was born. At least two sons are known of and there is the possibility that more may exist. With Elizabeth Egas, Russell had a son named Russell Jacquet Jr. born on 12 Nov 1952. With Nancy Flowers Russell had a son named Gary Jacquet born on 9 Oct 1955. Upon Russell’s death in March of 1990, among some of the documents in Russell’s possession found at his apartment was a “certificate of excellence” document for a certain teenage boy from Sacramento, California. Speculation immediately focused on the possibility that this was a son of Robert Russell Jacquet. Robert Russell was indeed a “California Playboy” and seduced more than one young girl into romance. His age never stopped him as he was always dating younger women. His son Russell Jr. has a recollection of the only time he visited his dad’s Los Angeles apartment near Crenshaw Avenue in the summer of 1989. It was a surprise visit given on 15-minute notice to see his dad. The 71-year-old Russell Sr. had a live-in 19-year-old girlfriend living with him. After 30 minutes of visiting, Russell Sr. sat Russell Jr. on the couch and told him his girlfriend felt uneasy about the situation and politely asked Russell Jr. to leave. That would be the last time he would see his father. Although he may have died 3 or 4 days before, Robert Russell Jacquet was pronounced dead on 7 Mar 1990, at his apartment in Los Angeles due to heart and liver problems. He was buried alongside his wife Lenola Neveu at the Calvary cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.

The Big Band of “The California Playboys” headed by Russell Jacquet,

with his brothers Illinois Jacquet, Julius Jacquet & Johnny Linton Jacquet.

Left to right in the living room of their father Gilbert Jacquet's Texas home, circa 1939;

BACK: "Boothmouth" Hayes (Bass); Johnny Linton Jacquet (Drums); William Luper (trombone);

??? (trumpet); "Mush Mouth" (trumpet); Obeedy Duden (trombone);

FRONT: Ernest Tom Archia (sax); Illinois Jacquet (sax); L. F. Simon (sax); Julius Jacquet (sax);

Russell Jacquet (trumpet); Robert William (piano); Volley-Bassteen (piano).

The Descendants of Robert Russell Joseph Jacquet

Russell Jacquet married Lenola Neveu circa 1943. Russell and Lenola had one daughter named Jacqueline Stephanie Jacquet. Lenola Neveu died six days after giving birth. Jacqueline Stephanie Jacquet was born on 22 May 1944 in Los Angeles, according to her birth certificate. Her baptismal certificate however, indicates that she was born on 23 May 1944. The Reverend Father James McLaughlin at the “Mary Star of the Sea Church” in San Pedro, California baptized Jacqueline on 10 June 1945. Her sponsoring Godparents were Linton Jacquet and Mary Simmons, her paternal uncle and aunt. In taking on the responsibility as Godmother, Jacqueline was brought up by her aunt Mary “Mae” Jacquet Simmons. The musical genius passed down through the generations of Jacquets certainly made its way into Jackie. Receiving encouragement from her entertainer father Russell Jacquet, Jackie started singing and dancing at the age of seven. She also studied piano. Jacqueline was educated at the University of Southern California, majoring in Music and The Performing Arts. While at USC she won a scholarship with the Los Angeles-San Francisco Civic Light Opera Musical Theatre Workshops. After college, Jacqueline turned her talents to acting, having a supporting role in the motion picture “The Great White Hope” at 20^th Century Fox. Soon after, Jacqueline was off to Indochina in 1971, to entertain the American troops in Vietnam and Thailand with the group “The 21^st Century LTD.”, featuring her as a singer and dancer. Upon her return to the United States, Jacqueline became a schoolteacher in the Los Angeles district before changing careers to work with Continental Airlines. With co-worker Saundra Tyler, Jacqueline founded the Black Flight Attendants of America (BFAOA) in 1974 with the goal of serving the skies and the community by exposing inner-city youth to careers in aviation. Jacqueline served as national president of the organization for many years.

Jacqueline Jacquet married Lawrence Edward Williams on 12 December 1975 at the Los Angeles county courthouse. They re-consecrated their marriage vows again on 12 June 1982 at the Church of Saint Lawrence in Los Angeles. Larry was the son of Charles Williams Jr. and Josie Walker, the daughter of Clyde Walker. Charles Williams Jr. was the son of Charles Williams Sr. and Willamay Roberts. Charles Williams Sr. was the son of Sam Williams and Harriet Gates. Willamay Roberts was the daughter of Jenny Roberts and a Scandinavian seaman of unknown name. Jacqueline Jacquet-Williams and Larry Williams had one daughter named Eboni Simret Williams born on 20 November 1971 in Los Angeles. Eboni married Keith Allen Wright in July of 1997, in Washington D.C. Their son Dein Wright was born on 25 February 1993.

Jacqueline Jacquet William’s mother Lenola Neveu, was born on 19 April 1924, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The death certificate indicates she was born on the same day but in 1923 (*240*). Lenola grew up in Houston and graduated from St. Nicholas high school, as did all her brothers and sisters. She was the daughter of Anita Dellahoussaye and Abraham Neveu. The name Neveu has various spellings and can be seen in the record books as “Nepveu”, “Nepveux”, “Neveux” and “Neuveu”. The name is from the French ‘Neveu’ meaning ‘Nephew’ or ‘cousin’, with Neveux being the plural. Anita and Abraham had nine children: Hara Neveu who died in 1963, Eudice Neveu, Patricia Neveu, Earline Neveu, Lenola Neveu born on 19 April 1924, Abraham Neveu Jr. born on 6 August 1925. Abraham Jr. married Addie Mae. Abraham died in January of 1971; Jeannette Neveu born on 11 July 1927 in Lake Charles Louisiana, Joseph A. Neveu born on 28 Sep 1929, and Thomas Neveu born on 6 Sep 1932. Thomas died in August of 1981.

Neveu Genealogy Chart
The Neveu Family

Lenola’s father Abraham Neveu Sr. was born circa 1887, and was the son of John (Jean Baptiste) Neveu and Elizabeth Emma Abat. Jean Neveu was mayor of St. Martinville and possibly served as a police juror also. He was the last “non-white” mayor of St. Martinville. John Neveu and Elizabeth “Emma” Abat married on 5 April 1880 in St. Martinville. The marriage documents indicate that John Neveu’s father Isidore was deceased at the time of the marriage. John Neveu was born on 23 April 1859 and was the son of Jean Isidore Neveu and Clara Prade. Jean Neveu and Clara Prade married in St. Martinville on 10 Feb 1857. At the St. Martinville courthouse, we read marriage document #1327:

“…nous avons célébré le marriage de Jean Neveu C.L. fils mineur et legitime de feu Charles Neveu et de Charlotte Isidore né en cette paroisse et de Clara Prade C.L. fille mineure et legitime de Jean Baptiste Prade et de Henriette Kerligan née…”

Abraham’s grandfather Jean Neveu had “C.olor L.ibre” written on his marriage certificate when he married Clara Prade on 10 February 1857, signifying that he was a free man of color. His newlywed wife Clara Prade was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Prade and Henrietta Kerlegan. Her brother Joseph Prade also married that same year according to the Lafayette courthouse record on 24 November 1857. Joseph Prade, a mulâtre libre and the son of Henriette Agathe de Kerlegand and Jean Baptiste Prade of New Orleans, both parents of “free color”, married Albertine Neveu, the daughter of J.J. Nevue and “Lise”. Both had the French term “p.d.c.l.” written on the marriage document which was the abbreviation for “personne de colour libre” meaning “free person of color” (*139*). The “J. J. Nevue” listed as Albertine’s father has to be none other than Jean Jacques Neveu, who according to his succession record was a white man who was from Rouen France and living in Lafayette but who died on 3 November 1870 at the age of 92. (*141*) Since the record books show that Jean Jacques Neveu married Marguerite Rosalie Lefort and that Albertine’s mother is only listed with one name as “Lise”, gives us the most likely conclusion that Lise was a slave whom Jean Jacques owned and sired at least two children with. While the marriage certificate says “Joseph Prade, legitimate son of Jean Baptiste Prade and of Henrietta Carlegan…” for Albertine it gives a more “politically correct” statement declaring that “Albertine Neveu, natural daughter of J.J. Neveu and of Lise.” This makes Jean Jacques Neveu the originator of the Neveu bloodline of color in Neveu genealogy. Four witnesses to the wedding signed their name but it seems hard to decipher who they were. One was Monroe Baker, another was F. Riore and the other two witnesses are difficult to decipher. Both Albertine and Joseph signed their names (*139*).

Jean Isidore Neveu (also Isidore Jean) was the son of Charles Neveu and Charlotte Isidore. Jean was born on 10 August 1840 in St. Martinville. Charlotte’s father Isidore Delahoussay died at the age of 100 and was freed from slavery by his mother Zaire who herself had been freed by the Delahoussay family. Charles’ French ancestry father Jean Jacques Neveu freed Charles who, by rule of law because his mother was a slave, was born into slavery (*15*). Charles’mother “Lise” had bore at least two children with Jean Jacques Neveu - Charles born ca. 1916 and Albertine Neveu, a quarteroone libre who was born ca. 1839 in the Attakapas/St. Martin Parish. Jean Jacques Neveu died on 28 October 1870 at the age of 92 according to his succession record at the Lafayette Court house. It would be on 3 Nov 1870 that four of his grandchildren from his deceased son Christopher Neveu – Alphonse Neveu, Alice Neveu, Elodie Neveu and Marthe Neveu would petition to the courthouse for an appraisal of Jean Jacques estate. The document says there were “…other heirs that are absent or deceased, being residents of France or Europe…” Jean Jacques’ other four children were still living – Valarie Neveu, wife of E. F. Gregnon; Mathilde Neveu, S. E. B. Neveu, wife of Jean Gilliet and Alphonse Neveu. After debts and court costs were deducted from the proceeds of the probate sale, each of the four living children received $419.67, while the four grandchildren whose father had died earlier that year split that amount to receive $104.91 each (*141*). Jean Jacques’ daughter Valerie Neveu “of Rouen France” had previously married William Alex Bailey on 4 Jan 1930. Her parents Jean Jacques Neveu and Marguerite Rosalie Lefort had married prior to Marguerite Lefort’s death in May of 1837. According to the way the five children are listed on the succession record, It appears that Jean Jacques and Marguerite’s son Christopher Neveu was born second. Since Christopher’s birth record at the St. Martin Church says he was born on 4 July 1820, the two mulatto children Jean Jacques Neveu bore with “Lise”, sandwiched his marriage with Marguerite – Charles Neveu born ca. 1916, and Albertine Neveu born ca. 1939.

Lenola Neveu’s father Abraham Neveu Sr. applied for a marriage license on 29 November 1919 in Lake Charles and married Anita Delahoussaye on 30 November 1919. While the marriage license records that Emma Abat was Abraham’s mother, most other documents have his mother as “Elizabeth Abat” so Emma may have been her middle name. The fact that they named one of their daughters “Marie Elizabeth Emma Neveu” seems to give credence to this theory. The marriage license indicates he was 29 years old and residing in Lake Charles. Both of his parents – “John Nevel” and “Emma Nevel” of Lake Charles were still living. Abraham Neveux had previously married Leontine Babineaux on 29 April 1916, and who was deceased. Anita is 20 years old and a resident of Lake Charles. Anita’s parents Gaston Dellahoussaye and “Neona Dellahoussa” are both living. Priest A. J. Hackett married them the next day on 30 Nov 1919. Witnesses to the marriage were Percy Pellitier, George Gelley and Abraham’s brother Antoine Neveu. (*138*) Abraham’s parents John Neveu and Emma (also Emily and Elizabeth) Abat (also Abatt and Abbat) had at least nine children:

1. Louis Alphonse Neveu born on 6 January 1882 in St. Martinville. Louis Alphonse married Eula Olivier on 25 April 1907 (Franklin Ct.hse.#143) in St. Mary parish. Eula was the daughter of Artégo Oliver and Marie LaSalle.

2. Theodora Neveu born ca. 1885. Theodora married Antoine Pérez in January 1906 at St. Martin church. Antoine was the son of Feliz Perez of Cuba and Elisabeth Landry.

3. Flavien Neveu was born ca. 1886. He married Lydia LaSalle on 30 Jan 1911 in St. Martinville. Three of Flavien and Lydia’s children were Olga, Eva and Joseph Neveu.

4. Abraham Neveu probably was born circa 1887 – 1888. Abraham first married Leontine Babineaux in 1916, who died shortly thereafter. Abraham married for a second time to Anita DeLaHoussaye in 1919. Anita and Abraham had nine children:

A. Hara Neveu who died in 1963,

B. Eudice Neveu,

C. Patricia Neveu,

D. Earline Neveu,

F. Lenola Neveu born on 19 April 1924. Lenola graduated from St. Nicholas high school in Houston, Texas. Lenola married Robert Russell Jacquet, the son of Gilbert Joseph Jacquet and Marguerite Isola Trahan. Lenola gave birth to a daughter named Jacqueline Jacquet on 22 May 1944. Lenola died five days after the birth. She had been sent to Los Angeles County General Hospital the day after giving birth and died of acute hepatic necrosis on the 28^th of May (*240*). Lenola and Russell had been living at 1160 East 58^th place in Los Angeles. Russell Jacquet died in March 1990. Both are buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

F. Abraham Neveu Jr. born on 6 August 1925. Abraham Jr. married Addie Mae. Abraham Neveu Jr. died in January of 1971;

G. Jeannette Neveu born on 11 July 1927 in Lake Charles Louisiana,

H. Joseph A. Neveu born on 28 September 1929,

I. Thomas Neveu born on 6 September 1932. Thomas died in August of 1981.

;

5. Joseph “Lucien” Blaise Fortune Neveu was the 5^th child born to Abraham Neveu and Elizabeth Abat. Joseph was born on 3 February 1890 and baptized on 18 Jan 1892 at the St. Martin Church. Joseph Blaise Fortune may have gone by the name “Lucien” because a marriage document at the Lake Charles courthouse says that Lucien Neveu, son of John Neveu and Emma Abat married on 10 April 1915 to Mary Journet. He was a “colored man” age 25. That would put his birth at 1890, which is consistent with Blaise Fortune’s birth year. Mary Journet was the daughter of Gustave Journee and Rosa Vavasseur. Witnesses to the marriage were P. Mitchell, Mary Janelo, and Percy Pellitier.

6. Marie Agnes (or Anette) Nepveu was born on 18 January 1892 and baptized on 9 March 1892 at the St. Martin Church. Her parents are listed here as Mandeville Jean Nepveu and Emma Abat. Marie Agnes died on 6 December 1893.

7. Marie Elizabeth Emma Nepveu born 10 September 1896 in St. Martinville. Elizabeth Emma married Nichols Romero on 2 February 1918 in Lake Charles. The marriage certificate at the Lake Charles courthouse says she was “white”, age 21 and the daughter of John Neveu and Emma. Nichols Romero is also age 21 and listed as “white”. Nichols was the son of Charles (George) Romero and Caressa Lewis. Both were Octarones, or 1/8^th Negro. The reverend A. Cramera married them. Witnesses to the marriage were Emma’s father Abraham Neveu, her sister-in-law Eula Neveu and A. Romero.

8. Marie Josephine Felicie Nepveu born on 28 October 1898, but who died on 12 May 1899.

9. Joseph Gustave Antoine Neveu born on 11 December 1901 in St. Martinville. Joseph Gustave Antoine married Louise Delahoussaye on 21 November 1920 in Lake Charles. Antoine is “colored” and age 19; Louise is also “colored” and age 17. The marriage document indicates that Antoine’s mother “Emily” is dead. His father John Neveu is still alive. Louise is the daughter of Frank Delahoussaye and Theresa. Abraham J. Neveu is one of the three witnesses to the marriage.

The “colored” Neveu families were very fair-skinned and the question of what race they were was always in question. Four of John Neveu and Elizabeth Emma Abat’s children were married in Lake Charles and their marriage certificates read different races. Antoine and Lucien Neveu are both listed as “colored”, while their sister Emma is listed as “white”. On Emma’s marriage certificate she is listed as white and her father Abraham was a witness to the marriage so obviously he would also have been considered white. Abraham’s Neveu family and Emma’s Abat family both originated in St. Martinville but now, this family was in Lake Charles. As a researcher of Creole families, genealogist Christophe Landry-Hoegan has noted that:

“…as long as no-one knew of your ‘family history’ and gene pool, you could pass for white while away from home. You could even pass for white in your home town as long as no one who knew your family genealogy would tell on you.”

Abraham Sr. and his wife Anita both have ‘no race’ listed on their marriage document which was unusual at that time for none to be listed. As verified on census records, Louisiana certified and recognized three main races: White, Colored and Mulatto. During the 1800’s it was customary and actually expected for light-skinned colored people to inter-marry within each other’s families. The Neveu, Delahoussaye and Romero families were three such family lines that kept to this system as can be seen by the marriage and census records of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. This probably originated from the practice of many slave-owners who separated their “mulatres” (mixed race) slaves from the “colored” slaves, keeping them in separate working and living quarters but residing on the same plantation. The standardizing of the races by the French in the Louisiana Territory originated from the law of the “Black Code”. There was an organized system of classifying people of whatever mixture of white/black blood you had in you. Even if you were 1/32^nd “colored”, which means one of your great-great-great grandparents were pure colored and all the rest of your anscestors were white, you were considered a “SANG-MÊLÉ” (French for “mixed-blood”) and were still considered “colored”! Thus, all it took was one drop of “colored blood” in your family ancestry for you to be considered “colored” no matter how fair-skinned you appeared to be. When Abraham Neveu died, he was obligated to be buried in a “colored section” in Houston’s Holy Cross cemetery. Some of his children could not understand why this could be; knowing that Abraham was very fair skinned and could easily pass for a white person, and other family members who had always thought Abraham to have been a pureblooded white person.

The De La Houssaye Family

Abraham’s wife Marie Anita Delahoussaye was born on 20 December 1900, in St. Martinville, La. She was the daughter of Joseph Gaston Delahoussaye and Constance Theriot. Anita Delahoussaye appears to have been the last of nine children born between Gaston and Constance. Her mother Constance was the daughter of Joseph Thériot and Eugénie Rochon. Gaston and Constance married on 17 Jan 1885 in New Iberia, La. (*214*) and at least 9 children were born:

1. Marie Lucie DeLaHoussaye was born 15 July 1886 in New Iberia. She married Antoine Aramis Orso, son of Césaire Orso & Euphémie De Kerlegand on 18 Dec 1906, in St. Martinville.

2. Marie Alma DeLaHoussaye was born on 17 Sep 1888 in New Iberia.

3. Louis Sidney DeLaHoussaye was born on 10 Oct 1890 in New Iberia.

4. Claude Léonil DeLaHoussaye was born on 7 Sept 1891 in New Iberia.

5. Marie Lilly DeLaHoussaye was born on 8 Sept 1893 in New Iberia.

6. Marie Eunice DeLaHoussaye was born on 24 Jan 1895 in New Iberia.

7. Marguerite Rita DeLaHoussaye was born on 7 April 1897 in New Iberia.

8. Joseph Sampson (or Simpson) Delahoussay was born on 6 Feb 1899 in St. Martinville.

9. Marie Anita Delahoussay was born on 20 Dec 1900. She married Abraham Neveu.

Anita’s father Joseph Gaston DelaHoussaye was born on 1 June 1864 in St. Martinville and was the son of Gustave Delahoussaye, a “quarteron libre” (1/4^th Negro) and Philomène Amélie Décuir, a “mulâtresse libre”. Gustave Delahoussaye was born ca. 1837 and was the son of Edouard De La Houssaye and Désirée Décuir. Edouard De La Houssaye was born ca. 1812 and was a “quarteron libre”. Gustave died on 10 Jan 1893 at the age of 73 at Church Point, La. His succession record is at the Opelousas Court House.

The Genealogy of Lenola Neveu

Jean Jacques Neveu

b.1778 I

Charles Neveu m. Charlotte Isadore

_b.ca.1816I_{Jean
Baptiste Prade}_{m.
Henrietta Kerlegan}

I I

Jean Isidore Neveu m. 10 Feb 1857 Clara Prade

^{b. 10 Aug 1840}

John Neveu m. 5 Apr 1880 Emma Abatt

b.23Apr I1859

I Gaston Delahoussay m. 17 Jan 1885 Constance Theriot

I I

Abraham Neveu m. 30 nov. 1919 Anita Delahoussaye

^{b. ca. 1888} I

Lenola Neveu m. circa 1943 Robert Russell Jacquet

^{b.
19 Apr 1923}

Russell Jacquet’s Other Children

Another child born to Robert Russell Jacquet was a son named Gary Jacquet. Gary was born on 9 Oct 1955, in New York City. Gary’s mother was Nancy Flowers, born on 15 Oct 1928. Nancy was the daughter of Ella Brigman and Roy Flowers. Nancy Flowers was one of ten children born to Ella and Roy. One of Nancy’s other siblings was a sister named Janet “Potchi” Flowers who was in show business. She married Andrew Berger. Janet managed various groups and trained various actor/singers such as Stephanie Mills, Irene Cara of the movie “Fame”, and Ralph Carter, guiding their singing careers. It was not too long before she met Robert Russell Jacquet amidst the show business world during a show in which Russell was managing the Rhythm & Blues group, “The Heartbeats.” Janet Berger would soon introduce her sister Nancy Flowers to Russell in 1953, when she was 24. Nancy would assist Russell with some of his business affairs and in late 1954, moved into and worked at his apartment on 158^th street in Sugar Hill while Russell was on the road. The two-bedroom apartment had previously belonged to Russell’s brother Illinois Jacquet who gave the apartment to Russell when he moved out. It would be early in January 1954, when Russell would come home from a long road trip that he would conceive a child with Nancy. It would be almost exactly three years apart between the conception of the two brothers Russell Jacquet Jr. and Gary Jacquet in the same apartment.

Gary Jacquet grew up in Washington Heights New York, on 159^th Street, which oddly enough was only a mile away from his brother Russell Jacquet Acea who lived on 184^th street. As far as the two know, the two half brothers never met in their youth. As a youth, Gary’s teenage years were more challenging than most young men, getting into trouble more than once and he was sent to Peter Cooper school, a “600” school on 82^nd street. Later on in his life, when Gary had reached his 30^th birthday, God called him to serve the Lord and Gary followed his calling. Gary Jacquet became an ordained Deacon from 1988 – 1994, and a Minister from 1994 until the present with his Christian Church, the Harlem Tabernacle Church on 125^th st. in Harlem New York City.

Robert Russell Jacquet Sr., was 34 when he met Elizabeth Egas in New York City. Through Elizabeth, one son, Russell Jacquet Acea was born on 12 Nov 1952, in New York City at Harlem Hospital. He weighed seven and one quarter pounds. He was born Russell Lamar Jacquet. Elizabeth was 16 going on 17 years of age at the time she met Russell Sr. at a high school graduation party in June of 1951. After Elizabeth became pregnant with Russell Jr., Russell Sr. offered to marry Elizabeth but she did not want to marry him. The diamond engagement ring was given to her sister Rose as caretaker who mysteriously “dropped and lost the ring on her way down the stairs in her apartment building.” One of the musicians that Russell Jacquet played with was Adriano Acea who eventually became Elizabeth’s common-law husband. When Elizabeth’s husband Adriano Acea had a falling out with fellow musician Russell Jacquet Sr., Russell Sr. was asked not to have any contact with the family any more. Shortly thereafter, on 12 June 1958, Adriano Acea legally adopted Russell Lamar Jacquet and his name was changed to Russell Lamar Acea and a corrected birth certificate was made to indicate Adriano as being the father (NYC birth cert.#156-52-145714).

Russell Jacquet Acea graduated from George Washington high school in Manhattan NY, in June of 1971. The musical genius of the Jacquet heritage was also passed down to Russell Jr. Music was by far his best subject, playing first chair trumpet all four years in high school, earning a seat with Manhattan borough-wide band two years and All-City band in his senior year. In his senior year in high school, his band teacher Brenda Aaronson became seriously ill and was unable to conduct and had to have an operation a couple of weeks before the big spring festival. There was no panic, as she simply gave her best trumpet player a crash course on how to conduct a band. With his father Robert Russell Jacquet Sr. in the audience, Russell Jacquet-Acea Jr. played trumpet with his left hand, including solos, and conducted the spring festival band simultaneously with the baton in his right hand! The trumpet and flute were the first instruments he learned to play while in high school. Later on in his life, Russell learned to play the bass guitar, pipe organ, saxophone and bassoon. After high school graduation and working two years as publicity manager for former Ink Spot Billy Bowen and his wife Ruth Bowen at Queen Booking Corporation, Russell decided to go to college in upstate New York at the State University at Oswego in the Fall of 1974. During his three years at Oswego State, Russell worked on the Concert Committee, formed the Third World Committee, and was a member of the school track team setting eight school records, qualifying in the 400 meter hurdles for the 1976 NCAA championships in Chicago where he ran against 1976 summer Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses. Russell was listed in Randall Publishing Co’s 1976-1977 edition of “Who’s Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges”.

Russell Jacquet-Acea moved to Los Angeles in 1979, living for the first time with his father Russell Jacquet Sr. and with his aunt Mae Jacquet Simmons just a few blocks away from USC. Through California State University at Los Angeles, he received in December of 1979, his Bachelor of Arts degree from Oswego State University with a Major in Music and a Minor in Astronomy. After a six year vocation with Guru Elizabeth Clare Prophet and the Church Universal and Triumphant in seeking to become a Priest and a World Teacher, and a few years teaching mathematics and science in the Los Angeles school district, Russell decided to leave the smog and fog of Los Angeles and head for the Big Sky state of Montana in 1988. There at Montana State University in Bozeman Montana, Russell re-directed his career goals and studied Physical Education, receiving a Master of Science degree in December of 1991 in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology and Coaching. In 1990-1991, Russell served as President of the Black Student Union, and served on the MSU Presidential Search Committee. With the graduation at Montana State University complete, it was off to the Pacific Coast to live in Seattle, Washington. There Russell soon found himself working for the Seattle school district as a Physical Education, Astronomy, and Music teacher and as a Basketball/Track & Field coach.

It had been sometime around the year 1989, when Russell left Montana for a sudden and unplanned visit to Los Angeles to visit his older sister Jacqueline Jacquet-Williams. There unexpectedly, he walked into a family reunion of Jacquet and related family members. The inquisitive Russell starting asking questions about old family members and found the information quite exciting. When he left Los Angeles, he was enthusiastic about the possibility of finding out the rest of the story, the unknown names and untold tales about the family history of the Jacquet family. That inquisitiveness and desire to know his history was the fuel that led to the writing of this book, “The Sons and Daughters of Jean Baptiste Jacquet: A History of the Black Jacquets in Louisiana.”

The Three (known) Children of

Robert Russell Jacquet:

LEFT:

Gary Jacquet

Born on 9 October 1955. The son of

Nancy Flowers.

CENTER:

Jacqueline Jacquet-Williams

Born on 22 May 1944. The daughter of

Lenola Neveu whom Robert Russell married

ca. 1943.

RIGHT:

Russell LaMar Jacquet-Acea

Born on 12 November 1952. The son

of Elizabeth Egas.

Family Photo taken at the funeral of Uncle

Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet, 29 July 2004,

Riverside Church, New York City.

Elizabeth Egas

Elizabeth Egas, the mother of Russell Jacquet Acea, was born on November 19, 1934, twelve minutes after the stroke of midnight in a cold water flat on 99^th street and 3^rd Avenue in New York City. With the assistance of a mid-wife for two weeks, her mother gave birth to the ten-pound baby girl. Her mother Maria Gracita Mallory was a very beautiful Black woman born on Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas. The Turks and Caicos Islands politically belonged to the British West Indies, but geographically belonged to the Bahamas. Citizens of Turks and Caicos Islands hold a British passport. Elizabeth’s father Agustin Tiburcio Egas was a handsome whiteskin South American man born in Guayaquil Ecuador who was part Native Ecuadorian Indian and either German or of other European descent. From which Indigenous native tribe in Ecuador she may have been from is inconclusive, but perhaps Quitu or Quechua Indian. Both parents came to the United States by boat in their late teenage years.

Elizabeth was the last of five children born between Maria Gracita Mallory and Agustin Egas, including a set of twin boys that had died at birth. According to family history, Elizabeth should have never been born being that her mother Maria had gotten her “tubes tied” to prevent further pregnancies. However, Maria’s tubes somehow “got untied” and Elizabeth was born! Elizabeth’s mother Maria told her that she was born “with the veil over her face” and as a child she was quite clairvoyant on many occasions. Elizabeth’s mother and father had separated when she was a young girl and thus throughout her childhood she was cared for by various relatives and friends of the family. In her infant years it was her Godmother Emma Valley who cared for her. Emma’s aunt lived in the same cold water flat in New York and that is how the families became associated with one another. Emma Valley was married to Edward Valley and the couple took care of Elizabeth on their Long Island home. She then briefly lived with both her mother Maria and father Agustin, who were back living together when Elizabeth was about five or six years of age. The singing and dancing potential of Elizabeth was seen at a very early age as she was entered in a singing and performance contest at this age at the Manhattan City Center. Dressed in her frilly yellow ruffled dress with a big yellow bow in her hair, Emma and Edward Valley took her to New York City’s Manhattan Center to sing “I want a Big Fat Momma” when she was just five years old. Elizabeth took first prize among all of the contestants, one of which included Shirley Temple.

That stay with both parents would however be short lived when her mother Maria would discover that her father Agustin was secretly seeing another woman named Penda. One day Marie went upstairs in the apartment complex and caught her husband there with only his shorts on in the lady’s apartment. They separated after the episode sometime around 1942. Ironically, it was to be with her dad and his girlfriend Penda along with Penda’s two daughters Gloria and Jewel that Elizabeth would stay with next. When Elizabeth was 8 years old and going into second grade, her older sister Rose Egas decided to bring her down to Alexandria Louisiana to stay with her in the Fall of 1943. Rose’s husband Clement Delvitt was in the army and was stationed there. Elizabeth’s mother Maria was involved in the care taking of an apartment complex at 8 east 116^th street, that was surrounded by illicit and lawless affairs and it was not safe for Elizabeth to live in that environment with her mother. After a year in Louisiana, it was back to New York to once again briefly live with her dad Agustín and his girlfriend Penda. When her dad Agustín decided that he wanted to “go back to South America” to his family, Elizabeth would have to live elsewhere. The real reason was that Agustín had a new girlfriend down in Virginia named Theresa who he began to live with. Agustín never told the woman that he was still married and had three children. The discovery was made one day when a letter arrived at her house with “Augustin’s Jr’s” name on it. Augustin Egas Jr. who was living in New York City, was using his father’s address for his auto insurance to take advantage of lower rates. When Theresa found out about Agustín Sr.’s children, she wrote a letter to them asking them to come down for a visit. It would be a long wait, about 18 years later during the summer of 1963 until Elizabeth would be able to take her children down to Bristol, Virginia to visit her dad and Theresa Grubb. Ten-year-old Russell remembers the happy trip his grandfather Agustín Egas Sr. took them to on a drive into the border town of Bristol, Virginia/Tennesee to go shopping downtown on a bright sun-shiny Saturday morning. Proudly and gleefully holding his grandfather’s hand, they crossed the border street going from Virginia to Tennesee and were entering the downtown Woolworth store. When his grandfather pulled his hand away and told him he had to “enter in ‘the other’ side street entrance with his mom, brother and sister”, little Russell couldn’t understand why he could not enter the store in the same entrance as his grandfather. Within a few seconds, they would all meet up again in an aisle near the front and ready to shop. It would be many years later when Russell would finally understand what went on that day in segregated 1963 Virginia/Tennessee. Segregation was still the law there so Whites and Coloreds had separate entrances to many stores. Little Russell as well as his “Colored mother” could not enter in the same entrance with her “White South American father.”

The Story of Cousin Lillie and Turks Island Immigration

When Elizabeth was ten years old, her dad left for Virginia for a new love and she had to live with her mother’s first cousin Lillian Thompson and her daughter Louise Ann “Boobalee” Thompson. That did not last long due to the death of cousin Lillie about a year later. It was circa 1945 and Lillian smoked cigarettes quite frequently and died of lung cancer about a year after Elizabeth began to live with her. Lillian was the God-mother to Rose Egas Delvitt who remembers that Lillian died circa 1945-46 in New York City “at Goldwater hospital on a nearby island.” Lillian’s husband Early Thompson, had already died of Tuberculosis a few years earlier. Lillian was born Lillian Smith and was born on Grand Turk island on 18 February 1896. Baptist minister J. Henry Pusey baptized her on 21 June 1896. She was the daughter of Timothy Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Cox. It was Sarah Cox’s sister Elizabeth Ann Cox who married Alexander Mallory. When Alexander’s daughter Maria Gracita Mallory was born in 1904, Maria and Lillian became first cousins. Timothy Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Cox were married on 14 June 1894 on Grand Turk Island. Along with Thomas T. Williams, Sarah’s father Alexander Cox witnessed the marriage and gave his daughter away just as he would do with his other daughter Elizabeth Cox seven years later. Sarah Elizabeth appears to have been the oldest of five children born between Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott. Sarah Cox was born on 11 January 1875, and was baptized on 31 May 1875 on Grand Turk. At least three children were born between Timothy Smith and Sarah Cox. Lillian Smith appears to have been the first child, followed by Shednel Nathaniel Smith born on 30 July 1898. An almost certain recording error appears in the Turks Island birth record book right under the birth record of Lillian’s February 1896 birth. A male child named Artel Arthur born on 26 March of the same year lists Timothy Smith and Sarah Cox as the parents, however, on the next listing, the same child is listed with two different parents. A female, un-named at the time of birth, was born 17 March 1904 to Timothy and Sarah. Baptismal records say Laura Victoria Smith was born on 26 March 1904 and baptized on 12 June 1904. Laura’s parents are given as Timothy Smith and Sarah. This is no doubt a fourth child of Timothy and Lillian. She would have been baptized on the same day as her cousin Maria Gracita Mallory who was also baptized on 12 June 1904. Lillian Smith would become Lillian Forbes after she married Robert (Joseph?) Forbes and a daughter was born named Lillian Jane “Trudy” Forbes on 17 November 1915 in Grand Turk. Lillian Jane “Trudy” Forbes would later marry Herbert Malcolm and there were four daughters born: Pearl Malcolm, Marin Malcolm, Jane Malcolm and Mavis Malcolm. Mavis married a Samuel. Marin owned and worked at one of the rare gas stations on Grand Turk Island. Lillian’s mom was not there when she married Herbert Malcolm because her mother was living in New York. Rose Egas remembers the day when cousin Lillie came over to where Rose was living in Manhattan and told her about her daughter in Grand Turk getting married very soon: “…you have good taste Rose, come to the bridal shop with me on 114^th street so we can pick out clothes for my daughter Lillian’s wedding…” Rose remembered that they picked out everything needed for her daughter Lillian Trudy Forbes’ wedding and then sent everything by postal mail.

When Lillian Trudy Forbes was but three years old, her mother Lillian Smith Forbes decided to make a trip to New York City. It was the 29^th of June 1919, when the 23-year-old Lillian Forbes arrived in New York on the famous ship The Iroquois. She had come on board with other relatives from Turks Island. Although the exact relationship between all of the five Turks Island passengers who arrived that day is still unknown, she came with 35-year-old Philistina Williams, the mother of Constance Williams who married Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory. It was believed that Benjamin was most likely the brother of Lillian’s uncle Alexander Mallory which made Benjamin Mallory her uncle by in-law. Philistina’s 42-year-old sister Elmira Miller was with her. They both gave the name Nathaniel Rigby as their father. The Baptismal records of Turks Island show that Nathaniel Rigby and his wife Ophelia (or Amelia) had at least three other daughters: Mary Francis Rigby born on 13 August 1880; Isidora Jane Rigby born on 5 November 1885 and Melvina Rigby born on 28 Jan 1888. Melvina’s parents are listed as Nathaniel Rigby and Omelia Parker (*203*). Nathaniel is employed as a planter. The two also had a son born on 26 Nov 1871. Philistina would pay for her married sister Mary Francis Johnson and her daughter Dorothy B. Johnson, to visit them from Turks Island to New York a few years later. Nathaniel Rigby died a pauper at the age of 75 on 12 March 1923 in Grand Turk. Lillian Forbes, Clarissa Todd and Rosina Landy, three of the five Turks Island residents on the boat, were all going to visit someone at the same address: 49 west 99^th street in Manhattan (*184*). Whatever was the reason for the visit to New York without her three-year old daughter Trudy, Lillian Forbes was back to Turks Island within a year. She had left her three-year old daughter behind to be taken care of by “Grandma Cathy Mallory” and now was back to come and take her to New York on a second trip there. By now, little Lillian “Trudy” Forbes was five years old and the story told, is that she by then was too attached to her grandmother and did not want to go to New York with her mother. Where was husband Robert Forbes? By April of 1921, Lillian Forbes decided it was time to leave and return to New York again and on 18 April 1921, she once again arrived on the Iroquois ship in New York. She had paid her own passage this time and had $12 with her when she arrived. She was a tall woman, listed on the ships manifest as 5 feet, 10 inches tall. She had listed that she had been living with her mother on Turks Island. This leads to the still uncertain question of which “grandmother” actually raised Lillian’s daughter Lillian Trudy Forbes back in Grand Turk while Lillian was off to New York. In reality, Lillian’s mother Sarah Cox would have been the grandmother as would have been the mother of Lillian’s father Timothy Smith. But Lillian’s granddaughter Marin Malcolm said that the family did not at all associate with the Cox and Smith families.

Having returned to New York in the spring of 1921, Lillian Forbes was going to visit her cousin Maria Gracita Mallory, who had come over to the United States for the first time in April of 1920. Family stories say Marie Mallory came over and stayed with her cousin Lillie when she first arrived on 18 April, 1920. Now, the tables were turned, and cousin Lillie was returning exactly a year later to the day on 18 April 1921, to “visit her cousin Marie Mallory” who lived at 672 Argyle road in Brooklyn. Also on the Iroquois ship departed from the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands that day were 51 year old Jane Basten whose husband Norman (Basten?) was on Grand Turk. Louise Durham, age 41, a white woman whose husband Cleo H Durham was on Grand Turk who had her six year old daughter Helen Durham with her; Adeles W. Mallett, 23 whose mother Alexandria (Mallett?) was in Grand Turk; Mary Ann Stubbs, 42, listed the name Kitty Colby in Grand Turk as her nearest relative but did not provide a relationship; Orinthia Tatem, 16, who listed Beatrice Tatem on Grand Turk as a relative and was going to visit her mother at 408 West 130^th street; and 17 year old Samuel Tatem, whose mother was on Grand Turk but he was going to visit his uncle Tom Michelson at 433 Lenox avenue in Manhattan.

Many Turks Island natives had come to American on the ship called The Iroquois. Shipbuilders in Hamburg, Germany had originally built it in 1894. It was 383 feet long, 46 feet wide with triple steam expansion engines. It could carry 1,540 passengers – 174 in first class and the remaining 1,366 passengers had to ride third class. It had been named the Wittekind by the Germans and was interned at Boston during the years 1914 – 1917 then seized by the US government during the First World War in 1917, renamed the USS Iroquois and refitted as a transport vessel. It was finally scrapped in 1924 (*184*).

It was almost with certainty that Lillian Forbe’s husband Robert Forbes had died either before she left for New York a second time, or shortly thereafter. On the 1930 census, we see Lillian had re-married by then to Early Thompson who was 46 years old at the time of the 1930 census taken on April 7^th. Early was born in North Carolina circa 1884. Lillian Thompson’s daughter Louise “Ann Boobalee” Thompson was two years old at the time and had been born in Michigan in 1928. The three lived at 1811 Third Avenue (block D?) paying $15 per month rent. Marin Malcolm, the grand-daughter of Lillian Smith Forbes Thompson, said her mother Lillian “Trudy” Malcolm always knew she had a sister she never knew or met who lived somewhere in the United States. That sister turns out to be Louise Ann Thompson. When Elizabeth Egas Booth made her trip to Turks Island during the summer of 2004 and met Marin Malcolm, she reflected later that Marin “Looked just like Ann “Boobalee”. She had the same complexion and stoutness as Ann!” Lillian Trudy Malcolm died in May 1991 on Grand Turk Island.

After the death of cousin Lillie, Elizabeth Egas had to be on the move again. Her cousin Dora’s mother named Toya took her in. That did not last too long either because Toya practiced voodoo rituals on a daily basis and this did not sit too well with Elizabeth especially when she was constantly asked to help in Toya’s black candle rituals. By now Elizabeth was twelve years of age and almost thirteen when fortunately her brother Agustine “Gus” Egas Jr. came to the rescue and took her out of the black magic scene. Her brother Gus however had his wife Louise Orange living with him who was eight months pregnant with their daughter Gwen Egas. Louise proved to be a very jealous and sometimes schizoid woman who unfortunately would beat Elizabeth without notice. The relationship between Elizabeth and Louise got off to a bad start from the beginning. One night while Elizabeth was sleeping on the couch, Louise stormed out of the bedroom after a spat with Gus and demanded Liz to give up the space on the couch. The next day Louise decided to take all of Elizabeth’s clothing, cut them up with a scissors and then proceeded to throw them down the apartment dumbwaiter to burn. When Elizabeth found out what had happened to her clothes, she sought compassion from her sister Rose living across the street and told her what had happened. Rose, who was never too found of Louise in the first place, decided to seek revenge and proceeded to go over to her brother Gus’ house, cut up Louise Orange’s clothing and then threw them out of the apartment window! A big fight ensued and it was soon thereafter in her best interest that Elizabeth leave that living situation. That next led to her staying with her older sister Rose where she spent too much time baby sitting for Rose’s children and other children Rose was caring for.

Elizabeth was 13 going on 14 years of age and had already begun her first year at Draper Junior High School on 111^th street between Park and Lexington, also known as P.S. 101. One of her best friends was Shirley Campbell and it was quite often that Elizabeth would be seen visiting at the house of Shirley and her mother Bertha Campbell. It would next be Mrs. Campbell who would come to the rescue of Elizabeth’s troublesome and unstable life and allow her to live there with her daughter Shirley. Mrs. Campbell lived on 116^th street in the area known as Spanish Harlem where at the age of 13 Elizabeth would meet her first boyfriend Willie Bobo at the Hispaño Theater and the two would begin to date each other when she was 14 years old. She was influenced by the numerous Latin musicians of the area such as Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, “Pucho” and others who became her friends and influenced her into the Latin style dancing. She would go to all the Latin dance clubs and win all the dance contests. During one streak, she won six or seven consecutive weekly dance contests at the famous Savoy Ballroom, winning the $100 dollar prize each week dancing Latin. Elizabeth even won a dance contest at the Palladium once. Elizabeth’s dancing friend Bernice Quiñonez, also a 116^th street resident, was frequently seen at dance club contests with her and the two of them would go from place to place winning contests. Bernice won many Latin dance contests as well, and her favorite place was the “West Side Casino” on 116^th street and Lenox Avenue. Elizabeth’s dancing style was unique and as a teenager, she worked as a pro dancer at such clubs as “Snookys” and “The Zanzabar”. Elizabeth’s dancing roots probably came from one of her first dance teachers, Mary Bruce who was her tap dance teacher from 13 to 15 years of age.

The three-year stay at Mrs. Campbell’s house was for once a stable streak in Elizabeth’s life. She was able to stay at the same school for one thing, and had many good accomplishments. Along with her successful dancing career at night, by day she was quite an athlete. As the captain of her girls volleyball team at Draper Junior high, her team advanced to the city championship game every year she was there and won three straight city championship titles. The team would pummel the teachers in the student/facualty game every year. Upon graduation from Junior high school, her best friend Bernice Quiñonez convinced Elizabeth to attend Mable Dean Bacon high school with her downtown at 22^nd street and Lexington to take up beauty culture. Both girls would end up dropping out of school in their senor years. After the stay on 116^th street with the Campbell family, it was back uptown a mile to her sister Rose’s house on 132^nd street in the newly built Lincoln projects. Elizabeth was 16 going on 17 years of age at the time. It was about this time in June of 1951, when she went with her friend Bernice Quiñonez to a high school graduation party on 117^th street in an apartment on the top floor. There were lots of people there of which the majority by far were teenagers. Of the few adults there, there was one named Robert Russell Jacquet whom the 33 year old had somehow gotten himself invited to the high school teenage bash. He was not a complete stranger to the two girls as Elizabeth and Bernice had seen him before once or twice playing at the Apollo Theater with his brother Illinois Jacquet. The Apollo had always been their favorite place to sneak into. The influential musician managed to get friendly with Elizabeth and the two went out on dates from time to time for the next few months. Elizabeth was however, cautious of Russell, thinking that he really was too old to date for her and she usually bought along a friend with her when they went out. One time, Russell took Elizabeth to a musicians party. Dressed in her sister Rose’s clothing, Elizabeth was still a young teenager but maturely developed. There was lots of drinking and other things going on at the party of adult musicians and friends. Elizabeth noticed a saucer full of white powder and was curious as to what it was. Someone noticed her and asked “...do you indulge?” Not really understanding what the question was or what the powder was Elizabeth said “yes”. She saw people with little spoons placing it up their noses and thought she would have a closer look at this white powder substance. However, just a little must have gotten up her nose unexpectedly and caused her to violently sneeze, blowing all of the coke off of the plate. Russell Jacquet, confounded and aggravated because he had to end up paying for the blown coke, promptly took Elizabeth home and vowed to never take her out again. Elizabeth at this time had also very briefly dated Joe Newman, the jazz trumpet player. One day he invited Elizabeth to his house and she saw a whole lot of woman’s clothes around the house. When she asked Joe whose clothes they were, he replied that “...they were my wife’s clothes who is out working, dancing at the Savanna Club...” That was enough for Elizabeth to hear and in order to avoid a messy situation she quickly exited Joe’s house. Joe continued to write letters to Elizabeth at Rose’s house but would address the letters to “Elizabeth Eggs”! mis-spelling her last name of Egas.

It was in February of 1952, when Russell invited Elizabeth and a friend of her’s to his brother Illinois Jacquet’s apartment on 158^th street on the west side of Manhattan in the area known then as Sugar Hill. Dressed in her green tweed sweater suit, it was a cold New York evening for Elizabeth. Russell treated Elizabeth to steak and Manichevitz wine that she later believed to have been “laced with a “mickey!” The wine proved to be very intoxicating to her. After inviting Elizabeth’s friend to leave, Russell’s passion overcame him and he wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation. Elizabeth’s virginity was soon gone! She woke up the next morning fully clothed with no recollection of what had happened. She ran over to her friend Bernice’s house and told her what had happened, pleading with Bernice’s mother to cover for her after being out all night. Elizabeth’s sister Rose Delvitt would never have allowed her to stay out all night and would not be too happy when she came home. It would be a month later that Elizabeth would be surprised to learn that she was pregnant. Her sister Rose immediately said it was time to marry, but after much consolation with her aunt Viola Evans, she decided that she really was not in love with Russell and did not want to marry him. That was good enough for her aunt Vy who gave her niece Elizabeth her blessings not to marry Russell who by now had been showering Elizabeth with gifts which included two diamond engagement rings given in the care of her sister Rose, who somehow “dropped them down the apartment house stairs and lost them!” her sister Rose said. The rings were never seen again. It would be in the early afternoon of the 12^th of November in 1952, that her first child would be born. She named him after the father Russell Lamar Jacquet. The name Lamar came from a previous boyfriend she had known while living with her sister Rose on 132^nd street named Lamar. Lamar had offered to marry Elizabeth before going into the Marines to do two years of service overseas. He however, never returned home from the military.

It would be but a month later after the birth of Elizabeth’s first child Russell during the Christmas season that she would be traveling downtown on the subway train with her friends en route to a big dance. It was on this subway train ride that she would meet a man who was also going to the big dance. Elizabeth was holding on to one of the handrails on the train and was busy talking to her friends when a certain gentleman tapped her on the shoulder and asked where the group of girls was headed. Elizabeth answered that they were on their way to a certain big time dance downtown. The gentleman’s name was Adriano (John) Acea and after introducing himself, surprised the group of girls by telling them that he not only was on his way to the same dance but was also the piano player in the band that was playing the music there at the dance. He was also playing saxophone with James Moody’s band at the same time. John Acea proved to be a very talented musician and the two became friends right away. Elizabeth was not too enthusiastic about dating Adriano however, and gave him the wrong phone number on purpose. But with Adriano’s persistency and wisdom, he got the correct phone number where Elizabeth was living with her sister Rose. Rose insisted Elizabeth talk to him whom she did and Adriano wined and dined here during the Christmas season. The two would soon live together for many years thereafter and have the first of three children together in December of 1953 when their daughter Leona Acea was born. Separated from his wife Nellie for almost three years, Adriano desired a divorce from her so he could marry Elizabeth but Adriano’s wife would not grant him a divorce, so both he and Elizabeth lived together as common-law husband and wife for many years. It was a year or two after the birth of Leona when Elizabeth received a surprise but friendly visit from Acey’s wife Nellie Acea who wanted to set things straight. Nellie had already bore at least two children with Adriano, one of which was named Adriano (the third). She was invited in by Elizabeth and was asked “did you know that he was married?” Elizabeth answered “yes” and that Adriano had told her long ago “he was separated from you.” The woman gave no argument but obviously knew that Adriano wanted to marry Elizabeth. Adriano was still touring in Europe with Illinois Jacquet’s band and other musicians at the time and was calling Elizabeth every night. He wanted to take Elizabeth to Maryland to marry her there because their laws there were looser. Maryland did not check to see if either marriage couple was presently married. “She won’t give me a divorce but we can get married in Maryland!” he told Elizabeth. Elizabeth rejected the whole idea with her reply “No, I don’t want to do that”. Of all the lovers Elizabeth had in her life, it was John Adriano who she said was the greatest.

Elizabeth had been performing with the Manhattan Paul dancers since 1950, mainly in Atlantic City (NJ), and New York City. Dolly Brown and her dancers also performed with Manhattan Paul’s review. Manhattan Paul, who was one of New York’s best choreographers, choreographed the dance routines. Elizabeth’s dancing career was briefly interrupted with the pregnancy and birth of her first child Russell Jr., but that proved to be temporary as she was soon back singing and dancing every night at such clubs as Snookey’s on 52^nd street and Broadway. Her friend Charlie Parker, a jazz saxophonist, would hold little Russell in his lap in the audience while Elizabeth performed. The pregnancy and birth of Leona seems to have unfortunately ended Elizabeth’s singing and dancing career, for she was on tour with a group of singers and Dolly Brown dancers, one of which included Ertha Kitt, and about to go over to Paris on tour with the dance troupe when her Afro-Cuban dance teacher Katherine Dunham noticed that Elizabeth was getting a little heavy in the belly. After a strip-down, she noticed that Elizabeth was wearing a very tight playtex girdle to try and hide the pregnancy. This did not sit well with Katherine and Dolly and they recommended that Elizabeth not go on the performance tour to Europe with Dolly and the dance troupe. The trip to Paris proved to be a launching pad for the career of Ertha Kitt.

Katherine Dunham was born in 1910, and after receiving a master’s degree in social anthropology at the University of Chicago, she traveled to the West Indies where she discovered African and Caribbean dance. Those dance styles were to become the foundation for her artistic expression with her career as a gifted choreographer. Katherine was the first to bring these styles of dance to the United States. She was the first black choreographer to work with the Metropolitan Opera when she was hired for its 1963 production of Verdi’s opera Aida.

John Adriano Acea Jr. was a most talented musician with both writing and the playing of music. His hesitation to curtail his drinking and narcotic use did not allow him to fulfill his greatness.

(Photo taken by his wife Nellie while at home after a music engagement.)

Elizabeth Egas in her dressing room with her many dancing shoes preparing for one of her last dance performances. Her singing and dancing career would end with the birth of her second child Leona in December 1953.

John Adriano Acea, commonly called “Acey” by the musician world, was primarily a drum and piano player, but had also played trumpet with Sam Price and tenor sax with Don Bagley. Acey and the Jacquet brothers not only toured and played together but also made a record album together. After a short recording and performance stint with Dizzy Gillespie (1949-1950), and James Moody (1951), John Adriano Acea recorded and performed with Illinois Jacquet from 1952-1954. It was circa early 1954, when Acey went on a concert tour with Russell Jacquet and Illinois Jacquet along with some other musicians around the USA. Joe Newman was on trumpet, Matthew Gee was on trombone, Leo Parker played baritone sax, Shadow Wilson was the drummer, along with Russell Jacquet on trumpet and Illinois Jacquet on tenor saxophone. Adriano was the piano player. The tour was a success and Illinois and his group would be called to go to Europe to play, mainly in Germany. The group also played in Denmark. It was still the year 1954 and although the war had been over for some nine years, the rebuilding of Germany was still taking place. Reconstruction was in full swing in Europe and so was Jazz music. Jazz was an awesome new sound in Europe and people followed Illinois’ group everywhere. They made front-page headlines of major newspapers in Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, and other cities. They were a big hit at the US army base near Heidenheim or Haldensleben, Germany. People were so glad to hear this new sound of American Jazz music and as Illinois explained it “were coming out of everywhere to hear it!” It was a five-week trip for the seven-member crew of Illinois’ band in Europe. Adriano Acea was the piano player in the band. Illinois described Acey as:

“…a great musician but he did not have a flexible mind to realize the potential he had for greatness. He was a man who loved to drink. Acey would freely jam with anyone at anytime and anywhere but he just didn’t take care of business. All he wanted to do was get high and play!”

Osie Johnson was the drummer. Al Lucas was the bass player. Brother Russell Jacquet was on trumpet. Matthew Gee was the trombone player. Matthew played many evenings with the German Symphony Orchestra that played in the hotel the group stayed at. Matthew was another one Illinois described as one who “drank as much as the others on this trip, sometimes too much!” Sahib ShiHab was the baritone sax player. In addition to being one of the first jazz musicians to convert to Islam and change his name in 1947, Sahib was also one of the earliest boppers to use the flute. Illinois Jacquet was the tenor sax player and the leader of the band. Illinois knew he had to stay sober as the bandleader to “keep the gangsters in line!” Writer Berry Kernfeld claims that saxophonist Coleman Hawkins was a part of Illinois Jacquet’s European music tour of U.S. service bases in 1954.

The relationship between Acey and Russell Jacquet Sr. would soon deteriorate and the two from time to time would violently argue. Acey one day told Russell to “don’t even bother to come over and visit us and your son either” and that he would take care of and support Russell Sr.’s young son Russell Jacquet Jr. This would not prove to be such a difficulty for Russell Sr. who was living in Los Angeles California anyway. Thus it would be in June of1958, when Russell LaMar Jacquet Jr. was but five years old that Adriano Acea would legally adopt him and have his name changed to Russell LaMar Acea.

(JOHN) ADRIANO ACEA and the Acea Family

John Adriano Acea was born on September 11, 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother’s name was Leona Lee and his father’s name was also Adriano Acea (Sr.). A copy of the birth certificate of Adriano has his name spelled Adrian Ocea, so there is some question as to whether or not the present day recorders took the “O” off the end of “Adriano” and wrote it on the beginning of “Cea” (*143*). His mother Leona’s birthplace is given as Virginia and her age as 30. This would place the birth-year of Leona Lee at 1887. Adriano’s father’s birthplace is given as Cuba and his age is listed as 29. The certification of birth was originally filed on 22 Sept 1917, eleven days after the actual birth.

The census taken early January 1920, in Philadelphia has both the father and son’s name spelled “Adrino Acea” (*102*). Either this was the original spelling of the name and John Adriano changed the spelling of his name adding the extra ‘a’ in the spelling or the census taker made an error copying down the name and left the ‘a’ off. John Adriano’s father Adrino was born in Cuba in the year 1888, and had immigrated to the United States in 1906, according to the census. He was a dark skinned man with green eyes. At the time of the 1920 census, he had not been naturalized as a United States citizen. Spanish was his native tongue but he was able to speak both English and Spanish. Leona Lee was a lightskin woman with straight hair according to family stories. She had bore him at least three children by the time of the census in 1920 – Anna Acea, born in 1913, in Connecticut; Cristina Acea born in February of 1915, in Pennsylvania; and Adrino (Adriano) Acea Jr., born in September of 1917 (*102*).

The immigration records from Ellis Island give us a lot more information about Leona Lee and her heritage. Coming from the port of Havana, Cuba and arriving in New York on 26 June 1912, on the ship named the “Saratoga” was Liona Acea a married woman at 35 years of age. This would put her birth year circa 1877. This is an eleven-year difference with the census later to be taken in 1920. The document says that she was of Cuban ethnicity and was residing in Philadelphia at the time of arrival. She had left the United States in December 1911 to visit Cuba and was returning to visit her aunt Mrs. E. Johnson. The document lists her race as “mulatto” with black hair and black eyes. She was five feet four inches tall and was born in West Moreland, Virginia (*184*). The information about Leona’s race and birthplace proves to be interesting. If she was mulatto with a surname of Lee and also of Cuban descent, it is most likely that her father was white and her mother was the person of color. Westmoreland County in Virginia was formed in 1653 and was the home of many Lee families whose origin began in the early 1700’s. The most famous of all the Lees from Virginia was Confederate General Robert E(dward) Lee born on 19 January 1807 in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia. Richard Henry Lee and President George Washington were other notables of the county. Robert E. Lee was 4^th of seven children born to Col. Henry Lee and Ann Hill Carter. He was the youngest son. General Lee was the commander of the Southern armies during the Civil War during 1861 – 1865. General Lee’s surrender at the Appomattox courthouse on 9 April 1865 is commonly viewed as the end of the Civil War. While General Lee was against both slavery and secession from the Union, he was also opposed to war as a resolution of political conflict and wanted no part in an invasion of southern states. However, when the Virginia government voted 2 to 1 to secede from the Union rather than furnish troops to President Lincoln for an invasion of the Southern states, Lee felt compelled to resign from the army in which he served and loved for 36 years to offer his services to the defense of his native state. Robert E. Lee married a distant cousin Mary Anne Randolph Custis, the great-grand-daughter of George Washington’s wife Martha Dandridge, the widow of Daniel Parke Custis. Robert E. Lee and Mary Anne Randolph Custis had seven children, three boys and four girls, one of which was named Mary Custis Lee whose steamer trunks full of documents and souvenirs were found and opened in a bank vault in suburban Alexandria, Virginia in the year 2002 after being stored and forgotten for more than 80 years (*182*). The state archives at the library of Virginia at Richmond, are the place for future genealogist to go in search of further family historical research on Virginia and Westmoreland ancestry. Some of the documents to be found at the archives include Land Deeds, Wills, Inventories and Virginia slave ship records. From 1698 to 1775, vital information such as the owner of the ship, Virginia Port date of entry, name of port, name of vessel, ship master names, number of Africans, and their African origins were annually catalogued and filed in the Public Record Office at London (*249*).

John Adriano Acea Jr. also had younger brothers who may have been named Salvador Acea, born on 14 April 1922, died in September 1976; and Enrique Acea, born on 15 July 1928, died in June of 1984. However, no documentary evidence as of this time has been found to link the three together but it is almost certain that they were related.

Another family that emigrated from Cuba and is almost certainly related in some ancestral form was the Enrique Acea family. Enrique “Chico” Acea was born on 18 November 1933, in Cuba. Enrique’s mother was Chinese as told to his daughter Rita. Enrique had two sisters, one of which was named Ameilanna Acea born in Cuba and a brother who was a doctor. Enrique immigrated to the United States via Miami, Florida in the mid 1950’s. Enrique’s profession was in the field of training racehorses. He did this in Cuba before he left his family there and also in Detroit Michigan where he eventually settled down. While in Detroit, Enrique met a woman named Martha Ann Cheeks who was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky on 5 May 1935. Martha and Enrique had three children: Henrita Acea, born on May 22, 1963 in Detroit Michigan; Marlinda Acea, born 18 june 1964 in Detroit; and Enriquita Acea, born on 20 September 1965 also in Detroit. Enrique Acea later married a woman named Zita and the couple had a son named Enrique “BB”Acea Jr. born on 21 Sept 1973. Enrique Jr. married a woman named Lisa and the couple had a son named Enrique Acea III, born in Detroit. Other children born to Enrique Acea were Enriquito Acea born on 16 July 1981 in Detroit and Michelle Acea who at the turn of the century was living in Michigan. Marylynn? Renn was the mother of both Enriquito and Michelle. Another son born to Enrique Acea was Ernesto Acea, who at the turn of the century was living in Washington DC. One named Sebastian Acea appears to have been one of the longest living Acea members. Records show that he was born circa 1915 and died in 1994 in the Bronx, New York at the age of 78.5 years.

John Adriano Acea Jr. was born with a heart condition known as Rheumatic fever and doctors told his parents that he would not survive childhood. Known by his nickname “John”, and to the music world as “Acey” and “Johnny Acey”, John Adriano Acea was a most talented musician and was said to have been able to play “all of the instruments!” His principal instrument seems to have been the piano and it was said by many that “he was a singer’s piano player” because he could blend and improvise so well with any singer. Amongst the more famous singers that John Adriano Acea played, performed and recorded with were such notables as Gloria Lynn, Diana Washington, Ruth Brown, and Patti Page. After his time in the Army as a cornet player, John Acea played trumpet with Sam Price and tenor saxophone with Don Bagley in the late 1930’s. After moving to New York City in the early 1940’s, he performed and recorded as a pianist with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (1947-48), Dizzy Gillespie (1949-50), and Illinois Jacquet (1952-54). He recorded with James Moody (1951), and Al Sears (1952), and played briefly with Cootie Williams. A 1956 Album by Roy Haynes and Quincy Jones entitled “Jazz Abroad” (universal international records) listed the song “Little Leona” as one of the songs on the album. The album cover shows the group going up the steps of the airplane that is about to bring them home back in New York, although some family members say they were returning from Europe to the United States. Adriano John Acea also appears on the 1997 album “Texas Tenors” (prestige records), and Jesse Powell’s 1961 album “It’s Party Time” as the piano player.

He made recordings with Joe Newman (1954-57), including blues for Slim, on the album Joe Newman and His Band, (1954), and wrote several tunes recorded on Newman’s Locking Horns album (1957). John Acea had also played with jazz great Art Blakey, as well as the original “Jazz Rapper” Babbs Gonzalez. He not only recorded with but also wrote songs and music for some of the songs for The Cadallacs, who later became known as The Coasters. Acey also wrote music and made music charts for Frankie Lane’s big band. He also did the same for Ray Charles. Acey was an adept at writing and creating music charts for big bands and was in demand by many singers and musicians to produce a finished product before a certain concert deadline. He was promised to be paid at a later date on many occasions but all too often was disappointed with empty promises and empty pockets.

John Adriano Acea was fortunate to be have been able to continued his music career, for it was in January of 1958, that he was involved in a car accident and had to wear a brace on his back for several months. It was the same month that Brooklyn Dodger Roy Campanella was involved in a tragic and career ending automobile accident. It was in the late fall of 1958, when John Acea returned home to his mistress Elizabeth and three children Russell, Leona and Jon. He had just returned from a concert tour with Ray Charles, David “Fathead” Newman, and Danny Small who wrote the hit tune “Love I’ve found You”, whom Gloria Lynn had sang and made famous. The four of them came home with Acey to his 141^st street apartment in Harlem. Food and finances were short that month and it was a day that saw Danny Small make a huge pot of corn meal mush, sweetened with sugar, to feed the hungry children of Acey. Ray Charles, whose blindness and heroin habit sometimes got him into bouts of nervousness, began to jump up and down around the house, something the children has seen him do on previous visits. This time was different however as his jumping bout soon carried him into the bath room and a sudden jump and descent landed him squarely on the bathroom sink and caused it to break, water line and all! A flood of water began to pour out into the bathroom and hallway. Elizabeth did not know where to turn the water valve off to stop the flood, but luckily, Fathead Newman kept his cool and located the water shut-off valve in time to avoid a complete apartment disaster!

In the early 1960’s John Acea was to be seen regularly as the piano player in the Apollo Theater’s house band in Harlem. He was the “Straw Boss” there along with Rubin Phillips who was the bandleader. Other more prominent instruments John Acea played was the Bass, and the drums. Having Rheumatic fever as a child, John Adriano Acea’s heart would finally get the best of him in July of 1963, at the young age of 45, when he would die of a heart attack. His legacy included two children from his wife Nellie Acea named Adriano Acea (III), and Jeff Acea and his three children with Elizabeth Egas – Leona Acea, Andre Acea and Jon Acea.

The Descendants of John Adriano Acea Jr.

John Adriano had at least two children with his wife Nellie. There was no contact between the children of Nellie and Elizabeth’s children so very little information was known about Acey’s first family. What little information is known comes from a former girlfriend of John Adriano’s first child.

1. Ricky Adriano Acea III. According to a former girlfriend named Ronnie Bederman at the time of her romance with Ricky and later known as Linda Fisher after her marriage, she and Ricky Adriano III both attended Taft high school in the Bronx during the years 1968 – 1971. This would mean Ricky was born ca. early 1950’s. Ricky lived on Dyckman Street in the Bronx and his mother Nellie worked at Lerner’s department store down on 14^th Street. Linda “Ronnie Bederman” Fisher recalls how:

“Ricky was the most talented sax player and could make beautiful music with his blonde Fender Telecaster. He wrote songs and played in various bands, but never got that lucky break...I still remember the songs that he wrote and they often come to mind. He had made a demo tape with the producer Barry Kornfeld, who at that time lived on Waverly Place in Greenwich Village in the same building as Dave Van Ronk.”

Linda (Ronnie Bederman) Fisher recalls how she and Ricky Adriano lived together for about a year in the Bronx. “We talked about getting married, although at the time we struggled as an inter-racial couple and eventually broke up.” They say it’s a small world and we can acknowledge that with the story Linda Fisher tells of her daughter Jennie Fisher who worked as a lifeguard in a Queens, New York health club/therapy center. One of the patients there was Illinois Jacquet who would often be seen at the club’s pool chatting away while he was getting his therapy. Linda was thrilled to finally meet Illinois and remembers the day Illinois introduced the mother and daughter to friends after a show at the Iridium ca. 1999-2000 as “my good friend Jennie and her mom Linda.” Elizabeth and her husband Pat Booth remember the time they were downtown in New York City and saw the name “Ricky Acea” on the advertisment window of a music club somewhere around Broadway and 50^th Street. Elizabeth remembers, “he was two or three years older than my son Russell” which would put his birthyear ca. 1949 – 1950.

2. Jeff Acea. Since we have no ages of the two sons of Nellie and Adriano II, there is no conclusion at the time of this writing as to which of the two brothers was the oldest. Elizabeth Egas says that Jeff was the younger brother of the two. The only information that we know of that comes from both Linda Fisher as well as Elizabeth Egas is that Jeff was severely injured later in his life and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Elizabeth remembers the day John Adriano came home one day sometime in the late 1950’s very upset about what his son had done. “My son thought he was Superman and jumped down the steps.” Elizabeth was not sure if this was the event that caused his major accident and thinks it happened later since Jeff would have been only five to seven years old at the time. When Andre Acea was searching for his long lost mother, brothers and sisters, he located Jeff and went to visit him during the late 1970’s or early 1980’s. Jeff was in a wheelchair in a nursing home. Andre later went to the home of Nellie Acea and talked with her. Nellie gave him the picture (located in this book) of Acey having a drink of whiskey or wine.

Children of Adriano Acea and Elizabeth Egas

3. Leona Acea was born on 9 Dec 1953, in New York City. She weighed eight pounds, two ounces. Leona had two daughters: Felicia Hearns who was born on 20 July 1973; and Jazzmin Adriana Leona Acea born on 16 Feb 1991. Felicia’s father was Charles Mayer, Charles Mayer was born on 22 Feb 1952 in Queens, New York. Charles was the son of Carlton James Mayer and Sarah Martha Alston. Carlton Mayer was born on 31 January 1913, in New York City. Carlton had two brothers named Ludwig Mayer and Walter Mayer. Sarah Alston was born 2 October (year unknown) in Warren county North Carolina. The father of Leona’s second daughter Jazzmin was for a long time said to be Michael Lee Brandon but later corrected and declared to be “father unknown from Central Islip”. Leona occasionally needed to “get away from the Brentwood house” and frequently took short trips to neighboring towns near Brentwood. The encounter with Jazzmin’s father was a chance meeting and lasted but one night and according to Leona’s version of the story:

“...I needed to get away from the house for a while and took the train (long Island Railroad) one stop from Brentwood to Central Islip. You could get away with not having to pay the fare if you got on and only went one stop. It was sometime in mid May of 1990 when I got off at the train station in Central Islip one evening and walked down towards the nearby Seven-Eleven convenience store on Carlton Avenue near Smith street. I met a man near the 7-11 store and asked him if he could spare some change. He looked like he was in his early 30’s, a bit under six feet tall with a medium build and a dark complexion but slightly lighter in complexion than father Pat (Booth). We started talking and he seemed to be a very nice man and also sounded like a very intelligent man. He said he worked at the Central Islip Hospital. After talking a bit, we ended up at his apartment house about three blocks away from the 7-11 store. He had a small kitchenette type of apartment in what seemed like a type of rooming house he was living in. That was the only time I ever saw him...”

The pregnancy was discovered months later and was a complete surprise to Leona as she had been told by doctors years before that she could never have children again. At the time of the pregnancy, Leona’s boyfriend Michael Brandon was told that he was the father, but as stated earlier, that was later said to be incorrect by Leona. Nevertheless, Michael’s genealogy is listed here. Michael was born on 12 August 1955, and was the son of James Alexander Brandon II and Doritha Jones. James Brandon Jr. was born on 3 November 1933, in Raleigh, North Carolina. James was the son of James Brandon Sr. and Ethyl. Ethyl was the daughter of Maneer. James Brandon Sr. died in November 1978 in Hennison, North Carolina. Doritha Jones was born on 29 August 1935, in Fayettville North Carolina and was the Daughter of Alexander Jones and Gladys. Leona Acea was truly the sister with “nine lives” having survived more than one bout with death, including a fall from an apartment house window at the age of 21 from six stories up!

4. Andre Acea was born on 1 Mar 1955, in New York City. His mother Elizabeth was nursing her newborn son Jon Acea, while at the same time trying to find a new apartment for the family to live in during the summer of 1956. It was a tough chore for a woman with four children whose male partner was frequently on the road with other musicians trying to make a living. A baby sitter was found to take care of Andre on the weekends, and for a while it was a good arrangement until Elizabeth told the woman she would only need her to care for Andre for one more week, something she regretted telling her. Andre was kidnapped by his mother Elizabeth’s baby sitter Mrs. Rosetta Ellis the next weekend and smuggled into Brooklyn New York in 1956 when he was but one year old. For most of his life Andre lived as Andre Ellis, not knowing anything about his real family. One day during his high school senior year, circumstances forced his mother to give him his birth certificate and she was forced to tell him that his real mother had died and that she had adopted him while his other sister and brother Leona and Jon, had been taken elsewhere.

Upon his “adopted” mother’s death in the early 1980’s, Andre began to look for his real brother and sister Leona and Jon. When he finally found them in early 1987 after many years of searching, he of course found his real mother. Thinking that she was dead, it was a great surprise! The family did not have Andre Acea for too long however. Lost then found, he was lost again as he became gravely ill and passed away in the summer of 1992 due to complications from chronic opportunistic infections. His body is buried in Brentwood Long Island.

More than 30 years after his kidnapping, Andre Acea was re-united with his three other brothers on the eve of his 32^nd birthday of 1 March 1987. The celebration took place at the Brentwood NY home of his mother Elizabeth:

Left to Right: Russell Jacquet-Acea, Andre Acea, Jon Acea & Robert James.

5. Jon Acea was born in the house on 30 June 1956, in New York City. He weighed eight pounds, 14 ounces at birth. The first of three sons born to Jon Acea was John Jermaine “JJ” Pernell born on 14 Jan 1972. Jon was but 14 years old when he fathered his first child, and became a grandfather at the age of 36. John Jermaine’s mother was Debra Pernell, the daughter of Gloria Jeter and James Edward Pernell. Gloria Jeter was born on 14 Jan 1938, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was the daughter of Clarence Jeter and Susan Olivia Powell-Wooten, the daughter of Daisy Powell and Chester Rodgers.

A. John Jermaine Pernell was the first-born son of Jon Acea. John Jermain had two sons and a set of twin girls with Marshette Fields:

i. Jon Marshall Pernell born on 1 Jan 1990.

ii. Jon Mellmor Pernell born on 26 Nov 1990.

Iii + iv. Jonia Pernell and Janaya Elizabeth Pernell were a set of twin girls born on 2 Oct 1992. Janaya unfortunately died after four months. JJ had another daughter born on July 4, 2000 in White Plains, NY named Lyon Nova Pernell whose mother was named Lisa Puff. JJ died of a gunshot wound at the young age of 28 on September 27, 2000.

Jon Acea married Melissa Vidal in the summer of 1983 at her father’s house on Michigan avenue in Bayshore Long Island. The two had a son named Gregory Acea, born on 29 Dec 1983. Melissa was the daughter of Manny Vidal and Tomasa Cruz.

B. Gregory Acea was born on 29 Dec 1983.

After a separation from his wife Melissa, Jon Acea had a third son.

C. D-Javon Acea was born on 18 Nov 1986. D-Javon’s mother was Cythia Holland. Cythia was the daughter of Helen and Phillip Holland.

Jon Acea attended college at the State University of New York College of Technology at Utica, New York, studying Computer Science and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984. Jon Acea moved to Atlanta, Georgia during the decade of the 1990’s. (For more complete information on the descendants of Leona and Jon Acea, please see “Descendants of Alexander Mallory of Grand Turk Island.”)

Other Children by Elizabeth Egas

Elizabeth Egas also had two other children. When Adriano Acea became abusive, Elizabeth took the children and tried her best to hide away from Adriano. She had to flee from the apartment house on 141^st Street on the west side of Harlem to lower Manhattan on 13^th street and 2^nd avenue. There, Elizabeth and her children lived for more than a year at the Hotel Regina. Elizabeth would later become close friends with one of her neighbors who lived one floor below her named Author “Tiny” James and his wife Evelyn James. The couple had an unfortunate accident in the building when their baby “Stinky” of almost 2 years of age died after falling down the staircase. Tiny had a brother named Robert James Jr. who Elizabeth would soon meet and later become romantically involved with.

In the interlude between her estrangement with Adriano Acea in early of 1959, and her marriage to Robert James Jr. in 1962, Elizabeth met Eddie Mitchell from Flint Michigan. Eddie worked as a radio technician on 36^th street on the Avenue of Americas in downtown New York and the two first met there on a lunch date early in 1959, and dated each other. A daughter named Lisa (Mitchell) Acea was born weighing eight and a half pounds on 30 March 1960, in New York City. Elizabeth had originally wanted to name here newly born daughter “Maria Gracita” after her mother, but her sister Rose convinced her that the new name should be “Lisa”. Eddie Mitchell wanted to marry Elizabeth and had proposed to her on more than one occasion. He came by to see her for the last time in December 1961, and take her and the children with him on his move out to California, but to Eddie’s surprise Elizabeth had told him that she was going to marry another man she had met in 1960, named Robert James. Little Lisa was about a year and a half old when Eddie showed up at their apartment at 120^th street and Park Avenue in December of 1961. They had recently moved in just a couple of months ago. He was heading for California and wanted to take Elizabeth and the kids with him. “This is your last chance Liz, come with me to California!” but Elizabeth said she had to disappoint him by telling him she was going to marry Robert (Bobby) James. “You’re going to marry him?” was the surprising words Elizabeth said that Eddie responded with. She claimed he was truly disappointed with her decision. For many years, the whereabouts of Eddie Mitchell was unknown and the search for him proved to be unending. That all ended on the night of April 8, 2001 at 10:15pm (EDT), when Lisa received a phone call in Atlanta from her father Eddie who was living in Inglewood, California. To make a long story short, Russell Jacquet-Acea had a fellow track & field friend, a high jumper named Martha Mendenhall who was living in Federal Way, Washington. While sitting at the same dinner table during a sports awards banquet in February 2001, the two began to reminisce about their parents earlier days hanging out with the jazz musicians of the earlier eras. Martha had been familiar with Russell’s family history book, Volume 1 he had written. Martha’s mother Pat (McFarland) Young, born in 1930 and presently living in Jacksonville, Florida had dated Billy Mitchell, a saxophone player from Kansas City, Missouri. The two almost married in the 1950’s but because interracial marriages were rejected by many and denied in many places, the two chose not to go through the torment. Pat was born in Flint, Michigan and a phone call interview revealed that she was aware of an Eddie Mitchell who she believed ”grew up and went to Central high school on the south side of Flint”. She directed Russell Jacquet-Acea, the interviewer, to call her ex-college roommate and friend named Joy Brown who had dated jazz drummer Max Roach during the same time period she was dating sax player Billy Mitchell. The two friends hung out with the jazz musician circle of friends. A phone interview with Joy resulted in being directed to her husband Don Coleman who was living in Lansing, Michigan and who went to Central High School in Flint, Michigan. Don would go to Michigan State after high school on a football scholarship and later be inducted into the Black college football hall of fame. Don is also a professor at the University at the time of this writing. Coleman claimed he knew of an Eddie Mitchell who went to the same high school he went to, however he claimed that a friend of his named John Johnson living in Flint, was much more familiar with Eddie. A phone call to John Johnson’s house resulted in a talk with his son who told interviewer Russell that his dad did indeed know of Eddie Mitchell, but he was in Africa on vacation and would not be back for another four or five weeks. The only clues that were known of Eddie Mitchell prior to the year 2001, were extremely limited other than that Eddie may have married a woman named Bobbi and had two sons with her, one of which drowned in the Hudson river circa 1957-1958. Eddie Mitchell had a close companion while he lived in New York which may have been his cousin, either blood or “play”, named “Sarge” McDonald. Sarge married a woman named Bernice and that same Sarge may have also had a sister named Barbara. When that information was told to the son of John Johnson, he immediately said the full name of Eddie’s cousin was Michael “Sarge” McDonald and that was the clue that signified that we had very nearly come close to locating the long lost father of Lisa named Eddie Mitchell. Interviewer Russell forgot to return the phone call to John Johnson’s house a month later but his sister Lisa did not forget to call Mr. Johnson who relayed the information to Eddie in California that his “daughter named Lisa was looking for him” and that is how the story of the lost and found dad ended which began a new relationship between father and daughter.

Eddie Mitchell was born on 24 May 1927, in Flint Michigan. He was the son of Mamie (Jackson) Mcgee and Clarence Mitchell. While the birthdate of his father Clarence is unknown, Clarence married Mamie Jackson circa 1926. Mamie was 17 years of age at the time. Clarence Mitchell was the son of Oscar Mitchell and Leola. Leola was of the Hopi Indian tribe. Eddie’s mother Mamie was born on 30 November 1909 in Smithville, Georgia. She was the daughter of General Jackson and Anne (?Johnson?). Anne died during the late 1950’s in Flint Michigan at the age of 92. Mamie married a second time to Sherman Jones. Mamie’s third husband, Mr Mcgee, died in 1995. Shortly before or just after the birth of Eddie, there developed a struggle between the Mcgee and Mitchell families. Clarence was asked to leave his wife and son behind in Smithville, and he was sent to Washington DC. Thus Eddie never met his father Clarence. According to Eddie, when he had completed his military service as a young man in the Navy, he searched for and tracked down his father and met him face to face only to be disappointingly told by Clarence “he did not have a son.”

After going through a divorce with his first wife, Eddie Mitchell left New York City in December of 1961. He had wanted to bring Elizabeth Egas and her children out there with him sometime before that and proposed to marry Elizabeth but she did not want to go to Los Angeles. Stopping in Phoenix on December 24, 1961, he arrived in Los Angeles on Christmas day 1961. December 1965 happened to be the time that Elizabeth, along with her children and new husband Robert James, moved from 1712 Park Avenue in Harlem up to 612 West 184^th street in Washington Heights. They arrived at their new apartment on Leona Acea’s birthday on December 9^th. Eddie did not know that the family had moved and after a stay of ten or so years, he returned to New York City for a visit during the 1971 – 1972 years. He searched for Elizabeth but not knowing where she had moved, could not locate her and his daughter Lisa.

Other children of Eddie Mitchell were Monica Turner born circa 1952, in Flint Michigan. Monica’s mother was Barbara West. Robert Mitchell is the only son of Eddie and was born circa 1954. Robert’s mother was Barbara Abraham of Lansing, Michigan who was the first wife of Eddie Mitchell. Robert moved to Kennewick, Washington circa 1968 and was living there during Y2K. Eddie’s second wife was named Ingrid Salcedo of Los Angeles. The couple had a daughter named Sherie Mitchell who was born 26 March 1970 in Los Angeles, California. Eddie Mitchell married a third time to Quincey Williams on 25 June 1988, in Los Angeles.

Lisa (Mitchell) Acea, the daughter of Eddie Mitchell and Elizabeth Egas, married David Earl Kemp in 1983. David Kemp was born on 2 Mar 1963, in East Meadow New York. David Kemp was the son of Betty Jean Likely and Orner Lee Kemp. Betty and Orner were married in 1958 in Alabama. Betty was born on 10 November 1937, in Mobile Alabama. Betty was the daughter of Lucile Ezell who may have been born circa 1910. Betty Likely had a sister and brother named Celia Likely and Richard Likely. Orner Kemp was born 1 October 1933, in Atmor, Alabama and was the son of Luther Kemp and Carrie. Carrie was born in July 1904, and may have had Cherokee Indian roots. Luther Kemp had a sister named Enzuella Kemp Brown. Luther died circa 1969. Other brothers and sisters of Orner Lee Kemp were Gary Lee Kemp, Robert Kemp, Vurban Kemp, Deloris Kemp, Ezekiel Kemp, Virgel Kemp, and Aimee Eliza Kemp.

Kimberly Simoné Kemp was the first child born to Lisa and David on 22 June 1984. Excelling in both track & field and basketball in high school, Kimberly’s mother Lisa went on to be a very good basketball player at Farmingdale, a local two-year college on Long Island, NY, when she was offered a basketball scholarship to play at Rutgers University. Unfortunately, it was during a practice session earlier that winter basketball season when Lisa fainted and had to be taken to the hospital. Her fellow teammates and coaches were there with her not knowing what was wrong. All her coach would nervously utter was “just don’t tell me she’s pregnant!” When the doctor returned with the test results and told him that is what in fact was the case, the coach was truly upset with that news and verbally expressed his dissatisfaction with his star player being pregnant, and all Lisa could remember him saying was “You just threw that basketball scholarship to Rutgers right out of the window!” Kimberly Kemp graduated from Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Georgia on 23 May 2002. Kimberly was followed by Amina Kemp born on 21 June 1986, and by David Earl Kemp Jr. born on 4 June 1987. The last child born to Lisa and David was Enjoli Rose Kemp born on 23 April 1992.

Robert James Jr. (III) was the 6^th and last child bore by Elizabeth Egas. His father was Robert James Jr. Elizabeth Egas married Robert James Jr. in July of 1962, in New York City. Robert James Jr. was the son of Robert James Sr. and Florence Coulston from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Florence was born on 12 November 1919, in St. Thomas. Florence died in 1959. Florence was the daughter of Charles Coulston born in Jamaica, and Claudia Davis. Claudia’s mother died at the age of 102 years. Elizabeth and Robert James Jr. had only one child together, a son born on 25 July 1964 weighing nine pounds named Robert Melvin “Flip” James III. When Robert James III was born in the house on a breezy summer Saturday morning on 120^th street and Park Avenue in Harlem, New York, his older brothers and sisters Russell, Leona and Jon, were the only comfort to their mother during the unexpected birth. When Robert came out of his mother’s womb, he “flipped” over on the bed sheets and the name stuck as his nickname “Flip”!

Robert “Flip” James Jr. excelled in playing football while at high school. The family had moved out of New York City and into the more peaceful area of Brentwood Long Island in the early 1970’s. There Flip James would attend Brentwood Sonderling high school where he excelled as a linebacker on the Brentwood team. He was selected to the Nausau county vs. Suffox county high school all star team and voted MVP of the game in 1981, which rewarded him with a replica of the Heisman trophy. Robert “Flip” James received many athletic scholarship offers to come and play football at the college level, some of which included offers from The University of Connecticut, The University of Richmond (Virginia), Austin Peay University in Texas, Nausau Community College, Hofstra University and Iona University. After his graduation in June of 1981, not wanting to leave too far from home, Robert “Flip” James chose to go to nearby Nausau Community college but between practice, work, studies and trying to support his children, life was rough to say the least at the college level for the first year. It was necessary for him to drop out of Nassau Community College after the first year. The desire to play football however, continued and the next year saw the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian football league come recruiting Flip to try out for the team in 1983. He survived both the first and second cuts, made the practice squad and was offered a contract by the Ottawa team. However, Robert “Flip” James Jr., still only a 19 year old amongst grown men, turned down the offer to play with Ottawa when he and his fiancée Dawn Stengle decided that moving to Ottawa was too far away from home. The next year, Robert “Flip” James joined a semi-pro team in the Continental League and played with the New York City Steelers, one of the many teams from the New England states in the league. He played with the Steelers during the 1984 and 1985 seasons before heading back to Long Island to play with the Levittown Red Devils, a semi-pro team in a Long Island based league. He played with the Red Devils from 1986 until 1990 and then Robert “Flip” James retired from football playing. In October of 1996, Robert “Flip” James was inducted into the Suffox County High School Hall of Fame for his outstanding play at Brentwood Sonderling High School.

Robert “Flip” James had five children: With Donna Navez he had one son Joey Navez, born on 28 Feb 1981. With Dawn Marie Stengle he had three sons and one daughter. Carl James was born on 11 Dec 1987; Brandon Mackclain James was born on 22 Sep 1990; T’Anna Noellë James was born on 4 Aug 1995; and Jordan Robert James was born on 5 March 1997. All four children were born in Stonybrook Long Island NY. Dawn Stengle was born on 12 October 1964 in Valhala, New York. Dawn was the daughter of Don Holt and Lynn Stengle. Don was from North Carolina and Lynn was from Upstate New York. Lynn was of German-Swedish origin. Lynn’s parents both immigrated to America arriving on different boats from Sweden and Germany. Dawn’s maternal great grandfather died on Christmas day well before she was born.

Elizabeth Egas married her 2^nd husband (Pat) Mackclain Booth Jr. on 24 July 1971 in New York City. Mackclain Booth was born 2 October 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a young boy, he went around the house patting furniture so his parents gave the nickname “pat” to him. Pat was the son of Mackclain Booth Sr. born on 9 December 1904 in Philadelphia, and Bertha Lee Beanum born on 24 September 1907 also in Philadelphia. Bertha Beanum Booth’s mother and father were Mary Webb and Emmanuel Beanum. Mary was born in Denton, Maryland and Emmanuel was born in Virginia. Mary’s mother was known as “Grandma Wright”. Grandma Wright died at the approximate age of 96 in circa 1945. Grandma Wright’s grand-nephew was the famous Judge Bruce Wright who was known as “cut ‘em loose Bruce” as a Judge in the New York City criminal court system. Emmanuel Beanum died in July 1960, a few weeks after Pat’s daughter Cheryl Ann was born. Mary died in 1954. Mackclain Booth Sr‘s. parents were Horace Booth Sr. and Emily. Emily died circa 1947 in Philadelphia. Horace was born in Maryland. Pat Mackclain had married for the first time to Norma Davis. The couple had one daughter named Cheryl Ann Booth born 12 June 1960 in Philadelphia. Another sister of Pat Mackclain was Doris Booth born on 3 May 1931 in Philadelphia. Doris married but had no children.

Portrait of the Children and Grandchildren of Elizabeth Egas

Above Center: (top two) Lisa & David Kemp Sr.’s Gospel Group Album

Above Left: Kimberly Kemp, David Kemp Jr., Amina Kemp and Enjoli Kemp

Bottom Left: The wedding of Linda Delvitt & Nicolas Jacob. Flower girl Elizabeth Egas.

Above Right: Jon Acea (right), his son JJ Pernell (left), and JJ’s 2 sons Jon Mellmor & Jon Marshall

Bottom Right: Leona Acea and her 2 daughters Felicia Hearns & Jazzmin Adriana Acea in January 1992.

Felicia’s son Hunter Russell Lang is the boy in the lower right.

The Genealogy of Elizabeth Egas

Elizabeth’s parents were Maria Gracita Mallory and Agustin Tiburcio Egas. Both of her parents were immigrants, who came to the United States in their teenage years. Her mother Maria Gracita Mallory was born on British West Indies’ Grand Turk Island on 26 Mar 1904. Grand Turk Island is geographically the southern most Island of the Bahamas, but politically it is British. Along with the Caicos Islands to the west, the country is called Turks and Caicos Islands. Maria Mallory was baptized on 12 June 1904, in St. Thomas parish, according to Grand Turk birth records. Maria was the daughter of Alexander Mallory and Elizabeth Cox. Her parents married on 28 April 1901, (*91*). Witnesses to the marriage were Alexander Cox and Thaddeus J. Williams. The Alexander Cox at this wedding was Elizabeth’s father, and he was the one who married Caroline Marriott on 23 May 1872, who later gave birth to Maria Mallory’s mother with the full name of Elizabeth Ann Cox on 30 Dec 1882. Alexander Mallory was born circa 1880. Maria Mallory was actually the 2^nd child born to Alexander and Elizabeth Cox. The first child was Maria’s older brother named Jonathan Alexander Mallory born on 1 May 1902, and baptized on 20 July 1902, in St. George parish, but who unfortunately died at an early age of 13 months. Elizabeth Cox was said to have been a very fair skinned woman whose parents had Portuguese roots and family stories say that Jonathan came out like the mother – fair skin and Marie came out like the father – dark skin. Elizabeth’s sister Rose Egas remembers the time when she was about 19 years old (circa 1943) how she learned of the “multi-cultural” ethnicity of her maternal grandmother when she went to the house of her God-Mother Lillian Thompson whom her mom Marie Egas described as “My first cousin.” Lillian died circa 1945-46 in New York City at Goldwater hospital on a nearby island. Rose remembers that she had recently married Clement, her firstborn son Andre was about one year old and they were about to take a trip by car to Texas. Lillian wanted to show her photographs of Elizabeth Cox. Lillian began to talk a little about family history from Turks Island. The conversation went something like this:

Lillian: “…There were two brothers who married two sisters. Come now, I want you to see your grandmother, she is not all black, she is mixed with Portuguese…”

Rose: “And who is this little boy in the picture with her?”

Lillian: “That is your grandmother’s son Jonathan. He died of ‘Mastoiditis’, an ear infection common in children but that sometimes can be fatal. Your brother Gus had it when he was newly born and was in the hospital but was breast fed and lived through it…”

. Although there had been many different versions of how John Alexander Cox died, the death record reports that he died at a very young age of 13 months on 26 May 1903 of “teething” (*204*). We know for sure that Lillian and Marie Mallory were first cousins because their mothers Sarah and Elizabeth were both sisters whose parents were Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott. Since Timothy Smith married Sarah Cox and Alexander Mallory married Elizabeth Cox they could not be “the two brothers” Lillian spoke of unless they were half brothers – same mother but different fathers. Rose also recalled that:

“I saw her picture on cousin Lillie’s table…she had long straight hair like horse tail style down to her waist. Her hair was long and straight, so long that she was sitting on her hair in the chair in the photograph. The boy in the picture looked just like her. With her fair-skin and European looks, you would have never known she was related.”

Lillian’s granddaughter Marin Malcolm of Grand Turk Island remembers how her mother Trudy used to refer to her fair-skin mother Lillian as “the Red Lady.” Red was a common term the islanders used to describe one who was fairskinned.

What about the story passed down that “there were two brothers who married two sisters”? A look at the marriage records of Grand Turk Island shows that the story that would fit this the most is when John A. Mallory married Catherine Cox on 15 August 1895. The name for John may actually be John “B” Mallory. Witnesses were Anthony Swan and James Fuller. If this is the “Clarissa” Cox born on 4 April 1878 to Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott and if the traditional translation of Clarissa/Clarisse is “Catherine”, then this is the same person. She would have become Catherine or Cathy Mallory after her marriage. The records next show that the first child born between the two was a male child born on 14 June 1896 in St. Thomas Parish. The parents listed for this un-named child at the time of birth were Benjamin Mallory and Catherine Cox. If this is the same couple then John “B” Mallory’s full name is John Benjamin Mallory, born on 2 October 1874 to William Knight Rycraft Mallory and Caroline Cornelia Forbes. William K.R. Mallory and Caroline were married on 8 April 1875 by the Reverend H. Humpries. Witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Mallory, Frederick Forbes and Emily Smith. William K.R. Mallory died on 12 December 1885 at the age of 40. If this is really the true story of the “two brothers who married two sisters”, then Alexander Mallory and his brother John Benjamin Mallory married the two sisters Elizabeth Ann Cox and Clarrisa “Catherine” Cox. When Catherine Cox married, she became Cathy Mallory who then would be the mother that gave birth to Isabella Mallory ca. 1900 and who later gave birth at the age of 23 to Elizabeth Robinson Garland in 1923. William K.R. Mallory and Caroline Forbes also gave birth to three more children. Two were un-named at the time of birth: one born on 29 October 1876, another on 1 January 1882, and a daughter Marie Ann Mallory born and/or baptized on 12 May 1884. If John Benjamin Mallory is Alexander Mallory’s brother and the father of both is William Knight Rycraft Mallory then this is the correct ancestry of both Alexander Mallory and John Benjamin Mallory. In that case then the birth of a son born on 1 January 1882 by William Rycraft Mallory and Caroline Forbes who turns out to be Alexander Mallory would fit best due to the marriage document of Alexander Mallory on 28 April 1901, stating that he was “age 20”. That puts Alexander’s birth year at 1881 or 1882. If we were to further speculate on the family of William K R Mallory, we find that there were seven Mallorys born around the time of William Mallory. Based mainly on death record ages we find James Mallory born ca. 1842, William KR Mallory ca. 1845, Felix Mallory born ca. 1845, Leah Mallory born ca. 1847, Andrew Mallory born ca. 1847, Jane Mallory born Sept 1849 and Thomas Mallory born ca 1850. Some of these Mallorys could be brothers and sisters of William. Further speculations on parential relationships find John Mallory and Mary Mallory both born in 1818 and two others named William Mallory and Sarah Mallory both born in the year 1801. Sarah Mallory is the name given on the death record of 1883 so this is most likely her married name. The same can be said about Mary Mallory. Did either Mary marry John Mallory and did Sarah marry William Mallory and could one of these pairs of possible couples be the parent of most or all of the seven Mallory children just mentioned? John Mallory would fit in best as the father of William K.R. Mallory with William Mallory (born in 1801) playing the role of grandfather.

Since one of the other Mallorys named Thomas Mallory was having children at the same time as William K. Rycraft Mallory, the suspicion here is that Thomas and William were brothers. Thomas Mallory married Francis Mullins on 29 July 1874. A witness at the marriage was Elizabeth Mallory. When William K.R. Mallory married Caroline Forbes in April 1875, Thomas Mallory was a witness. Joseph Henry Mallory, born on 28 May 1875 appears to have been the first child born to Thomas and Francis. Brister Alexander Mallory was born on 17 Sept 1888 to Thomas Mallory and Francis Mullins. Another Thomas Mallory who may be the same or related, owned property on the island as early as 1859. For in Book E-289 of Grand Turk conveyances, we read that:

“…Thomas Mallory sold land to C. K. Hinson in the north section, lot #552, bounded north by lot of Peter Smith, east by public road, south by lot of Thomas Robinson, west by lot of Thomas Smith...”

Thomas Mallory’s wife was Mary Mallory and both made their “mark” to sign their names (*205*).

Elizabeth Ann Cox, the mother of Maria Gracita Mallory, was said to have been and organ player and played organ in the church. Maria’s daughter Elizabeth remembers her mom saying “…we always had a piano in the home. My mother played the organ.” Either her husband Alexander Mallory or his brothers Nathaniel and/or Benjamin Mallory played the piano. Elizabeth Cox died shortly after the birth of Maria Mallory. The story is that she died in childbirth giving birth to Maria Mallory in 1904. She must have died sometime before July of 1907 because after the death of his first wife Elizabeth Cox, Alexander Mallory married a second time to Anna Francis on 4 July 1907 (*91*). Witnesses to the marriage were James H. Lightbourn and Jestina Garland. There were two daughters born between Alexander and Anne Francis. The first-born daughter was born on 18 June 1908, in St. Thomas parish, Grand Turk Island. She would soon be named Ethyl Mallory. The second daughter born to Anne Francis and Alexander Mallory was Olive Elizabeth Mallory born on 23 July 1915 and baptized on 9 January 1916 (*203*). Olive Elizabeth married a Seymour and did not have any children according to family stories. Ethyl Mallory married a Wilson and had two daughters: Doris Wilson who married a Williams and Iris Wilson born on 9 January 1933 who married Franklin Penn on 1 January 1958 on Grand Turk. Mr. Wilson died ca. 1943. It was Mary Misick of Grand Turk Island who gave the connecting clue to how her grandmother Mary Mallory was related when she reported that “my grandmother Mary had two nieces named Iris and Doris.” It is now without a doubt that Alexander Mallory had a daughter Mary before he married his first wife Elizabeth Cox. Anne Francis and Alex Mallory’s daughter Ethyl was Mary’s half sister. Thus Ethyl’s daughters Iris and Doris were two of her nieces. Iris recalls the day when she found out that her grandmother Anne Francis had died. Anne had been living on Grand Turk in a house near the seaside on the Northwest side of the island. Anne was ill and “went out of her head” and was sent to Jamaica for hospitalization. Jamaica was the ruling government of Grand Turk for the British from 1873 – 1962, so there is where people were sent to for major medical, social and political episodes. Iris Wilson Penn remembers the day as a child when her mother received the news of the death of Anne Francis:

“…When people died, a telegram was sent to the nearest survivor and I remember the day (ca. 1938) when I was about five years old. My mother (Ethyl Mallory Wilson) received a telegram about the death of her mother Anne Francis in Jamaica. I didn’t understanding the real meaning of the telegram when my mother read it, and I began to laugh and giggle. It would be a day that I would later vividly remember and never forget...”

Anne Francis was the daughter of Albert J. Gallatin Francis and Jane Ann Lightbourn. There were 13 children born between Albert and Jane Ann. As far as family recollections go, the following are most of their children:

1. Emma Francis.

2. Mary Eudora Francis was born on 13 Mar 1901 and baptized as an adult on 14 April 1921.

3. Susan Edith Francis born 13 May 1915.

4. Florence Francis.

5. Philistina Francis. Philistina married Charles L. Seymour on 26 April 1902. They had four girls named Bea Seymour, Henrietta Seymour, Gertrude Seymour and Resoolya Seymour. One of the four females was born on 18 August 1902, Beatrice Seymour was born in 1905, and another was born on 12 April or June 1907. The birth records at both the Turks Island register and microfilm copies made by the LDS church in 1991 show the same thing – lots of missing pages of birth records between pages 43 and 64, most of which include births in 1905 and 1906. Most of the index is also lost (*203*). Beatrice Seymour married a Williams and had a daughter named Marin Williams. Marin’s second cousin Iris Wilson Penn lives a brief walk away in the island’s “Overback” district on Grand Turk Island. Beatrice Seymour Williams died ca. 1979.

6. Ralph Francis.

7. Anna Francis. Born ca. 1890, Anna married Alexander Mallory in 1907. It was his second marriage. Anna died on the island of Jamaica ca. 1938. Anna and Alex had two daughters named Ethyl Mallory born in 1908 and Olive Elizabeth Mallory born in 1915. Ethyl’s two children were Iris Wilson born in 1933 and Doris Wilson. Iris married Franklin Penn in 1958.

8. “Boyce” Francis.

9. Tom Francis.

A. Evelyn Valentine Priscilla Francis was born on 5 March 1905 and baptized on 10 April 1921.

B. Madeline Eliza Francis was born on 26 April 1907 and was baptized as an adult on 10 April 1921 with her sister Priscilla.

C. Hazeline Gertrude Francis was born on 7 February 1909.

13. Albert Hedley Francis was born on 13 September 1910.

14. Grace Ann Francis born on 5 May 1917.

Anne Francis’ father Albert Francis had four other brothers and sisters. They were all the children of Anthony Francis and Eudora Astwood. Eudora was Anthony’s first of two wives. His second wife was with Sarah Lightbourne. Anthony Francis was said to have been a lodge order Mason. His five children with his first wife Eudora were:

1. John Francis. John had two children named Grovner Author Francis and Nathaniel Joseph Francis. John Francis may have married twice. Nathaniel worked as a government printer. In a conveyance (S-418) of property in 1927, it states that:

“…This indenture made 1 July 1927 to facilitate the conveyance of property between William Eldenfield Dyer formerly residing on Grand Turk doing business as a grocer but now residing at Flemmings, Montserrat and Nathaniel Joseph Francis of Grand Turk, Government Printer…the sale of the lot of land for 62L sterling money of these islands…that parcel of land in the township of Grand Turk bounded north by land of C. B. Selver, east by land occupied by S. W. Mithcell, south and west by public roads…witnesses: William’s attorney William L. Astwood I, William R. Tatem, W. Stanley Jones.”

2. Albert Francis who married Jane Lightbourn. The two had 13 children, some which are listed above. Anne Francis was one of his daughters who married Alex Mallory in 1907 and there were two daughters born – Ethyl Mallory and Olive Elizabeth Mallory. One of Albert’s grandsons is Job Ingham who lives in Bacelina on South Caicos Island.

3. Jane Louise Francis born on 31 July 1877 and baptized on 30 June 1878.

4. Nathaniel Francis born in 1883. Nathaniel died in 1938. He married Helena Louis Selver. Helena was the daughter of Sam Selver and Mary Elizabeth Selver. Nathaniel and Helena had seven children:

A. Winifred Francis born in 1910.

B. Nathaniel Joseph Selver Francis born on 6 May 1912 and baptized on 11 August 1912. Nathaniel Joseph was commonly known as “NJS”.

There were 21 children reportedly born to Nathaniel but only three of them were said to have been conceived through his wife. Family stories say that Nathaniel, being the local plumber, “visited many lonely housewives during working hours and romanced them…” Nathaniel died in August of 2004 on Grand Turk Island at the age of 92.

C. Louis Hartwell Francis born in 1914.

D. Oswald Francis born in 1917.

E. Eudora Francis born in 1921.

F. Helena Francis born in 1927.

G.Harry Francis born in 1928.

5. Emma Francis was a fifth child born to Anthony Francis and Eudora Astwood.

Anthony Francis second marriage (or perhaps the first) was with Sarah Lightbourne. There were seven children born:

1. Samuel Francis.

2. Benny Francis.

3. Ralph Francis.

4. Tomas Francis.

5. Florence Francis.

6 Susan Francis.

7. Hannah Francis. This may be the Hannah Francis who was born ca. 1852 and was buried on Grand Turk on 15 October 1928.

Before Alexander Mallory married his first wife Elizabeth Ann Cox, he had a daughter named Mary Mallory. At this time, the mother of Mary is unknown. Based on the testimony of Mary’s son, granddaughter and other relatives, the best birth year seems to be circa 1895 for Mary Mallory. Since her father Alex Mallory was born ca. 1880, he was a young teenager when he fathered her. Mary Mallory married twice in her elder years but before the marriages she had two sons with John Forbes of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Island:

1.Edward Forbes born ca. 1915.

2. Alex Forbes born on 5 September 1917. Alex had a daughter named Catherine Ann Forbes and another daughter named Mary Forbes who married a Misick. Mary Misick had a daughter named Bridgette Misick who worked as the Registrar General at the civil registry of records on Grand Turk Island.

Mary Mallory later married Edward Bragman in her elder years. After Edward died, she married for a second time to Mr. Simon. Mr. Simon had three sons from a previous marriage named Bobby Simon, Sydney Simon and Carlin Simon.

Descendants of

ALEXANDER MALLORY of Grand Turk Island

Alexander Mallory, the son of William Rycraft Knight Mallory and Caroline Forbes, was born ca. 1881. He fathered a daughter as a teenager and had two children with each of his two wives. His only son died at an early age so the Mallory name was “daughtered out” on his branch of the Mallory tree. He died on a boat named the Yuna that sank in the Carribean in January 1919 when it hit Silver Banks (*95*).

Children of Alexander Mallory and unknown woman:

1. Mary Mallory was born ca. 1895 on Grand Turk Island. She died ca. 1980. She bore children with John Forbes and later married twice to Edward Bragman and unknown Simon.

Children of Mary Mallory and John Forbes of Providenciales:

A. Edward Forbes born ca. 1915.

B. Alex Forbes born on 5 Sep 1917.

Children of Alex Forbes:

i. Catherine Ann Forbes

ii. Mary Forbes

Children of Mary Forbes:

a. Bridgette Misick

Alexander Mallory married 19-year-old Elizabeth Ann Cox, the daughter of Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott, on 28 April 1901 (*91*) on Grand Turk Island at the age of 20. After giving birth to her second child, Elizabeth Cox Mallory died ca. 1904.

Children of Alexander Mallory and Elizabeth Ann Cox:

2. Jonathan Alexander Mallory was born on 1 May 1902 and died at the age of 13 months.

3. Maria Gracita Mallory was born on 27 (or 17) March 1904 on Grand Turk Island. She was baptized with her cousin Laura Smith on 12 June 1904 (*203*). She married on 7 Nov 1923 (*92*), in New York City, Agustín Tiburcio Egas of Guayaquil, Ecuador, the son of Manuel Egas and Agustina Varela. She died in 1971.

Children of Marie Mallory and Agustin Egas:

A. Rose Marie Egas born on 5 April 1924. Rose married Clement Delvitt on 20 May 1942 in NYC.

Children of Rose Egas and Clement Delvitt:

i. Ronald Clement Delvitt born on 10 Jan 1943 in Alexandria, Louisiana. He married Sheila

Carter of NYC, the daughter of David Carter of Phily and Roberta Polite of South Carolina.

Child of Ronald Delvitt and Sheila Carter:

a. Lisette Delvitt born on 13 Jan 1980.

ii. Linda Rose Delvitt born on 20 Feb 1944 in NYC. She married Nicolas “Nikky” Jacob.

Child of Linda Delvitt and Nikky Jacob

a. Angelique “Muffy” Jacob born 22 Dec 1982

iii. Patricia Delvitt born on 20 Aug 1948. Patricia died 8 days later.

iv. Andre Carl Delvitt born on 4 March 1950.

Child of Andre Delvitt and unknown mother

a. Andre Delvitt Caperna born ca. 1982.

v. Sheila “Shalama” Darlene Delvitt born on 20 Feb 1952. She married Atuma.

Children of Sheila and Atuma:

a. Atuma Jr. born 10 Nov 1970

b. Renaldo

Child of Sheila and unknown India man

c. Rajive born ca 1984

vi. Marcellus Theresa Delvitt born on 3 May 1954. Her biological father might be William Henri Hill. Marcellus married Manuel Edilio Oyola in 1972.

Children of Marcellus and Manuel Oyola:

a. Manuel Oyola Jr. born 16 Dec 1972

Child of Manuel Oyola and Dalila Rodriguez

1. Isaiah Oyola 3 June 1995

b. David Oyola born 30 Dec 1973

c. Nisette Oyola born in 5 May 1975.

Children of Nisette Oyola and LuQuan Graham:

1. Zaidayaa Graham born on 16 Sep 1999

2. Luna Ra Graham born on 27 May 2003

Children of Marcellus and Thomas Gary

d. Matthew Gary born as a set of twins on 21 Dec 1993

e. Demetrius Gary born on 21 Dec 1993

B. Augustine Egas Jr. was born on 9 Dec 1925. He married Louise Orange of St. Louis in 1947 in NYC. He also bore 3 children with Mary Whaley and one with Inez Unknown

Child of Augustine Egas Jr. and Louise Orange:

i. Gwen Egas born on 5 Nov 1947.

Children of Gwen Egas and un-named father A

a. Victoria Egas born ca. 1963. She died at the age of 18 and was buried in St. Raymond Cemetery in The Bronx NY.

Children of Gwen Egas and un-named father B

b. Faith Egas

c. Artee Egas

Child of Augustine Egas Jr. and Inez unknown:

ii. Unknown child born in ca. 1949.

Child of Augustine Egas Jr. and Mary Durden of The Bronx, NY.

iii Unknown son born ca. 1959

Children of Augustine Egas Jr. and Mary Whaley of Maysville, Kentucky:

iv. Augustine Egas III born 12 Mar 1963

v. Juanita Egas born 10 June 1965. She married Mike McGruder.

Children of Juanita and Mike McGruder:

a. Jenerra McGruder born in April 1988.

b. Dior McGruder born in April 1991.

vi. Evette Egas born ca. 14 Jan 1967. She married Ronald Berthoumieux of Haiti.

Daughter of Evette Egas and Ronald Bertholumieux:

a. English Berthoumieux born 2 Feb 1990.

C. Elizabeth Egas born on 19 Nov 1934 in New York City. Elizabeth bore a son with Russell Jacquet Sr., three children with Adriano Acea and a daughter with Eddie Mitchell. She bore a son with Robert James Jr. who she married in 1962. Elizabeth married a second time to Pat Mackclain Booth of Philadelphia in July 1971 in NYC but no children were born between the two.

Child of Elizabeth Egas and Robert Russell Jacquet:

i. Russell LaMar Jacquet-Acea born on 12 Nov 1952.

Children of Elizabeth Egas and Adriano Acea:

ii. Leona Acea born on 9 Dec 1953.

Child of Leona Acea and Charles Mayer:

a. Felicia Hearns born on 20 July 1973.

Child of Felicia Hearns and Jason Lang

1. Hunter Russell Lang born on 25 Feb 2000

Child of Leona Acea and unknown father:

b. Jazzmin Adriana Leona Acea born on 16 Feb 1991.

iii. Andre Acea born on 1 Mar 1955 in NYC. Andre died in 1992.

iv. Jon Acea born on 30 June 1956 in NYC.

Child of Jon Acea and Debra Pernell:

a. Jon Jermaine Pernell born on 14 Jan 1972. JJ died on 27 Sep 2000 in NYC.

Children of JJ Pernell and Marshette Fields

1. Jon Marshall Pernell born on Jan 1 1990, in NYC

2. Jon Mellmor Pernell born on Nov 26 1990

3. Jonia Pernell born as a set of twins on 2 Oct 1992, in NYC.

4. Janaya Elizabeth Pernell born on 2 Oct 1992. She died at age 4 months.

Child of JJ Pernell and Lisa Puff:

5. Lyjon Nova Pernell born on 4 July 2000 in White Plains, NY.

Jon Acea married Melissa Vidal, the daughter of Manny Vidal and Tomasa Cruz in 1983.

Child of Jon Acea and Melissa Vidal:

b. Gregory Acea born on 29 Dec 1983.

Child of Jon Acea and Cynthia Holland:

c. D-Javon Acea born on 18 Nov 1986.

Child of Elizabeth Egas and Eddie Mitchell of Flint Michigan:

v. Lisa Acea born on 30 March 1960 in NYC. Lisa married David Earl Kemp in 1983.

Children of Lisa Acea and David Kemp:

a. Kimberly Simoné Kemp born on 22 June 1984.

b. Amina Kemp born on 21 June 1986.

c. David Earl Kemp Jr. born on 4 June 1987.

d. Enjoli Rose Kemp born on 23 April 1992.

Elizabeth Egas married Robert Melvin James Jr. in July 1962 in NYC.

Child of Elizabeth Egas and Robert James Jr.:

vi. Robert Melvin “Flip” James III born on 25 July 1964.

Child of Robert James III and Donna Navez:

a. Joey Navez born on 28 Feb 1981.

Children of Robert James III and Dawn Stengle:

b. Carl James born on 11 Dec 1987.

c. Brandon Mackclain James born on 22 Sep 1990.

d. T’Anna Noellë James born on 4 Aug 1995.

e. Jordan Robert James born on 5 Mar 1997.

Alexander Mallory married for a second time after his first wife Elizabeth Cox died in childbirth. He married Anna Francis, the daughter of Albert Francis and Jane Lightbourn on 4 July 1907 (*91*) on Grand Turk Island. Anne died ca. 1938 on Jamaica Island.

Children of Alexander Mallory and Anne Francis:

4. Ethyl Mallory born on 18 June 1908 on Grand Turk Island. Ethyl married Mr. Wilson who died ca 1943.

Children of Ethyl Mallory and unknown Wilson:

A. Doris Wilson who married unknown Williams.

B. Iris Wilson born on 9 Jan 1933. Iris married Franklin Penn on 1 Jan 1958 on Grand Turk Island.

5. Olive Elizabeth Mallory born on 23 July 1915 (*203*). Olive married a Seymour.

Family oral tradition say Alexander Mallory had a younger brother named Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory but Benjamin could not have been his brother but rather he was either nephew or cousin to Alexander. Since Alexander’s father William K.R. Mallory died in 1885 and Benjamin Nathaniel was born ca. 1891, Benjamin’s father has to be someone else. I believe the main candidates are John Benjamin Mallory who married Cathy Cox in 1895 and who had an un-named son on 14 June 1896 who has not been identified yet and Thomas Mallory, another candidate who we believe was a brother to William K.R. and Nathaniel Mallory. Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory wrote down that “Nathaniel Mallory on Grand Turk was his uncle” when he landed at Ellis Island.

Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory married Constance Valeria Williams on 5 Nov 1914 in Grand Turk (*91*). Witnesses to the marriage were James E. Dickenson and Philistina Louisa Williams. It is not at all apparent if Benjamin and Constance had any children, however it would be their niece Thelma Todd Merritt who lived in Bayshore, Long Island during the 1960’s and 70’s who would be the key to re-uniting the Mallory families that lived in New York. Benjamin and Constance immigrated to New York soon after their marriage and there is where their children were born if there were any. Constance first came over to New York in 1919, then Benjamin would come over in 1923. They most likely lived in the area highly populated with immigrants from Turks Island when they first came over. It was on the lower eastside of Manhattan between 99^th and 101^st street, and between Park and Madison avenues. On the 1930 census recorded on April 7^th, we see that Benjamin and his wife Constance live at 305 West 127^th street in Manhattan. Benjamin Mallory is a 38-year-old Negro born in 1891 in the West Indies and married there at age 25. The census record would indicate that he was born somewhere between 1891 and 1892 which means he was married sometime near the year 1916 – 1917. Since we have the documentation of his marriage as being 5 November 1914, either his total age of 38 or his married at 25 years of age is in error here. If the “married at age 25” is correct, then 25 years before his 1914 marriage would put his birth year at 1889. According to the 1930 census, Benjamin was head of household living with his wife Constance Valeria Williams, his sister in law Viola Todd and three of his nieces and nephews. Constance was the daughter of Philistina Rigby. Her father had the last name Williams. Two of Constance Valeria Williams sisters were named Constance A. Williams and Viola Williams. Her sister Viola, born on Grand Turk 28 November 1902, married James Todd Sr. who appears to have died because Viola is listed as “widowed”, and now she and her three children were living with her sister Constance and brother in law Benjamin. Constance is 32 years old who married at age 19; Viola Todd is 27, her oldest daughter Vera Todd is 4 years, 1 month old, indicating a birth year of March 1926; James Todd Jr. is 2 years and 8 months old indicating an August 1927 birth; and youngest daughter Thelma Todd is 1 year and 7 months old, indicating a September 1928 birth. Her cousin Elizabeth remembers that her birthday was 5 September 1928. All are listed as Negro, with all the adults born in the British West Indies and immigrated in 1922, and all three children born in New York City. Here we can conclude that Benjamin Mallory played the role of “father” to the three children and most likely raised them as his own. Benjamin, Constance and Viola can read and write. Benjamin is paying $35 a month rent and works as a restaurant cook. The women are housewives. The family at some time in the future would all move out to California because the social security death records show Constance Mallory died in November of 1977 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, and Viola Todd died in June of 1984 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California. There was a Benjamin Mallory who was born in 1891 and died in November of 1967 in Glendora, Los Angeles, California but this particular Benjamin Owen Mallory had been born in the state of Washington and his father Benjamin Franklin Mallory had been born in New Mexico. The name and the birth date match up but this could not be the Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory of Turks Island.

Not being in contact with his brother Alexander’s daughter when Benjamin immigrated to the United States and how the descendants of Alexander Mallory and the descendants of his brother Benjamin Mallory were united was somewhat of a miracle. Alexander Mallory’s granddaughter Elizabeth Egas Booth and Benjamin Mallory’s neice Thelma Mallory Merritt had worked side by side for eight to nine years as real estate agents in Long Island during the late 70’s – early 80’s before the two realized they were related! Being that Elizabeth’s mother Marie Mallory and Thelma Todd Merritt would have been first cousins it was quite a close family relationship. When Thelma’s mother Viola died in Los Angeles in 1984, she had to rush off to the west coast. About a year later, Thelma’s brother James Todd Jr. would die in Brooklyn and Thelma was responsible for settling family matters. Some years later Elizabeth paid a visit to Thelma’s house and that is when they began to talk about their ancestors coming from Grand Turk Island. Thelma said to Elizabeth that she had a picture of her Uncle Benjamin Mallory and that is when a connection was made. Thelma showed Elizabeth the picture of her uncle Benjamin who was sitting and playing the piano. According to the photograph that Elizabeth saw of Thelma’s uncle Benjamin, when she visited her house on Long Island that day circa 1990, she recalled that:

“Benjamin was a handsome brown skinned man with fine hair cut short. He was medium but nicely built and probably stood at about five feet ten inches tall. He had on a suit and looked very nicely dressed and was sitting there playing the piano. The photo looked as if Benjamin Mallory was in his early 40’s”

Elizabeth went back to get a copy of the photo of her Granduncle shortly thereafter, but unfortunately Thelma, who was ill with diabetes died shortly after that. Thelma married a Merritt and had at least one child with him, a daughter named Marcy Merritt who had a speaking handicap. She also had another daughter named Sandra. Thelma died on 30 July 1996. Her obituary, according to the Grants Funeral Home in Brentwood, Long Island NY which interred her, said that Thelma…

“…was born on 5 September 1928 in New York City and was the daughter of James Todd and Viola Todd. Thelma graduated from Roosevelt High School in the Bronx, New York. She was survived by her daughter Sandra Colter, two grand children Marcella Colter and Vincent Colter and great-grandson Javon Leach…”

Emigration from the Turks & Caicos Islands

Taking a look at the Ellis Island Immigration and Passenger list records, we see that Benjamin Mallory’s mother in-law Philistina Williams arrived on 29 June 1919 from Turks Island on the ship named “The Iroquois”. She was 35 years of age and married. The ship also stopped at the Cayman Islands. She gave the name Nathaniel Rigby as her father in Turks Island. With Philistina was Elmira Miller 42 years of age and married, also of Turks Island who also gave the name of her father as Nathaniel Rigby so Philistina and Elmira were sisters. They were both going to the address of 49 West 99^th street. Three others on the ship coming from Turks Island were also going to the same address: Lillian Forbes (“cousin Lillie”) age 23 and married whose father in Turks Island was given as Timothy Smith; 56 year old Clarissa Todd (b.ca.1863), who was going to visit her daughter Isadora Arthur at the same address. Clarissa Todd gave the name Clarissa Brooks as the name of her daughter in Turks Island; and also on the ship and going to the same address at 49 West 99^th street was Rosina Landy, 38 years of age and single who gave the name Henreitta Lewis as her aunt in Turks Island. She was going to visit John Likman and possibly another person named Henrietta Rose because the name is handwritten in the margin space. All five of the visitors to 49 West 99^th street also had the name Miss Neil Arthur as someone living at that address (*184*). It may be that the Arthur family owned the building or house that housed different tenants.

Immigration into the United States by foreigners was much easier if a relative was already and established immigrant. Once Philistine Williams was firmly rooted in New York City, her daughter would be the next of the family to come to New York. Constance Valeria Mallory, a 25-year-old British African from Turks Island arrived on 18 November 1922 on the Iroquois ship which had departed Null, Dominican Republic along the way. Her sister Viola A. Todd had paid for her passage who she was going to visit. She was going to visit her sister at 438 West 45^th street. It was the week of the Thanksgiving holiday and perhaps there was a family gathering for the holiday. She intended to return to Turks Island after a one-year visit. This was her first visit to The United States of America. She was listed as five feet six inches tall, black complexion, black hair and brown eyes (*184*).

It would be five months later, when Constance V’s husband would make the trip to New York. Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory, a 30-year-old British African, of Grand Turks Island, British West Indies, arrived 29 April 1923 on the Iroquois from Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Benjamin was on his way to visit his wife Constance V. Mallory who was at 438 West 45^th street in New York City. It was his first trip to America. He only intended on staying “2 years” and was not intending on becoming a US citizen. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, black hair, black complexion, and brown eyes. His occupation was listed as “laborer”. He listed Nathaniel Mallory as his uncle and nearest living relative in Turks Island (*184*). This may give a clue to the likely possibility that both of Benjamin’s parents were dead and either he had no brothers or sister or they were also dead. Ten others on the boat were from Turks Island including: Winifred Rosalie Garland, a 27-year-old female. She listed her friend B. Tatem as her nearest living relative in Turks Island. The Ellis Island records have her name listed as “B” Tatem, but the name really was “Bea” Tatem. Bea, was a shorter term for the name Beatrice Tatem. So now, Benjamin was re-united with his wife, mother in-law and sister in-laws. What was the reason Constance V and Benjamin came over separately?

Piecing together a small family tree from what information given from both the Turks Island birth and marriage records and the Ellis Island passenger lists, we have:

Omelia Parker & Nathaniel Rigby

(or Ophelia) I b.ca.1848 d.Mar1923

___________________________________I__________ _________________________________

I I I I I I

ElmiraRigby Mary Francis Philistina Isidora Jane Melvina Male child

Miller b.1877 Rigby Johnson Rigby Williams Rigby Rigby b. 26 Nov1871

I b.1881 b.1884 b. Nov1885 b.28Jan1888

I m. Alexander Johnson ____I_____________________

I I I I

Dorothy B. Johnson Viola A Constance A. Constance V. Williams

b. 1907 b.Nov1902 b. 1914 b. 1898

d.Jun1984 d. d.Nov1977

m. JamesTodd m.5Nov1914 Benjamin I-------------------- I--------------I Nathaniel Mallory

Vera James Jr. Thelma b. ca. 1892

b.Mar b. Aug Todd Merritt

1926 1927 b.Sep1928

d. ? d.1985 d. 30July1996

We next see a connection with Philistina (or Philistine) Williams in 1923, when it appears that four and perhaps five other related women came to New York on a ship that had left Turks Island on 14 July 1923. Arriving on the Iroquois on 18 July 1923 was Rosa M. Mallory, a 60-year-old British/African (b. ca. 1863) Laundry worker from Turks Island and a widow. Rosa gave the name John Williams as the name of her friend in Turks Island. With Rosa on the boat was Ethyl Gardiner, a 28-year-old woman, who also gave the name John Williams as her friend on Turks Island. Rosa was going to visit her daughter Nina Taylor at 2010 (or 2019) 5^th avenue. Ethyl Gardiner was also going to visit Nina Taylor who was her sister, thus we can easily conclude that two of Rosa Mallory’s daughters were Nina and Ethyl. Were their maiden names Mallory?

There were a dozen passengers on the Iroquois ship from Turks Island including Alexander Williams 35 years old; Constance A. Williams a 9 year old girl; Mary F. Johnson a 42 year old married woman; and Dorothy B. Johnson a 16 year old girl. Constance A. was going to visit her mother Philistine Williams at 438 West 45^th street who had paid for her boat ticket. Mary was the sister of Philistine and Dorothy was the daughter of Mary and Philistine was her aunt, all going to the same address. Philistine had paid for all of their boat tickets. Dorothy Johnson gave the name as her nearest living relative in Turks Island as her father Alexander Johnson. Mary gave the same name as her husband, and Constance gave the same name as her uncle. Another woman on the boat was named Melvino Simmons who gave the name Mary Todd as her mother living in Turks Island (*184*). Melvino was going to visit friend John Lightbourne at the address of 49 West 99^th street. This was the same address where Philistina Rigby Williams, Elmira Rigby Miller, Clarissa Todd, Rosina Landy, and Lillian Smith Forbes were heading to when they arrived in New York from Grand Turk in June of 1919. Alexander Williams is the last of 20 Turks Island passengers on the ships list. He is 35 years of age and records that his father is George Williams on Grand Turk Island. Alexander is going to visit his sister Julia Bragman who lives in Brooklyn at 164 Maple Street. She paid for his ticket to America. Julia Bragman originally came to New York for the first time on 18 November 1922 on the Iroquois. The tall six-foot woman was 33 years old at the time which means she was born circa 1889 in Blue Hills, Turks & Caicos Islands. At the time of her arrival she was going to visit her sister Lillie A. Williams who lived in Brooklyn at the time at 147 Midwood street. However, it appears on the ship’s manifest that the Midwood Street address is crossed off and the handwritten address change “50 Denod? Road” appears above it. Also on that same November 1922 arrival on the Iroquois were Constance Valeria Williams Mallory and her sister Viola Williams Todd. It would be very conceivable to conclude that the three Williams siblings – Alexander, Julia and Lillie Williams were closely related to the three Williams sisters – Constance Valeria, Constance A. and Viola Williams. With Alexander born circa 1888, Julia born ca. 1889 and with their possible relatives Constance V born 1898, Viola born in 1902, and Constance A. born in 1914, we are probably talking about either uncles and aunts or cousins with this relationship. Constance and Viola’s mother Philistina Rigby Williams was born ca. 1884 and married into the Williams family. Could her husband possible be a brother to Alexander, Julia and Lillie? When and where did Julia marry a Bragman? The only male with the name Bragman that came over from Turks Island was Westmore Bragman, who came to New York on 12 August 1913 with Thomas J. Astwood. Westmore was age 22 and Thomas was age 35. He came to visit Susan Bragman c/o William H. Astwood at 126 West 139^th street. Obviously there is a family relationship here between the Bragman and Astwood family. Westmore gave the name Marthe (or Mary) Bragman as his nearest relative on Turks Island. Thomas Astwood’s “race and complexion” is listed as “dark” and Westmore’s as “black”. Thomas J Astwood had first came to America in 1902. He later returned to New York from Turks Island in May of 1923 to visit his brother William H. Astwood who now lived in Brooklyn. He came with his 43-year-old wife Henrietta Astwood, and his daughter Mary H. Astwood. They had left their son J. W. Astwood back in East Harbor Turks Island.

Mallorys were also emigrating from Bermuda and other carribean places. Rita Maria (36), and Mary Mallory (18), arrived on the “Maracaibo” in Nov 1919 and were from Caracas, Venezuela. James Mallory (19), Muriel Mallory (17), and Juanita Mallory (15), of Pembroke, Bermuda came over in May 1920 on the “Fort Hamilton” from Hamilton Bermuda. Their father was E. Mallory. Mary Mallory age 62 arrived on 22 March 1921 from Bermuda on the “Fort Victoria”. She was born in Winsted, Ct. and was living 648 St. Marks Avenue in Brooklyn NY.

The Garland Family

It was well known by the Egas family that there were relatives in Turks Island in the Garland family. One such relative who kept in contact from time to time was Elizabeth R Garland, who wrote to “cousin” Elizabeth Egas on 29 March 1972, from Grand Turk Island that:

“…I am very glad you have received your Christmas card. And about aunt Maria, I was away in the Bahamas then, that was in August the sixteen, I reached back home, then Grovner Tucker’s wife tell me she was dead. I nearly fell down, as it was so surprised to me. We all have to die, young and old but this was the first time she been home since she left and I just did know her, and as you know, I was since then looking for her coming again… This was my year for my husband and I to visit New York to see you finally and come on surprise, but as I had to see to one of my daughters sick in Freeport, so as you know that took all my money… I will love to see you all, well my mother is dead, on the six of April, twenty five years, and my grand mother, on twenty fifth December, give her nineteen years, so as you see we all been out mothers for a long time, but I still have them in my mind…well I got three daughters married in Bahama Islands, two in Freeport, and one in Nassau, Aunt Marie knows Dulcie in Nassau, but Muriel and Bell in Freeport, each of them have two children each. Dulcie in Nassau she has two sons…” (*142*)

Maria Gracita Mallory had recently visited the Turks and Caicos Island in July of 1970. It was a trip that would re-connect new and old family relatives in the present and in the future. She came with her cousin Mary Williams where the two also visited and stayed with relative Audley Kemp in Nassau on East Street when they visited there. Maria had also recently passed away in August of 1971. Elizabeth Garland was acknowledging both events. Almost two years later, another letter would be received from Elizabeth Garland. In a letter to Elizabeth Egas dated 11 February 1974, she wrote that:

“Dear Cousin...now we all have a big house with eight bedrooms...living with me one daughter and (her) husband and (their) two children and seven other (of my) children, and I have three (other children) away in (the) Bahamas married there with their children, and two in Miami Florida, so I got a lot of family, thirteen children my husband and I have, the youngest one is twelve years old this month and the oldest one thirty three years old...I’ve got three daughters in high school getting ready to take exams...and next March the tenth, I will be fifty one...my mother’s been dead on April the sixth, twenty nine years, and my grand-mother which was your mother’s mother been dead now twenty one years...” (*142*)

Elizabeth Robinson Garland was born on 10 March 1923 in the Turks & Caicos Islands. She was the daughter of Isabella Mallory and Richard Orthneal Robinson. Isabella Mallory was born ca. 1900 and was the daughter of Clarisie Cox “Cathy” Mallory and John Benjamin Mallory. Clarisie Cox Mallory was born to the parents of Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott on 4 April 1878. Clarisie, more commonly known as Cathy died on 25 December 1953 of a cerebral hemorrhage. The Reverend B. A. Manuel buried Clarisie. Since Elizabeth Garland was born in 1923, three years after her Aunt Marie Mallory went off to New York and did not return to Grand Turk until 1970, how did the two get to know each other? Who was the connecting family member? Marie must have had some correspondence contact with either Isabella, Cathy Mallory or both between the time Marie left Grand Turk in 1920 and the time Cathy Mallory and Isabella Mallory Robinson both died but before the letter correspondences between Elizabeth Garland on Grand Turk Island and Elizabeth Egas in New York during the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s letters which were saved. When Maria Mallory Egas visited Grand Turk Island in July 1970, it was the first time Elizabeth Garland had met her, but Elizabeth’s mom Isabelle must have told her about “Aunt Marie in New York City.”

Before Isabella Mallory married Ricardo Richardson, she had two female children with James Moore: The first-born was Ida Louise Moore born on 5 February 1916 on Grand Turk, followed by Macy (or Maisie) Moore who was born on 19 February 1917. James Moore died in 2001 in Nassau. Isabella Mallory married Ricardo Richardson. The couple had two children: Henry Richardson and Lola Richardson Seymour born on 11 December 1918. The father’s name written on the birth record of Lola is William H. Richardson. Lola died in 2001. What may be another puzzle to solve is the birth of Elizabeth Caroline Richardson on 16 March 1923 and baptized on 16 Sept 1923. The parents are given as Henry Richardson and Isabelle. Henry was the name given to Isabelle Mallory and Richard Richardson’s first child in marriage, but perhaps the full name of her husband was Henry Ricardo Richardson. Is Henry really Elizabeth Garland’s father rather than Richard? Isabella Mallory Richardson died on 6 April 1947 of cancer of the uterus. She was a dressmaker and her age at death was given as 47, which puts her birth circa 1900. The death record lists her as a Richardson.

When Isabella and Ricardo separated, she met Richard Orthneal Robinson and gave birth to Elizabeth Robinson born on 10 March 1923, later to become Elizabeth Garland. Isabella later had two children with Joseph Lightbourn: Clarissy Lightbourn and George Lightbourn. George died in 2002. Richard Robinson married Clotilda Brooks.before he met Isabella Mallory. Richard and Clotilda had nine or ten children together: Eveline, Mary, Anna, Mamie, Helena Jones born on 12 April 1908, Laura Beatrice born on 15 Aug 1911, Ethel born on 17 Sept 1913, Ofthneal, Richard and Johnny Robinson. Richard Robinson also had a few other children outside of his wife family stories say. One of Richard and Clotilda’s children Helena Robinson, born on 12 April 1908, and the half sister of Elizabeth Robinson Garland, left her mark in education on Grand Turk Island. She founded the first secondary school on the island in 1927 where she taught every subject. The only high school on the island “H. J. Robinson High” was named after her. In 1966 she received the Queen’s certificate Badge of Honor, given to her by Queen Elizabeth II herself. In June of 1973, she received the Member of the British Empire (MBE) Award given to her by Governor Bradley of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Helena served 50 years of teaching on the island. Her sister Mary Robinson taught at Salt Cay and was awarded the “Award of Honor” for dedicated service in the education system from 1939 – 1977 by the Turks & Caicos government. Helena Robinson was still alive and well living on Grand Turk Island as of the summer of 2004.

Richard and Isabelle Mallory’s only daughter Elizabeth Robinson married Richard Nathaniel Garland II ca. 1940. Richard was born in 1917 and was the son of Richard Garland I and Anne Forbes. There is one record that records his mother’s name as “Anne Swann”. Both of Richard II’s parents died when their boat returning from the Bahamas capsized. All of the passengers drowned. Elizabeth Robinson Garland died on 24 Feb 1980. Elizabeth and Richard had 13 children:

1. Richard Garland III was born in 1941.

2. Evan Garland was born 19 Sep 1944.

3. Dulcie E. Garland Wood was born 28 Jan 1946. Dulcie worked for Sky King airlines based in the Turks & Caicos Island system.

4. Sarah Garland Simmons was born 11 May 1948. Sarah worked as Governor printer of Law for the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). Sarah had a son named Don Simmons.

5 & 6.Charles Garland and Muriel Garland Parker were a set of twins born on 2 April 1950. Charles worked as a Government Land Surveyor of Grand Turk. It was Muriel who became ill while living in Freeport that caused Elizabeth Garland to cancel her trip to visit New York in the 1970’s.

7. Anne Garland was born 14 Aug 1951. Anne served as First Mistress of the Turks & Caicos Island Post Office system.

8. Ada Garland Parker was born on 26 Sep 1952. After a long bout with diabetes, Ada died in April 2005 due to heart failure.

9. Lillian “Hattie” Garland was born on 4 March 1954. Hattie worked as Chief Secretary of the TCI Government.

10. Helena Garland Adams was born on 24 Jan 1956. Helena worked for American Airlines in Providenciales, TCI.

11. Ida Garland Barranco was born on 13 Sep 1958. Ida lived in Atlanta for many years with her family.

12. Jean Garland Quant born on 2 Dec 1959.

13. David Garland was the final child born to Richard Garland II and Elizabeth Robinson. David was born on 2 Feb 1962. David lived in upstate New York for many years.

Garland Family Photos from Grand Turks Island

Left: (from top) Elizabeth Robinson Garland; three of Elizabeth’s grandchildren;

Dulcie Garland Wood at Sky King Airlines; Helena Garland Adams at American Airlines.

Right: (from top) Iris Wilson Penn; Oswald Francis; Anne Garland – Postmistress General of the Turks & Caicos Islands with Elizabeth Egas Booth on an August 2004 visit to Grand Turk Island.

It is possible that the “grand-mother which was your mother’s mother” spoken of in the letter was meant to be written as “the grand-mother which was your mother’s sister…” This would indeed clear up all of the confusion. Elizabeth Mallory’s grandmother was Clarissa “Cathy” Cox whose sister Elizabeth Cox was Maria’s mother who died in childbirth. So the true fact was that Cathy Mallory was in fact Maria’s aunt. For a long time it was believed that the second wife of Alexander Mallory and the step-mother of Maria Gracita Mallory Anne Francis, was the “grandmother” spoken of in the letter, however that has proven to not be the case at all as the Garland family are not directly related to the Francis family. This is definitely the truer scenario that links the two families together via the Cox sisters. Elizabeth Robinson Garland’s Grandmother Cathy Mallory, born on 4 April 1878, and Maria Mallory’s mother Elizabeth Ann Cox born on 30 December 1882. These two sisters married two Mallory brothers – John Benjamin Mallory and Alexander Mallory. This would be the most logical link between the two families via the Mallory name. That would have made Maria Mallory and Isabella Mallory first cousins, and Elizabeth Garland and Elizabeth Egas second cousins. The fact that she called Maria “aunt Marie” makes sense. Not knowing the full extent of her family history made it confusing as to who were the proper ancestors of Marie Mallory but she knew well enough to know that Marie Mallory was “her aunt.”

Despite the Mallory name having been daughtered out by the 21^st century, there is also the possibility of another family that is related to the Mallorys. Mary Misick of Grand Turk recalls that her grandmother Mary Mallory was the daughter of Alexander Mallory a “fisherman”. Mary Miscik recalls that her grandmother Mary died in the 1980’s at the age of 85, which means she was born circa 1895 –1900. Could this be the daughter of Maria Gracita Mallory’s father Alexander Mallory? If so this would mean that he fathered a child, or other children before his marriage to Elizabeth Cox. Mary Misick recalls that her grandmother Mary Mallory married Edward Bragman and that there were other Mallory relatives such as a John Mallory and a niece who was from the Dominican Republic. She also recalls a “cousin, whose mother was the sister of Mary Mallory.” Could she be speaking of the Garland family or about Marie Mallory?

What about the one named Benjamin Mallory? How does Benjamin fit into the picture and his relationship to Alexander and Cathy Mallory? Since we are certain that Alexander Mallory and Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory were related either as cousins or as an uncle/nephew relationship, this would mean that Clarisie “Cathy” Mallory was the sister-in-law or aunt to one or both of them. We must take into account all of the various families that confirmed that she was the “grandmother”, or “aunt” to the Mallory relatives. The ages would match up. So far we have Cathy born in 1878, Alexander born circa 1880 and Benjamin born ca. 1891. Who were the parents of the Mallory children, and are there more? The first clue we had was from the Ellis Island documentss which records that Benjamin Mallory said that his nearest relative on Turks Island was his uncle “Nathaniel Mallory.” Looking at the record books, we find a Nathaniel Mallory who wrote out a will (#S-106) dated 15 Sep 1922, which has him giving land away:

“…I Nathaniel Mallory of Grand Turk deliver unto my good friend William Benjamin Jennings …a lot of land in the town of Grand Turk measuring 28feet east and west, north and south (??) and 25 feet east and west and bounded north by land formerly of Niver Forbes and now of Christopher Benjamin Jennings…”

It was probably in anticipation of his death for we find that a Nathaniel Mallory died at the age of 72 on 30 June 1930 on Grand Turk. This would put his birth year at circa 1858. Well in range to be the “uncle” of both Alexander and Benjamin, and quite possibly the father in an alternate scenario. If Nathaniel Mallory was the father of Alexander Mallory and Nathaniel had a brother who fathered Benjamin Mallory, then Nathaniel would still be Benjamin’s uncle, but instead of being brother to Alexander, they would instead be cousins.

It took some work especially with family interviews to find out exactly how Mary Mallory correctly fits into the picture as the daughter of Alexander Mallory. We have her birth date as circa 1895. This would mean that Alexander had a daughter when he was about 15 – 16 years old before he married Elizabeth Cox. Since both Mary Misick and Marie Mallory name their grandfather as “Alex Mallory” who was a fisherman, it has to be the same person. Mary Misick’s father Alex Forbes, bedridden in old age, was strong enough to confirm in his own words that “…my mother Mary Mallory was born on 4^th of July, she died at the age of 87 and her father was Alex Mallory…” Dulcie Garland Wood, daughter of Elizabeth Garland, recited what she remembered from family history stories that Mary Mallory called Cathy Mallory “Aunt Cathy”, and that either Cathy or Mary had a brother named “Tanny Mallory” (or Kenny Mallory) who rang the Baptist Church bell when it was time for church or to ring the hour chime, and that Tanny marched through town on Easter, singing through town and leading the Easter parade. Dulcie believed that Cathy and Mary Mallory could have been first cousins with both of their parents being Mallorys as another alternative. Dulcie recalled that Cathy Mallory called Lillian “Trudy” Malcolm a relative and that Trudy called her “Aunt Cathy.” Trudy’s daughter Marin Malcolm believes it was Cathy Mallory who was “the grandmother that raised Trudy” while Trudy’s mother Lillian Forbes, later to become Lillian Thompson, was off to New York in a new life. Both of Dulcie’s sisters – Annie Garland and Sarah Garland, remembers that Mary Mallory married a Mr. Simon and that her father was Alex Mallory. Mr. Simon had three sons from a previous marriage named Bobby Simon, Sydney Simon and Carlin Simon. They recall that Mary died circa 1982 when Annie returned from college. Since the Mallory family were said to be closely related to the Lightbourn family, then there is the possibility that there was another brother named John Benjamin Mallory who married Clemencia Janet Clare on 22 June 1904 (*91*). The other scenario is that John Benjamin Mallory, who married Catherine Cox in 1895, divorced her (Cathy Mallory) sometime before 1904. Witnesses at this 1904 marriage were Nathaniel Mallory, James A. Lightbourn and John N. Lightbourne. A courthouse transaction (#Q538) of 26 Oct 1911 shows that Clemencia Janette Mallory sold land, a town lot to Harriott Campbell. The town lot was in the north of the island. Bounded north by James Wood, east by S.W. Gardiner, south by Nathaniel Mallory and west by Samuel Forbes. Her husband John Mallory was residing in the Bahamas (*205*).

The Descendants of

William Knight Rycraft Mallory

?John? Mallory

_____________I______________

I? I? I

Thomas Mallory? William Knight Rycraft Mallory Nathaniel Mallory?

m. Francis Mullins July1874 b.ca.1845 m. Caroline Cornelia Forbes Apr1875, d. 1885 ?b.1858 d. June 1930

__________________________I_________________________ ______?________

I I ? I ?

John Benjamin Mallory Alexander Mallory Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory

m.Clarisie Cox (Cathy Mallory) b. ca 1880, m.Elizabeth Cox b.ca.1891

bt. 2Oct1874 b.1878, d. 25Dec1953 d.12Jan1919 Apr1901 d.Nov1967

____________________I___________________ m. Constance

I I I I Williams

I I I I

I I m.(1^st) 28Apr1901 m.(2^nd) 4Jul1907

I I Elizabeth Ann Anne

I Mother?? Cox Francis

I I I I I I

Isabella Mallory Mary John A. Maria G. Ethyl Olive

b.ca.1900 Mallory Mallory Mallory Mallory Mallory

d.6Apr1947 b.ca1895 b.1902 b.17Mar1904 b.1908 b.Jul1915

_______I d.ca1982 d.1903 d.1971 d.1943 d.

I I I m.Agustin Egas m.?Wilson m.?Seymour

Moores I Elizabeth I father ______ _______I_________ __I________

Richardsons Robinson (John Forbes) I I I I I

Seymours b.10Mar1923 I Rose Augustin Elizabeth Iris Doris

d.24Feb1980 Alex Forbes Egas Egas Egas Wilson Wilson

m.Richard b.5Sep1917 b.1924 b.1925 b.1934 b.1933 b.

Garland II I I I I

I Mary (Misick) (6 children)

(13 children) Russell et.al.

Alexander Mallory did not live his life to its fullness as he was on the great boat tragedy of 1919. So far two different versions of the tragedy are told. During a fishing trip out to sea, there was a hurricane on 12 Jan 1919 which capsized the boat and drowned Alexander Mallory and all of the 44 male passengers aboard the ship named “The Yuna” (*95*). The other version, recited most often by Turk’s Island elder Oswald Francis, is that the Yuna was bringing workers back from the Dominican Republic when it struck Silver Banks, Mount Shore, an island barely submerged about 40 miles north of The Dominican Republic, and about 80 miles Southeast of Grand Turk Island. “It had no lifeboats and when the boat sank, the sharks feasted!” One statistic that most Turk Islanders agree with is that 44 people, all male passengers, were too many people for it to have been a fishing boat. Alexander’s death record lists him as 49 years of age. A plaque was commemorated in the summer of 2004 to the Grand Turk Island Museum, honoring 35 of the fallen Turk Islanders “Who Perished In The Shipwreck Of The Yuna in January 1919.” The name of Alexander Mallary (sic) is the first name listed in the middle row.

History of the Mallory name on GRAND TURK ISLAND – Compiled by R. Jacquet-Acea

BIRTHS MARRIAGES DEATHS

1800’s

William Mallory b. 1801

Sarah Mallory b. 1801

1810’s

Mary Mallory b. 1818

John Mallory b.1818

1820’s

1830’s

Maria Mallory b.1836

1840’s

James Mallory b.1842

William Knight Rycraft Mallory b.1845

Felix Mallory b.1845

Leah Mallory b. 1847

Andrew Mallory b.1847

Jane Mallory b.Sep1849

1850’s

Thomas Mallory b.1850

Nathaniel Mallory b.1858 Thomas Mallory m. Mary ? (Mallory)

1860’s

Samuel Mallory b.1860

Rosa Mallory b.ca.1863

Sarah Mallory b.2Jul1865, bt.4Dec’65 John Mallory

(Andrew & Dorothy Wynns) d.5Oct1868 age50

Benjamin Mallory b.1869 John H. Mallory m. Mar1866 Sarah Simmons

John Mallory b.1869 (witness: Josiah Mallory, Berkley Lightbourne)

1870’s

Robert Mallory b.1870 Andrew Mallory m.Mar1870 Sarah Neat William Mallory

Evelyn Harriot Mallory bt 26Dec1871 (witness: Josiah Mallory) d.Dec1871 age 74,(70)

(Felix Mallory & Flora Hopkins) Agnes Mallory m. Josiah Lightbourne ca.1870

John Benjamin Mallory bt.2Oct1874 Maria Mallory m. Anthony Gilbert ca.1870

(Wm.K.R. Mallory & Caroline Cornelia)

Susan Mallory b.1874

Joseph Henry Mallory bt.16Jul1875

(Thomas Mallory & Francis Mullins)

Clarise (Cathy Cox) Mallory b.1877 Thomas Mallory m.1874 Francis Mullins Andrew Mallory

(female) b.29oct1876 (witness: Elizabeth Mallory) d.1Jan1875 age28

(William Mallory & Caroline Forbes) William K.R. Mallory m.8apr1875 Caroline Forbes

(female) b.28apr1876 (sarah malory) (witness: Thomas Mallory, Frederick Forbes)

Richard Nathaniel Mallory

m.Feb1878 Mary R. Mckenzie (becomes Mary Mallory)

1880’s witness: Charles L. Seymour, Alexander Deane (or Eve)

Alexander Mallory b.1881

(?William & Caroline Forbes ?)

(female) b.1Jan1882

(William K. Mallory & caroline forbes)

Marie Ann Mallory b.12May 1884 Samuel Mallory m.July1886 Sophia Seymour Sarah Mallory

(William & Caroline) (witness:Thaddeus J Williams, George Williams) d.May1883 age 82

Sarah Augusta Mallory b.?31Aug1886? William K.R. Mallory

(Benjamin & Ann Rebecca) bt.22Feb1887 d.Dec1885 age 40

Albert Nathaniel Mallory b.27Oct1886 Benjamin Mallory m.Feb1887 Rebecca Williams

(Benjamin & Ann Rebecca) bt.22Feb1887 (witness: Ebenezer Williams, Benjamin Swan) Mary Mallory

Brister Alexander Mallory bt.30sep1888 d.26Mar1888 age70

(Thomas & Francis mullins ) b.Sep1888 Caroline Augusta Malory Leah Mallory

m.Dec1887 George Alexander Williams d.20Feb1887 age 40

1890’s

Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory b.May1891 Harriot S. Mallory m.Apr1897 Benjamin Todd Benjamin Mallory

(uncle is Nathaniel Mallory) (witness:John B. Mallory, Albert Francis) d.5Jun1897 age 28,(33)

(male)b.1Jan1896

(Benjamin Mallory & Ann Swan) John Benjamin Mallory m.15Aug1895 Jane Mallory

Catherine (Clarisse) Cox (Alexander & Caroline) d.28Mar1890 age40y6m

Witnesses: Anthony Swan, James Edgar Fuller Samuel Mallory

d.27nov1890 age30

Thomas Mallory

d.26Nov1896 age 46

James Mallory

d.30nov1896 age 54

1900’s

Isabella Mallory (John & Clarise Cox) Alexander Mallory m.28Apr1901, age 20

b.1900 Elizabeth Ann Cox (Alex Cox & Caroline Harriott)

witness: Alexander Cox, Thaddeus J Williams

John Alexander Mallory bt.20jul1902 John Benjamin Mallory m. Clemencia Janet Clare

(Alexander & Elizabeth Cox) 22June1904, (witness:Nathaniel Mallory, James Cox)

(female) b.18jun1908

(Alexander Mallory & Anna Francis) Susan Mallory

b.May1902 Alexander Mallory m.(2^nd)4Jul1907 Anna Francis d.12sep1902 age 28

Maria Gracita Mallory (witness:James H Lightbourne, Sarah Ingham)

(Alexander & Elizabeth Cox)

b.Mar 1904

Joseph James Mallory bt.9Aug1908

(Nathaniel Mallory & ?? Lockwood)

1910’s

Colestin Louise Mallory Felix Mallory

(Benjamin & Malvina Wilson) d.Jul1915 age 70

b. Jan1913, bt.24feb1913 Robert Mallory

Olive Elizabeth Mallory, b.july1915 Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory m.5Nov1914 d.Nov1916 age 46

(Alexander & Dianna) bt.9jan1916 Constance Valeria Williams Alexander Mallory

(witness: James Dickenson, Philistina Williams) d.Jan1919 age 49(s/b39)

Maria Mallory

d.29nov1913 age 77

1920’s

John Mallory

d.Oct1929 age 60

1930’s

Nathaniel Mallory

d.30Jun1930 age 72

Above Photo: “The Iroquois”

The ship that bought hundreds of Turks Island natives and relatives to the United States of America.

Below Photo: Commemorative Plaque honoring those who perished in

the Shipwreck of “The Yuna” in January 1919 in the Carribean Sea.

The Plaque is on display in the Turks & Caicos Island Museum on Grand Turk Island.

Since the Mallory name starts to be seen in limited appearance in the early 1800’s with William Mallory and John Mallory and then a cluster of eight children are born between 1836 and 1849, it would not be too out of line to formulate a theory that John Mallory born in 1818 and his wife Mary born in the same year, bore all or most of the eight children, one of which was William K. R. Mallory, the father of Alexander Mallory. More research of unseen documents will have to be examined before this theory is proved or dis-prooved. There may be documents in the Anglican Church records or unknown census records that may shed some light on this.

It must have been a difficult year for Maria Mallory, having lost her father at the age of 14, and having to be raised by her stepmother Anne Francis whom she never got along with too well. However, about a year later, sometime around her 16^th birthday, Maria would decide to change her whole life. It was said that her friend Anne was on her way to New York to work for a doctor and convinced Maria to come with her. Maria did not have the money to pay for such a trip and somehow made herself a stow-away on the ship “The Huron”. Arriving in New York on 9 April 1920 on the Huron was Mary Mallory, a British African of Turks Island, British West Indies. The ship had also made stops in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Mary gave the name Aleck Mallory as her nearest relative in Turks Island but did not specify how he was related. Her father Alex Mallory had died just 15 months earlier. On the ship with her was one other native of Turks Island and a person who had visited there. Winifred Garland, a 24-year-old female from Turks Island was making her first trip to America. Margaret Brennan of Ottowa, Alberta Canada was returning to New York. Margaret had left New York just one month before on 8 March 1920. Winifred Garland gave the name Samuel Garland as her father and nearest living relative in Turks Island. Winifred was going to visit Miss Rose Bascome living at 272 East 19^th street. Both Mary Mallory and Margaret were going to visit Margaret’s aunt Mrs. Boyd at 140 West 69^th Street. Another destination Mary Mallory gave besides New York City was Maywood, New Jersey (*184*)

Although written as “Mary Mallory” on the ships manifest, her full birth name was Maria Gracita Mallory. She was a British Subject, who arrived at Ellis Island in New York City on 23 March 1920. The US Customs identification description gives Maria’s birth date as March of 1903, and her age as 17. Family stories had said that it was her friend Anne who helped her to go to New York for a job, but the passenger records show that it was either Winifred Garland or the passenger Margaret she listed as going with to visit. The Mallory family was related to the Garland family and Winifred may have been a cousin so the “friend” most likely has to be Margaret Brennan the Canadian. According to family stories that have been passed down, the job that her friend had fixed up for her was not acceptable to Maria and she rejected working with the doctor who, as she found out when she arrived, was performing abortions.

Fortunately, Maria had a first cousin who lived in New York named Lillian Thompson born circa 1896 in Turks Island whom Maria was able to live with during her early days in America. Although the records on Grand Turk are limited, it was possible through both examination of civil registry records and personal interview to determine how Maria Gracita Mallory and Lillian Thompson were first cousins. Lillian Thompson was born Lillian Smith ca. 1896. Her parents were Sarah Elizabeth Cox and Timothy Smith. Sarah Elizabeth and Timothy Smith married 14 June 1894 on Grand Turk. Witnesses to the marriage were Thomas T. Williams and her father Alexander Cox (*202*). Maria Gracita’s mother was Elizabeth Ann Cox. Elizabeth Ann was baptized on 30 December 1882. She married Alexander Mallory on 28 April 1901 (*202*). Both of the Cox women were the daughters of Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriett who had married on Grand Turk 23 May 1872. That made Maria and Lillian first cousins. Finding additional information about the parents of Elizabeth Ann Cox was a challenge but it was worth the search. Since the couple was married at the Baptist church, the church fortunately kept the records of their marriages. The Baptist Minister on Grand Turk Island during the year 2004 was Minister Rubin Hall. A visit to his house proved most exciting as a couple of very old record books were pulled out of the closet. The older records were said to start at the year 1866 and go up to the year 1914 but there were lots of pages missing, torn or fragmented and 1876 was as far back as a marriage record could be found. The pages were fading and crumbling but a bit of patience revealed additional information that the Civil Registry did not include. Looking at the original church record of the marriage between Alexander Mallory and Elizabeth Ann Cox, we find that the ages of the two are given on the original church record. Alexander is 20 and Elizabeth is 19. This puts his birth year at either 1880 or 1881. This is different from the age given to him on the January 1919 Yuna catastrophy as “49” which would have put his birth year ca. 1869 – 1870. It would be prudent to conclude that the marriage age is more reliable than the death record age. Especially in the light that his body was not recovered in the Yuna boat disaster. A very important piece of information was given in the last column that said “Consent given by the brides father Alex Cox.” The couple both made the “X” mark signifying that they were illiterate. Witnesses to the marriage were David Virgil, George H. Caley, Alexander Cox and Thaddeus Williams. The marriage took place on 28 April 1901 “at the house of Mr. John Gilbert.” The next marriage in the church record book also took place at Mr. John Gilbert’s house on 4 July 1807 between Thomas Lewis and Mary Augusta Williams. Another possibly related marriage found at the Baptist Church records was between Benjamin Mallory age 21, and Rebecca Williams age 18, on 22 February 1887 at the old Baptist Missionary House. The words written in the last column was “Consent given by the bride’s father Nathaniel Smith.” It seems a bit out of place that the bride’s father has a different surname. Witnesses to the marriage were Benjamin Swan, Nathaniel Mallory, and Ebenezer Williams. Baptist Minister J. Henry Pusey presided over both of the Mallory weddings. Benjamin Mallory would have been born ca. 1866. Could he be a brother of Nathaniel Mallory born ca.1858? We have the Ellis Island record that says that Nathaniel Mallory was the uncle of Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory. What is the relationship to these two Mallorys and Alexander Mallory and his relative Benjamin Nathaniel Mallory?

It appears that both Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriott Cox died at a fairly young age. The death record books show that Alexander Cox died of enteritis on 17 January 1908 at the age of 54 giving a birth year of ca. 1854. Enteritis is an inflammation of the intestines usually due to a viral or bacterial infection. Caroline Cox died on 10 July 1900 of leprosy. Her age on the death record is given as 39. However, the burial record from the baptist church, performed by reverend J. Henry Pusey, records an age of 51 (*204*). An age of 39 would have put her birth year at 1861. This is most certainly the wrong age. Caroline and Alexander married in May of 1872 which would have meant Caroline was a mere 11 years old. Not impossible, but highly improbable. The burial record from the church gives an age at death of 51 giving a birth year of 1849, meaning she was about 23 years of age when she married. A much more probable age in consideration of marriage.

It is with high certainty that Elizabeth Cox’s mother Caroline Harriott came from Salt Cay, a smaller island to the south of Grand Turk, but a part of the many islands of the Turks and Caicos Islands. An older relative recalls the story told that Alexander Cox “went and got himself a Salt Cay woman.” Besides owning most of, or the entire small island, the Harriott family was the principal entrepreneurs of the island’s only exporting commodity – salt! From the public probate and estate records of Grand Turk, we read that Alexis Wynns Harriott, eldest son of Daniel Harriott and Mary Olivia Harriott, of Salt Cay, sold land in Salt Cay to Thomas John Todd in 1862. He also received four lots of land in Salt Cay from his mother in 1865 and gave his son Edmond Cowles Harriott the lots of land in 1898 (*205*). The Harriott families had numerous salt transactions, including those with the government of the Bahamas starting in 1841, and some direct contracts with the Queen of England and King Edward VII starting in 1888. In 1891 we read that Daniel Francis Harriott (wife Mary Ann Cornelia Harriott), and his two brothers Edmund Cowles Harriett and Howard Fessenden Harriott along with their mother Alice Celestia Harriott sold their collective 150 shares of stock in the West Caicos Fibre Company for $7,000 in American Gold (*205*).

Looking at the birth records of the children born to Alexander Cox and Caroline Harriett, we discover at least five children born between the two:

1. Sarah Elizabeth Cox, born 11 January 1875. Sarah married Timothy Smith on 14 June 1894. Three of their children were

A. Lillian Smith, born 18 Feb1896. Lillian first married Robert Forbes of Grand Turk and had a daughter named Lillian Jane Forbes born on 17 Nov 1915. Lillian Smith left Grand Turk Island and came to the United States where she later married Early Thompson of North Carolina. Their daughter was named Louise Ann “Boobalee” Thompson.

B. Shednel Nathaniel Smith born 30Jul1898.

C. Laura Victoria Smith born 26 Mar 1904. Both Laura Victoria and her cousin Maria Gracita Mallory were baptized on the same day of 12 June 1904.

2. Mary Augusta Cox, born 3 March 1876.

3. Clarissa (dit Catherine) Cox, born on 4 April 1878 and baptized on 23 May 1880. Clarissa married John Benjamin Mallory on 15 August 1895. Catherine and John had a son born on 14 June 1896 and a daughter Isabelle born ca. 1900.

4. Elizabeth Ann Cox, born on 30 December 1882. Elizabeth married Alexander Mallory on 28 April 1901. Two children were born: John Alexander Cox and Maria Gracita Mallory. John Alexander Cox was born 1 May 1902 and baptized on 20 July 1902 by Reverend Pusey but died at a very young age of 13 months. Although there were many various stories of how Jonathan died, the death record shows that he died on 26 May 1903 of “teething” (*204*). Maria Gracita Mallory moved to New York City in 1920 after her father died and had three children with Agustín Egas of Ecuador: Rose Egas, Agustin Egas Jr. and Elizabeth Egas.

5. James Alexander Cox, born on 29 January 1885.

The Descendants of

Alexander Cox / Caroline Harriott

b. ca. 1854 I b. ca.1849

d. 17 Jan 1908 I d. 10 Jul 1900

m. 23 May 1872 I Grand Turk Island

__________________________________ _I________________________

? I I I I I

Sarah Mary Clarrisa Elizabeth James

Elizabeth Cox Augusta Cox b. 4 Apr Ann Cox Alexander Cox

b.11Jan1875 b.3Mar1876 1878 b.30Dec1882 b.29Jan1885

m.14Jun1894 bt.23May1880 m. John m.28Apr1901

Timothy Smith Benjamin Alexander

I Mallory Mallory

I 15Aug1895 I

I I I

Lillian Smith I Maria Gracita Mallory

b.18Feb1896 (Male) b.17Mar1904

d.ca 1945 June1896 d. 1971

m.1^st Joseph Forbes + m.Nov 1923, NYC

m.2^nd Early Thompson Isabelle Mallory Agustin Tiburcio Egas

I b. ca. 1900 I

I I I

Lillian “Trudy” Forbes Elizabeth Elizabeth Egas

b. 18Nov1915 Robinson b.19Nov1934

d. May 1991 Garland I

m. Herbert Malcolm b. mar1923 I

I I I

Marin Malcolm 13 Garland Russell Jacquet Acea

Children Leona, Andre, Jon Acea,

Lisa Acea Kemp,

Robert James Jr.

History of the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) is a group of archipelago islands about 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of the Dominican Republic. The main and mostly habitable islands are Grand Turk, Salt Cay, East Caicos, West Caicos, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, and Providenciales. Geographically the islands are in the southnmost part of the Bahama Islands but no longer politically a part of the Bahamas. TCI is a British Crown colony. The Governor is appointed by the Queen and presides over an Executive Council. The Chief Minister heads local self-government. The legal system is based upon the English Common Law and is administered by a resident Chief Justice, Chief Magistrate and three Deputy Magistrates. Judges of the Court of Appeal visit the Islands twice a year. History records the Islands as being discovered by Jean Ponce De Leon in 1512 while on a voyage from Puerto Rico. Other historians, especially those of the Turks Islands, have sought to identify the island of Grand Turk with Christopher Columbus’ first landfall in the Americas. This had been an earlier theory that was discredited but now is being given new respect. Contemporary historians point out that it was Grand Turk and not Watling Island (San Salvador) that Columbus first made landfall after his historic trip across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain in 1492. According to the detailed movements of Columbus’ ships in these islands in 1492:

“…The glistening bright sands of Grand Turk was discovered at 2am on October 12^th 1492. The pale limestone cliffs of Grand Turk’s east coast were clearly visible to the weary but exited Spaniards…” (*241*)

The Spanish Bishop Las Casas described the island as “bean shaped” which is applicable to Grand Turk. They recorded a “large body of water in its center”, also applicable to Grand Turk. The descriptions of what the Spanish explorers saw matches more of what Grand Turk looks like instead of Watling Island.

The first English contact was in 1585 by Sir Richard Grenville’s ships. The first European occupation was by Bermudians in 1678 who came for salt. Bermudan adventurers started to make extensive use of natural salt after their arrival and formed an industry that lasted for almost 300 years. Today’s Turks Island people are the descendants of those British mariners, salt rakers and their slaves. In 1710 the Spaniards expelled the Bermudans. After 1799 the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) were part of the colony of the Bahamas, which meant British control. In 1848 the British government agreed for the TCI to separate from the Bahamas and have its own local government, but due to failing economics it was forced in 1874 to become part of Jamaica until 1962 when it separated from Jamaica. In 1973 when the Bahamas became independent, TCI was given a British governer of thei own. The islanders are still debating the desire to be totally independent from Britain.

Britain outlawed the African slave trade and slavery in Britain in 1807. By the year 1834, the 19^th century superpower had emancipated all the slaves in its Empire, which included Grand Turk Island. With Brazil closing its slave markets in 1850, Cuba became the last country in the region to have a slave market. The last delivery of slaves to Cuba occurred in 1867. Following emancipation in 1834 in TCI, former slaves entered into a four-year apprenticeship which quickly ended in 1838, frustrating Grand Turk Britains who saw liberated Africans as an essential labor supply for their salt industry. Even though slavery ended in the Turks & Caicos Islands in 1834, nearly all liberated Africans arrived here after 1834. The most dramatic arrivals of liberated Africans to the TCI came from two slave ships which met their end on the reefs of the Caicos Bank: Esperanza in 1837 and Trouvadore in 1841 (*228*). It is the story of the Trouvadore that most present-day Islanders are tied to by blood or marriage to the survivors from the wrecked Trouvadore.

Trouvadore was sailing under Spanish papers from Santiago, Cuba. Before arriving in Cuba, It had docked at Sáo Tomé, an island off the west coast of Africa but no records confirming where the slaves were loaded have been found. The ship was carrying 20 crew and 193 Africans when it sank off the East Coast of East Caicos. Mr. Stevenson, a local, was offered $3,000 by the Spanish captain to obtain a ship to take the crew and slaves to Cuba. Stevenson delayed the captain long enough for Grand Turk authorities to dispatch two ships with soldiers to pick up the survivors. Most were taken to Grand Turk and Salt Cay where they were released into the community to salt pond owners on a one-year contract. The 89 men, 26 women and 3 infants, 39 boys, and 11 girls were given clothing, food, accommodation and medical care in return for their labor. The remaining 25 freed Africans were taken to Nassau but their fate is unknown. Some of the liberated Africans were said to have migrated or shipped over to the settlement on Middle Caicos named “Bambarra”, the only settlement in the country of TCI with an African name. The other story is that slaves owned by William Forbes settled there. This is one theory as to why the surname Forbes is so common among people of color on the Islands. The infusion of the liberated Africans boosted the population of the Turks & Caicos Islands by about 7%. An 1843 census by the Bahamas government recorded the TCI population as 2,495. Colored population was totaled at 2,046 (82%) while the White population (18%) totaled 449 (*228*).

Marie Mallory leaves Turks Island for America

Maria Gracita Mallory arrived on the ship from Turks & Caicos Islands and arrived in New York City in April 1920. It was not too long thereafter that Maria Mallory met Agustin Egas. The two received their marriage license in New York on 7 Nov 1923, and were married shortly thereafter (*92*). Maria gives her age as 23, and this probably was due to the fact that she was still a minor and probably would not have been granted marriage had she told them her true age at 19. The fact that Maria Mallory was already four months pregnant with her first child Rose, made the decision to marry an easier or perhaps a necessary one. Maria Gracita Mallory and Agustin Tiburcio Egas had five children but only three survived, the last being Elizabeth Egas. A set of twins died at childbirth.

1. Rose Marie Egas was born on 5 April 1924. Rose first married Clement Alphonso Delvitt, born on 2 Nov 1917, in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Clement was the son of Ralph Delvitt and Frances May Clarke. Ralph Delvitt was born on 9 March 1898 in St. Croix. Ralph died in March 1977. Frances Clarke was born circa 1902 in St. Croix and died circa 1965. Frances had a sister named Elizabeth Clarke. Clement had two other brothers named Miles Delvitt and Hugh Delvitt. He also had a sister named Winnifred “Winny” Delvett. Winny had a daughter named Roberta whose daughter “dropped dead” in 2004 from the effects of a new but controversial birth control pill. Roberta ended up on east coast TV stations talking about the sad story. Clement Delvitt arrived in New York City at the age of 15 and grew up as a teenager in New York City. He attended Seward Park High School and Delancy Street High School and was the only black student at the school. He played on the school’s soccer team and worked part-time as a 15 and 16-year old actor at the Trinity Playhouse after his high school hours. At the age of 19, he acted at the Playhouse of the Henry Street Settlement in lower Manhattan. In 1940, Clement enlisted in the US Army, working under the Commanding Officer in Italy and was promoted to Master Sergeant. In 1941 he was promoted to Corporal while serving in the Army’s 758^th Tank Battalion, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He made Sargeant and wore “3 stripes up and 3 stripes down.” When he went over to Europe to fight WWII, his battalion was the first all Black lightweight tank battalion to fight in the war. Their commander was White. He was in Italy and saw with his own eyes the bodies of Mussolini and his mistress hanging from where he had been sentenced to death by the people. He met Jackie Robinson while he was a Leutenant in another battalion while the two Black battalions passed through each other in Europe. After serving two more years in Italy, Clement received an honorable discharge in 1946.

Rose Marie Egas and Clement Delvitt married in New York City on 20 May 1942, but another family report says they married in Alexandria, Louisiana. Rose Egas and Clement Delvitt had six children, or perhaps five as there is still controversy as to whom the father was concerning the sixth child. With the exception of their first child, all of the children were born in New York City:

A. Ronald Delvitt was the first child born on 10 Jan 1943, in Alexandria Louisiana. He married Sheila Carter. Sheila was born on 24 Sep 1943 in New York City’s Harlem Hospital. She was the daughter of David Carter of Philadelphia and Roberta Polite of Charleston, South Carolina. Ronald and Sheila had a daughter named Lisette Delvitt born on 13 Jan 1980.

B. Linda Delvitt was born on 20 Feb 1944. She married Nicolas Jacob and had one daughter named Angelique “Muffy” Jacob.

C. Patricia Delvitt was born on 20 Aug 1948, but who died eight days later;

D. Andre Delvitt was born on 4 March 1950. He had one child named Andre Delvitt Jr. born ca. 1982. Andre’s mother was a young very fair skinned woman who died at an early age. Andre’s mother Rose recalls “the girl died of a tragic death! She was out in the streets most of her time and got very ill and sick looking. I believe she died of AIDS. They wanted to amputate her leg but she refused and died soon after…” The Grandmother of Andre Jr. took care of him after his mother died. She was working lots of hours and was not able to fully care for Andre Jr. and gave him up for adoption to a white family. He had his name changed to Andre Caperna. As a teenager Andre Jr. got into much trouble and by the time he was in his early twenties ended up going to prison.

E. Sheila Delvitt was born on 20 Feb 1952. She married Atuma and had two children with him – Atuma Jr. and Renaldo. Atuma was of mixed race – half Jewish, half Black according to Sheila’s mother Rose. She also bore a son named Rajive for an unknown man from India. Sheila’s mother Rose recalls the day the boy, a teenager by that time, called her up one day out of the blue.

“…he just called up one day several years ago saying ‘hello aunt rose, this is your grandson’. It was a surprising phone call as I hadn’t even heard from my daughter in years. I think they were still living in New Jersey then. We didn’t talk long and I don’t even remember his name…”

According to the results of the high school indoor track & field championships held in Princeton, New Jersey on 12 Jan 2003, a boy with the name Rajive Bennett ran in the distance medley relay with his team from Trenton Central high school. Is this Sheila’s son? He was in the 11^th grade at the time and was probably born about 1985 – 1986. In the Caribbean based Trinidad Guardian Newspaper dated Friday 21 Jan 2005, a death notice was written about a man named Rampartap Doon Pundit, also known as “Petes” and the son of the late Mahant & Basso Doon Pundit. Rampartap died at the age of 61 and was “the father of Nalini & Rajive.” His funeral was on Sunday the 23^rd and then his body was taken “to the Caroni cremation site for cremation according to Hindu rites...” Hinduism is the major religion of India. Is this Rajive’s East Indian father?

Sheila “Shalama” Delvitt was the “disappearing daughter” of the family, moving away and breaking all contact with her family, immediate and extended. Even after four years of the death of her father was Shiela nowhere to be found to notify her. An inheritance of several thousand dollars left to her from a deceased uncle still remains unclaimed.

The Delvitt and Acea Families go to Coney Island

Summer of 1965, Brooklyn New York

Top Row: Sheila Delvitt, Marcellus Delvitt, Leona Acea, Russell Acea, Lisa Acea

Bottom Row: Jon Acea, Maria Gracita Mallory, Rose Egas Delvitt, Elizabeth Egas

F. Marcellus Theresa Delvitt was born on 3 May 1954. After the birth of Marcellus, it was recognized and known by many family relatives that close friend of the family William Henri Hill, was the father of Marcellus. It was said by many that the resemblance itself was enough proof. Rose Egas Delvitt, separated from her husband Clement Delvitt, attempted to marry a second time to William Henri Hill circa 1963 –1965. Unfortunately, and unknown to Rose, William was already married to another woman named Sylvia Hill. Rose did her part in the attempt to get her husband Clement to sign the divorce papers. Through a miscommunication or error on the part of William Hill, the divorce papers were said to have been “signed and processed” and Rose and William were married, however Clement in fact did not sign any divorce papers. He had come to sister-in-law Elizabeth’s house at 1712 Park Avenue, just after the supposed wedding and told Elizabeth he was so mad he could have

“…thrown Rose out of the window. She is running around telling people she is married to William Hill. She didn’t divorce me. Somebody lied. I am still married to Rose and here are the papers to prove it!”

No one is sure where the marriage took place but it was said to have been a very small private affair with no reception. Bill Thompson, a friend of Willie’s, was said to have been one of the marriage witnesses. Although several family members recall hearing Rose say that William was the father of Marcellus, including her own daughter Marcellus herself, Rose still denies ever saying it. The very last word on the subject was by Marcellus’ mother Rose who declared just before the printing of this book “…She is a Delvitt! Clement Delvitt is her father and that is the last word on that!” Other family members still dispute that claim. Marcellus married Manuel Oyola and bore three children with him. She also had a set of twins she bore with Thomas Gary. (For full listing of Rose’s grandchildren see “Descendants of Alexander Mallory of Grand Turk Island”)

William Hill with the help of a few friends, founded his own business called Brunswick Security and Investigation. Living just a couple of blocks away from Rose’s sister Elizabeth on 1712 park avenue, William was a resident at 52 E 120^th street in Manhattan when on 3 May 1963, he along with partners Woodrow Wilson, Paul A Johnson, and Oliver Hart signed the documents that would begin their business partnership of the company which conducted business at 1095 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. (*146*) Their original business certificate would change a year later on 9 July 1964, when William, now residing at 386 E 161^st street in the Bronx, just a few blocks away from the famed Yankee Stadium, would add an additional partner named James B Moore of Brooklyn.

Marcellus Delvitt was but 17 years of age when she married Manuel Edilio Oyola on 12 Feb 1972, in New York City. During an interview with the author, Marcellus recounted the sad situation she was thrust into during her engagement to Manuel. Shortly before her marriage, her mother Rose Egas Delvitt told her who her real biological father was - that of William Henri Hill. Having thought Clement Delvitt was her true father all these years, that new information just before her wedding date really upset her having to find out it was William Hill who was really her father. Rose and William definitely and seriously dated for many years. The two supposedly met while Rose’s sister Elizabeth was babysitting Rose’s daughter while she went upstairs to a party in the apartment building. According to Elizabeth:

“…Willie lived around the corner from where we would eventually live on 99^th street and Central Park West. He was working with the housing authority and told people when and where were the vacancies in the neighborhood. It was late in the year 1952 while I was very pregnant with Russell and was baby-sitting Rose’s kids and her eight month old daughter Shiela while she went to the party. I believe they first met at that party but they could have met earlier. I was still living at her apartment at Madison and 132^nd street and Willie would later send letters to her by way of addressing it to me. One day Clement opened one of the letters and read it. One of the lines said ‘I am taking you and all the children…’ It was 1953 by then and Clement thought that was strange since I only had Russell and was pregnant with my second child Leona. That’s when he started getting suspicious. When Rose decided to move into the apartment Willie got her on 99^th street around 1956, that’s when Clement was going to sue them both to get the kids back. I believe he got a court order to get the kids back. Willie got me the apartment at 99^th street right on the corner and then he got Rose an apartment on the same block. What Willie didn’t tell me was that the apartment buildings there were being condemned and we had to move out after the summer of 1956. Willie definitely told me one day that ‘Marcellus is my child…’ Most of the kids in the family know the story. Rose doesn’t know that I know this story but Willie told me that Clement caught the two of them in a hotel room. She ran back to her apartment at 2101 Madison Ave while I was still living there but just before I moved out while very pregnant with Leona. Rose ran home to get in bed and locked the door. I remember that when Clement arrived, a big fight broke out because she wouldn’t let him in and he had to break the door down. My last fight with my sister Rose occurred shortly after that while I was still pregnant with Leona. I told her ‘don’t you ever hit me again’ and that was the last time she ever did…”

Rose’s son Ronald remembers having to move out of the 2101 Madison Avenue apartment down to “the place where the roaches were crawling!” “We were’nt there long. I believe I attended Booker T Washington High School for 3 or 4 months and we were out of there. I think it was the court order that got us back, that sounds about right.”

Nearing his 55^th birthday, it was during the night of 2 Nov 1974, and during the 56^th birthday celebration of Rose’s first husband Clement Delvitt that William Hill took his last drink. His cardiovascular system, working overtime for the overweight 365-pound detective, failed before dinnertime and a massive stroke followed. William Henri Hill was quickly taken to Queens General Hospital but was most likely dead before the paramedics could arrive there. It was by now after midnight and the 3^rd of November 1974, when he was officially pronounced dead. It was very soon thereafter that Rose, trying to settle the estate of William Hill, discovered that Mr. Hill was still legally married to his first wife Sylvia Hill and thus Rose could not inherit any of his estate. However, acknowledging that Marcellus was in fact his daughter, a sum of $10,000 was left for her to inherit according to family sources. She was the only person on the Delvitt family side to claim anything of the Hill estate according to family stories. Rose’s brother Gus said he also believed that William Hill was the father because “William left Marcellus insurance money to her when he died, he used to come around and push her baby carriage. That certainly doesn’t prove he’s the father but I just believe he is…” William Hill died intestate and Sylvia and William Hill’s daughter Fern M Wright, (both mother and daughter living at 3511 Barnes Avenue in the Bronx), was “hereby authorized to administer the estate of the deceased subject to the jurisdiction and supervision of the court...” (*145*) and after his wife Sylvia Hill “renounced and waived all rights of estate to her daughter” there was at first, only $3000 of personal property to deal with.

According to an interview Marcellus had with the author, it would be years later that her mother Rose would again change the story and tell Marcellus that Clement Delvitt was the true father and not William Hill. The on and off again issue of Mr. Hill being the father, yes then no then yes then no compelled Marcellus to want to “leave the matter as it is” as she did “not want to open up old wounds as there is no proof!” and as far as she was concerned about Clement Delvitt, “he always was” and she “always will acknowledge him as my father”. Some family members think money is the motivation for changing the story. About the year 2003, when Clement’s brother Hugh died, all of the children received some inherited money, including Marcellus. Some of her siblings thought Marcellus should not have received any money at all. “Marcellus received a few thousand dollars by claiming to be a Delvitt. She should not have gotten any money from her ‘uncle’s’ estate”, were the words of her older brother. Another cousin named Roberta received more than any of them because her mother Winnifred Delvitt had died and there were no other siblings to split it with. About the controversy of who the father of Marcellus is, her brother Ronald spoke out on it also:

“…its William Henri Hill, no doubt. When we lived at the apartment at 2101 he was there quite often. Certain things that took place led me to believe he was the father. I am emphatically sure that Marcellus is his daughter! There were things that were said when he was there at the house when we were younger. For example, I overheard a conversation one day when my mother Rose told him “That’s your daughter…”

Marcellus became a grandmother on 3 June 1995, when her son Manuel Oyola Jr. gave birth to Isaiah Oyola. Other children born between Marcellus Delvitt and Manuel Edilio Oyola were David Oyola and Nisette Oyola born in 1975. Nisette graduated from F. H. Laguardia high school of Music & Art and Performing Arts in January 1994. She majored in acting. Nisette met LuQuan Graham and the couple had two children: Zaidayaa Graham born on 16 September 1999, and Luna Ra Graham born on 27 May 2003. Zaidayaa’s name in the Swahili African language means “baby born on Thursday Warrior Queen”.

Family Feud!

After a few years of deteriorating health, along with suspected Alzheimer’s disease, Clement Delvitt had to be taken to the hospital on 2 august 2000, after falling out of bed and hitting his head in his New York City home. He died the next day. The controversy in the Delvitt family wasn’t over however. It seemed to be just heating up again. Some 17 years before his death, Clement had made a will and left his oldest son Ronald and his adopted daughter Sheri Lynn Wallace as executives of the will. A house in Queens, NY that Clement Delvitt had purchased after his separation from his wife, was originally bequeathed to his woman friend “Isabell “Bell” Thomas who he was living with for many years after being separated from his wife. The will stipulated that if she was to die before Clement died, the house was to be left to his adopted daughter Sheri. No other family members except his daughter Linda was included in the will regarding the house and this did not sit too well with some of the Delvitt family. Linda was to get the house if something happened to Sheri. Clement had originally purchased the house after winning the Irish Sweepstakes. He won it twice according to family stories. He bought a brand new blue Chevrolet car and the house in Queens with some of the money. After the death of Clement, Rose tried to move in the house and when her son Ronald told her she had to move out a fight ensued. Sister Marcellus threatened to call the police. Rose had been back and forth between her Madison ave apartment and the queens house for more than a year, trying to get acclimated to the new environment. She nor her daughter Marcellus had no knowledge of the will. Sheri and her husband were living downstairs and didn’t mind Rose coming and going until the day she decided to stay permanently and that is when the conflicts began and Sheri and her husband were “driven out of the house to avoid the conflicts” according to Rose’s son Ronald and by Sheri herself who acknowledged being driven out in 1994 just after her first child was born. “Sheri knew the house was hers because she saw the will, but Rose and Marcellus did not know about it until about a year after my father’s death. They are aware of it now because of legal proceedings” recalled Rose’s son Ronald Delvitt. Sheri Lynn recalls having the will in her possession since she was the age of 15 years old when Isabell Thomas died. The story at present is that Rose and her two daughters Marcellus and Linda are going to court to try and reverse desire that Clement wrote in his will that he wanted the house to go to his adopted daughter Sheri. Ronald Delvitt and his brother Andre both oppose their mother Rose Delvitt trying to regain possession of the house against the wished of their father. It is a story that just won’t let the “family feud” die.

Sheri Lynn Wallace also knows about the controversial family story as to “who is really Marcellus’ father” and recollects some of the things that were said to her as well as the role Clement played as father to both girls:

“…Yes I know a little about William Hill and that he is Marcellus’ father, which were words from Clement’s mouth to my ears for many years. Marcellus even told me herself that Clement wasn’t her real dad. She told me this when we were younger and were close. Anything I did as a teenager, she knew. We could tell each other stuff and the dad thing was one of the things she told me. But when it all comes down to it, Clement was the only father she knew and he accepted her as his as he did with me. Despite how the family may feel on that, no one should take this away from Marcellus. He was the dad God gave to us both…”

2. Agustine Egas Jr. was the second child born to Maria Mallory and Agustin Egas. Agustine Egas Jr. was born on 9 Dec 1925. He was born with red hair and his mother would save his hair every time he had a haircut. One of the “collector” items Gus had was his own hair that he used to keep in a suitcase. When he was down on his luck and had to briefly move in with his sister Rose, she unfortunately threw the suitcase and its contents out with the trash. That was a most disappointing day in his life he recalls. Augustine opened and owned his own radio shop after his father gave him all of his radio equipment when he retired from the radio repair business. When burglers broke in and stole everything, he closed it down. Agustine Egas Jr. married Louise Orange of St. Louis, Missouri (or Mobile, Alabama) during a NYC winter snowstorm in early 1947. A daughter Gwen Egas was born on 5 Nov 1947. After separating from his wife Louise, he met and bore three children with Mary Whaley: and other children born to Agustine Egas Jr. were Agustine Egas III, Evette Egas or married and became Evette Berthoumieux, and Juanita Egas who married NFL football player Mark McGruder. In between the two woman of his life, Augustine Egas Jr. had a “one time affair” with a woman named Inez. According to him, he did not know she became pregnant until his sister Rose told him “she is pregnant with your child!” The woman moved out of the apartment building and he never saw her again nor ever found out who was the child. Augustine re-counted the story:

“…I had my own three-bedroom apartment on 8 East 116^th street and I met a girl named Inez who lived in the same apartment building. I remember that the landlord of the apartment building was Mr. Atkins. Her sister lived on the top floor but I’m not sure if she lived there or with her family in another apartment upstairs. It was the year 1949 when I met her and I didn’t know she was pregnant until my sister Rose told me. She was tall and slender and had long brown hair and when she moved out of the apartment building, I didn’t see her any more. She moved up the street a few blocks on 116^th street between Lenox and 5^th Avenue. It was a one-time relation but that’s all it takes. She came over to my apartment and we ended up on my couch making love…”

Augustine’s sister Elizabeth remembers the story and remembers meeting the girl, ä beautiful brownskin woman” she recalls. Strangely enough, when asked about the story again just before the printing of this book, Augustine’s sister Rose reported that she “didn’t know anything about the story and never told brother Gus that story to him…” Another child Augustine says he sired was a son with a woman named Mary Durden who lived on Fish Avenue in the Bronx. She was born ca. 1924 – 1925 and was about 35 years old when she bore his son ca. 1959. Gus remembers that her husband was a construction worker and her sister lived in the Glenmore section of Brooklyn. Augustine says he never saw the son or knew his name.

Augustine Egas Jr. became the caretaker of many of his father’s important family documents. Although he and his siblings never knew of or met their father’s family there was the exception of two or three times that a young Augustine Egas Jr. remembers meeting and playing with a cousin when he was a young boy. According to his memory, Augustine Egas Jr. recalls a time when he played with one of the sons of his aunt:

“…I played with “Aunties son” when I was seven or eight years old. Daddy would take me to her house on 104^th street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenue so I could play with her little boy. I think he might have been a little younger than me. We didn’t live too far away and that would have been around the year 1932. She was mentally ill and she died soon after I played with her son. My daddy took me to 104^th street for two reasons – to play with his sister’s son, and also to visit with my Godparents who lived on the same street. My Godfather was named Howard and I can’t remember my Godmother’s name but its on my baptismal certificate from St. Marks Church. She had long hair all the way past her neck and down to her back. Her husband was a World War I veteran and when the government paid her some money after he died, she went back to her home country Trinidad. She never came back to the United States and died there…”

EGAS Family Photos

Center: Agustín Tiburcio Egas in New York City, 2 May 1959.

Left: Maria Gracita Mallory Egas

Top Right: Agustin Egas Jr.

Bottom Right: Unknown Egas relative from Ecuador

3. Elizabeth Egas was the third and last child born to Agustín Egas and Maria Gracita Mallory. Elizabeth was born on 19 November 1934. Much of this chapter is devoted to her family.

After 50 years in the United States, Maria Gracita Mallory finally became homesick and sought to visit her homeland of Grand Turks Island in the British West Indies. There were difficulties in obtaining a passport as it was discovered that Maria was not a United States citizen, but in fact a British Subject: a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies. A passport was issued by the British Consulate on 25 June 1970, and in July of 1970 Maria visited The Bahamas and her birth-place within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Upon her return to the United States it was necessary to file for US citizenship. Thus Maria had to go through the process of becoming a US citizen, and filed for such on 3 Sep 1970. Since she had been in this country for fifty years, they could not deport her. Going before the Judge and reciting the pledge of allegiance and some of the United States Constitution, her certificate of naturalization was granted on 30 Nov 1970 and her status as a citizen of Great Britain was changed to that of a citizen of the United States (*93*). Although separated from her husband for decades, Maria had three boyfriends before her death. Otis Jones was the first. Marie’s daughter Elizabeth remembers going to his house when she was around six or seven years old. He was somewhat “mean” and ran a lot of illegal operations in his house such as gambling and alcohol making in the bathroom tub. Marie also had a boyfriend named Henry and finally in her older years it was a man named Mickey who worked at the Opera House in downtown New York. When Maria was 66 years old, she decided she did not want to see him or any man as a companion any more. The death of Maria Gracita Mallory came suddenly on the evening of 13 Aug 1971, due to an intra-cerebral hemorrhage. She was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York on 18 Aug 1971 (*94*).

Elizabeth Egas’ father Agustin Tiburcio Egas was born in South America, about 150 miles south of the equator in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador in Guayas province. He was born on 11 Aug 1898, and baptized on 31 Dec 1898 by the Reverend J. Pastor Garcés in La Merced Parish. His sponsoring God-parents were Jose C. Martinez and Josefa Aguino. His parents are listed as Manuel Egas and Agustina Pardo (*114*). Agustin had always noted his mother’s name as Agustina Varela. The reason for the name “Pardo” could be from one of two good reasons: that there were frequent errors made with the last names of parents in Guayaquil was a fact, some of which included a simple mistake as incorrectly writing down or copying the spelling of the name. I believe this may be the case. Without the benefit of seeing the original and relying solely on a handwritten copy of the baptismal certificate written 58 years after the fact, it is highly possible and the most likely one is that the copying recorder saw the name “Varela” and mistakenly took the “V” for a “P” and the “el” for a “d” and the “a” for an “O” with the result of coming up with the name “Pardo“ instead of “Varela” (*114*). Handwritten transcriptions from a century old can be difficult to decipher. Also, it was, and still is traditional for Spanish people to carry their father’s surname as their middle name, and their mother’s surname as the last name. Thus it could be possible that her name was Agustina Varela Pardo with Varela being her father’s family name, and Pardo being her mother’s family name. Some family historical stories say that either Agustin’s father Manuel Egas or Agustin’s grandfather, immigrated to South America from Naples Italy with others claiming a German ancestry. Family history also says that Agustina Varela was of Native Ecuadorian Indian. The term “Indigenous” is used in South American countries instead of the term “Indian”. When Agustin Egas applied for a social security card in 1937, he did not list the maiden name of his mother as requested, but instead wrote down “Agustina Egas.” He listed his father’s name as Manuel Egas. He gave his birth date as 15 August 1900, born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was 36 years of age at his last birthday. At the time of the June 12^th application, Agustin was living at 55 East 101^st Street. He did not know his zip code and gave the address of the post office as 106 Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenue in New York City. He was employed by WPA project #165-97-8503, with a business address of 131 Walter Street, in New York City (*252*).

Since the name Egas is presently found in Holland and Ecuador, where is there a German connection? The first “Eichas” to emigrate from Germany had his name changed to “Egas” when he came to Holland. But where did the Egas families in Ecuador originate? Did a Dutch or German Egas immigrate to Ecuador? A possible clue that a German/Ecuadorian connection existed may be found in the immigration records at Ellis Island. Arriving on the ship “Tagus” on 25 Nov 1909 from Ecuador via Colon, Panama was Hector Egas age 22. His father paid for his ticket. He was a student and gave the name of Mrs. Egas as a relative. On the same ship were three people from Guayaquil of German ethnicity: Alfred Dehmlow 31, Carmen Bunge 24 years, 4 months, Ema De Kaiser 35 and 3 months. Ema was both German/Ecuadorian origins. Others on the ship were Luis Phillipe Carbo 51, and Anna Christina 21. Both were from Quito, Ecuador (*184*).

Ecuador and Guayaquil

Stone age tools found in the Quito area have been dated to 9000 BC and although there were various inhabitants in the region since that time, most histories of Ecuador begin with the expansion of the Incas from Peru in the 1400’s. The Inca conquest of Ecuador was begun by Topa Inca Yupanqui (Thupa ‘Inka Yupanki) (ruled 1471 – 1493), and extended by his successor Huayna Capac (Wayna Qhapaq) (ruled 1493 – 1525) who was the youngest son of Topa’s principal wife and sister and who lived much of his life in Tomebamba, Ecuador. The year 1526 is a major one in Ecuadorian history. In this year, the Inca chief Huayna Capac died and left his empire not to one son, as was traditional, but to two: Huáscar Inca (Washkar ‘Inka) of Cuzco (now in Peru), and Atahualpa Inca (‘Ataw Wallpa ‘Inka) of Quito, the present day capital of Ecuador. This divided the Incan empire for the first time in history. In the same year, on September 21, the first Spaniards landed in northern Ecuador near present day Esmeraldas. Conquistador Francisco Pizarro sent his pilot Bartolemé Ruiz de Andrade on an exploratory mission to the south. During this exact time, the Inca division grew into a tense rivalry between the two sons and the two Inca brothers went to war. Atahualpa of Quito defeated his brother Huáscar of Cuzco and was thus sole ruler of the weakened and still divided Inca Empire when Pizarro arrived in 1532 with plans to conquer the Incas. Pizarro’s advance was quick and ruthless. On November 16, 1532, a summit meeting at Cajamarca in Peru was arranged between Pizarro the Spanish conquistador and Atahualpa the Inca ruler who was prepared to negotiate a treaty with the Spaniards. Pizarro and his army of conquistadors, which numbered less than 200, instead massacred the Inca and captured Atahualpa and held him for ransom. After the Inca paid mountains of gold and silver as ransom to the Spaniards, Atahualpa was executed on August 19, 1533. (*101*) His death effectively brought the Inca Empire to an end and saw the beginning of Spanish rule in South America for almost 300 years.

The first serious attempt to liberate Ecuador from Spanish rule was by a partisan group led by Juan Pío Montúfar on August 10, 1809. The group managed to take Quito and install a government, but this lasted only 24 days before Royalist troops loyal to Spain were able to regain control. Independence was finally achieved by Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan liberator who marched southward from Caracas, freed Colombia in 1819 and supported the people of Guayaquil when they claimed independence on October 9, 1820. The main street in the city of Guayaquil is named “9 de Octubre” in memory of their liberation. It took almost two years before Ecuador was entirely liberated from Spanish rule. In 1822 the city of Guayaquil was the scene of the famous “Guayaquil conference” between Simón Bolívar and Jose de San Martin, another South American liberator from Peru who fought against Spanish rule. Bolivar emerged as sole leader of the South American liberation movement and his forces very soon after this conference delivered the final blow to the Spanish colonial regime in South America at the battle of Ayacucho, located in the highlands of south-central Peru, on December 9, 1824.

The city of Guayaquil is located in the province of Guayas and is the most important seaport in Ecuador. It is the most populous city in the country. A Puna Indian chief named Guaya is whom the province was named after. Chief Guaya first fought bravely against the Incas and then the Spanish conquistadors. The capital of the province, Guayaquil, is named after chief Guaya and his wife Quill. Legend has it that he killed both his wife and himself rather than be captured by the Spanish conquistadors. Ecuador today is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic and Spanish speaking. The currency in Ecuador was the sucre, named after General Antonio José de Sucre, who defeated the Spanish colonialists at the Battle of Pichincha, the volcano west of Quito, on May 24, 1822, thus opening the way to independence for Ecuador. (*99*)

Since the year 2000, Ecuador has switched over to the American dollar as its currency. Since the turn of the new millennium, Ecuador was still experiencing political problems. President Lucio Gutierrez was removed from office in April 2005 by congress amid street protests calling for his ouster for abuse of power and misrule. The April scene saw Lucio inside his Quito palace surrounded by 100,000 protesters from Native Indians to bus drivers. They called him “Sucio Lucio” meaning “dirty Lucio” for going along with demands of George Bush and the World Bank to cut government spending on health and education. Since 1996, Ecuador has had seven presidents. Gutierrez was the third Ecuadorean leader forced from office in that time, but what goes around comes around. Ironically, former president Jamil Mahuad was toppled by a Coup d’État following a revolt by native Indians and military rogue army colonel Lucio Gutierrez. After doing four months in prison for his role in the coup, Gutierrez was elected president. After Gutierrez’s removal from office, Vice President Alfredo Palacio was sworn in as the new leader on 20 April 2005.

In the Ecuadorean rain forest lays an abundance of what the World Bank and Occidental petroleum want – OIL. They are clearing the Rain Forest and drilling there to extract the oil. Ecuador sits on more than 4 billion barrels of known oil reserves. The problem the Ecuadoreans see is that foreign countries will drill their oil but the people of Ecuador will not profit from it. Documents from the World Bank dictate that Ecuador must give 90% of its new oil revenues to foreign bondholders for debt buyback. Ecuador must only spend 10% of its new oil wealth on social spending such as health and education. The day he took office, new President Alfredo Palacio announced that he would put social spending first and hold back some of the bond money. That’s not what the Bush administration wanted to hear. During an interview with reporter Greg Palast, President Palacio, a heart surgeon educated in the United States said the following:

“If we pay that amount of debt, we’re dead, and we have to survive. The most convenient thing for them (USA) is that we survive. If we die, who’s going to pay them? They condemn us not to have health, not to have education. Sick people are not going to produce anything; ignorant people are not going to produce anything. So we have to invest in that in order to increase our production which is the only way to inprove our economic improvement, then we will be ready to pay our debt.” (*264*)

The Bush administrations response to Palacio was “…your attempt to shift money away from bondholders makes your government illigitamate.” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for “new and quick elections in Ecuador.”

Manuel Egas Sr., the father of Agustin Egas, was probably born circa 1851. The census of Guayas Province, Ecuador on 13 June 1871 indicated that a certain Manuel Egas was 20 years old working in Sagrario Parish and was literate. The census of Sagrario Parish registered 6,216 people. He also has the word “soltero” written next to his education status, which means that he is an unmarried man (*100*). Manuel Egas was said to have worked as a detective and also owned a beer garden, which was a style of nightclub in Ecuador. Since this particular Manuel Egas was born circa 1850-1851, there is also the possibility that this person could either be Agustin’s father or Grandfather. If this were indeed Agustin’s father Manuel, then he would have been about 46-47 years old when he sired his son Agustin. Or with the other scenario, the Manuel Egas born circa 1850 could be Agustin’s grandfather who would have been about 47-48 at the time of Agustin’s birth. Both scenarios are logical possibilities and until further documents are found to indicate which one is true, the speculation will remain.

Other Ecuadorians with the surname “Egas” during the census of Guayas during the year 1871 include the following: Rosa Egas, was listed as a “major” meaning she was 17 years or older, living in the ‘Parroquia Concepcion’ (Conception Parish Church), illiterate and also unmarried. An earlier census taken in January of 1871, listed 9,067 people living in Conception Parish including the following: Melchor Egas, of major age, living in parroquia Concepcion, unmarried and illiterate. Lorenso Egas of major age, living in parroquia Concepcion, unmarried and illiterate. Modesto Egas of major age, living in Parroquia Concepcion, unmarried and illiterate (*128*).

Manuel Egas and Agustina Varela had at least three and perhaps four other children according to family history: Rose Egas, who was said to have been the oldest and died of alcoholism at the age of 60; Antonia Egas who is said to have been the sister of Agustin “who sang in a bar and grill“ in Guayaquil; and Manuel Egas Jr. born circa 1904, who eventually moved to New York City to join his brother Agustin where he opened his own beautician shop on 14^th street and did hair. Manuel Egas would also rent or later own a small apartment house on 14^th street on the west side near 8^th avenue. It is also believed that Manuel married and had children with his wife. It is almost certain that the older brother Agustin arrived in New York City before his younger brother Manuel did. How much personal contact the two brothers kept between each other appears to have been minimum. Certainly there was no contact between the families of the two brothers because Elizabeth, Rose and Augustin Jr. who were the three chidren of Agustin Egas, never saw or met any of their aunts, uncles or cousins with the exception of two or three times that a young Augustine Egas Jr. remembers meeting and playing with a cousin when he was a young boy. According to his memory, Augustine Egas Jr. recalls a time when he was about eight years old when he briefly played with his aunt’s son who lived on the same street as his Godmother.

We are not sure if Agustin’s parents Manuel Egas Sr. and Agustina Varela were ever bonded in holy matrimony. Records pertaining to key family historical information down in Ecuador were almost impossible to find and when records were found, they proved to be highly unreliable in many cases. A fire destroyed many of the birth and baptismal records in the main church and the records at the Civil Registry (El Registro Civil) were in extremely poor shape, out of order, lost or unreadable due to serious neglect over the decades. Nevertheless, we find a baptismal certificate of Agustin’s brother Manuel within the Archdiocese of Guayaquil at the Parish of Merced church (Parroquia de la Merced). According to the baptismal certificate, Manuel Alejandro Egas was born on 9 February 1904, and baptized on 2 April 1904 by the Reverend Rodolfo Cabrera. His sponsoring Godparents were Antonio Ponce and Mercedes Gambon. Manuel’s mother’s name is given as Agustina Varela and the father’s name is not listed which is a clue that the child may have been illegitimate (*115*). There is also the possibility that in the same year, another child was born to Manuel Egas, however the possibility that there was more than one person with the name “Manuel Egas” is extremely high. According to the baptismal records of the parish of the Merced church, Ines Egas was born on 3 March 1904, and I on 17 April 1904 by the Reverand Pedro Cepeda. Her father is listed as Manuel Egas and strangely enough, her mother is not listed at all! (*116*). Her sponsoring Godparents were Ulpiano Cisneros and Amalia Pallares. Again, there is the high probability that there was more than one man with the name Manuel Egas in Guayaquil at the turn of the 20^th century and with the Ecuadorian records as sketchy and inconclusive as they are, this may or may not be the same Manuel Egas in the direct lineage of Agustin Tiburcio Egas. We are certain that the mother of both of the brothers Agustin and Manuel Jr. was Agustina Varela with perhaps the name Pardo representing another family name of hers. Whether she was also the mother of the two sisters Rose and Antonia either legitimately or illegitimately has yet to be determined. What may possibly be a brother or relative of Agustina comes from a baptism on 17 of January 1903 from the same church which says that a girl named Juana Bonita Varela was born seven days earlier to the parents of Agustin Varela and Ricardina Torres. What may give us many clues about a possible link with the Torres family and other relatives of Agustín Egas comes from a letter written in 1942 from Agustín Egas’ mother Agustina Varela:

Guayaquil Abril 17 de 1942

Sr. Agustin Egas V.

Querido hijo ruego a Dios te encuentres vien de salud la mismo que

Dear son I pray to God of finding you of good (bien) health, the same with

tu señora i mis nietos que no se cuantos son, dime los nombres i

your lady and my grandchildren that I do not know how many they are, tell me the names

sus edad yo quiero saber todo eso; de los hermanos de tu papá me

and their ages as I want to know all of that; about the brothers of your father I

acuerdo de tres, uno que se llama Dario i que trabajaba en la

remember (recuerdo) three, one that is named Dario and who worked in the

gobernacion, otro que era escultor o sea que acia santos con

government, another that was a sculpture or that he used to make (hacía) saints with

madera i que se llama José i otro que era lisiado de una pierna i que

wood and whose name was José and another that was crippled on one leg and that

no recuerdo el nombre; estos tres no se si viven o an fallecido. Aca

I don’t remember the name; these three I don’t know if they are living or if they are dead.

Se ace dificil mandar la carta por correo maritimo si ya que no estamos

Over here they make (hace) it difficult to send the letter by sea mail and still we are not

al corriente de la llegada de los barcos por causa de la guerra

running up to date on the arriving of the boats because of the war

i aun yendose ya la carta ahi el peligro de que un

and yet still getting away your letter over there with the dangers

dan al barco, pero Dios a de querer que no sea asi

that they give to the boat, but God wishes that it is not to be so.

Petita sale en uno de estos dias de donde trabaja de

Petita leaves on one of these days from where she works

modo que no mandes la carta a la casilla i si

so that (you?) don’t send the letter to the store booth and if

no a la direccion que te indice abajo, yo todos los

not to the address that you indicated below, I every

dias voy a la plaza del sur i al pasar por la

day go to the south plaza and to pass by the

sucursal pregunto por tu carta a la señorita

postal branch to ask about your letter to the lady (there)

me despido con un abrazo i quedo en espera de tu carta.

I say goodbye with a hug and quietly await your letter.

Agustina Varela.

Sucursal de correos No. 1.

Postal branch for mail number 1

Guayaquil Ecuador S.A.

Guayaquil, Ecuador, South America

(Spanish translation by R. Jacquet Acea)

On the left side margin of the letter is an additional writing by either Agustina or the younger nephew of Agustín. It appears that Agustina is writing the notation for the nephew.

Tio aga el favor de decir si le es facil de leer mi escrito. Reciba mi

Uncle do (haga) me the favor of telling me if it is easy to read my writing. Receive my

saludo, Pedro Ramirez Torres.

Regards, Pedro Ramirez Torres.

The 1942 letter gives us a clue connecting us with a few of Agustin’s family relatives. Pedro Ramirez Torres calls Agustin his uncle. Since Agustina Varela is most likely taking care of the young boy, this could be her grandson, the son of one of her daughters (Agustin’s sister) making the young boy Agustin’s nephew. According to Spanish surname tradition, the name Ramirez indicates the surname of his father, and the name Torres indicates the surname of his mother. Since the mother’s maiden name should be Egas, perhaps we are dealing with a great-grandson, or a half sister of Agustin. We find out that Agustin had at least three uncles from his father’s side, two of which were named Dario and Jose. There was one other “crippled” brother whose name Agustin’s mother could not remember. Should we assume that the surnames of the two are Dario Egas and José Egas? The Egas family descendants have always called Agustin’s father by the name of “Manuel Egas” so it would be safe to assume for the present that Manuel’s three brothers went by the same name. We get another clue of another possible family relative with the name “Petita”. Since Agustin’s mother Agustina Varela does not introduce the woman but simply writes “…Petita leaves on one of these days from where she works…” we have to assume that Agustin already knew who the woman Petita was. We find out her full name with another letter received in the United States was written to Agustin more than a year later. Petitá Garcia of mail address “Casilla X” meaning mail or storebooth X wrote it. She writes a reference that she is the daughter of Manuel. Since Agustin’s father was named Manuel and also his younger brother was Manuel, this is either his niece or a half sister that he knew little about or she would not have addressed herself as “the daughter of Manuel.”

Guayaquil Agosto 31, 1943

Señor Agustin Egas

Sa? Pude? Tiene para saludardo y al mismo tiempo manifestarle. Respecto asuntos

If? You could? Have for greeting and at the same time to declare to you. With respect to family matters

familiares que tengo ?un(a?) hija(o)? del finado Manuel. Y que en la actualidad esta

that I have, a daughter of the deceased Manuel. And that in the present time is

cerca de mi cuarto donde vivo la Señora su Mama Yo la he visto y la veo en lo que mas

near from my room where I live the lady your mother I have seen her and I see her in what more

puedo bajo mis potresas, Como esta tan viejecita y el unico que esta con ella is Pedro

I can below my poverty, how is the little old lady and the only one that is with her is Pedro

y lo poco que garca es para la comida y yo soy tan pobre que vivo de mi trabajo.

And what little that (remains?) is for food and I am as poor as I live off of my work.

Tambien quiero hacer la pregunta si fue Ud quisa hace mas o menos unos 8 meses

Also I want to ask the question if it was you perhaps since more or less some 8 months

averiguaba por Sus familiars. Bino Un Sujeto. Y llevo el nombre de la Señora y la

investigating for your family relatives. I diged for a individual/subject. And I leave the number of the lady direccion para mandarlas a la persona interesada. Pero no regreso mias. Mi se sabe.

And the address for sending to the interested person. But (she?) did not return mine. They know me.

Si contesto ó no. eso queremos saber si fue Ud. No deje de contestárme al respectó.

If I answer or not. This we want to know if it was you. Do not give up of answering me on the subject.

Su mama esta muy enferma sera de pena. Ahora que por una casualidad

your mother is very sick she will be in pain. Now that for/by a chance

averiguando a un Señor que vino de alla si lo conocia. Y ?nos dio su direccion.

To ask about a man that came from there if (they?) knew him. And we gave him your address.

Su mama se puso contentisima y lloraba de gusto al saber que estaba bueno. Y yo de

Your mother had put contentment and crying with happiness to know that you are well. And I on

?mi parte le agradecere le conteste. Pueda que al recibir carta suya mejore y nos

my part to be grateful for the answer. It may be that upon receiving your letter she improves and we

acompañe unos dias mas. Conteste con la direccion Petita Garcia Casilla X sin

go accompany her one more day. answer with the address. Petita Garcia store booth X without

otro particular quedo su afftra Servidora Petita Garcia.

Any other particulars I remain your (??) servant Petita Garcia.

Agustina Varela died in Ecuador sometime between 1947 and 1960. No records or proper recollection of her death date has been obtained yet. Her son Agustín did fly to Ecuador to attend the funeral, but when? So far Augustine Egas Jr. is the only descendant with any recollection of her death at all. He believes he was about 23 years of age in the late 1940’s when she died. Since he was born in 1925, this would be about 1948. Agustine Jr’s recollection would make the most sense since the letter of 1943 indicates that Agustina Varela was very ill. Did she survive the decade of the 40’s? Elizabeth Egas says her father Agustin invited her to go to South America during Agustina Varela’s death but she recalls it being more near the time of late 1950’s to early 1960’s. She vividly remembers her dad telling her “…my mother was 98 years old when she died.” A trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador in 1997 by Russell Jacquet Acea to the cemetery showed nothing. No funeral or burial records could be found. “No hay nada” were the words of the chief (El Jefe) of the cemetery. Checking the LDS data base we find two names that could be a close match but in nearby South American countries: Agustina Varela Escobar the daughter of Norberto Varela and Rosario Escobar was baptized on 28 Sept 1875 in San Ambrosia, Vallenar Chile. Agustín Pedro Varela was born in 1884 in Seriezuela, Argentina. He married Lorenza Maria Seibel in 1913 and died in 1930.

Origin and History of The Egas Name

The name Egas appears to be of European origin, most likely of Spanish, Portugeuse, Italian or possibly Dutch origin. The earliest historical records of people with the Egas name in the history books appear to have been a family dynasty of Cathedral architects and sculptors who worked in Toledo Spain, a city about 50 miles south of Madrid. This particular family of Egas artists spanned three generations during an 80-year period from the 15^th century to the 16^th century. They introduced the Flamenco (Flemish) style of art to Europe and were the most representative of the Hispano-Flamenco art style of the Catholic Kings epoch. Starting with the first generation, Hanequin de Bruselas and his brothers Antón Martínez de Bruselas and Egas de Bruselas, their unique and innovative art styles were introduced and developed in Spain. Egas de Bruselas was also known as Maestre Egas and as Egas Cueman. It is unclear if the name Bruselas was a family name or just the name of the town from wence the brothers originated. The three brothers appear to have arrived in Toledo circa the year 1440. Egas Cueman married Mari Gutiérrez who bore him four children. Their four children were: Antón Egas, Enrique Egas, Margarita Gutiérrez and Isabel Gutiérrez. The two sons of Egas Cueman de Bruselas – Antón Egas and Enrique Egas, would go on to develop and define a unique style of Toledo art for all of Spain. The work of both of the brothers on designing, constructing, reforming, administering and governing numerous cathedrals, churches, chapels, schools, bookstores and hospitals throughout Spain in Spanish cities such as Toledo, Granada, Santiago, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Alhama, Málaga, Salamanca and others from the years 1480 to 1530, heightened their fame throughout the country as their art styles were recognized as the most beautiful work created in Spanish history. Enrique Egas had four sons who continued the bloodline of great Egas artist/architects. Father Egas de Acevedo “El Capellan”; sculptor Diego Egas that worked in 1531 in the Chapel of the New Kings; the painter Pedro Egas who worked in the Cathedrals between 1537 and 1545; and the architect Enrique Egas II collaborator of Corarrubias (*119*). One of the most recent Egas name in history was Antonio Egas Moniz, born in Portugal in 1874. Egas Moniz was a Portuguese neurologist who won a Nobel prize in medicine in 1949 for his work on the development of prefrontal leucotomy (lobotomy) as radical therapy for certain psychoses, or mental diseases.

Egas Origins from Spain?

Another related name and closely pronounced that we see in Ecuador is the name “EGUES” and also Eguez. The name originated in Spain before it migrated to Ecuador. Records are hard to follow due to the lack of birth, marriage and death dates and it is unclear who came to Ecuador first. Jose Rodriguez de Eguez appears to be one of the earliest that can be traced. He was born in Seville Spain. He married twice. His first wife named Sebastiana Herrera de la Torre. We get a lesson on how names were passed down with Spaniards. Sebastiana bore Jose at least two children: Mariana and Esteban Eguez de la Torre born in Seville, Spain. Here we see the name Torre from his mother become part of his surname. Jose Rodriguez’s second wife was Isabel Perez de Villamar y Valesco. Isabel bore perhaps four children with him: Manuela de Egüez y Villamar born in Cuenca 25 Nov 1736; Ramon; Petronila Eguez y Perez de Villamar and ILmo Jose Alejandro de Eguez y Villamar, the dean of the Cuenca Cathedral from 1793-94. Cuenca is 150 km east of Madrid, Spain. A lack of document cross references along with a lack of dates does not allow us to know for sure if all four are brothers and sisters. Records do conclusively show that Esteban Eguez de la Torre married Antonia Mestas in 1734 and the couple had seven children, one of which was Jose Eguez Mestas born in 1735. Jose Eguez Mestas married his aunt Petronila Eguez y Perez de Villamar in 1757. She was the half-sister of his father Esteban. Jose Eguez and Petronila Eguez Villamar had six children: Jose Mariano who married for the second time to his cousin Teresa Flor y Eguez; Maria Juana; Pedro Jose a military captain; Mariana who made her last will and testament in 1854; and Isabel who had not married by the year 1804. The likelihood that the Eguez family of the above-mentioned are not related to the Egas family of Agustín Tiburcio Egas is high but we include the information here for future researchers to examine.

Egas Origins from Germany and Holland?

As far as we are concerned about Ecuadorian families with the name Egas, the origin of the name may have its roots in Germany by way of the Netherlands. One side of the Egas family had always maintained that “Agustin’s father was of German ancestry.” A look for the name Egas turns up virtually in only two countries in 20^th century times – Ecuador and The Netherlands (Holland). If we look at the records, we find that the first immigrants with the name Egas in Holland were descendants of Antonij Eichas II born in Germany. Antonij Eichas Jr. was born in Köln, Germany in 1761. He was the son of Antonij Eichas I. He died in 1836. Antonij immigrated to the Netherlands (Holland) and married Dingena Van Den Heuvel on 20 Oct 1796. When in Holland, the name on all documents listed his surname as “Egas.” It is not difficult at all to see how the interpretation of the spoken name “Eichas” could be heard and written down as “Egas” by the original immigration recorder. Antonij Eichas was the son of Antonij Eichas Sr. born in 1726 in Germany. Antonij Sr. obviously immigrated to Holland as well and preceeded his son’s marriage by marrying a woman named Lena on 2 Oct 1796 in Hardinxveld, Netherlands.

Antonij married Lena Eichas on 2 Oct 1796 in Hardenberg, Netherlands, a city just west of the German border. Antonij I was born in Germany in the year 1726. It is not clear if Lena is the mother of Antonij II. Antonij Eichas II married Dingena Van Den Heuvel on 20 Oct 1796, just 18 days after his father had married or re-married. Since Antonij was an immigrant from Germany, he is probably the first to have his name changed from “Eichas” to “Egas”. His six children all were born with the name Egas. From the LDS Familysearch.org genealogy website records, Antonij Eichas Jr. and Dingena had six children, all born in Hardinxveld, Netherlands near the larger Dutch city of Rotterdam.

1. Hendrikus Egas was the first child born to Antonij Eichas II and Dingena Van Den Heuvel. Hendrikus was born on 16 June 1797 in Hardinxveld, Holland. He was baptized on 18 June of the same year. Hendrikus Egas married Marigue Van Den Bout. Four children born to Margue and Hendrikus were:

A. Elisabeth Egas born on 16 Dec 1819 but died on 6 Apr 1820.

B. Louwerens Egas born on 6 Feb 1821.

C. Dirk Egas born on 7 Mar 1825 in Hardinxveld, Holland.

D. Antonie Egas born in 1826.

2. Jan Egas I was the second child born to Antonij Eichas II and Dingena Heuvel. Jan was born on 14 Sep 1798. Jan married Elisabeth Swets.

A. Jan Egas II was one of the children born to Jan Egas I and Elisabeth Swets. He was born on 10 Jan 1833 in Hardinxveld, Netherlands. He married Aagie Den Breejan on 17 Jan 1861 in Hardinxveld. At least two children were born to Jan Egas II and Aagie Breejan:

i. Elisabeth Egas born on 10 Dec 1862.

ii. Jan Egas III born on 28 July 1865, in Hardinxveld. Jan Egas III died on 18 Mar 1946 in Rotterdam, Holland. Jan Egas III first married Bastiana Van Loon in 1887, and there was a second marriage to Elsje Van Loon in 1947. Jan Egas III and Bastiana Loon had at least six children. The first-born was a son named:

a. Jan Egas IV on 10 Dec 1888 in Hardinxveld. Jan Egas IV died on 19 July 1934 in Rotterdam. Jan Egas IV married Aagie Van den Heuvel in 1910 and one of the children born to Jan Egas IV and Aagie Heuvel was:

1. Johan Egas born on 25 Mar 1915 in Rotterdam, Holland. Johan died on 1 Aug 1979 in Rotterdam. Johan Egas married Eva Heiltje Lafors on 12 Feb 1941. Johan and Eva had a son named Edward Egas born in 1942 in Rotterdam, but who died in 1949.

b. Janna Egas appears to have been the second child born to Jan Egas III and Bastiana Van Loon. Janna was born on 15 Dec 1889 in Hardinxveld. Janna died on 19 Apr 1892 in Rotterdam;

c. Aagie Egas was born on 29 September 1891 in Rotterdam. Aagie died on 15 July 1897.

d. Gerrit Egas was born on 7 Dec 1892 in Rotterdam.

e. Adrianus Egas was born on 22 Apr 1894. Adrianus died on 25 Feb 1919 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

f. Johan Egas was born on 27 August 1896. Johan died on 4 December 1962 in Rotterdam.

iii. Jan Antonie Egas born on 15 Aug 1869.

iv. Jaantje Egas born on 31 Aug 1872.

3. Leenderd Egas was the third child born to Antonij Eichas II and Dingena Heuvel. Leenderd was born on 24 Nov 1799 but he died a year later in 1800..

4. Leendert Egas was the fourth child born to Antonij Eichas II and Dingena Heuvel. Leendert was born on 22 June 1801. Leendert married Teunna DeJong in Sept 1823. Leendert and Teunna had ten children. All of the children were born in Hardinxveld, Holland.

A. Antonie Egas born 1 Feb 1825.

B. Pieter Egas born 28 Jan 1826.

C. Hendrikus Egas born 24 Aug 1827.

D. Neeltje Egas a female child born 28 July 1834.

E. Jan Egas born 15 Aug 1835.

F. Teunis Egas a male child born 10 Sep 1838.

G. Ariaantje Egas a female child born 6 June 1841.

H. Leendert Egas born 26 Nov 1843.

I. Teuna Egas a female child born 13 Sep 1846.

J. Annigje Egas a female child born 27 Aug 1849.

5. Adrianus Egas was the fifth child born to Antonij Echas II and Dingena. Adrianus was born on 22 Oct 1803 in Hardinxveld and baptized on 13 Nov 1803. Adrianus married Lijsbeth Meij. Two children born to Adrianus and Lijsbeth were:

A. Dirksje Egas was born on 29 May 1836 in Hardinxveld and

B. Antonie Egas born on 14 May 1838 in Hardinxveld or Huizen, Holland. Antonie Egas married Florina Cornelia Swets. Antonie and Florina had a daughter born ca. 1864 in Huizen, Holland named Johanna Elizabeth Egas. Huizen is about 25 miles (30 kilometers) east of Amsterdam. Johanna married Wouter Haeser. Johanna died on 1 Dec 1890.

6. Klaas Egas was the sixth and probably the last child born to Antonij and Dingena. Klaas was born on 5 Feb 1810 and baptized on 11 Feb. Klaas married Cornilia Zondervan. Klaas and Cornilia had at least three children:

A. Dingenia Egas born on 5 October 1824, and possibly baptized in February 1825. Dingenia married Engelbertus Den Breejen.

B. Antoine Egas born in October 1834.

C. Govert Egas born on 10 May 1839.

German Origins of the Egas Name?

The name Egas from this Dutch genealogy has its roots in the name Eichas that originated in Germany. If there is indeed a connection between the Dutch Egas and the Ecuadorian Egas name, the best theory that would fit into the story of just how did the Egas name migrated from Europe to Ecuador would be that a Dutch Egas person immigrated from Holland to Ecuador, probably sometime in the late 1700’s to the early 1800’s. That is when we start seeing Egas records in Ecuador. Just which one that was is still a great mystery.

The name Eichas can be traced as far back as the late 1600’s where we see Margaretha Eichas born in 1688 in Rhein, Prussia. She married Joh. Wilhelm Neffgen circa 1716. We also see the record of Barbara Eichas born on 3 Oct 1694 in Rhein, Germany. She married Adolf Velder in 1715 and she died on 18 Mar 1743 in Rhein. Rheine is a city in present day Germany about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the Dutch border. Another closely related person may be Johann Eichas born in 1737 who married Sophia Catharina Vreden on 22 Aug 1786. As has been previously noted, the first immigrants with the name Egas in Holland were descendants of Antonij Eichas II born in 1761 in Köln, Germany and died in 1836. He was the son of Antonij Eichas I. It is clear that when the immigration occurred, the name was either translated from its German origin to its Dutch equivalent, or the Dutch translator phonetically wrote down Antonij’s surname the way he heard it, thus changing the spelling of the Eichas name to Egas forever in Dutch genealogy.

Egas Origins in Ecuador

How far back in Ecuador history can we look before we find the first family with the name Egas? This is a difficult question because of the way records were kept in Ecuador. A death record of a Manuel Egas says he died on 22 Aug 1842 in Otavalo, Ecuador. This particular Manuel was born in Otavalo in 1790. His parents were listed as Justo Egas de la Paz and Susana Paredes. He had married Rosa Cabezas in 1817 in Otavalo. The city of Otavalo is about 30 miles north of the capitol city Quito. A very early census record tells us that Manuel had a sister Dona Rosa Egas y Paredes who was born in Otavalo, Ecuador in the year 1790. Rosa Egas Paredes was the daughter of Don Justo Egas Paz and Dona Susana Paredes Palacios. She died in Santa Rosa de Chobo, Ecuador in 1876. Rosa married twice, first to Don Manuel Jaramillo y Hernandez, of which eight children were born, the first being Nicolasa Jaramillo Egas and the last being Modesto Jaramillo Egas. She married a second time to Com. Jose Jaramillo y Riva de Neyra of which two children were born. It was and still is the custom of Spanish speaking countries to keep the surname of the father as the middle name written and the surname of the mother as the last name in marriage. Other early records that can be found are in the “Libro Indice Defunciones” (death book index) for the cemetery records of Guayaquil, Guayas province where we find the earliest records that can be found of Egas family burials: Concepicion Egas, 3 May 1869; Palacio Egas, 21 February 1869; Santiago Egas, 3 May 1876; and Pastora Egas, 11 June 1876 (*117*). Perhaps a future generation of genealogist can determine if any of these Egas names are ancestors of Agustin Tirburcio Egas and his brother Manuel Alejandro Egas.

The Egas name turns up quite often in Quito, Ecuador. Manuel Ignacio Egas was born in 1768 in Otavalo. He was the son of Christobal Egas Venegas Cura and Maria Martina Ribadeneira. Manuel Ignacio married Mariana Espinosa de Los Monteros. Could this Manuel be a relative of the previously mentioned Manuel Egas, born in 1790? Virginia Villagomez Egas was born in 1863 in Quito. Virginia married Jose Michelena Viteri. Eleodoro Egas was born in 1866 in Quito. Eleodoro married Mercedes Espinosa de los Monteros Freie and one of their children was named Jose Egas Espinosa De Los Monteros born in the year 1892 in Quito. Rosa Egas the daughter of Severo Egas and Angela Pinto was born in 1877 in Otavalo. She died on 6 Feb 1947 and was married to Elias Orbe. It is important to know that when researching Spanish names, the tradition was to carry on both the surname of the mother and father. The name in the middle indicates the father’s last name, and the name at the end indicates the mother’s last name. Thus in the case of the child Jose, “Egas” was his father’s name and is written before his mother’s name “Espinosa de los Monteros.” Jose Felix Valdivieso Egas was born in 1875 in Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador. This means his mother was an Egas and not his father. Jose Felix married Isabel Bucheli Basabe. Jose Francisco Egas was born in 1910 in Pasaje, Ecuador. Jose Eduardo Egas Duran was born in 1919 in Guayas, Ecuador. Jose Eduardo died on 9 May 1993 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

From the census records taken in 1871 by the Ecuadorian government, we find a Manuel Egas living in Parroquia Sagrario (Sagrario Parish). On most of the parish census records, they give no age. The only information usually given is if the person is a minor or major. The person has to be 18 years of age to be considered of major age. We are lucky here because in Sagrario parish, the ages of the residents are given. Here we see that Manuel Egas has the age of 20 years old. That would give him a birth year circa 1851. He is single, has a job and can read and write. His nationality is Ecuadorian. Family names before and after his include members of the Cucalon and Ayala families (*247*). Other Egas names found in Concepcion Parish include Rosa Egas, in section 6A. She is single, of major age, working but cannot read or write. People listed before and after her name are Isabel Lara, José Cruz, Rosario Jaramilla and Rosa Vela. In Section 9A we find Melchor Egas, of major age, single, employed and able to read and write. In Section 14 we find Lorenso Egas, of major age, single, working but illiterate. Names written before and after his name on the census include Maria Morales, Pabla Ortiz, Miguel Santijana and Manuel Guerrero (*247*).

Family stories say it was Agustin’s mother Agustina who was descended from native Indians of South America. It could also have been from his father’s mother’s side instead. It is not known if and what tribe Agustina Varela belonged to in Ecuador but about 50% of Ecuador’s late 20^th century population are still full blooded Indian (Indigenous), of which the majority belong to the Quechua (also Quichua) Indigenous tribe who live mainly in the highlands. The province of Chimborazo, a province about 70 miles east of Guayaquil, has the largest population of rural Quechua Indians (*99*). The southern Indigenous peoples south of Guayaquil of Quechuan descent call themselves Cañares instead, centering around the city of Cañar near Ingapirca, the ancient ruined city where the remains of the Inca palace still stand. The Quechua and Cañar tribes are of the same origin, both descending from the Inca.

What may be the closest clue to the Indian ancestry of Agustin Tiburcio Egas could be from the descendants of Miguel Egas Cabezas born in 1823. Two major clues come from the information on this Egas. His mother was a native Indian of Ecuador with the name Rosa Cabezas Titashunta (*243*). Rosa was the daughter of Tiburcio Cabezas. Rosa Cabezas Titashunta married Manuel Egas Paredes and their son Miguel Egas Cabezas was born ca. 1823. If Miguel Egas Cabezas carried on a well-known tradition of Spanish families naming their children after their grandparents, he could have had a son he named Manuel Egas who in turn named his own son Agustin Tiburcio Egas. The names Manuel and Tiburcio would have represented ancestors of both father and son. Miguel Egas Cabezas lived between 1823 and 1894 so he would fit into the time frame as being a father to Manuel Egas and grandfather to Agustin Tiburcio Egas. If the stories told by the children of Agustin Tiburcio Egas are true that “Agustin’s grandmother was a native Ecuadorian Indian” then this man may be a clue to the past. So far, only one document has been found showing the names of any children between Miguel Egas Cabezas and his wife Joaquina Jarmillo Egas - a son named Aberlardo Egas Jaramillo. One of Aberlardo’s sons was named Jose Julio Egas Egas (*243*). Some of the Ecuadorian Egas decendants of Aberlado Egas Jaramillio came to the United States during the 20^th century. Records by other Egas families searching for the same information show that Princess Rosa Titashunta and her husband Manuel Egas Paredes had six children, one of which was Miguel Egas Cabezas. Titashunta was a Quechua Princess of the Otavalo Indian Tribe according to them. She was the spokesperson for the prince when the Spaniards and other Otavalan Indians wanted to speak to the Prince. It was considered dis-honorable to speak directly to the prince. The same family records tell us that Titashunta’s son Miguel Egas had ten children with his wife Joaquina. Since they married sometime around 1850, they would have started having children shortly after that. Since Agustin Tiburcio Egas was born in 1898, that puts his father Manuel Egas right in that birth time-frame. If one of the nine other unknown/un-named children of Miguel and Joaquina turn out to be named Manuel, there is a good chance he is the father of Agustin as well as the grandson of Titashunta. The similar family stories between the two Egas members of a native Indian princess and names that have run in the same family are too much of a coincidence.

Agustín Egas immigrates to America

Wanting a little more adventure in his life, Agustin Tiburcio Egas decided to leave and come to the United States when he was in his late teenage years, probably circa 1915-1916. When he was about 17 years old, Agustin decided to leave Ecuador and according to family stories, he ended up being a stow-away on a ship that he did not know it’s destination. The ship was headed for Texas, United States and was said to have landed near Corpus Christi, Texas. No matter the circumstances, very soon after his arrival in Corpus Christi it is believed that Agustin ended up in San Antonio Texas. He soon found work with the coastal shipyards of Texas making a wage of one dollar a day according to what he told his daughter Elizabeth that “I came on a ship from South America and worked for a dollar a day!” He soon made his way to New York City, where he met Maria Gracita Mallory his wife to be. Why the trip to San Antonio? Was there a relative there? The emigration records at Ellis Island do tell of a Victor M Egas who arrived in New York City on 16 June 1919 on the ship called “Espagne.” The ship had departed from Le Havre, France. Victor Egas resided in San Antonio and was age 44. He was born in Gonzales, Texas on 4 April 1874. Gonzales is about 130 miles north of Corpus Christi. Victor was living at 207 Nolau street in San Antonio and was naturalized as a citizen in Texas (*184*). What could be the same Victor may have moved to the Los Angeles area. On the 1920 census we see a Victor Egas, age 45, born in Ecuador, received citizenship in 1908 and was naturalized in 1915. His occupation was that of a priest. He lived near Gilmore Street and was single. He was able to read and write. Ten years later, Victor M. Egas is now age 52, married at age 47 to Maria Egas of Mexico. Maria was 27 years old when they married. Both parents of Victor were born in Ecuador, and both of Maria’s parents were born in Mexico. He immigrated in 1912 and Maria in 1920. The ages appear to be a few years off but this for sure is most likely the Victor Egas said to be born in April 1874.

Looking at the Ellis Island Immigration/passenger list records, we see that the first trip to New York for Agustin was probably in 1920. Arriving on the ship named “The Chantier”, on 3 August 1920, was a 22-year-old Ecuadorian of Spanish ethnicity named Agustin Egas. He was a member of the ships crew with the crew position of “C. Passer 159597-2”. He was listed as 5 feet 7 inches tall weighing 145 pounds and was not able to read English. The ship had arrived from the port of Talbal via the Panama Canal (*184*). We next see Agustín once again coming through the ports of New York on a return trip from Europe. Arriving on the ship named “The Zeeland”, on 15 October 1922 at the age of 24, was Augustin Egas. His occupation was as a Seaman. The ship had departed Antwerp, Belgium but Agustín and several other seamen had left New York on 17 June 1922 for the trip to Europe on the ship named “The Balgac or Balzac“. He measured 5 feet 5 inches tall with fair skin, black hair, brown eyes. His native land was Guayaquil, Ecuador. He resided at “The Seaman House” located in New York City at 507 West Streeet. He did not intend to return to his native country and planned to stay in America permanently with the intentions of becoming an American citizen. Also disembarking the Zeeland ship and living at the Seaman house were Frank Gruck, a 31 year old Malteze man, Joseph Sampson, a 29 year old Malteze man; Manuel Gonzalez, a 25 year old Chilean man; and his brother Carlos Gonzales age 31. Agustín gave no name as his nearest living relative except the name “Seaman House” (*184*). This is a likely clue that Agustín was the first of his family to immigrate to the USA.

Since Marie Mallory, his future wife had arrived by ship in April of 1920, just four months before Agustín arrived, it must have been sometime between 1920 and 1922 when they met during the viewing of a Spanish movie. There was a famous Spanish movie theatre in the heart of the Harlem/Spanish Harlem area on the east side of 116^th street named the Cosmo Theatre. Seated within the movie theatre seats was Maria Gracita Mallory and Agustin thought she was a most attractive young woman. He sat next to her and although he did not know how to speak any English at the time, he knew enough to ask her for a date. The first words spoken to her by him was “may I know you?” The two became friends and began to date but Maria was not overjoyed with dating a man who could not speak English but who was living in America and soon sent him to school to learn English, financing his course fees. The two received their marriage license in New York on 7 Nov 1923, and were married shortly thereafter (*92*). Maria gives her age as 23, and this probably was due to the fact that she was still a minor and probably would not have been granted marriage had she told them her true age at 19. The fact that Maria Mallory was already four months pregnant with her first child Rose Egas, made it an easier or perhaps a necessary decision to marry.

Amongst the task of learning English, Agustin Egas had learned the trade of radio technology. Agustin was very proficient with radio and television technology and eventually invested enough money to own his own radio shop in New York. In addition to the income from his radio shop during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, Agustin got up at 4am to work in the New York City shipyards to augment his income in order to support his family. Agustin Egas served briefly in the United States Army as a radio technician during World War II. He served as a Private in the 3859^th unit from 27 Oct 1942 until 7 June 1943, before being transferred to Enlisted Reserve Corps at Fort Bliss, Texas. He must have served in the European war theatre because he took a bullet in his shoulder and was wounded, prompting his early discharge from the army. Back home to New York City where he would again get up at 4 a.m. to work at the shipyards before once again opening his own radio store on 106^th street. He and his family by then lived nearby at 55 east 101^st street near Madison and Park. Sometime circa 1944, while wife Maria was out working, rumors began to spread throughout the building that Agustin was coming home during the day to visit a certain woman upstairs. Maria decided to come home early one day to see what was going on. She would discover something that she could never forgive. Maria went up to the woman’s apartment and caught Agustin there in his shorts! Well that prompted a heap of trouble and Maria told Agustin to “pack your bags and get out! And take Elizabeth with you!” Young ten-year-old Elizabeth, the only child left living with the two parents would soon see the end of her stable two-parent home. She at first very briefly stayed with her father who once took her upstairs for a visit to the housebreaking mistress who she described as being “very dark-skinned”. The woman had two young daughters who strangely enough were very light skinned girls, and it was thought that perhaps these could have been other children of Agustin through this woman. Maria Gracita Mallory and Agustin Tiburcio Egas eventually separated and divorced and Agustin moved to Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee, a border city. There he married his second wife Theresa Grubb a few months after Maria Gracita Mallory died in 1971, and continued to work as a radio repairman.

It was Mother’s day on May 11, 1986 when Agustín’s daughter Rose received a phone call from him. She did not feel like it was a good Mother’s day with the talk from her dad about his illnesses that day. He had already survived several heart attacks during his lifetime. “Pray for me, my legs are swollen” were some of his words. Rose knew that her dad was very ill. It wasn’t long after that final conversation between the two when on 30 May 1986, at the age of 87, Agustin Egas died of cardio respiratory arrest due to congestive heart failure and arteriosclerosis while at the Veterans Administration hospital in Abingdon, Washington. He was buried by the Robinson FH funeral home in Bristol, Virginia in a military veterans cemetery near Bristol Virginia/Tennessee (*118*). Theresa Grubb, born on 4 March 1900 died 24 May 1997 in Bristol, Tennessee after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease.

EGAS Genealogy Chart

Chapter

5-J-vi Jean Baptist Illinois Jacquet

6. Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet was the sixth and last child born to Gilbert Jacquet and Marguerite Trahan. Commonly known as “Illinois“, he was born on 31 Oct 1922 in Broussard, Louisiana in Lafayette parish according to family tradition and history. However, a close look at the 1920 census of Lafayette parish proves otherwise. According to the 1920 census of Lafayette Parish’s 5^th ward taken on January 20^th, Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet is listed as being “3 months old“. This would indicate that Illinois was really born 31 October 1919 and would make him 3 years older than he had always believed he was. The rest of the ages on the census match up with what has been known: Father Gilbert Jacquet is 39, mother Marguerette is 37, brother Julius is 14, sister Isabelle is 12, Linton is 8, Mary is 5 and Russell is 2 years and 2 months old. Gilbert, Julius and Isabelle can read and write (*163*). Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet was actually born on the 30^th of October 1919 according to his baptismal certificate at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Broussard, Louisiana. The Reverend L. Massebiau baptized him on 20 December 1919. His sponsoring Godparents were Julien Jacquet and Aurelia Jacquet (*277*). Aurelia was his 14-year-old first cousin, oldest daughter of his uncle and aunt Willie Jacquet and Leontine Laurence (Lorins). “Julien” is probably his oldest brother known as Julius who at the time was also 14 years old. Some have thought that “Illinois” was the name adopted or given to him after the family moved to Texas, but the baptismal certificate shows that he was given that name at birth. Nevertheless, the United States Passport Bureau and Social Security Administration recognized 1922 as the birthyear of Illinois. Thus with the exception of mentioning it here in this paragraph and as indicated on the genealogy chart of Illinois and his brother Russell, the chronological episodes discussed in this chapter will be consistent with the 1922 birthdate. Despite the discovery of the true birthdate of Illinois Jacquet, nothing can, ever will, or should take away nor diminish the extraordinary achievements contributed by him during his 84-½ years of life.

The music tradition passed down from Illinois’ grandfather Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet to his father Gilbert Jacquet manifested itself in Illinois Jacquet bringing forth one of the greatest saxophone players the world has ever known. Illinois was but three years old when his family left Lafayette parish and moved to Houston Texas in May of 1923. Though always and rightly considered a Texas tenor, Illinois and his saxophone playing was just as much a product of Louisiana, where he, as well as his Jacquet forefathers were born. In Texas, Illinois Jacquet came to know the lore and the ways of the Southwest, the Afro-American culture of street chants, card parties, Creole fish fries and barbecues, church socials and dances. Most importantly of all were the battle of big bands Illinois witnessed that paraded in and out of Houston with their competitions of music that had its own rules and creative power. Music that had its origins in the big city of New Orleans, that up and coming new sound of jazz!

The music of New Orleans had been important to Illinois’ father Gilbert Jacquet who not only played all the instruments but had no difficulty passing on the authentic aspects of jazz to his six children. Gilbert, who’s playing expertise with instruments included both the sousaphone and string bass, saw and encouraged the talent in young Illinois and the rest of his children, grooming them for careers in show business whenever he had the time away from sharpening his own 16 piece band. At three years old, baby Illinois was dancing and singing “If I could be with you one hour tonight” in order to promote the minstrel show of his older brother Julius Jacquet. It was his first radio appearance. By nine, when Illinois, being coached by Eddie Barefield won a tap dancing contest sponsored by Cab Calloway it was clear that the boy had musical talent and the will to make something of it. He formed a dance trio with two older brothers Russell and Johnny Linton Jacquet. He danced before learning to play a saxophone. “We were born with the rhythm and raised on the blues, If you can’t play the blues, you’re not a musician.” (*150*)

The Jacquet family spoke only French at home. Young Jean Baptiste Illinois didn’t begin to speak English until he began kindergarten at a Catholic school in Houston, Texas where the family had moved shortly after his birth. Here young Jean Baptiste Illinois would use the name “Illinois” more frequently than his given French name Jean Baptiste because “there were so few French-speaking people there.” The name Illinois accordingly, came from the Indian word “Illiniwek” which means “superior men” (*254*). Father Gilbert worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In the Jacquet household, music was everywhere. Julius played alto and tenor, Linton played drums, Russell was on trumpet and the girls learned the stringed instruments. Although the family had settled in Texas, summers and school vacations were spent back in Broussard, Louisiana, near the home of Illinois’ deceased paternal grandfather Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet, a master musician who was, according to oral history, capable of playing ALL musical instruments as well as being the owner of land and a racetrack in the area. The musicianship, land and racetrack were a few among many gifts that were eventually passed down to Jolivet’s children.

At Phillis Wheatley high school, Illinois got his first musical training in a formal sense from Houston’s Percy H. McDavid. Jazz saxophonist Tom Archia went to the same high school and received the same training. Illinois also learned important lessons in attitude and discipline. He also played sax at Wheatley under the notable band director Samuel H. Harris. His first instrument was the drum set, and he soon became very good performing in the marching band and working with neighborhood musicians. Then by chance he discovered the soprano saxophone and later moved to the alto sax. In his early years at the high school he was assigned to the drums. The school had instruments for the students to play and that was a necessary ingredient and still is for Black children in predominantly Black/African-American communities. As Illinois tells the story:

“…The school furnished instruments, and that was a great help. Someone graduated and left a saxophone in the mathematics class. I asked the music teacher what that was, and he said ‘It’s a saxophone.’ I said ‘I’d like to take it home and try it,’ and it started right there…” (*254*)

As was standard practice at most grade schools, formal music instruction at the time was strictly classical in orientation. Great grade-school bandleaders such as Walter Dyett may have turned out great jazz players, but his bands kept to a strict diet of Sousa marches and Suppé overtures. But at Wheatley a very different approach to teaching music was taking place. Very unusually for

the period, Percy McDavid taught an eclectic repertoire to his orchestra classes, including “Solitude” and other Duke Ellington compositions. This is what great teachers and athletic coaches constantly spend time doing – innovating and adjusting the curriculum to fit the talent at hand. Tom Archia played saxophone in the orchestra, while Richie Dell played piano. Their bandmates included Illinois and Russell Jacquet, Arnett Cobb (tenor saxophone), Calvin Boze (trumpet), and George Haynes (violin—Haynes later became known as a drummer). The high point for this band came in 1935, when Duke Ellington visited Wheatley High School to hear the orchestra. “It was our first visit from a big person…” Richie Dell recalled. “We knew all of his tunes.” (*151*) Phillis Wheatley High School became a factory for producing saxophone players and other musicians. While still a high school student, Illinois played in Milton Larkin’s swing-jazz band. Larkin was considered the patriarch of Houston’s jazz community.

During those developing years from infancy up until his high school years, he got to witness the music wars of the “Battle of the bands” that took place when other big bands came to Houston and worked the Aragon Ballroom, where old man Gilbert Jacquet was ready to unleash his local men on the visitors. With young Illinois, the Jacquet family was comprised of an orchestra that other competing bands found hard to beat. Illinois would play with the family orchestra until 1937. Those were his first experiences with the competitions of the bands and their musical imaginations essential to jazz that formed his jazz genius. As a teenager, Illinois would take his horn to jam sessions, local battling band functions and competitions to hone his skills. After his apprenticeship with his father Gilbert Jacquet and his big band/family orchestra, it was on to his brother Russell Jacquet’s band. At 16, he was already jammin’ the blues and playing jazz with his older brother Russell’s big band “The California Playboys” as an alto saxophone player, playing side by side with his oldest brother Julius Jacquet who also played alto sax in the band. Brother Johnny Linton Jacquet was on drums. The band toured mostly in western Texas during the mid-thirties.

One of the great benefits available to father Gilbert Jacquet, as an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad, was a pass enabling his family to travel free, anywhere on the Southern Pacific. Illinois wanted to go to New York to pursue a career in jazz, but the railroad didn’t go to New York. It did, however, go to Los Angeles. After graduation from high school in 1939, his brother Russell and sister Mae accompanied Illinois, and they traveled to Los Angeles. He enrolled at Los Angeles City College to study with Lloyd Reese, a prominent music teacher who counted Dexter Gordon among his current pupils. While the formal study lasted only a single semester, Illinois had gradually worked his way into the LA scene, playing occasionally with Floyd Ray in 1941 and also with white bandleader Bob Astor. (*150*) He soon made quite an impression at a jam session following the black union’s Labor Day parade. The jam session, held after a Labor Day Parade at the Black Musicians Union Local #767, marked the beginning of a very close and enduring friendship between Illinois and Nat King Cole. The musicians at that session were Nat “King” Cole, Charlie Christian, Sid Catlett, Jimmy Blanton, and Red Callendar, all blue-ribbon Jazz virtuosi. Cole, the pianist who would become a famous singer, told Lionel Hampton about the young alto saxophonist because the vibist was forming his own band after playing with Benny Goodman’s last job on Catalina Island. The only catch was that Hampton already had his alto players: Marshall Royal and Ray Perry. What Hampton needed was a tenor saxophonist and he asked Jacquet to play tenor just as Earl Hines asked Charlie Parker to do when he joined his band, but in Jacquet’s case, the horn matched his passion. Thus, 18-year-old Illinois Jacquet made the switch to tenor and joined the Lionel Hampton orchestra. The other tenor was 17-year-old

Dexter Gordon. (*150*) So here he was, hired into an organization that would benefit him over the next two years with the exposure to national audiences and the opportunity to shape his individuality on the many bandstands where the Hampton band came to work. The first historical date in his career came on May 26, 1942. After working on his solo improvisation for the tune “Flying Home”, recorded for Decca Records, rejecting what didn’t work and keeping the elements that had the most impact, the young tenor saxophonist shaped a statement for the microphones that vaulted him into a place of immortality and fame. When he was about to take his turn to solo on “FLYING HOME”, saxophonist Marshall Royal gave him the encouragement and told him to “go for yourself.” The song and solo were a smash! It was a big hit for Lionel Hampton and an ace in the hole for any big band battle. Illinois Jacquet’s house rocking solo on Flying Home was historic. It was a solo that revolutionized big jazz band music. It pitched lindy-hoppers into new states of frenzy and inspired old, new and “wanna-be” tenor saxophonists to throw added swagger and power into their playing. That Flying Home solo is considered the first R&B sax solo and spawned a full generation of younger tenors (including Joe Houston and Big Jay McNeely) who practically built their careers from his style and that one song! The resulting performance, sparked by Illinois Jacquet’s solo, is one of the great jazz recordings of all time. In 1996, it was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (*150*). Pianist Hank Jones in his brief tribute to Illinois at his funeral said, “Illinois Jacquet’s 1942 performance influenced every prominent jazz saxophonist who has played since then. It was the most influential solo in the entire history of music.” So there he was in 1942, a Texas tenor man already famous at the age of nineteen. His actual age by this time was really 22 years of age. Perhaps getting a head start by 3 years on everyone else in grade school was the edge he needed to reach stardom!

In 1943, Jacquet left Hampton’s orchestra and was soon hired by Cab Calloway, taking the tenor seat once held by Chu Berry. He was featured in the Warner Brothers film “Jammin’ The Blues” in 1944. Illinois’ last performance with the Cab Calloway band was in Dayton, Ohio in the spring of 1944, and he left the band when they reached St. Louis, Missouri. He had kept his brother Russell Jacquet informed of his intentions and Russell came to meet him in St. Louis. They traveled back to Houston by train where Russell had already moved back to and re-entered the music scene. Russell had been playing at the famous Eldorado but when owner Dupree refused to share the profits with him, Illinois and Russell were both ready to move on. So in the late spring of 1944, in Russell’s Roadmaster Buick, Illinois set out for California once again, going by way of the Grand Canyon.

By the summer of 1944, Illinois had made his return to Los Angeles where he began putting together and leading his own band by 1945 and recording a series of hits for Apollo Records. In 1944, Illinois was invited by Nat King Cole to appear with him and others at a benefit concert at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium. On this performance Illinois Jacquet developed his innovative approach to the tenor saxophone by playing notes in a high register that had never been played before on the tenor, expanding its range by two and one-half octaves. The excitement of Illinois’ new jazz technique ignited the spark and became the driving force to launch “Jazz At the Philharmonic”, which took jazz music out of the night clubs and into the concert halls around the world. Participating in the first “Jazz at the Philharmonic” concert was perhaps his most important contribution of that period. Illinois had met Norman Granz when he was playing with the Cab Calloway band. While the band was working at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, Granz put together a small band record date with Jacquet, Shad Collins, J. C. Heard and others, under the nominal leadership of Nat Cole. Jacquet’s playing at the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert (1944) included a screaming solo on “Blues” that found him biting on his reed to achieve the high register effect he had invented. The crowd went wild. He repeated the idea during his appearance in the 1944 film short Jammin’ the Blues. Illinois Jacquet experienced sensational success during the Jazz at the Philharmonic tours from 1946-1957, coinciding with the prosperity of his own band. Another huge accomplishment during this time was the recording of “Blues Part II”, which became another hit in 1946 and was one of the things that set producer Norman Granz on his way by helping to supply the profits to take musicians on the road and eventually break down segregated accommodations. Jazz music after all, was a “Colored Peoples” musical domain and if Whites wanted to hear the best jazz players they would have toeither go to Colored Music Halls, or open up their own segregated music halls to the Negro(^[1]*) musicians. Dixieland was considered “White Jazz”, and had some popularity, but the jazz music of Blacks eclipsed anything the Whites could play.

Norman Granz’s deep commitment to ending discrimination was never questioned and anywhere Granz’s multi-racial group played, if airlines, hotels or restaurants dared try to discriminate against any of them, he did not hesitate to cancel the musical engagement. There was a very famous event involving Illinois Jacquet and a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in Texas that many will never forget. In October of 1955, only weeks before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, five members of the Dallas, Texas vice squad slipped backstage at a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert. They were supposedly searching for drugs, but were actually looking for some way to show Norman Granz what they thought of his integrationist principles. They found Dizzy Gillespie and the tenor saxophone star Illinois Jacquet shooting dice in Ella Fitzgerald’s dressing room and arrested all three of them. Granz objected and was almost shot as one of the policemen pulled his revolver. “They took us downtown” Fitzgerald remembered, “and then when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph!” (*147*)

Norman Granz had been given credit for putting on the first West Coast jazz concert show but it was actually Norm Bobrow who on 4 February 1940, produced the first bona fide jazz concert on the West Coast, at Seattle’s Metropolitan Theatre, pre-dating by four years the Norman Granz shows in Los Angeles normally credited with that accomplishment (*89*). The concert Bobrow produced, which included Gay Jones, the Palmer Johnson Sextet, Herman Grimes and Milt Green among many, was a resounding success which led Bobrow to plan an even more ambitious jazz night later on in the year. Lionel Hampton, at the height of his popularity after leaving Benny Goodman, was debuting a new band at the Trianon Ballroom in Seattle Washington. Bobrow rented the nearby Moore Theatre in Seattle and booked Palmer Johnson, Herman Grimes, Gay Jones and an all-star Hampton combo, which included singer Evelyn Williamson, guitarist Irv Ashby and the great tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet. The house went bananas! Recalled the musicians. (*89*)

It was the summer of 1945 when Illinois opened at the Down Beat Club on Central Avenue, in the heart of South Central Los Angeles when Count Basie called him. Basie made an appointment for Jacquet to come to see him performing at the club Plantation in Watts, and he told Illinois to bring his horn. On the night that Illinois went to see Basie, Artie Shaw also showed up and they both jammed with the band. It was at this time that Illinois told Basie that he would join his band after he finished the one remaining week that he had at the down beat. (*150*) When the Basie band settled into a long run at New York’s Roxy Theater in May of 1946, Norman Granz contacted Illinois. Jazz at the Philharmonic was finally coming to New York and Illinois Jacquet would star in those concerts of Late May and early June at Carnegie Hall. The reaction of the audience at those concerts told him that it was time to leave Basie. The break came at the end of August, after a New York engagement at The Aquarium Restaurant (*150*). Illinois has often said that leaving Count Basie was the most difficult decision of his musical life. It was 1946 and Illinois was 23 years old. He had arrived in New York, not via an employee’s family pass on the Southern Pacific railroad but on the Count Basie band bus. He was the hottest instrumentalist in jazz.

Illinois Jacquet worked with Count Basie from 1946 to 1947 recording pieces such as “The King” and “Mutton Leg”, then he relocated to New York City and put together his own band which included such players as Charles Mingus on bass, Sir Walter Thompson on piano, Henry Coker on trombone, brother Russell Jacquet on trumpet and Tom Archia on saxophone. As an original Texas Tenor, Tom Archia was adept at picking up tunes by ear as a young boy, and asked his parents to buy him a saxophone. By Archia’s teenage years, the family was living in Houston in the district called the Fifth Ward, at 4519 Lyons Avenue, across from the old St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Illinois and Russell Jacquet lived down the street. At Phyllis Wheatley High School, Tom Archia and Illinois both had the good fortune to work with one of the great band teachers of the era Percy McDavid. Percy later became the Supervisor of Music in the Los Angeles School District.

From that point on when he formed his own band, Illinois Jacquet became a bigger and bigger star, releasing one hit after another and breaking box-office records as he traveled the country. In the years to come, Illinois Jacquet would extensively tour Europe, as well as the United States and become a regular at jazz festivals around the world. In 1948, four years after performing in what many consider the finest jazz film ever made called “Jammin The Blues”. Jacquet brought his group onto the Ed Sullivan & television show, “Toast of The Town,” and became the first jazz musician to appear on a coast-to-coast telecast.

Illinois and his group would soon be called to go to Europe to play, mainly in Germany. The group also played in Denmark. It was the year 1954 and although the war had been over for some nine years, the rebuilding of Germany was still taking place. Reconstruction was in full swing in Europe and so was Jazz music. Jazz was an awesome new sound in Europe and people followed Illinois’ group everywhere. They made front-page headlines of major newspapers in Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, and other cities. Illinois remembered how they were a most smashing big hit success at the US army base near Heidenheim or Haldensleben, Germany. People were so glad to hear this new sound of American Jazz music and as Illinois explained it “were coming out of everywhere to hear it!” It was a five-week trip for the seven-member crew of Illinois’ band in Europe. Illinois Jacquet was the tenor sax player and the leader of the band. Illinois knew he had to stay sober as the bandleader to “keep the gangsters in line!” Oshia Johnson was the drummer. Al Lucas was the bass player. Brother Russell Jacquet was on trumpet. Matthew Gee was the trombone player. Matthew played many evenings with the German Symphony Orchestra that played in the hotel the group stayed at. Matthew was another one Illinois described as one who “drank as much as the others on this trip, sometimes too much!” Sha Hob (or Sha He) was the baritone sax player. Adriano Acea was the piano player. During an interview with the author, Illinois described Acey as:

“A great musician but he did not have a flexible mind to realize the potential he had for greatness. He was a man who loved to drink. Acey would freely jam with anyone at anytime and anywhere but he just didn’t take care of business. All he wanted to do was get high and play!”

Three years later would see another return to Europe by Illinois to play music with the Jazz at the Philharmonic group. He finally purchased an instrument he had always liked – a bassoon. Ever since that day in 1957 when Illinois purchased a bassoon in Berlin while touring Europe with a Jazz at the Philharmonic troupe, Illinois had wanted to play the instrument competently enough to record with it. A college music instructor visiting his Jamaica Long Island home showed him how to assemble the instrument and explained the G scale to him. Illinois usually practiced the bassoon when relaxing at home after grueling road trips. He played it in public for the first time (circa 1962) at the Shanty Lounge in Boston. (*149*)

Illinois Jacquet has also taught at some of the finest of American Universities, exposing the young to the heritage of American jazz music. He was at Harvard University from 1983 to 1984 and he returned to Harvard regularly as a guest artist to conduct Master Classes. He was invited to teach Master classes in Jazz music at Tufts University, University of California San Diego, University of Idaho, Crane College, Clark College and at Howard University seminars. “I was tough on my kids” Illinois said during an interview with the author, “If they made it through my music program and went out into the world and told people they had studied under me, then people knew they HAD to be good musicians!” Illinois was working with his quintet featuring Slam Stewart in the early 80’s when he received an invitation to lecture and play for the jazz history class at Harvard University. The extraordinary success of this visit garnered Jacquet an offer to return to Harvard for spring semester 1983 and fall semester 1984 as the Kayden Artist-in-Residence, the first black jazz musician to be given that status. This honor brought Jacquet the distinction of being the first jazz musician to serve a long-term residency at Harvard University (*148*). The student’s enthusiasm for his music caused him to form his own big band, which broke attendance records at the Village Vanguard at its premiere. Illinois Jacquet’s Grammy nominated album of the big band on Atlantic records named “Jacquet’s Got It” followed and was released in 1988. To commemorate Duke Ellington’s 100^th birthday in 1999, Illinois was invited to perform as a featured soloist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in the Great Performances documentary “Swinging with the Duke.” In November 2000, Lincoln Center honored Jacquet by presenting him with its award for artistic excellence, making him the 5^th recipient of this distinguished award. Probably the greatest academic honor bestowed upon the great musician Illinois Jacquet was the receiving an of honorary doctorate degree from the Julliard School of Music, a musical giant in education. On May 21, 2004 Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet received Julliard’s Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree (*199*). He told President Polisi, “This is the happiest day of my life.”

Illinois has been invited to the White House by a host of former presidents: President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his presidential inauguration in early 1953, President Jimmy Carter for the 25^th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, President Ronald Reagan as part of the Lionel Hampton and Friends concert, and also by President Bill Clinton’s White House inauguration celebration in January 1993. President Clinton joined in to play “C Jam Blues” on Jacquet’s gold saxophone, a gift from the Selmer factory in Paris. Jacquet later that year played in Clinton’s White House Jazz festival in June of 1993 when Illinois Jacquet, Bill Clinton and Joshua Redman all played tenor saxophone. Although not in conjunction with the 1953 Eisenhower inauguration, shortly thereafter led to a famous incident in DC. This concert was a segment on a tour promoted by Irving Feld at three different venues on the East Coast, with Washington, DC being the last. Some days after the inauguration, the band played in a park along the Potomac, on the site where the Kennedy Center now stands. There were three acts – Louis Armstrong, Illinois Jacquet, and the Lionel Hampton band, which included Quincy Jones and Monk Montgomery. As Ernestine Anderson, great jazz singer with the Hampton band remembers it:

“...Since Louis was on first, Hampton was worried about getting upstaged, so he told Illinois Jacquet not to play “Flyin’ Home.” And it made Jacquet mad. “I’m the one that made ‘Flying Home’ famous,” said Jacquet. “I’ll play it whenever and wherever I please.” Jacquet goes out there and plays “Flyin’ Home”, so by the time Lionel came on, none of his stuff worked. He jumped up on top of the drums. He did his sticks, he caught them and he clapped his hands. But it was over. Monk Montgomery told Quincy, “Now when we play ‘Flyin Home,’ I’m going to jump into the Potomac.” So sure enough, Monk went in. Lionel looked up, and if you could have seen the look on his face – “What the hell is going on?” but when he did that, the crowd went wild! From then on, Lionel was like, “Yeah! Yeah, yeah!” Like it was planned...he thought Monk did it to save the day...” (*89*)

One of Illinois Jacquet’s devoted fans recalled who really jumped into the Potomac River and why:

“The person who actually jumped in the river was Monk Montgomery’s brother, who confessed to Illinois years later that it was him. He did so at the behest of Lionel Hampton, who having to follow Illinois’ band’s sensational presentation of “Flying Home”, was vainly trying to rouse the crowd again with the same song, when in fact, the audience was getting up and leaving the fair grounds.”

Probably the greatest musical tribute given to Illinois Jacquet was the filming and public release by BRAVO television and films of the movie ‘TEXAS TENOR: THE ILLINOIS JACQUET STORY”. The film was made by fashion photographer Arthur Elgort, and distributed by Rhapsody Films. Bravo obtained the rights to air the film and made it a television premiere on 9 October 1993 on the BRAVO television channel. Excerpts from the press release were as follows:

“ ...TEXAS TENOR is a special spotlight on jazz man Illinois Jacquet who has been considered an American hero and the King of the Saxophone. The profile is filled with interviews from such jazz giants as Arnett Cobb, Sonny Rollins, John Grimes, Lionel Hampton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and “Wild” Bill Davis, among others. Davis conveys Jacquet’s musical abilities by noting in the film: “The thing that’s unique about his sound is it’s a big sound, a big sound. You can pick it out from most other saxophone player’s sound. It’s a big sound.”

Filmed by renowned fashion photographer Arthur Elgort, TEXAS TENOR is a film about music – an odyssey through the history of jazz, taking the viewer to the Savoy ballroom, Jazz at the Philharmonic, the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, European jazz festivals and to Harvard University where Illinois still teaches his art. It was at Harvard that he was inspired to form a new band in 1985. At 71 years old, Illinois has said “I Know I’m not going to live forever, I just want to contribute something that will last forever...”

TEXAS TENOR: THE ILLINOIS JACQUET STORY features live performances demonstrating his dynamic showmanship during such titles as “You Left Me All Alone” (Jacquet), “Flying Home” (Jacquet), “Port of Rico” (Jacquet), “Sophisticated Lady” (Ellington, Mills, Parrish), and “Jumping at the Woodside” (Count Basie) among others. Jacquet, energetic and passionate in his performances, is noted as saying in the special “When Playing jazz music, you have to play how you feel.”... (*97*)

“Texas Tenor: The Illinois Jacquet Story” had previously played at a few jazz festivals before the documentary was premiered in the New York area at various cinemas. It opened at the New Community Cinema, on Long Island in Huntington New York on Wednesday, 18 November 1992, and on Friday, 20 November 1992, at the Village East Cinema, on 2^nd avenue and 12^th street in Manhattan (*98*).

There were numerous compositions written by Illinois Jacquet during his music career. Some of the biggest were: “Bottoms up”, “You Left Me Alone”, “Robbins Nest”, “Black Velvet”, “Port of Rico”, “For Europeans Only”, “Blues for New Orleans”, “The King.” His most recent release in 1994-1995 was the album “Jacquet’s Got it: Illinois Jacquet and His Big Band”, on Atlantic Records. Through the years Illinois Jacquet has recorded as a leader for such record labels as Apollo, Savoy, Aladdin, RCA, Verve, Mercury, Roulette, Epic, Argo, Prestige, Black Lion, Black & Blue, JRC and Atlantic.

Photo of Illinois Jacquet

And his band

Illinois Jacquet Album Discography

1947 Black Velvet Band 1965 Black Velvet

1947 Flying Home 1965 Spectrum

1951 Illinois Jacquet Jam Session 1966 Illinois Flies Again

1951 Illinois Jacquet Collates, Vol. 1 1966 Go Power

1951 Jazz Moods 1968 Illinois Jacquet on Prestige! Bottoms up

1951 Illinois Jacquet Collates, Vol. 2 1968 How High the Moon

1951 Jazz by Jacquet 1968 King

1953 Groovin’ 1969 Soul Explosion

1954 “The Kid” and “The Brute” 1969 Blues: That’s Me!

1955 Illinois Jacquet Septet [Argo] 1971 Genius at Work

1956 Port of Rico 1971 Comeback

1956 Groovin’ with Jacquet 1973 Blues from Louisiana

1957 Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra 1976 On Jacquet’s Street

1957 Swing’s the Thing 1976 Jacquet’s Street

1959 Illinois Jacquet Flies Again 1978 God Bless My Solo

1962 Banned in Boston 1980 JSP Jazz Sessions, V. 1: New York

1962 Illinois Jacquet [Epic/Legacy] 1988 Jacquet’s Got It!

1963 Message 1994 Jazz at the Philharmonic: First Concert

1963 Illinois Jacquet [Clef] 1994 His All Star New York Band

1964 Desert Winds 1996 Big Horn

1964 Bosses of the Ballad 1996 The Complete Illinois Jacquet Sessions 1945-50

1964 Illinois Jacquet Plays Cole Porter 1999 Birthday Party

One of the top compilation albums by Illinois Jacquet and rated as one of the top jazz recordings issued in 1996 under the Mosaic record label was The Complete Illinois Jacquet Sessions 1945-50. This set contains all 77 tunes on the six record albums by Jacquet’s marvelous band, recorded for Aladdin, Apollo, Savoy, ARA and RCA-Victor between 1945 and ‘50. A sample of the set containing the songs from the first record, sides A and B, which was mostly recorded between July and August of 1945 in Los Angeles are listed below:

Record One – Side A: Record One – Side B:

1. Flying Home (part one) 2:46 1. Wynonie’s Blues

(Lionel Hampton-Benny Goodman) (Wynonie Harris-Illinois Jacquet)

2. Flying Home (part two) 2:15 2. Here Comes The Blues 2:46

(Lionel Hampton-Benny Goodman) (Wynonie Harris-Illinois Jacquet)

3. Uptown Boogie 2:18 3. Bottoms Up (10” LP take) 2:56

(Sir Charles Thompson-Illinois Jacquet) (Illinois Jacquet)

4. Throw It Out of Your Mind Baby 3:01 4. Bottoms Up (78 take) 2:56

(Russell Jacquet) (Illinois Jacquet)

5. Jacquet Mood 2:25 5. Merle’s Mood (10” LP take) 2:53

(Illinois Jacquet) (Illinois Jacquet)

6. Wondering And Thinking of You 3:06 6. Merle’s Mood (78 take) 2:55

(Russell Jacquet) (Illinois Jacquet)

7. Memories of You 3:11

(Eubie Blake)

The Jacque Rabbits

The second album within the “Complete Illinois Jacquet Sessions: 1945-50” contains more songs recorded between August 1945 and January 1946 in Los Angeles and New York. Two very special tunes recorded were “Illinois Stomp” and “Ladies Lullaby”. Illinois Jacquet wrote Illinois Stomp and Ladies Lullaby was written by Sir Charles Thompson. The two songs were released on ARA record label (ARA 144A, 144B) on a separate single 78-rpm. ARA 144 was the original 78-rpm issue, and was the only record that identified the group as the “Jacque Rabbits.“ The band members for the two records were Russell Jacquet on trumpet; Henry Coker on trombone; Jean Baptiste “Illinois” Jacquet on tenor sax; Tom Archia on tenor sax; Sir Charles Thompson on piano; Ulysses Livingston on guitar; John Simmons on bass; with both John Veliotes and Johnny Otis on drums.

Jacquet Rabbit record photo

The Double Sided Record Hit by the Jacquets

Ladies Lullaby

Illinois Stomp

The Descendants of Illinois Jacquet

Illinois Jacquet married Barbara Potts. Barbara was born on 19 July 1928. Barbara was from New York and was quite an athlete in her younger days. She excelled in basketball and tennis. Illinois and Barbara had two children: Michael Lane Jacquet and Pamela Baptiste Jacquet. As a youngster, Pamela recalled how challenging it was to try and become a musical member of her musical family: “…dad would have me practice over and over until I got it right. The band thought they had it bad but I had it worse!” Pamela Jacquet married and became Pamela Jacquet-Davis. Pamela taught for many years as a teacher at Arizona State University. Pamela had one daughter named Nikki Davis. Michael Jacquet had two children: Angel Jacquet and Michelle Jacquet. Michelle had two children: Anthony and Ashley. Barbara Potts Jacquet died on 23 July 1995 in New York. Michael Jacquet died on 5 February 2001 after a massive heart attack. Alone when it occurred in his apartment, it was four days after the fatal attack before his body was discovered.

It would be the memorable date of Friday night, 16^thJuly 2004, when Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet would give his last live performance at Lincoln Center in New York City. Illinois closed the Midsummer Night Swing Series at Lincoln Center for the sixteenth year. He had been there since its inception and this was his favorite engagement. Musician Bob Porter described the concert Illinois played as so upbeat that “He played two additional chorus’ to the final tune “On the Sunny Side of the Street” Before coming on to do an encore with the song “Flying Home.” Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet died the next Thursday at his home in Quenns of a heart attack. Many remembered him well with heartwarming memories.

Elizabeth Egas Booth, remembers the time when she took her mother Marie Egas and her drummer husband Pat Booth for a visit to Illinois’ house once:

“…He could be an arrogant man sometimes. I remember when I took Pat and my mom Marie to visit him at his house in Queens during the late 60’s. Al Hibbler was there too. Pat and Illinois were drinking wine all afternoon and Illinois was playing records but only music of himself and Pat asked, “Why are you playing all ‘YOUR’ music? There are other musicians too you know! Haven’t you ever heard of John Coltrane, Al Shorter?” asked Pat. Illinois emphatically responded, “There’s nobody greater than me!” and then the two of them began to argue. Pat soon decided he’d had enough and it was time to leave, and as the two were outside of the house still arguing, bricks from the side of the house began to fall. Fearing a bad omen of some sort, and with cooler heads, Illinois called Pat and Liz in Washington Heights the next day and the two talked to each other on the phone. ‘Man, we were really drinking last night huh Pat?’ ‘Yea, we really were, what happened?’ said Pat. ‘Well, don’t worry about it cause we’re all family, come on over and lets fix it up’ said Illinois. Pat went back out to Illinois’ house in Queens and the two went to buy some new bricks at the nearby lumber yard and that same day were seen re-building and patching up the side of the house. Everything had been “patched up” by then, both the house and their friendship.”

Musician Bob Porter during his eulogizing speech at the funeral of Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet on 29 July 2004, recalled that:

“…I first met Illinois at a night club, he didn’t like the way the drummer was playing and replied to me ‘I bet you can play drums better than that guy!’ I went out and played and gained the confidence from him to be a good drummer. He was a man that if he didn’t like you, it could be a problem…he went out with his boots on, he played the sax as well as anyone I ever heard. I heard him play just last July 16^th at Lincoln Center when he played two extra choruses to the song “Sonny Side of the Street”, but it was fitting that “Flying Home” was the last tune he played…”

Attended by hundreds of family members and friends paying their respects, Illinois Jacquet’s funeral was held on 29 July 2004 at The Riverside Church in New York City. After funeral arrangements with the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home, his body was interred at the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. Illinois leaves a loving and devoted manager and companion of twenty years, Carol Scherick who helped resurrect his music career. Illinois leaves a host of relatives, friends and music fans all over the world.

Illinois genealogy chart
Marie Rose Jacquet

(11^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet & Rosa Jean-Louis)

Marie Rose Jacquet was the eleventh child born between Rosa Jean Louis and Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet. Marie Rose was born on 12 January 1883, in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana (Sm.ch.v.11-B,p.462). The birth certificate of Marie Rose says that her parents were “Jolivet and Rosa Doucet”, however, when Marie Rose married Louis Jean Baptiste, the marriage document says that her parents were “Jean Baptiste (deceased) and Rosa Jean-Louis” (Sm.ch.v.12,p.242). This apparent mix-up was because Rosa Jean-Louis also used the surname “Daniel”. Rosa Jean Louis and her brother Samuel Philogen Daniel grew up together and were born from the same mother but had different fathers (*32*). Thus Rosa Jean-Louis most likely dictated to the recorder of the birth certificate “Rosa Daniel” which was mistranslated as “Rosa Doucet”, or what most likely occurred is that Father Hébert’s team made the mistranslation during the original recording of his “SW Louisiana Records.” We see the same named used on the marriage document of Marie Rose’s sister Roseline Jacquet when she married Julien Lambert on 21 December 1891, the document says that the parents of Roseline are “Jolivet Jacquet and Rosa Daniel”. Julien’s parents were Magloire Lambert and Cecile Thomas.

Marie Rose married Louis Jean Baptiste on 18 February 1903, in St. Martin Parish. They had applied for a marriage license at the St. Martin courthouse on 31 Jan 1903. Louis Jean Baptiste was born in St. Martinville on 16 December 1879 and was the son of William Jean Baptiste and Octavie (or Antonia) Nonau. Witnesses to the marriage were Sanville Jacquet, Demosthenes Steiner, Narcisse Bernard (or Beniand) (*200*). There appears to be a brother of Louis born on 8 Oct 1888 whose parents were William Jean Baptiste and Octavie Nono. The name of Louis Jean Baptiste’s mother is also written as Antonia Hono. The correct spelling of his mother’s name appears to be close to “Nono” as that version turns up more than the others. The marriage record of 19 Feb 1878, in St. Martinville has Louis’ parent’s names written as William Jean Baptiste and Octavie Nono. The marriage record of Louis’ father William (fils) Jean Baptiste shows his parents as William Jean Baptiste (pere) and Felonise Guidry. Octavie Nono’s parents were Louis Nono and Marie Louise Azema Thibodeaux. William Jean Baptiste (pére) has a succession record (#2604) at the St. Martin courthouse dated 27 Dec 1884. Félonise Guidry “wife of deceased William Jean Baptiste” went to the St. Martin Courthouse on that day and declared the following heirs: Alexandre (minor), Arthur, William, Célima, Célina, Célimène, Philomene and Marie. That makes eight children who were the aunts and uncles of Louis Jean Baptiste. Marie Rose Jacquet and Louis Jean Baptiste had at least six children:

1. Yorick Jean Baptiste appears to be the first child born to Marie Rose and Louis Jean Baptiste. Yorick was born circa 1905.

2. Marie Inez Baptiste was the second child born on 11 October 1906.

3. William Jean Baptiste was born on 15 Jan 1909 but appears to have died shortly thereafter and was buried by the St. Martin Church on 27 Feb 1909. However, this could very well be a recording error as another St. Martin church document says that William Jean Baptiste died at the age of 22 on the date of 27 Feb 1909. That would mean a birth year of 1887 and probably is a brother of William’s named “Jean Baptiste” born on 8 October 1888.

4. Gladys Jean Baptiste born circa 1909 – 1910,

5. Myrtle Jean Baptiste born circa 1911.

6. Wilmer Jean Baptiste born circa 1916.

It appears that most of the children and further generations went by the surname “Baptiste”. Census records show that the Jean Baptiste family and the Jacquet family lived in close proximity to each other. This was the natural order of the times, when people just did not travel that far or not at all. Because travel was much more difficult to accomplish in centuries past, most marriages took place between people who lived in adjacent or on nearby properties in the immediate area. The Jean Baptiste family owned property next to Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet and so the two families grew up in close proximity to each other.

Marie Rose Jacquet died on 28 February 1917, her life ending at such a young age of only 34 years. It was up to her husband Louis Jean Baptiste, to petition to the St. Martin court to appraise and distribute her estate:

“The petition of Louis Jean Baptiste, this 21^st day of March, 1919, that his wife Rose Jacquet died 28 February 1917. She married petitioner on 18 February 1903 (Sm.ct.hse marriage #8278). There were five children all minors: Yorick, Ines, Gladys, Myrtle, and Wilmer Jean Baptiste... That his wife Rosa Jacquet had inherited a tract of land from her deceased father Jean Baptiste Jolivette Jacquet, which she sold to the Billeaud Sugar Factory on 4 March 1916 for $300.00 (book 78, folio 328 #38520) of conveyances and with that same money she purchased with her sister Rosita Jacquet wife of Demosthene Steiner the real estate above mentioned. Her brother Stainville was appointed undertutor of the 5 minors.

Estate:

1^st – That parcel of land situated at Coteau in the 1^st ward of St. Martin Parish containing 7 arpents & 79/100, designated as lot #1 of sketch #2 annexed to an act of partition between the heirs of Jean Baptiste Jolivette and recorded under no. 30240 of conveyances and also that parcel of land in same locality designated lot #2 of sketch #3, purchased by Rose Jacquet from Rosita Jacquet on 4 March 1916. Valued at $300.00

2^nd - Cow and 2 calf $70.00

1 old buggy $15.00

1 old wagon $ 5.00

1 mule $75.00

1 old crippled horse $ 5.00

+ other

total $530.00 (*135*)

Unfortunately, the heirs of Rose Jacquet would lose possession of the property in 1926. All but one of Rose’s brothers and sisters would suffer the same fate. It was on the 17 of February 1926, when a claim by the widow Francis Kiernan was bought before the St. Martin Parish courthouse:

“…To Louis Jacquet, Willie Jacquet, Mitchel Jacquet, Stanville Jacquet, Coralie Lorins, widow Albert Jacquet, Linch Jacquet, Turner Jacquet, Randolph Jacquet, and Bertha Jacquet, of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana…These are to notify you that Mrs. Widow Francis Kiernan, of St. Martin Parish has filed…on this 17 day of February, A.D. 1926, her petition setting forth that she is the holder and owner of those four certain promissory notes…dated January 10^th 1917, each note being for the sum of eight hundred and seventy one.25 ($871.25) dollars, falling due respectively in one, two, three and four years from that date, all bearing interest…and there being a balance due on the said notes of TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED.39 ($2600.39) DOLLARS, due January 1^st 1924…is secured by a vendor’s lien and mortgage…on the following property:

The undivided 12/13 rights titles and interests owned by the vendor by purchase from the above named purchasers and Rosita Jacquet, wife of Demosthene Steiner, Oscar Jacquet, Rufus Jacquet, Roseline Jacquet wife of Julien Lambert, Rose Jacquet, wife of Louis Jean Baptiste, Heloise Jacquet, wife of Auguste Michel, in and to the estate of Rosa Jean Louis widow Alexandre Jean Baptiste (Jolivette) Jacquet…first: that certain tract of land situated at Coteau in the first ward of St. Martin Parish…containing 60 acres…with all of the buildings…except one cabin and one corn crib belonging to Gilbert Jacquet. second: Another tract of land situated in the same locality…containing 42 acres…belonging to Rufus Jacquet (9 ½ arpents)…and to Rose Jacquet 1 ½)

…unless you pay or cause to be paid, the amount aforesaid in principal, interests, attorneys’ fees and all costs, or that you appeal from the said order or otherwise oppose in law the execution thereof, within three days from the service of this notice on you, allowing one additional day for every twenty miles distance from your residence to the Court House at St. Martinville, then a writ of seizure and sale shall issue against you, directed to the Sheriff and ex-officio tax collector in and for the Parish of St. Martin, for him to seize, advertise and sell the above described property, to pay the amounts due by you as aforesaid; the said sale to be made for cash…”(*225*)

Of the more than $3,000 that was initially loaned, the first year’s payment of $871.25 was paid. The Combined Jacquet families could not come up with the annual payments after the first year. The only payments after that were to pay the interest. There was $6.90 paid in January 1925, and $130.19 paid in January 1926. What was the reason for the high amount of loans in the first place? And more important, why were they, the 12 Jacquet families, collectively unable to pay the annual mortgage amount? They all went in it together and no one individual could pull out if they wanted to. I believe this is a history lesson in adhering to the old saying: “never put all your eggs in one basket!”

Helouise Jacquet

(12^th begotton child of Jolivet Jacquet & Rosa Jean-Louis)

Helouise Jacquet was the twelfth child born between the union of Rosa Jean Louis and Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet. It has been difficult to find any birth record of Helouise, but she must have been born between the birth of her sister Rose in 1883, and her brother Louis Lo Lo born in 1888, because on the succession documents of her father Jean baptiste Jolivet Jacquet, they list the 14 children in order of birth. Helouise is listed 12^th between Rose and Lo Lo Louis (*35*). Helouise Jacquet along with her sister Rose, and her three brothers Gilbert, Louis and Michel Jacquet were of minor age when their father passed away in May of 1899. Five years later when the family would re-assess the partitioning of Jolivet’s property, only two minor children remain: Louis Lolo and Michel. They are the two youngest children. Helouise is now of “major age”, or 21 or greater. The evidence points to her being one year younger than her sister Marie Rose and 2 – 3 years younger than her brother Gilbert. Since we have birth years of those two, the birth year appears to be ca. 1884. It would around the year 1885 when Helouise became the major age of twenty-one. Soon thereafter she would marry Auguste Michel on 30 April 1906, in St. Martinville. Auguste was the son of Eugene Michel and Annette Zenon. Witnesses to the marriage according to the St. Martin Courthouse document (#8884) were Sanville Jacquet, J. E. Jolivet, and Willie Jacquet.

Helouise and August had no children but they did adopt a son at the age of 7 weeks old. His name was Roy Paris born ca. 1928. To be able to go to school he had to take on the name Roy Mitchel but is known now by people in Lafayette as Roy Paris. As of the writing of this book Roy was still living in Lafayette, Louisiana.

What may or may not be the tombstone of Helouise lies in Lafayette, Louisiana. According to the cemetery register (pg.18, #249), at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Louise Jacquet at the age of 95 died on 13 April 1973, and was buried on 16 April 1973. She had resided at 309 Argonne Street.

Like all of her brothers and sisters, Helouise inherited a portion of her father’s 210 acres of land when he died in 1899. Her portion was a lot of land 9 & 6/9 arpents (8.2 acres) (*35, 38*). However, Like most of her brothers and sisters who inherited their father Jolivet Jacquet’s 210 acres of land, Helouise Jacquet would eventually lose her share of the property. In three consecutive suits by the Bank of St. Martinville against Oscar Jacquet, Michel Jacquet and Eloise Jacquet, the property was taken away. On 7 February 1929, the Bank of St. Martinville petitioned to the St. Martin Parish Court that:

“”…Eloise Jacquet is indebted $325.00, +8% apr as per promissory note of 18 October 1926 due in one year…the Bank became holder, and owner of his property…to secure the full payment of said note…the said Elouise Jacquet mortgaged in favor of Paul Albert Bienvenu…the following property…A tract of land in the 1^st ward of St. Martin Parish on the west side of Bayou Teche consisting of 9 6/9 arpents, north by public road, south by Leon Lorins, east by Michel Jacquet, west by property of Oscar Jacquet…” (*227*)

The Great flood of 1927 had by now come and gone. Was Elouise one of the many victims of the flood that washed away so many homes in Louisiana at that time? The crop yields that would have paid off the debt would have been a total loss, yielding nothing for a couple of years. Many families were forced to move west and north because of the devastating floods.

Lo Lo Louis Jacquet

(13^th begotton Child of Jolivet Jacquet & Rosa Jean-Louis)

Lo Lo Louis Jacquet was the thirteenth child born to Rosa Jean Louis and Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet. His name can be seen in the records books also as Louis Lo Lo Jacquet, and also as Louis Jacquet. Lo Lo Louis was born on 20 August 1888. Marriage records were difficult to find but it is clear that he did marry at least once and perhaps twice according to the 1920 census and the sale or foreclosure of property Louis had inherited from his father Jolivet. On the 1920 census records, a woman named Hilliare Jacquet is listed as his wife. The spelling of her name is unclear, but other documents show that his wife was named “Valerie Gardner“. The evidence would point to the strong belief that “Hilliare” and “Valerie” is one and the same. When Louis and his brothers and sisters sold their property for a loan in 1913 then bought it back in 1917, the documents records Lo Lo Louis Jacquet’s wife as Valerie Gardner. His wife was born Valerie Joseph Gardiner on 10 Dec 1881, and baptized at the St. Martin Church in St. Martinville. Valerie’s parents were Charles Gardiner and Josephine Jolivet. Charles and Josephine had married at the St. Martin Church on 23 Feb 1870. Charles was the son of Therence Gardiner and Catherine. Josephine was the daughter of Jolivet and Arthemise. Hebert’s SW Louisiana records show that Josephine and Charles had at least seven children:

1. Jean Baptiste Paul Gardiner born on 4 Feb 1871.

2. Charles Jean Baptiste Gardiner born on 19 Feb 1873.

3. Marie Italia Gardiner born on 18 Feb 1875.

4. Augustin Maximilien Gardiner born on 20 July 1876.

5. Marie Arthemise Gardiner born on 6 June 1878.

6. Catherine Gardiner born on 20 May 1880.

7. Valerie Joseph Gardiner born on 10 Dec 1881.

All of the Gardiner children were baptized at the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville. Their baptismal records are recorded in the church’s record of Blacks, volume II-B. Either there were two “Josephine Jolivets” walking the streets of St. Martinville at the same time with the same name, or the same woman married for a second time to Martin Jacquet on 25 Apr 1898. Martin was the son of Edouard Jacquet and Estelle Ambroise.

On the 1880 census taken on June 11^th in the 3^rd ward of St. Martin Parish, we see Charles Gardiner, a 36-year-old mulatto man and his wife Josephine Jolivet, a black female, who is either 32 or 38 years old. The writing is unclear. Their six children live with them (*256*). Valerie has not been born by this time but Jolivet must be about 3 months pregnant with her. All six children are listed as mulatto. Living in the next house is the household headed by 50-year-old Caroline Jean. Her seven children live with her and the youngest is four. Three are Lasseignes, three are Louis’ and one is a Wiltz. Caroline Jean was the mother of Odile and Arsene Lasseigne, the two sisters who married the two Jacquet brothers Albert Jacquet and Jules Jacquet. Three households away are 33-year-old Pierre Jacquet, his 30-year-old mulatto wife Aimeé Gaspard, and their sons Ernest Jacquet, Lionel Jacquet and Louis Ludovic Jacquet.

What may or may not be the Valerie Gardiner who is a topic of this chapter, is a woman with the same name who is living with her adopted father on the 1900 census. Valerie Gardiner is the adopted daughter of (Paul?) Jones. His wife is Florence Jones. Mr. Jones was born in 1854. The census says that Valerie, a black female, was born in January 1884 and is age 16. An 80-year-old Catherine Gardiner lives with her 60 year old daughter Louise Lewis in the house next to the Jones family. If this is the Valerie Gardiner in question and her mother may have been the Josephine Jolivet to remarry in 1898, then some unfortunate circumstance may have occurred with Valerie’s father.

The 1920 census indicates that Valerie Gardnier is a Black woman age 35, which indicates she was born circa 1885. Like her husband Louis Jacquet, she is occupied as a farm laborer. Louis and his wife Valerie live in the same house as his brother Mitchel Jacquet, (also Michael Jacquet). Louis Jacquet by the time of the 1920 census had at least two children. His two children were named Paul Jacquet born in October of 1916, and Walter Jacquet born in July of 1919. Louis and his family live next to their brother Gilbert Jacquet.

There is a reason why Lo Lo Louis had to live with his other brothers despite both his parents Rosa Jean Louis and Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet leaving him property when they died. According to the St. Martin Courthouse records, it was on 11 January 1916 that the petition of Charles E Smedes and Henry D Smedes was entered there suing Louis for money he owed them. According to the suit:

“...the petition of Charles E Smedes and Henry D Smedes that Lo Lo Louis Jacquet is in debt $321.80 with 8% annual percentage rate since 7 July 1913 when (we) loaned to Lo Lo Louis $321.80 for ? identical with an act of mortgage passed previously... so that the petitioner (Smedes brothers) can secure final payment, ...described property: 9 6/9 arpents, North by public road, South by Leon Lorins, East by C E Smedes formerly of Stainville Jacquet, West by Michel Jacquet being the same property acquired by mortgager as per act of partition passed on 17 Feb 1904, being lot #4, plat #1... further that contract said Lo Lo Jacquet specially concented that should note not be punctually paid at maturity, it is lawful for petitioners to cause the said property to be seized and sold without appraisment...” (*162*)

This was not the first time that the Jacquet Children of Jolivet and Rosa had problems paying back their loans to the Smedes family. Stanville had lost his property at an earlier date to C E Smedes and more of his brothers and sisters would soon loose theirs. The Smedes brothers had been strict about the repayment contract and took Lo Lo to court as soon as the deadline came to be. Unfortunately, Lo Lo had originally agreed to his property being “immediately seized” if he did not pay the loan. The document states to have been “said and signed by Lo Lo Louis on the 7 July 1913 when Lo Lo “the husband of Valerie Gardner” is indebted unto Charles E Smedes and Henry D Smedes Sr. the sum of $321.80“... specially mortgaged for this loan is... a tract of land. Due to the unchallengeable nature of the contract, Lo Lo Louis Jacquet lost the suit and his property in favor of the Smedes brothers and the judge declared, “Default seizure and sale” on 31 January 1916. (*162*) Lo Lo Louis Jacquet and his brothers and sisters would get a chance to “buy back” their property one year later:

“…the 10^th of January 1917, Charles E. Smedes sold unto Stanville Jacquet, Michel Jacquet husband of Rosalie Jean Louis, Albert Jacquet husband of Coralie Lorins, Gilbert Jacquet husband of Marguerite Trahan, Willie Jacquet husband of Leontine Lorins, Louis Jacquet husband of Valerie Gardner, each purchasing by equal undivided shares: The undivided 12/13^th owned by the vendor by purchase from above named purchasers…at Coteau in the first ward of St. Martin Parish, 60 acres (70.84 arpents)…sale made for $3485.00, payments in 4 promisary notes for $871.25 annually…” (*224*)

This was part of a large amount of land the 13 children had inherited in 1904 when their father Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet had died in 1899 (*35, 38*). The sale of the property in 1913 by the Jacquet families could only be because they needed money and many times families thought it was necessary to take out a loan and put a lein on their property until “the harvest of crop came in.” When crop failure occurred due to unfortunate weather and the family could not repay the loan, they lost their property. They appeared to come up with the money to repay the loan in 1917 but that would also prove to be a disaster. Of the 13 children, Athenais Jacquet who married Adolphe Allen in 1902, but then died in 1912, was the only one whose heirs was not involved in the sale or lein of the 1/13^th portion of property each inherited in 1904. Other than Martin Jacquet, who died in 1899 and had no issue so was not involved in the inheritance of Jolivet’s property; all of the 13 remaining children were still living except Athenais. The 12 Jacquet children of Jolivet would eventually lose the property to the hands of the Smedes brothers.

Although it did appear that all of the 12 remaining children of Jolivet Jacquet lost their property, somehow the descendants of Martin Jacquet (son of Jolivet’s son Oscar) and Martin’s son John McCarther Jacquet retained possession of their 1/13^th portion of property and as of the year 2005, still held legal possession of it.
Mitchel Jacquet

(14^th begotton Child of Jolivet Jacquet & Rosa Jean-Louis)

Mitchel Jacquet was the fourteenth and last child born between the union of Rosa Jean Louis and Jean baptiste Jolivet Jacquet, the ninth and last son born between the two. His name is also seen as Michel Jacquet and Michael Jacquet. Michael is the English version of the French name “Michel” which is most likely the origin of his name. Mitchel Jacquet was born on 24 October 1889, in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Mitchel was just nine years old when his father Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet passed away. In addition to his mother, Mitchel would be in the care of his uncles until he would be of major age (age 21). Mitchel Jacquet married Rosalie Jean Louis, the daughter of Mary St. Julien and Mr. Jean-Louis. Rosalie was born ca. 1893 on 7 Nov and died ca. 1939-1940. Mr. Jean Louis died before 1928.

Like most of his brothers and sisters who inherited their father Jolivet Jacquet’s 210 acres of land, Michel Jacquet would eventually lose his share of the property. In three consecutive suits by the Bank of St. Martinville against Oscar Jacquet, Michel Jacquet and Eloise Jacquet. The property was taken away. On 7 February 1929, the Bank of St. Martinville petitioned to the St. Martin Parish Court that:

“…Michel Jacquet was indebted $325.00, 8% apr as per promissory note…on 18 August 1928…the Bank became holder, and owner of his property…to secure the full payment of said note…the said Michel Jacquet mortgaged in favor of Paul Albert Bienvenu…the following property…A tract of land in the 1^st ward of St. Martin Parish consisting of 9 6/9 arpents, north by public road, south by Leon Lorins, east formerly by Louis Lolo Jacquet, west by property formerly of Eloise Jacquet…” (*227*)

Mitchel Jacquet died in December 1965. Mitchel and Rosalie Jean Louis had six children:

1. Rosa Mae Jacquet born in 1916. She married Clifford Burke the son of George Burke and Emily Cormier. Clifford’s sister Lorena married Rosa’s brother Mitchell Jacquet Jr. Rosa Mae had two daughters: Helen and Lillie. Helen had two children named Angelica and John. Angelica had two children named Tia and Richard. Rosa Mae’s other daughter Lillie had a daughter named Shelia. Shelia had three children named Richard, Moses and Crystal.

2. John Jacquet born in February 1918. John married twice. His first marriage was to Christine Trahan In Port Arthur, Texas. John had two daughters with Christine named Tina and Sue. John left Texas in 1950 and moved to New Orleans where he met and married his second wife.

3. Mitchell Jacquet Jr. was born ca. 1920. He married Lorena Burke the daughter of George Burke and Emily Cormier. It was Lorena’s father George who caused Mitchell’s uncle St. Ville Jacquet to have to divorce his first wife Marie Lea Augustine after she had an affair with George (*275*). Mitchell Jr. and Lorena had two daughters named Barbara Jacquet and Beverly Jacquet. Barbara had a son named Frederick. Mitchell Jr. died in 2002.

4. Hamilton Jacquet was born ca. 1922. Hamilton married Eddy Allen. Eddy and Hamilton had four sons named Hamilton Jacquet Jr., James Jacquet, Herbert Jacquet and Michael Jacquet.

5. Percy Jacquet was born ca. 1925. Percy never married but he had three daughters with three different women. With Luella Harrison he had a daughter named Wanda. With Mary Alice Flugence he had a daughter named Theresa.

6. Willie Paul Jacquet was the last of six children born to Mitchel Jacquet Sr. and Rosalie Jean Louis. He was born on 7 Nov 1928 in Louisiana. His sponsoring Godparents were Bertha Jones and his uncle Ulysse Allen. Willie Paul married Laura Mae Bobb in 1956. Laura was the daughter of Joe Bobb and Pauline George. Willie Paul and Laura Mae had a son named Marcus born on 17 Oct 1963. Marcus married Rachel Fontenent and they had a son named Marcus Jr. born in Sept 1988. Willie remembers life as a young boy growing up in Louisiana and the joyful times he had when his Uncle Gilbert and his cousins Russell Jacquet and Illinois Jacquet would come home every summer back to Louisiana and stay with Mitchell Sr. and family for the summer during the 1930’s:

“…We all loved it when Gilbert and family came back home to Louisiana to stay with us in the summertime. Russell and Illinois just loved to dance. They were my first cousins but they were really like brothers and sisters to me. Mae was in college in Baton Rouge going to Southern University. She came over every weekend and stayed with us…”

World War II came and everything changed. Mitchell and his brothers had helped their father working the land and helping to bring in the crops. The family specialty was sugar cane. When the war came, several of the brothers got drafted:

“Percy helped out with me until he got drafted. I was too young and had to stay behind to help dad with the sugar cane. It was rough times and as soon as we paid off one loan, it was time to take out another loan. It was around 1941 when I was about 12 or 13 years old when it was just too much for one kid to handle and I had to go to Houston to live with Uncle Gilbert. Father Mitchell stayed behind and had to sell the property, as he could not keep up with it by himself…”

It would be but a few more years and the war would be over. Then Willie decided to take up something that had been a hallmark of the Jacquet family – music. He waw about 16 years old when he saw a guitar and decided he wanted to learn how to play it. After buying the six-stringed instrument and finding out how difficult it was, he gave up on it. A phone call to his dad changed all of that. After telling his dad of his unsuccessful try at the guitar, his dad told Willie “bring it home to Louisiana with you.” Willie was 16 or 17 years old when he first heard his dad play the guitar for the first time. He bought it home, and his dad tuned up the strings and started playing. Before Willie was born, his dad Mitchel had played guitar and slide trombone with his Jacquet brothers and nephews in the band called “The Jacquets Band.” Mitchel played guitar and trombone, uncle Gilbert Jacquet played violin, brother Lo Lo Louis Jacquet played trumpet, brother St. Ville Jacquet also played in the bad as did other Jacquets. The band played in Negro clubs around the area in the 1920’s. The True Friend in St. Martinville and The Golden Rule in Cade were two of the more memorable clubs the Jacquets band played in.

After a move to Chicago, Willie served in the Merchant Marines under the guide of the US Coast Guard. He started his service in 1950 and ended his career on 31 March 1971. It was a near fatal accident that ended his service. While on the ship Texaco Oklahoma 125 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the ship sank. Willie was fast asleep when a shipmate awakened him in the middle of the night and told him “Wake up and get your lifevest on!” It was 4:30 am Saturday morning and the 27^th of March, a time Willie still vividly remembers:

“…I looked out the porthole and the ship was jackknifed and broken in two. The front part was already disappearing. We stayed on the 2^nd part until about 5am until it too sank. We jumped into the water as it sank and a bunch of us grabbed the last liferaft. There were 11 of us that survived on the liferaft. Two more were found on Monday so 13 of us were very lucky to escape with our lives but a total of 31 were not so lucky and died. My service ended with the Merchant Marines and Coast Guard that following Wednesday March 31^st. It was a horrible experience and I had nightmares about the incident for a long time…”

Some historians ask the question if the Texaco Oklahoma was another Bermuda Triangle victim. US Naval Institute proceedings were held that month to investigate the cause of the sinking. A plaque in Texas was made in honor of those who died.

The Sinking of the Tankship SS Texaco-Oklahoma

Since the age of oil began, many ships have been lost at sea or ran ashore creating devastating ecological problems and loss of life when their oil tanks rupture and the cargo of oil spills out into the sea. One such story is the sinking of the Tankship Texaco-Oklahoma.

The Texaco-Oklahoma was one of a class of tank ships, 632 feet long, 90 feet in breadth, and 45 feet in depth. It was built between 1956 and 1959 in Sparrows Point, Maryland. On 22 March 1971, the Texaco-Oklahoma completed loading 220,000 barrels of fuel oil at the Texaco dock in Port Arthur, Texas. It left Port Arthur at 1600 hours that same day and headed for Boston Massachusetts. After sailing around Florida and heading north, by Friday March 26^th wind and sea conditions had intensified and the ship was encountering 30 to 40 foot waves washing over the decks of the ship. The ship was rolling and pitching moderately to heavily when it suddenly broke in two and eventually sank. The investigative report of the US Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation begins the report detailing what happened:

“At 0330 hours on the 27 March 1971 the tankship SS Texaco-Oklahoma, fully loaded with a cargo of black low sulphur oil, broke in two about 120 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The ship was en route from Port Arthur, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts and was proceeding at very slow speed in a severe storm when the casualty occurred. The ship split in the vicinity of the No. 5 tanks and submerged all of the crew asleep in the forward deckhouse. The forward section then reversed direction and drifted down the stern section, destroying the starboard lifeboat…none of the 13 crewmembers in the forward section survived. The stern section sank at about 0600 hours on Sunday March 28^th which was the time the ship was scheduled to arrive in Boston and 27 hours after the ship broke in two…” (*278*)

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the Texaco-Oklahoma hull fracture was the high stresses produced by heavy seas and other forces on the relatively lightly constructed and fully loaded ship. The remaining crew on the stern section had tried desperately but without success to operate the emergency radio transmitter. The crew operated the portable lifeboat transmitter for 12 hours without knowing that the distress signals were not being received. Had they figured out how to set it up correctly, it is possible that more lives would have been saved. The radio transmitter was normally serviced, tested and used by the radio operator on board named Albert Merrikin, but he was already lost in the sunken bow section. None of the remaining crewmembers on the stern were familiar with the type of radio unit on board or with Morse code and how to properly set up and tune the antenna and transmitter, even with the waterproof instructions inside the radio case. Although the crew desparately tried to send a rescue signal for more than 12 hours, no ship or shore station reported receiving the distress signals. The investigative board later concluded that the type of emergency radio transmitter carried aboard the Texaco-Oklahoma was unreliable under the circumstances.

After 2400 hours (midnight) on Saturday March 27^th, the forward end of the remaining stern section began to slowly sink. At 0530, the 31 crewmembers assembled to abandon ship. The SS Texaco-Oklahoma was equipped with two 37-person lifeboats forward, two 37-person lifeboats aft (the stern or rear), one 10-person lifeboat forward, and one 15-person rubber inflatable lifeboat aft. With all of the forward lifeboats lost, and one of the 37-person lifeboats already demolished by the bow section when it drifted back towards the stern section, that left one 37-person lifeboat available, but when that one was washed away by heavy seas, the 15-man lifeboat was the only available lifeboat remaining when it came time to abandon ship. The air temperature was about 55 degrees F and the water Temperature was 74 degrees F. All crewmembers wore life preservers. The crew earlier had made two rafts consisting of empty oil drums and threw them overboard along with the 15-man inflatable rubber liferaft. The crew descended into the water on a Jacob’s ladder but the men and the rafts were quickly covered with oil. As the drum rafts tossed and flipped in the rough seas, hanging onto the drum rafts went from difficult to impossible when a cargo tank suddenly ruptured and released a large wave of oil that washed all the men from the rafts. The drum rafts reacted so violently to the storm waves that it rendered them useless. Already fatigued, weak and now sick from swallowing oil and seawater, only eleven men managed to get back into the rubber liferaft. The rest of the unfortunate men drifted off to the open seas. Fatigue was a major factor in determining who survived. Like the famous Titantic in its last moments before it sank, the stern section of the Texaco-Oklahoma assumed a vertical upright position and sank at 0605 hours on the 28^th of March 1971 having been afloat 26 ½ hours after the initial fracture (*278*).

After remaining afloat for 11 hours, the 11 survivors in the lifeboat were rescued at 1700 hours on Sunday afternoon by the Liberian Tankship Sasstown, which came upon them by accident and reported their position (36^o 00’N, 74^o 43’W) to the Coast Guard at Portsmouth, Virginia. The SS Texaco-Nebraska later rescued two additional survivors at about 1320 hours on Monday after the two had been in the water for 32 hours. The survivors of the Texaco-Oklahoma disaster left us a message that we should never give up, not even in the most fearful and hopeless circumstance. One of the survivors who lived to prove how true that statement is, was our own beloved Jacquet relative Willie Paul Jacquet, still alive and well in Port Arthur, Texas as of the writing of this book.

Chapter

6 Charles Jacquet

(6^thbegotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

The best estimate we have for the birth date of Charles is circa 1840. He was probably the sixth child sired by Jean Baptiste Jacquet if that is indeed his father. Not much in the record books can be found of Charles Jacquet and if he had any descendants. We do know that Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Celeste had a son named Charles because his name appears more than once in the records. To paraphrase and translate the slave inventory of the estate of Marguerite (Decoux) Berard that lists the brothers and sisters of Charles and his mother and father, dated August 6, 1849, it says that:

In the year 1849, Jean Baptiste Jacquet was about 43 years of age, Celeste Augustine was about the same age. Their son Belisaire was 18 years old, their daughter Angela was 15, their son Jolivet was 11, and Celeste was with four other young children: Charles who was 9, Edouard who was 7, Zoe who was 5 and Pierre was 15 months old.

All of them were together under the ownership of the Berard family when Marguerite (Decoux) Berard died in June of 1849. On August 6, 1849, an inventory of her estate was appraised. One hundred and seventeen separate articles were inventoried including an inventory of the slaves owned and their appraised value.(*2*) Item 98, listed Charles’ mother Celeste and her four younger children:

98. “Celeste, Negressa de 42 ans (years), et infants Edouard de 7 ans, Zoe de 5 ans, Charles de 9 ans, et Pierre de 18 months,

Estimated value - $1100.00”

The estate sale and distribution took place mostly on the date of February 17, 1851. The Berard brothers and sisters took many of the slaves as part of their inheritance. Other slaves were sold. The distribution and sale of the estate of Marguerite Berard meant the break-up of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s family. Angela went to Euranie Berard, Jolivet was sold to Nicolas Cormier, Belizaire went to Balthazaro Berard, Celeste and her four children Edouard, Zoe, Charles and baby Pierre were sold to Charles St. Maurice Olivier, the husband of Aminthe Berard. Pierre’s father Jean Baptiste Jacquet went into the possession of Rosemond Berard (*2*).

There is the possibility that Charles Jacquet did not survive to his adulthood and is the reason we find no records of him. There is also the possibility that he changed his surname. We know that some of the Jacquet brothers served in the Civil War. From the Washington D.C. pension records, we find that from the “U.S. Colored Troops 93^rd Regiment, Infantry From St. Martin Parish” of 1864, we find the name Charles Jackett listed as one of the colored troops. If this is the correct Charles Jacquet we are searching for, then his age at the time of his enlistment and battle would have been about 24 years old which would have been prime years for combat in war. Could it be that Charles “Jackett” died in battle? Fighting in the Civil War? The Cormier family was in the possession of some of the Jacquet family before slavery ended and this could be where Charles went to also. On the succession document of Nicholas Cormier Jr submitted by his wife Emelie Ledoux, on 24 October 1864, we see Jolivet (Jean Baptiste Alexandre Jacquet) age 25. What is most likely Jolivet’s brother is a listing of a “Charles” age 24. What was to become Jolivet’s wife is a woman named Rosa (Jean-Louis) age 16. Rosa is with her mother Roseline, a Negro age 35 with three additional children: Adeline age 8, Theodule age 6 and St. Clair age 1. Roseline’s mother Sophie is also present at age 54. Listed on the inventory of the estate are Sophie’s younger children – Sainville age 17, and Belisaire age 12. Charles, Jolivet, Sophie and her children, Roseline and her children along with Maurice age 8, Zenon age 16 and Jean Baptiste age 10 are under a special listing on the document which says (in an unsure and unclear translation):

“…Esclaves appartenant à la communauté partis avec les fédéraux, partis ici pour mémoire:” (Slaves belonging to the (French) community parted with the federalist, parted here as a reminder”) --- Jacob negre de 60 ans, Pierre negre de 52 ans, Charles de 24 ans, Sainville negre de 17 ans, Belisaire, negre âgé de 12 ans, Hermogène negre de 11 ans, Sophie négresse de 54 ans, Peggy mûlatresse de 48 ans, Roseline négresse âgée de 35 ans avec ses enfants, Adéline de 8 ans, Theodule de six ans, St. Clair d’un an, Betsy negresse âgée de 33 ans avec son enfant Leontine de 9 ans, Victoire négresse de 32 ans avec ses enfans Celismine de 8 ans et Célima de 6 ans. Juliette negresse de 17 ans, Rosa négresse de 16 ans, Clara 12 ans, Martial 10 ans, Maurice de 8 ans – Zénon de 6 ans, Ernestine de 2 ans – Jean Baptiste de 10 ans.” (*188*)

“Esclaves en propre a feu Nicolas Cormier partis avec les Fédéraux, parties ici pour mémoire” (slaves owned by the deceased Nicolas Cormier parted with the federalists, parted here as a reminder.”): Charles negre de 20 ans, Arltrus? Négre âgé de 28 ans, Randolph negre agé de 30 ans, Louise negresse de 30 ans avec ses enfants Mary âgée de neuf ans, Jean de sept ans, Narcisse de 5 ans, Alexandre quatre ans, Julie de 2 ans et Michel de 18 mois. Amélie negresse âgée de 28 ans et ses enfants, Marie de onze ans, Louis de neuf ans, Paul de 7 ans, Ursin de cinq ans, Angéle de 4 ans, et Isidore de 3 ans. Alphonsine negresse âgée de 25 ans et ses enfants Felix de 8 ans, Felicia de 6 ans, Martha de 5 ans, Jean Louis de 3 ans et Catherine de 18 mois. Catherine negresse âgée de 25 ans avec son enfant Rachel de 8 ans…” (*188*)

The End of the Civil War and the end of Slavery

According to the succession document of Nicholas Cormier, it was September of 1864 when his slaves were taken by the Federal Union troops (*188*). Slave owner Nicolas Cormier most likely died as a war casualty and the Civil War was nearing its end. All slaves would soon be free. Earlier that same month of September in 1864, General William Sherman captured Atlanta. After victoriously marching through Georgia and North Carolina, he receved the surrender of J. E. Johnson on 26 April 1865 and bought the war to its conclusion.

The secession of the Southern states South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina in that order during the years 1860 – 1861 began the hostilities between the north and the south. Slavery was a major issue. The Northern states of the Federal Union under President Abraham Lincoln numbered more than twice the population of the Confederacy of the Southern states. Lincoln had declared that he meant to save the Union as best he could either by preserving slavery, destroying slavery or a combination of both. Just after the Battle of Antietam in Northwest Maryland (also called battle of Sharpsburg) in September of 1862, Lincoln issued his proclamation calling on the revolted states to return to their allegiance before the New Year, otherwise their slaves would be declared free men. No state returned to the Union and Lincoln had to prove he was not bluffing so the threatened declaration was issued on 1 January 1863 known as “The Emancipation Proclamation”. President Abraham Lincoln issued the famous edict that New Year’s Day that freed the slaves of the Confederate states in rebellion against the Union.

On July 17, 1862, Congress passed two acts allowing the enlistment of Blacks/African-Americans in the war but official enrollment occurred later in September. While the Civil War’s celebrated Massachusetts 54^th “Colored” Regiment became fully organized on May 13,1863, and is thought of by many to have been the first Negro/African-American infantry unit in the Union Army, they were pre-dated by other black troops raised independently during the year 1862 in Kansas and in the Federally occupied areas of South Carolina and Louisiana. The 1^st Regiment of the Louisiana Native Guards known as “Le Corps d’Afrique” was sworn into service on September 27, 1862. The 2^nd and 3^rd Regiments were organized the next two months. Although the Native Guards were not the first black soliders to volunteer, the Native Guards were the first black soldiers to be officially mustered into the Union Army during the Civil War. Although there had been earlier battles in which black soldiers performed well, it was the valorous performance of the Louisiana Native Guards at Port Hudson, Louisiana on May 27, 1863, that proved that blacks could and would fight well in this war. Made up of free men of mixed racial ancestry from the New Orleans area and runaway slaves from surrounding plantations now free within Union lines, two of the three original Native Guard regiments were the first black troops in the war to experience a battle of any size.

Not all of the colored free people enlisted on the side of the Union army. Some enlisted to fight for the Confederacy, but why would they want to fight on the side of the Confederacy and perpetuate slavery? Historians say those non-whites who volunteered with the Confederacy would not appreciate being referred to as “black” or “colored.” Histornian Hollandsworth notes that: “More than 80 percent of the free black population in New Orleans in 1860 had European blood in their veins. In contrast, fewer than 10 percent of slaves in Louisiana gave evidence of white ancestry. Because skin color and free status were highly correlated, many free blacks identified more closely with Southern whites than with African blacks.” (*246*) Many of these free Colored/Creoles/mixed-raced/mulatto men had prospered in the South. They had the privilege of an education, held jobs of high position and owned property and slaves in some cases. They were not about to give up all of this without a fight.

The Emancipation proclamation had dealt a deathblow to human bondage based on skin color, and was officially made constitutional by the ratification of the thirteenth amendment in December 1865 (*235*). The United States Constitution, ratified in 1789, had originally contained a provision that led to a ban on the importation of African slaves after 1808 but through selective breeding, northern slave imports and stolen freedom, slave owners managed to keep the system going. Some of the people the slave traders sold were not slaves but free people of color. Eulalie had been living as a free woman of color for decades when she, her six children, and ten grandchildren were taken by force from their home in Pointe Coupeé, Louisiana, sold at auction in New Orleans and then having to spend years in the courtroom to regain their freedom. The Louisiana Supreme Court in 1854 finally gave her back her freedom (*236*). The North’s victory in the American Civil War resulted in the preservation of the Union, the abolition of slavery, and the granting of citizenship to the freed slaves who now needed to search for a Surname.

Key Events of the Civil War and the End of Slavery

6 March 1857 – Dred Scott Decision. Dred Scott was a slave whose master in 1834 had taken him from slave state Missouri to free state Illinois. When they returned in 1846, Scott sued for his freedom. A lower court ruled him free but appeals bought the case before the Supreme Court. Congress had declared slavery to be abolished but the Supreme Court declared this act of Congress unconstitutional. By a Supreme Court ruling of 7 – 2, they made slavery legal in all territories new and old. President Buchanan, the South and the Supreme Court hoped that the Dred Scott decision would mark the end of antislavery agitation, however, the decision increased antislavery sentiment in the North, increasing tension between the north that wanted slavery abolished and southern states who wanted to keep slavery.

November 1860 – Abraham Lincoln Elected President. Republican candidate Lincoln announced that “this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” The election occurred in an atmosphere of great tension. Southerners, who insisted on a Democratic candidate willing to protect slavery, took Lincoln’s election as the signal for secession.

20 December 1860 – South Carolina Seceeds from the Union. South Carolina became the first state to withdraw from the Union. Other states in the lower South followed. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana seceded in January 1861, Texas on the 1^st of February. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennesee in April, May and June of 1861. Efforts in Washington to stop the secession and work out compromises failed.

4 February 1861 – Confederate States formed. A month before Lincoln could be inaugurated in Washington, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas sent representatives to Montgomery, Alabama to set up a new independent government. With Jefferson Davis of Mississippi at its head, the Confederate States of America came into being, printing its own money and raising its own flag. Its government seat was transferred to Richmond once Virginia joined in. The Confederate’s Constitution guaranteed the institution of Negro slavery.

12 April 1861 – The War Begins. One of the few military installations in the South still in Federal hands was at Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina. Just before Federal supply ships could reach Fort Sumter, guns in Charleston, under Confederate General Pierre Beauregard, opened fire upon Fort Sumter, and the war began.

6 August 1861 – Confiscation Act. President Lincoln signed the Confiscation Act, which granted freedom to slaves being used by the Confederate Army.

30 August 1861 – Missouri Proclamation. Union General John C. Fremont issued a proclamation establishing martial law in Missouri and declared the slaves in that section free. President Lincoln revoked the order, fearing it would alienate the Border States he hoped to regain and maintain the loyalty of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri, the four slave states that remained in the Union.

16 April 1862 – Slavery abolished in DC. President Lincoln signed a bill abolishing slavery in the Nation’s Capital.

July 17, 1862 – Colored People Allowed to Fight. Congress passed two acts allowing the enlistment of Coloreds (Negros/Blacks/African Americans) in the war.

1 January 1863 – Emancipation Proclamation. President Abraham Lincoln issued the following proclamation: “On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforth and forever free.”

1-3 July 1863 – Gettysburg Battle. The greatest battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere occurred when hostile forces unexpectedly came together at the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Attacking on July 1^st with 28,000 men, Lee’s Confederate forces finally prevailed after nine hours of fighting 18,000 Federal soldiers. On the next day, 93,000 Federal troops fought 75,000 Confederate troops. By the 3^rd day, Lee retreated into Virginia. The Confederates had lost 28,063 men at Gettysburg and the Federals had lost 23,049.

1^st September 1864 – Sherman Captures Atlanta. General William Sherman and his troops plowed through Georgia forcing Confederate troops to evacuate Atlanta and allowing Sherman to capture the prized city. Sherman continued south, laying waste to both Confederate forces and the economic resources of Georgia in a path of destruction. He captured Savannah, Georgia on December 21^st.

March 1865 – Confederates Recruit Blacks. The South was loosing the war and was in desperate need for troops. The Confederate congress authorized the raising of Negro regiments. Although a few were recruited to fight for the Confederate Armies, none actually served in battle because surrender was at hand.

9 April 1865 – Robert E. Lee Surrenders. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders the remnants of his defeated Army to Ulysses S. Grant at the McLean house at Appomattox Court House west of Richmond, Virginia.

15 April 1865 – President Lincoln assassinated. Just days after the Union victory, Lincoln is shot dead. John Wilkes Booth is given credit for assassinating Abraham Lincoln as he sat in Ford’s theatre in Washington, D.C.

26 May 1865 – Civil War Ends. Under General Kirby Smith, 43,000 of his gray-clad Confederate soldiers surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana and the greatest war on American soil was over.

December 1865 – 13^th and 14^th Amendments. The Emancipation Proclamation was officially made constitutional by the ratification of the thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution. The 14^th amendment guarantees “equal protection” whereas no person or group will be denied that protection under the law that is enjoyed by similar persons or groups.

1865 – 1877 – Reconstruction era. The period in American history where attempts were made to solve the political, social and economic problems arising from the readmission to the union of the 11 Confederate states that had seceded before or during the Civil War. Congress established the “Freedmen’s Bureau” in March 1865 to help former slaves ease their transition from slavery to freedom. The welfare agency was established to feed, protect, and help educate the newly emancipated blacks that would choose a surname, marry legally under the law and earn wages for their labor.

Chapter

7 Edouard Jacquet

(7^th Begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

Edouard Jacquet was most likely the seventh child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Marie Celeste Augustine. Edouard is the original spelling of his name in the French. The English version is simply “Edward” and the spelling seen in late 19^th century documents is Edward Jacquet. Edouard Jacquet was born circa 1842. The inventory of the estate of Marguerite Decoux gives his birth year as 1842 (*2*), as does the 1880 census of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana (*106*). The death certificate of 1916 however gives his birth year as 1836 and appears to be the least reliable. The Louisiana death certificate reads that Edouard died on 23 March 1916 at the age of 80 in St. Mary parish. He had been a farmer, cropping sugar, cotton and corn when he died in Baldwin. Edouard Jacquet married Estelle Ambroise. Estelle was born circa 1850 according to the 1880 census. The census has her listed as his wife but when and where they were married has not been discovered yet. Nevertheless, it must have been sometime around the conclusion of the Civil War because their first child was born in 1866.

As far as the records show, at least seven children were born to Edouard and Estelle: Charles Jacquet born circa 1866; Joseph Emmanuel Jacquet born on 7 May 1875 in St. Martin Parish; Martin Jacquet born on 8 May 1877 in St. Martin Parish; Joseph Taylor Jacquet born on 25 May 1880 in St. Martin Parish; Josephine Arelia (or Onelia) Jacquet born on 14 October 1881 in St. Martin Parish; Ozane (or L’zine) Jacquet born in 1885. The name of “Ozane” or “L’zine” most likely was derived from “Onezime Jacquet” (*30*), the most probable original spelling. The seventh child and likely the last born to Edouard and Estelle was William Jacquet born on 8 July 1887 in St. Martin Parish. Another child that may have been born between Edouard Jacquet and Estelle Ambroise was Tela Jacquet, however, the name may very well in fact be Taylor Jacquet. On the succession document of Edward’s brother Onezime Jacquet, there is a dispute as to who were the legitamate heirs of the estate of Onezime Jacquet. In the document dated 17 March 1918, it states that some of Edward Jacquet’s children challenged the legitimacy of the claim of Onezime Jacquet’s grandchildren...

“...Now, into court through the undersigned counsel comes and appear Martin Jacquet, Onezime Jacquet, Onelia Jacquet, and Tela Jacquet, legitimate descendants of Edward Jacquet, a predeceased brother of Onezime Jacquet...the aforesaid being the sole legal heirs of the aforesaid Edward Jacquet...” (*30*)

This statement refers to four of the children of Edward Jacquet. The records show that Edward and Estelle had at least seven children – Charles, Joseph Emmanuel, Martin, Joseph Taylor, William, Ozane, and Arelia. Two of the children by this time had deceased: Joseph Emmanuel Jacquet died on 1 July 1899, and William (or Willie) Jacquet who died on 8 October 1904 (Sm.ct.hse.succ#3187) at the age of fourteen. That leaves Charles Jacquet unaccounted for as the only children not present. Since no documents have been found to verify Charles’ death, he either was not present for the court case or had already deceased. Thus it appears that all of the remaining living decendants were present, which brings us to the conclusion that the person listed as “Tela Jacquet” is in fact Taylor Jacquet. The person listed as “Onelia Jacquet” is obviously Josephine Arelia Jacquet and the person listed as “Onezime Jacquet” is obviously the name that has come down to us in the present day through family names such as “Ozime, Ozine, Ozane or L’zine” Jacquet.

By the time of the 1880 census of St. Martin Parish, 1^st Ward, we see Edouard (also Edward) Jacquet along with his wife and children and his niece Félicie Bérard. Edouard’s younger sister Zoée Jacquet married Prosper Berard in 1871 and their first child Félicie was born in the same year. Edouard Jacquet’s family is living in their separate dwelling house next to his brother younger brother Oscar Jacquet and his family. All members of both Jacquet families are listed as “mulatto”. Edouard’s oldest son Charles Jacquet, at age 14, is the only Jacquet member who has been to school and is able to read and write. The two Jacquet families appear to be living on the property of the Jules Bourque clan, a family of white plantation owners who were neighbors of the Berard family when some of the Jacquet brothers lived there on the Berard property. This is where it is believed that Maristine Bourque first came to work, inherited the Bourque name, met Edouard’s older brother Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexander Jacquet and had two sons by him. Another interesting family nine houses or properties away, lived a woman named Cecilia Charles. What is interesting here is that she has two children with the last name of Jacquet. Pierre Jacquet, a black male age 9 and Eliza Jacquet, a black female age seven. More families with the surname Charles live in the houses before her’s and after. Who is the Jacquet father of the two children?

It would not be too long before Edward and his brother could move out of the Bourque residence and live on their own property. For it would be in July of 1884, that Edouard would go in partnership with four of his other brothers Onezime, Oscar, Hypolite and Jolivet to purchase a sizable piece of property from C. T. Cadeas. The five brothers divided up the property equally and each brother received approximately 40 acres worth of land. (Was a mule included in the deal for each?) The land was bounded south, east and west by lands of the Bourque, Landry and Cormier families (*30, 35*). The exact geometry of the five parcels is not known, however the set-up, according to the succession record of his brother Oscar Jacquet which said he was “bounded east by Onezime and west by Mrs. Chet Landry”, the succession record of his brother Onezime Jacquet which said he was “bounded east by Hypolite, west by Oscar”, and by the succession record of his brother Jolivet Jacquet which said that he was “bounded east by Cormier and west by Edward Jacquet” (*30, 35, 63*) was as follows:

North

South

Another St. Martin courthouse document gives us some more information about the property. On 13 December 1884, into the St. Martin Parish courthouse came the five brothers Onezime, Oscar, Hypolite and Jean baptiste Jolivet that they were:

“…coming to court to grant and convey unto Edward the undivided 1/5^th of Praire Land containing 160 ^40/100 acres in the NW quarter of section 11, township 11 SR 5 – north by land of Paul Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by A. Cormier, west by Adolph (or Adiole) Landry…sale for price of $561.40 to pay it by $187.13 on the 1^st of Dec 1884, $187.13 on 1^st Dec 1885, and $187.13 on 1^st Dec 1886. It being the 1/5^th of three notes furnished and subscribed by the said vendors in ? from Mr. C. T. Cade dated 12 July 1884, each for the sum of $935.66…”

Edward Jacquet and Hypolite Jacquet signed their names. The other three brothers made their “X” mark (*222*). The brothers returned to the St. Martin courthouse on 20 Jan 1888 to partition the property:

“…the above desired to partition the property…Oscar takes lot #1 – 32.28 acres bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by Onezime Jacquet, west by Chet Landry, value $322.80…Onezime takes lot #2 – 32.28 acres bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by Hypolite Jacquet, west by Oscar Jacquet, value $322.80…Hypolite takes lot #3 – 32.28 acres bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by Edward Jacquet, west by Onezime Jacquet, value $322.80; Edward takes lot #4 – 32.28 acres bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by Jean Baptiste Jacquet, west by Hypolite, value $322.80; Jean Baptiste takes lot #5 – 32.28 acres bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Ulger Bourque, east by Anatole Cormier, west by Edward Jacquet, appraised at $422.80…” (*222*)

Oddly, this only adds up to 162.90 acres. There may be an error somewhere between the translations of the 1800’s documents. The original lot of land purchased by each brother may have been 40 “arpents” instead of “acres”. An arpent was the older French system of land measurment and 40 arpents = 33.8 acres, quite close to the 32.28 the brothers paid for.

The Decendants of Edward Jacquet

1. Charles Jacquet born ca. 1866.

2. Joseph Emmanuel Jacquet born on 7 May 1875. Emmanuel died on 1 July 1899.

3. Martin Jacquet born on 8 May 1877. Martin married Josephine Jolivet.

4. Joseph Taylor Jacquet was born on 25 May 1880. He married Emma Mitchell who was born circa 1884. Taylor and Emma married in St. Martinville Louisiana on 26 January 1903 (*266*). Taylor may have been shot and killed but there are a few different variations of the story as to who was shot and killed and when. Although the many stories are both interesting and terrifying, Taylor apparently died in October 1967 in Houston, Texas according to the Social Security Death Index. It states that Taylor Jacquet, born on 25 May 1880, died in October 1967 in Houston, Texas. Taylor Jacquet and Emma Mitchell had the following five children:

A. Mary Priscilla Jacquet was born in St. Martinville, La. On 8 January 1904. Mary Priscilla married and became Pricilla Jacquet Babin. Pricilla was shot and killed along with her mom and dad in Houston, Texas either 1957 or 1967.

B. James Martin Jacquet was baptized in New Iberia, La. On 25 March 1906. The birth certificate of James Martin requested by a previous researcher in June of 1942, from the State of Texas, says that he was born on 1 March 1906, in Lake Charles La, (Tx. Cert. #9225, v.0-13, p.271). James died in June 1983 in Los Angeles. At the time of James Martin’s birth, Taylor Jacquet was a common labor-farmer from St. Martin Parish of 25 years old. The birth certificate also indicates that James Martin was the seventh child born to the 22 year old Emma, but only the fifth child still living. Thus two children have died. Only for Joseph Emmanuel has a death document been found. No records have been found regarding the other child. We may be missing one or two more children than the five listed here as at least one of the known five children born to Taylor and Emma were born after James Martin. James Martin married Alice Edgar Williams on 27 August 1930. Alice was the daughter of Dr. Henry E. Williams and Olivia C. Williams of Corsicana Texas. She was the oldest child with another brother named Loring Williams who had a son named Loring R. Williams Jr. Alice attended boarding high school at Bishop College in Marshall, Texas and later received a Bachelor of Arts Degree. For a brief time Alice taught elementary school in Hawkins, Texas. Alice and James Martin moved to Fort Worth where they united with the Mount Gilead Baptist Church and became very active in the community. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, under the charter of the Masonic Grand Chapter. The couple would move to Los Angeles in 1973. James Martin Jacquet Sr. died in 1983. Alice Edgar Williams Jacquet passed from this life on 29 February 2004 in Los Angeles. She was buried on 5 March 2004 at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. James Martin and Alice Williams had two children:

i. Joan Marva Jacquet Simpson of Los Angeles. Joan had a son named Attrell Maurice Simpson.

ii. James Martin Jacquet Jr, M.D. James Martin’s wife was named Cindy. James Martin Jr. had two sons named James Martin Jacquet III and Jeffrey Michael Jacquet.

C. Marie Estella Jacquet was the third known child of Taylor and Emma. She was born on 3 April 1908. Estella married O. T. Paige. They had one son named Autris Paige.

D. Della Jacquet married Fritz Toran. Della Jacquet Toran died in July of 1977.

Della and Fritz had four children:

i. Joyce Toran Black

ii. Ester Toran

iii. Reginald Toran

iv. Lois Toran

E. Inez Jacquet Noble.

After Joseph Taylor’s marriage to Emma Mitchel in St. Martinville, Taylor Jacquet and his family later moved to Calcasieu parish in the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana and purchased property there by 1912. Taylor’s brother Onezime also moved to Calcasieu parish around the same time but it is not clear which one moved there first or if the two brothers and their families migrated there together. It appears that Taylor and Emma first bought the property in 1912, sold to, then purchased the same property from the Calcasieu Building & Loan Association in 1927, but lost the property 3 years later due to the inability to keep up with mortgage payments. Documents from the Calcasieu parish court house in Lake Charles tell of their struggle:

“...Be it known that on this 18 January 1912, before me Augustus Mayo, a notary public for the parish of Calcasieu, state of Louisiana, personally appeared Matthew J. Marmillion of the city of Lake Charles who declared that for the consideration and on the terms and conditions expressed hereinafter, he does grant, bargain, sell and convey unto Taylor Jacquet (married to Emma Jacquet born Mitchell)...the following described real property: that certain lot in the city of Lake Charles commencing at a point 68 ¾ feet east from the NW corner of block 1 of the Libbey addition to the said city, from said point running East along the south side of Opelousas streed, 68 feet thence south 100 feet, then west 68 feet, thence north 100 feet to the point of commencement being the east 68 feet of lots 1 & 2 of block #1 of the said Libbey addition... This present sale is made and accepted for and in consideration of the total sum and price of $550.00 in deduction and partial payment whereof the said purchaser has paid cash unto the said vendor the sum of $91.00... the balance, say $459. the said purchaser has furnished his 22 promissory notes to wit: 21 notes for the sum of $21 each, due and payable every 3 months commencing 1 April 1912, and ending 1 April 1917, and one note for the sum of $18 due and payable on 1 July 1917, made payable to the order of said vendor, payable at the Calcasieu National Bank of Lake Charles...” (*123*)

What happened at the end of the five-year payment plan has yet to be discovered. It would appear from later documents that Taylor Jacquet did in deed ‘own’ the property because he would be allowed to “sell” the property over to the bank, only to buy it back, and lose it due to unpaid fees. Was the property acquired via a second mortgage? Did the Calcasieu National Bank ‘hoodwink’ the property from the Jacquets? Was the property put up as collateral or cosigned against another financial deal? Whatever the answer, It must have been a Real Estate nightmare as the end result shows:

“...on the 9^th of April 1927, Taylor Jacquet married to Emma Mitchell...who declared that for the sum of $600...has granted, sold unto Calcasieu Building & Loan Association the following: “in Lake Charles Louisiana and described as follows: Commencing at a point 68 ¾ feet east from the northwest corner of block 1 of the Libby Addition, thence east along south side of Opelousas street, 68 feet, south 100 feet, west 68 feet, north 100 feet with all improvements thereon...”

From the wording of the first document, it appears that Taylor and Emma already owned the property above and sold it to the Calcasieu Building & Loan Association only to purchase it from the same company on the same day:

“...Be it known, that 9 April 1927, Calcasieu Building & Loan Association represented by Rudolph Krause, president, does sell, convey and set over unto Taylor Jacquet, married to Emma Jacquet, born Emma Mitchell, with whom he is living...the following property (the same property on block one listed above)...being the same property acquired by said association by purchase from Taylor Jacquet per act dated 9 April 1927...purchaser agrees to make no repairs or alterations to the building...sale accepted for the sum of $600 drawn by him to the order of said association...payable with interest of 7 & 80/100% annum...and said promisary note, after having been paragraphed “ne varietur” by me, notary in order to identify the same here with, has been delivered unto said association through its president... and the said purchaser further consents, agrees that in the event of failure or neglect on his part to make such weekly payments of interest and installments for a period of 6 months he does hereby authorize said association to cause said lot and all buildings to be seized and sold under executive process, without appraisal to the highest bidder.”

Three years later there seems to have been further problems with the property because the property deed was contested in court (Calcasieu Building & Loan Association –vs- Taylor Jacquet) on 4 December 1930:

“...Know all men by these presents, that whereas, by virtue of a certain writ of seizure and sale issued upon a judgement rendered by the 14^th judicial district court in and for the parish of calcasieu, I H. A. Reid, sheriff of the parish of Calcasieu, did upon 4^th day of December 1930 levy on, take and seize, as the property of the said Taylor Jacquet the following described property: Commencing at a point 68 ¾ feet east from the northwest corner of block 1, one of the Libby additions, thence east along the south side of Opelousas street, 68 feet, south 100 feet, west 68 feet, north 100 feet to commencement in the city of Lake Charles Louisiana, together with all buildings and improvements therein...vendors lien: 9 April 1927, sum of $600, not paid. Sheriff seized, then sold to Calcasieu Building & Loan for $150...” (*113*)

There is controversy and mix-up with family history stories involving Emma and Taylor. Some have it that there was a gun battle just before World War II. Emma was teaching her daughter a song to sing for the Saturday before their mother’s day church festival when a gunman bolted in the house and started shooting. Taylor lived but Emma and daughter Mary Priscilla died instantly. Another family version of “a mother’s day shooting” records that it was a neighbor man in Houston, Texas who shot his wife, Josephine Jolivet, Priscilla and other people the day before mother’s day. According to Taylor’s granddaughter Joan Simpson, “Taylor, Emma and their daughter Pricilla were shot in 1957 in Houston, Texas. None survived!” Although the many stories are both interesting and terrifying, it does appear that Taylor Jacquet died in October 1967 in Houston, Texas. According to the Social Security Death Index, it states that Taylor Jacquet, born on 25 May 1880, died in October 1967 in Houston, Texas. This has to be the same Joseph Taylor Jacquet, son of Edouard Jacquet who was born on the same date.

6. Ozane (Onezime) Jacquet was the 6^th child born to Edward Jacquet and Estelle Ambroise. Ozane was born circa 1885. He married Alice Bernard on 30 January 1911, in St. Martinville Louisiana. Witnesses at the marriage were Mitchell Jacquet, James Jacquet and August François (*121*). August Francois is most likely the “Augustin Francis” who along with Dorciane Raymond were the two witnesses at the baptism of Alexandre Jacquet Jr. at the St. Peter’s Church in New Iberia in 1893. Alice Bernard was born circa 1887-1888, in either Lake Charles La., or Beaumont Tx., and was the daughter of Peter Bernard. Peter’s other brothers were named Robert Bernard, Alex Bernard, and Ulysses Bernard. Peter Bernard died in Beaumont Texas. Alice Bernard died circa 1956-1957.

It would be but a few months after their marriage that the two newlyweds would move to the town of Iowa, Louisiana, ten miles east of the city of Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish. Onezime and his sister and brother Onelia and Willie Jacquet would purchase some land together...

“...Be it known on this 20 March 1911, before me Ausustus M. Mayo, notary public for calcasieu parish, State of Louisiana, appeared Bert T. Wait (married to Annie Wait born Haggart), of the town of Iowa La., who declared that he does by this act grant, bargain, sell, convey, transfer and set over unto Joseph Conway married to Onelia Conway (born Jacquet), Onezime Jacquet, married to Alice Jacquet (born Bernard), and Willie Jacquet (unmarried), all residents of the town of Iowa, here present, accept and purchase for themselves and their heirs... the following described property situated in the said parish of Calcasieu and state of Louisiana:

That lot in the town of Iowa commencing at the SW corner of block 6 of Iowa, West of Thomson ave, thence East on 1^st street 120feet, North 180feet, thence West 120feet to Johnson ave, thence South 180feet to Commencement, being West 120feet of lots 8, 10 and 12 of said block 6 with improvments thereon...

This present sale is made and accepted for the sum and price of $350.00 in deduction and part payment whereof the said purchasers have paid cash unto the said vendor, the sum of $100.00, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and full acquittance and discharge granted therefor and for the balance, say $250.00 the said purchasers have furnished their four promisary notes, to-wit: two notes each for the sum of $25.00 due and payable respectively on July 1, 1911 and October 1, 1911 and two notes each for the sum of $100.00 due and payable respectively on 1 January 1912 and 1 January 1913 after date, made payable to the order of said vendor, payable at the Calcasieu National Bank, Lake Charles, Louisiana to bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum from date until paid... taxes paid for 1910 and 1911 will be paid by the vendees herein. Thus done, read and signed at my office in the city of Lake Charles La. In the presence of Seaman A. Mayo and L. Frank Johnson, lawful witnesses, who here unto sign with said parties and me, notary public... (*122*)

Ozane and Alice had the following children: George Jacquet, Willie Jacquet, Joseph Forrest Jacquet born on 5 Dec 1916, Elton Jacquette born on 24 April 1918, Ruby Jacquet Barr and Philip Jacquet born on 1 Feb 1912. Philip died on 4 April 1993 in New Iberia.

A. George Jacquet was born on 25 December 1912. At the age of 22 years old, George married Evelina Keys on 12 April 1934. Minister or judge J. H. Keys married them. Evelina was born in 1914. The marriage record at the Lake Charles courthouse (vol.35, pg.55) says that Evelina’s parents were “Baby” Keys and Victoria. Witnesses at the marriage were Sidney Grogan, C. E. Grogan and Jim White. The first child born to George and Evelina was Melva Joe Jacquet.

B. William Jacquet was the second child born to Ozane and Alice. Willie was born in September of 1914. He married a woman with the first name Ethyl but they had no children.

C. Joseph Forrest Jacquet was born on 5 December 1916. At the age of 24, Forrest served in the military at the Navy yards in Bremerton Washington near Seattle for two years between 1940 and 1941. After the war, he returned to Seattle and lived there for three years before moving to California. Forrest first married Anna Ray Castle and had three children with her: Joseph Forrest Jr.; Robert Charles and Alfred Love Jr who took the last name of his stepfather. Forrest married a second time to Willie Mae Scott. Willie Mae was the daughter of Alex Scott and Rosie McKey. Forrest and Willie Mae had eight children together: Mildred, Curtis, Mary Ann, Roseline, Ruth Edna, Barbara, Pamela, and Laurence Wayne Jacquet. All six daughters ended up with careers in the medical field profession.

D. Elton Jacquet born on 24 April 1918, in Iowa La, changed his name by adding an additional “te” to the end of his name and thus becoming Elton Jacquette. Elton married Elvira “Tenn” Bassard on 26 August 1939 in Beaumont Texas. Elvira was born on 14 August 1923 and was the daughter of James Bassard and Helen Cormier. According to family bible records, Elvira’s paternal grandparents were Leure Bassard and Elvira Vilmo and her maternal grandparents were Julien Cormier and Rosa Balony, the daughter of Celeste Balony. Elvira “Tenn” Bassard Jacquet died in 1991.

Elton Jacquette and Elvira Bassard had a very large family consisting of 16 children: The first-born was Elton Jacquette and the last was Cynthia Jacquette. The following is the list of the children born to Elton Jacquette and Elvira Bassard of Port Author, Texas:

i. Elton Ozen Jacquette born on 21 February 1941. Elton first married Hattie and had a son named Derrick Jacquette. Elton second married Gwen and had a daughter Elen Jacquette .

ii. Warren Jacquette born on 2 February 1942. Warren first married Ida Martin and the couple had a daughter Dwala Jacquette. Warren second married Arlene Gandy and had two children – Randy Jacquette and Anitra Jacquette.

iii. Samuel Jacquette born on 4 November 1943. Samuel died in 1947 at the age of four due to a ruptured appendix.

iv. Rilla Yvonne Jacquette born on 8 January 1945. Rilla married into the Rothchild family and had three children but none of the children went by the surname Rothchild – Charles Wilford, Tommy and Alex.

v. Pricilla Ann Jacquette born on 19 December 1946. Pricilla Ann married Matthew Coleman and had two children – Michael Coleman and Yolanda Coleman. Pricilla Ann also had a son named Ronald Owens whose father was Jack Owens.

vi. Martin Jacquette born on 18 January 1949.

vii. Stella Joyce Jacquette born on 12 March 1950. Stella had two children – Monica and Edward.

viii. Martha “Bennie” Marie Jacquette born on 10 July 1951. Martha married Eddie Blakely and had two daughters – Lashawna Blakely and Cassandra Blakely.

xi. Barbara Faye born on 25 July 1953. Barbara married Buster Smith and the couple had a daughter named Tatiana Smith. Barbara also had a son named Byron Williams Jacquette whose father was Michael Williams.

x. Raymond Lloyd Jacquette born on 28 August 1954.

xi. Curtis Wayne Jacquette born on 12 February 1956.

xii. Nathan Laverne Jacquette born on 19 February 1958.

xiii. Nellyne Jawarn Jacquette born on 14 May 1959. Nellyne married Donnel Lane and had a child named Kendric Lane.

xiv. Patricia Juan Jacquette born on 28 February 1962. Patricia married Tim McCone on 2 May 1980. The couple had five children – Timmy McCone, Patrice McCone, Desiree McCone, Quentin McCone and Sean McCone.

xv. James Darrel Jacquette born on 18 April 1964.

xvi. Cynthia Rose Jacquette was the sixteenth and final child born to Elton Jacquette and Elvira Bassard. Cynthia was born on 3 August 1966. Cynthia married Geoffrey Holloway.

E. Ruby Jacquet was the fifth child born to Ozane and Alice. She married a man with the last name Barr.

F. Phillip Jacquet was the sixth and last child born to Ozane Jacquet and Alice Bernard. Phillip married Bordella Williams who was born on 2 October 1928. The first of two children born to Phillip and Bordella was John Jacquet. Phillip Jacquet died on 25 August 1989 and Bordella Williams Jacquet died on 13 July 2001.

7. William Jacquet was the seventh and last child born to Edouard Jacquet and Estelle Ambroise. Willie was born on 8 July 1887 in St. Martin Parish (Sm.ch.v.13,p.10). After Willie’s mother Estelle died in 1904, Willie petitioned for his emancipation while he was 18 years old. Thus on 23 February 1905 Willie, along with his father, came into the St. Martin Parish courthouse:

“Willie Jacquet, born 8 July 1886, seeks his desire to be emancipated. Peter Prade testifies on his behalf as does his father Edward Jacquet... both claimed that ‘he is a descreet and reasonable person and entitled to be emancipated... that his mother Estelle Ambroise died on the 8^th day of October A.D. 1904 but his father still lives... and he prays that he be duly emancipated and relieved of all disabilities and incapacities which attach to minors and he be given the power to take possession of his estate... Court order: Let William Jacquet be and hereby duly emancipated and relieved forever of all disabilities and incapacities when attatched to minors... (*136*)

William Jacquet died on 24 April 1918, at the age of 32. His occupation was listed as a farmer in St. Martinville. He was single and had Tuberculosis for a year and had been living in Assumption Parish for 12 years. According to Willie’s nephew Jean Baptiste Illinois Jacquet, “Willie was murdered, his property taken!”

Chapter

8 Marie Zoeé Jacquet

(8^th Child and 2nd begotten Daughter of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

Marie Zoeé Jacquet was probably the eighth child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet and most likely the second daughter born. Her mother was Celeste Augustine. Her estimated birth date is around 1845. The slave inventory gives her approximate birth year of 1844, the marriage document indicates she was born circa 1846. The 1870 census appears to be the least reliable source as it puts her birth year at 1855. Her name can also be seen written as Zoe and Zoé.

The slave inventory of August 6, 1849 says Zoe was 5 years old and puts her birth at late 1843 or early 1844. In the year 1849, Jean Baptiste Jacquet was 41 years of age, Celeste Augustine was about the same age and she was with four of her youngest children: Charles who was 9, Edouard who was 7, Zoe who was 5 and Pierre who was 15 months old. All of them were together on the same plantation under the ownership of the Berard family when Marguerite (Decoux) Berard died in June of 1849. On August 6, 1849, an inventory of her estate went through an appraisal. One hundred and seventeen separate articles were inventoried including an inventory of the slaves owned and their appraised value (*2*). Item 98, listed Zoee’s mother Celeste and her four younger children:

98. “…Celeste, Negressa de 42 ans (years), et infants Edouard de 7 ans, Zoe de 5 ans, Charles de 9 ans, et Pierre de 18 months,

Estimated value - $1100.00…”

The estate sale and distribution took place mostly on the date of February 17, 1851. The Berard brothers and sisters took many of the slaves as part of their inheritance. Other slaves were sold. The distribution and sale of the estate of Marguerite Decoux Berard meant the break-up of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s family. His oldest daughter Angela went to Marguerite Decoux’s daughter Julie Euranie Berard, Jolivet was sold to Nicolas Cormier, Belizaire went to Marguerite’s son Balthazaro Berard, Celeste and her four children Edouard, Zoe, Charles and baby Pierre were sold to Charles St. Maurice Olivier who was the husband of Marguerite’s youngest daughter Charlotte Aminthe Berard. Jean Baptiste Jacquet, now just four months away from his 43^rd birthday went into the possession of another son of Marguerite Decoux Berard and her husband Jean Baptiste Berard – Eugene Rosemond Berard (*2*).

Zoeé Jacquet married Prosper Berard on 11 October 1871, in Charenton, Louisiana at Charenton’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (*212*). The city of Charenton is in St. Mary Parish just north of the city of Franklin, Lousiana. Zoe’s name is listed as “Zoee Jean Baptiste” and that is due to the Jacquet family taking on the surname of “Jean Baptiste” just after slavery ended, but then took on the surname “Jacquet” by the early 1870’s. Zoeé’s brother Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet was the first of The Sons & Daughters of Jean Baptiste Jacquet to marry when he wed Rosa Jean Louis in March 1867 (*59, 60*), but he used the name “Alexandre Jean Baptiste” at the time. Jean Baptiste was the name of Zoe’s father but Jean Baptiste’s father was François Hyacinthe Jacquet, a Frenchman and military officer in the service of the French Republic who left behind objects relating to navigation at sea upon his death. Jolivet and Zoe’s father Jean Baptiste knew who his father was and when he married their mother Celeste Augustine four months after his son Jolivet married, he used the name “Jean Baptiste Jacquet, the son of the deceased Jacquet…” (*1*). Jean Baptiste’s oldest two sons Cazimir Jacquet and Belisaire Jacquet were his first children follow suit and use the surname Jacquet when these two oldest sons married during the latter half of the year 1869 (*267, 268*). By the year 1972, we see virtually all of the descendants of Jean Baptiste Jacquet using the surname Jacquet.

Prosper Berard was the son of Rosemond Berard and Zelphire Edouard. The 1880 census of Louisiana has his age given as 47 years of age, giving an approximate birth year of 1833. Prosper’s race is listed as “mulatto” and his occupation is a carpenter. He and his family live in St. Mary Parish in the First Ward. His wife Marie (Zoeé) is given the age of 25, pointing to a birth year of 1855. Like the 1870 census, we have the same birth year of 1855 again. We still must rely on the slave inventory ages as being more correct with a birth year estimated to be 1845. Prosper and Zoe’s children living with them are: Ernestine Berard, age 22 and married; Célina Berard, age 17; Emile Berard is Prosper’s second oldest son at age 14; Charles Berard, age 15; Adolphe Berard, age 3; Euzeïde Berard, age 2; Mathilda Berard age 1, and Amélie Berard, seven months old. With such a difference between the ages of the four oldest children – Ernestine, Célina, Emile and Charles Berard and the four younger children – Adolphe, Euzeide, Mathilda and Amélie, we can almost without a doubt assume that Prosper had the first four children with a previous woman or wife. The Berard family descendants say it was Hortence Lee (*257*). Zoé would have been about 13 years old when Ernestine was born if we are to take Zoe’s birth year as 1845. The 1880 census has her at age 25 and would make her born in 1855. What makes us absolutely sure that Ernestine is not her biological daughter is that Ernestine is listed as 22 years old. No recorder would have made a mistake that large. If those four children were Marie Zoée Jacquet’s it would have also meant that they would have had four children before their marriage. Not impossible at all as we have seen that quite often but the most likely scenario is Prosper fathering the first four children with another woman other than Zoe. The case for Charles may point to Zoé as being his mother. As a general rule, children are listed on the census in order from oldest to youngest. The fact that Emile, a year older than Charles, is listed first along with the older two daughters who may be from an earlier wife leads to the speculation that Charles’s mother is Zoé. The evidence becomes stronger when we see the Charenton Church birth record of Charles on 27 April 1872, as the son of Prosper Berard and “Marie Jacquet”. This makes the census age that is given unreliable once again and makes Charles Berard the firstborn son of Prosper and Zoé born six months after their marriage. All of the children’s race is listed as mulatto. None can read or write. The Berard family live next to Pierre Lègónail and Louise Lègónail. Both were born in France. Pierre is a carpenter who can read and write, so the assumption here is that Prosper was working for Pierre since both are carpenters. 84-year-old Jarret Armstrong and his wife Cécile live next door to the Berards in the other direction.

What turns up as a second marriage by the Berard family historians (*257*) of Prosper Berard to Hortense Lee turns out to be incorrect. What we find in Hebert’s SW Lousiana records is that another individual with the same name married Hortense Lee:

Lee, Hortense (Lawrence & Toa) m. 16 Feb 1874 Prospere …?

The document does not tell us the last name of Prospere when they married in Loreauville. The dots after the name indicate that Hebert’s team could not decipher what was written. Hortense’s father Lawrence Lee died the previous year on 15 Apr 1873 according to Franklin church records but it was not indicated on the marriage document. We do get a surname for the unknown Prospere when he and Hortense have their first child Eleonore Prosper Berard who was born in Dec 1874, but died 5 Aug 1876 in Loreauville. When their second child Mathilde Berard was born on 11 July 1876, we are given the information that their parents are Prosper Berard & Hortense Lee. Prosper and Hortense’s children were born in Loreauville, Iberia Parish. Prosper and Marie Zoée’s children were born in Charenton, St. Mary Parish. Both are neighboring Parishes. It is 18 miles the way the crow flys, and 24 miles by road to each of the two cities. Unless we are to believe that there was polygamy occurring, this confirms that there are at least two men with the same name – Prosper Berard, living in the same area with both Prospers fathering children in the same time period.

Prosper Berard and Marie Zoée Jacquet had at least eleven children from the resources listed in the record books. Félicie Berard was their first-born child in 1871. Félicie would have been born just before the couple were married or perhaps right after, so it not absolutely certain that Prosper Berard as the father, and Zoé Jacquet as the mother are both of her parents. Zoé almost with certainty is the mother because by the time of the 1880 census, we see nine-year-old Félicie Bérard living with her uncle Edouard Jacquet along with Edouard’s wife and children living in their separate dwelling house next to his brother Oscar Jacquet and his family. Since Zoé is Edouard’s sister, the term “niece” used on the census record would translate to “his sister’s child”. All members of both Jacquet families are listed as “mulatto”.

By the time of the 1890’s, Zoé Jacquet and her husband Prosper Berard were still living in St. Mary Parish. When her mother Céleste died in March of 1891, they came along with Zoé’s brothers Jolivet, Belizaire, Pierre, sister Angela and Josephine’s husband Raphael Kerlegan to petition the court at St. Martin Parish for the inventory and distribution of her estate on the date of 9 January 1892. Céleste had owned one small lot of land valued at $100 and the seven heirs were entitled to 1/7^th each. Zoé and her brothers Jolivet, Pierre and Belizaire received their portion of $14.29 on that same day. Angela and Raphael Kerlegan would receive their share later (*160*). It was not clear who the seventh recipient was but it was probably Rose, nor is it clear why the two other brothers Hyppolite and Onezime were not included in the inheritance. Oscar was not included probably due to the fact that Céleste was not his mother, but is this giving us a clue that Hyppolite and Onezime had a different mother also?

From the record books, it appears that Zoé and Prosper had eleven children:

1. Félicie Bérard was born first circa 1871.

2. Charles Berard was born 27 April 1872. Unless there is a mix-up with the birth date of Charles on the 1880 census when he is reported as “age 15”, this has to be a second son of Prosper named Charles. The first one was born to his first wife or other woman. Charles married Jeanis Jones on 5 June 1899. Another marriage record says her name was Eugenia John and the marriage license at the St. Martin Courthouse (#7539), records her name as “Jennie Jones” in which she signs her name “Eujine Jones”. Jeanis was the daughter of Xavier Jones and Therence Malbrough. The name might be “Malbreau”. Jeanis had a sister name Catherine Jones with the same parents, who married John Carrel on 12 August 1901 in Charenton. Charles Berard and Jeanis Jones had at least five children:

A. Mabel Gabrielle Berard born on 16 April 1902 in Charenton, Louisiana.

B. Patrick Gilbert Berard born on 15 Feb 1904 in Charenton.

C. Hilda Berard born on 14 October 1905 in Charenton.

D. Agnes Florence Berard born on 1 September 1907 in Baldwin. She died 11 June 1908. Both Hilda and Agnes Florence died and were buried in Baldwin, Louisiana.

E. Marie Berard born on 10 February 1909 in Baldwin.

3. Adolphe Louis Berard was born 19 December 1873 and married Omeria Michel 17 October 1898 at the Franklin Church (v.22-2,p.647). Omeria was from Opelousas, St. Landry Parish and was the daughter of Valerie Michel and Henriette Davis. Adolphe and Omeria had at least two children named:

A. Ernest Berard born on 22 June 1903, in Charenton, La.

B. Marie Eunice Berard born on 23 October 1906 in Charenton.

4. Marie Euzeide Berard was born 6 August 1875. She married Joseph Lewis on 3 October 1904 according to Lafayette Courthouse marriage record #7556. It appears that they married at the Church in Charenton. Joseph Lewis was the son of James Lewis and Marie Louise Sainpeter.

5, Elizabeth Berard was born 2 November 1877 and died 6 March 1887 at the age of 9 years old.

6. Marie Eamily Berard was born 14 March 1879. On the baptismal certificate the name is spelled “Marie Amelie” but she spelled her name Eamily. Eamily married Ferdinand Thompson on 30 January 1901. The name is listed as “Fanon Tompson” on the marriage document and is obviously a translation error. The document also lists “Fanon’s” parents as Myrtil Tompson and Celestine Declouet. Again, we see another possible translation error in spelling here with Ferdinand’s father. Ferdinand and his family lived in Baldwin, Louisiana where the children grew up. They all lived on a plantation in Charenton owned by the Doff family. Ferdinand’s family were the only ones living on the property. Ferdinand, known as “Duke” by many in the area wa the boss of the day workers who came to work on the plantation. The workers as well as Ferdinand and Eamily’s children harvested corn, sugar cane and cotton. When the big flood of 1927 came, it drove them out towards the west to Texas. There in Houston, was already a community of exiled Louisianans beginning to form. Most of the French speaking ex-Louisianans lived in Houstons “French town” where the Thompson family joined in.

The Great Flood of 1927

What may have greatly accelerated the move by many families in Louisiana to move westward was the great flood of 1927. The flood not only affected Louisiana but also six other states, affecting almost all of Arkansas, Louisiana, half of Mississippi, western Tennesee and Kentucky, southern Oklahoma and north Texas. For two months the floodwaters remained above flood stage. The death toll was 246 and 137,000 buildings were destroyed as the Mississippi river inundated the homes of nearly one million people. It helped elect Huey Long governor and Herbert Hoover president as it shifted the political alliances of many black people. It drove hundreds of thousands of black people to the north and west. The flood began its devastation with record-breaking rainfall, which started in September of 1926. On December 13, a snowstorm hit the upper mid-west that witnessed 30 inches of snow in Montana and 6 inches of rain in Little Rock. In February of 1927, the Mississippi river had reached flood stage in Baton Rough and New Orleans. In mid April, 15 inches of rain fell in New Orleans on Good Friday. With the spring-time melt of snow from the northern states flooding into the Mississippi river, the Mississippi and its swollen tributaries reached peak levels in April 1927 and overflowed their banks. One by one levees broke, flooding farmlands. The flood covered 27,000 square miles affecting seven states (*220*). The hundred-year flood had arrived!

Many Louisiana families had already started to move out of the state towards the west by the early 1920’s. The first Jacquet marriage in the Houston courthouse (#78117) was between Elizabeth Jacquet and Fred Thompson on 3 Sept 1927. The Reverend A. A. Gundy married them. Julius Jacquet, the brother of Russell and Illinois Jacquet, was the second Jacquet to marry in Texas according to the Houston marriage records (#80059). Julius married Mildy Gallion on 25 Jan 1928. His sister Isabelle Jacquet would marry Russell Goodbeer a month later on 20 Feb 1928. The first Jacquet birth in Texas, according to the birth records (#52978), was that of Joseph Sidney Jacquet born on 21 Aug 1927, in Galveston, Texas. No parents are listed.

At least three of Emily’s brothers and sisters had already moved to Houston before the great flood – Nana, Lena and “uncle Alcide.” Eamily’s first cousin Gilbert Jacquet was already there with his family of musicians. By the time of the mid 1930’s, Russell Jacquet had already made a name for himself with his band “The California Playboys”. The band included his brothers Julius Jacquet, Johnny Linton Jacquet and Illinois Jacquet. The band was not only well known in Houston, but throughout the state and all the way to California. Rose Thompson Ashford, remembers well the time her second cousins of the Jacquet band would come to Houston:

Eamily Berard and Ferdinand Thompson had seven children:

A. Alice Thompson was born ca. 1908. Alice died at the age of 90 in 1999.

B. Oliver Thompson was born ca 1909.

C. Wallace Thompson, born ca. 1910.

D. Hazel Thompson, born ca.1912.

E. Rosa Thompson was born on 13 May 1916. Rosa married Walter Ashford. Walter was the son of John Ashford of Navasota, Texas, and Lucy Carter of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

F. Ferdinand Thompson Jr., born ca. 1919. Ferdinand’s oldest son was Rudy Thompson. Another son was named Anthony Thompson.

G. Clifford Thompson, born 31 May 1923.

7. Alcide Jean Baptiste Berard was the seventh child born to Prosper Berard and Marie Zoé Jacquet. Alcide was born on 13 May 1881 in Charenton. Alcide married twice or had children with two women (*257*). His first marriage was to Marie Adam. Their son was named Charles Berard born on 21 Oct 1901 in St. Martinville. Alcide married a second time to Celestine Thompson on 21 Jan 1903 in Franklin, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. His child with Celestine was Joseph Edward Berard born on 26 Dec 1906, in Baldwin, La. Alcide also had a son named Gilbert Berard.according to Eamily Berard Thompson.

8. Joseph Berard was born 11 July 1883.

9. Maria Berard was born 27 April 1885 in Charenton. She married Joseph Lewis on 30 Oct 1904 in Charenton.

10. Elizabeth Elena Berard was born 14 May 1888,

11. Felix Berard was born 15 November 1890 in Charenton, La.

Rosemond Berard, the Father of Prosper Berard

The marriage record of Prosper Berard when he married Marie Zoé Jean Baptiste Jacquet on 11 October 1871, says that he was the son of Rosemond Berard and Zelphire Edouard. The 1880 census of Louisiana has his age given as 47 years of age, giving an approximate birth year of 1833. Prosper’s race is listed as “mulatto” which means that he had a white father and a Negro/colored mother. The scenario could not have been reversed because that was the ultimate taboo! Since Zoe was in the hands of the Berard family during slavery, Prosper could not have been too far away. Zoé’s father Jean Baptiste Jacquet was in the hands of Rosemond Berard until the end of slavery, for we read on the marriage license of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Celeste Augustine when they wed on 23 August 1867:

“…nous avons célébré le marriage de Jn Bte Jacquet affranchi de Ms. Roséamond Bérard, fils majeur des feux Jacquet et Rosine…”

Translated to English which says:

“…we have celebrated the marriage of Jean Baptiste Jacquet, freedman of Mrs. Rosemond Berard, major son of the deceased Jacquet and Rosine…” (*1*)

There is an obvious connection between Zoe’s family, Prosper and the Berard family. Since there is only one “Rosemond Berard” listed in the record books of Prosper’s era, and that Prosper was a “mulatto”, and his father is named as “Rosemond Berard”, it is clear that Eugene Rosemond Berard, white slaveowner of the Jacquet family, is the father of Prosper. Like Jean Baptiste Jacquet born in 1808 and sired by a white father, and like Pierre Trahan born in 1854, the father of Marguerite Trahan Jacquet who was also sired by a white father, Prosper’s case is similar as the name of the father is actually listed on one of their marriage or death documents. Rose Thompson Ashford, grand-daughter of Prosper, remembers the photographs of Prosper she and her brothers and sisters used to look at when they were young: “My Grandfather Prosper Berard was a white man. He looked just like Abraham Lincoln!” Although Prosper may have passed as a white man to everyone, he really was of mixed race and as the census records show, he was in the racial class of “mulatto.”

Eugene Rosemond Berard was born on 23 July 1811 in Louisiana. His parents were Jean Baptiste Berard (fils), and Marguerite Decoux. His parents married on 15 February 1773. Jean Baptiste’s (fils) parents were Jean Baptiste Berard (pére) and Anne Broussard. He married Anne Broussard around 1769. Jean Baptiste Berard (pére, the elder) was more commonly known as Jean Berard. He was born in 1737 in the French historic province of Dauphine, where the major city of Grenoble is located. Jean Berard was a military man and first came to the Attakapas (older St. Martin Parish), Louisiana area when he was assigned to the Attakapas military post somewhere around 1764. During a testimony to settle a church land claim in 1815, Jean Berard testified “…he had resided in the parish for 51 years and that he was 77 years old…” (*55*) By way of Spanish land grants, Jean Berard became a wealthy planter. Some of his real estate holdings later became the town of St. Martinville. As early as 1777, Jean Berard had created a foothold in the Attakapas – St. Martin Parish area. According to the census taken at this time, Jean Berard (40) and his wife Anne Broussard (30), were living with their two sons Jean Baptiste (5), Orelien Alexandre (2), and their two daughters Christine (9), and Adelaide Berard (7). They owned six slaves of whom two were most likely Ambroise and Angelique, the parents of Zoé’s grandmother Rosine. Jean Berard’s estate included 150 cattle, 15 horses, 30 hogs and 25 sheep (*24*). It would be the oldest son of Jean Berard named Jean Baptiste Berard (fils = son), who would inherit the slaves Rosine and her son Jean Baptiste Jacquet when both his father Jean Berard and his mother Anne Broussard died. Jean died on 8 October 1821, and Anne died in 1820. Jean Baptiste Berard (fils) married Marguerite Decoux on 8 July 1794 and the two had ten children. The 5^th child born was Eugene Rosemond Berard born on 23 July 1811. Rosemond married Mary Odile (Huval) on 10 May 1836. His wife Odile died on 7 Nov 1867 at age 56 so there must have been a divorce because Rosemond married a second time to Arsene Briant on 21 May 1865 before his first wife’s death. He did not enjoy life with his second wife too long as Rosemond Berard died on 7 November 1867 at the age of 56. His daughter Marie Amelie Berard would be the one to petition to the St. Martin Courthouse and open a succession (#2038) for an appraisal of her father’s estate on 25 Nov 1867. Rosemond had two minor children and his brother Jean Baptiste Berard III took responsibility as tutor of his 20-year-old son Simeon Felix Berard and son-in-law Louis LaLoire took tutorship of his 15-year-old daughter Eugenie Aurelia Berard. Prosper Berard’s first cousin Odillion Nicolas Berard, the son of Jean Baptiste Berard III, was well known in the Berard family lore for shooting Vasslin A. Fournet to death in a gun duel and then marrying Fournet’s widow.

Not much can be found on Prospers mother Zelphire Edouard. No records in the St. Martin/Lafayette parish area have been found yet. There is one name that comes close on a 10 June 1870 census of the 5^th ward of New Orleans – that of Ephelia Edouard, age 40, mulatto and born in Louisiana. Her husband is William Edouard. Their children are: Charles age 3 years and

Anais Edouard age 15. William is a “cook on ?? boat”. In the 7^th Ward of New Orleans, taken two weeks

later, we find the name Delphine Edouard age 57. She is a black female keeping home with William Edouard – age 28. Finally, on the 4 June 1880 census we find the name Zulma (or Zelma) Edouard, in the 7^th ward of Pointe Coupee, age 40, and black is her race. Zelma’s husband is Malo Edouard who is age 50.

Bottom Left:

Marie Eamily Berard

Daughter of

Prosper Berard &

Marie Zoeé Jacquet

Bottom Right:

Prosper Berard,

Mulatto son of

Rosemond Berard &

Zelphire Edouard

TOP LEFT (L to R standing): Cora Berard Oubre, Corrine Berard Stansbury, Marie Berard, Emily Berard Breaux.

(L to R seated): Clara Berard Romero, Father Odillion Berard (son of Jean Baptiste Berard III), Laura Berard Lapeyrouse

At New Orleans, there was a woman with the same name and It is possible that Zoe married another time well after her marriage to Prosper but it most likely that the woman named Zoe Jacquet in New Orleans was coincidental and not related to the Jacquet families of this book. Nevertheless, the notation is written here to eliminate confusion for future researchers. According to the records at the New Orleans courthouse the succession record of one Zoe Jacquet was made on 23 Sep 1924, (book 385, p 129, #15436)

“...Mrs Zoe Jacquet, widow by 1^st marriage of August Letellier, and deceased wife by 2^nd marriage of Baptiste Senac... who is recognized as surviving spouse... and Emily Letellier, wife of Eugene Lacoste, be recognized as sole and only heir... of property... 40 shares of stock in Dr. Yades Building and Loan association... Real Estate (4 lots in the 4^th district, squares # 409, 383, 473, 473. total value of estate is $5,900.00...”

The most likely scenario is that this particular Zoe was the one born Marie Zoe Jacquet ca. 1863 as noted in a New Orleans succession:

“…The petition of Gabriel Joseph Jacquet jr. that his wife Clementine Enaud died within this city 26 May 1867. Only one heir of her marriage with petitioner, a daughter named Marie Zoe Jacquet minor now aged 4 ½ years…and that Joseph Pierre Jacquet be appointed undertutor…Mrs. Jacquet, born Elizabeth Clementine Enaud a native of Paris, France aged 25 years, 6 months died on 26 May 1867…”(*232*)

Chapter

9 Pierre Jacquet

(9^th Begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

Pierre Jacquet appears to have been the ninth child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet. His mother was Marie Celeste Augustin. The best estimates of his birth appear to be circa May – June 1848. The slave inventory of August 6, 1849 says Pierre was 15 months old and puts his birth at late April or early May of 1848. In the year 1849, Jean Baptiste Jacquet was about 41 years of age, Celeste Augustine was about the same age. Their son Belisaire was 18 years old, their daughter Angela was 15, their son Jolivet was 11, and Celeste was with four other young children: Charles who was 9, Edouard who was 7, Zoe who was 5 and Pierre who was 15 months old. All of them were together under the ownership of the Berard family when Marguerite (Decoux) Berard died in June of 1849. On August 6, 1849, an inventory of her estate was appraised. One hundred and seventeen separate articles were inventoried including an inventory of the slaves owned and their appraised value. (*2*) Item 98, listed Pierre’s mother Celeste and her four younger children:

98. “…Celeste, Negressa de 42 ans (years), et infants Edouard de 7 ans, Zoe de 5 ans, Charles de 9 ans, et Pierre de 18 months,

Estimated value - $1100.00…”

The estate sale and distribution took place mostly on the date of February 17, 1851. The Berard brothers and sisters took many of the slaves as part of their inheritance. Other slaves were sold. The distribution and sale of the estate of Marguerite Berard meant the break-up of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s family. Angela went to Euranie Berard; Jolivet was sold to Nicolas Cormier; Belizaire went to Balthazaro Berard and Celeste and her four children Edouard, Zoe, Charles and baby Pierre were sold to Charles St. Maurice Olivier, the husband of Aminthe Berard. Pierre’s father Jean Baptiste Jacquet went into the possession of Rosemond Berard (*2*).

When both slavery and the Civil War came to its conclusion, Pierre found work in St. Mary’s Parish working on the plantation of Mrs. Charles Pécotta. She subcontracted the workers from the A. A. Pécot agency, which specialized in planting. Records from the parish “Final Pay Roll of Laborers” compiled on 24 December 1867, shows that Pierre worked there from 7 January 1867, until 20 December 1867 along with 20 other men and women. He worked a regular 5-day workweek and a total of 254 days at a first class pay rate of 57cents per day bringing his total wage earnings for the year to $144.78. Hopefully this included room and board! There were six different pay rates with the lowest being the sixth class with a low pay rate of 19 cents a day. The only three women that worked on the plantation and were on the payroll of the planters received this rate. Pierre Jacquet was paid $17.90 for the first quarter, $17.67 for the second quarter, $17.65 for the third quarter, and had a amount due to be paid of $92.02 for the December payroll (*269*). He must have worked overtime. There may have also been another Jacquet who worked on the plantation as the name Sypion Jacquet appears on the roll. Others who worked with Pierre whose names may have been seen before in Jacquet history research were Joe, Suzanne and Antoine Henry, Narcisse Isidore, and Félix Vidal.

According to the 1870 census taken on June 7^th, in what was called “The Corporation of St. Martinville”, Celeste was living on the small one arpent property with her sons Belizaire and Pierre whose occupations are laborers, and her daughters Zoe and Rose whose occupations are listed as domestic servants.

Pierre may have been involved in some kind of business that dealt with baking. A suit was bought against him at the St. Martinville courthouse (#9874) in June 1904 by Oscar P. Resweber:

“…the petition of Oscar P. Resweber of St. Martin Parish that Pierre Jacquet is well indebted unto him for $139.65 with 8% APR from 31 December 1903 until paid in full for goods and merchandise sold and advanced to him in 1903…”

Pierre quickly answered the citation on 23 Sept 1904 with a letter and proof of paying the invoice for “merchandise rendered in 1903 from Oscar Resweber – dealer in High Grade Flour” with an attached note that petitioner accepted and acknowledged the amount owed. Oscar then confessed the judgement for the full amount was paid. The case was closed on 7 November 1904. Pierre signed the document with his “X” mark.

Pierre Jacquet died on 14 June 1922, in Lafayette parish at the age of 74. The death certificate says he was 83 years old. According to the death certificate of the Louisiana State board of health in which Lionel Jacquet of Lafayette was the informant. Pierre was a gardener by profession and senility was listed as the cause of death. A three-year, eight-month duration of prostate problems contributed to his illness (*152*). Aimée Gaspard Jacquet died on 19 June 1918 in Lafayette Parish. The Louisiana death certificate says she was 72 years old.

The Descendants of Pierre Jacquet

Pierre Jacquet married Aimée Gaspard on 26 May 1875. Aimée was born in New Orleans in 1844 and was the daughter of Norbert Gaspard and Pamela John according to the 1880 census. Also with the family during the time of the 1880 census is a ten-year-old boy named Henry Populis who is listed as Norbert and Pamela’s grandson. Could this turn out to be Henry Gaspard born ca. 1870 who married Virginia Jacquet? The 1870 census has the family of Norbert Gaspard listed under the name of Norbert Henry. Aimee Gaspard is also listed with this family. There is good speculation that this is the Gaspard family that was related to Henri Gaspard (b. 1862), who married Virginia Jacquet (b. ca. 1862), daughter of Onezime Jacquet an older brother of Pierre Jacquet. Either Aimée was enumerated at both her father and husband’s house, or there are two different “Aimée Gaspards”. We find on the 1880 census taken in June of 1880, Pierre Jacquet and his wife Aimée. Their three oldest sons live with them – Ernest, Lionel and Louis. Pierre is age 33 indicating a birth year of 1847. Aimée is 30, indicating a birth year of 1850, and their three sons are 4, 3 and 2 years of age (*256*). Their fourth child Emma would be delivered into the world in less than five weeks.

As far as the records show, Pierre and Aimee had seven children: Joseph Ernest Jacquet, Joseph Lionel Jacquet, Louis Ludovic Jacquet, Marie Emma Jacquet, Gabriel Jacquet, Marie Rita Jacquet, and Leopold Jacquet whose birth year has yet to be determined.

1. Joseph Ernest Jacquet was the first child born to Pierre Jacquet and Aimée Gaspard. Ernest was born on 8 March 1876 in St. Martinville. Joseph married a cousin of his who was the daughter of Belizaire Jacquet and Mathilda Baptiste Pillet. This was Marie Martha Jacquet born on 9 March 1871. One child was born, a daughter named Ernestine Jacquet. Joseph Ernest died on 13 February 1981 at almost 105 years of age.

2. Joseph Lionel Jacquet was born on 18 April 1877 in St. Martinville. Lionel married Florida Regis on 29 January 1902 in St. Martinville, La. Florida was born circa 1871 and was the daughter of Matturin Regis and Louisiana Rhodes. Louisiana Rhodes and Matturin Isaac Regis were married on 26 April 1877 at the Lafayette courthouse (#2019). Florida’s brothers and sisters were Ida, Rebbeca, and Mary Lillian Regis. Lillian Regis married Frank Alexander on 12 June 1907 in Lafayette. Florida may have been the Florida Jacquet who died in December 1976 in Beaumont, Texas. The social security death index says she was born on 1 December 1879.

Lionel and Florida & family photo

Lionel Jacquet and Florida Regis

Celebrate their 50^th Wedding Anniversay in 1952

With Their Family of Children

STANDING Left to Right: Lionel, Melba, Lloyd, Lilly Mae, Irene and Earl Jacquet

Where Lionel and Florida lived at during the time of the birth of their children was probably with either Lionel’s father Pierre who was still alive up until the year 1922, or with Florida’s parents. Florida’s parents had purchased a sizable amount of property in the Lafayette area in the early part of the 20^th century. According to a Lafayette news article (exact date unknown) entitled “featured home of the week”, Florida’s mother Louisiana Rhodes had purchased property in the “Mouton Addition”:

“...according to oldtimers in Lafayette, the area of what became “Mouton’s Addition” was a popular hunting ground. A pond near where the “Old McBride” house was moved to was especially a popular hunting area during the duck season. Flights of ducks, flying South, would land in the pond during the winter and were “sitting ducks”, so to speak, for hunters...In the early years of Lafayette the area was known as “Free Town.” On September 19, 1882 Dr. George C. Mouton purchased a tract of “Mouton’s Addition,” which included Lots 151 & 152 on which the Gahn house is situated. Later sales and purchases in this area indicate that Mrs. Gradenigo Voorhies owned the property. Her daughter, Rosa Midford, married to Cornelius A. Voorhies, inherited this property. Four of these (Lots 150, 151, 152 and 153) were sold by Rosa M. Voorhies to Nicholas D. Moss on January 2, 1904 for $1,000.

On April 4, 1910 Moss sold two of these lots (151 & 152) with the buildings and improvements, including the residence, to Louisiana Rhodes, widow of Maturin Regis, for $2,500. She, in turn, sold the southwest portion of lot 152 (30 feet front on Convent St.) to Rufus Jacquet for $350.

The heirs of Mrs Maturin Regis, represented by Rita Regis, sold the property to the Lafayette Building Association. Mrs. C. E. Gahn, the former Anastasie Hebert, bought the two lots and all improvements in the Mouton Addition (Lots 151 & 152) from the Lafayette Building Association on March 11, 1929...” (*168*)

The woman listed as Rita Regis is said to have been the younger sister of Maturin Regis. Rita Regis married John W. Martin on 25 December 1903 in Lafayette, Louisiana. After all of their children were born, Lionel and Florida bought property of their own near the city of Lafayette:

“Be it known that on this 4^th day of December, in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-five, before me, J. Frank Jeanmard, a notary Public, in and for said Parish and State duly commissioned and qualified as such, came and appeared the Home Building and Loan Association, a corporation organized under the laws of this State, and having its domicile in the City and Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana, and being herein represented by George Doucet President of the same, acting in this behalf under and by virtue of a resolution of the Board of Directors of said Association adopted November 27^th 1925, copy of which is hereto annexed, and duly identified herewith, who declared that for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, he does by these presents sell, transfer and deliver, without guarantee of title and free from all incumbrances, unto Mamie Florida Regist who is married to Lionel Jacquet and the said Leonard Jacquet appearing herein for himself and to authorize his said wife, both resident of the parish of Lafayette, La.

Present, accepting and purchasing for --herself--, heirs and assigns, and acknowledging delivery and possession thereof, the following described property, to wit:

One certain lot of ground, with all the improvements thereon situated in the Vordenbauman Extension near the City of Lafayette Louisiana and according to the plat of said extension on file in the office of the clerk of court of this parish being lot number ONE (1) of block number FOURTEEN (14) of said addition having a front of FIFTY (50) FEET on WEST 5^th AVE. by a depth in parallel lines of ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (120) FEET and bounded NORTH by WEST 5^th ave., SOUTH by lot number TEN(10), EAST by Delord St. and WEST by lot number TWO (2) all of said block number FOURTEEN (14). Being the same property acquired this day by vendor from vendee by act number 74785 recorded by the office of the clerk of the court of Lafayette parish, La....This sale is made and accepted for and in consideration of the sum of SIXTEEN HUNDRED ($1,600.00)-----DOLLARS, for which price purchaser furnished one promissory note for the said sum of SIXTEEN HUNDRED ($1,600.00) Dollars, drawn to the order of said Association, dated December 4^th, 1925...” (*169*)

As far as the records show, nine children were born between the marriage of Joseph Lionel Jacquet and Florida Regis:

A. Irby Leon Jacquet was the first child born to Lionel and Florida. Irby was born on 14 March 1903 in St. Martinville. Erby was the name on the baptismal record but the name was changed later to spell Irby Leon Jacquet. Irby had a daughter named Adelaide Jacquet.

B. Irene Leona Jacquet was born in 1905. She married Arthur Mouton. Irene Jacquet Mouton became a schoolteacher in Lafayette. One of the great ironies of Lafayette history was the “ILE COPAL”, built by Alexandre Mouton, one of the parishes largest slave holders and a leading Southern secessionist. Alexandre Mouton, born on 19 November 1804, in St. Martinville, was the son of Jean Mouton (Pére) and Marie Martha Bordat. The former Alexandre Mouton residence home became the city’s black/negro school circa 1926. Paul Breaux served as Principal of this school and Pearl Lewis, Florence Lewis, Rhena Gathe, Mildred Shay and Irene Jacquet were the faculty members. The site is now occupied by LeRosen elementary school (*201*). Irene and Arthur Mouton had two children:

i. Stephen Mouton. Stephen married Beverly (Logan?). Both Stephen and Beverly went to Holy Rosary High School in Lafayette where Stephen’s mother was a schoolteacher there.

ii. Beverley Mouton. Beverly had two children named Stephanie and Paula.

C. Lloyd Elton Jacquet was born on 6 July 1906. Lloyd was a graduate from Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1921, Lafayette’s only Black Elementary Catholic School. When the new Church Pastor Father T.A. Wrenn was introduced in the summer of 1921, it was recorded that Lloyd Jacquet was to discontinue school because his parents could not afford to send him anywhere. Father Wrenn said he would establish a high school at St. Paul to keep these children from the streets, public schools and leaving home. In September 1921, a High School was established with two students. It was the first High School for Negroes in Lafayette Parish. Lloyd had four sons and one daughter. Lloyd’s daughter was named Jacqueline Jacquet who was living in New Orleans at the time of the writing of this book. Lloyd Jacquet died in August 1965.

D. Anthony Earl Jacquet was the fourth child born to Lionel and Florida. Anthony Earl was born on 27 August 1908 in Lafayette. Earl was a 1923 graduate of Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary Catholic School, the only school for black children in Lafayette. The school had all black nuns and all black priests. Earl was one of twelve graduates of the class of 1923. Anthony Earl’s first cousin Gabriel Holton Jacquet Jr. was also a graduate of the class of 1923. Anthony Earl died in 1991.

E. Clyde Arlington Stephen was born on 16 Nov 1909 but died that same year.

F. Lillie Mae Jacquet was born in 1912. Lillie Mae married Walter Evans in 1931 in Beaumont, Texas. Lillie Mae and Walter Evans had five children:

i. Walter Glen Evans born in 1932 in Houston. Walter had six children.

ii. Shirley Pipion Evans born in 1934. Shirley had two sons and three daughters:

a. Reginald Steven

b. Patricia Ann

c. Ronald Joseph

d. Cathy René

e. Gina Marie

iii. Barbara Jean Evans was born in 1936 in Dallas. She married Charles Anthony Viltz Sr. Barbara and Charles had five children:

a. Cheryl Denice Viltz born on 4 Jan 1958. She married Scot.

b. Charles Anthony Viltz Jr. born on 19 Aug 1959. He married Carla Jean Phaneuf. Charles and Carla had two sons:

1. Payton Viltz

2. Preston Viltz

c. Christi DeLynn Viltz Woods born on 25 May 1963. Christi had 2 children:

1. Keean Woods

2. Keana Woods

d. Carla DeLane Vilta born on 9 Aug 1964.

e. Cory Allen Viltz born on 15 Mar 1967. Cory had a son named Trevis Viltz.

iv. Lionel Thomas Evans born in 1938 in Houston. Lionel had two daughters.

v. Florida Ann Evans born in 1939. Florida had one son.

G. Melba Florian Jacquet was the seventh child born to Lionel Jacquet and Florida Regis. Melba Florian was born on 26 April 1913. Melba married Bernard Anthony Mouton. A marriage certificate at the Lafayette courthouse (#20436) says they married on 19 January 1938. Bernard’s mother was named Augustine. Bernard had a brother named Kirby Mouton. Melba married a second time and became Melba Hewlett and lived in San Francisco. Melba and Bernard had two daughters:

i. Juanita Mouton born on 3 July 1938 in Lafayette Parish. Juanita went to St. Paul’s Elementary school in Lafayette, Louisiana but during 6^th grade she and her Mouton family moved to San Francisco. Juanita married Ronald Tyeskey and had two sons:

a. Christopher Anthony Tyesky born on 8 May 1959.

b. Kenneth Gordon Tyesky born on 23 July 1964.

ii. Beverly Mouton born in 6 August 1939. She married J. B. Henry. Beverly Mouton had four children. Her first-born was named Kevin born in Sept 1957. The other children were named Kimberly, Keesha and Jay.

H. Lionel Joseph Jacquet Jr. was born in 1916. Lionel died in 1959.

I. Thompson Regis Jacquet was the last child born to Lionel Jacquet and Florida Regis. Thompson Regis was born in 1920. Regis died in 1961.

Joseph Lionel Jacquet died on 20 October 1960 and Florida Regis died on 28 December 1976. No relationship has been discovered so far but there were a few Regis’ who died at the age of 100 or more: “Old Mrs. Regis” died on 28 May 1893 at the age of 110 in St. Martinville, Lovanie Regis was buried by the St. Martin Church on 10 Nov 1904 at the age of 100. The St. Martin Church also buried Alexandre Regis on 27 May 1906 at the age of 100.

(Lafayette Graduates Photo)

1923 Graduates of Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary Catholic School

At the time it was Lafayette’s only Negro School

STANDING Left to Right: Kermit Patty, Gabriel Holton Jacquet Jr., Felix Mouton, Victor Broussard,

Zoe Marie LeBlanc, Robert Green, Anthony Earl Jacquet

SITTING Left to Right: Roberta Elizabeth Johnson, Ophelia Jones, Zola Amond, Gertrude Claiborne, Martha Brown.

3. Ludovic Jacquet was the third child born to Pierre Jacquet and Aimee Gaspard. Ludovic was born on 16 October 1878 in St. Martinville.

4. Marie Emma Jacquet, born on 14 July 1880 in St. Martinville.

5. Gabriel Jacquet was the fifth child born to Pierre Jacquet and Aimée Gaspard. Gabriel was born on 15 May 1882 in St. Martinville. Gabriel married Rosalie Joseph on the date of 31 August 1909, in Lafayette, La. Witnesses to the marriage were Gabriel Malveaux, Lionel Jacquet and Bertha Lin Malveaux. Rosalie was the daughter of Hyppolite Joseph and Marie Carnelia Sampia (also spelled Sampe). Hyppolite Joseph was born circa 1850 and Marie Carnelia was born circa 1865. Hyppolite and Marie were married on 9 February 1881. Marie Carnelia’s parents were Casimir St. Pé and Rosa Victoire. They married on 5 February 1871. Hyppolite Joseph died on 18 May 1899 and Marie Carnelia Sampia died on 30 August 1934. Rosalie Joseph Jacquet owned a tiny soup kitchen that was attached to the back of her house in Lafayette. Rosalie died on 30 May 1969. Gabriel’s father Pierre Jacquet appears to have moved to the city of Lafayette at least by the year 1900 so Gabriel was most likely a resident of Lafayette by the turn of the century. In 1906, Gabriel purchased some land. He bought two lots of land (#9, #10) in the town of Lafayette from the Vordenbauman Lumber Co., LTD, for $910.45. The property was 55 feet on West 5^th Avenue by 125 feet. Gabriel Jacquet died in July 1965 in Missouri.

According to documents at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin, La. In what appears to be a family matter on the Joseph side, a family meeting was held on 22 July 1920. Due to a death in the Joseph family, most likely a brother of Rosalie, there was a family meeting held between Joseph (Gabriel?) and Rosalie Joseph, Henry Joseph, Frank Joseph, Martin Lockett, Rene Matthew, and Charlie August. Emma Thomas was the paternal aunt of the minors Ivory, Harrison, Edna, Peter, Martha and Isabelle Joseph. Both Emma Thomas and Milton Latoussant were given legal tutorship of all the minor Joseph children (*270*).

Gabriel and Rosalie had one child, a son named Gabriel Jacquet Jr.

A. Gabriel Holton Jacquet born on 23 June 1910 in Lafayette, Louisiana and baptized at St. John’s Cathedral in Lafayette. Gabriel Holton married Gwendlyn Tyler on 15 March 1942. Gwendlyn was the daughter of Nora Hall and O.W.H. Tyler. O.W.H. was a doctor and people in the medical profession knew him as “Doctor Tyler.” Gabriel Holton Jacquet served in the armed forces during the Second World War. Gabriel was inducted into the United States Army on 4 May 1942, and was discharged honorably on 13 December 1945. He was First Sergeant in the 1517^th Engineers Water supply Company. Decorations he received were the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theatre Campaign medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with two bronze stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and a Good Conduct medal. He served a total of one year, eight months, 15 days of continental service and one year, ten months, 25 days in Foreign Service for a total of three years, seven months and ten days of military service. He received no war wounds (*164*). Gwendlyn Tyler Jacquet also served in the military but left pregnant with her daughter Gabrielle before her unit was shipped to France and had to return to St. Louis. If but for a few more days Gabrielle would have been born in France, birthplace of her Great-great-great grandfather François Hyacinthe Jacquet. Gabrielle’s father returned to the United States and re-joined the family when Gabrielle was 18 months old. Gabriel Holton Jacquet’s parents followed him to St. Louis around the year 1948. The elder Gabriel Jacquet family and their son spoke French Creole almost exclusively to each other. Gabriel Holton Jacquet died on 18 November 1985.

Gabriel Holton and Gwendlyn Tyler had three children:

i. Gabrielle Irene Jacquet. Gabrielle Jacquet married Tyrone Wilson in March 1943. Children born were two daughters:

a. Constance Danielle Wilson. Constance married Bernard Burns. Constance had a son named Jared Mathew Gabriel Smith-Burns born in St. Louis, Missouri.

b. Crystal Julienne Wilson.

ii. Julienne Rose Jacquet, Julienne Rose had two children named Stephen Duane Villery and Melanie Gwendlyn Washington Vaughn. Melanie had a daughter named Nailah Rose Vaughn born in St. Louis.

iii. Duane Pierre Jacquet was born in 1948. Duane Pierre had two children named Andre Duane Jacquet and Yvette Danielle Jacquet who at the turn of the Y2K century were living in Wisconsin.

6. Marie Rita Jacquet was the second daughter and sixth child born to Pierre Jacquet and Aimée Gaspard. Marie Rita was born at the crack of the New Year on 1 January 1891. She was baptized on 19 April 1891 at the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville, La. The Reverend Schwoony married her to John Wallace Figaro on 17 June 1914, at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. However, this document contradicts what is at the Lafayette courthouse (#10367), which states that the two applied for a marriage license there on 13 June 1914, and married on 2 October 1914. Witnesses to the Bay St. Louis marriage were Una Kanaway, Walter Toirau and Mrs. Kanaway. As far as the records show, three children were born to Rita and John: John Howard Figaro who married Mary Lyons; Allison H. Figaro who married Cora Lee Hebert; and Mark Owen Figaro.

Marie Rita Jacquet, widow of John Wallie Figaro, died on 17 April 1985 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette, La. The succession document also states that she died at Lafayette General Hospital also in Lafayette. She resided at 712 Surrey, in Lafayette at the time of her death. It would be the joint petition of her two sons Mark Figaro who was living in Travis County Texas; John Howard Figaro living in Lafayette Parish, La. and the three children of her deceased son Allison Figaro to the Lafayette Parish courthouse on 6 August 1985 to divide the ownership of the property belonging to Marie Rita. A detailed descriptive list of all the items of property owned by Marie Rita was inventoried and given a fair market value:

“... a certain tract of swamp land situated in the Parish of St. Martin containing 146 acres being the North-West fractional quarter of section #35, township #9 south, Range 5 east. Value = $2,000.00

An undivided one-half interest in and to a certain parcel of ground in the city and parish of Lafayette, having a front on Convent, of 50 feet by a depth between parallel lines of 120 feet, bounded North by Convent St., south and east by property of Sydalise Rhodes, and west by lots 131 and part of 130... Value = $7,500.00

An undivided one-half interest in and to that certain parcel of ground in the city and parish of Lafayette, being known and designated as lot 9 of block 12 of the Vordenbaumen addition,...” Value = $1,000.00

“...a certain parcel of ground, with improvements, being the north one-half of lot 159 of the Mills addition to the city of Lafayette, having a front on Washington street of 50 feet by a depth in parallel lines of 140 feet, bounded north by Olivier street, south by the south half of said lot, east by lot 160, and west by Washington street, said property known now or formerly as “Economy Hall”...

Value = $1,683.34

“...That certain lot of ground, together with all improvements thereon, situated in the city and parish of Lafayette, having a frontage of 215 feet on 12^th street by a depth of 230 feet along Surrey ave, bounded north by Surrey street, east by 12^th street, south by property of George Elias, and west by property of D. P. Upton...less and except a 10 foot wide strip along the entire east line sold to the city of Lafayette..

Value = $12,500.00

“...those 2 certain lots of ground, together with all improvements thereon, being known and designated as lots 11 and 12 of block 5 of the Martin Addition to the city of Lafayette, said lots being contiguous and together measure 50 feet front on Surrey St. by a depth in parallel lines of 135 feet, Value = $5,500.00

“...that certain tract of land situated on North Pierce street containing 4.78 acres, and being further described as the remaining portion of a larger tract originally comprising 10 acres which was acquired by John W. Figaro and Oscar Figaro from Marie Louise Dugas, et als by act #289336 LESS AND EXCEPT a: that portion taken by the department of highways, state of Louisiana, for the Evangeline Throughway by act number 419001 – comprising a total of 1.259 acres, which divided the original 10 acre tract into two different parcels... Value = $4,780.00

Home Savings & Loan Association, Lafayette, La. Passbook number 3772 in the name of Marie J. Figaro, sum on deposit Value = $12,520.51

Home Savings & Loan Association, Lafayette, La. Savings account # 3065931, sum on deposit Value = $25,102.01

VALUE OF ENTIRE PROPERTY = $72,585.86

After a total of $14,743.83 in debts and liabilities, the total net value of her estate was valued at $57,842.03. Both Mark O. Figaro and John Howard Figaro receive one third or $19,280.68 of the estate. They each had to pay $85.61 for inheritance tax. The three grandchildren of Rita each received one-ninth of the estate or $6,426.89 but did not have to pay an inheritance tax (*159*).

The Descendants of Marie Rita Jacquet

Three children were born to Rita Jacquet and John Wallace Figaro:

A. John Howard Figaro was born on 19 January 1919. John married Mary Louis Lyons who was a native of Crowley, Louisiana. Mary was the daughter of Lorenza and Joseph Lyons. John and Mary had two sons, John Stephen Figaro and Lloyd Byron Figaro, Sr.. Two grandsons of Mary were Lloyd Byron Figaro Jr. and Nathaniel Andrew Figaro. Thirty years after moving from Crowley to Lafayette, Louisiana with her family, Mary Lyons Figaro died on 6 April 1995 at the age of 70 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Her funeral took place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lafayette on 9 April 1995 and her interment took place in Crowley with the Reverend Francis Aubesoin, SVD, officiating the services. John Howard Figaro died on Good Friday March 25^th, the day of the first full moon of the new spring season of 2005. He had battled colon cancer for some years and spent his last days in a New Orleans nursing home run by his second cousin, the nun known as Sister Augustine and cared for by his sons.

B. Allison Figaro married Cora Lee Hebert. Cora Lee was born on 6 August 1920. Allison Figaro died at his residence and domicile in Tallahasse Florida on June 13, 1984 (*159*). Of this marriage three children were born:

i. Deborah A. Figaro, born on 29 Oct 1951.

ii. Mark A. Figaro, born on 6 Feb 1958.

iii. Rita A. Figaro. Born on 8 Aug 1965.

The Reverend Mark Owen Figaro, “The Priest of St. Martinville.”

C. Mark O. Figaro was born on 25 April 1921, in Lafayette Louisiana. He was the last of three children born to Marie Rita Jacquet. The Reverend J. J. Rims with sponsoring Godparents Joseph Regis and Sidonia Mako baptized Mark on 21 May 1921 at the Church of St. Paul in Lafayette. From his early years as a young boy, Mark had a calling for the higher spiritual nature of the human struggle here on Earth. Mark achieved his confirmation at St. Paul’s Catholic church at the age of 11 by Bishop J. B. Jeanmard on 10 November 1932, with sponsor Alvin Comeaux. It must have been sometime around the year 1935, when the family moved or returned to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi because it was on 7 September 1935, that Mark entered St. Augustine’s Catholic school as a ninth grader. Mark graduated High school at St. Augustine on 18 May 1941 and after making his seminary studies at Bay St. Lous, and at Techny, Illinois he then took his first Vows of the Catholic Church on 21 June 1943. He continued taking his vows on that same date for the next six years culminating when he took his perpetual Vows on 21 June1948 at Bay St. Louis. It was then a matter of steadily moving up the ladder of spiritual hierarchy within the church. Minor Orders were completed by December 1947, Sub-deaconship by September 1948, Deaconship by December 1948, Priesthood by 24 February 1949, which quickly led to Father Figaro conducting his first mass at St. Augustine’s the next day on 25 Feb 1949.

Father Figaro was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of the Divine Word at St. Augustine’s on 24 February 1949 by Biship Leo Arkfeld S.V.D. of New Guinea. Also ordained with him were Fathers Carlos Lewis and Curtis Washington. Father Lewis went on to become auxiliary bishop of Panama, and Father Washington became a missionary in Ghana. Mark Figaro later went back home to St. Martinville, La. that summer to be an assistant pastor at Notre Dame parish. His later appointments saw him as the Pastor of St. Benedict the Moore Parish in Duson, Louisiana in August 1952, and at Loyola in Chicago later that year in October. In 1953 he served in Washington DC and there attended the Catholic University of America. In August 1954, he returned to St. Augustine’s to serve as a teacher serving on the faculty of Divine Word Seminary, Bay St. Louis from 1954 to 1957. Next came an appointment as pastor of Christ the King Church on 11 July 1957 in Jackson, Mississippi and later the same duties at St. Joseph’s Parish, in Broussard, Louisiana. On 7 August 1962 he was appointed to serve as faculty member of Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles, and also Regina Coeli High in Compton, California where he continued to serve both schools during the same period from 1962 – 1966. Father Figaro was pastor of Notre Dame de Perpetuel Secours Church, in St. Martinville, La from 1969 to 1973. Notre Dame had for a very long time catered to the Black Catholic devotees of the Parish. After a number of years in pastoral and educational work in Louisiana, Mississippi and California Father Figaro was appointed Episcopal Vicar for the Black Catholics Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana in September 1973.

Father Mark Figaro, S.V.D. celebrated the 25^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a 12 noon Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Thursday, 25 April 1974 in Lafayette, Louisiana. At that time his mother Rita Jacquet Figaro was still living in Tallahasse, Florida with her son Allison Figaro, and Mark’s brother John Howard Figaro was residing in Washington DC (*153*). Father Figaro achieved a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1954, and has also done postgraduate work at Loyala University, Chicago, and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

(Father Figaro Photo)

Father Mark O. Figaro

The Celebration of his 25^th Anniversary of Priesthood

With his brother Allison Figaro and his mother Marie Rita Jacquet Figaro

February 1974 in Lafayette, Louisiana

Résumé of a Spiritual Life of Service

by Reverend Mark Owen Figaro.

Birth Lafayette, Louisiana 25 April 1921

Baptism St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Lafayette 21 May 1921

Confirmation St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Lafayette 10 Nov 1932

Matriculation St. Paul’s Catholic School, Lafayette 1927 – 1935

Arrival Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 7 Sept 1935

Novitiate: Techny, Illinois 21 June 1941

First Vows Techny, Illinois 21 June 1941

Perpetual Vows Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 21 June 1948

Ordination as a Priest

of the Society of the

Divine Word: Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 24 Feb 1949

Assignments:

Associate Pastor Notre Dame, St. Martinville, La. 1949 – 1952

Pastor St. Benedict the Moor, Duson, La. 1952

Undergraduate Catholic University, Washington DC 1952 – 1953

Master of Arts Cathlolic University 1954

Teacher St. Augustine’s Seminary, Bay St. Louis 1954 – 1957

Pastor Christ the King Church, Jackson, Ms. 1957 – 1962

Teacher Verbum Dei High School, Los Angeles 1962 – 1966

Teacher Regina Coeli High School, Compton, Ca

Pastor St. Joseph’s, Broussard, La. 1966 – 1969

Pastor Notre Dame, St. Martinville, La. 1969 – 1973

Episcopal Vicar for

Black Catholics Diocese of Lafayette 1973 – 1979

Administrator St. Benedict the Moor, Duson, La. 1979 – 1980

Pastor St. Anthony’s, Lafayette, La. 1980 – 1982

Pastor Holy Cross, Austin, Tx 1982 – 1986

Pastor Holy Ghost Church, Jackson, Ms. 1986 – May 1992 (R.I.P.)

Death To be with the Lord God Almighty 24 May 1992

Resurrection Ceremony St. Augustine’s Divine Word Seminary 27 May 1992

Father Mark O. Figaro, SVD, entered Eternal Life on 24 May 1992. A special Mass of the Resurrection ceremony was performed in his honor at St. Augustine’s Divine Word Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on 27 May 1992.

Father Mark Figaro’s aunt, Miss Eleanor Figaro started the first school for Blacks in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It originated as Green’s Hall, and then became Sacred Heart School when Sacred Heart Catholic Church began as a Parish. Bishop Oliver’s father, James Oliver and a group of men persuaded Miss Figaro, who was a graduate of St. Paul’s School in Lafayette, La., to go to Lake Charles and open a school for Black children. Xavier University of New Orleans opened an extension to train teachers at Sacred Heart and later at public schools. The Figaro name is prominent in Lake Charles as Sacred Heart Elementary and High School sent most of their graduates to colleges and universities. Both the late Bishop Harold Perry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans who was the first African American Catholic bishop of 20^th century and Bishop Oliver were graduates. Figaro, Perry, and Oliver were all graduates of the Divine Word Seminary of Bay St. Louis, Miss.

Cedric Figaro was another member of the Figaro family who played football at Notre Dame and was a football head coach at Vermillion Catholic Church in Abbeville.

7. Leopold Jacquet was a son of Pierre Jacquet and appears to have been the last and seventh child born to Pierre Jacquet and Aimée Gaspard. Leopold’s birth-year is best estimated by his War enlistment record, which indicates he was born in February 1887. The social security death index record indicates he was born on 18 Feb 1888 and died in March 1965 in Louisiana. While no birth or baptismal record has been found, there is ample evidence that he was a son and most likely the youngest of all of the Jacquet children of Pierre and Aimée born sometime during the mid to late 1890‘s. When Leopold died on 30 March 1965, in Lafayette, La., his sister Marie Rita petitioned to the Lafayette court for the assessment of his estate. Leopold married Annette Coco on 4 October 1917 in Lafayette, La. (#12085). Witnesses to the marriage were Alfred Joseph and John W. Figaro. Leopold divorced his wife Annette Coco (Laf.ct.hse Suit #10252) on 1 October 1936. As Leopold’s grandniece Juanita recalled about their “Bachelor Uncle”, “the two of them could not stay together for two seconds!” Annette moved to Los Angeles and became a nurse there. The couple had no children. Leopold had made a will on 19 March 1961 and had left his estate to his brother Ernest Joseph Jacquet and sister Marie Rita Jacquet. One fourth of his estate went to his brother Ernest and three fourths went to his sister Rita. No state inheritance tax was due to Ernest but Rita had to pay $28.10. The estate had a total value of $3,711.77 and after $509.73 worth of debts; there was $3202.04 to split between the two surviving siblings. Ernest received $800.51 and Rita $2,401.53 of the total (*154*). Leopold Jacquet had originally purchased the property with his sister Rita’s husband John Wallace Figaro. The two had co-acquired the property on 17 May 1919 when:

“...Isaac B. Bendel sold to John Wallie Figaro (m. Rita Jacquet) and Leopold Jacquet (m. Annette Coco) two lots in the city of Lafayette, #9 and #10 for $900. John and Leopold paid $200 down and the other $700 was to be paid on equal installments of $10 per month...” (*155*)

Less than four years later on 3 January 1923 the two partners came into the Lafayette courthouse to legally partition the property:

“...Third day of January 1923, appeared J.W. Figaro, wife of Rita Jacquet and Leopold Jacquet, wife of Annette Coco. Each owns ½ of property in Lafayette situated in the Vordenbaumen addition, lots #9, 10 of block 12 – each with a front of 50’ x 120’, bounded north by lots #3, 4; south by west 5^th avenue, east by lot #11, west by lot #8... acquired 17 may 1919. The two desire to partition the property...” (*155*)

John Figaro took as his share lot #10, which had a house on it and a $300 value. Leopold took as his share lot #9 with no improvements on it but was valued at $950. Leopold gave another $350 in cash to John to make the transaction “fair and equitable”.

Leopold Jacquet served in World War I in the US Army. He was with the Poster Compay “A” Development, BM #1, 162^nd Depot Brigade. He received an honorable discharge in 1923 by reason of physical disability, functional cardio vascular disorder and bad teeth. He had enlisted in the Army when he was 31 years old and 2 months by occupation of Porter. It appears that the enlistment date was somewhere around the year of 1918 for his military enlistment file indicates that he was given the “…grade of Private on 27 April 1918 at Lafayette, Louisiana…Given under at Camp Pike, Arkansas 22 November 1918…saw no battle and paid $80 under an act of Congress on 24 Feb 1919… “ He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, had dark eyes, dark hair and a brown complexion. If the enlistment date is correct, his birth year would be February 1887 (*221*). Leopold Jacquet died in 1965 and is buried in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Lafayette.

Although the names of the following Jacquets and Figaros show no direct link, the names are enough to realize a connection. In the year 1932 during the great depression of America, a few family members found themselves in debt and almost lost their properties. Jules Figaro owned lot #355 in the Mouton addition of Lafayette and for a 1932 assessment of $500 it was determined he had owed $11.52 in delinquent taxes and almost had his property seized by the Parish tax collector. Adam Figaro owned lot #59 in the Kennedy addition and owed the same amount. Mrs. F. M. Jacquet owned lot #1, block 14 in the Vordenbaumen addition and her 1932 assessment came to $1000 of which she was found to be $19.26 in delinquent taxes. It appears that she could not pay the taxes right away because on 6 March 1934, records show that “...Home owners Loan Corp. paid the state $10.35 for 1932 taxes she owed... Property is redeemed to said M. F. Jacquet...(*156*)

Scroll of Pierre and

Josephine tree

Chapter

10 Marie Josephine Jacquet

(10^th Child and 3rd begotten Daughter of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Celeste)

Marie Josephine Jacquet, daughter of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Marie Celeste Augustine was born circa 1848 – 1850 in Louisiana. Since she was born near the same time as her half brother Oscar, it is difficult to determine if she is older or younger. The census of 1870, taken on June 7^th in the “Corporation of St. Martinville” which would probably be in town, has her listed as 22 years of age and would point to a birth year of 1848 making her Oscar’s older sister. At the time of the census, she was at what appears to be Nicholas Cormier Jr’s home, a place where many of the recently freed Jacquets, served under the ownership of the Cormier family. Josephine, along with another 45-year-old “Black Female” are listed as “domestic servants”. Others in that same household were Adolphe Cormier, a White male age 16 attending school and Anatole Cormier, a White female attending school. It is definitely possible that Josephine was counted twice on this census, for a week later on 14 June 1870, now in the second ward of St. Martin Parish, Josephine Jean Baptiste is listed with many other family members using the same last name. There is Adele Jean Baptiste, ?Deepane Jean Baptiste, and Philomone Jean Baptiste. All are young laborers in their 20’s. Josephine again is listed as a Black female “keeping house“. We know that her father, brothers and sisters used this name during this time because on the same property but in a house next to the one she was counted in, is her mother, father, brothers and sisters – Jolivet Jean Baptiste, Rosa Jean Baptiste, Rosita Jean Baptiste, Jean Louis Baptiste, Roseline Jean Baptiste and her uncle Philogene Antoine. It would not be a surprise if the census taker as well as the house occupants were confused about what was their last name. They had at least been using this surname for three years because when Jean baptiste and his soon-to-be spouse Celeste Augustin “declare to recognize and claim legitimate the seven children whose names follow,”(*1*) the marriage certificate listed the surnames of their seven children as “Jean Baptiste” when they married on 20 July 1867. Their father used the surname “Jacquet” when he married because he obviously knew who his father was, that of Frenchman François Hyacinthe Jacquet who died in 1810. Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s marriage certificate reads “…the son of the deceased Jacquet…” Since it was confusing for many ex-slaves to choose a surname, something which they did not have previously, there were many who changed their surname more than once. Such was the case here. Many former slaves took on the only name their parent had. In this case it was “Jean Baptiste”, the name of their father.

The end of the Civil War marked a brief time that followed when slaves scurried to find a surname to be able to fit into the free world and be counted as citizens of The United States of America. A slave with a surname was an exception and since most slaves had no surname during the time of slavery, when it was over, many of them choose either the first (and only), name of their mother or father. Many others would choose to carry on the surname of their previous slave owners or if they knew the “white father” of their mother, father or grandparent, they would choose that name. Such was the case with the Jacquet family who knew that the father of their mulatto father Jean Baptiste was the French military seaman François Hyacinthe Jacquet. They could have forever carried into the future the surname of Jean Baptiste in honor of their father’s first name as many former slaves chose to do, but Jean Baptiste Jacquet, knowing whom his father was, he himself chose the surname of his father immediately after slavery. It took his children a little more time to decide to change their surname just as many former slaves did between the years 1870 and 1880 judging by census records. Some of Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s children did this right after their father’s marriage. We can see this on his oldest son Cazimir Jacquet’s marriage document when he wed Marthe Blondin on 1 Aug 1869 (*267*). Cazimir already has the surname Jacquet and he is the son of Jean Baptiste Jacquet. Jean Baptiste’s next oldest son Belizaire Jacquet also has taken the surname of his father when he wed Mathilde Pillet on 28 Nov 1869 (*268*). Belizaire has the surname Jacquet and his father is Jean Baptiste Jacquet. Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s son Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre was actually his first child to marry. When Jolivet married Rosa Jean-Louis on 15 Mar 1867, he used the name “” (*59,60*). Jolivet’s father Jean Baptiste would marry five weeks later on 20 July 1867 and we see their children listed on the document who were recognized and claimed legitimate with the surname “Jean Baptiste.” It was right after this marriage that his children decided that they were rightfully Jacquets also, and changed their name accordingly.

Josephine Jacquet married Raphael Kerlegan Jr. (also spelled Kerlegand) on 11 Feb 1879. Raphael Kerlegan Jr. was the son of Raphael Kerlegand Sr., from Illinois and Alexandrine Alexandre from St. Charles parish, Louisiana. The marriage license at the St. Martin courthouse says the following:

“…célébré le marriage de Raphael Kerlégan fils majeur et legitime de Raphael Kerlegan et de Alexandrine Alexandre né et domicile en cette paroisse…et de Josephine Jacquet fille majeure et legitime de Jean Baptiste Jacquet et de Céleste…” (*271*)

The origin of the “colored Kerlegands” began with a woman named Félicité who was in the servitude for the Kerlegand family. There are two stories leading to how Felicité became a Kerlegand. The Kerlegand family traveled often around the country and frequented the mid-west corridor from Louisiana up to Missouri and Illinois. When the Kerlegand family granted Félicité the rights of a free person, like many ex-slaves who did not have a surname, she took on the surname of her previous slave owners, a practice that became common after the civil war, and soon became known by the surname de Kerlegand. The other story is the more likely in that although Félicité did not marry Louis Guiho De Kerlégand she bore at least three children from him: Raphael De Kerlégand a mulâtre libre born ca. 1800 in St. Louis, Mo.; Jean Baptiste de Kerlegand, a mulatre affranchi born in 1805 in St. Louis or Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; and Henrietta (dite) Agatha de Kerlegand a mulatress libre born in 1808 in Illinois. Félicité, a négresse libre was born in Missouri circa 1782 and she and her three mulatto children received their freedom from Madame Adele Guiho de Kerlegand. The succession record (#56) at the St. Martinville courthouse of 1 April 1810, says that Félicité was 28 years old and the three children were aged 10 years, 8 years, and 9 months. This would put the birth years of the three children at 1800, 1802, and July 1809. During the sale of Kerlegand’s estate, the slave Félicité and her children belonging to the Kerlegand estateb were offered for sale. They were sold to Marie de Kerlegand for $1580 (*9*). Félicité died on 30 Jan 1846 at the age of 70 according to the St. Martinville church record (*213*)

The Descendants of Félicité de Kerkégand

Félicité’s three children with Louis Guiho De Kerlégand were:

1. Henriette (Agatha) de Kerlegand, a mulâtresse libre was born ca. 1800 in Illinois. She first bore children for Andrés Castello of Spain (*213*). She married on 28 August 1828 Jean Baptiste Prade, a free mulatto and son of Angelique Bienvenu. Henrietta Agathe died on 21 Oct 1893 at the age of 92 in St. Martinville. It is most likely that Henriette is the oldest and born in 1800 because before her marriage to Jean Baptiste Prade, she had already bore two possible children – a daughter for Felix Barriere and another for Andre Castille (son of Elizabeth Castille) prior to her marriage to Jean Baptiste Prade on 28 august 1828. With the oldest of Felicite’s three children probably being born circa 1808 – 1810 at the latest, it would have her giving birth at a very young but not impossible age of around 12 when she gave birth to Elisabeth Charlotte Castille a quarteronne born on 4 Dec 1820, baptized on 17 Aug 1827, and set free from being a slave by Marie Guiho De Kerlegand (*213*). Elisabeth Charlotte was baptized in St. Martinville and one of her sponsors was Marie De Kerlegand. Death records at the church say that Raphael Kerlegand Sr. died on 20 June 1892 at the age of 90. A birth year of 1800 as indicated on the death certificate and the first of the Félicité’s three children would have her giving birth to Elisabeth Charlotte at the age of around 20, much more reasonable.

2. Raphael de Kerlegand born in St. Louis, Missouri ca. 1802. He was most likely the second child born to Félicité. Raphael married Alexandrine Alexandre of St. Charles Parish on 14 October 1869 in St. Martin parish. Alexandrine was the daughter of the deceased Madeleine. Alexandrine died 4 Feb 1889 in St. Martinville. Raphael died 20 June 1892 at the age of 90 in St. Martinville. Raphael and Alexandrine’s children were:

A. Raphael De Kerlegand II, free man of color, was born in May 1850. His first marriage was to Josephine Jacquet on 11 Feb 1879, the daughter of Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Céleste Augustin. Before Joséphine died there were four children:

i. Dongeville Kerlegan appears to have been the first born between Josephine and Raphael. On the census of May 1880, taken at the first ward of St. Martin parish we see once again Josephine, a Black female (aged incorrectly at 26), keeping house. Raphael is listed as 29 years old and is a farm laborer. Their son Dongeville is listed as 7 months old and would put his birth about December of 1879. Joseph Octave Dongeville Kerlegan was actually born on 20 December 1879. He was obviously named after his father Raphael’s younger brother named Joseph Octave De Kerlegand, born in 1864. Joseph Octave Dongeville later married Pauline Bootte on 14 July 1904. Pauline was the daughter of Joseph Boutte and Marie De La Houssaye. Three children born to Joseph Octave and Pauline were:

a. Antoine Kerlegand born on 7 Feb 1905 in St. Martinville.

b. Dorcianne Kerlegand born on 25 Dec 1905 in St. Martinville.

c. Harry Kerlegand born on 20 May 1907 in St. Martinville.

ii. Mathurin Joseph Kerlegand born on 6 June 1881 in St. Martinville. He married Cécilia Orphé on 10 Feb 1902 in St. Martinville.

iii. Josephine Kerlégand was born ca. 1883.

iv. Kerley Kerlégand was born ca. 1885. Both Josephine and Kerley are described as “minor children of Josephine Jacquet and Raphael Kerlegand in her Josephine’s mother’s succession record of 1891.

Raphael Kerlegand Jr’s second wife was Alphonsine Collins the widow of François Boutté. They married on 15 Feb 1887. Their six children were:

i. Simon De Kerlegand baptized on 14 April 1888 in St. Martinville.

ii. Thomas Aramis De Kerlegand born on 20 Dec 1889 in St. Martinville.

iii. Josephine Virginia De Kerlegand born on 19 Mar 1891 in St. Martinville. She married Charles Pilette on 8 Aug 1914 in St. Martinville. Alphonsine Boutte is the name given on the marriage document as the mother of Virginia (sm.ct.hse. #10479) when she married Charles Pillette. Charles was the son of Gabriel Pillette and Marie Theodore and had been previously married. Both Virginia and Charles are listed as “black” on the marriage document. Charles is age 24 and Virginia is age 19. Charles’ father Gabriel Pillet, was involved in a shotgun wedding that occurred on 8 July 1886. Edward Jacquet, the son of Belizaire Jacquet had to petition to the St. Martin Court on 18 Jan 1889 (suit #8969) to sue his adulterous wife and divorce her. (see “Volume one updates.”)

iv. Marie Adonis Kerlegand was born on 1 Aug 1892 in St. Martinville. She married Loulon Washington on 18 Oct 1917 in St. Martinville.

v. Agnes De Kerlegand.

vi. Alexander De Kerlegand born ca. 1894. He married Beulah Jacquet on 27 Aug 1919. The marriage record at the St. Martin Courthouse (#11495) has his name written as “Alexis” Kerlegand when he married Beulah and this probably represents the name he went by. Both of Alexis’ parents are deceased by this time. Beulah was the daughter of Jean Baptiste fils Jacquet and Victorine Salmazoo. Victorine’s mother was named Marceal Colar of Lafayette, La. According to Victorine’s death certificate of 7 Dec 1953 (*216*). Victorine was a diabetic and died of an infected foot.

B. Alexandre De Kerlegand was the second child of Raphael and Alexandrine. He was a free man of color born on 8 Aug 1856 in St. Martinville. He married Marie Jeanne Sorrel the daughter of Henry Sorrel and Célestine De La Houssaye on 19 April 1883. Four children were born (*213*):

i. Marie Rose De Kerlegand born on 17 Mar 1888 in St. Martinville.

Ii Gabriel Lazare De Kerlegand born on 27 July 1890 in St. Martinville.

iii. Alcide De Kerlegand born on 5 Oct 1892 in St. Martinville.

iv. Joseph Alexandre Kerlegand born on 4 July 1897 in St. Martinville. Joseph married Alberta John on 27 July 1917 in St. Martinville. Alberta was the daughter of John and Louisa Broussard.

C. Marie Hélène De Kerlegan a free woman of color was born on 13 Dec 1862 in St. Martinville, Lousiana.

D. Joseph Octave Kerlegand a free man of color was born ca. 1864. Because this Joseph Octave Kerlegand had the same name as his brother Raphael’s son born in 1879, there may be a mix-up with just which one married Pauline Boutte. Some researchers have this Joseph Octave marrying Pauline Boutte in 1904.

3. Jean Baptiste de Kerlegand a freed mulatto was most likely the third child born to Félicité and Louis Guiho de Kerlégand. Jean Baptiste was born ca. 1805 – 1809 in St. Louis, Mo. (*213*). Jean Baptiste first married Marie Lucille Alixe Frilot on 14 August 1833, a quarteronne libre of La Côte-aux-Puces and daughter of Claude Frilot St-Eloi and Rosette Boutte. There was one child born with Frilot. His second marriage was to Florence Ozenne on 27 July 1835. There were 8 children born with Ozenne. Their last child was Aubin De Kerlegand a mulâtre libre born on 1 May 1850 in St. Martinville. Aubin married Eugénie Décuir on 23 Feb 1876. Aubin and Eugénie 7^th (of 11) child was Jean Kerlegand born ca. 1885. He married Aurora Trahan on 23 Jan 1905 in St. Martinville. Aurora was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Trahan and Rosema Victorian. Jean Baptiste De Kerlegand’s third marriage was to Lucille St. Julien on 4 Dec 1869. There were three children born with St. Julien – Arsène, Paul and Alphonsine Kerlégand. All were baptized at the St. Martin church during the 1870’s.

Marie Josephine Jacquet Kerlegand did not live very long after her marriage with Raphael Kerlegan. It appears that she died sometime near the middle of the 1880 decade because Raphael had remarried by the year 1887. When Josephine’s mother Céleste died in 1891, her husband represented Josephine when her brothers and sisters petitioned the St. Martin courthouse for the inventory and distribution of a small piece of property owned by Céleste worth $100 (*56*). There were seven heirs and the share of $14.29 was entrusted into the care of Raphael Kerlegan payable at the majority (age 21) or emancipation (before age 21) of his children:

“...Raphael Kerlegan, natural tutor of Maturin Kerlegan, Josephine Kerlegan and Kerley Kerlegan as minors born of his marriage with Josephine Jacquet...”

After the death of Marie Josephine Jacquet, Raphael Kerlegand Jr. married his second wife on 15 Feb 1887, named Alphonsine Collins, the widow of Francis Boutte (Lydia Ch.,v.2,p.17). Simon Kerlegan was the first born to Alphonsine and Raphael in 1887 but died shortly thereafter on 10 February 1890 at the age of two (Sm.ch.v.5,p.361). At least five other children were born.

Raphael Kerlegan Jr’s. Mother Alexandrin Alexandre Kerlegan died on 4 Feb 1889 (Sm.ch.v.5,p.355). His father Raphael Kerlegan Sr. died on 20 June 1892, at the age of 90 (Sm.ch.v.6,p.6). His two sons Raphael and Alexandre Kerlegan petitioned to the St. Martinville court almost four years later on 11 February 1896, for the inventory and distribution of their father’s property:

“...The petition of Raphael Kerlegand and Alexandre Kerlegand of St. Martin Parish that their father and mother both died in this parish... and left property…”

An inventory was made on 13 Feb 1896, and it included some real estate owned by the Kerlegand family in the city of St. Martinville, which had a value at the time of $200:

“...First – A town lot in the corporation of St. Martinville, bounded North by Port street, South by property of A. Chard, east by Theatre street, and west by property of D. Gagne. It being ½ of lot 1 of Fields Plat.

Second – A lot in the same town, 215 feet on College street, by 192 feet on Church street on the line that separates it from lot 8, and 233 feet on the line separated by lot #5, bounded east by land of widow Roubit and A. Chard, west by College street, north by lot of H. and C. Ledde, south by church street ...

…It is further ordered that Raphael Kerlegan (jr.) and Alexandre Kerlegan be and they are hereby recognized as the sole heirs and representatives of the late Raphael Kerlegan (sr.) and Alexandrine Alexandre Kerlegan and as such that they be and are hereby placed in full possession of the property described in aforesaid inventory. Granted at New Iberia La. This 15^th of February 1896 by judge J. Voorhies (*272*).

What happened to their sister Marie Hèléna Kerlegand? Either she died and left no issue or the brothers left her out of her rightful 1/3^rd inheritance. If we are to believe that there was a 4^th child born to Alexandrine and Alexandre named Joseph Octave Kerlegand born ca. 1864, then there were two children excluded from their parents estate inheritance.

Chapter

11 Oscar Jacquet

(11^th Begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet)

Oscar Jacquet was most likely the eleventh child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet. His mother was Victorine Narcisse. Various documents such as census records and his death certificate point to a birth sometime between 1843 and 1851. Three different census years give his birth year as 1843, 1845 and 1850. However, the most reliable birth date is from the LeNormand/Landry estate inventory taken on 22 Feb 1851 (*237*). Oscar is with his mother Victorine who was the property of Charles Landry and his wife Adelaïde Leontine LeNormand. Upon the death of Adelaïde, an inventory of property was taken and amongst real estate and slaves was Victorine with some of her children and her “four month old son Oscar”:

“…une mulâtresse nommée Victorine, agée de vingt deux ans et ses deux enfants, Louis de deux ans et Oscar de quatre mois…”

The English translation of the French saying:

“…a mulatto woman named Victorine, aged twenty two years and her two children,

Louis of two years and Oscar of four months…

This puts his birth at October 1850 unless he was born in very late September of 1851. On his marriage document, the name “Victorine Onesime” is given as his mother, and for a very long time it was a mystery as to who exactly was this woman? As it turns out, the full name of this woman was Victorine Angèlique Narcisse who also used the name “Onezime” on occasion. Researcher Landry-Hoegan and descendant of Victorine says in his latest research that her full name was probably Marie Jeanne Victorine Narcisse. When slavery ended, ex-slaves had to choose a surname and many changed it more than once before settling on a permanent surname. Victorine Narcisse is the mother of at least two other Jacquet children named Albert Jacquet and Jules Jacquet. The controversy still exists among family historians as to which “Jean Baptiste Jacquet” was the father of these two. There is no doubt that Jean Baptiste Jacquet the elder, born in 1808 is the father of the Oscar Jacquet born circa 1850, and the subject of this chapter. The strange occurrence of this story is that Victorine Narcisse bore two sons named Albert and Jules in the mid 1860’s and their father is listed as “Jean Baptiste Jacquet”, a name also used by his son Jean Baptiste “Jolivet” Jacquet. A look at the initial evidence based on the age difference between father and son points to the fact that Victorine had a child by Jean Baptiste Jacquet the elder in 1850, then had at least two children with his 28-year-old son Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet 15 – 16 years later while Jolivet was in between his two major romances – Maristeen Bourque who he fathered two sons with in the early 1860’s, and Rosa Jean-Louis who he married in 1867. Or, the other scenario has 57-year-old Jean Baptiste the elder having a 2^nd and longer lasting relationship with Victorine in the mid 1860’s, enough time to father two sons with her before re-uniting with Celeste Augustine and marrying her in 1870. Which scenario seems more plausible? Maristeen’s granddaughter Marie Bernice Jacquet Wiltz claimed in a 1994 family reunion interview that:

“…my grandmother Maristeen was a Couchetta Indian from Patterson, Louisisana who lived to be 113 and had two sisters who lived to the ages of 111 and 117. My grandfather Oscar Raymond, a free man of color from St. Martinville fought in the Civil War with only a knife to defend himself…” (*279*)

Victorine Narcisse was the mother of at least eight children sired by at least four and possibly five different fathers. Victorine was most likely born and raised on the LeNormand/Landry estate. Family historical information from the descendants of Victorine, say that Victorine was the product of an Attakapa or Chitimacha Indian and a Negro as her grandparents on her maternal side and that her father was a White man of the Landry or “Le Normand” family, probably Marin Le Normand or one of the other Le Normands on the estate. Éloïse LINDOR, a “Négresse”, was her mother. Other children born to Eloïse were: Hyppolite Jules Etienne, Antoine Narcisse, Felicié Etienne and Phillipe Narcisse. Landry-Hoegan’s lastest research concludes that Eloise Lindor, a Negro slave, may have bore at least two children from her slavemaster Joseph Marin LeNormand, a free octoroon. Those children took on the name of their stepfather Narcisse who was also a Negro slave on the LeNormand/Landry estate who later fathered Narcisse children with Eloise Lindor. The older two children were of mixed race.

Circumstantial evidence points to the likelihood that Victorine was the mistress of slave-owner Charles Landry and had at least two and possibly three sons by him. Charles Landry was the son of Joseph Landry of Nantes, France and Modeste-Arthémise Le Normand, an octeronne libre (*213*). The pedigree of Charles’ parents would make him 1/16^th Negro. According to Louisiana Creole family researcher Christophe Landry-Hoegan, Charles Landry married Adélaïde-Léontine Le Normand a quarteronne libre but fathered additional children with two mulâtresse slave sisters he owned named Marie-Jeanne Victorine Narcisse and Angélique Narcisse. Both sisters were the daughters of Éloïse Lindor and an unknown father of the Landry/Le Normand estate (*213*). Victorine Narcisse married Maurice Hampleton on 4 December 1869 and Maurice is most likely the father of Eloïse Hamilton, born to Victorine circa May 1867, right after the two Jacquet sons were born. Maurice Hampleton was probably the stepfather who raised Oscar’s full or half brother Jules Jacquet and could be the reason why Jules is listed on his earlier marriage document as “Jules Maurice” the “major and legitimate son of deceased Maurice” (*107*) and later on as “Jules Jacquet” (*108*).

Oscar Jacquet married Louisa Etie but the name could also have been “Etienne”. The two were married on 7 February 1972 at the St. Martin church in St. Martinville. Louisa was the daughter of Octavie Sylvestre who is already deceased at the time of the marriage. No other parent is given on the marriage document from the church. Octavie is a French female name translated to English as “Octavia”. Looking up the name “Sylvestre” in the record books, we do notice a few who took on that surname after slavery with their father having the name Sylvestre. The possibility may be that Octavie is the name of Louisa’s mother and Sylvestre was the name of her father during slavery. Somewhere during the recording of the marriage certificate, there could have been an error when it came to writing down Louisa’s parents.

The 1880 census shows Oscar along with his wife and five children living with his brother Edward Jacquet’s family on the estate of the Jules Bourque family. Marie Elia is the only child not listed which means she probably died just after her 1877 birth. Louis Octave had not been born yet. It would not be too long before his brothers could move out and live on their own property for it would be in July of 1884, that Oscar would go in partnership with his brothers Onezime, Jolivet, Hyppolite, and Edward to purchase a sizable piece of property from C. T. Cadeas. The five brothers divided up the property and each brother received approximately 40 acres of land. Other documents indicate it may have meant to read “40 arpents” instead. Succession records indicate that Oscar “...was bounded east by Onezime and west by Mrs. Chet Landry; Onezime was bounded east by Hypolite and west by Oscar; ...and Jolivet was who was bounded east by Cormier and west by Edward Jacquet...” (*30, 35, 63*) (see page 72, volume one for diagram).

Oscar Jacquet Sr. lived a long life of just over 90 years of age depending on the calculation of his birth year with the LeNormand/Landry estate inventory being the most reliable birth date. Oscar died on 13 December 1940 ”at his domicile at the Parish of Lafayette, La.” (*63*). He left property in St. Martinville, the same property he had purchased from C.T. Cadeas along with his four other brothers in 1884 (*30,35,63*). Thus the death of Oscar Jacquet Sr. did not leave his children and grandchildren without legacy, and the 40 acre tract of Real Estate that Oscar and his four other brothers had purchased together almost 57 years ago in St. Martin Parish was divided equally amongst the three surviving children and the four grandchildren of his deceased son Oscar Jacquet Jr. Since three of his seven children with Louise Etienne died early in life, the four remaining children and their offspring were the only lawful heirs of the estate of Oscar Jacquet Sr. Both Lillian Jacquet (Malveaux) and Oscar Jacquet Jr. had also died, leaving Octavia, James and the children of Lillian Malveaux and Oscar Jr. as lawful heirs. He left 40 arpents in St. Martin parish, bounded north by J. P. Breaux, south by Mrs. Ulger Bourque, east by Onezime Jacquet and west by Chet Landry. The land was appraised at the sum of $1200.00. His movable property consisted of an 18-year-old red mule named Alice appraised at the sume of $35.00; an 18-year-old black mule named Judge appraised at the sum of $30.00 and one lot of farming implements appraised at the sum of $5.00 (*63*).

The succession document tells us that Oscar’s daughter Lillian Jacquet married Joachim Malveaux and three of the children they had were Louise Malveaux, Lorena Malveaux and Leonard Malveaux. Oscar Jr’s four children were Ida Jacquet, Rose Jacquet, Isabelle Jacquet and Maurice Jacquet of Harris County, Texas. Octavia and James were to receive ¼^th inheritance, Oscar’s children 1/16^th each and each of the Malveaux children 1/12^th of the estate (*63*). The entire family would again appear at the Lafayette courthouse on 19 March 1941 (#154609) and petition the court not to be made to pay the inheritance tax. James and Octavia’s share equaled out to $300 or ten acres of land. Lillian’s three children’s allotment was 1/12^th the value of the estate or $100 which equaled 3 1/3 acres. Oscar’s four children received 1/16^th the value of the estate or $75, which equaled 2 ½ acres. On 31 July 1942, Ida Jacquet, wife of Roosevelt Bourgeois of Harris County, Texas and Isabelle Jacquet, wife of Willie Boudreaux of Jefferson County Texas would both return to St. Martin Parish to sell their inherited land to Joseph S. Petro of Lafayette Parish. Ida sold her inherited 2.5 acres of land for $100. Isabella Jacquet must not have been too interested in retaining or bargaining for her 2.5-acre apportionment when she came to Louisiana and sold her inheritance of the estate to Joseph S. Petro for the trivial sum of $50.00 (*161*)

The Descendants of Oscar Jacquet Sr.

Oscar Jacquet and Louisa Etie had seven children together but at least two and quite possibly three of the children died before the age of ten.

1. Victorine Jacquet was the first child born to Oscar Jacquet Sr. and Louise Etienne (or Etié) on 7 June 1872, but Victorine died in 1881 at the age of nine. She was probably named after Oscar’s mother Victorine Narcisse.

2. Octavia Jacquet was the second child born to Oscar and Louise. She was born in 1873. She was probably named after Louisa’s mother. Octavia married Joseph Regis on 12 April 1899 in St. Martinville. Joseph was the son of Alexis Symphore Regis and Arthemise Ambroise. Joseph’s other brothers and sisters were Louise Regis born on 18 April 1878; Marie Letitia Regis born on 24 March 1883; Laurence Regis born on 3 May 1889; and Marie Daisy Rose Regis born on 21 December 1894. A birth date has not been found for Joseph but he was probably the oldest and born circa 1876. Joseph Regis died sometime circa 1942. It was on 10 March 1943 that his widow Octavia Jacquet Regis petitioned to the Lafayette courthouse that no inheritance tax be paid on the estate. There were two lots in the Voorhies addition of Lafayette: lot#4, and 5 of block 2. It was bounded NE by Convent street and SW by Jefferson street. They had originally purchased the property on 22 January 1917. The district judge decreed that no inheritance tax should be paid (*167*). There was either a name change of Joseph’s parents between the year 1870 and his marriage date or there are some document errors. According to the record books. Alexis Ambroise married Arthemis Symphane on 30 February 1870, at St. Martin church in St. Martinville. Alexis was the son of Alexandre Ambroise and Lucie Abram. Artemise Symphane was the daughter of Symphane and Dosha Richard. Artemise was the widow of W. Sam.

3. James Jacquet was the third child born to Oscar and Lousie Etienne. James was born in 1874. Like his sister Octavia, James married into the Regis family when he wed Louisa Regis the sister of Octavia’s husband Joseph Regis. James and Louisa Regis married on 25 November 1901 in St. Martin Parish. Louisa Regis, like her brother Joseph, was the daughter of Alexis Symphore Regis and Arthemise Ambroise. Alexis Regis may have been the 20-year-old “Alesc. Regis” enumerated on the 1870 census in St. Martin Parish with 58-year-old Regis Alexander and 10-year-old François Regis. James Jacquet and Louisa Regis had eleven children according to family historical testimonies.

A. Marie Laura Jacquet (also known as Mary Jane) born on 25 October 1902. As of 1998, Mary Jane was living in a nursing home in Lafayette, La.

B. Martin Harry Jacquet born on 3 June 1904.

C. May Edna Jacquet born on 4 May 1906.

D., E. and F. The 4^th, 5^th and 6^th children born to James and Louisa were a set of triplets but two of the three survived and one did not. Anthony and Antoine Jacquet were both born on 19 September 1907. Anthony Jacquet married Olivia Brown on 21 December 1936 in St. Martinville. Anthony and his wife Olivia lived in Lafayette Parish in the town of Broussard. On 28 March 1950, According to Lafayette courthouse conveyances (#241158), the Leblanc family sold Anthony Jacquet and Olivia Brown lot 4 of block B in the Joe Leblanc subdivision for $150.00. It measured 30 feet by 125 feet and was bounded west by Wilkie Street. Then on 26 May 1950, they also purchased the northern half of lot 5, block B measuring 15 feet in front on Wilkie Street by 125 feet for $75.00. Five children were born to Anthony Jacquet and Olivia Brown:

i. Mary Jacquet;

ii. Louise Jacquet;

iii. Albert Jacquet;

iv. Roy Jacquet.

v. Wilbert Jacquet born on 22 October 1932. Wilbert Jacquet had three daughters: With Bessie Nickerson he had a daughter named Paulette Nickerson who was born on 10 February 1956, in Lafayette, La. With Shirley Ball he had a daughter named Gwen Ball who was born on 17 April 1960 in Galveston, Texas. With Elsie LeBlanc he had a daughter named Elizabeth who married Brian Higginbotham. Elizabeth was born on 14 Jan 1964 in Louisiana but later became a native of Walley, Texas. Wilbert Jacquet was living in Delaware at the turn of the millennium. The other “twin” Antoine Jacquet married Mary Jane Pasthammer of New Orleans. It was Mary Jane’s third marriage after her first two husbands had died.

G. James “Jimmy” Jacquet Jr. was the 7^th child born to James Jacquet Sr. and Louisa Regis. James was born on 8 February 1909.

H. Lillian Jacquet was the 8^th child born to James and Louisa Regis.

I and J. The 9^th and 10^th children born to James and Louisa Regis was a set of twins named Bell and Grace Jacquet.

K. William Jacquet was the last child born to James Jacquet and Louisa Regis.

4. Lillian Jacquet was the fourth child born to Oscar Jacquet Sr. and Louise Etie. Lillian was born in 1876. Lillian died in 1911. Lillian Jacquet married Joachim Malveaux on 14 December 1896 in St. Martinville. Joachim was the son of Joseph Malveaux and Marie Raymond. Witnesses to the marriage were Jeff C. Vavasseur, Jainsin Remand, Emmanuel Jacquet and Oscar Jacquet. Lillian and Joachim had three children:

A. Louise Malveaux. Louise married Clifton Bourges and resided in Layette Parish.

B. Lorena Malveaux. Lorena married Roy Silas and resided in Lafayette Parish.

C. Leonard Malveaux. Leonard was born on 11 January 1899. Leonard married Roxana Decuir.

5. Marie Elia Jacquet was the fifth child born to Oscar and Louise Etienne born on 24 October 1877. Since there are no records of Marie Elia other than her birth record, and she was not mentioned as one of the children “who died at the age of nine years” in the succession document of Oscar Jacquet Sr., it is believed that she died very soon after her birth. Thïs could also be the same person as “Lillian Jacquet.

6. Oscar Pierre Jacquet Jr. was the sixth child born to Oscar and Louise. Oscar Pierre was born on 4 October 1879 according to church records, but the 1880 census says he was born in “December 1879“. Oscar Jacquet Jr. died on 12 October 1935. Oscar Jacquet Jr. married Melite Domingue. Oscar and Melite had four children: Ida Jacquet; Rose Jacquet; Isabelle Jacquet and Maurice Jacquet. Ida Jacquet married Roosevelt Bourges and resided in Harris County, Texas. Rose Jacquet married Onge Mouton and resided in Lafayette Parish. Isabelle Jacquet married Willie Boudreaux and resided in Jefferson County, Texas. This is most likely the Isabelle Jacquet born on 11 October 1911, and died in October 1985 in Texas according to the Social Security Death Index. Maurice Jacquet at the time of his father’s death was unmarried and residing in Harris County, Texas.

7. Louis Octave Jacquet was the seventh and final child of Oscar Jacquet Sr. and Louise Etie. Louis Octave was born on 10 May 1882 but died at the age of nine years old circa 1891.

Oscar Jacquet Scroll

Chapter

12 Marie Rose Jacquet

(12^th Begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Céleste Augustin)

Marie Rose Jacquet appears to have been the next to last and twelfth child born to Jean Baptiste Jacquet. Her mother was Celeste Augustin. She was born circa 1854. The 1870 census gives her age as 16 meaning a birth year of 1854, the 1880 census records her age as 25 meaning a birth year of 1855 and the marriage document of her mother and father of 1867, although unreliable in reference to the ages given for some of her other brothers and sisters, says she was 14 years old pointing to a birth year of 1853. We first see Rose in the historical records on the census of 1870 of St. Marin parish. Within the corporation of St. Martinville, taken on June 7^th, Rose is listed as living with her mother Céleste, a black female ‘’keeping house”, her older brothers Belizaire Jacquet a black male of 30 years of age, Pierre Jacquet a black male aged 20, and Oscar Jacquet a black male aged 25. All the brothers have an occupation as “laborer’’. A woman named Martha aged 36 is also living there and this has to be Belizaire’s wife Mathilda Baptiste Pillet born circa 1834. Rose’s sister Zoé Jacquet is also in the house aged 17. Both girls are listed as “domestic servants’’. Interestingly, none of the household members are listed as “illiterate”. This would be consistent with historical documents of the 1800’s which showed that many of the Jacquets were able to “sign their names” while everyone else around them were “making their mark with an X”.

Just before the death of Céleste Augustin, she sold to her daughter Rose Jacquet on 3 December 1890 the piece of property on the east side of the Bayou Teche for $30. The property was on the corner of Cemetery and Bridge streets, measuring 80 feet in the front on Bridge Street, bounded north by Bridge street, south by lot of Mrs. Jean Lacage, east by cemetery street and west by lot formerly of Louis Esclavon (*56*). It was the first piece of property that Jean Baptiste Jacquet and Céleste owned after they had been freed from slavery. At the present time, the St. Martin de Tours Church has built a mausoleum on the east side of the property across from the church cemetery.

It appears that Rose and Joseph Farin Malveaux lived together but there was no marriage between them. The two had at least three children together: Rose Helena Malveaux (also “Elina” Malveau) born on 9 March 1880, Jerome Malveaux born on 8 February 1887, and Fernest Joseph Malveau.

Before her relationship with Joseph Farin Malveaux and the three children she bore with Joseph, Rose had a son named Jean Jacquet Wilson and it is not sure how the relationship with the father named Gilbert Urbain Wilson was arranged. Vera Morgan, the great-grand-daughter of Urbain Wilson recalls how family stories say that Rose Jacquet decided to “part with him” and not marry him just after their son Jean Jacquet Wilson was born ca. 1874. Urbain could not take the disappointment and lost his mind leading to him being “interdicted” by the state of Louisiana and sent to an insane asylum in Jackson, Louisiana. He died sometime before January 1896 because when his son Jacquet Wilson married his first wife Euchariste Fulgence the marriage license indicates that his father Urbain is deceased.

Jean Wilson was the first child born to Rose Jacquet who would later be known as Jacquet Wilson according to many other documents. Like many ex-slaves who had to claim a surname after the end of The Civil War, many took on the name of their Mother or father as their new surname. In this case, it is clear that Jean’s mother Rose Jacquet and his father Urbain Wilson gave Jean both of their names. It could also be that since Rose decided not to marry Urbain, she originally gave Jean the surname of “Jacquet” only to add on his father’s surname Wilson a short time later. Jean Jacquet Wilson was born around the year 1874 according to census records and other documents. On the 1880 census of St. Martin parish, in the first ward taken on 28 June 1880, Rose Jacquet is listed as a black female age 25 and living with her mother Céleste Augustin a black female age 60. Jean Wilson is listed as a black male age six and the “son’’ of Céleste but this has to be an error as Rose is definitely the mother. The other person listed as living in this household is Rose Malvaux a black female aged two months and listed as Céleste’s “neice’’. This must be Rose Helena Malveaux born on 9 March 1880 who is actually the daughter of Rose Jacquet and the grand-daughter of Céleste Augustin.

When Rose’s son Jacquet Wilson became of legal adult age, he married his first wife Euchariste Fulgence. It was on 4 January 1896 that the two came into the town of St. Martinville and received a marriage license at the St. Martin courthouse:

“...the rites of matrimony between Jacquet Wilson and Euchariste Fulgence, both of St. Martin parish, ...célébré le mariage de Jacquet Wilson, fils legitimate et majeur de feu Urbain Wilson et de Rose Jacquet, et de Euchariste Fulgence, fille legitimate et majeur de Jules Fulgence and Florence Pilet...” (*157*)

A little more than two weeks later, the couple was married by the Reverend Father A. B. Langlois, catholic priest at St. Martinville at the church on 20 January 1896. Witnesses to the marriage were five of his cousins who were the sons of Jolivet Jacquet: Martin Jacquet, Willie Jacquet, John Louis Jacquet, Sanville Jacquet and Albert Jacquet all of whom were able to sign their names as witnesses. Both Jacquet Wilson and Euchariste Fulgence had to make their “X” mark as their signature (*157*).

Marie Euchariste Fulgence was born on 6 March 1874 in St. Martin parish. She was the daughter of Jules Fulgence and Prudence Baptiste. However, her mother’s name can be seen to be written four different ways when she gave birth to other children with whom the father was Jules Fulgence: Prudence Pillet, Prudence Narcisse and Florence Pillet. When Jules Fulgence married her on 4 March 1869, her name was listed as Florence Pillet. The most likely scenario is that the name “Prudence” was mis-translated, miss-spelled or miss-copied and meant to have been “Florence” since many of the letters are similar. Her full name was probably something close to Florence Baptiste Pillet or perhaps Florence Narcisse Pillet. This name is very similar to Rose Jacquet’s sister in law named Mathilda Baptiste Pillet who married Belizaire Jacquet in 1869, Florence was born probably about the same time as Mathilda was (ca. 1834), so there is a high probability of a family relationship here, perhaps sisters. Jules Fulgence was the son of Fulgence and Dalila. Florence Pillet was the daughter of Baptiste Pillet and Marthée or Mírthée. This information is from the St. Martin Courthouse marriage license, which says in the French language:

“…nous avon célébré le marriage de Jules Fulgence fils majeur de feu Fulgence et de Dalila né et domicilie en cette paroisse…et de Florence Pillet fille majeur de Baptiste Pillet et de Mirthée née…”

Translated to English it says:

“…we have celebrated the marriage of Jules Fulgence, major son of the deceased Fulgence and of Dalila, born and living in this parish…and of Florence Pillet, major daughter of Baptiste Pillet and of Mirthée born…” (*273*)

Witnesses to the marriage were Hilaire Rochon, Thomas Williams and Dominique Berard/or Genand/or Benard. The reverend A. M. Jan married them on 4 March 1869.

It appears that Jacquet Wilson and Euchariste had only one child because Euchariste died shortly after her marriage to Jacquet Wilson. The St. Martin church death records has the name “Icharis” Fulgence who had married “Icharis Jacquet”, who died on 20 Sep 1896 at the age of 22 years old. This has to be Euchariste Fulgence Wilson base on three points – that the name is spelled different but sounds the same, the age matches up being that Euchariste was born in 1874, and Euchariste’s husband Jacquet Wilson married for a second time a little more than two years later in 1898. A daughter named Marie Bernadette Wilson was born ca. 1896. Since Bernadette’s mother and father married on the 20^th of January 1896, and her mother Euchariste died on 20 September of the same year, that is exactly eight months between her marriage and her death. Therefore the only logical conclusion here is that Euchariste gave birth to Marie Bernadette sometime in September of 1896 and subsequently died of childbirth complications that may have caused a pre-mature birth.

Marie Bernadette Wilson married Joseph Fontaine on 29 Dec 1937. Joseph was born in 1891 and died on 7 Sept 1959. Joseph was born ca. 1891 and died in 1959. Their daughter was named Juanita Isabelle Fontaine born on 24 April 1939. Juanita married Levator Boyd on 15 Feb 1964. Levator was born on 6 March 1940. Their two children were named Levator Michael Boyd born on 21 July 1966 and Rendel David Boyd born on 28 June 1971 (*215*). Rendel’s two children were Chardonnay K. Boyd born on 30 Nov 1997; and Evelyn René Boyd born on 24 Jan 2000. Marie Bernadette died on 18 Oct 1987. She had resided in Alexandria, Louisiana after residing in St. Martin Parish.

Eight other children that were sisters and brothers of Marie Euchariste Fulgence that were born between Jules Fulgence and Florence “Prudence” Pillet were:

1. Baptiste Fulgence who married Marie Eva Augustine on 25 May 1896, according to the marriage license at the St. Martin Courthouse. Baptiste and Eva had at least eight and quite possibly ten children:

A. Estelle Fulgence born on 3 Nov 1892, and baptized 26 Jan 1893 in St. Martinville,

B. Joseph Fulgence born on 30 June 1894,

C. Theresa Fulgence born on 2 Aug 1895,

D. Michel Fulgence born on 18 May 1897,

E. Marie Jeanne Fulgence born on 18 June 1900,

F. Leontine Fulgence born on 5 Sep 1901.

G. Carmen Fulgence born on 18 Feb 1803,

H. Elvina Fulgence born on 5 July 1904,

I. Joseph Fulgence born on 1 Feb 1906. This is the second child born between the two with the name “Joseph” which as we have seen before, was a very common Christian first name given sometimes to all of the male children in the family with a second more common “worldly name” being given as the more well known name. The other possibility is that the older Joseph died early and the second son was named Joseph again.

J. Noe or Noel Fulgence? Born on 17 Dec 1907. The birth record from Father Hebert’s books does say that Noe (or Noel) is the child of Francis Fulgence and Marie Augustin. Marriage record #13506 at the St. Martin Courthouse says that Noe Flugence, whose parents were Batiste Flugence and Eva St. Julien, married Ada More (Gaston More & Elvige Thomas) on 4 Feb 1930. It will take a close examination of the original documents to determine the correct names and spelling as well as parental relationships.

2. Marie Myrthee Fulgence was most likely the second child born between Jules Fulgence and Florence Pillet. She may have been named after Florence’s mother “Mirthée”. She was born on 5 Feb 1872. Marie Myrthee married Camille Frank on 28 Oct 1889.

3. Marie Euchariste Fulgence was born on 6 Mar 1874. She married Jacquet Wilson,

4. Prosper Fulgence born on 12 May 1876,

5. Louise Fulgence born on 2 Aug 1878, married Joseph Cormier on 18 Jan 1904 in St. Martinville. Their marriage license (#8431) at the St. Martin Courthouse had witnesses Albert Pillet, Charles Philogene and Urbain Mouton. Joseph Cormier signed his own name, Louise made her “X” mark.

6. Mary Fulgence born on 6 Nov 1880,

7. Albert Fulgence born in Nov 1882, married Armence Leonard on 13 Feb 1906. One of the first children born to Albert and Armance was Editha Marie Fulgence born on 7 May 1908.

8. Victorine Fulgence, married Louis Leonard on 29 Jan 1907. Both were from St. Martin Parish. The couple had originally received a marriage license (#9141) at the St. Martin Courthouse on 12 Jan 1907. Witnesses to the marriage were Alexandre Jean Baptiste, Victor Ceasar and Joseph Charles. All parties were able to sign their names.

9. Jules Fulgence Jr. There are two marriage listings for Jules. One which says that he was the son of Jules Fulgence and Prudence Pillette who married Mary Augustin on 24 June 1890, and another which says he was the son of Jules Fulgence and Prudena Pilet who married Eva Augustin on 25 May 1896. The St. Martin courthouse marriage document #6276 says the following:

“…Baptiste Fulgence of St. Martin Parish and Mary Augustin of St. Martin Parish…were married 24 June 1890 in St. Martinville in the presence of Authur Jean Baptiste, Thom Williams, Charles Pilet Sr., and Authur Pilet, all witnesses of full age… the parties to this marriage and the witnesses there to except Authur Pilet, having declared not knowing how to sign, made their ordinary marks here to…”

So as to diminish further confusion, there was also another contemporary Jules Fulgence Jr. not directly related, who married Mathilde Basquin on 26 November 1891 in St. Martinville. The courthouse marriage record (#6463) says that this particular Jules Fulgence was the legitimate son of Jules Fulgence and Colûstine Humbert and that Mathilde was the legitimate daughter of Honoré Basquin and Felícité Basquin. Jules’ younger brother Phillip Fulgence (now Flugence) married Alicia Norbert on 22 Nov 1913. Alicia was the daughter of Evariste Norbert and Theresa Cadet.

It was the first of June 1898 and it had been almost two years since Jacquet Wilson’s wife Euchariste Fulgence had died. It was on that day that Jacquet Wilson and Maria Lacour came into the St. Martin courthouse to get a marriage license. Jacquet Wilson and Maria Lacour were married less than three weeks later on 20 June 1898. This time it was the Reverend Father J. M. Langlois who replaced the reverend father A. B. Langlois to perform the wedding. Witnesses to the marriage were once again his cousins Sanville Jacquet, Martin Jacquet and Oscar Jacquet. They all signed their names (*158*). The church record of the marriage indicates this time that Jacquet Wilson’s father was Gilbert Wilson and his mother was Rosine Jacquet. Maria Lacour was the daughter of Paul Fils Lacour and Pelagie Raymond.

When Jacquet Wilson’s mother Rose Jacquet died, her children came into the St. Martin Parish courthouse to petition for the inventory of Rose’s estate.

“The petition of Jacquet Wilson, Elina Malveau, Fernest Joseph Malveau, Cecile Malveau, Celeste Malveau and Josephine Malveau, of age and of Jerome Malveau, Jr. a minor duly emancipated by judgment of this court, rendered and signed on the 7 day of April 1941, with respect represents:

(1) That Rose Jacquet died in testate in the Parish of St. Martin which was her domicile during or about the year 1932, leaving no ascendants, and no legitimate descendents, but leaving four acknowledged natural children hereafter named and leaving an estate consisting of the following separate and paraphernalia property…

That certain lot of ground, with improvements thereon, situated in the town of St. Martinville, Louisiana, bounded on the North by Cora Street, on the South by the property of Mrs. J. Lacaze, formerly now the property of Pierre and George Mercier, on the East by Cemetery Street and on the West by property of Louis Esclavon formerly, now the property of George Mercier

(2) That there was born to Rose Jacquet and Urbin Wilson a child named Jacquet Wilson, petitioner herein. While said parties were never formally married there existed no impediments to their marriage and they lived together publicly as man and wife. The said child was baptized under the name of his father (Urbin Wilson): his natural parents aforesaid until their deaths always recognized, treated, reared, held out and acknowledged to the public generally the said Jacquet Wilson as their acknowledged natural child, and the said Jacquet Wilson has always been known and recognized in the community as the acknowledged natural child of Rose Jacquet and Urbin Wilson.

(3) A few years after Rose Jacquet parted with Urbin Wilson, and lived as wife and husband with Farin Malveau, and of this union three children were born, namely:

Elina Malveau and Fernest Joseph Malveau, petitioners herein, and Jerome Malveau, the deceased father of the other petitioners herein.

While, as stated, Farin Malveau and Rose Jacquet were never formally married there existed no legal impediments to their marriage and they lived together publicly as man and wife; the said three children were baptized under the name of their father (Farin Malveau) …in fact have always been known and recognized in the community as the acknowledged natural children of Rose Jacquet and Farin Malveau…(*217*)

After the death of their mother Rose Jacquet, the four children subdivided the property into four equal tracts. Rose Helena (Elina) received the southernmost tract of land:

“Elina Malveau received as her share and portion of the Rose Jacquet tract, lot No.4, of the plat of subdivision aforesaid, described as follows:

That certain lot of ground with improvements thereon, situated in the town of St. Martinville, Louisiana, bounded on the North by Cora Street, on the South by property formerly belonging to J. Lacaze, now the property of Pierre and George Mercier, on the East of lot No.3, the property of Fernest Malveau, and on the West by the property formerly belonging to Louis Esclavon, now the property of George Mercier; said lot having a width on Cora Street of 73 feet, by a depth in the rear of 66.6 feet, west line of said lot measuring 170 feet; it having been and being distinctly understood and agreed that the old home, fencings and improvements constituting the old Rose Jacquet homestead belongs exclusively to Elina Malveau, irrespective of any encroachments on the property line of the Fernest Malveau lot….”*(217*)

Jacquet Wilson, his two living Malveau siblings and the four Malveau children of his deceased brother Jerome Malveau, all signed their name on the document with their “X” mark, signifying that they were not literate enough to sign their own name. A testimonial witness named Mrs. Leonce Perllerin, Sr. adds in her knowledge of the family situation recorded on the succession document dated 27 March 1941:

“I am 80 years of age. I was well and intimately acquainted with Urbin Wilson, Rose Jacquet and Farin Malveau. Urbin Wilson and Rose Jacquet lived together as man and wife for a number of years. One child was born of their union, named Jacquet Wilson…Some years later, after Urbin Wilson and Rose Jacquet parted, Rose Jacquet lived with Farin Malveau as wife and husband. Three children were born of their union…As a matter of fact, Farin Malveau died in the home of Rose Jacquet. Rose Jacquet died about 8 or 9 years ago. I know these facts personally, having been a neighbor of the parties in question for 57 years…Jerome Malveau was married to Coralie Orphe. They both died, leaving 4 children, named Cecile, Celeste, Josephine and Jerome Malveau, Jr.” (*217*)

The document also brings another witness to the court that testified to the following:

“…personally came and appeared Mrs. Pierre Mercier, duly sworn…says: My name is Mrs Pierre Mercier. I am 83 years of age. I was well and intimately acquainted with Urbin Wilson, Farin Malveau and Rose Jacquet…Some years after Urbin Wilson and Rose Jacquet parted, Rose Jacquet lived as wife and husband with Farin Malveau. As a matter of fact Urbin Wilson lost his mind and he was eventually sent to an insane asylum. There were born to Rose Jacquet and Farin Malveau, also known as Joseph Malveau, three children named Elina, Fernest and Jerome Malveau…I know all these parties very well, almost as well as I know myself, and I have been their neighbor for many, many years.” (*217*)

What appears to be a false trail as to a possible clue to the family or relatives of Joseph Farin Malveau comes at the end of her testimony. After Mrs. Pierre Mercier writes down her testimony, she signs her name with her “X” mark between the name written as “Mrs. Pierre Malveau”. Is this an error on the part of the clerk recorder? Since the property on the south side of the Jacquet/Malveau property according to the document is owned by Pierre Mercier and George Mercier, we have to assume that Mrs. Pierre Mercier is the wife of the Jacquet’s/Malveau’s neighbor Pierre Mercier and the name written as Pierre Malveau on the document is an error.

The Descendants of Jacquet Wilson

1. Marie Bernadette Wilson was the one child Jacquet Wilson had with his first wife Euchariste Fulgence. Bernadette was born in September 1896. Her mother died on the 20^th of that month. Marie Bernadette Wilson Fontaine died on 18 Oct 1987 in Alexandria, Louisiana. Bernadette married Joseph Fontaine on 29 Dec 1937. They had one daughter:

A. Juanita Isabelle Fontaine born on 24 April 1939. Juanita married Levator Boyd on 15 Feb 1964. Juanita and Levator had two children:

i. Levator Michael Boyd born on 21 July 1966.

ii. Rendel David Boyd born on 28 June 1971. Rendel had two children:

a. Chardonnay K. Boyd born on 30 Nov 1997.

b. Evelyn René Boyd born on 24 Jan 2000.

Jacquet Wilson fathered at least five children with his second wife Maria LaCour:

2. Joseph Carrel Wilson was born on 15 June 1899 in Cade, La. St. Martin Parish. Joseph Carrel moved to Port Arthur, Texas in 1943. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Steward Board, male chorus, gospel chorus, Methodist Men and former treasurer of the Church. He was a 33^rd degree Mason and held memberships in St. George Consistory no.101, Nafud Temple no.80, A.E.A.O.M.M.S., R.A.M., Lewin Commandery no.16 and the Knights of Templar. Joseph Carrel died on 22 Dec 1981 in Jefferson County, Texas. Joseph Carrell married Volina Jean Baptiste. Joseph and Volina had three children:

A. Morrison Wilson born ca. 1924. Morrison married Olivia Doucet.

B. Clarence Wilson who married Victory Menard.

C. Margaret Wilson born ca. 1921. Margaret married Joseph Lopez Sr. Joseph was born in 1919 and died in 1997. Margaret died in 1978,

Joseph Carrell Wilson married for a second time to Georgia M. Wilson. Georgia was born on 25 Nov 1906 in Lake Charles, La. Georgia died on 25 Aug 1984 (*215*).

3. Rose Viola Wilson born on 9 August 1900.

4. Joseph Carlton Wilson Sr. was born on 12 Nov 1901, in Cade, Louisiana. Carlton married Mary Wilfred who was 21 years of age at the time. They applied for a marriage license (#12011) at the St. Martin Parish Courthouse on 14 Jan 1922. The date of the marriage is not indicated but it was Reverend Roquet who married them. Mary was the daughter of Henry Wilfred and Leoncia Vallot. Mary was born ca. 1900 and died on 18 Oct 1969. Carlton was a musician and played the bass and saxophone with the “Banner Band”, a jazz band of local fame. According to some of the more musically knowledgeable people, the Banner Orchestra of New Iberia was by far the best large ensemble in the area and hosted the best musicians at reading and improvisation from the New Iberia area. Gustave Fontenette was twenty years old when he formed the Banner Orchestra in 1908. Although it had its ups and downs, and survived frequent personnel changes, the Banner Orchestra remained popular around Southwest Louisiana for almost 40 years (*219*). At 6 foot 3”, Carlton was the tallest in the band. Carlton died on 5 Oct 1971 at the Iberia Parish Hospital and was buried in the St. Martin Catholic Cemetery in St. Martinville. Carlton was a member of the Knights of Peter Cleaver. Carlton and Mary Wilfred had seven children:

A. Robert Wilson born ca. 1922. Died in 1955.

B. Harold Wilson born ca 1923.

C. Rennedd Wilson born on 22 Oct 1925. Renneda married Pearl Glover. Pearl was born on 4 April 1925.

D. Verna Wilson born on 30 July 1927. Verna married Webster Robertson Sr. who was born in 1925. Four children were born:

ix. Webster Robertson Jr. born in 1952, died in 2004.

x. Godfrey Paul Robertson born in 1954.

xi. Cynthia Marie Robertson born in 1955. Cynthia married Woody Davis.

xii. Jonathan James Robertson born in 1963.

E. Vera Lee Wilson born on 5 Aug 1929 in Cade, La. Vera married James Jeffrey Morgan Jr. who was born in 1928 and died in 1983. Vera and James had four children:

i. Michael James Morgan born on 16 Sept 1956.

ii. Carl Anthony Morgan born 23 Oct 1957.

iii. Allison Michelle Morgan born in 1964 and died in 1967.

iv. Michelle Renee Morgan born on 21 Oct 1968.

F. Carlton Wilson Jr. born on 10 Dec 1931. Carlton either married or had a daughter with Eula Jacquet. The daughter was named Sylvia Wilson born in 1955. Sylvia married Larry Williams. They had four children.

G. Thaddeus Wilson born on 19 Nov 1936, in Cade, Louisiana. He died on 28 June 2004 just before Sunrise at his home in Cade, Lousiana. Thaddeus Wilson graduated from Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, Texas. He received both a Bachelor and a Master’s degree at Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge. He had a 32-year career as a music educator and band director working at various schools in Iberia Parish. Thaddeus married Martha “Malou” Isadora who was born in 1934. Thaddeus and Martha had four children:

i. Mona Marie “Zydeco Queen” Wilson born in 1962.

ii. Vonda A. Wilson born in 1964. Vonda married Victor Gibson. Their son was named Victor B. Gibson II.

iii. Joy N. Wilson.

iv. Thaddeus J. Wilson Jr. was born in 1972. His son was named Thaddeus J. Wilson III.

5. Louis Nicolas Wilson was the 5^th child born to Jacquet Wilson and the 4^th child he had with Marie Lacour. He was born on 9 February 1903. Nicolas married Della Johnson. Nicolas died in 1992. Both Nicolas and Della are buried in St. Martinville, La. Nicolas and Della had four children:

A. Marida Wilson was born ca. 1922. Marida married Wilson Thompson. Wilson Thompson died in 1999.

B. Purvis Wilson.

C. Lester Wilson.

D. Willie Mae Wilson.

6. Marie Rose Wilson born on 3 January 1905.

Other than Urbain Wilson’s admittance record into the Louisiana Mental Health System, no other information about Jacquet Wilson’s father Gilbert Urbain Wilson has been found to this point. According to a St. Martin courthouse document (#2377), Urban Wilson was admitted on 6 June 1885. The only clue to a possible family member of Urban is written in the first opening statement of the court document date 1 June 1885:

“In the matter of the application of Valerien Wilson, made under oath, to have Urban Wilson examined and if found insane to have him sent to the insane asylum of the State…”

He was then committed to the State Mental asylum in Jackson, Louisiana five days later. The name handwritten on the document in what looks like “Valerien Wilson” may in fact be “Valsin Wilson”. There was a Valsin Wilson who sold 36 acres at the Coteau in New Iberia to S. P. Daniel for $400 on 20 June 1902. S. P. (Samuel Philogene) Daniel was the brother of Rosa Jean Louis who married Rose Jacquet’s brother Jolivet Jacquet, so there may have been family ties between the Wilsons and the Jacquets which continued into the 20^th century. Philogene Daniel would eventually loose the property a couple of years after the great flood of 1927. On 12 Dec 1929, Sheriff P.A. Landry seized and took possession of his 39 arpents of land. The property was in the 5^th ward of Iberia Parish. It was to be sold for $209.50 after being put on auction (vendor #43179). The highest bidder was J.F. DeRouen of New Iberia Parish who bought it for $410.00. $310.07 of it was paid to Aspazie Martin as she was the seizing creditor and holder of the first mortgage note. Baptiste Trahan’s grand-daughter Corine Bonhomme remembers the stories when Philogene lost his home: “…SP ended up losing his house and everything he owned to the Moutons who came and trucked everything away, even the chickens in cages!”

There were not many “Wilson’s” in St. Martin Parish during the 1800’s. One that could be a possible connection is listed on the 1880 census of St. Martin parish, 2^nd ward. Here we find a Jean Bar Wilson, a black male aged 31 from Georgia living with his wife or sister Mary Wilson, a black female aged 40. They live in the area of other Jean Baptiste, Landry and Jean Louis families. Another possible record to look into is that of George Wilson of Virginia, the son of Wilson and Mathilde, who married Marie Urbain of Lafayette on 29 November 1869, in St. Martinville. The possibility here is that since Jacquet Wilson was named after his mother and father’s last names (Rose Jacquet & Urbain Wilson), the tradition may have started with Urbain’s parents. If that is true, Urbain’s parents could have been this married couple George Wilson and Marie Urbain. Further study and research will have to be done to prove any logic to this theory.

Jacquet Wilson was involved in one of his cousins divorce court cases. It was on 10 Jan 1898 when Oscar Jacquet, the son of Jolivet Jacquet came into the St. Martin courthouse to petition to the court (suit #9454) for a divorce from his first wife Angelé Augustin. Oscar was claiming before the judge that:

“…Angele Augustin has at diverse times broken her marriage vows by committing adultery with diverse men at divers times particularly with one Touton Jean Louis, and with one Thomas Joe Henry and with Charles Eddy…”

Antoine Henry of Cade Station, Alphonse Marlin, Jean Baptiste (Jolivet) Jacquet, Albert Jacquet and Jacquet Wilson were witnesses on behalf of Oscar Jacquet. Jacquet Wilson and Jolivet testified:

“I know both plantiff and defendant. I know one Thomas Joe Henry. I was present when they married seven years ago by Father Langlois. I know that Angele left the plaintiff over two years ago and went to live in New Iberia with Charles Eddy and then she went to Broussard to live with Touton Jean Louis…”

Oscar Jacquet (son of Jolivet & Rosa) married twice – first to Angelé Augustin in which there were four children born. Then he married Aimee Chevis and had ten children with her. No one really knew the reason whey he divorced his first wife. Now they do.

The Descendants of Rose Jacquet and Joseph Farin Malveaux

It appears that Rose and Joseph Farin Malveaux had children together but did not marry. The succession document of Rose Jacquet states that Rose left: “…no legitimate descendants, but leaving four acknowledged natural children hereafter named…” (*217*). Rose and Joseph Farin had at least three children together: Rose Helena Malveaux born on 9 March 1880, Jerome Malveaux born on 8 February 1887, and Fernest Joseph Malveau. Rose Jacquet died in 1932.

1. Rose Helena Malveaux (also Elina and Elena), was born on 9 March 1880. Rose had at least one child, a daughter named:

A. Louise Malveau was born on 30 Jan 1918. With Alexander Pratt I, she bore a child named Alexander Pratt II. Family stories say that Louise was a very attractive and beautiful woman of fairskin complexion. She had wanted to married Alexander Pratt I but Alexander’s father did not think she fit into the Pratt idea of the perfect woman for Alexander and did not approve of her. Because Louise’s mother Rose Helena as well as Rose Helena’s parent’s Rose Jacquet and Farin Malveaux never married, some in the family think it was that she was the illegitimate daughter of a family that also came from illegitimacy and Alexander Pratt’s father could not accept that. The Pratt name originated from the name “Prade.” The original Prade line of color started with Jean Baptiste Prade, a free mulatto born ca. 1805 in New Orleans. He married 28 Aug 1828 Henriette Agathe De Kerlégand, a relative of at least three different Jacquet family lines – Josephine Jacquet who married Raphael Kerlegand (Henriette’s nephew); .Beulah Jacquet, daughter of “Pop Fils” Jacquet who married Henriette’s nephew Joseph Alexander Kerlegand, and Lenola Neveu who married Russell Jacquet. Henrietta Kerlegand was the Great-great grandmother to Lenola.

i. Alexander Pratt Jr. married Mabel Thompson, the daughter of Clifford Thompson. Because both Mabel and Alexander Pratt Jr’s mutual Great-great grandfather was Jean Baptiste Jacquet, they were 3^rd cousins. Alexander and Mabel had two children:

a. Thomas Pratt born on 5 Dec 1964.

b. Thaddeus Pratt born on 23 Oct 1972.

Louise appears to have changed her birth surname of “Malveaux” to her mother’s maiden name of “Jacquet”. On her succession document, she is referred to as “Louise Jacquet Thompson” (*218*). The succession document also indicates that she married J. O. Thompson. Louise’s mother Rose Helena Malveaux had inherited 1/3 of the property her mother Rose Jacquet had inherited from her mother Celeste Augustin in 1990 and after Louise Jacquet Thompson died in 1981, her son Alexander Pratt Jr., residing in La Marque, Texas, came to the St. Martin courthouse to file a petition for the succession of his mother’s estate in May of 1983. He was recognized as the sole heir of Louise Jacquet Thompson and inherited the same property his mother Louise had inherited from her mother Rose Helena (Elina) Malveaux, who had inherited the property from her mother Marie Rose Jacquet in 1932 (legally in 1941), who had inherited the property from her mother Marie Céleste Augustine Jacquet in 1890, who had inherited the property when her husband Jean baptiste Jacquet died in 1870. Nothing had changed since Jean Baptiste originally purchased the only piece of property he owned in his five short years of freedom after the end of slavery and the Civil War (*26*). Not much changed in the 115 years since that original purchase except for the continual partitioning of the land of both the Jacquet families and of new owners of their neighboring properties. The succession document tells the story:

“Considering the petition filed in the Succession of Louise Jacquet Thompson…Alexander Pratt (Alexander Prade Jr.) be recognized as the sole heir of Louise Jacquet Thompson…and this property includes:

Separate Immovable Property:

“That certain lot of ground with all buildings and improvements thereon situated in the town of St. Martinville, on the East side of the Bayou Teche, bounded on the North by Cora Street, on the South by Pierre Mercier, et.al., or assigns, formerly J. Lacaze, on the East by lot no.3 of act of partition among the heirs of Rose Jacquet, dated April 7, 1941, recorded in book 160, folio 236, no.66029, belonging to Fernest Malveaux, or assigns, and on the West by property formerly belonging to Louis Esclavon, now the property of George Mercier or assigns, said lot having a width on Cora Street of 73 feet and a width in the rear of 66.6 feet, the west line of said lot measuring 170 feet. For title see book 189, page 543, entry no.79123, conveyance records of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana” (*218*).

Louise had been residing in Houston, Texas when she died on 10 December 1981. Her birth date is given as 30 January 1918. She was widowed and had been working for David C. Bintliff. Diabetes and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease contributed to her death. She was buried in St. Martin’s Church cemetery in St. Martinville, Louisiana (*274*).

2. Jerome Malveaux was born on 8 Feb 1887. Jerome married Coralie Orpha. Both Jerome and Coralie had died by the time of the succession of Jerome’s mother Rose Jacquet in April of 1941, because the document says that both parents of their four children were deceased:

“Jerome Malveau was married but once and then to Coralie Orphe and of their marriage four and only four children were born…Jerome Malveau and his said wife both died intestate in this Parish, the former seven years ago and the latter in December 1940, leaving said four children as their sole heirs at law…” (*217*).

That gives a death date for Jerome Malveau ca. 1934, and his wife Coralie died in December 1940. Jerome and Coralie had four children:

A. Cecile Malveau. She married James Champ.

B. Celeste Malveau. She married Ceasar Martin.

C. Josephine Malveau.

D. Jerome Malveau Jr.

3. Fernest Joseph Malveau was a third child born between Rose Jacquet and Joseph Farin Malveau. No birth records have been found yet. Since his sister (H)elina was born in 1880 and his brother Jerome in 1887, there is the high possibility that Fernest was born in between the two.

Chapter

13 Hyppolite Jacquet

(13^th Begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet & Céleste Augustin)

Hyppolite Jacquet was born circa 1854. His name is also seen as spelled “Hypolite”. Unless future evidence indisputably proves Albert and Jules Narcisse Jacquet to be Jean Baptiste Jacquet’s (the elder) last two sons born ca. 1865 and 1866, it appears that Hyppolite was the last of “The Sons and Daughters of Jean Baptiste Jacquet”. It was for this reason that Hyppolite can almost be considered ‘the forgotten son’, for all of his older brothers and sisters seem to have gotten all of the headlines in the history books. Hyppolite never seems to have attended any important family matters of legal importance such as weddings, funerals, and estate settlements because he rarely can be found listed on documents. Nevertheless, he was not at all too young in 1884, to go into partnership with four of his older brothers in the purchase of a 200-acre parcel of land to be split up into five sections (*30,35*).

Information about the life and the whereabouts during the early years of Hyppolite is a rare find. The birth year of Hyppolite is not certain but about the age of 46, we find that Hyppolite married Angelique Rosemond on 2 July 1900, in Youngsville, Louisiana, even though the couple bore children before their marriage (*132*). They had first applied for a marriage license at the St. Martin courthouse three days before on 30 June 1900. Witnesses were listed as Sanville Jacquet, John Louis Jacquet and Joseph Jacquet. No information on either the church or courthouse marriage document about the parents of Anglique Rosemond is given. Hyppolite and Angelique had at least eight children, and quite possible more. Joseph Jacquet was their first born child, born sometime at or just before 1883. From the record books, it appears that Joseph Jacquet was the son of Hyppolite Jacquet but his mother was Lucie Pellerin according to Joseph’s marriage certificate when he married Alice Conway on 2 April 1902 (*129*). This would explain why Hyppolite had two sons with the same name of “Joseph”, although that name was a common Christian name given sometime to all of a certain father‘s sons before their more common first name. Robert Jacquet appears to be the second child born on the date of 6 Nov 1886. Maggie Jacquet appears to have been the first daughter born in December 1888, but only living a brief period of time before she died on 3 April 1889. Louis Jacquet was born 16 Feb 1889. Marie Julie Jacquet was born 6 Jan 1890, but would not live too far past the age of her fourth birthday as she died on 25 Feb 1894. Marie Regina Jacquet was born on 2 Feb 1894. Marie Helina (Elina) Jacquet was born 14 Feb 1896. It appears that Marie Elina died on 16 July 1908. Ivory Jacquet appears to have been born 6 Jan 1898. The record books also show that a child named Joseph Alvin Jacquet was born that same year on 18 Dec 1898. Both Hyppolite and Angelique are listed as his parents on his birth/baptismal certificate (*130*).

Since Hyppolite had purchased a large parcel of Real Estate with his brothers, he had a considerable amount of land to be settled upon his death in July of 1903. His brother Oscar Jacquet would bring the petition into the St. Martinville courthouse on 10 Dec 1904...

“...The petition of Oscar Jacquet of St. Martin parish, that his brother Hypolite died in July 1903 leaving debts and property in this parish of which it becomes necessary to make an estimative inventory. Joseph Jacquet and Onezime Jacquet are appointed to appraise the property:

1^st – that certain tract of land with the improvements thereon situated in the Parish of St. Martinville, La., at the Coteau near Duchamps station containing 3.5 superficial arpents bounded north by Paul Breaux, south by lands of the estate of Ulger Bourque, east by Edward Jacquet and west by Onezime Jacquet, appraised and valued at seven hundred dollars. $700

2^nd – One mule appraised and valued at sixty $60

3^rd – One horse appraised and valued at twenty five $25

4^th – one lot of old household items – 1 bed, 1 avmor $ 5

total = $790

After Oscar Jacquet published his “Notice of application to be appointed administer of the estate” of Hypolite Jacquet in the Saturday 17 December 1904 edition of “The Weekly Messenger”, he came back on the 28^th and testified that “no opposition occurred and no need for delay”… Judge James Simon appointed him administrator on 9 Feb 1905. Oscar returned to court and presented a note due by Hypolite to “his own order” dated 6 Jan 1901 and “due 1 Jan 1902 for the sum of $166.05 and other amounts due which necessitates a sale of all the property below to said estate.” A commission to sell was granted.

After he held an auction on 23 March 1905 to sell off most of Hyppolite’s estate, Oscar returned to the court in April 1905. He had receipts and records of what he had sold. A summary of what was sold or owed is as follows:

proceeds: movable $119,

immovable $1250

total assets $1360.

Liabilities: Doctors due to last illness $156.80,

Father Thebault Funeral service $20.00

Debts. And taxes $28.37

Joseph Jacquet labor $75.00

Bank of St. Martinville note $87.83

Oscar Jacquet promissory note $71.00

Mortgage note + interest $179.35

Attorney and court fees $120.00

Oscar Jacquet administration fee $19.75

News ad $35.00

Total liabilities – debt notes, taxes, doctors, legal fees $782.07

Balance $577.93

(I note here that the total liabilities listed above and on the succession document actually add up to $793.10 which is $11.03 different). The succession document continues:

“...Hypolite Jacquet left the following heirs and children – His children were:

1. Joseph Jacquet (of age)

2. Robert Jacquet (minor)

3. Louis Jacquet (minor)

4. Regina Jacquet (minor)

5. Elina Jacquet (minor)

6. Ivory Jacquet (minor)

“...the cash balance remains to-wit - $575.93, belongs to the said heirs, each being entitled to the 1/6 thereof, or $96.32 to each...” (*131*)

Regina returned on 14 June 1915 when she was of age and also not married at the time to claim her inheritance. Ivory returned on 6 Jan 1919, declared he was 21 years old to receive his sum of $96.32. On 24 June 1908, Louis appeared to give up his right as dative tutorship of his minor sister Elina. “He waives and renounces any right to that tutorship, and desires that his brother Robert Jacquet be appointed thereto.” Louis Jacquet could not sign and make his “mark.” Robert Jacquet was appointed dative tutor of the minor Elina Jacquet on 24 June 1908 (*131*).

The record books show that two of Hyppolite’s daughters died previously to his death. Since his last child Joseph Alvin Jacquet is not mentioned in the succession record as one of his heirs, we can only assume that Joseph Alvin also died before Hyppolite’s death. No record of Joseph’s death has been found thus far. There is also the possibility that “Ivory” and “Alvin” may be the same person.

The Descendants of Hyppolite Jacquet

Hyppolite Jacquet married Angélique Rosemond in the year 1900 but records show that they had children together as early as 1886. Census records indicate a birth year of 1864 for Angélique and 1854 for Hyppolite. Hyppolite Jacquet died on 8 July 1903 and his wife died by the year 1905.

1. Joseph Jacquet was the first-born son of Hyppolite Jacquet as far as the records show. He was born sometime around 1883 or before because on his father’s succession record of 10 December 1904, Joseph is listed as “of age” which means he was at least 21 years old. He married Alice Conway on 2 April 1902 in St. Martinville. Joseph’s mother was Lucie Pellerin. Joseph and Alice had at least three children:

A. Mary Mable Jacquet born on 1 Mar 1904, in St. Martinville.

B. Loula Isabelle Jacquet born on 25 April 1906.

C. Marie Judrice? Jacquet born on 16 May 1908.

2. Robert Jacquet was the first child born to both Hyppolite Jacquet and Angelique Rosemond. Robert was born on 6 November 1886. Two years after Robert’s father died in 1903, Robert was not yet of legal age so he decided to petition to the court for his emancipation since he was at least 18 years old...

“…On this day 18^th of May 1905 – the petition of Robert Jacquet that he is over the age of 18: that his father Hyppolite Jacquet and mother Angelique Rosemond are both dead, that he is without tutor and desires to be fully emancipated... Joseph Jacquet appointed special tutor to the minor Robert, petitioner sworn in for the purpose of the emancipation proceeding to be filed by petitioner Robert Jacquet...swears that he is now over the age of 18, being born on 6 November 1886 and both parents dead...” (*133*)

Robert Jacquet married twice. His first wife was named Clementine Leontine Anderson who he married on 10 November 1911 in St. Martinville (#9346). Witnesses to the marriage were James Jacquet, Oscar Jacquet and Walter Anderson. According to the succession record of Robert, his first wife Leontine died circa 1912 (*126*). From his first wife, also listed as Leontyne Anderson, a daughter was born:

A. Elzina Jacquet (or Alzina) was born around 1910 and 1911.

Robert’s second marriage was to Gertrude Provost around 1917. Also called Gertie, Gertrude Provost was born on 12 March 1895 and was the daughter of Adrianna Lous (or Louis) and Anatole Provost. Robert Jacquet grew up in Cade, Louisiana and achieved a third grade education but later moved to Lafayette to work with the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. Robert and Gertrude had three children as far as the records show:

B. Louella Jacquet was the first child born to Robert Jacquet and Gertrude Provost. Louella was born on 1 June 1924, and baptized on 6 June 1924. Since her father had migrated from Cade to Lafayette to work for the Railroad Company, Louella and her sisters all grew up in Lafayette until the time of her marriage. Louella Jacquet married Felton Bernard on 26 December 1945. The Reverend Harold Perry pronounced them “man and wife”. Felton was the son of Maurice Bernard and Nerly Baptiste. Witnesses to the marriage were Louella’s sister Mary Belle Jacquet, her sister-in-law Ella Bernard and Daniel Haskins (*124*). With the crack of the new year of 1946, the couple moved to Texas in what would be a one-way honeymoon trip. Felton was born on 20 Nov 1920. Felton died on 21 Dec 1994. Louella died on 24 Feb 1998. Felton Bernard and Louella Jacquet had eight children:

i. Melvin Bernard Sr. was the first to be born. Melvin was born on 5 Oct 1946. Melvin learned to play the clarinet in high school. Melvin Sr. died on Oct 14 1967. He married Eva Mae Carson and three children were born:

a. Melvin Bernard Jr.

b. Felicia Bernard

c. Noah Bernard

ii. Felton Bernard Jr.

iii. Gertrude Bernard

iv. Sandra Bernard;

v. Robert Bernard Sr.;

vi. Francis Bernard who died at the age of 3 days;

vii. Leo Bernard;

viii. Beverly Bernard.

C. Mary Belle Jacquet was the second child born to Robert Jacquet and Gertrude Provost. Mary Belle was baptized on 18 Nov 1926. The Reverend Harold Perry married Mary Belle to Calvin William Paul on 22 April 1947, in Lafayette, La. Witnesses to the marriage were James Jacquet, Oscar Jacquet and Walter Anderson (*125*). Calvin was born on 21 April 1924 and was the son of Fils (Calvin William) Paul and Ella Belizaire.

D. Mildred Jacquet was the third child born to Robert Jacquet and Gertrude Provost. Mildred was born on 22 Dec 1930. Mildred married Joseph Denis. Mildred was the last child born because her father had already deceased when she was born. The succession document of Robert Jacquet at the Lafayette courthouse confirms this (*126*).

After a long bout with various illnesses culminating in a mental breakdown, and a period of hospitalization, Robert Jacquet would pass away at the age of 46 on 12 May 1930. Losing her husband at such a young age with the addition of being two months pregnant with their last child Mildred, it must have really been a stressful period for Gertrude. Stanville Jacquet, Robert’s cousin, also living in Lafayette became the undertutor of the three minors and assisted in family matters. There was property owned by Robert and thus Gertrude along with Stanville would petition to the Lafayette courthouse to settle the estate of Robert. He owned Lot #13 in the city of Lafayette on block #9, west by Argonne Street. The property was valued at $600 (*126*).

“…The court adjudged and ordered on 9 March 1931 that the court ruling be made absolute, recognizing Gertness Provost, the widow of Robert Jacquet to be placed in possession of her half of the estate and that the minors: Alzina Jacquet, Louella Jacquet, Marybelle Jacquet and Mildred Jacquet be recognized as sole heirs of 1/8^th each of the estate of the lot #13 of block #9 of the Veazey Addition and West by Argonne street…”

The size of the property was listed as 50 feet by 125 feet, and was originally purchased by Robert Jacquet from Edna Trahan on 31 August 1926 (*165*). Edna Trahan later sold Robert’s cousin Stanville Jacquet a lot of property nearby in October 1946. It was in Lafayette on Foch Street, and measured the same amount of area (*166*).

According to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church cemetery records (pg. 35, #390) in Lafayette La., Gertie Provost Jacquet died at the age of 86 on 15 January 1982. She was buried at St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery (Syrie) in Lafayette on 19 January 1982. She had resided at 1712 12^th street. Her succession record was opened on 22 Dec 1982 to settle her estate. It was the petition of two of Gertrude’s daughters – Mildred Jacquet Dennis and Mary Jacquet Paul that was bought before the Lafayette court. The estate owned by Gertrude was a lot of land at 1712 12^th street, lot #13 on block 9. The value of the property was appraised at $13,000. It is not exactly clear how the estate was divided up. On one page it says it was necessary to “divide the property value into ¼ for each family member”. On another page it says that “the three children were entitled to 1/3 of the ½ mom owned.” (*127*) Since there were three children born between Robert Jacquet and Gertrude Provost, and one other daughter Alzina (or Elzina) Jacquet, from Robert’s first wife, Alzina Jacquet must be the recipient of the other part of the estate.

3. Maggie Jacquet was born in December 1888 but died on 3 April 1889.

4. Louis Jacquet was the fourth child fathered by Hyppolite and the third child born to both Hyppolite Jacquet and Angelique Rosemond. Louis was born on 16 February 1889. When Louis’ mother died circa 1908, he and his brother Robert went to the St. Martin Parish courthouse to petition the legal tutorship of their minor sister Helina:

“On 24 June 1908...appeared Louis Jacquet, who declared that his father Hypolite Jacquet and his mother Angelique Rosemond, legally married, are both dead, that there is a minor born of the marriage of the name Elina Jacquet, that appearer Robert Jacquet are the only brothers of age of the said Elina Jacquet... that in law tutorship devolves upon appearer or his brother Robert; that he being unable to assume this charge he waives and renounces any right to that tutorship and desires that his brother Robert Jacquet be appointed thereto.”

“Appearer Louis Jacquet having declared that he does not know how to sign, has affixed his ordinary mark hereto... Petitioner Robert Jacquet is hereby appointed dative tutor to the minor Elina Jacquet and Louis Jacquet is appointed undertutor….” (131*)

5. Marie Julie Jacquet was born 6 January 1890 but died on 25 February 1894.

6. Marie Regina Jacquet was the oldest daughter of Hyppolite Jacquet and Angelique Rosemond. There were actually two daughters born before her but both died very early. Regina was born on 2 Feb 1894. Just four months after she had become of age Regina would petition to the St. Martin courthouse on 14 June 1915, the right to receive her inheritance left behind by her father Hyppolite:

“Opened this 14^th of June 1915...I Regina Jacquet, daughter of Hyppolite Jacquet whose estate is opened in the Parish of St. Martinville Louisiana, under probate docket no. 3172, and of which Oscar Jacquet is the administrator, being duly sworn says that she is over 21 years of age (since Feb 2, 1915) and further acknowledges to have received this day from Oscar Jacquet administer of estate, the sum of $96.32 in full settlement of all her rights and interests as an heir of Hyppolite Jacquet...” (*131*)

7. Marie Helina Jacquet was born on 14 February 1896. It appears however, that she died on 16 July 1908.

8. Ivory Jacquet is believed to have been born on 6 January 1898.

9. Joseph Alvin Jacquet was born on 18 December 1898.

Chapter

14 Albert Narcisse Jacquet

(14^th begotten Child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet)

There is a good possibility that Jolivet Jacquet may have been the father of an “Albert Jacquet” who was born about the year 1865-1866. This possibility was discussed earlier in the Jean Baptiste Jacquet chapter in both the first and the second volumes. Records show that Albert Jacquet was the son of Jean Baptiste Jacquet, however it is with some question as to whom the father is since both Jean Baptiste “Jolivet” Jacquet often went by the same name as his father Jean Baptiste Jacquet went by. The marriage certificate of Albert Jacquet’s marriage to Arcene Lasseigne in 1890, says that his mother was Victorine Narcisse and that his father was Jean Baptiste Jacquet. (*61*) Since Jolivet used this name that was also his father’s name, we do not know for sure which one is the father. Jolivet’s father Jean Baptiste would have had to be about 56 or 57 years old if he fathered this child. Not improbable just unusual, however it seems more logical that it would have been his son Jean Baptiste Jolivet who fathered Albert during this time period since Jolivet would have been about 27 or 28 years old when and if he fathered this child. If this is indeed the truth, it would have been during the transition period of Jolivet’s two major relationships with Maristine Bourque (circa 1858 – 1863) and Rose Jean Louis (circa 1865 – May 1899). Jolivet had two sons with Maristine and fourteen children with his wife Rose. The puzzling fact of the matter is that Jolivet later had a son born in 1872 that he and Rose Jean Louis named Albert, who later married Coralie Laurence in 1893, so this would mean that Jolivet had two sons, from two different women, with the same name, a fact that sometimes causes confusion when searching the record books. The fact that there is no indication that the grooms father is “dead” on the St. Martin church marriage document of Albert Narcisse Jacquet dated 1890, a normal notation when a parent had already deceased, leads more credence to the fact that it was Jean Baptiste “Jolivet” and not his father who sired Albert. Since Jolivet’s father Jean Baptiste Jacquet, the patriarch of the Black Jacquets, had died in 1870, if it was the elder Jacquet who was the father of Albert Narcisse Jacquet, then the marriage document of the church would have indicated “deceased“ which it does not. Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet lived until May of 1899. Conflicting with the church document is the courthouse marriage document which does say that Albert’s father J. B. Jacquet is deceased! Which one is true? Which one of the two is more reliable? Was it the 58-year-old elder Jean Baptiste Jacquet? or the younger 28 year old Jean baptiste “Jolivet” Jacquet who sired Albert and Jules and quite possibly Eloise Narcisse also. In the hundreds of documents that I have been able to double check with another document, this is the only one different.

Jean Baptiste the elder, sired his last child Hyppolite Jacquet with Celeste Augustine circa 1854, they then married in 1867 when the Civil War was over. Jean Baptiste the elder then died in 1870. The records do show that Jean Baptiste and Celeste were separated from each other when the family was split up into five different directions after the estate sale and distribution of property, which included slaves, of the deceased Marguerite Ducoux, wife of the also deceased Jean Baptiste Berard, in February of 1851 (*2*). Jean Baptiste Jacquet did sire at least two children with Celeste shortly after this, (Marie Rose born in 1853, Hyppolite born in 1854), so they obviously had contact with each other after the grand family separation. But was there also a relationship started sometime later the next decade with Victorine Narcisse that bought forth the birth of two more sons – Albert Jacquet and Jules Jacquet and perhaps even a daughter Elouise Jacquet? The probability that either Jean Baptiste Jacquet or his son Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet was the father of the two or three children both seems equally possible. In 1865, Jean Baptiste the elder would have been about 57 years old, and his son Jean Baptiste Jolivet would have been about 29 years old. The age of the two men around the time of conception seems to be the only concrete evidence to tip the scales in the favor of the younger Jacquet being the father leading to the more likely scenario that it was Jean Baptiste’s son Jolivet which had the relationship with Victorine Narcisse which would have lasted at least two and possibly four years long. Therefore, we include Albert Jacquet here in this chapter, and his brother Jules Jacquet in the next, as descendants of Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet but we must point out strongly that the evidence based on the one marriage document from the courthouse leans towards Jean Baptiste Jacquet the elder as the father. It will be the task of a future researcher to sort out the mystery of who is the correct Jacquet father. Either way, the descendants of Albert Jacquet (Jules had no children), are descended from Jean Baptiste Jacquet the elder.

According to the marriage certificate of Albert Jacquet, he married Arsene Lasseigne on December 9, 1890. On the certificate his father is listed as Jean Baptiste Jacquet and his mother was Victorine Narcisse. In the Casimir Jacquet chapter, we discussed the legacy Victorine Narcisse had with the Landry family, having at least two and possibly three sons with the last name Landry. She also had a son with the last name “Victorin” who she lived with according to the 1880 census. The 1880 census of St. Martin Parish shows her living there with her two sons Albert, 14 years old, Jules, 13 years old, and her daughter Eloise, 12 (or perhaps 11) years old. If this is indeed the “Albert Jacquet” that married in 1890, and thus far there is no evidence to prove otherwise, then Albert would have been born around the year 1865 or 1866, depending on his birthdate since the census was take in June of 1880. It seems very likely that the woman named Victorine Narcisse was an interlude romance for Jolivet Jacquet between the two women Maristine Bourque and Rosa Jean Louis. The 1880 census has Victorine’s age as 50, indicating a birth year circa 1829 – 1830. Victorine must have died sometime between 1884 and 1890. Her son Jules Jacquet married Marie Odile Lasseigne in 1884, and although it says that his father “Maurice” is deceased, it does not indicate that his mother was deceased. Six years later, his brother Albert married. On the marriage license document at the St. Martin Courthouse of Victorine’s oldest son Albert Jacquet of 9 Dec 1890, it does indicate in the French language that both parents are deceased. This marriage document at the St. Martin courthouse written in French may give us the best clue as to which of the “Jean Baptistes” is Albert’s father:

“...Nous avon Célébré le mariage de Albert Jacquet fils legitime de defunt J. B. Jacquet et de defunt Victorine Narcisse et de Arsene Lasseigne fille mejeur de defunt Lasseigne et de Caroline Jean...” (*110*)

Simply saying in English that:

“…We have celebrated the marriage of Albert Jacquet, legitimate son of the deceased J. B. Jacquet and of the deceased Victorine Narcisse and of Arsene lasseigne, major daughter of the deceased Lasseigne and of Caroline Jean.”

Witnesses at the marriage were Adena Narsis, Louis Michel and Warren Lasseigne. The spelling of “Adena Narsis” makes it quite obvious that he is a “Narcisse” relative whose name could be Adena Narcisse. Thus it would appear, at least from this document, that Jean Baptiste Jacquet Pére, is the father of Albert Jacquet and not his son Jean Baptiste Jolivet Jacquet. This would mean Jean Baptiste Sr. had 12 children with Marie Céleste Augustine and most likely 3 children with Victorine Narcisse – Oscar Jacquet, Albert Jacquet and Jules Jacquet. Oscar being sired in early 1850, and Jules and Albert being sired in the mid 1860’s just as slavery ended. He then returned to Celeste Augustine when slavery ended and married her in 1867. For some reason, the church document does not reflect that Albert’s father J. B. Jacquet is dead, leading researchers to point to a Jean Baptiste “Jolivet” Jacquet father and not the older one. Both Father Hebert’s SW Louisiana records and a requested copy from the church reflect this (*110*). The court document in this case appears to be the most reliable one.

Albert’s brother Jules married (Marie) Odile Lasseigne six years before Albert married Arcene Lasseigne, her sister. But Odile’s husband Jules died in 1888, and she was left alone. Or was she? Now comes the puzzling part of the Jacquet/lasseigne legacy. Just who married whom, and just who is the mother of the Jacquet children that were born to Albert Narcisse Jacquet? The record books show that Albert Jacquet had at least five children with one or both of the Lasseigne sisters. Could it be that the two sisters Marie Odile Lasseigne and Arcene Lasseigne are one and the same? Did Albert have relationships with both of the sisters simultaneously? Did he marry Arcene then married Odile at a later date?

One point that can be verified easily is the mother of both of the sisters was named Caroline Jean. On the marriage license for Arsene, the father is just named “Lasseigne”. However, on Odile’s license, no father is mentioned. Their brother Edouard has the name “Valerie Lasseigne” as his father. Caroline Jean is the mother of all three of the Lasseigne children. Other documents mention the father of Arcene and Odile as Paul Lasseigne (*213*). On the 1880 census of the 3^rd Ward of St. Martin Parish, we find Caroline Jean as the head of the household with her seven children:

(Jean? or Jon?) Wiltz – her 31 (or 37) year old black son who is crippled and cannot work.

Edouard Lasseigne – her 22-year-old mulatto son. He is a laborer.

Maria Lasseigne – her 14-year-old mulatto daughter. She is a laborer.

Arsène Lasseigne – her 12-year-old mulatto daughter. She is “at home.”

Adélaïde Louis – her 24-year-old mulatto daughter. She widowed and a domestic servant.

Louise Louis – her 6 year old black female daughter. She is at home.

Alphonse Louis – her 4-year-old black son. He is at home (*256*).

Since there is a gap between her 22-year-old son and her oldest son, there may be more children that left her due to marriage. The Gardiner family live in the next house from Caroline Jean’s house. Charles Gardiner and Josephine Jolivet’s daughter Valerie Gardiner married Lo Lo Louis Jacquet but neither one of them has been born yet. Pierre Jacquet and his wife Aimée Gaspard also live nearby.

Records show that Albert had at least five children. His firstborn son was Jean Baptiste Euzebe and the mother is listed as Arcene Lasseigne. The remaining four children that were born have their mother listed as “Odile Lasseigne”, the sister of Arcene. How did this happen to come about? For a long time the questions surrounding the truth of the story between the two Jacquet brothers and the two Lasseigne sisters could not be answered until the succession record of Albert Jacquet was found at the St. Martinville courthouse (*109*). Albert Narcisse Jacquet died on 25 September 1919, and it was his oldest son Jean Baptiste Euzebe Jacquet along with Albert’s wife Marie Odile Lasseigne who petitioned the St. Martin court for the assessment of Albert’s property. In the document we find out that Albert Jacquet married twice – first he married Arsene Lasseigne in 1890. Arsene gave birth to their first child Euzebe Jacquet on 14 August 1892. Arsene Lasseigne died the next day on 15 August 1892, most likely from childbirth complications. She was 23 years of age according to the St. Martin church recording of the death. Albert then married Arsene’s sister Odile Lasseigne, who was the widow of his deceased brother Jules “Maurice” Jacquet. Here is a case where there were “two brothers who married two sisters” and also a special case where “one brother married two sisters.” There was 35 arpents of property on the east side of the Bayou Teche valued at $1400 to be settled. The succession document says that “there was no issue (offspring) with his second wife” (Odile), but we have seen this plot before and know that this statement cannot be true because the church records clearly show that there were at least four children born between Albert and Odile after the death of Arsene. Why the four children were not recognized during the time of the death of Albert in 1919 is unknown. Perhaps it was because the four children were born out of wedlock. Albert finally married Odile the year before his death and by this time two of the children were of adult age and the other two were in their late teenage years. But this seems stretching it a bit as it is well known that “illegitimate children” become “legitimate” when the biological parents marry later. Albert Jacquet’s property consisted of 35 arpents (30 acres), on the east side of the Bayou Teche and had a value of $1400. According to family historical stories, it was about four miles south of the cemetery in St. Martinville.

Albert Narcisse Jacquet died on 25 September 1919 from stomach cancer, a condition he had endured for one year and three months according to his death certificate (*112*). Undertaker E. N. Reswebes buried him in St. Martinville on the same day, so it sounds like his death was no surprise. His age is listed as 58 years old giving him a birth year circa 1861 which is a few years earlier than the age listed on the 1880 census, however it is very possible that Albert was born as early as 1863. His wife is listed as Marie Lasseigne. His mother is listed as Victorine Narcisse and his father as Jean-Baptiste Jacquet. The informant giving the information was his half brother on his mother’s side named Aristide Landry. Since the marriage certificate at the courthouse indicates that Albert’s father is deceased, it must be Jean Baptiste Jacquet the elder, born in 1808 and died in 1870 who is his father and not Jean Baptiste’s son Jean Baptiste Jolivet born ca. 1834, and died in 1899. Albert’s occupation was that of a farmer.

The descendents of Albert Narcisse Jacquet

1. Jean Baptiste Euzebe Jacquet was the first child born to Albert Jacquet. He was born on 14 August 1892, in St. Martin Parish. His mother Arcene died the next day most likely from childbirth complications. His father is listed as Albert Jacquet and his mother as Arcene Lassaigne. Jean Baptiste was baptized at the St. Martin Church on 3 Sep 1892.

The first child born to Albert Jacquet and his second wife Odile Lasseigne was

2. Joseph Leonard Jacquet was born on 10 April 1895. His mother is listed as Odile Lasseigne. Leonard married Ellen (also Helene) Antoine on 26 May 1919 in New Iberia. They received their marriage certificate at the New Iberia courthouse on 10 May 1919. Ellen Antoine was the daughter of Paul Antoine and Corinne Laurence. Leonard is listed as age 24 and Ellen is listed as age 18 giving a birth year ca. 1901. A Louisiana death certificate has a Mrs. Leonard Jacquet who died on 20 October 1927 at the age of 25.

3. Pierre Joinville Jacquet was born on 19 April 1898 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. His mother is listed as Odile Lasseigne. After his father died, he remained on the property his father had owned with one of his other brothers. The property was east of the bayou Teche and about four miles south of the cemetery and the St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville. Sometime around the year 1925, Joinville moved to Galveston, Texas. There he met Celeste Chenier and married her. Celeste was the daughter of Mr. Chenier and Eugenie Rochon. Eugenie was the daughter of Hyppolite Rochon whose brother Leon Rochon had a daughter named Rose Rochon who married Adolphe Pratt II. Adolphe Pratt II and Rose had two children named Josephine Pratt and Adolph Pratt III. Josephine was born and raised in St. Martinville and at the turn of the 2000 millennium was still living there. When Joinville moved to Texas, people had a hard time pronouncing his name so he changed it to “Johnville Jacquet”. Johnville worked for the Union Pacific railroad while living in Galveston. Johnville and Celeste Chenier had two children: Maydelle Jacquet and Joseph “JJ Bubba”Jacquet. Maydelle met a man who was serving in the army and stationed in Galveston during the Korean War. The two would marry and move to ?JaywardJack? Michigan and have at least three children.

4. Albert Bernard Jacquet was born on 22 July 1900 in St. Martin Parish. His mother is listed as Odile Lassein. Bernard died in March 1981 in Hitchcock, Texas.

5. Paul Gerad Jacquet was born on 6 June 1903 in St. Martin Parish. His mother is listed as Odile Lasseigne.

Scroll chart

Chapter

15 Jules Narcisse Jacquet

Jules Jacquet was the brother of Albert Jacquet. We can see this on the 1880 census, and on both of their marriage certificates, it says that Victorine Narcisse was their mother (*61*),(*106*),(*107*) . The research was particularly confusing with this member of the Jacquet family because we see him in the record books with three different last names! Jules Narcisse, Jules Maurice and Jules Jacquet! We have two different sources for Jules’ birth year. First we have the 1880 census of St. Martin Parish that says Jules (Narcisse) was 13 years of age, just one year younger than his brother Albert (Narcisse). This places his birth year at 1866 – 1867, depending on what time of the year he was born since the census was taken in June of 1880. Second, we have the death record of the St. Martin Church that says that Jules died on 16 March 1888 (*108*). The death record says that he was “23 years of age” which would put his birth year about 1864 – 1865. This places the two birth years within two years of each other but still raises a few questions. The death record says that Jules married Marie (Odile) Lasseigne on 16 December 1884, and is consistant with the church marriage record of the same date except for one very confusing fact. On the church marriage record between Jules Jacquet and (Marie) Odile Lassigne on 16 December 1884, we find that the mother of Jules is listed as Victorine Narcisse, but the father is listed as “Maurice”. Jules’ name is recorded as “Jules Maurice”! Looking to the St. Martin courthouse records for confirmation, we find the same information written in French:

“...mariage de Jules Maurice fils majeur et legitimat feu Maurice et Victorine Narcisse...et Odile Lasseigne fille mineur de Caroline Jean neé également et domicile...” (*107*)

Simply saying in English: “the marriage of Jules Maurice, major son and legitimate of deceased Maurice and of Victorine Narcisse...and Odile Lasseigne minor daughter of Caroline Jean, born likewise and residing...”

Witnesses at the marriage were his brother Albert Jacquet and Edouard Lasseigne. Edouard Lasseigne is a brother of Odile and married Marie Bertrand on 8 February 1894. Edouard’s parents were Valery Lasseigne and Caroline Jean. It seems clear that this is the brother of Albert Jacquet, but why the mix up with the last name Maurice? The reason for this seems easier to explain than it appears. The year 1884 was a year when French speaking still dominated certain aspects of an English dominated Louisiana life. As of the 1880 census, just four years prior to his marriage, Jules could not read nor write and had not been to school. The name “Maurice” and “Narcisse” are very similar in phonetic sound, so when the most likely illiterate Jules, who could not write his name, said “Narcisse”, it was written down by what the recorder thought he or she heard as “Maurice”. It could be that at the time of the marriage, Jules was not completely aware of the knowledge of who his real father was, something he may have learned very shortly thereafter because the death record of the St. Martin Church does show him with the name Jules Jacquet. Since both brothers used the name Jacquet, it seems with almost certainty that their father was the same Jean Baptiste Jacquet. What about Albert and Jule’s sister Elouise Narcisse who is with the two brothers and her mother Victorine on the 1880 census? Since the other two brothers turned out to be Jacquets was she a Jacquet also? No records of Elouise have been found except for one possibility. There was a Louisa Jacquet that died in St. Martin Parish on 8 January 1892 at the age of 35. No other information has been found to be able to link Louisa to her direct Jacquet family. Could this be her? If Jules Jacquet and Marie Odile Lasseigne had any children, they would have had to be born before the year 1889. Thus far, no record of any children has been found.

For the record, there was another man with the same name of Jules Jacquet in the St. Martinville area about the same time. This Jules Jacquet seemed to always be in debt and in trouble with the law. He would end up leaving to live in Tampico, Mexico. In St. Martin courthouse suit #6954, Paul Mony sued Jules Jacquet in March 1874 for $36 for three months wages as a field laborer. Mony was forced to quit when Jules “thrusted him out violently out of the house”, when he asked for his back pay. In St. Martin courthouse suit #7018, Robert Martin sues Jules in Feb 1874 “…that Jules Jacquet of Tampico, Mexico is justly indebted to him of $250 + interest…” In a February 1880 St. Martin court suit (#8416) it reads that “…the petition of Alcibiade Deblanc that Jules Jacquet of Tampico Mexico is in debt for $200 since 1 March 1875…for vendor’s mortgage on a tract of land in St. Martin Parish of 1 arpent on Lake Catahoula…Jules Jacquet left sometime last year…he left at night…he told me he was abandoning and that he being unable to pay he was going away…” There were dozens of court cases against this Jules Jacquet where people were suing him.

Victorine Angélique Narcisse – Mother of Albert & Jules Jacquet

Probably one of the most mysterious of all women in the history of the Black Jacquet story is the woman named Victorine Narcisse. It appears that Victorine was the mother of at least eight children sired by at least four and possibly five different fathers. Victorine was most likely born and raised on the LeNormand/Landry estate and it just so happens that this particular LANDRY family (descendants of Joseph Landry and Modeste-Arthémise Le Normand) all married their second and third cousins. They were quateroons and octoroons and free people of color but probably passed for white in many circles.

Family historical information from the descendants of Victorine, specifically from her grandson Joseph Télésmar Landry and told to his great-grandson Christophe Landry Hoegan, say that Victorine was the product of an Attakapa or Chitimacha Indian and a Negro as her grandparents on her maternal side and that her father was a White man of the Le Normand or Landry family, probably Charles Landry from the Le Normand estate. Christophe Landry also reports in his research that:

“Éloïse Lindor, a “Négresse”, was no doubt her mother, so her father had to have been Caucasian, otherwise she would have been listed as “Griffonne” (3/4 Negro). It is a possibility that Victorine’s maternal grandfather’s name was Narcisse (a given name in French), or she married a Narcisse.” (*213*)

Charles Landry was a tierceron libre (1/3^rd colored and free) born on 25 Sept 1805 and baptized on 23 Feb 1806. His sponsoring Godparents were Charles Ursin Le Normand and Marie Modeste Le Normand – uncle and aunt of the infant (*213*). Charles Landry married Adélaïde-Léontine Le Normand, a quarteronne libre and the daughter of Joseph Marin Le Normand and Elizabeth Pouponne Caselar. Charles fathered additional children with two mulâtresse slave sisters he owned named Marie-Jeanne Victorine Narcisse and Angélique Narcisse, both daughters of Éloïse Lindor (*213*).

Possible Genealogy of Victorine Narcisse

Réne Landry + Marguerite Babin Attakapa Indian + (Negro) Narcisse?

I I

Landry?______+______Eloise Lindor?

Victorine Narcisse

Census records and other documents indicate that Victorine had at least two brothers and one sister with the same mother. They lived right next to Victorine and her children and other Jacquet’s across the Bayou Teche near the St. Martinville cemetery. One of her brothers was Antoine Narcisse, griffe and freed slave of Charles Landry. Antoine married Marcéline Isidore Bérard. The other brother of Victorine known was Philippe Narcisse, freed Negro slave of Charles Landry. Philippe Narcisse married Constance Malveau. On his marriage document, Philippe Narcisse listed his parents as Narcisse and Éloïse Lindor (or Lendor). Both of the names NARCISSE and LINDOR are old given names in French. Slaves had several choices with acquiring a surname when slavery ended. Many of them took the name of their mother or father as their last name and many others took the last name of their slave master as their last name. Mary Jeanne (also Jane) Narcisse was a sister of Victorine. Mary Jane married Maurice Hampleton. There is a high probability that Victorine Narcisse was married to Maurice Hampleton around the birth of her sons Jules Jacquet and Albert Jacquet during the 1866 – 1868 period. On Jules’ marriage certificate to Marie-Odile Lasseigne, he was listed as Jules Maurice instead of Jules Jacquet. His parents given were Maurice (no surname) & Victorine Narcisse. He must have had some kind of relationship with Maurice because he wouldn’t have listed him as his father. The 1880 Census does list Victorine as “Widow” indicating obviously that she was a widow or was divorced but when did all this happen? It is Interesting that Mary-Jane Narcisse married Maurice Hampleton not too long after the birth of Victorine’s children Éloïse, Jules and Albert. Is this truly the sister of Victorine or is this Victorine going under another name? Christophe Landry’s family has for a long time acknowledged the descendants of both Philippe Narcisse and Antoine Narcisse as cousins. There are no family ties to Mary Jane’s descendants. Antoine Narcisse’s son Narcisse Pitre (Pétrie) and Victorine’s son Alcide Landry who were first cousins, married two sisters: Félicienne Prince and Marie Prince of Fausse Pointe (*213*).

Some interesting facts about the Landry and Le Normand families were that Joseph Landry born on 7 Apr 1778 at St-Servan, Diocese of Nantes, France, married Modeste-Arthémise Le Normande, octoronne libre (1/8^th black and free) on 6 July 1801 in St. Martinville. Joseph was the son of René Landry and Marguérite Babin of Acadie, Canada. René was born on 8 Aug 1730 in Nova Scotia, Canada and was deported to England after the deportation of the Acadians in 1756. In England, he met and married Marguerite Babin. Modeste-Arthémise was the daughter of Marin Le Normand and Jeanne-Charlotte Broutin, quarteronne libre. Marin and Charlotte Broutin were married legally in St-Martin-de-Tours Church and were both natives of New Orleans. Charlotte was Marin’s slave at one time (*213*).

In the estate Inventory of slaves following the death of Adélaïde-Léontine Le Normand, spouse of Charles Landry, taken on 22 February 1851, Antoine was listed as a “Griffe” (offspring of a Negro and a Mulâtre); Victorine listed as a “Mulâtresse” along with her two children (race not listed) : Louis, 2 and Oscar, 4 months; Philippe, listed as a “Nègre“ and two years old. Their ages were all very close to one another. Philippe is also listed as “orphelin” which means he is an orphan and in the care of Victorine.

Sifting through the LANDRY and LE NORMAND estate successions, we find a few men with the given name Narcisse and there was one with the given name Lindor. So the two are probably connected in some family circle. On the Lenormand/Landry mortgage inventory of 22 February 1851 (*237*), we find in entry 11:

“Un négre nommé Lindor, agé de vingt huit ans, estimé huit cent cinquante piastres.” (A negro named Lindor, age twenty eight years, estimated value at 850 piastres.)

This puts Lindor’s birth year circa 1822, which does not give us any indication of who and how he is related to the Narcisse family. On entry 14, we find:

“…Un griffe nommé Antoine, agé de dix huit ans, estimé huit cent piastres.

(A griffe (product of a Negro and a Mulatto) named Antoine, age 18 years, estimated value at 800 piastres.)

This would put the birth year of Antoine, the brother of Victorine at circa 1832, about four years younger than Victorine. We find next on entry 15:

Un négre nommé Maurice, attaqué d’une hernie et age de trente trois ans estimé deux cent vingt cinq piastres (*237*).

(A negro named Maurice, afflicted with a hernia and aged 33 years, estimated value 225 piastres).

This puts Maurice’s birth year at 1817, about eleven years older than Victorine. On entry 16, we find:

Un négre nommé Philippe, agé de quatorze ans estimé ses cent cinquante piastres.

(A negro named Philippe, aged fourteen years, estimated value at six hundred piastres).

This puts Philippe’s birth year at circa 1836, about eight years younger than Victorine.

The Descendants of Victorine Narcisse

Victorine was born circa 1828, according to the estate inventory of 4 February 1851 of Adelaide Leontine Lenormand, wife of Charles Landry, which says that she was 22 years of age. Circumstantial evidence points to the likelihood that she was the mistress of slave-owner Charles Landry and had at least two and possibly three sons by him. Charles Landry was the son of Joseph Landry of Nantes, France and Modeste-Arthémise Le Normand, an octeronne libre (*213*). The pedigree of Charles’ parents would make him 1/16^th Negro. According to Louisiana Creole family researcher Christophe Landry-Hoegan, Charles Landry married Adélaïde-Léontine Le Normand a quarteronne libre but fathered additional children with two mulâtresse slave sisters he owned named Marie-Jeanne Victorine Narcisse and Angélique Narcisse. Both sisters were the daughters of Éloïse Lindor and an unknown father of the Landry/Le Normand estate (*213*). One other child appears to have been adopted by Victorine and also appears here in the list of children born to Victorine. The adopted son appears to be the son of her sister Angelique. As far as the records show, the eight children known to have been born and/or raised by Victorine Narcisse were:

1. Louis-Victorin Landry, mulâtre (Father Alexandre-Victorin Landry), born ca. 1848 and baptized on 19 May 1849 at the St. Martin de Tours Church. His baptismal Godparents were Dorcili Landry and Azélie Landry, two of Charles Landry’s free octeronne children. Louis-Victorin married on 9 June 1875 Clara Rochon, a mulâtresse libre and the daughter of Édouard Rochon, fils (Jr.) & Marie-Aimée Carlin. Louis was a Farmer. Louis-Victorin Landry is probably the son of Charles Landry’s brother Alexandre-Victorin Landry (*213*).

2. Oscar Jacquet (Father was Jean-Baptiste Jacquet), mulâtre, born ca. 1850. He married on 7 Feb 1872 Louisa Étié, the daughter of Octavie Sylvestre. Oscar was a Farm Laborer. Oscar is discussed more fully in chapter 11 of this volume 2 book.

3. Philippe Landry, mulâtre orphin raised by Victorine (Father was Charles Landry). Philippe was born in March 1848 and baptized in 1848 as a quateron esclave. He is most likely the son of Victorine’s sister Angelique Narcisse (*213*). He married on 3 Dec 1877 Marie-Athalie Veazey, mulâtresse libre, the daughter of Adolphe Veazey & Nanette Profil, griffonne libre. Philippe was a Farmer. Succession #4823 on his estate dated 19 Apr 1843, is at the St. Martinville Courthouse.

4. Aristide Landry, born a quarteron esclave, (Father was Charles Landry), was born in 1853 and baptized on 5 June 1854 at the age of 1 years old at the St. Martin Church. Aristide married on 1 Feb 1876 Alice Jacquet, the daughter of Casimir Jacquet & Marthe Blondin. Aristide was a Farmer. Marthe died on 27 Mar 1902. Alice Jacquet and Aristide are discussed in Volume 1.

5. Alcide Landry (Father was Charles Landry), was born a quarteron esclave April or May of 1856 and baptized on 29 June 1856 at the age of 2 months. He married 21 Jan 1879 Félicienne Prince, daughter of Viléor Prince & Marianne Broussard-Johnson. Alcide was a Farmer and Laborer working as a Field Hand. He died in 1927 in New Iberia. Félicienne died on 26 Jan 1936.

6. Albert Jacquet mulâtre, (Jean-Baptiste Jacquet), was born ca. 1865. He married twice. First on 9 Dec 1890 to Arsène Lasseigne (Paul Lasseigne & Caroline Jean) who died after giving birth to their only child. Albert married a second time to Arsène’s sister Marie Odille Lasseigne (Paul & Caroline Jean) in 1918. Albert died in 1919.

7. Jules Jacquet, (Jean-Baptiste Jacquet) mulâtre, was born ca. 1865-1866. Jules was a Farm Laborer. He married Marie-Odile Lasseigne on 16 December 1884 (*107*). He died 16 Mar 1888 at age 23. His wife Odile married his brother Albert after Albert’s wife died in childbirth.

8. Éloïse Hamilton, (Father was ?Maurice Hamilton?) mulâtresse, was born ca. May 1867.

Volume One Updates and Corrections

CASIMIR JACQUET’S MOTHER - Marie Therese Jean Louis (Pages 45 – 47, Vol. 1)

Marie Therese Jean Louis and Casimir Jacquet, the first-born child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet had a son named Casimir Jacquet Jr. Casimir Jr. was born ca. 1856. He married Louise Gregoire on 21 Mar 1907 well after the couple had at least five children before their marriage. Casimir Jr.’s mother Marie Jean Louis was the daughter of Virginia Jean Louis. After Marie had Casimir Jr., she had a son by Joseph Clesme Dugas, a Frenchman. Marie and Joseph Dugas are the great-great grandparents of Bay area researcher Rahsaan Jackson. Marie and Joseph Dugas had a mulatto son named Joseph Dugas Knatt born ca. 1866 in New Iberia Parish. Therese later married John Knatt, an ex-slave who adopted Joseph Dugas Jr. and changed his named from Dugas to Knatt. John Knatt is the great-grand father of Robert Knatt, Seattle Jazz band director and music teacher who was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in December 2004.

BELIZAIRE JACQUET – His son’s shotgun wedding, daughter’s divorce! (Pages 51-53. Vol. 1)

Edward Jacquet, the son of Belizaire Jacquet and Mathilda Pillet petitioned to the St. Martin court on 18 January 1889 (suit #8969) to sue his wife Louise Woodley for adultery and divorce her:

“…That against his will and by force and threats from the relatives of Louise Woodly, he was wedded to her on the 8^th day of July 1886…that since their marriage she has led and is now leading a life of shame and conniption and has repeatedly committed adultery with diverse persons and more particularly with one Carlos Osborne of this Parish…”

Edward Jacquet was declaring that his marriage with Louis Woodley be declared null and void. The father of Louise had assumed that Edward was the father of the child his daughter was six months pregnant with and forced a shotgun wedding. Witnesses had to be called into court three weeks later:

“…on 9 Feb 1889, Carlos Osborne, Honoré Denis, Esther Denis, E.W. Bienvenu and Zaire Noël were summoned to appear at court to testify on behave of plaintiff…’I was forced to marry her by Mr. Edgar Woodley and son. Mr Woodley came in the field, pulled his pistol on me and got me to go and marry the defendant. His son and son in law Gabriel Pillet were with him. They bought me at the house of Mr. Woodley in the saw mill yard and told me if I would not wed the defendant that they would kill me…since I left her, she has been living with Carlos Osborne as man and wife…midwife Zaire Noël testified that she knew Louise Woodley was married to a Jacquet but has not been living with him for over a year but was lving with a man by the name of Carlos. About 7 or 8 months ago I was called to her house to assist her in childbirth. Carlos came after me. She gave birth. Carlos promised to pay me for service but never did.”

Mr. Edgar Woodley had three other daughters. Cecile Woodley born ca. 1871, Sara Woodley born ca 1869, and Kitty Marie Woodley who married Gabriel Pilet. All are listed as black on the 1880 census (*256*). It took the judge another 17 days to reach a decision and a judgment. On 28 April 1890 the court document reads:

“…upon evidence advanced and confirmed”…Judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant hereby dissolving forever the bonds of matrimony. It is further ordered that the defendant pay all costs of this suit.”

Some years later Angelle Jacquet, the daughter of Belizaire Jacquet and Mathilda Baptiste Pillet came to the St. Martin Courthouse on 1 February 1812 to sue (#10842) her husband Joseph Alcide Malveaux for adultery:

Angelle Jacquet was victorious in her court case and was granted a divorce as well as permanent care and custody of her two minor children Joseph Wade Malveaux and Lilly Malveaux. Ex-husband Alcide had to pay the court costs. Angelé died in 1946 and Alcide Malveaux died in 1930. Angelé’s son George Malveaux was actually born Leary Malveaux. Angelé’s other two sons Will (Wade) and Charlie had their last names changed to Miller according to family relatives. Angele’s daughter Lillie Malveaux married Joseph McDaniel (also MackDaniel) and one of their four children was a daughter named Augustine Leetra McDaniel who became a nun and spent her days at the LaFon Nursing Facility of the Holy Family in New Orleans. The other three children of were Julia Ali McDaniel, Joseph McDaniel and Dorothy Ethel McDaniel. Dorothy had two children named Dwight and Sheryl. Dwight had a daughter named Sybil and Sheryl had a daughter named Sharon.

Belizaire’s youngest daughter Marie Marthe Jacquet married Joseph Ernest Jacquet, the first born son of Belizaire’s brother Pierre Jacquet and his wife Aimee Gaspard. Since Ernest’s father Pierre and Marthe’s father Belizaire were brothers, they were first cousins who married. Joseph Ernest was born on 8 March 1876. He died in Los Angeles on 13 Feb 1981, almost living to be 105 years old! Marie Marthe and Joseph Ernest had one child named Ernestine Jacquet. She married a Tolliver.

Belizaire’s second oldest son Henri Jacquet married Leontine Jean-Louis on 15 Feb 1887. Their four children were:

1. Mathilda Jacquet born on 26 Nov 1887.

2. Ellen Jacquet born on 6 Aug 1890. Ellen had two children named Moses J. Carson and Leontine Shiloh. Leontine had two children named Herman and Ronald. Herman had a daughter named Angela and Ronald had two children named Ronald Jr. and Jessica.

3. Marie Beulah Jacquet was born on 14 Nov 1892.

4. Leon Jacquet born in 1907. Leon married Eunice Verdun on 30 May 1931.

ONEZIME JACQUET – Son of Jean Baptiste Jacquet. (Pages 55 – 60, Vol. 1)

Onezime Jacquet was the third known child of Jean Baptiste Jacquet. His mother was Celeste Augustine. He was born circa 1832, in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. He died on 28 Jan 1917, in St. Martin Parish. His one child was Virginia Jacquet who married Henri Gaspard on 6 Feb 1888 in St. Martinville. Henri’s father was Henri Gaspard Pére (Sr.) but his mother has been difficult to find because the marriage certificate at the St. Martin courthouse (#6085), mistakenly records that his mother was “Virginia Jacquet.” She could not be both wife and mother. Witnesses to the marriage were George Turpot and Laura Gaspard. The Louisiana death certificate (v.194, p.558) says nothing about his parents. It records that he was a widow and died on 11 Apr 1927 at age 65 of a cerebral hemorrhage. The record books of Father Donald J. Hebert have a birth record from the St. Martin church which lists a Henri Gaspard born on 7 May 1870. His mother is listed as Marie Augustin. This is most likely the Henri in question but if it is not, another clue that may point to the mother of Henri from Donald Hébert’s SW Louisiana Record of Blacks (V.33), is a listing of a “Henri David” the son of Henri and Annette, baptized in 1863 at the Arnaudville church. The death certificate of Henri from April 1927 records his age at 65 years pointing to a birth year of 1862 –1863 which matches the Arnaudville date. However, the marriage document of 1888 says that Henri was “…mineur de Henri Gaspard Pére et de Virginia Jacquet…” in other words he was of minor age and not yet 21 indicating a birth year of 1867 or after making the 1870 birth at St. Martinville the more likely candidate. As we have noted, the marriage document has serious errors. Onezime Jacquet’s succession record relates that:

“…during slavery the said Onezime Jacquet was married to Philomene Allen, both slaves, said marriage having been contracted and solemnized with the consent of their master Mrs. Widow Chavallier Delahoussaye in this parish of St. Martinville. That of this marriage there was only one issue: Virginie Jacquet who was born about the year 1861 or 1862; that after the decree of slave emancipation in January 1863, the said Onezime Jacquet and Philomene Allen continued living together as man and wife under their said marriage, until about the year 1865, when they were forcibly separated at the end of the Civil War or about the year 1866 when Onezime Jacquet who had enlisted in the Federal Army, left with the said Army at New Orleans, La…” (*30*)

Philomene Arcene Allen was related to Joseph Allen born in 1810 and Dale Allen born in1820. One of them may have been her father. According to US Government documents held by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Pensions in Washington DC, and from the family history records of a great-grandson of Onezime Jacquet, Onezime joined the Union Army on January 1, 1864. He was discharged on March 20,1866. His unit was the 4th Regiment, Corps d'Afrique Co. G U.S. Colored Cavalry. He went into the army as James Baptiste because he says that the registrar had problems spelling his real name. He was about 5'7" tall and weighed about 130 lbs. His complexion was dark. He was supposed to have claimed that he was never married. His Captain was named Loomis and he served under Sgt. Everet. His comrades were Anatole Prade, Oscar Baptiste Jacquet and Alfred Olivier. His service number was 1,096,071. Onezime received a pension and his number was 828,672. His service record confirms that his father was Jean Baptiste Jacquet. His age given in 1899 was 61 and in 1911 as 78. Census records indicate a birth year of 1832. In 1894, Onezime gave testimony before the board of pension examiners in St. Martin Parish most likely because of the large amount of fraud which was at that time involving Civil War pensions. He says, "my age is more than 50 years, I don't know my exact age, I am a farmer with residence and P.O. address in Cades, St. Martin Parish, La." He goes on to describe his military service and he says that he enlisted in January but did not know what year but he says that he served two years. He enlisted at New Iberia and was discharged at Greenville (New Orleans) La. He says that his brother Oscar Baptiste was in the same company and that he was receiving a pension of $12 per month. He said that a Mr. J.L. Dupart of New Orleans made his application for him. He was advised to see Dupart who was a "pension attorney". Dupart completed Onezime's application and a man named "Gus" was called in as a witness. He did not pay Dupart that day, but Dupart said that the fee would be one dollar. After he "touched the pen" he went back to 7th Street. After that, Onezime claims he never saw Dupart again. Onezime’s deposition is signed by Aladin Broussard and Edward Lousey. The deposition is taken before J.W.Montgomery, June 9, 1894. Continuing with his deposition, Onezime says: “He doesn't remember what happened to Gus after the episode in Dupart's office.” He claims to have no knowledge of what happened to his claim after the sending. “Did you swear to your claim.....” “Yes Sir..” “Where?..” “Before Mr. Dupart..” “How did he swear you...” “He made me and my witness Gus hold up our right hands…” “Did he administer an oath to you as I have just done?” “Yes he did, I'm sure of it.” “Where does Gus work?” “In a colored cake shop on Canal near Rampart.” “Did Dupart take you to any other man to be sworn?” “No, I don't remember that he did.” “If he had you would remember it?” “I don't know.” “Do you know the location of the Custom House?” “Yes Sir.” “Did Dupart take you there?” “No, I'm positive of that”. Onezime goes on to say after being questioned, that there was an old White man in Dupart's office for pension business. When further pressed for information, Onezime sticks to his story about the application. He does not know how the name John P. Thomas Jr. got on his application and he claims that he does not know a Mr. Barnett. He says that he comes to Exchange Alley every time he comes to New Orleans and that he did not meet Dupart in Exchange Alley. The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions’ June 21, 1894 claim is that J.L. Dupart with John P. Thomas being a witness executed Onezime’s application before notary public W.B. Barnett. Thomas claims that the signature is a forgery and that he never saw Barnett until he saw him on trial recently in 1894. The forgery looks suspiciously like Dupart's handwriting.

When Onezime died in 1916, he left an estate valued at $1923.00 including land valued at $1600.00 . The land measured 38.14 arpents in the first ward of St. Martin Parish. The land was bounded North by that of .P. Breaux, South by lands of Mrs. Ulger Bourque, East by that of his brother Hypolite and on the West by Oscar's lands (*30, 35, 63*). There was a court challenge as to the validity of Onezime’s daughter Virginia. It was challenged by the legitimate descendants of Onezime’s brother Edward Jacquet when Martin Jacquet, Onezime Jacquet Jr., Onelia Jacquet and Tela Jacquet came into the St. Martin Parish courthouse with their lawyers to challenge the claim of Virginia’s heirs. The case was eventually settled in favor of Virginia and Henri Gaspard’s children being declared legitimate heirs (*30*).

There were at least six children born to Onezime Jacquet’s daughter Virginia Jacquet and her husband Henri Gaspard:

1. Ivory Gaspard was born ca. 1888-89. He may have been born or baptized in July 1890 in St. Martinville. He may have been born with the name Antoine because we see on this date was born a Gaspard named "Antoine Everett Gaspard". His baptismal certificate shows that the preist was A.B. Langlois. His sponsoring Godparents were Manual Jacquet and Marie Biburce. Ivory died on 21 Feb 1955, in New Orleans. Ivory married twice. His first marriage was to Jeanne Douglas on 21 Dec 1917.. Ivory’s second marriage was to Louisa Frazier. Louisa was born ca. 1882. Louisa and Ivory had adopted a son named Pete. He raised Dalmatians and trained them.

2. Felix Gaspard (also Gasper I), was born on 15 Mar 1889, in St. Martinville. He died on 4 Apr 1927, in New Orleans. Felix was probably born with the name "Elias Gaspard". On his baptismal record the priest was Reverend Davauen. The sponsoring Godparents were George Turpot and Angele Thomas. Felix married Loretta Lacabe born in Nov 1885, in New Orleans. Loretta died on 15 May 1964, in New Orleans. She was the daughter of George Lacabe I who was born ca. 1858 and died ca. 1909. Felix would have been 38 at death and he probably died of Tuberculosis. Felix was a contractor and carpenter. He had a partner named Joe Scuggia. Oral history says that he worked on the Loews State Theatre and that his name was on a plaque. He apparently had his eye on a home in a fairly exclusive area of New Orleans. His daughter Virginia said that he was never the same man after his failure to build his home. Felix was also a baseball player.

Felix Gaspard I had a son named Felix H. Gasper II born on 8 May 1919, in New Orleans. Felix II died on 27 Sep 1993, in New Orleans. As a laborer, Felix II tried to get into the ice business in the 50's. Many of his relatives were in that business. The problem was refrigerators became more common about that time and business for him became slow. It is believed the ice house he worked at was on Galvez and LaHarpe or Lapeyrouse. Felix Gasper II died of heart failure and suffered from fluid build-up in his body. He had a difficult time the last 20 years of his life say his children. Felix Gasper II married Elizabeth Maude Isabella Leufroy, born on 11Mar 1920, in New Roads, Louisiana, a city just north of Baton Rouge. Elizabeth Leufroy was the daughter of Auguste Leufroy and Dellia LeCoq. Auguste was born ca. 1881 and Dellia was born ca. 1885. Dellia died in1932. Felix Gasper and Elizabeth Leufroy married on 15 Nov 1942. Felix and Elizabeth’s children were:

Alton J. Gasper (1944-)
Felix H. Gasper (1945-)
Claude A. Gasper (1948-)
Wanda A. Gasper (1950-)
John L. Gasper (1954-)
Edward A. Gasper (1955-)
Lisa M. Gasper (1961-). :

3. Marie Lillian Gaspard was born ca. 1893. She married Clement Edgerson. His father was Henry Edgerson. Their children were:

Gladys Edgerson born on 26 Oct 1923 in New Orleans. Gladys died in Dec 1991 in New Orleans.
Annabelle Edgerson.

4. Margaret Gaspard was born on 24 June 1896, in St. Martinville. She married Ernest Edgerson on 20 Nov 1915. Ernest was born ca. 1893. His father was also Henry Edgerson and his brother married Margaret’s sister Lillian. Their child was:

Ernest Edgerson II born on 26 Aug 1916. Ernest II died in Oct 1973.

5. Samuel Gaspard was born on 11 Aug 1898, in St. Martinville. Samuel died on 4 Aug 1958, in New Orleans. Samuel Gaspard married three times. His first marriage was to Olga Mary Swain. His second marriage was to Hazel Chapital. His third marriage was to Vera Brusle. Some of the marriage dates for Samuel were 8 Aug 1922 and 15 Oct 1925.

6. Aimee Gaspard was born 2 Oct 1900, in St. Martinville. Family stories say that Amiee Gaspard went to live with her grandmother Philomene Allen. Amiee died in Jan 1987. She married Will Evans and was also known as Amy Evans. Will was the son of Gloria Eva Evans.

VICTORINE SALMAZOO – wife of Jean Baptiste (Pop Fils) Jacquet. (Pg. 94, 102. Vol. 1)

No marriage document has been found between Fils Jacquet and Victorine. They started having children around the year 1886. At least eleven children were born between them. Victorine is said to have been of mixed white, black and Indian blood and the other half of a set of twin girls. Her twin sister was said to be named Victoria Salmazoo. Victorine was said to have a half-brother from the same mother but different father named Alexandre Leblanc. Alexandre Leblanc had a daughter named Mabel Leblanc who married a Merchant In Lake Charles. Oral history says Victorine’s father was a white Frenchman from France and her mother was a black woman with the name sounding something like “Lolan”. A look at the death certificate of Victorine Salmazoo Jacquet says that she was born on 10 March 1864 in Lafayette and died on 7 Dec 1953 in Cade, St. Martin Parish, 1^st Ward, at the age of 89. The rural address listed where she lived was R.F.D. 1 box 292. She was married to “Fiest Jacquet” and died due to an infected foot bought on by diabetes. However, the document was certifiably altered on 1 Mar 1954 to include “dead or diseased ovary” as the cause of death. The document says that the maiden name of her mother was Marceal Colar from Lafayette, Louisiana (*216*). The informant was her son Wallace Jacquet but he gives no information about Victorine’s father. Bernice Jacquet Wiltz claimed in a 1994 family reunion interview that Pop Fil’s mother Maristeen Bourque was a Couchetta Indian from Patterson, La. who lived to be 113 and had two sisters who lived past the age of 100 (*279*)

WALTER JACQUET – Son of Pop Fils Jacquet (Pg. 98, 128. Vol. 1)

The first child born between Jean Baptiste (Pop Fils) Jacquet and Victorine Salmazoo was Joseph Walter Jacquet. Walter was born in Youngsville, New Iberia Parish, Louisiana on 3 Dec 1886. Walter married Lena Sinette (or Sennette). The only Lena Senette that could be found in Hebert’s SW Louisiana records was Lena Senette who was baptized in 1895 as an adult at the Centerville Presbyterian Church (v.2; p.333). Walter Jacquet died at the age of 78 on 31 July 1965, in Port Arthur, Texas. Four children were born:

1. Leroy Phillip Jacquet born on 3 Jan 1925.

2. Joseph Patrick Jacquet born on 7 May 1931. Joseph married twice. His first marriage was to Betty Hester. Three children were born:

A. Tina Jacquet

B. Sheryl Jacquet

C. Joseph Michael Jacquet

Joseph Patrick married for a second time to Martha Bryant. Four children were born:

D. Eric Jacquet

E. Brian Jacquet

F. Monica Jacquet

G. Yvette Jacquet born in 1965.

3. Myrtle Marie Jacquet born on 26 Oct 1934.

4. Harold Jacquet.

WALLACE JACQUET – Son of Pop Fils Jacquet (Pg. 98, 128. Vol. 1)

The second child born between Jean Baptiste (Pop Fils) Jacquet and Victorine Salmazoo was Joseph Wallace Jacquet. Wallace was born on 12 July 1888. He died on 28 April 1963, in Beaumont, Texas at age 74. Wallace married Marie Ester LaCour. Marie Ester was born on 20 Oct 1894. She was the daughter of Dorciane Lacour (*279*). Wallace and Ester had 5 children:

1. Wallace Buddy Jacquet Jr. was born in 1919. Wallace II married twice. His first marriage was to Elinora Forks. With Elinora, Wallace II had seven children:

A. Wallace Jacquet III. In Volume one on page 128 is a photograph of Pop Fils Jacquet (b.1861), his son Wallace Jacquet I (b.1888), his grandson Wallace Jacquet II (b.1919), and at the time of the writing of volume one, an “un-named son of Wallace Jacquet II.” That un-named son is Wallace Jacquet III who was born in 1949. Wallace Jacquet III had a son he named Joseph Wallace Jacquet IV.

B. Lester Jacquet was another son of Wallace Buddy Jacquet Jr. Lester Jacquett married Brenda and their two children were:

i. Tenisha Jacquett

ii. Lester Jacquett Jr.

C. Jackie Jacquett

D. Glenn Jacquett

E. Patt Jacquett

F. Larry Jacquett

G. Reggie Jacquett

Wallace “Buddy” Jacquet Jr. married a second time to Minnie Porter. There were two children born. Like their father and his children from his first marriage, they spell their Jacquet surname with two “T’s”:

H. Tanya Jacquett

I. Gregory Jacquett

2. Dorothy Jacquet was the second child born to Wallace and Ester Lacour. Dorothy was born in 1922.

3. Florence Jacquet was born in 1924.

4. Raymond Jacquet was born in 1926.

5. Vera Lee Jacquet was born in 1930.

BESSIE EDNA WAGNER, wife of Earthna Jacquet, son of Jolivet Jacquet. (Pages 101–103, Vol. 1)

Joseph Vickner “Earthna” Anthony Jacquet was the son of Jean Baptiste “Pop Fils” Jacquet and Victorine Salmazoo. Earthna was born on 11 December 1898 with his twin sister Marie Bertha. Earthna married Bessie Edna Marie Wagner on 4 Feb 1922 in Patoutville, Iberia Parish, La. Edna Marie Wagner was born on 8 May 1900 in New Iberia Parish. She was the daughter of Henry Waggoner (Sr.?*) and Anna Scott. Bessie Edna died on 19 Sep 1984 in Los Angeles where she is interred (*279*). Henry Waggoner (Wagner) Sr. was born in 1839 in New Iberia. His wife Rosalie was born in 1842 also in New Iberia. Children from the union of Henry Wagner Sr. and Rosalie were: (*note that this may be unclear as to which Henry Waggoner is Edna’s father)

1. Henry Wagner Jr. born in 1868 in New Iberia, La.

2. Albert born on 8 Apr 1882 in New Iberia. Albert died in June 1964 in New Iberia.

3. Julius born on 4 July 1887 in New Iberia. Julius died in August 1964 in New Iberia.

4. Louise born on 9 Mar 1895 in New Iberia. Louise died in August 1971 in New Iberia.

5. Ida born on 1 May 1896 in New Iberia. Ida died in April 1964 in Texas.

6. Josephine born on 9 Oct 1898 in New Iberia. Josephine died in July 1975 in New Orleans.

7. Joseph Henry born on 28 Oct 1902 in New Iberia. Joseph died on 2 Feb 1974 in New Jersey.

Henry Waggoner also had children with Anna Scott:

8. Edna Marie Waggoner born on 8 May 1900 in Texas. Edna died on 19 Sep 1984 in Los Angeles.

9. Clarence Martin Waggoner

10. Austin

11. Marvin

12. Neattie

13. Henry

14. Nellie E.

15. George

16. Nathan

VOLUME ONE UPDATE PHOTOS

Top Left: Henri Gaspard who married Virginia Jacquet on 6 Feb 1888.

Top Right: 1981 STINER FAMILY PHOTO

Standing (left to right) – Sandra, Jo Ann, Felica, Angie, Arnold, Noella, Veronica, Phillipa.

Seated (left to right) – David, Frederick, Hilda, Paul Stiner Sr., Duane, Paul Jr.

Center Right: Jean Baptiste “Fils” Jacquet with Wife Victorine Salmazoo & Family. (ca.1898)

TOP – Wesley, Victorine, Walter, Pop Fils, Wallace

BOTTOM – Bernice, twins Beulah & Eulas

Bottom Left: Dinner Party at the home of Pop Fils Jacquet in New Orleans. (ca.1960)

Left to Right – Earthna Jacquet & wife Bessie Edna Wagner, Wallace Jacquet & wife Ester LaCour,

Mabel Jacquet Oliver, Priscilla Jacquet Dandridge, Victoria Salmazoo (sister of Victorine)

Bottom Right: Mitchel Jacquet Jr. (1920 – 2002), at his home in Cade, La. In 1991

ROSITA BAZILLE JACQUET & DEMOSTHENES STEINER (Pg 130, Vol. 1)

Rosita Jacquet was the first-born child between Jean Baptiste Jolivet Alexandre Jacquet and Rosa Jean Louis. Rosita was born on 5 Oct 1866 in St. Martinville. She married Demosthenes Steiner (also Styner) on 17 Dec 1885. Demosthenes was born ca. 1865 according to census records but January 1864 is another estimated birth date. Demosthenes was the son of Emma Malveaux and Bourg Steiner according to Hebert’s Records of SW Louisiana. A look at the original marriage document will be necessary to interpret and confirm the spelling of the first name of Demosthenes’ father. Demosthenes died on 31 Jan 1931 in St. Martin Parish. No additional information on his father has been found. The only clues that may point to the birth of Demosthenes is the possibility that his name was spelled different. In the record books of births contemporary with his birth era, we see the name “Sosthenes”. Could the prefix “de” meaning “of” been added onto the name creating the name “desosthenes”?

From documents (*263*) in the record books and family history passed down via the Styner family, Rosita and Demosthenes had at least six children:

1. Randolph Steiner born 10 Sep 1887. He married Alice Andres.

2. Paul Steiner born on 29 July 1888.

3. Willie Steiner born on 15 June 1889. Willie married Alma Cecilia Mitchell on 6 Apr 1912 in St. Martin Parish. Alma was born on 12 Sep 1892 in St. Martinville and died on 13 Jan 1961 in Houston Texas. Alma was the daughter of Felix Mitchell and Felicia Lyons. Felix was born on 15 Apr 1854 in St. Martinville. Felix died on 17 May 1918 in Houston. Felicia Lyons was born in April 1862 in St. Martinville. Felicia died on 29 Mar 1944 in Houston. Willie Steiner died on 11 July 1953 in Houston, Texas. Alma and Willie had three children:

A. Paul Acklin Stiner, Sr. born on 11 Jan 1913 in St. Martin Parish. Paul married on 6 Sep 1938 in Houston. Paul died on 8 Jan 1982 in Houston.

B. George Phillip Stiner, Sr. was born on 15 Feb 1917 in Houston, Tx. George married in 1945 in Houston. George died on 25 Mar 1978 in Los Angeles.

C. Patrick Bernard Stiner was born on 5 Mar 1935 in Houston. He married on 14 Feb 1962 in Los Angeles. Patrick died on 6 May 1970 in Los Angeles.

4. Edna Styner was born on 19 Nov 1891 in Cade, Louisiana. Edna married Paul Langlinais who was born ca. 1890 in Youngsville. Edna died ca. 1967 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

5. Anita (or Annie) Steiner was born on 9 Mar 1894. She died in 1909.

6. Joseph Lee Styner was born on 14 Nov 1895, in Cade, La. He married Leona Peter.

Demosthenes Styner died in 1928 and when their mother Rosita Jacquet Styner died in 1941, the children went to the St. Martin Courthouse to petition the court for an inventory and appraisal of the estate of their mother and father:

“The petition of Rudolph Styner of St. Martin Parish, husband of Alice Andre; Edna Styner of Calcasieu Parish, wife of Paul Langlinais; Lee Styner of Calcasieu Parish, husband of Leona Peter; and Willie Styner husband of Alma Mitchel resident of Houston Texas…that their father Demosthene Styner and their mother Rosita were married but once on 17 December 1885 (marriage #5836)…that their father Demosthene Styner died in the year 1928 and their mother Rosita Jacquet died in the year 1941…were born 6 children: Annie Styner died single age 15 in 1909 and Delma Styner at age 5 died in 1890…

There was property that was left behind when the Styner parents died. It appears that the children, most likely Randolph, were living on the property for many years after their parents died before legitimately claiming it by way of the court petition:

1. Land located on the west side of Bayou Teche, in locality of Cade measuring three arpents, bounded north by public road, south by property of Eugene & Joe Reedom, east by estate of H. Cieutat and west by right of way of Southern Pacific railway Co. and being the same and identical property acquired by Demosthenes Styner from Cecelia Gillard on 21 Sept 1896. - $1000.00

2. Land located on the west side of Bayou Teche near locality of Cade measuring 25 arpents, bounded north by Philogene Daniels, south by old public road leading from Cade to St. Martinville, east by public gravel road leading from Cade to St. Martinville, west by a Coulee or property of Edward Huval. Less and except that certain dwelling measuring 18 feet by 28 feet belonging to affiant? Rodolph Styner. Valued and appraised at $1000.00. Total value of estates - $2000.00 (*263*)

OSCAR JACQUET – Son of Jolivet Jacquet, husband of Aimeé Chevis (Pages 131-134, Vol. 1)

The death certificate of Oscar Jacquet (*250*) says he died on 20 July 1953 at the age of 75 years old. He died at 1:55am at Lafayette Charity Hospital of pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried at St. Edward Cemetery in New Iberia. He was the “colored” widower of Amy Chevis, age 76 who was born in Duson, Louisiana. He was an Agricultural farmer and lived at Star Route B, box 234, New Iberia. The informant giving the information was his son Martin Jacquet.

MARTIN JACQUET – son of Oscar Jacquet and Aimee Chevis. (page 133 vol.1)

Martin Jacquet was the third of ten children born to Oscar and Aimee. Martin was born on 8 Oct 1903. Martin Jacquet died at 10:45pm on 1 Nov 1991 at New Iberia general hospital. He was interred at St. Anthony Cemetery in Cade, Louisiana. Martin married twice. He married Beulah Sanders, b. ca 1909 and the daughter of Cyrus Sanders and Rose. He had five children with her:

1. John MaCarthur Jacquet. John had four children:

A. Raphael Jacquet born on 19 July 1966.

B. John MaCarthur Jr. born on 24 July 1969.

C. Dominic Jacquet born on 13 Sep 1970.

D. Nathaniel Jacquet born on 2 Sep 1975. Nathaniel went to San Diego State University and played football there. As “Nate Jacquet” he later played professional football for the Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

2. Eula Jacquet Hector

3. Albert Jacquet. He married Francis Hebert. Their two children were Mona and Kenneth Jacquet.

4. Creola Jacquet Raymond. Creola had six children:

A. Edwit

B. Lender

C. Linden

D. Matthew

E. Paula. She had 3 children: Wayne, Carissa and Ebony.

F. Jason Martin

5. Melvola Jacquet Mitchell was born on 9 Sep 1938. She married Lynel Mitchell on 16 Dec 1958. Three children were born:

A. Ezra

B. Beulah

C. Lynel Mitchell Jr. Lynel had two children: Denise and Amanda.

Martin Jacquet’s second marriage was to Mary (Florence?) Batiste and he had 3 children with her:

6. Gerald Jacquet. Gerald had a son Jonas Jacquet.

7. Oscar Jacquet. Oscar had a son Marcus Jacquet.

8. Todd Jacquet who died prior to 1991. Todd had a daughter Rachel.

PAUL FENELON JACQUET – Son of Oscar Jacquet and Aimeé Chevis (Pg 134, Vol. 1)

Paul Fenelon Jacquet was the 8^th child born to Oscar Jacquet and his second wife Aimeé Chevis. Fenelon was born ca. 1914. Paul Fenelon died on 9 April 1958. He married Gladys Hill, the daughter of Louis James Hill and Virginia Jones, on 2 Aug 1947. Paul and Gladys had two children:

1. Curtis Louis Jacquet born on 26 June 1949.

2. Sharon Elaine Jacquet born on 22 Nov 1954.

Paul Fenelon’s succession record (#7291), at the St. Martin Courthouse verifies his two children born to Gladys and indicates there was community property and property purchased by Fenelon before his marriage that was to be treated as separate property:

“…Community property and is ½ interest:

1) Real Estate: in the city of New Iberia, lots #1 and 8 of block 8, measuring 50 feet front on Sis street by 124 feet bounded north on Sis street, south by Rene street, east by Paul street, west by lots #2 and 9 of block 9, acquired on 14 May 1949 - $2,500.00.

2) Real Estate: in the city of New Iberia measuring 50 feet by 125 feet, bounded north by Field street, south by lot #1 and 7, east by Paul street, west by lot #2, purchased on 18 Dec 1954 - $3,000.00.

Purchased before marriage and is separate property:

3) Real Estate: in the city of New Iberia on the east side of Lombard street measuring 52.75 feet by 220 feet, bounded north by Raphael Broussards lot, south by Laughlin’s lot, east by Sarkies lot, west by Lombard street…being a portion of lot #4, block 323 of the official map of the city of New Iberia made by V. P. Guilfoux in 1908, acquired on 26 June 1939 - $1,000.00.

Other personal property included miscellaneous house furniture worth $250.00. Added to the Real Estate values of the three pieces of land, the total estate amount due to Paul Fenelon’s descendants totaled $6,750.00.

Jacquets Buried in St. Martin de Tours Church Cemetery.

St. Martinville, Louisiana

Cemetery lay-out

Protestant

Section (cemetery road)

Section___ 5 4

6 3

alpha -

betical 7 2

section

8 1

¬ (Bridge Street) ®

NAME SECTION ROW Date of Birth and/or Death

Lawrence Jacket alpha P 15 Nov 1919 – 21 Aug 1944

Baby Jacquet alpha F

Amary Jacquet alpha F 19 Jan 1944 – 2 Sep 1989

and Elise Jacquet alpha F 4 Mar 1910 – 27 Jan 1977

Randolph Jacquet 6 11

Lynch Jacquet (ww1) 6 11 7 Jan 1896 – 15 Dec 1948

Dennis Paul Jacquet 6 11 2 Oct 1976

Jean Baptiste Fils Jacquet alpha H, I 17 Feb 1864 – 17 Aug 1963

Victorine Salmazoo Jacquet alpha H, I 19 Mar 1866 – 7 Dec 1953

Joseph Dallas Jacquet alpha F 1907 – 1958

Louise Thompson, née Jacquet 1 5 30 Jan 1918 – 10 Dec 19?1.

Rodolph Styner (1887 – 8/5/1969), Willie Jean Baptiste, Annie James, Jean Baptiste, and B. Herman (1968), are also buried with Louise Jacquet Thompson.

H. Jacquette alpha F 1911 – 1969

? Jacquette (WWII) alpha G 25 Oct 1902 – 24 Dec 1988

(this may be Marie Jean Jacquet,

daughter of Jimmy & Louisa Regis,

born on 25 Oct 1902.)

Jacquet-Acea’s Louisiana Slave Inventory

1750 - 1864

Within the research of countless hundreds of documents, I came across numerous references to slave inventories, sales, auctions, baptisms and births. Although the overwhelming majority of the references did not pertain to the direct and parallel ancestors I was searching for, I feel that the publishing of such vital Louisiana slave records is important for those who may be looking for that lost ancestor in Louisiana. Perhaps some may be lucky enough to find the trail back to the ships from Africa. Slaves, under Louisiana law, were real estate and had immovable property values. Many references are seen where women sold or auctioned off their slaves. In Louisiana, a married woman had no right to buy or sell immovable property unless she had done one of three things: obtained her husband’s permission to trade the property she had brought into the marriage; declared herself separate in property from her husband, thus gaining the right to trade in her own name and insulating herself from her husband’s debts; or she gained the right to buy and sell freely without pulling shared property out of the marriage by getting a license to do business as a corporation (*236*). A ?(question) mark? next to the name indicates an unsure deciphering of the letters in the name written on the original document. *##* indicates the reference number of the document. All of the records may not be in exact alpha-betical order.

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

A

Adele ca 1850, bte 1854 meronde Eloy Leblanc baptism at Abbeville church

Adelle 6Apr1822 mulatto Helene Jean Mouton baptism at Lafayette Church

Adrien ca 1849 Louisa Edmond Leblanc & Jn Bte Bonin. bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Adeline ca 1845 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her child Adrien age 1

Adeline ca 1846 Tanzib or Janzib? Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Adéline ca 1856 Roseline Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Adelaide ca 1815 negro girl Onezime Trahan slave sale from Marin Mouton 24Nov1825, *209*

Adrien ca 1861 Adeline Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Agnes ca 1815 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Agnes ca 1825 négresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of her deceased husband NicholasCormieSr.*188*

Agnès Aug 1849 Pélagie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Agatha Apr1821, bt.4Nov1821 Gertrude Jean Baptiste Castille baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Alexander ca 1836 Onezime Charles Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Alexandrine ca 1823 negro Gustave Fournet bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

With two children: Michael 8 years, Elmire 8 months.

Alexandrine ca 1846 negrette Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nich Cormier Sr.*188*

Alexandre ca 1833 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Alexandre 15Apr1817, bt.12Oct1821 Margueritte Nath West baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Alexandre ca 1834 negro boy Sally Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Alexandre ca 1860 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Alexis ca 1829 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Alfred ca 1844 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Alfred ca 1844 Joseph Leblanc Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Alima ca 1858 Julie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Alphonse ca 1846-1851 Caroline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Alphonse dit Gobi ca 1847 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Alphonsine ca 1839 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her 5 children: Felix 8, Felicia 6, Martha 5, Jean Louis 3, Catherine 18months.

Alphonsine ca 1849 negro Nicholas Cormier bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Ambroisse ca 1809 little negro Baptiste Berard slave sale from Jean Berard Sr. 7 Nov 1820

Ambroise ca 1786 deceased master 1790 St. Martin Parish document. Sold by Loisel? *197*

Ambroise Mr. Berard 1794 St. Martin Church baptism of his daughter Rosine

Amelia ca 1837 negro Nicholas Cormier bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Amélie ca 1836 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her 6 children: Marie 11, Louis 9, Paul 7, Ursin 5, Angéle 4, Isidore 3.

Amêlie Aug 1849 Hellène Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Angela ca 1842 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her child Angela 2 years old

Angela ca 1860 Angela Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Angele ca 1836 negro Uranie Berard bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Angéle ca 1860 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Angèle Charles Trahan Godmother to Augustine at Jan1855 Abbeville baptism

Angélique ca 1759 creole Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Angélique ca 1759 creole W. C. Maquillé slave sale from Jean-Baptiste Peytavin 3May1808 *9*

Angelique ca 1766, bt.20Jul1772 negritte Andre & Marie - free negro St. Martin Church baptism.

Angelique 14Apr1773, bt.1May1773 Anne (Philippe is Godfather) Mr. D’Auterive St. Martin Church baptism.

Angelique bt. 23 April 1788-91 Charlotte – free quarteron & Lorenzo – slave of mr. Louis Flaman. St. Martin Church baptism.

Angelique Mr. Berard 1794 St. Martin Church baptism of her daughter Rosine

Angelique ca 1798 negro Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

With her (un-named) son age 2 months

Angelique Widow Paul Thibodeau Godmother to Eloy at Aug1811 St. Martin church baptism

Angelique negro girl Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

Angelique ca 1843 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Antoine ca 1770, bte.23Apr1790 (of the Mina Nation, Africa) Jean Berard St. Martin Church Baptism

Antoine ca 1789 negro François Jacquet New Orleans slave sale from Miss Nieto 6Apr1809 *197*

Antoinette ca 1762 Native of the Congo Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Anne bt. 2 June 1765 free Negro parents were former slaves of Mr. Masse St. Martin Church Baptism

Anna ca 1799 mulatresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Anna ca 1795 mulatresse Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Anna ca 1808 négresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

With her husband Barry 65, children Thomas 8, Eugenie 5

Antoine ca 1832 griffe Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Antoine ca 1856 Celeste Onezime C. Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Arthemise ca 1831 negro girl Melite Androl Stelly 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse succ#698

Arthemise ca 1832 girl Mariah Marie Bordeaux 1835 inventory of her deceased husband opel.ct.hse succ#698

Artemise 1854, bt.20Jan1855 Rosella Charles Trahan Baptism at Abbeville Church. Godmother was Clara.

Arthemise ca 1854 Rosila Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Arltrus? ca 1836 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Arminie ca 1852 Carmelite Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Arminie ca 1853 Carmelite Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Arséne ca 1850 negresse Emelie Ledoux Her deceased husband’s inventory of 24Oct1864 *188*

Arsene ca 1845 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her child Juliene 2 months old

Assene/Astene/or Arsene ca 1846 Zelmise Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Auguste ca 1828 negro boy Melite Androl Stelly 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse succ#698

Auguste ca 1850 Azelie Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Augustin ca 1825 negre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Augustin ca 1823 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Augustin 24Jan1772 Jeanne St. Martin Church Baptism

Augustin 1770, bt.20July1772 Andre & Marie St. Martin Church Baptism

Augustin ca 1788 creole Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Augustin ca 1797 negro Baptiste Berard slave sale from Jean Berard Sr. 7 Nov 1820

Augustin ca. 1821 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Ducoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Augustine 25Dec1820 Fanchon François Stelly baptims at Grand Coteau Church

Augustine 4May1854 bt.20Jan1855 Julie Charles Trahan Baptism at Abbeville church

Godparents were Belloni and Angèle.

Augustine ca 1853 Julie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Aurelia ca 1847 Emerenthe Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Aurelia ca 1848 (mother may be Emerenthe Trahan/Schexneyder) Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Azelda ca 1853 Celanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Azelie ca 1819 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

With 4 children: Victorine 9, Corine 5, Nanette 3, Auguste 1

Azelie Ayú? ca 1820 negressa Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

With child Prospíre 6

Azelie ca 1821 negro Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Ducoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

With 4 children: Victorine 9, Corine 5, Nanette 3, Auguste 1

Azema ca 1843 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Azema ca 1844 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Azema ca 1860 Celeste Onezime C. Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

B

Balthazar ca 1804 Alex Langlini slave sale from Pierre Paul Montet 12Nov1827; Laf.ct.hse.

Baptiste Godfather to Anne (born a free Negro) Father Jean François Recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 2June1765

Baptiste ca 1793 negro Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Baptiste ca May 1854 negro Roseline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Barry ca 1789 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

With his wife Anna 46, and 2 children Thomas & Eugenie.

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

Barhíen? ca 1794 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Barney ca 1805 young Negro Clarice Jean Mouton 1817 slave sale from Thomas Pipkin of Iberville; Sm.ct.hse

Bastien ca 1800 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Basie ca 1831 negro boy Sally Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Belisaire ca 1831 mulatto Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Belizaire ca 1833 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Bellezire Irme 1Oct1821, bt.24Dec1821 girl Fanchon Jean Baptiste Mouton fils baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Belisaire ca 1852 negro Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Belizaire ca 1848-1852 Sophie Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Belisaire ca 1852 Sophie Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Beliny or Belisir ca 1828 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Beloni or Beliny ca 1827 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Belloni Charles Trahan Godfather to Augustine at Jan1855 Abbeville baptism

Belzire ca 1859 Melanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With son Sylvain age 8

Benediete Negro woman – now free Liberated by Jean Berard July 1806 St. Martin Church baptism of her daughter Sophie

Bessy ca 1789 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Betsy ca 1791 negro Nicolas Vallof bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Betsy ca 1805 Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Betsy ca 1831 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her infant daughter Leontine 9.

Betsy ca 1836 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Bill ca 1812 mulatto Bernard de Marigny 1852 New Orleans property sale Bill was a runaway.*265*

Bolivar ca 1836 mulatto boy f.w.o.c. Eulalie Rosine Jacquet New Orleans Estate inventory of deceased 26Jan1851 *231*

C

Carmelite ca 1825 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 3 children: Théodule 9, Casimir 6, Arminie 3

Carmelite ca 1832 (may be Pierre Trahan’s Godmother) Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 9 year old child Arminie

Carmelite or Marcelite ca 1836 negresse Charles Trahan 1850 slave sale by Charles Lamarque Jr. of New Orleans *210*

Caroline ca 1812 negro Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

With her 3 children: Marie 4, Therese 2, Elisa 1

Caroline ca July 1834 Mariah Marie Bordeaux 1835 inventory of her deceased husband opel.ct.hse succ#698

Caroline ca 1827 negresse Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

With 4 children: Titer 9, Alphonse dit Gobi 8, Edouard 4, Washington.

Caroline ca 1829 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

With 4 children Ostirè, Alphonse, Edouard, Fanélie

Casimir ca 1848 Joseph Leblanc Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Casimir ca 1849 Carmelite Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Catherine ca 1811 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Catherine ca 1799 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2* Catherine March 1863 Alphonsine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Catherine ca 1839 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her daughter Rachel 8.

Cato ca 1787 negro man Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Celismine? ca 1856 Victoire Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Célima ca 1858 Victoire Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Cécile ca 1850 Zelmise Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Cecile ca 1852 Zelimire Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Cecile & Susette ca 1833 twin girls Napolean Robin 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse succ#698

Celasie ca 1849 Emerenthe Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Celanie ca 1829 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With child Séville 4

Celanie ca 1832 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With 3 children: Azelda 9, Lucien 4, Ursule 4 months old

Celeste ca 1776 creole Vve Genevieve Labranche Inventory of her deceased husband Alexander Bauré, 19Feb1790

St. Charles Parish Ct.Hse. *197*

Celeste ca Jan1795 Iris Madame Loisel St. Martin Church baptism June 1795

Celeste ca 1821 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Celeste ca 1807 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

With 4 children: Edouard 7, Zoe 5, Charles 9, Pierre 18 mos.

Celeste ca 1809 negro Charles Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

With 4 children: Edouard 7, Zoe 5, Charles 9, Pierre 15 mos.

Celeste Godmother to Sophie, child of Celeste Michel Martin recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 11Aug1811

Celeste ca 1832 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 4 children: Nathalie 8, Antoine 6, Elmira 4, Azema 2

Céleste ca 1832 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her two children: Clémence 2, Nathalie 2 months

Celeste Marie Marthe Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208* Celeste Sept 1862 Corrine Louis Delcambre Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Celestine ca 1818 negro Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Celestin ca 1817 Onezime Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Célistin ca 1818 negro Helöise Leblanc Inventory of the deceased’s estate 11July1855 *183*

Charles ca 1842 Celeste Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Christina ca negressa François Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208*

Charles ca 1842 Celeste Charles Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Charle negro boy Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

Charlotte ca 1818 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698 Charité Negro woman Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

Celestin negro boy Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

Celeste ca 1808 Griffone Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Charles ca 1840 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Charles ca 1844 negro Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Charles ca 1820 Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Charles ca 1818 Vve Charles Lemaire Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Charlot ca 1810 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Cisille June 1855 Clasemice Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Cisque ca 1805 Griffone Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Clara ca 1842 griffone Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Clara ca 1852 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Clarice ca 1794 negresse Jean Mouton slave sale from Thomas B. Pipkin 17May1817 Sm.ct.hse

With child Barney 12

Clarisse ca 1809 Lucy Michel Trahan Slave purchase from Marin Mouton Jr. 29Aug1811,SM.ct.hse.

With her mother and sister Hennette age 4. *197*,*20*

Clarisse ca 1848 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Clemence ca 1851 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Clémence ca 1853 Celeste Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Cleónine ca 1853 Marie Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Closemice? Or Glosenne ca 1831 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: Zabelle 4, Cisille 1 month

Colette Michel Martin Godmother to Sophie at Aug1811 St. Martin church baptism

Corrine ca 1834 Louis Delcambre Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 2 children: Eliza 4, Celeste 2 months.

Corine ca 1846 Azelie Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Colas ca 1799 negro Baptiste Berard slave sale from Jean Berard Sr. 7 Nov 1820, SM.ct.hse.

Cyrille ca 1842 Marie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

D

Dominique ca 1820 negro Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Dupart ca 1858 Prudence Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

E

Edmond ca 1856 Prudence Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Edmund ca 1823 Josephine Robin slave sale from Antoine Emile Mouton 22Mar1847 Opel.ct.hse

Edouard ca 1842 Celeste Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Edouard ca 1844 Celeste Charles Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Edouard ca 1847–1852 Caroline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Edouard ca 1851 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Elisa ca 1832 Caroline Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Eliza ca 1858 Corrine Louis Delcambre Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Elizabeth ca 1838 negresse Marguerite Simon Fontenot slave sale from Pierre Jacob Fontenot 26Jan1853 Opel.ct.hse

Elmira ca 1858 Celeste Onezime C. Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Elmire or Elminide June 1850 Alexandrine Gustave Fournet bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Elodie ca 1843 Rosalie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Eloy ca 1809 Celeste David Babineau 11 Aug 1811 St. Martin Church baptism.

Henry & Angelique were Godparents. Eloy’s sister Sophie was baptized on the same day.

Emerente ca 1806, bt.1Nov1822 mulatto/adult Creole from Virginia Jean Louis Bernard baptism at Lafayette Church

Emerante 13Aug1821, bt.24Dec1821 Magdelaine Jean Baptiste Mouton fils baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Emerente bt.1813 Adelaide baptism at St. Martin Church

(E)Mérenthe ca 1816 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With 3 children: Aurelia 8, Celasie 6, Pierre 12 months.

Emerante 13Aug1821, bt.24Dec1821 Magdelaine Jean Baptiste Mouton fils baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Emilie ca 1816, bt.14Oct1821 Daley? Charles Lavoyend baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Her sister Magdeleine was baptized the same day.

Ernestine ca 1862 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Estainville ca 1843 Onezime Charles Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Estelle ca 1838 negressa Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Esther ca 1799 creole Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Etienne ca 1806 Baptiste Berard slave sale from Jean Berard Sr. 7 Nov 1820

Etienne ca 1809 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Etienne ca 1811 negro Duclosel Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Etienne, Eloise Etienne & Flora Desiré Judice She married Jean Louis 20 July 1867, sm.ch.v.10, #36

3 children were recognized between their union.

Eugene Nov 1850 Pélagie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Eugene ca 1847 Jules Langlinais Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Eugenie ca 1849 Anna & Barry Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Eulalie ca 1836 mulatto Jean Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Eulalie ca 1803 Griffone Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Eulalie ca 1822 griffonne Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With her 1 year old daughter Roseline.

Euphroiselle negro wench Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

With her child Zeno

F

Fanélie ca 1847-1853 Caroline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Fanchan negressa Joseph Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208*

Fanchon ca 1799 negressa Jean Mouton fils slave sale from Joseph Mouton 2Jul1817 *207*

Fanny ca 1766 of Senegal black Creole Vve Genevieve Labranche Inventory of her deceased husband Alexander Bauré, 19Feb1790

St. Charles Parish, with her 5 year old son Honore. *197*

Fanny ca.1820-1821 Jinny Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

Felicia ca 1858 Alphonsine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Felica ca 1833 Melite Androl Stelly 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse succ#698

Félix ca 1848 Rosalie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Félix Sept 1850 Lucienne Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Felix ca 1856 Alphonsine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

Felomide ca 1835 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Felonise Gabriel Fuselier she married Jean Louis of Vermillion Parish 30 Sep 1867

Florentin ca 1841 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Frank ca 1821 Julie Latiolais (widow of Charles Mouton) from estate of Augustin Doucet 20Dec1849 Opel.ct.hse

Francisque ca 1805 Griffone Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Francis ca 1823 negro Rosemond Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Francis ca1821 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

François ca 1777 griffe Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Francois 14Oct1854 Marguerite-Schexineider Alcide Leblanc baptized at Abbeville church

Francois ca 1847 Louisa Edmond Leblanc & Jn Bte Bonin. bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

F or J Baptiste ca 1777 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

G

Garçon ca 1839 negro Charles Trahan 1850 slave sale by Charles Lamarque Jr. of New Orleans *210*

Garcon ca 1835 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Garçon Charles Trahan Godfather to Pierre at Jan 1855 Abbeville baptism.

George ca 1827 negro boy Mariah Marie Bordeaux 1835 inventory of her deceased husband opel.ct.hse succ#698

George ca 1806 black complexion , 5’6”, face scars Cesar Mouton Run-away-slave report. Opel.ct.hse. H-1, pg 593

Glosenne? or Closemice? ca 1831 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: Zabelle 4, Cisille 1 month

Gobi (Alphonse) ca 1847 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Gotton ca 1750, black Creole female Vve Genevieve Labranche Inventory of her deceased husband Alexander Bauré, 19Feb1790

St. Charles Parish, Gotton is a cook and laundress *197*

Gotton ca 1779 in Africa negro female Adelaide Mioton (Mouton?) New Orleans slave sale from François Jacquet 6Feb1817 *197*

Acquired in Havana ca 1802, sold with daughter Laurette. Adelaide was the widow of Olivier

Gresse ca 1779 negro Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

H

Henny Charles Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208*

Henry David Babineau Godfather to Eloy at Aug1811 St. Martin church baptism

Henry David bt. 1863 Henri & Annette Baptism at Arnaudville church.

Hermogene ca 1851 mulatre Roseline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Hermogène ca 1853 negro (Roseline) Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Hellène ca 1828 negresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With her child Amêlie 18 months.

Helléne ca 1810 négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Hennette ca 1807 Lucy Michel Trahan Slave purchase from Marin Mouton Jr. 29Aug1811,SM.ct.hse.

With her mother and sister Clarisse age 2. *197*,*20*

Henriette ca 1809 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Hermogine ca 1845-1852 Roseline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Hippolite ca 1837 negro Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Honore ca 1785 Fannie Vve Genevieve Labranche Inventory of her deceased husband Alexander Bauré, 19Feb1790

St. Charles Parish ct.hse., *197*

Humbert ca 1828 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Hyppolite ca 1840 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

I

Irene ca 1853 Melanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Iris Madame Loisel St.Martin church baptism of her daughter Celeste June 1795

Irma ? ca 1846 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Isabelle bt. 20Jan1855 Charles Trahan Baptism at Abbeville Church.

Isane? ca 1817 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Isidore ca 1861 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

J

Jack ca 1803 negro Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Jacob ca 1804 negro Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Jacot ca 1816 mulatre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Jacques ca1809, bt.11Oct1821 Simon Belland baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Jacques ca 1852 Jeanne Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Jacques Aug1853 bt.20Jan1855 Jeanne Charles Trahan Baptism at Abbeville church.

Godparents were William and Phìlomise.

Jacques ca 1848 Lucienne Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Jacques ca 1795 negro man Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Jane ca 1818 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

James ca 1826 mulatto Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

James ca 1845 Marie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Jasmin ca 1802 Hilaire Broussard Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Jean Louis ca 1861 Alphonsine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Jean Baptiste ca 1854 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Jean Godfather to Rosine Simon Broussard St. Martin Church baptism of 1794.

Jean ca 1809 negro Baptiste Berard slave sale from Jean Berard Sr. 7 Nov 1820

Jean 30Sep1821, bt.14Oct1821 Jean Baptiste Stelly baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Jean ca 1826 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Jean ca 1843 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Jean ca 1843 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Jean ca 1857 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Jean, Louis Charles Trahan Godfather to Louise at Jan1855 Abbeville church baptism

Jeanne ca 1833 (maybe mulatto) Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: Jacques 3, Susan 10 months.

Jean Baptiste ca 1779 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Jean Baptiste 25June1808, bt.30Mar1809 mulatto Rosine Jean Baptiste Berard St. Martin de Tours Church baptism.

Jean Baptiste ca.1806 mulatto Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Jean Baptiste ca 1808 negro Rosemond Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Jean Baptiste 29nov1856, bte11July1857 mulatto Marie-Jeanne Evariste Trahan baptized at Abbeville church

Jean Baptiste ca 1818 Charles Lemaine Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Jean Baptiste ca 1815 Onezime Charles Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180* Jean Baptiste ca 1819 Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

(Jean) Baptiste ca May 1854 negro Roseline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Jean Baptiste ca 1847 Rosalie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Jean Louis ca 1773 Susanne Collins Bassié slave sale from Frederic Mouton 31Jul1806 Opel.ct.hse A-1,102A

Jean Louis ca 1775 Native of the Congo Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Jean Louis ca 1750-1755 Native of the Congo Simon Broussard set free to become f.p.c. given land in Côte Gelée, had at least

6 children: Jean Baptiste, Jean Louis, Don Louis, Marie, Marie Louise, Genevieve. He bought

Marie Louise and child at Armand Broussard’s estate slave sale 31Mar1818 for $2210 *9*

Jean Louis ca 1826 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

This is most likely the father of Rosa Jean-Louis

Jean Louis bt.1820 Emerante baptism at St. Martin Church

Jean Louis ca 1828 negro Rosemond Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Jean Louis ca 1837 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Jean Louis ca 1838 Hilaire Broussard Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Jean Louis Jean & Nancy Alexandre Babin he married Eloise Etienne 20 July 1867, sm.ch.v.10, #36

Jean Louis (of Vermillion Parish) Simon & Betsy Charles Trahan he married Felonise 30 Sep 1867, sm.ch.v.10, #53

Jean Pierre ca 1787 negro Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Jean Pierre ca 1829 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Jean Pierre ca 1831 negro Baltazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Jefferson ca 1814 negro boy Antoine Mouton slave sale from Jean Mouton ca.1827; Laf.ct.hse.

Jinny Negro woman Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

With infant child named Fanny.

Joachim ca 1822 négre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Joasim bt.1839 Emerante baptism at St. Martin Church

Joachim ca 1806 negro Jean Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Joachim ca 1840 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Joachim ca 1841 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

John Negro man Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

John ca 1837 Aymar Ernand Mouton from Humbert Perradin via one of the slaves mortgaged

To Union Bank of Lousiana Apr1851. Opel.ct.hse N-1,pg107

Joe ca 1815 negre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Joe ca 1829 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Joseph Broussard Godfather to Angelique Mr & Mrs Grevemberg Recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 20July1772

Joseph ca 1850 Julie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Joseph ca 1848 Hilarie Broussard Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180* Joseph ca 1809 Marie Jacques Mounier slave sale from Sylvester Mouton 30Sep1810 Opel.ct.hse B-1

Joseph ca 1807-1808 negro man Jean Eugene Mouton slave sale from Joseph Pregean 28July1828 Opel.ct.hse

Joseph ca 1807-1808 negro man Jean Savois slave sale from Jean Eugene Mouton 26Apr1830 Opel.ct.hse

Joseph dit Lanque doc ca 1776 Jacques Mounier slave sale from Sylvester Mouton 30Sep1810 Opel.ct.hse B-1

Josephine ca 1839 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Josephine ca 1838 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 6 month old child Marcillia

Jolivette ca 1838 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Jolivet ca 1840 mulatto Nicholas Cormier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Jolivet ca 1839 negro Emelie Ledoux Her deceased husband’s inventory of 24Oct1864 *188*

Jsohs? ca 1814 negro boy Antoine Mouton slave sale from Jean Mouton ca.1827; Laf.ct.hse.

Justin ca 1840 Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Jules ca 1834 mulatto boy f.w.o.c. Eulalie Rosine Jacquet New Orleans Estate inventory of deceased 26Jan1850

Julie ca 1774 Jacque Charlot slave sale from Cesar Mouton 12Feb 1834, Opel.ct.hse H-1

Julie ca 1825 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With 4 children: Julienne7, Joseph 5, Zenin 3, Justine 7 months

Julie ca 1825 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With 4 children: Augustin 9, Savare 7, Alima 4, Venance 1

Julie ca 1862 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Julienne ca 1847 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Juliene Sept 1862 Arsene Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Julienne ca 1848 Julie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Juliette ca 1844-1850 Sophie Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Juliette ca 1847 Sophie Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Juliette ca 1847 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Justine Dec 1854 Julie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

K

Kenny negresse Charles Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, June 1817 *208*

Kittya? ca 1828 negro girl Sally Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

L

Lady ca 1809 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Laurette ca 1812 mulatto Gotton Adelaide Mioton New Orleans slave sale from François Jacquet 6Feb1817 *197*

Lezime ca May 1852 Lucie Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Lermie? & Leadie? ca 1860 – 1862 (twins) Melanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With 2 sons Francois 4, & Adrien 2 years old.

Lessin ca 1830 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Lessin ca 1837 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Léocadie ca 1833 negresse William Mouton slave sale from Céleste Modeste Borda 19Oct1852 Opel.ct.hse

Leonore ca 1832 negro Adolphe Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Leomire ca 1832 negro girl Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Leontine ca 1855 Betsy Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Linuy? ca 1816 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Lise ca 1824 negro Alexandre Decloret bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

With daughter Rosalia age 7

Lise ca 1822 negro Marguerite Decoux Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6Aug1849 *2*

Lindor ca 1822 négre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Livandais ca 1837 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Liza ca 1838 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Liza ca 1838 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her (un-named) 2 children, one is 3? years old.

Lorenzo Louis Flaman ca1790 St. Martin church baptism of daughter (free) Angelique

Louis ca 1855 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Louis ca 1759 Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Louis ca 1810 negro boy Honoré Olivier slave sale from f.m.o.c. Louis Nicolas Maraut of SM parish

Ca. 1825 sale to Honoré who was also fmoc from St. Mary Parish (sm.ct.hse.V.1c,p.183,#5323)

Louis 28Dec1811, bt.14Apr1812 Rosine (probably Jean Berard) St. Martin Church baptism.

Louis ca 1835 negro Jean Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Louis ca 1833 negro Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Louis ca 1819 negro boy Eloi Leblanc slave sale from Marin Mouton fils, 24Mar1830, *209*

Louis ca 1840 Nicholas Cormier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Louis ca Apr1851 Méliciste? Don Luis Mouton auction sale from deceased Marcelite Mouton 24Oct1852

Louis ca 1807 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Louis Jean Charles Trahan Godfather to Louise at Jan1855 Abbeville church baptism

Louison Philippe Brugier New Orleans slave sale from Eulalie Jacquet 10Jul1813 *197*

Louisa ca 1828 negro Edmond Leblanc & Jn Bte Bonin. bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Louisa ca 1853 Melanie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Louise ca 1834 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her 6 children: Mary 9, Jean 7, Narcisse 5, Alexandre 4, Julie 2, Michel 18 months.

Louise 15Aug1853 bt.20Jan1855 Prudence Charles Trahan Baptism at Abbeville Church

Godparents were Jean, Louis and ?Delnîre?

Louise ca 1853 Prudence Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Louise ca 1853 Mélanie Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Louise ca 1854 Prudence Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Louisa ca 1855 Melanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Louisa ca 1838 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Louis ca 1815 négre Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Louis ca 1849 Victorine (Narcisse) Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Lucie ca 1830 négresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Lucie ca 1831 negressa Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

With 2 children: Onezime, and Lezime 3 ½ years.

Lucy ca 1750 Michel Trahan Slave purchase from Marin Mouton Jr. 29Aug1811,SM.ct.hse.

With her 2 children: Hennette 4, Clarisse 2. *197*,*20*

Lucien ca 1838 Nicholas Cormier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Lucien ca 1858 Celanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Lucienne ca 1825 négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With her 2 children: Jacques 3, Félix 5 months.

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

M

Magdelaine ca 1760 of Martinique black Creole Vve Genevieve Labranche Inventory of her deceased husband Alexander Bauré, 19Feb1790

St.Charles Parish ct.hse. She is a “runaway by profession” *197*

Magdelaine ca 1786 creole Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Magdelaine ca 1786 creole Raymond François slave sale from Jean-Baptiste Peytavin 3May1808 *9*

With her 3 (un-named) children

Magdelaine ca 1783 negro Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

With her son Rosemond age 7

Magdalin ca 1801 negro girl Charles Trahan slave sale from Charles Thimault 22Sep1816 *226*

Magdelein Negro Jean Mouton, fils slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208*

Magdeleine ca 1814 Duley? Charles Lavoyand baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Her sister Emilie was baptized the same day.

Marcelite or Carmelite ca 1836 negresse Charles Trahan 1850 slave sale by Charles Lamarque Jr. of New Orleans *210*

Marcelite Oct1826, bt.24Sep1826 Susanne Jean Mouton, pére baptism at Lafayette Church

Marcelin ca 1831 negro Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Marceline Sixnayder, f.d.c.l. b.5June1828 Urbin Sixnayder h.d.c.l. & Claire Just baptism at Lafayette Church

other children of Urbin & Claire: Louise b.1826, Malvina b.1823

Marcillia May 1862 Josephine Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180* Marianne ca 1790-1795 negro Françoise Pitre 28Aug1840 inventory of her property when she died *230*

Mariah ca 1801 negro woman Marie Bordeaux 1835 inventory of her deceased husband opel.ct.hse succ#698

With 3 children: George 6, Arthemise 3, Caroline 8mos.

Mariana Rosa Mr. Duplessis slave sale from Phillip Flotte via his wife Marie Theresa Levielle

New Orleans 1774. Her brother was Philippe *233

Marie ca 1853 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Marie ca 1813 negro girl Charles Trahan slave sale from Margeurite Trahan 30May 1820

Marie Jacques Mounier slave sale from Sylvester Mouton 30Sep1810 Opel.ct.hse B-1

With infant son Joseph 1 year

Marie ca 1812 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: ?Onzim or Cenzini? 8, Cleonine 2

Marie 20Jan1856 Marguerite Lezare Broussard baptized at Abbeville church

Marie 16Apr1858 Marguerite Gerard Ducuir baptized at Abbeville church

Marie ca 1807 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Marie ca 1829 Caroline Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Marie ca 1840 négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Marie ca 1820 négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With 2 children: Cyrille 8, James 6.

Marie Anne Godmother to Angelique Mr & Mrs Grevemberg Recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 20July1772

Marie Anne Godmother to Rosine Mr. Flamin St. Martin Church baptism of 1790.

Marie Anne ca 1781 negro Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Marie Anne mulatto rouge Chevalier de St. Denis slave sale from Mr. Dauterive 9Jul1763 *197*

With 3 (un-named) children. Her mate was Cezard

Marie Jeanne ca 1783 negro Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Marie Jeanne Evariste Trahan her son Jean Baptiste baptized in Abbeville 11Jul1857

Marie Louise Jean Louis Jean Louis her father bought her at 1818 Armand Broussard slave sale *9*

Marie Louise 18Dec1857 Marguerite-Schexneider Gerard Decuir baptized at Abbeville church. Marie Louise’s other children

were Anatole, Ophelia, Madeline, Adam

Marguerite ca 1838 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Marguerite negressa Louis Trahan Inventory of deceased 24May1812 Sm.ct.hse succ#111

With 3 children: Melanie 3, Alexandre, Angelique

Marguerite negressa Mdm Seraphie Thibodeau inherited from deceased husband May 1812. Sm.ct.hse succ#111

With 3 children: Melanie, Alexandre, Angelique

Martha ca 1859 Alphonsine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Her mother and brother Philippe were sold to Mr. Lorraine, New Orleans 1770.

Martial ca 1854 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Malieu? ca 1815? negro girl Joseph Leblanc slave sale from Vallery Leblanc ca. 1829, Laf.ct.hse.

Manan or Manon Marie Marthe Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, Jun1817; Laf.ct.hse *208*

Martin ca 1821 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Mary ca 1855 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Maurice ca 1817 negro Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Maurice ca 1856 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Maurice ca 1844 Emelie Ledoux Her deceased husband’s inventory of 24Oct1864 *188*

Mazar or Nazare ca 1860 Prudence Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Mérenthe ca 1816 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With 3 children: Aurelia 8, Celasie 6, Pierre 12 months.

Melanie ca 1833 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: Urenne 3, Louisa 2

Melanie ca 1834 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 6 children: Irene 9, Louisa 7, Oliva 5, Belzire 3, twins Lermire? & Lesdie?

Mélíceste? ca 1827 negro girl Don Louis Mouton auction purchase from deceased Marcelite Mouton 24Oct1852

With 2 children: Toussant 3, Louis 18months.

Melinda ca 1804 negro woman Jean Cartencau slave sale from Jean Mouton 18Oct1827; Laf.ct.hse.

Melite ca 1800 Androl Stelly 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse succ#698

With 3 children: Auguste boy 7, Arthemise girl 4, Felicia 2

Michael ca 1843 Alexandrine Gustave Fournet bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Michel March 1863 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Mílísaire ca 1816 negro girl Valery Leblanc slave sale from Charles Trahan 28Jun1828 Laf.ct.hse.

Milly ca 1809 Antoine Mouton slave sale from William Harden Lewis 29May1849

Milly’s husband Spencer was sold with her. Opel.ct.hse M-1,147

Milly ca 1809 William Harden Lewis bought at Jacques Dupré succession before may1849 Opel.ct.hse

Milly ca 1822 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Mostesto? ca 1788 woman Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Modeste July 1820 mulatresse Clarisse Martin Carnassae? baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

N

Nanette ca 1848 Azelie Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Narcisse ca 1795 negrillion Jacques Mounier slave sale from Sylvester Mouton 30Sep1810 Opel.ct.hse B-1

Narcisse ca 1834 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Narcisse ca 1832 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Narcisse ca 1859 Louise Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Nathalie ca 1854 Celeste Onezime C. Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Nathalie ca 1853 Celeste Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Nazare or Mazar ca 1860 Prudence Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Nicolas Negro man Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

Norbert ca 1841 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Norbert ca 1843 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

O

Olvia ca 1857 Melanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Onezime ca 1845-1851 Lucie Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Onzim? Or Cenzini? Ca 1847 Marie Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Oscar Oct 1850 Victorine & (Jn Bte Jacquet) Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Oscar ca 1848 Sophie Joseph Sosthéne Mouton slave sale from Eloi Vidrine 6Feb1852 Opel.ct.hse. N-1

Ostirè ca 1845-1850 Caroline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Ozé ca 1807 negro man Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Ozeine ca 1841 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Ozeme ca 1840 Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

P

Paul ca 1857 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Peggy ca 1816 mûlatresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Peggy ca 1817 mulatresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Pélagie négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With 3 children: Rosine 4, Agnès 18 months, Eugene 3 months

Pelagre ca 1849 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Pelagie ca 1848 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Petty ca 1829 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Phelonine ca 1838 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Philippe Mr. Martin Boudrie Godfather to Angelique at May 1773 St. Martin church baptism

Philippe Rosa Mr. Lorraine slave sale from Phillip Flotte via his wife Marie Theresa Levielle

His sister Mariana went to Mr.Duplessis,1770, New Orleans *233*

Philippe ca 1836 negro Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Philippe ca 1848 orphan child with? Victorine (Narcisse) Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Philogene ca 1834 mulatto Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Philomise Charles Trahan Godmother to Jacques at Jan 1855 Abbeville church baptism

Pierre Negro Godfather to Anne (born a free Negro) Mr. Fusellier Recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 2June1765

Pierre dit Jasmin ca 1775 Jacques Mounier slave sale from Sylvester Mouton 30Sep1810 Opel.ct.hse B-1

Pierre ca 1812 negro Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Pierre Feb 1848 Celeste Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Pierre Aug 1849 Cekeste Charles Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Pierre 21sep1853, bte20Jan1855 mulatto Merente Charles Trahan baptized at Abbeville church

Pierre July 1855 Emerenthe Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Pierrot or Pierre ca 1809 negro Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Piter or Titer ca 1846 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Poupaire Widow Paul Thibodeau Godfather to Sophie at Aug1811 St. Martin church baptism

Prospíre ca 1848 Azelie Ayú? Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Prudence ca 1830 (maybe mulatto) Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her daughter Louise 2 years

Prudence ca 1832 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 4 children: Louise 8, Edmond 6, Dupart 4, Nazare (or Mazar)2

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

R

Randolph ca 1834 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Rachel ca 1856 Catherine Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Remisie ca 1847 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Rosa Mr. Lorraine slave sale from Phillip Flotte via his wife Marie Theresa Levielle

She had two children: Philippe & Mariana. (*233*)

Rosa ca 1848 négresse (Roseline) Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Rosa ca 1844-1851 Roseline Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Rosa ca 1847 Roseline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Rosalie ca 1822 negresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With 3 children: Elodie 7, Jean Baptiste 4, Félix 2.

Rosalia ca 1844 Lise Alexandre Decloret bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Roseline ca 1830, bt.29Nov1838 Sophie Nicolas Cormier St. Martin de Tours Church baptism.

Roseline ca 1832 negresse (Sophie) Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

With her 2 children: Rosa, Hermogine

Roseline ca 1830 negresse (Sophie) Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

With her 3 children: Rosa 8, Hermogene, 4, & Baptiste 1 ½.

Roseline ca 1829 negresse (Sophie) Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With 3 infants: Adéline 8, Theodule 6, St. Clair 1 year.

Roseline ca 1850 Eulalie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Rosemond ca 1810 Magdelaine Jean Baptist Cormier Inherited by his widow Pauline Martin, Feb 1817 *238*

Rosila or Rosita ca 1833 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 2 children: Uranie 3, Arthemise 1

Rosine ca 1789 Mr. Berard document of deceased owner’s slaves *197*

With 4 children: 1 male, 3 females: one is Angelique.

Rosine 1790, bt.1794 Angelique & Ambroise Mr. Berard St. Martin Church baptism. Godparents – Jean & Marie Anne

Rosine ca 1846 Pélagie Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Rosmine ca 1847 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

with her son Philippe. Daughter Mariana went to Mr.Duplessis 1770, New Orleans.

S

Saintville ca May 1846 Sophie Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Sainville ca 1847 negro Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Sally ca 1798 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

With 3 children: Kittya? Girl 7, Basie boy 4, Alexandre 1

Savare ca 1855 Julie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Seraphine ca 1843 negro girl Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Seraphine ca 1842 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

With her 2 children: Urlsine 3, Zelie 2

Séville ca 1851 Célanie Helöise Leblanc Inventory of the deceased’s estate 11July1855 *183*

Seville ca 1851 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Simon ca 1810 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Simon ca 1812 Rosemond Leblanc Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Sophie ca 1795 creole Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Sophie ca 1803, bt.3Jul1806 griffe libre Benediete (free) St. Martin Church baptism. Godparents – Jean Baptiste Berard & Louise Saselier

Sophie ca 1806 , bt.11Aug1811 Celeste David Babineau St. Martin de Tours Church baptism.

(Poupaire &Colette were her Godparents) Sophie’s brother Eloy was also baptized this day.

Sophie ca 1811 negresse Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

With her 3 children: Saintville 9 ½, Juliette 8, Belisaire 3.

Sophie ca 1810 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Roseline Antoine’s mother, grandmother to Rosa Jean-Louis.

Sophie ca 1812 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Most likely Roseline Antoine’s mother, with 3 children: St. Ville, Juliette, Belizaire

Sophie ca 1816 Joseph Sosthéne Mouton slave sale from Eloi Vidrine 6Feb1852 Opel.ct.hse N-1

With her son Oscar age 4

Sophie ca 1825 (blind in one eye) Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

Sosthene Mar 1821; bt.6Jun1821 Louise T. Broussard baptism at Grand Coteau Church

Spencer ca 1804 Antoine Mouton slave sale from William Harden Lewis 29May1849 Opel.ct.hse

Spencer’s wife Milly was sold with him

Spencer ca 1804 William Harden Lewis bought at Jacques Dupré succession before may1849 Opel.ct.hse

Stainville ca 1843 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Stephen 18Sep1821, bt.24Dec1821 Lucie Jean Baptiste Mouton fils baptism at Grand Coteau Church *206*

Stephen ca 1828 orphan boy Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

With infant mulatto son William 2 years

Stephen bt. 1860 Lucie & Arnaud Wilson baptism at Arnaudville Church

St. Clair ca 1863 Roseline Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

St. Ville ca 1845-1850 Sophie Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Susan Sept 1854 Jeanne Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Susette & Cecile (or Basile) ca 1833 twin girls Napolean Robin 1835 purchase from deceased Jean Mouton estate, Opel.ct.hse.succ#698

Suzanne ca 1824 mulatresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Sylvain ca 1843 Betsy Nicolas Vallof bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Sylvestre ca 1831 boy Helöise Leblanc Inventory of the deceased’s estate 11July1855 *183*

Sylvester ca 1835 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Sylvanie ca 1843 negrillion Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

T

Tarzille negro girl Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

Tarzib or Janzib? ca 1807 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With daughter Adeline 9, and orphan girl 1 month

Théodule ca 1846 Carmelite Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Theodule ca 1846 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Therance ca 1836 Evariste Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Therence ca 1845 negro boy Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Thérèse ca 1777 Native of the Congo Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Therese ca 1775 Native of Illinois Jean-Baptiste Peytavin Inventory of estate 13July1805 (sm.ct.hst. succ#1) *9*

Therese ca 1831 Caroline Michel Cormier Inventory of deceased on 10Aug1833. *239*

Therrille ca 1802 Hilaire Broussard Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Thersille ca 1801 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Thiodole or Theodon? ca 1841 negrillion Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Thomas ca 1846 Anna & Barry Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Titer or Piter ca 1846 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Tousaine Godfather to Sophie bt Aug 1811 Paul Thibodeau Recorded on St. Martin Church baptism of 11Aug1811

Toussant ca 1849 Méliciste? Don Luis Mouton auction sale from deceased Marcelite Mouton 24Oct1852

NAME BIRTH/BAPTISM RACE PARENTS OWNER NOTES + REFERENCE SOURCE

U

Uranie ca 1852 Rosila Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Uranie ca 1852 orphan child Eloi Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Urenne ca 1852 Mélanie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Urlsine ca 1859 Seraphine Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Ursin Negro man Charles Mouton Inventory of deceased wife Arthemise Dugas 25Oct1821 *208*

Ursin ca 1800 negro Charles Mouton slave sale from Constance Leblanc 3Sep1818 *208*

Ursin ca 1859 Amélie Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Ursule July 1862 Celanie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

V

Venance ca 1861 Julie Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Vénus ca 1797 creole Celestin Carlin Inventory of Carlin’s estate (sm.ct.hse.#9) 10Sep1807 *9*

Victor ca 1840 negro Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

Victoire ca 1832 negresse Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

With her two children: Celismine? 8, Célima 6

Victoire ca 1839 negresse Marie Ozéa Boudreaux 1854 Inventory of deceased husband Nicholas Cormier Sr.*188*

Victorine ca 1828 mulâtresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

With her 2 children: Louis 2, Oscar 4 months. She became Victorine Narcisse. Oscar became Oscar Jacquet.

Victorine ca 1832 négresse Charles Landry 1851 Inventory of deceased wife Adelaïde L. LeNormand *237*

Victorine ca 1842 Azelie Balthazaro Berard bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

W

Washington ca 1852-1855 Caroline Nicholas Cormier Jr. 29Nov1855 inventory inheritance from his deceased father *188*

Wenny or Winny Louis Mouton slave donation from Jean Mouton Pére, June 1817 *208*

William ca 1816 negro boy Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

William ca 1816 Eloy Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

William ca 1818 negro Helöise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

William ca 1819 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

William ca 1821 Jean Mouton pére 1835 inventory of the deceased’s estate. Opel.ct.hse succ# 698

William ca 1850 mulatto Leocadie William Mouton slave sale from Celeste Modeste Borda Oct1852 Opel.ct.hse O-1

William Charles Trahan Godfather to Jacques at Jan1855 Abbeville baptism

Z

Zabelle ca 1851 Louis Delcambre Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zabelle ca 1851 Clasemice Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Zeide ca 1812 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zeide ca 1857 orphan child Eloi Trahan Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zélia ca 1848 Zelmise Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Zelia ca 1849 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zelie ca 1860 Seraphine Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zelimire ca 1832 Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zelmise ca 1827 negro woman Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

With her 3 children: Arsene 9, Cécile 5, Zélia 7

Zenin ca 1852 Julie Heloise Leblanc Inventory of Charles Trahan’s deceased wife 11Jul1855 *183*

Zeno Euphroiselle Margarete Trahan Inherited from deceased husband Rene LeBlanc July1810 *177*

Zenon ca 1850 Vve Charles Lemarie? Estate sale of the deceased Charles Trahan 12Nov1862 *180*

Zenon ca 1858 Nicolas Cormier Jr. Taken away by Federal Union troops before Sept 1864. *188*

Zoe ca 1846 Celeste Jean Baptiste Berard Mrs Berard’s (Marguerite Decoux) inventory 6aug1849 *2*

Zoe ca 1846 Celeste Charles Olivier bought from Marguerite Decoux estate sale 17Feb1851 *2*

With her child Cecile 10 years old

^[1] * It seems that the vernacular for the racial identification this century in the United States for "People of Color" changes every 30 years or so. We went from "Colored" (NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), in the early part of the 20th century to "Negro" (UNCF - United Negro College Fund), in the mid 1920's, to "Black" (Miss Black America, Black Panther Party) in the mid 1960's, and now in the mid 1990's they want to change it again and make the title "African-American" the more 'political correct' name, but is it?

Astronomy, Music and Physical Education teacher for the Seattle School district

Contents

- Jacquet-Acea’s Louisiana Slave Index (1750 – 1864) ………………………………………476

THE JACQUET NAME

The First Jacquets in New Orleans

The Descendants of Angéle Jacquet

Slave Ownership by Negros in Louisiana

The Descendants of Jean-Louis

The Descendants of Albert Jacquet son of Jolivet & Rosa

The Native American Sioux Indian Tribes

Trahan Family Photos

Pierre Trahan and the Trahan Family

The Mother of Pierre Trahan – Emerande

Pierre Trahan and his Family

The Decendants of Pierre Trahan

The Brother and Sister of Pierre Trahan

The Brother of Pierre Trahan – Jean Baptiste Trahan

TRAHAN FAMILY PHOTOS

TOP: Jean Baptiste Trahan Sr. and his wife Rosema Victorian

Rose Emma Victorian’s Parents

The Descendants of Jean Trahan

The Genealogy of the Durousseau Family

Baptiste Trahan, First Son of Jean Trahan

Pierre Trahan and the Trahan Ancestry

1. Garazime Deshormaux born in April 1794;

2. Pierre Deshormaux born in 1796 who married Marguerite Bourk in 1814. Jean and Marguerite Deshormaux were the first two of ten children between Pierre and Marguerite Bourk; 3. Jean Joachim Deshormaux born in July 1798 but who died two months later;

4. Placide Deshormaux was the fourth child born to Françoise Pitre and Jean Joachim Deshormaux born in September 1799. Placide died in August 1800.

Marriages and children of Françoise Pitre (François Modeste Pitre & Magdeleine Vincent)

Evariste’s Father Charles Trahan

6. Caroline Trahan married Aurelian Duhon.

7. Aspasie Trahan. She married César Hebert.

Origins of Jazz Music

The Big Band of “The California Playboys” headed by Russell Jacquet,

with his brothers Illinois Jacquet, Julius Jacquet & Johnny Linton Jacquet.

The Descendants of Robert Russell Joseph Jacquet

Neveu Genealogy Chart The Neveu Family

The De La Houssaye Family

The Genealogy of Lenola Neveu

Russell Jacquet’s Other Children

Children of Adriano Acea and Elizabeth Egas

Other Children by Elizabeth Egas

Portrait of the Children and Grandchildren of Elizabeth Egas

Above Center: (top two) Lisa & David Kemp Sr.’s Gospel Group Album

Above Left: Kimberly Kemp, David Kemp Jr., Amina Kemp and Enjoli Kemp

Bottom Left: The wedding of Linda Delvitt & Nicolas Jacob. Flower girl Elizabeth Egas.

Above Right: Jon Acea (right), his son JJ Pernell (left), and JJ’s 2 sons Jon Mellmor & Jon Marshall

Bottom Right: Leona Acea and her 2 daughters Felicia Hearns & Jazzmin Adriana Acea in January 1992.

Felicia’s son Hunter Russell Lang is the boy in the lower right.

The Genealogy of Elizabeth Egas

Descendants of

ALEXANDER MALLORY of Grand Turk Island

Emigration from the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Garland Family

History of the Mallory name on GRAND TURK ISLAND – Compiled by R. Jacquet-Acea

BIRTHS MARRIAGES DEATHS

Above Photo: “The Iroquois”

The ship that bought hundreds of Turks Island natives and relatives to the United States of America.

Below Photo: Commemorative Plaque honoring those who perished in

the Shipwreck of “The Yuna” in January 1919 in the Carribean Sea.

The Plaque is on display in the Turks & Caicos Island Museum on Grand Turk Island.

History of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Marie Mallory leaves Turks Island for America

Family Feud!

Egas Origins from Spain?

Egas Origins from Germany and Holland?

German Origins of the Egas Name?

Egas Origins in Ecuador

Agustín Egas immigrates to America

5-J-vi Jean Baptist Illinois Jacquet

The Descendants of Illinois Jacquet

The End of the Civil War and the end of Slavery

The Decendants of Edward Jacquet

Lee, Hortense (Lawrence & Toa) m. 16 Feb 1874 Prospere …?

The Great Flood of 1927

(Lafayette Graduates Photo)

The Descendants of Marie Rita Jacquet

The Descendants of Félicité de Kerkégand

The Descendants of Jacquet Wilson

The Descendants of Rose Jacquet and Joseph Farin Malveaux

The Descendants of Victorine Narcisse

Neveu Genealogy Chart
The Neveu Family