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.

INTERESTING MOMENT CAPTURED ON PHOTO

EUSEBIO ERNEST "DUTCH" METOYER (L)
LUCILLE MARIE METOYER PHILLIPS (C)
AND THOMAS PHILLIPS (R)

An interesting moment was captures many years ago as the Metoyer and Philips family gathered for what appeared to be an introduction of one another.  I was shown this pictures several years ago while interviewing my mother about various ones in the family.   And at that time, I became curious at how things use to be back when someone was about to become part of the family.  It was a custom that whenever someone was serious about another (courting as they called it back then), they would be introduced to the family elder out of respect.  This was also a way of getting to know one and other.  I assume uncle Donald, my mother’s brother was taking this picture. He had brought his dad over to be introduced to Aunt Lucille's father - Eusebio Metoyer.  Many years late I found out everyone referred to his as "Dutch". I wonder about this nickname and am looking into it's origin.   This was my first time becoming aware of Aunt Lucille's extended family.  I have never seen a picture of her mother whom I was told died in 1976.  I don't remember if my mother knew anything else about Mr. Metoyer or his family,  so this left lots of unanswered questions that I hope to one day discover as  my research journey discovering the family history and various connections through actual documents.  Here are a few that I come across.

Birth Record:

 I have found, Eusebio Ernest Metoyer was according to the Wisconsin Births and Christenings, index 1826-1926, the son of Arnold Metoyer and Virginia Fernandez.  Eusebio was listed as having been born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 22 Oct 1904.

Census Record:

Looking at yet another document (1905 census record in Wisconsin),  I found where his father was listed as Ernest Arnold Metoyer and mother listed as Virginia METOYER.  There were two children listed, Arnold Metoyer age 2 years and Eusebio Ernest Metoyer listed as 8 months old.   Now what puzzled me was why was Eusebio Ernest METOYER born in Wisconsin? When did the family move there?  How long did the family stay in Wisconsin? and when did the family move  back to New Orleans, Louisiana

Marriage Record:

From yet  another documents, one being that of a marriage record, I discovered that Eusebio Ernest Metoyer was married to Doris Elodie DOUBLET on 25 Jun 1927. Their marriage was celebrated in the city of New Orleans, La. by Rev. Father J.J. Callery.  This document also confirmed the fact that Eusebio Ernest METOYER age 22 at this time was indeed a native of Milwaukee, Wis and the son of Arnold METOYER and Virginia Fernandez.  The document showed his wife Doris Elodie Doublet as being 19 years old at the time of their marriage and a native of New Orleans Louisiana.  She was the daugher of Anthony Doublet  and Emily Adams.  It further stated that the celebration of marriage was performed in the presence of the witnesses- Anthony Doublet, Hilda Metoyer, Claude Doublet.  The license was issued on 23rd day of June 1927 by the Hon F. Henry Lawize, Deputy Recorder - Birth, Marriage and Death in the presence of the witnesses Angelo Kingvalsky and Beulah Doublet.

World War I Draft Registration Card:

Searching for other clues as to when the Metoyer family were found in New Orleans, La. I discovered the World War I draft registration card of  Eusebio Arnold Metoyer, the father of Eusebio Ernest Metoyer.  It listed his address as of April 12, 1918 as residing at 2106 St Phillips, New Orleans, La.   His age was 37 and his birth was listed as 26 October 1880.  several other interesting facts also discovered  listed him  as having been born in Mexico.  His occupation was that of a Musician and he was employed at the West End Tavern, in New Orleans, La.  His nearest relative was listed as Virginia METOYER, his mother.  Her address was the same as his above - 2106 St Phillips St, New Orleans.  His physical description listed him as Height- medium, Eyes -Brown and  Hair- Black.

The World War I Draft Registration Card  provided some interesting facts that should help me to trace through yet another generation.  As noted  was the birth information of Eusebio Arnold Metoyer,  26 Mar 1880,  his place of birth, Mexico and  his occupation as of 1918, a Musician.  Lets see what other documents that might be discovered to help confirm these facts.

Finding Documents and Tracing Aunt Lucille Metoyer Roots back to Cane River

Lucille Marie METOYER- PHILLIPS
1934-1995

It will be 16 years since my aunt Lucile Metoyer Phillips passed away on October 1995.   Hardly,  a moment has pass since then that I have not thought why didn't I  ask her about her family's origins and what brought their family out to California.  

As a family  historian, I appreciate capturing the memories of those, especially our elders while they are alive and in full control of their memories.  I believe, she could have provided me  some first hand insight into the Metoyer family's history.  And as I mentioned in a previous blog posting, I first found out that my mother had two other brothers,  that after serving time in the military decided to settle their families out on the west coast in California (Los Angeles and Compton).  Still today many questions remain about their family life outside Louisiana and what they remembered about  growing up back home in Louisiana.

Having traced my mother side of our family back to both the French and Spanish colonial periods in Louisiana  history, I have now a greater sense of belonging to a place, a people and a rich ancestral history which I  embrace fully.   Each surname in our family that is connected via a marriage also offers  some  research possibilities and histories that are as equally interesting as those from my main bloodlines.  One such surname is that of the METOYER family of Cane River,  see their story in a previous blog posting.  The Progenitor of the Metoyer family was Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer.  Again, You can also see in a previous blog his very interesting bio too.  

What I hope now to do is trace my aunt Lucille Marie Metoyer Phillips ancestry through her father Eusebio E. Metoyer which is the next generation that should offer some interesting insights.   I know even less about his life other than what my mother has told me and from a few pictures I have seen of the family while living in New Orleans.  This search will be done through the use of various records that I hope to discover and prove a direct lineal relationship to one of Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer ten children.   I believe as I look back on a few preliminarily documents, I have found  there is a good chance Lucille Marie Metoyer  Phillips could be the 3rd generation great granddaughter of Pierre Metoyer seen in red in his Father Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer Bio.

What is also interesting is the various migration patterns discovered in each family generation that  starts in  Natchitoches, La,  with (Pierre Metoyer), New Orleans, (with his son- Auguste Dorestan Metoyer),  Mexico (with his son-TBD), back to New Orleans (with his son- TBD), then to Wisconsin (with his son-TBD), back  to New Orleans (with his Son -Eusebio E. METOYER ) then  eventually  California  (with his Daughter- Lucille Marie METOYER).   This was all seen in the various documents that I have uncovered so far.   I should know more once,  I obtain  a few other  original documents ordered from the Louisiana State Archives.

Note :TBD (To Be Determined)

PHILLIPS and METOYER Family Link, My Uncle and Aunt

Donald Peter PHILLIPS
and Lucille Marie METOYER
Wedding day - 1956

       While this blog was originally set up to document my direct  ancestral lineage to my 4th Generation Great Grandparents - Agnes Mathieu and Mathieu Devaux dit Platillo of which both ancestors have provided me with an interesting connection to Slavery in Colonial Louisiana and Louisiana's participation in the American Revolution. This story was featured on a PBS program segment of the History Detectives titled:   The Galvez Papers.

      Well, I have once again come across yet another interesting story and family connection to another couple which who had a similar relationship as did my 4th generation Great Grandparents.  Their names were Claude Thomas Pierre METOYER and Marie Therese "CoinCoin" .  Their  story  as told in Claude Thomas Pierre METOYER's bio featured in a previous blog post shows him as a newly discovered Patriot of the American Revolution who served under the command of the Spanish Colonial Governor General Bernardo de Galvez also.  A Patriotic Grave marking sponsored by the Louisiana Society Sons of the American Revolution SAR is schedule to take place Oct, 8 2011.

      I am currently working on tracing a particular (PHILLIPS-METOYER) line which I believe will prove to be linked to one of the sons of  Claude Thomas Pierre METOYER and Marie Therese "CoinCoin"  named Pierre Metoyer in the Bio of his Father, see blog post May 31, 2011.    As I gather the necessary documents that will help prove this discovery, I hope to that you will join me as this entire journey unfolds.

     This ancestral link begins with one of my mother’s younger brothers named Donald  Peter PHILLIPS.   He married Lucille Marie METOYER in New Orleans, Louisiana (1956).  Pictured above.   Lucille Metoyer was the daughter of Eusebio D. Metoyer (1904-2002) and Dorris DUOBLET (1906 - 1976).  Donald being the youngest of my mother’s brothers after graduating high school joined the military, later married Lucille and the family moved  from Louisiana out to California. This too was one of my family members who was discovered migrated out west in the late 50's early 60's.

     It wasn’t until, I was around 11 or 12 years old that I discovered that my mother had other brothers who lived outside Louisiana in California.  This particular brother, my uncle is by marriage our family’s link into the Metoyer Family Tree. My  uncle Donald,  a descendant of Mathieu Devaux dit Platillo, our ancestor who as French National and a Louisiana Patriot of the American Revolution   served under the command of the Spanish Colonial Louisiana Governor General Bernardo de Galvez is eligible for membership in the National Society Sons of the American Revolution.  Soon this family will have another Patriot of the American Revolution named Claude Thomas Pierre METOYER.

Louisiana Patriot of the American Revolution and Progenitor of the Metoyer Family-Claude Thomas Pierre METOYER

As we Honor, So do we Remember

Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer will be honored as an American Revolutionary War Patriot during a Patriotic Grave marking sponsored by the Louisiana Society Sons of the American Revolution (LASAR) on Oct 8, 2011 in NATCHITOCHES, La.

From "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography; Ten-Year Supplement 1988-1998," editors, Carl A. Brasseaux and James D. Wilson, Jr., published by The Louisiana Historical Association; pp. 154-156 (text in parentheses in original; text in brackets supplied):

"METOYER, Claude Thomas Pierre,  colonial merchant and planter. Born, La Rochelle, France, March 12, 1742; son of Nicolas Francois Metoyer and Marianne Drapron. In the mid-1760's Metoyer and a friend from La Rochelle [Etienne Pavie] ventured to the Louisiana outpost of Natchitoches, where they opened a shop in competition with at least fifteen other 'sellers of alcoholic beverages and owners of cabarets.' Both prospered, invested regularly in land and slaves, and within two decades became leading Red River planters. While Metoyer remained a bachelor throughout these years, he ignited a scandal by renting a slave woman (Marie Therese dite Coincoin, q.v.) by whom he fathered ten children. Called to account in 1776 by a new parish priest, who threatened to seize and sell Coincoin for the benefit of the colony's hospital, Metoyer evaded penalty with the assistance of her owner (Marie des Neiges Juchereau de St. Denis de Soto (q.v.), daughter of Natchitoches's revered founder), and the post commandant (Athanase de Mezieres, the owner's brother-in-law (q.v.)). Amid their machinations, Metoyer secretly freed the mother and her nursing infant, but not the children already born to them. 

The liaison formally ended in 1788, when Metoyer married Marie Therese Eugenie Buard, widow of Pierre's friend Pavie, on October 13. In a settlement with Coincoin, Metoyer conveyed to her a slave and a small corner of his land. As their sons matured, each was assisted in some fashion and all took his name, although Pierre never acknowledged his paternity. With his public reputation shielded by denial, Metoyer rose from the rank of a militia private in 1772 to the marechal de logis (quartermaster) in the 1780 company that Governor Bernardo de Galvez (q.v.) dispatched to Mobile amid the American Revolution, to company standard bearer in 1791. By 1791, also, he was church sindic (in which capacity, ironically, he brought charges against religious transgressors), and he held that post for much of the next decade. 

Metoyer died at Natchitoches, September 30, 1815, leaving (to his legitimate offspring) one of Red River's largeest fortunes. By Marie Therese dite Coincoin (who died about 1816), Metoyer was the father of Nicolas Augustin (q.v.) (twin, b. 1768, founder of Church of St. Augustine on Isle Brevelle; q.v.); Marie Suzanne (twin, b. 1768), Louis (q.v.) (b. ca. 1770, founder of famed Melrose Plantation on Isle Brevelle; q.v.); Pierre (b. ca. 1772); Dominique (b. 1774); Eulalie (b. 1776); Antoine Joseph (b. 1778); Marie Francoise Roselie (b. 1780); Pierre Toussaint (b. 1782); and Francois (b. 1784). By Marie Therese Eugenie Buard (who died February 6, 1813), Metoyer was the father of Pierre Victorin (b. 1789); Marie Therese Elisabth (b. 1790, wife of Louis Narcisse Prudhomme); and Francois Benjamin (b. 1794) [who was my 4th great-grandfather]. Both sets of offspring--in disparate ways--would dominate Cane River society, economics, and politics over the two centuries that followed.

Up Through Slavery Marie Therese Coincoin was in bondage for 44 years. Yet she freed her children and became a slave owner herself.

Nicholas Augustine METOYER
Founder of the Saint Augustine Catholic Church,
 Near Melrose

By Ken Ringle

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 12, 2002; Page F01

To study a people's history without understanding the family structure from which it evolved is to confront a robot and pretend one feels a pulse-- Elizabeth Shown Mills

NATCHITOCHES, La.

No one knows where Marie Therese Coincoin lies buried, but it's easy to think of the 250-year-old live oak in front of Melrose Plantation as her family tree. Its kinked and elbowed limbs stretch 100 feet or more in every direction. They're hung with Spanish moss and coated with an opportunistic bit of hitchhiking botany that in dry weather looks like nothing so much as dead and rusty lace. All the plant needs, however, is one opportunity -- a single rainstorm -- to green into leafy lushness and prosperous coexistence with the tree. It's called the resurrection fern.

The story of Marie Therese Coincoin and her descendants is as improbable as the resurrection fern, yet it's all but unknown despite its ample documentation. It flies in the face of almost everything we think we know about slavery: Melrose Plantation was built not only by former slaves but for them. It is also a cautionary tale for those tempted to simplify history or underrate the astonishing capacities of the human spirit, past or present. Read More .