Marcelite Durand, who married henri Duvernay, was the daughter of François Durand and Marie Theresa Ferrand, both free peole of color., who had been married on 2 Aug 1830 (SLC Marriages, 1777-1830, p. 124, Act No. 538). Marcelite was baptised 13 Dec 1831 at the St. Louis Cathedral.
The children of François Durand and Marie Theresa Ferrand were:
Francois, pére's baptismal papers list him as "Francisco". He was born 8 Oct 1805. His parents were Louis Durand (white) and Marianna Chalambert (f.w.o.c.) His agnate grandparents werer Francois Durand and Marie Louise Grondel. The Grondel family merits a special chapter. His enate grandparents were Jean Chalambert (white) and Charlotte Gustave (f.wo.c.). Francois died 12 Sep 1847 and was buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.
Marie Theresa Ferand's baptismal record lists her as "Louisa." She was born 14 May 1815 and her parets were Bernard Ferrand, a white teacher on the plantation of Eugene Fortier, who had been born in France in Libourne, Dept of Gerone, in 1757 and Catiche (also Catarina and Catis - no surname given) a free woman of color Catiche's mother was Rosa [o] and was probably a freed slave.
Catiche was born in 1782 and died 15 Oct 1866. Bernard had died 12 Jan 1838. Both died at the home of Henri and Pierre Porthal, free men of color, on Jackson Street.
Bernard and Catiche had three other children of record: Eugenie Virginia, born 9 Jan 1808, Rosaalie, born 5 Feb 1812, and Louis, born 20 Apr 1819.
Both the unions of Louis Durand and Marianne Chalambert and of Bernard Ferand and Catiche were blessed by marriage, although I have not found the documents for the union of Bernard and Catiche.
Several professional genealogists and historians in Louisiana contend that marriages between whites (usually male) and free peole of color (usually female) took place with frequency even through the law banned such marriages. According to these researcher, these marriage were arranged by Mother Henriette De Lille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, a colored order of nuns.
The reports state that the couple entered the church by a side door and were married at a side altar. The records were kept in separate books, called "Side Books". Since a marriage license was needed, some judges had to cooperate.
It has been stated that two Oblate Sisters, doing research in the archives in New Orleans, saw these books in the 1930s. In the 1940s, Notre Dame University requested all parishes in Louisiana to submit these books for a research study. Only Orleans Parish cooperated and the study as never done.
No one knows if the books were ever returned.
The marriage between Louis Durand and Marianne Chalambert occurred 10 Jan 1844 at St. Augustine Church and was recorded in their Marriage Book I, page 6b, which is the record for white marriages.
A notation appears, "Licensed by Hon Charles Maurian, Judge."
I tried to find the records of Judge Maurian but they have all disappeared. In fact, all marriage licenses for that period are gone. It is speculated that in order to protect their heritage of property (and race) some whites destroyed any records which could have caused them to share their wealth with colored relatives.
According to Mrs. Mary White, a noted researcher, the recording of the marriage of Louis Durand and Marianna Chalambert in the white book of records was in keeping with the practice of Spanish priests who recorded those involving octaroons (1/8 colored) as through both parties were white.
At any rate, Louis Durand and Marianne Chalambert had three children. Louis, born 28 Oct 1801 (SLC, B16, 135), Carolina, born ca. May 1803 and interred 31 Dec 1803 (SLC, F5, 131) and Francisco, born 8 Oct 1805 (SLC, B19, 4). They lived together as man and wife until death took Louis in 1844.
Marianne was alive, but blind, in the census of 1850, living in Carrollton in Jefferson Parish at the age of seventy-nine years.