Marriage Records and 1850 Census Record Poses Interesting Mystery

1850 Louisiana Census
Auguste METOYER
Marie Leda MEYOYER
Widow Leanore METOYER alias
Seferina Elina Cristophe

My research continues as I look for more clues and records that will prove my family's ancestral connection to a line of METOYERs.   Would you believe it,  I have come across yet another interesting mystery that is now presenting several new challenges.   First, I am trying to determine when and if the parents listed on a METOYER ancestor's baptismal record discovered in Tampico Mexico were married in Mexico, Louisiana or if they were married at all.  And secondly, how are those discovered on an 1850 Louisiana Census in New Orleans related to one and other?

Note:  I am highlighting Auguste METOYER and Seferina Elina Cristophe, to show information discovered that hopefully will tie the two together as part of my family tree. So far, what I currently have is a copy of the 1850 Louisiana census record and 1861 Baptismal record discovered in Tampico, Mexico.

Shown on the document above (the 1850 Louisiana Census record) are the same names that appear on a baptismal record found in Tampico Mexico in 1861.  One of the individuals shown on the 1850 census has added additional mystery which will require finding other documents to help clarify who was the the person listed as Widow Leanore Metoyer, age 33 years old.  As you will see later in this blog posting, I was able to determine that this was in fact, Seraphina Eline CRISTOPHE.

  

There were two others also listed: Marie Leda Metoyer, age 13  and Auguste Metoyer, age 30.  The 1850 census did not mention if the Widow Leanore Metoyer and Auguste Metoyer were married or whether the 13 year-old Marie Leda Metoyer was the daughter of the two adults.  The document did  prove that these three were indeed living in New Orleans as early as 23rd of August 1850 when this census was recorded.  I was not able to find a 1860 census that recorded them as still being in New Orleans. Therefore, I assume their departure for Mexico may have taken place before that census was taken.  According to the baptismal record,  Auguste Dorestant METOYER and Seferina Elina Cristophe’s son was born 5 Mar 1860 in Tampico, Mexico and baptized a year later, on 20 April 1861.    (A little side note: The civil war started 12 April 1861)

As I looked for other clues about the two adults mentioned in the 1850 census, I came across two marriage records that  helped  me to determine the previous spouses of both the Widow Leanore Metoyer,  Auguste Metoyer and his parents names Auguste METOYER, ( yes, another generation found).  See below.

The following was  recorded in the Natchitoches Church Marriages 1818-1850:  Translated abstracted from the Registers of St Francois des Natchitoches Louisiana, Mills. states

ABSTRACTS OF MARRIAGE RECORD:

339                 Jean Baptist Leandre METOYER (s)

#25- 1836        Seraphin Elina Cristophe              (s)

                       3 November 1836

Groom: Minor and Legitimate son of Jean Baptist METOYER and Suzette ANTY.   Bride: Minor and legitimate daughter Firmen CHRISTOPE and Franoise MAYEUX.   All are free persons of color and residents of the Parish of Natchitoches.   Witnesses:  C.N. Roques (S)  J.B.L. Metoyer (S), Louis MOREN (F)  F. Conant (S) Firm CHRISTOPHE (s):  J. BTE METOYER,  Fils, Augustin (s) Priest FRANCAIS.

   
                                                                                                 

                       Auguste Dorestan METOYER (s)
                       Seraphine LLORENS  (X)

                       11 November 1841

Groom:  Major and Legitimate son of Pierre METOYER and Henriette CLOUTIER.   Bride: Minor and Legitimate daughther of Seraphin LLORENS and Aspasie METOYER.  Married at Isle Brevelle Chapel after disparsation from impediment of consagunity in third degree.  Witnesses:  N.P. METOYER (s), J. VALCOUR METOYER (s) Brd DAUPHINE (s); C.N. ROQUES fils (s):  J.L.METOYER (s)  F.C. CHRISTOPHE (S), Suzanne LLORENS(s), Arenine LLOREN (s)  PRIEST STEHLE.

As we see from the above marriage records, both Auguste Dorestant METOYER and Serephine Elina CRISTOPHE were previously married.  Also that the person listed as Widow Leanore Metoyer on the 1850 census in Louisiana was actually the spouse of  Jean Baptist Leandre METOYER.  It appeares that the person who indexed this record used an “o” instead of a “d” when recording information. 


I still have not determined when Jean Baptist Leandre METOYER died.  However, as we saw his spouse was listed as a widow by 1850 and was then living in the household with two other individuals who shared the same METOYER surname. There is still more that needs clarification here.

As for Auguste METOYER,  Interestingly, his spouse who is mentioned in the 1841 marriage abstract record has the same first name, SERAPHINA, as the mother mentioned on his son (Eusevio Marie Rauld METOYER CRISTOPHE's) baptismal record 1861 in Tampico, Mexico.  What this document has also provided me with is yet another generation and the name of Auguste ME'sTOYER's  parents,  Pierre METOYER, II and Henritte CLOUTIER.  I still have to find other documents which will help prove a few other concerns,  However, for now,  I believe what I have on these individuals are starting to tell an interesting story.  Stay tuned.   More to come later.

Metoyer Ancestors Found On The 1850 Louisiana Census

1850 Louisiana Census
 Auguste METOYER

Having found evidence of  members of my Metoyer family living, born and baptized in Tampico, Mexico.  I wanted to know, if I could find evidence of when the parents of Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER CRISTOPHE arrived from Louisiana to Tampico Mexico and departed from Tampico Mexico back to Louisiana. Where there any documents established that might give some possible time period in which I might determine this?  

Here is what is known from the Baptismal record of Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER  CRISTOPHE,  It listed the date,  he was born: 05 Mar 1860 and placed: Parroquia Del Sagrario, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico also where he was baptisted : 20 April 1861 and place :Parroquia Del Sagrario, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico.  5 March 1860.

Listed also in this document were the names of four individuals.  The parents:  Father named: Aguste (Auguste) Dorestant METOYAR (METOYER)  and Mother named : Zeferina Elina Cristophe.   The godparents were also listed:  Gustava Juan CHEVEILLER and Marie Leda METOYER.

Now since the birth and baptism dates of Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER CRISTOPHER  are known, it is safe to say,  the mother and possibly father were there in Mexico, however,  we are not sure when Gustava Juan CHEVEILLER and Marie Leda METOYER first arrived or departed Tampico Mexico or how are they related.  Marie Leda Metoyer carries the same surname as Auguste Dorestant METOYER, so could this also indicate a possible family connection.  But Gustave Juan Cheveiller, it is not known how he is related yet.

1850 Louisiana Census Index
Auguste METOYER

What I have found as indicated in the above 1850 Louisiana census is that three of the four adults that were seen on the 1861 baptism record discovered in Tampico Mexico.  This indication that they were indeed living in Louisiana before they were found in Mexico.  We still don’t know what made them go there in the first place.  I have determined that Widow Leandre METOYER is (Seraphine Elina Cristophe) whose Husband Jean Baptist Leandre METOYER, died a few years earlier. Marie Leda Metoyer and Auguste METOYER are living in same household.  I have not determined who is Saul Rouge or how he fit in this family.  Another mystery.

1850 Louisiana Census
Gustave Chevalier

Another document discovered listed Gustave Chevelier as a 17 year old on the Louisiana 1850 census. I have found indication that Gustave J. Chevallier and Marie Leda Metoyer were Married: 31 May 1856 according reference: Marriage Records  Natchitoches Parish.   Also listed on the  1860 Louisiana was a Gustave Chevalier also listed see below.

1860 Louisiana Census
Gustave Chevailer

So as we see from the few documents above, we have discovered proof indicating those found listed as parents and godparent on Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER CRISTOPHE Baptism record  did in fact live in Louisiana,  yet with the  many pieces of information that have been found, I am still not sure what cause them to leave in the first place.  Maybe I can find a little historical context about the local political climate during the 1850”s in Louisiana that may help explain a few things.  Stay tuned 

GOT PROOF! Baptismal Document Found in Catholic Church Records in Tampico, Mexico

Actual Baptismal Record discovered For
Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER Cristophe

After locating an index record found on the LDS familyhistory.org website, I wondered if by chance they also filmed the actually record and had that been upload to their database.  So I checked and wouldn't you know it, they did.  This has now saved me a trip to both Mexico and Salt Lake City Utah, the home of the LDS family history library.

I had to order a copy of the film and have it sent to a local LDS family history center here in Georgia. On yesterday that film arrived. Having already found the index online,  I loaded up the film and began spinning the wheel looking carefully as copied pages from the actual church record book slowly passed by.  I knew the date, month and year of Eusevio METOYER's baptism- 20 April 1861.  And there at the bottom of the page was the record.

Actual Baptismal Record discovered For
Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER Cristophe

 There it was written in Spanish, the actual "PROOF", I needed to show that indeed one of my METOYER family ancestors was in fact born on 5 Mar 1860 and baptized on 20 April 1861 in Tampico Mexico.  There was some additional information, I believe will come in handy later on as I attempt to location documents which showed this family in Louisiana before heading to MEXICO and upon their return late back to Louisiana.  

    Listed also were the names of the godparents of Eusevio Marie Raould METOYER Cristophe,  Gustave Juan Cheveiller and Marie Leda METOYER.  Here was yet another mystery to be solved.  Who were these people and how would they eventually fit into my METOYER family ancestral line? Only more research and documents discovered will answer that question.   As always, stay tuned. I hope to find more records soon.

  

Document Provides Evidence of a Possible Ancestral Connection to Mexico

 World War 1 Draft Registration Card
For
Eusebio Arnold METOYER

In my previous blog posting titled: INTERESTING MOMENT CAPTURED ON A PHOTO, we saw how a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes,  a few words found on a document might also lead to a thousand and one more questions. One such documents that has added a little mystery to my ongoing research into my METOYER family line was that of  a World War I draft registration card seen above dated April 12, 1918 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The card list Mexico as place of birth of the individual named Eusebio Arnold METOYER.  His  date of birth:  26 Oct 1880.  He also list his wife, Virgina METOYER as next of  Kin along with a local address there in the city of New Orleans.

Now as you might imagine, I was a bit surprised to see this,  which caused several questions to pop into my head as I carefully looked over the detailed information that had been provided by Eusebio Arnold METOYER to the person at the registration depot.  And yet from another document (a 1905 Wisconsin State Census),  I found Eusebio Arnold METOYER living with wife - Virginia  and their two sons, Arnold Jr. age 2 years old and Ernest D. METOYER age 8 months.  Still yet another document ( a 1880 Louisiana Census record) showing a person named Raoul METOYER, age 1 year old, the son of  Raul METOYER age 21, a resident of New Orleans, date of birth 1859,  place of birth Mexico, Occupation: Cigar Maker.  His Wife Alida age: 27  and what may appears to be her parents, John Edeia age 60 and  Marcedes Edeia age 59. 

I can easily tell that the draft registration card and the 1905 Wisconsin census are concerning the same family member,  however the 1880 census will need a little more analysis to be sure it is that of an earlier mentioning of Eusebio Arnold METOYER and the Metoyer branch of my family that I am researching. Chances are this could be him since according to the Draft registration card has his date of birth 26 Oct 1880.    Still  more questions arises concerning as to why and when did this branch of my Metoyer family leave Louisiana and ended up in Wisconsin only to be later discovered back in New Orleans in several other documents?  And before that,  how come we see one particular generation as being born in Mexico?  And who was it that was actually born in Mexico?  Could we have also discovered yet another generation that could lead me down to Mexico?  Now this will be a first time discovery.  I never knew or heard of another family members as having ventured that far south and again, what was their reasoning for going there in the first place?

One of the interesting aspect about genealogy/family history research that I am finding is that there is a never ending cycle of questions,  as you begin to uncover  answers to previously developed questions.  These were just a few that have offered me some great research opportunities.

For now,  as I review the many documents found so far during my research about  my Aunt Lucille Metoyer up to the progenitor of the Metoyer Family - Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer,  I am amazed by what I now know. 

Aunt Lucile METOYER was the wife of my mother, brother Donald,  born in New Orleans Louisiana.  Her parents were Eusebio Ernest Metoyer and Doris Elodie DUOBLET.  Uncle Donald and Aunt Lucille were married in 1956. And from their union several children were born all  out in California.  Aunt Lucille died in 1995.   Now as I move on to the next generation,  I  have gathered the following on her parents:

Aunt Lucille's father was Eusebio Ernest Metoyer was discovered as having been born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Her mother, Doris Doublet was born in New  Orleans, La.  The couple were married in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Aunt Lucille, her brother and sister were also born in New Orleans.  Using several other documents (Birth, Marriage, Death, and Census records),  I was also able to find information that helped me to begin my search for the next generation.  Tracing this particular lineage along her father’s side of the family.  I continue on to the next generation,  that being Eusebio Ernest Metoyer’s father - Arnold Metoyer, aunt Lucille’s Grandfather.  

Several pieces of information discovered  posed a few questions as I looked over the various documents found.  Two in particular were his date birth and place- Mexico and the various spelling of his name found written differently on these documents.  His first name was seen written as (Raoul, Arnold, Eusebio, Ernst ).  Because of the uniqueness in spelling of his first name and place of birth, I knew I needed to look a little closer at these documents to determine whether or not I had the right person.  For example:

His name as found on:

1930 US Census - New Orleans (District 1-250)                

 Arnold Metoyer

1918  World War 1 Draft Registration Card                        

Eusebio Arnold Metoyer

1905 Wisconsin State Census                                                

Ernst A Metoyer

1904 Wisconsin Births and Christenings 1826-1926       

Arnold Metoyer

1880 US Census - New Orleans, Louisiana                          

Raoul Metoyer

Place of Birth

1930 US Census - New Orleans (District 1-250)                  

Louisiana

1918  World War 1 Draft Registration Card                         

Mexico

1905 Wisconsin State Census                                                 

Mexico

1904 Wisconsin Births and Christenings 1826-1926       

 New Orleans, Louisiana

1880 US Census - New Orleans, Louisiana                         

 New Orleans, Louisiana

Date of Birth:

1930 US Census - New Orleans (District 1-250)                 

abt: 1882

1918  World War 1 Draft Registration Card                        

26 Oct 1880

1905 Wisconsin State Census                                               

 abt:  1881

1904 Wisconsin Births and Christenings 1826-1926        

not listed

1880 US Census - New Orleans, Louisiana                          

abt 1879

My observation and analysis  based on the following documents has revealed that even though some documents had Eusebio Ernest Metoyer's father name listed and spelled in various ways.  I have determined  and feel confident  his true full name to be Eusebio Arnold METOYER for now. 

And as for his place of birth and date of  birth,  I have noted on a few documents it listed him as being born in Mexico sometime between 1879 - 1882.   However,  I now believe that his actual date of  birth to be 26 Oct 1880 and place of birth was really New Orleans, La instead of Mexico.   So where did the Mexico connection come  from?  Stay tuned as  we look for more clues that may cause us to venture possibly down south of the border into Mexico to look for a few of those answers.