Terrebonne
Genealogical Society
TGS Newsletter
Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm |
E-mail: edhicks@mobiletel.com Phone: (504) 532-3586
Membership and/or address changes:
Please send by mail to TGS, Station 2 Box 295, Houma, LA 70360-0295
NEXT MEETING Saturday, June 29, 2002
North Branch Library, Gray, LA 1:00 p.m.
Just in case you haven’t heard, our surprise guest speaker for the
May meeting was Thomas Whitney of Cheramie/Whitney Architects. This firm,
together with Associate Design Consultants Phillips Swager Associates (of
Dallas, Texas) formed the team that designed the beautiful new Terrebonne
Parish Library’s Main Branch now under construction. The new library is
not only beautiful, but has all the latest design innovations included
in the design of the best libraries in the country, such as drive-up borrowing
as well as returning books. For instance, you can order materials (not
just books, doncha know) either over the phone or on the Internet, and
they will be ready to be picked up at the drive-up window in a reasonable
amount of time. Mr. Whitney brought his wife, Diane Boudreaux, who assisted
him in showing the floor plans and perspectives. The Genealogy section,
which of course drew a lot of attention, will be on the second floor overlooking
scenic Bayou Black, and will be a part of the library but separate, with
its own restroom area, office and workroom. We will also have our own rooftop
patio, where we can go to renew our zeal for research. The proposed date
of opening seems to be in late January, 2003. Depending on a lot of things,
naturally.
If you have been doing genealogical research for any length of time,
you have undoubtedly met more than one document that told you a few facts,
but seemed to have other possibilities but you couldn’t find them. We need
your help in getting a new program started. After the meeting on June 29,
2002, there will be a “Discussion Group” meeting informally to discuss
a typical original document. Everyone is welcome. The reason it will be
held after the meeting is to enable those who have a commitment, or have
to attend church services, to have a chance to leave. The regular meeting
will be adjourned, but Nancy Wright and Audrey Westerman will stay to lead
the discussion and help answer questions.
BIRTHS
Well, not exactly a birth, but an announcement of adoption.
Our third son, John Gregory Hicks and his wife, Carol Reed Bingham, arrived
from China on 6 June 2002 with Esther Shunai Hicks, whose actual birthday
is probably close to 16 June 2001. So by the time you read this she will
be a year old. She joins older sister Yvette Anjian Hicks, also adopted
from China. Anjian will be four years old in November of this year. Proud
paternal grandparents are Gloria Eugenia Gravois and Edgar Lawrence Hicks.
Maternal grandparents are the late Cleo Esther Reed and Ira Wilcox Bingham
of Baton Rouge, LA.
DEATHS
Our Library Liaison person, Diana M. Coupel, recently
lost her maternal aunt, Emelda Sanchez Simoneaux. A homemaker, member of
the Ladies Altar Society and resident of Napoleonville, she was 90 years
old at her death on Wednesday, 22 May 2002. She is survived by three daughters,
Hilda Templet, Nellie Aucoin and Rita Daigle, as well as son-in-law Leo
Aucoin, 20 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in
death by her husband, Gilmore Simoneaux; parents Alexis and Carmelite Sanchez;
daughter Ida McCorkle; and a granddaughter, Debra Garabot.
It is with sadness that I announce the death of Florian Max Hardberger
Sr., formerly an active member of this society. A native of Atlanta, Georgia,
and retired professor of Nicholls State University, he died on 16 June
2002. Max was the father of F. Max Jr., Dorris “Dotty” and Karl W.
Hardberger; stepfather of Pearl Ladelle, Norma Rae DeFreese and Rita Naquin
Rivault. He is also survived by a sister, three grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren
and 23 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first
wife, Dorris Windham Hardberger; second wife, Bennie Bailey Naquin Hardberger;
parents Willis Otis and Tamar Wilson Hardberger; and one brother. He was
a member of the First Methodist Church.
Audrey Westerman asked that we inform our members that the Westerman
gentleman listed in the newspaper obituaries on June 17 and 18 is a distant
cousin of her late husband, Henry Westerman.
FAITHFUL MEMBERS
Honestly, can someone tell me what we would
do without the wonderful people who put our quarterlies together time after
time without expecting any pay or thanks? I know, we would have folded
long ago without the continued support of our members. No society can exist
for long with its members just attending meetings and taking without giving
back something. Howsabout taking a minute to check your own record, OK?
The following persons gave up part of their
afternoon last 25 May 2002: Beverly Alford, James Avet, Jess Bergeron,
Brice and Rita Bernard, Phil, Jane and Kelly Chauvin, Cecil Eschete, Brenda
Folse, Ed Henry, Lou Ostheimer, Cecilia Richard, Dot Smith, Noella Walker
and Nancy Wright. Thanks, folks, all of us who enjoy reading the quarterly
are in your debt.
LIBRARY SUPPORT
At the May meeting our President Phil Chauvin
Jr. read a letter he had received from Mary Cosper LeBoeuf, Director of
the Terrebonne Parish Library System. Here is a quote: “On behalf
of the Terrebonne Parish Library Board of Control and staff, we want to
thank the members of the Terrebonne Genealogical Society for their generosity
to the Terrebonne Parish Library System. Your generosity in genealogical
material and equipment over the years has allowed the Terrebonne Parish
Library System’s genealogy department to be one of the best in the state,
if not the southern region.”
It’s nice to be appreciated, isn’t it? Coincidentally,
our treasurer, Nancy Wright, presented a report to the T.G.S. executive
board at our last meeting on 15 July which summed up our contributions
to date. Well, as of February 2002 we have donated a grand total of $51,997.32
over the past 20 years. That includes over $25 thousand in research materials
purchased (books, microfilm, etc.) and almost $10 thousand in equipment
like microfilm reader/printer and computer/printer as well as material
donated by our members.
MEMBERS
In case you have missed some of the usual
smiling faces, we need to inform you that some of our board have been ill,
as well as other members. Essie Cavalier had something that put him in
the hospital for a day or two, and Daniel “Chuck” Guidry had an attack
of something, maybe migraine, but the doctors are not sure. Aimee Hotard
Grillet was scheduled for surgery on Monday, 17 June 2002. So we would
all appreciate your prayers. Priez pour nous.
A GREAT FIND
While going through a civil suit record in
the court house, we found copies of two whole newspapers, The Thibodaux
Sentinel, from November 4, 1865 and November 11, 1865 (Volume 1, numbers
14 and 15) in perfect condition. This date was right after the Civil war,
during which all newspaper publishing had been denied by the Union Army.
The newspapers contained notices, “classified ads” and other bits of information,
with lots of names. They should be fun to peruse, and Nancy Wright has
taken on the job of preparing them for publication in the quarterly. She
does a wonderful job using a word processor to approximate the look and
feel of the original document. We’re all looking forward to seeing these,
Nancy.
20-YEAR INDEX
Sales on the quarterly index on CD are going
well, but I was asked to stress that, although the index costs $15 if you
come and pick it up, you need to send us $18.00 if you expect us
to mail it to you. Shipping costs are going up, honey.
SEMINARS, ETC.
The Lafourche Heritage Society is putting on a real
winner of a seminar! In two morning and two afternoon sessions, there will
be presentations by 1. Elton J. Oubre (on “The Colonial Settlement of The
Bayou Country”), 2. Emory Webre (two sessions — a. “No Disunionists, The
Life of Miles Taylor,” and b. “Louisiana Students at Schools in the 19th
Century”), and 3. Various, noteworthy directors of Confederation of Associations
of Families Acadian (CAFA) (on “Family Organizations,” events planned for
Congrès Mondial 2004 in Nova Scotia, and on CAFA’s French Immersion
Program). Looks like six presentations, to me. You’re getting a lot for
the money, folks. Be sure to register early, because only participants
who have pre-registered will be included in the count for a buffet lunch.
The program is set to begin at 9:15 a.m. and to conclude before 3:30 p.m.
on Saturday 17 August 2002. Start making plans today. To pre-register please
send in your name(s) to be received by 6 August 2002 with your check(s)
payable to Lafourche Heritage Society in the amount of $28.00 for each
participant. The address is P. O. Box 913, Thibodaux, LA 70302. Book vendors
will be welcome, but make sure you reserve a table in advance (no additional
pre-registration costs). If you have any further questions, contact Doris
Mae Ledet, 985-447-7595, or Elton Oubre, 985-446-8662. The seminar will
be held at the Howard Johnson Hotel, 308 North Canal Blvd., Thibodaux,
Louisiana.
Also in August, but this one is on Saturday,
10 August 2002, at Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., New Orleans,
LA (no zip code provided), so you could make both events if you were so
inclined. Claire Mire Bettag, CGRS, CGL, a certified genealogical researcher
based in Washington, D.C. (and a Houma native), will be giving a presentation
entitled “Genealogical Treasures — Land Records at The Historic New Orleans
Collection and Federal Land Records at the National Archives.” Land records
rank among the most valuable but least used genealogical resources, providing
a vast wealth of data not available elsewhere. Mrs. Bettag will explore
the nature, content and genealogical value of Louisiana land records, focusing
on the extensive materials at the Historic New Orleans Collection and on
federal land records for Louisiana at the National Archives. Registration
fee is $20.00, including a family papers preservation kit and a light lunch.
Call 504-598-7171 for reservations. Because of this special presentation,
the research center will be open for researchers at 1:00 p.m. Another goodie:
Bienville House Hotel, 320 Decatur Street, will be offering a special rate
of $69 (plus tax) to workshop attendees. Call 1-800-535-7836 and request
the Historic New Orleans Collection genealogy workshop special rate. Talk
about a good deal!
GOT PENNISON?
The Genealogy Department of the Terrebonne
Parish Library, now housed at the North Branch Library in Gray, LA, has
received a copy of the booklet The Peniston & Pennison Story and you
can find it in the Vertical File there. Information contained in the booklet
has been gathered from a wide variety of sources. It seems that Colonel
William Corbusier researched the history of the Peniston family, spending
several years in England, Bermuda and America. Approximately 100 years
ago he left his work with the Peniston Water Services in Bermuda, from
which Roy Pennison received photocopies of the lengthy documents produced
by the Colonel (born in 1844). The booklet is a result of those efforts.
According to Mr. Pennison, information from one source has been checked
against others whenever possible.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Are you having trouble getting the primary
records you need? Here are some handy sources you may need to contact.
For Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (Catholic Church Records listed in South
Louisiana Records: Lafourche - Terrebonne); $5 each copy: Historical Research
Center, 205 Audubon Ave., Thibodaux, LA 70301
For Terrebonne Parish Court House Civil Records (cite source and ask
for price quotation for copies): Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court, 301
Goode St., Houma, LA 70360-4513
For Lafourche Parish Court House Civil Records (cite source and ask
for price quotations for copies): Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court, 309
West 7th St., Thibodaux, LA 70301
For Assumption Parish Court House Civil Records (cite source and ask
for price quotation for copies): Assumption Parish Clerk of Court, 105
Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Napoleonville, LA 70390
For Catholic Church Records from the Diocese of Baton Rouge (those
published in Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records): Diocese of
Baton Rouge Department of Archives, P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
For Catholic Church Records from the Archdiocese of New Orleans (those
published in Archdiocese of New Orleans Sacramental Records): The Chancellor
Dept. of Historical Archives, Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1100 Chartres
St., New Orleans, LA 70116-2596
For birth and death records kept by the State of Louisiana go to, and
follow the instructions: <http://oph.dhh.state.la.us/recordsstatistics/vitalrecords/>
SUPERIOR COUNCIL
Every now and then we get inquiries about
the Superior Council Records of the Government in Louisiana 1717-1763,
so you may or may not be interested in the following:
For an index of what has been transcribed, go to: <http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/orleans/court/>
The Superior Council Records are listed with filenames like this: supcta.txt
with the “a” in the name replaced by a “b” or “c” or “d” or “e.” These
letters refer to the surnames listed in the index.
The last time I reported on this site, only the a’s and b’s had been
done. The date of the last modification was 3/2002 the last time I checked,
so it is a work in progress. I know it must be agony if your searched-for
name begins with “S” or something, but please be patient. Or offer to help
Gretchen Kraft-Costanza and Darnell Brunner-Beck, both of whom seem to
be doing all the work.
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