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Terrebonne
Genealogical Society
TGS Newsletter
Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm |
|
Terrebonne
Genealogical Society
TGS Newsletter
Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm |
Membership and/or address changes:
Please send by mail to TGS, Station 2 Box 295, Houma, LA 70360-0295
At the February meeting, Patty Whitney Gravois brought
up the possibility that the Underground Railroad was active in this area
in the years before the War Between the States. That was the route taken
by persons who were trying to escape slavery by walking from the “slave
states” into abolitionist country north of here. Sometimes
“runaway slaves” had to travel as far as Canada to be able to live without
the fear of being taken back. She has found indications that one of her
ancestors was one of the “operatives” of the movement. The couple was perhaps
sent by the Northern sympathizers to live in the South to spread the word
in the enslaved community about the possibility for help on the way north.
Without that knowledge, the slaves had little hope for freedom. Of course,
such an operative could not be open about his or her beliefs and aims in
South Louisiana, so written evidence would be hard to find. But if anyone
knows of such activities, would you please contact Patty at the TGS address
above? We assure you that hard feelings have been dead many years, now,
and you need not fear retribution.
DEATHS
Belated sympathies are due to longtime member Carolyn
Babin in the loss of her sister, Beverly Ann “Boo” Babin Bonvillain. It
is our understanding that Beverly herself was a member at one time. She
died Sunday, 3 December 2000. She is survived by three sons, Reed J. Hebert,
Bernnie P. Bonvillain and William Rogers; one brother, Irvin “Pete” Babin,
three sisters besides Carolyn, Lois B. Breaux, Helen B. Fowler and Yvonne
“Bonnie” B. Guidry; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She
was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond Hebert; her second
husband, Lawrence Bonvillain; her parents, Irving and Lillian B. Babin;
two brothers, Novel J. and Reynold P. Babin; and five sisters, Bulah B.
Graddley, Betty Jane B. Fontenot, Genevie Marie Babin, Florance Marie Babin
and Alberta A. Babin Lafitte.
Our sympathy goes out to the family of member Charles
Joseph Fanguy, who died Saturday, 10 March 2001.He is survived by his wife,
Gerry Duval Fanguy, his parents, Ernest Joseph Deroche Sr. and Myrtle Deroche
Fanguy, one son, Lance Fanguy of Brooklyn, N.Y., and four brothers, Ernest
Joseph Fanguy Jr, William Paul Fanguy, James Peter Fanguy and Gary John
Fanguy. He was a bookkeeper for Hamilton Radio Communications and a member
of Maria Immacolata Catholic Church.
RESEARCH OUTLINES
You may remember last issue of this newsletter where we
spoke of Nancy Wright’s visit to Salt Lake City and that she had brought
back several Research Outlines published by the Family History Library.
These guides give sources of information about families from states
that may be found in Salt Lake City and other places, giving addresses
and types of documents available. The society has decided to get a copy
of the outline for each of the fifty states and many foreign countries
and donate them to the Terrebonne Parish Library. These include Mexico
and Latin America (also in Spanish) Peru, the Phillippines and many European
countries. If you have hit the proverbial brick wall, maybe you should
visit the North Branch Library in Gray and give them a workout.
QUERIES
Speaking of brick walls, why not submit a query to our
quarterly editor, Audrey Westerman? Send it to the TGS address above, and
include as much information as you possibly can about the individual or
individuals. Places and dates always help to define an individual, and
are especially helpful in this part of the country where you often find
several children of the same family with similar names. We’ve all heard
of the query we forgot about until three years later when some long-lost
cousin shows up with great-grandpa’s wedding photograph, so don’t give
up, yet.
ADDRESSES
Due to some postal mixup, the following members did not
receive the latest issue of our quarterly: Sandra A. Barré, Linda
G. Pledger, Janet M. Kemper, Joan A. Powell, and Glenn Dolese. Perhaps
you were visiting Mickey and/or Minnie Mouse? Anyway, if you would like
us to send it to you, please send $3.00 to pay the cost of mailing it to
you. We have to pay for the return trip. We need the address of David Laird,
also.
If you are living in Lafourche Parish, the scuttlebutt
says chances are you will have your address changed due to 911.
If you see Jess Bergeron, you may want to ask him about
the Grand Champion of the Houma Courier Cook Off Recipe Contest.
And don’t forget to ask Daniel “Chuck” Guidry about the 25th anniversary
celebration he gave his wife.
BOOKS
If you sent in your order for the Comet Microfilm Index
1-7-1926 through 12-30-1937 you may pick up your copy at the March meeting.
If you think you may want a copy and you missed the pre-publication offer,
you can pick up a copy for $30.
Our annotated 1900 Lafourche Census is nearing completion.
It is eagerly anticipated by all who have family living in Lafourche at
that time. Our honorable President, Phil Chauvin Jr. is working on it with
the cooperation of his sister, Phoebe C. Morrison, to cross check the families
with the known sources, such as the Hebert books. Chances are this book
can help you add information about your family.
Charter member Margaret Richard has a complete set of
our quarterlies that she is hesitantly offering for sale. This is the chance
of a lifetime, folks, better hurry before she changes her mind. Contact
Jess Bergeron at the society address as soon as possible if you are interested.
CLASSES IN NEW ORLEANS
A beginner class in family research will be offered by
the Louisiana Division of the New Orleans Public Library and the Genealogical
Research Society of New Orleans (GRSNO). The class will be held on Saturday,
April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium on the third floor
of the Main Library, 219 Loyola Avenue. Call 985-596-2610 for more info.
The planning meeting for the 2002 Creole Family History
Convention will be held at 1-4 p.m. April 21, 2001, at the Cantwell Sacred
Heart of Mary High School, 329 N. Garfield Blvd., Montebello, CA 90640
(in the Los Angeles area). This information came from The Louisiana Creole
Heritage Center at Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, LA. Contact
Michelle Pichon, Publicity Coordinator, 318-357-6685, for details. Or Janet
Colson, Assistant Director, colsonj@nsula.edu
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