(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Arthur Hernandez family

Arthur and Estelle Catherine (Legere) Hernandez family.  Photocopy of original portrait, Hall family collection. Probably taken 1902-3 in Lafayette, Louisiana.  L to R: Back row: Marie Una, Leo Alcée, Antonia. Middle: Maria on father Arthur's lap, mother Estelle holding baby Raphael Sidney. Front row: Pierre, Hypolite. (Links go to their pages, if any, on the Find a Grave website.)

The Hernandez children were my dad's first cousins, though they were about a generation older.  I wrote about Arthur and Estelle in more detail here.  Not pictured are Lucia, who died in 1900 at age 6, and younger brothers Samuel and David, born in 1903 and 1905, respectively.  Our mutual cousin Ashton Legere sent my family this photocopy and identified the children; if anyone has a better copy, please contact me.  

Copyright 2011 by Liz Hall Morgan, all rights reserved.

Tombstone Tuesday: Arthur & Catherine Estelle (Legere) Hernandez

Arthur and Catherine Estelle (Legere) Hernandez headstones, St. Peter Catholic Church Cemetery, Carencro, Lafayette Parish, La., November 19, 2007, digital photo by Liz Hall Morgan.

Catherine Estelle (or Estelle Catherine) Legere or Légère ("Estelle Catharine" in Southwest Louisiana Records and Estelle in census records, but "Catherine" according to her death certificate and her great-granddaughter) was my great-aunt, the daughter of my great-grandfather Constant Legere ("Leger" in some records) and his first wife (of four), Estelle Babineau(x).  She was born 12 Dec. 1867, probably in Lafayette Parish, La.  Extracted death certificate info says she was born in Carencro (in Lafayette Parish), and her birth was recorded in Grand Coteau, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (then the nearest Catholic church to the family, in St. Landry Parish).  I think the Ossun community near Carencro, where her parents lived, is a safe bet for her birthplace, but that's just my opinion.

At age 15, she married Jean Euclide Brasseaux on 27 Dec. 1882 in St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro, but he died not long after their marriage (anyone have a date?) and they had no children that I know of.   I recall noticing Brasseaux graves in a section near (catecorner from?) the Hernandezes, but I did not check for him on that visit.

Catherine married Arthur Hernandez on 2 Dec. 1884 in the same church.  Arthur was the son of Sebastian Hernandez (of Canary Islands descent) and Euphrosine Sonnier (a Cajun).  He was born 15 Jan. 1865, in Lafayette, La., according to extracted death certificate info, where his birth is recorded in St. John Catholic Church (now Cathedral) records.  Arthur and Catherine farmed in Lafayette Parish and also reared 10 children there.  My dad remembered some of his Hernandez cousins, who were a generation older than he and his siblings.

Catherine died 4 Oct. 1930 in Carencro, and Arthur died 4 Feb. 1949 in Rayne, in Acadia Parish.  Their children included a teacher and a doctor.  More on my Hernandez cousins in a future post.

My sources include Southwest Louisiana Records by Rev. Donald Hebert; U.S. Census records and La. Death Index at Ancestry.com; and La. Deaths at www.familysearch.org.  Questions/corrections/additions welcome at hallroots [at] sbcglobal [dot] net.

Text/photo copyright 2011 by Liz Hall Morgan, all rights reserved.

Tombstone Tuesday: Edward Malapart

Edward Malapart, 1899-1962, St. Peter Catholic Church Cemetery, Carencro, Lafayette Parish, La., 19 Nov. 2007.

Edouard or Edward Malapart was the son of my (half-) great-aunt Marie Idalie Legere and her husband, Jean-Louis "Louis" Malapart, of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana.  He was born 25 Aug. 1899 in Lafayette Parish, La. (probably in the Ossun area near Carencro--there's still a Malapart Road there) and died in 1962, though I don't know the exact date.  I don't know if he ever married or had a family; he's listed in the census as a farmer.  Idalie (Eudalie in some records) died in 1901 when her children Edward and Irma (b. abt 1901) were still quite young.

If you're related, drop me a line at the address on my blog.  I'd love to know more about Louis & Idalie Malapart and if any photos of them exist.

Photos/text copyright 2010 by Liz Hall Morgan, all rights reserved.

Surname Saturday: McBRIDE from Eastern USA to Louisiana

Today we have my McBRIDE line, originating from my paternal great-grandmother. Corrections, additions, and questions welcomed; this is a work in progress. Numbers refer to ahnentafel (pedigree chart) numbering. Sources below; see my blog ("about me" on the right sidebar) to contact me for more info or to share info.

L to R: Siblings Marie McBride Dupre, Clothilde McBride Devillier, Joseph "Joe" McBride and Octavie "Tavie" McBride Legere on the day of brother Felix McBride's funeral, 10 Dec. 1941, Port Arthur, TX.  Photographer unknown; copy of original privately held by Hall family of La. and edited by Liz Hall Morgan.

(The direct line is in bold; spouses in italic. Bracketed numbers refer to footnotes below.)

1. Liz HALL MORGAN - me
2 & 3. Dad HALL & Mom STEVENSON
4 & 5. Robert Bunyan HALL & Elia LEGERE

11. Marie Octavie "Tavie" McBRIDE. Born on 31 Jan 1859 in St. Landry Parish, LA. [1], [2] Marie Octavie "Tavie" died in Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, on 29 Mar 1946. [3], [2], [4] Buried in Carencro, Lafayette, LA. [2]
On 23 Feb 1889, she married her 2nd husband Constant Legere. (Her first husband was Cyprien STEMMANN a.k.a. STEMMANS.  Children: Joseph Henri ("Henry" or "Pete") Stemmans, Joseph Ulysse Stemmans, Philomene Stemmans Weber, Ludovic Stemmans)
10. Constant LEGERE [5], [6] in Carencro, Lafayette, LA. [7], [8]  Constant was born 26 Oct 1837 in Opelousas, St. Landry, LA to Hypolite Paul LEGERE and Marcellite LEBERT [5], died in Rayne, Acadia, LA [5a], and is buried in Carencro, Lafayette, LA. [5b] [Constant had 3 previous wives; click his name above for more info.]
(Children: Elia Legere Hall, Mary "Evia" Legere Hardy, Marie Anita "Nita" Legere O'Toole, Fabien Legere, Claude Legere.)

22. William McBRIDE. [9] Born abt 1822 in St. Landry Parish, LA. [10], [11] William died on 3 Jan 13 Jan. 1875 in Port Barre, St. Landry, LA?  [Everyone & his dog has this date; what is the source? v. 12 of SWLR? Please e-mail me if you know.] Possibly served in the Confederacy in the Civil War.
UPDATE: Southwest Louisiana Records by Hebert, v. 12, p. 345 has: "McBRYE [sic], William d. 13 Jan 1875 at age 45 yrs [sic]. (PB Ch: v. 1, p. 95)."  This is Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Port Barre, LA.  The Confederate soldier is another William McBride.

On 20 Jan 1852 William married:
23. Melasie HOLLIER [9] in Opelousas, St. Landry, LA. [12], [13] Born on 11 Dec 1830 in Opelousas?, St. Landry, LA to Isidore HOLLIER and Arthémise TRAHAN. [14] Melasie died in Scott, Lafayette, LA, on 19 Aug 1925; she was 94. [4] Buried in Scott, Lafayette, LA. [15]
(Children: William McBride, Thomas Jean McBride, Marie Arthémise McBride Duhon Dupre, Marie Octavie McBride Stemmann or Stemmans Legere, Joseph Octave "Joe" McBride, Felix McBride, François Ignace McBride, Mathilde McBride, Marie Clothilde McBride Devillier, Cecile McBride Devillier)

44. Thomas Walter McBRIDE. [16], [17] Born in Virginia. [18] Thomas Walter died on 12 Oct 1824 in New Orleans, Orleans,  LA. [19], [20], [21]  He was a blacksmith.
UPDATE: Probate records are now available at familysearch.org in the collection "Louisiana, Orleans Parish Estate Files (under "Walter McBride").  He lived on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans.  Five enslaved persons are named in the probate: Adam, Babe [spelling?], James, Mary and Mary's daughter Maria.
In St. Martinville, St. Martin, LA? [16], [23], Thomas Walter married:
45. Julienne BOGARD a.k.a. BAUGARD, BOGART. [22] Born on 25 Aug 1793 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, LA to Jacob BOGARD and Margaret/Marguerite RITTER. [24]
(Children: Thomas Jefferson McBride, Mary Margaret McBride, Robert McBride, David McBride, Walter Scott McBride, Charles McBride, Mary Anna McBride, William McBride, Mathilda McBride)
After Thomas Walter's death, Julienne married Joseph W. TINSLEY and then Jean Frederick GABEREL.

88. Thomas McBRIDE. [16]
Thomas married:
89. Marie SCOTT. [16]
POSSIBLY, but it has not been proven, they married 28 Nov 1769 in Joppa, Baltimore, MD [27], [28].  More research needs to be done; this record, from an index, may be available on microfilm.

Sources

1. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 6, p. 451, citing Opel. Ch. [St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, LA], v. 6, p. 103: "McBRIDE, Marie Octavie (William & Melasie HOLLIER) b. 31 Jan 1859."
2. Octavie McBride Legere tombstone, St. Peter Catholic Church cemetery, Carencro, LA, photographed by M. Hall, 1995, "Mrs. Constant Legere, 1859-1946."
3. Ancestry.com, "Louisiana Statewide Death Index, 1900-1949 [database on-line]." Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002, Lafayette Parish, LA, vol. 5, certificate #839.
4. FamilySearch, "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-75; 1894-1954." http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.h-tml#c=1609793;p=collectionDetails;t=searchable.
5. "Transcript of Baptismal Record of Constant Legere," St. Landry Catholic Church, 17 Nov. 1961, Opelousas, LA, Baptism Book VII, p. 64, #47, photocopy of official transcript recorded by Rev. Alcide Sonnier, owned by Liz Hall Morgan.
5a.  FamilySearch, “Louisiana Deaths, 1850-75; 1894-1954.,” http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.h-tml#c=1609793;p=collectionDetails;t=searchable.
5b. “Constant Legere tombstone (shared with daughter Odette),” St. Peter Catholic Church cemetery, Carencro, LA, photographed by M. Hall, 1995.
6. Research of K. LeDoux and M. Hall.
7. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 20, p. 250, citing Carencro Ch. [St. Peter Catholic Church, Carencro, LA], v. 2, p. 74, 23 Feb 1889.
8. Ibid. v. 20, p. 250, citing Laf. Ct. Hse. [Lafayette Parish Courthouse, Lafayette, LA], mar. #4319, 20 Feb. 1889.
9. Ibid. v. 5, p. 421, citing Opel. Ch. [St. Landry Catholic Church records], v. A, #17, marriage of Wm.
10. "1860 U.S. Census," Opelousas, St. Landry, LA, p. 187, lines 14-20, 26 Sept 1860, digital image of Nat'l Archives microfilm, www.ancestry.com, b. abt 1825, LA.
11. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, from CD via David Leleux's Rootsweb tree:  "McBRIDE, Guillaume [William] (dec. Walter McBRAID & Pouponne BAUGARD) bt. 1 Feb. 1834 at age about 12 yrs. Spons: Christophe STEEL & Anastasie LEGER, wife of Christophe STEEL. Fr. Flavius Henri ROSSI (Opel. Ch.: v.3, p.267)
12. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 5, p. 421, citing Opel. Ch. [St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, LA], v. A, #17: "McBRIDE, William (Walter & Julie BAUGARD [sic]) m. 20 Jan. 1852 Melasie HOLLIER."
13. Ibid. v. 5, p. 421, citing Opel. Ct. Hse. [St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, LA], mar. #931: "MCBRIDE, William m. 22 Jan. 1852 Melasie HOLLIER" [civil ceremony following church?].
14. Ibid. from CD, via Denise Talbot's Rootsweb tree: "HOLLIER, Melasie (Isidore & Artemise TRAHAN) b. 11 Dec. 1830, Pats: Isidor HOLLIER & Sophie LANGLOIS; Mats: Pierre TRAHAN & Elene DUPLECHAIN (Opel. Ch.: v.3, p.149)."
15. Headstone of Melasie Hollier McBride, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church Cemetery, Scott, LA, digital photograph by Liz Hall Morgan, Feb. 2009, "McBRIDE/Mrs. Wm. McBride/née/Melasie Hollier/Dec. 11, 1825 [sic - should be 1830]/Aug. 19, 1925/In loving memory/by grandchildren."
16. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 1, p. 423, citing SM Ch. [St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, LA], [n.v., n.p.]: "McBRIDE, Thomas Walter (Thomas & Marie SCOTT) m. Julienne BONGER [sic]."
17. Ibid. v. 5, p. 421, citing St. Landry Catholic Church records, v. A, #17 (m. rec. of son Wm.).
18. "1880 U.S. Census," St. Landry Parish, LA, daughter Mary "Feuta" [sic] Futhy‚ father's place of birth = VA.
19. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, from CD via David Leleux's Rootsweb tree: (d. bef 1 Feb. 1834) "McBRIDE, Guillaume [William] (dec. Walter McBRAID & Pouponne BAUGARD) bt. 1 Feb. 1834 at age about 12 yrs. Spons: Christophe STEEL & Anastasie LEGER, wife of Christophe STEEL. Fr. Flavius Henri ROSSI (Opel. Ch.: v.3, p.267)"
20. "Southwest Louisiana Records CD 101," Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Hebert Publications (now pub. by Claitor's Publishing, Baton Rouge, LA), via Denise Talbot's Rootsweb tree: "McBRIDE, Walter m. Julienne BOGARD died in New Orleans Children: Thomas; Mary; David; Walter; Charles; William; Anna; Malelda [sic-Mathilda]. Succ. dated Feb. 1825 (Opel. Ct.Hse.: Succ.#349)."
21. Louisiana Gazette, New Orleans, Orleans, LA?, 14 Oct 1824, p. 2, col. 2, via G. Bonnet's Rootsweb tree, died of gangrene.
22. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 5, p. 421, citing St. Landry Catholic Church records, v. A, #17 (m. rec. of son Wm.) -- "Julie BAUGARD."
23. Ibid. v. 1, p. 56, citing SM. Ch. [St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, LA], n.v. (prob. vol. 1), "BONGER, Julienne (Jacob & Peggy RIDER) m. Thomas Walter [MCBRIDE]."
24. Ibid. v. 1, p. 54, citing Opel. Ch. [St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, LA], v. 1, p. 120: "BOGUEN [sic], Julie (Jacques & Marguerite RAITER), b. 25 Aug. 1793."
[footnotes 25-26 deleted as they don't pertain to this direct line]
27. Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 41 volumes, Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1974-1998, v. 1, p. 423, citing SM Ch. [St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, LA], [n.v., n.p.]: "McBRIDE, Thomas m. Marie SCOTT."
28. Ancestry.com, "Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850," www.ancestry.com, Aug. 2009, Name:  Thomas McBride-Spouse:  Mary Scotty-Marriage:  28 Nov 1769 [St. John's Parish (Joppa)?? - see database notes], Baltimore County, Maryland. Original record may be on microfilm; I need to check.

Text copyright 2010 by Liz Hall Morgan.  All rights reserved.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Dad's military personnel file, part two

I'm sharing the recently-acquired military personnel file for my dad, a WWII U.S. Naval aviator in the Pacific, a few pages at a time.  Click here to see part one, and click on any image to enlarge it.

These forms continue Dad's application for Naval aviator training.  Apparently there was no birth certificate issued in Lafayette Parish, La., in 1921 for him (The Louisiana Secretary of State's website says that statewide records were not kept until "about 1918." Some parishes were probably slower than others to comply), so his parents signed an affidavit giving Dad's birth date and place (actually in the community of Ossun, but the post office address was Scott).  This is the most handwriting I've ever seen from my "mystery grandpa," Robert Hall.

Dad was not quite 21 and had to have his parents' consent to enlist.  Now this is interesting -- the notary has typed my grandpa's name Robert Lee Hall.  I think this is a misunderstanding of "Robert B.," which Grandpa went by ('B' is for "Bunyan").  I may have to look for him as "Robert Lee Hall," in records now, though, if only to leave no stone unturned.  But certainly there were LOTS of Robert Lee Whozit's in the South--hence, the mis-hearing--and who would make up a middle name like Bunyan--then give it to one of his sons (my uncle John)??!!  Besides, he signed "Robert" on both forms.  I'm probably just wishing for a new Grandpa lead here.

Another fun find in Dad's application file: his Sulphur High School transcript.  He looks like a fairly solid 'B' student, with some C's.  Not surprisingly, his A's are in Geometry and Biology (he studied Bio in college, briefly attended med school, and ended up in the petrochemical industry).  Wonder if I can get his college records?  More fun to come with his recommendation letters next.

Would you turn over in your grave if your kids posted your HS transcript on "the Internets"? :)

Sentimental Sunday: The Cajun tradition of "pacques" (updated 2013)

"Egg tapping," photo by Marc Chipouras, used under Creative Commons license.

Although I'm part-Cajun and grew up in Southwest Louisiana, there are some Cajun traditions I seem to have missed out on in my youth. One of these is the Easter tradition of pâques-pâques (pronounced pock-pock), or egg tapping (Pâques is "Easter" in French).  It's battle with eggs; two people each take an Easter egg in hand, tap the ends against each other, and whomever comes out with an uncracked egg wins.  I don't remember hearing about this game while growing up in Sulphur, not far from the Texas border, but my cousins in the Lafayette area, in the middle of "Cajun Country," are quite familiar with the tradition, which they call pacques (pronounced pock-kay).

Last Easter, a couple of young men on a 50-state motorcycle trip visited my cousins, posting video on the website chronicling their journey.  My second cousin Annette demonstrates silk egg dyeing, a craft at which her late sister Mattie excelled, and then a round of pacques is played.  I thought readers might enjoy seeing a bit of Cajun tradition.  It's the top video link on this web page.

In the towns of Marksville and Cottonport, egg battles get serious.  There are organized competitions!  The Louisiana Division of the Arts Folklife Program has a great article about it on their website.

Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention another tradition I found out about: Good Friday is "Pie Day" in Scott, La.  It's like pot-luck with pies, a Begnaud family and Scott tradition, where everyone goes and visits and eats free homemade pie!  One lady last year reminisced to my cousin about her grandmother's friend who made the best pies--and the friend was my great-aunt Philomène Stemmans Weber, who died in 1968!  She must have been some cook for her pies to be remembered more than 40 years later!  Wonder if I can find a cousin with her recipe?  I'm guessing she did it from her head, like most Cajun women then. 

UPDATE: This post always gets a lot of hits around Easter, so I wanted to point everyone to this great article I just found by Kathryn Begnaud about Scott's Good Friday traditions.  She captures the spirit of the town just beautifully, plus she points out a possible Medieval French connection I, having grown up Protestant, had never considered.

I hope all of you reading had a wonderful Easter, Passover or Spring holiday with family and friends.  Does your heritage have an interesting spring holiday tradition?  Leave a comment!

Tombstone Tuesday: Legere/McBride (paternal great-grandparents)

Constant Legere and Marie Octavie McBride, my paternal great-grandparents, are buried in St. Peter Cemetery in Carencro, Louisiana.  Carencro is in Lafayette Parish (county) in the southern part of the state.

Headstone of Constant Legere and daughter Odette, St. Peter Cemetery, Carencro, La., Nov. 2007.  Digital photo by Liz Hall Morgan.

Constant was the son of Hypolite Paul Legere and Marcellite Lebert.  He was born 26 Oct. 1837 in Opelousas, St. Landry, La. and died 19 May 1923 in Rayne, Acadia, La.  He was a farmer who was married four times and had 17 children, though not all lived to adulthood.  Octavie, or "Tavie," as she was known, was his fourth wife, and they lived in the small community of Ossun in Lafayette Parish.  (Constant's first three wives, in order, were Estelle Babineaux, Idalie or Udalie (Eudalie?) Landry and Marie Irma Guidry.)

Headstone of Mrs. Constant [Marie Octavie McBride] Legere, St. Peter Cemetery, Carencro, La., Nov. 2007.  Digital photo by Liz Hall Morgan.

Tavie was the daughter of William McBride and Melasie Hollier.  She was born 31 Jan 1859 in St. Landry Parish, La. and died 29 Mar. 1946 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, La.  Her first husband was Cyprien Stemmann or Stemann, with whom she had four children. (The spelling has changed in usage over the years to Stemmans and Stemmons.)  Cyprien died in 1887, and on 23 Feb 1889, Constant and Tavie were married at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro.  They had five children, including my grandmother Elia Legere Hall.  Both Constant and Tavie spoke Cajun French, and little, if any, English.

Constant and Tavie Legere, c. 1920?, Ossun, La., unknown photographer, scanned photo privately held by Liz Hall Morgan.

Madness Monday: Mystery photo edition

This photo was found in a box of photos belonging to my paternal grandmother Elia Legere Hall (1889-1956), who grew up near Scott, Louisiana, in Lafayette Parish.  These could be relatives or friends of hers or her parents (Constant Legere or Légère and Marie Octavie McBride).  I'm not sure of the date (one fashion/costume-knowledgeable friend estimates 1901-1905), but there's a clue to the woman's identity on the back of the photo.

She writes: These little proofs are not very good but thot [thought] it would give you some idea of how we are all looking.  The boys have short hair now and I look much better than in this.  This was made about 16 mo[nths] ago.  But don't you think these three boys of mine beauties? Excuse my vanity please.
It's signed: Pae? or  Pac?  What do you think?  Pat? Initials?  Oh, and yes, I'm sure she looks much better than in that photo--hideous, right??!! LOL

If initials, I'm leaning toward "P.A.C." (Compare the "c" in "excuse" above it.)  The most prevalent "C" names in their area would probably be Cormier, Comeau(x), and Chiasson.  There are also Credeur (Caruthers) and Constantin families in the area.  None of the "C" names are closely related to our family.

Anyone want to guess at dating the photo or the ages of the people in it? 

Surnames of possible cousins: Legere, McBride, Roade, Royer, Devillier, Duhon, Dupre.  Less likely might be nieces/nephews surnamed Babineaux, Guidry, Malapart, Hernandez.  I'm almost certain it's none of my grandma Elia's siblings, and probably not a niece or nephew.  Perhaps it's a former neighbor from the Ossun or Scott area where they lived, or from Carencro, where they attended St. Peter Catholic Church.  I may post this on the Lafayette Parish GenWeb genealogy site in case anyone recognizes the family there.

Thanks for your input!

Surname Saturday: HALL

("Surname Saturday" is a daily theme many genealogy bloggers use.)

I'm following ahnentafel (chart #) order for my Surname Saturday posts. (Don't worry if you don't know what that means; it's a genealogy thing.) Unfortunately, my shortest lineage and biggest brick wall is the surname I was born with: HALL.

1. Liz HALL married (Hubby :) ) MORGAN.

2 (Dad) HALL married

3 (Mom) STEVENSON.

4 Robert Bunyan HALL. Born on 18 Mar 1877? in Newton, Baker Co., GA? or 1878 near Richmond, VA? Died in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA, on 20 Nov 1952. Buried in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA.  On 26 Oct 1918, he married Elia LEGERE in Carencro?, Lafayette, LA.

[Note: Two previous wives: Corrie or Carrie WILLIAMS and Jessie [unknown last name].

5 Elia LEGERE. Born on 18 Sep 1889 in Scott, Lafayette, LA. Elia died in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA, on 18 Sep 1956. Buried in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA.

8 George HALL? of GA? or of Richmond, VA area? married

9 Georgia BURNAMAN? BURNHAM? BURNAM? 

Unfortunately, this is my shortest line, and my biggest brick wall.  For more info, see my posts about my "mystery grandpa" Robert Bunyan Hall, here and here. 

George Constant Hall, 1921-2010

 Dad, Feb. 2009, Scott, LA.  Digital photo by Liz Hall Morgan.

I haven't posted in a few weeks because my dad finally lost his long, hard-fought battle with cancer Jan. 24 [although I'd have to say he kicked cancer's *** until the last month or two].  There's so much I have to say about him, but I just can't write it all coherently right now.  So I'll just say he was a beloved dad, husband, brother, grandfather & great-grandfather; an amazingly tough old bird to tolerate & practically thrive on chemo for 2 1/2 years in his late 80s, and stay upbeat most of the time; incredibly generous both in spirit and in material things; and a wonderful storyteller.  I feel like our family has lost its spark without him.

Here's part of his obituary--my notes in brackets:
George was a native of Scott [well, actually he was born in the community called Ossun, La.--Scott was the p.o. address--in the home of his grandfather Constant Legere, from whom he gets his middle name] and lived in Sulphur [La.] since 1935. He attended the First Baptist Church of Sulphur where he served as a deacon. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and flew F6F Hellcats off the USS Hancock. He loved gardening, hunting and fishing. George sang and told stories with the Agin' Cajuns. [His church's cleverly-named senior choir.] He was a graduate of Sulphur High and LSU.

I wrote a few remarks my husband graciously read for me at the funeral service.  I'll have to type them up later & perhaps post.  We played a French version of "Amazing Grace," his Agin' Cajun friends sang hymns, and "The Lord's Prayer" was read in Cajun French and English, all of which he would have loved.  I'm so grateful for the Navy honor guard who came out on short notice and my niece's boyfriend who played "Taps" live and beautifully on trumpet so we wouldn't have to use a tape; I know Dad would have been most proud of that.  Though sad he is gone, I will be forever grateful for the time our family had together in October for my wedding, and for being able to spend time with him again before he died.  He will be forever in our hearts.

Tombstone Tuesday: My paternal grandparents

Note: "Tombstone Tuesday" is a theme used by many genealogy bloggers; you can see other tombstone posts at GeneaBloggers.

Robert Bunyan Hall and Elia Légère Hall are my paternal grandparents. They are buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Sulphur, Louisiana, which is in Calcasieu Parish (county).



Elia was the daughter of Constant Legere (Légère, in some records as Leger) and his fourth wife, Marie Octavie "Tavie" McBride. She was born in Ossun, a small community near Scott, Louisiana, in Lafayette Parish. Grandma Elia's family is the source for the rich Cajun, Acadian and French-Canadian heritage I so enjoy exploring.



Robert was born, he always said, near Richmond, Virginia. His parents were George and Georgia Hall, and Georgia's maiden name was Burnaman or a similar variant [it's hard to read], according to Robert & Elia's Lafayette Parish, LA, marriage license application of 1918. Grandpa Robert is the "mystery man" of my family tree, and I'll definitely be posting about him more in the future, as I'm still trying to find and prove his parentage. [UPDATE: See my posts about my "mystery grandpa" here.]

Robert was a brick mason and contractor, and he and Elia raised seven children in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana, some of whom are still living. They moved to Sulphur, Louisiana, in the early 1930s and lived there until their deaths.



Elia & Robert Hall, Oct. 1946, Sulphur, LA. Cropped from larger photo taken by a family member & digitally edited a bit for clarity by me. [If you're wondering, Grandpa apparently has a cigar in his mouth.]

You can read more about my Irish Protestant grandfather and Cajun Catholic grandmother and their relationship in a previous blog post here.

Top two photos and text copyright 2010 by Liz Hall Morgan; bottom photo courtesy of the Hall family.

SNGF: My Best Genealogy Moments of 2009

Randy Seaver over at Genea-Musings posts genealogy blog "assignments" every Saturday called "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun," or SNGF. They do look like fun, so I'm going to start doing them, though they may very well appear here on Sundays or Mondays.

This week's assignment asked readers to post our "top genealogy moment" of 2009. While nothing tops marrying my 7th cousin once removed, that wasn't done for genealogical purposes, so I would say my top genealogy moment would be meeting my recently-discovered Sonnier cousins in Scott, Louisiana. The four sisters and brother I met, children of John B. & Aline (Legere) Sonnier (and my half-2nd cousins), were delightful and welcoming, as were their relatives. I felt like I'd known them for years, and we're still in touch.

(Aline (Legere) and Jean Baptiste ("John B.") Sonnier. Digital photo of portrait owned by the Sonnier family.)

And so, cousins who descend from my great-grandfather Constant Legere's first marriage (to Estelle Babineau or Babineaux, the Sonniers' great-grandmother) and his fourth and final marriage (to Marie Octavie "Tavie" McBride, my great-grandmother) are now reunited.

But I'm all about the lagniappe*, so here are two other moments:

• My 2nd cousin Janice, who shares great-grandfather Newton King Brady Pate of Ringgold, Louisiana, with me, voluntarily took photos of my McCoy ancestors' Delaware landmarks and obtained burial records for me while on a trip there. And she isn't even related to this family branch! Thank you so much, Janice--one of these days, we really have to meet in person!

* (Detail of our wedding favor bag, which contained pralines made by my Californian (via Texas) mother-in-law with pecans from my Louisianian parents' trees. Digital scan.)


• My husband and I honeymooned in New Orleans, the first time I've returned since discovering my colonial NOLA ancestry. Walking on the French Quarter land where I now know my ancestors once lived gave me a whole new perspective on the Crescent City.

(left: Muriel's Restaurant at Chartres & St. Ann in New Orleans, which occupies land first owned by my 8th-great grandfather Claude Trepagnier in the early 1720s. Digital photo.)

Wishing you & yours a New Year full of wonderful genealogical and non-genealogical moments!

Tombstone Tuesday: Tombstone Trekking Tips Edition

(Yes, it's Wednesday now. Better late than never!)

Tip #1: If a cousin offers to take you to a cemetery, go! Don't worry that you don't have "enough" time to spend there or don't have all your genealogy info with you, just GO.

I was in Scott, LA, in February, visiting recently-discovered second cousins after a mutual cousin's funeral. One of them offered to show me where her grandfather (my great-uncle) and grandmother were buried. It was late in the day, and I didn't have all my info with me, but I went anyway and took my camera. Here are my great-uncle and great-aunt's graves.


Mrs. Euclide (Eugenie Légère) Légère, Nov. 6, 1863 - Feb. 13, 1939
Euclide Légère, Sept. 22, 1863 - Jan. 16, 1949
Sts. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Scott, LA, Feb. 2009.
[Note: Hebert's Southwest Louisiana Records gives Eugenie's birth as 15 Nov. 1862 and Euclide's as Sept. 22, 1862. These years are probably correct; it's possible that Eugenie was baptized on Nov. 15. I need to follow up on this.]

(Tip #1a: Tombstones aren't always correct.)

Serendipity then rewarded me--or perhaps it was our dearly departed cousin smiling down on us. As I looked up from the Légères' gravesite, I spotted another familiar name: McBride. I walked over and found the grave of my great-great grandmother, Melasie Hollier McBride! I didn't even know she was buried in Scott! (See Tip #1.)



Mrs. Wm. McBride, née Melasie Hollier, Dec. 11, 1825 - Aug. 19, 1925
Sts. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Scott, LA, Feb. 2009.
[Note: Southwest Louisiana Records gives her birth as Dec. 11, 1830. See Tip #1a.]

Tip #2: Look on both sides of the headstone.

I made time for another brief visit to Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery before I left Louisiana. This time, I happened to approach my great-great grandmother's grave from the opposite side, and found two great-uncles who were buried with Melasie. She was their grandmother, and their names were listed on the reverse of her headstone, which I neglected to investigate on my first visit. And no, I didn't know they were buried in Scott, either! [It was a last-minute trip, and I hadn't expected to have any genealogy time.]



Fabian [or Fabien] Légère, Dec. 1, 1896 - Dec. 5, 1916
Henry [Joseph Henri, a.k.a. "Pete"] Stemmans [or Stemmann], Oct. 4, 1877 - Oct. 17, 1942
Reverse of headstone for Melasie Hollier McBride, their grandmother.
Sts. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Scott, LA, Feb. 2009.

Both were sons of Marie Octavie "Tavie" McBride, who married Cyprien Stemmann, and then Constant Légère. Euclide Légère of the top photo in this post became Tavie's stepson.
[Note: Southwest Louisiana Records gives Fabian's birth as Dec. 1, 1895.]

More Tombstone Tips to come -- learning the hard way so you don't have to!