In researching the enate side of my family, I encountered many of the problems which genealogists meet. There were many disparities in dates in vital records, making it virtually impossible to reconstruct events with certitude. When death certificates, census records, marriage records, and possibly even birth records disagreed on the dates of events, I have used the earliest record.
Church records abound with errors. In the nineteenth century, saint names preceded given names in baptismal records. We now use saint names as middle names. Sometimes given names were omitted completely and if a corresponding birth certificate is not available, it is difficult to fit the proper given name to the church documents.
In baptismal records, three of Etienne and Eugenie Carriau's daughters are named Maria and one is Maria Charlotte. There are no census records available to establish which of the three "Marias" is the correct one for several known given names.
With these handicaps in mind, one must admit the possibilities of disparities in this account, although none of them affect out direct line of descent.
The Carriau family began when Charles Marie Carriau, who was born c. 1752 in Gerand, Department of Loire, France, married Omelia Rachel Perhault of Barbados, British West Indies, born c. 1761, and settled at Cayes, St. Louis, St. Domingue.
Omelia's funeral record lists her name as Rachel Emilie Perhault. She died in New Orleans on 15 May 1822. Charles Marie Carriau died on 4 October 1830.
They had at least two children. Alphonse was born c. 1793 in St. Domingue and died 26 Aug 1833 in New Orleans. Charles was born in New Orleans on 22 April 1812, and died 5 June 1833.
Charles Marie Carriau is listed in the U.S. Territorial Census of 1805. Therefore, this family was one of the earliest families of refugees from St. Domingue.
Alphonse was a broker and conducted a thriving business from his office at 179 Rampart Street.
On 15 Apr. 1832 a natural son was born to Alphonse and Marie Pierre Suzanne Carlon, a free woman of color and also a refugee from St. Domingue. Alphonse recognized his son and he was baptized Etienne Armand Carriau on 28 Jul 1832 at the St. Louis Cathedral 1.
When Alphonse died a year later, his will, filed with Charles Maurian, Judge, stated:
This is my will. In case of death, I give one fourth of my estate to my natural son, Etienne Carriau, that I recognized, a son of Marie Pierre Suzanne Carlon, f.d.l.
The other three-fourths, I give to Sirs Jean Chaigneau and Etienne Bertet, not recognizing any other heirs.
In case of death, either of Mr. Chaigneau or of Mr. Bertet, the survivor will have the right to the whole heritage, except however, the fourth reserved to the child, who naturally should survive his mother. If it came to be that he would die before her...These are my last wishes.
I also wish that Messers Chaigneau and E. Bertet be in charge of all settlements.
re varietre (signed) Charles Maurian, Judge.
The original document, written in French, does not make for exact translation, but would seem to indicate that if Etienne died before his mother, that she would be the beneficiary of his bequest.
Marie Pierre Suzanne Carlon was declared the natural tutrix of her son.
The probate of the will took some time because Alphonse had omitted naming a testamentary executor. The proceedings also established that Alphonse's father had died three years prior to his death and his mother had predeceased him by seven years.
In the hearings Francois Carlon and Hippolite Carlon, uncles of Etienne were named tutors. Later the name of Hilaire was substituted for Hyppolite and Etienne Carlon, another uncle was declared under tutor.
The request was made and approved that money from the estate be provided to purchase a home for the minor. The home purchased was on Esplanade St.
Marie Pierre Suzanne Carlon died on 12 July 1845, and was buried the following day in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2. The funeral mass was held at the St. Louis Cathedral.
Since Etienne Armand Carriau was still a minor, the court required an accounting of his estate. The following document ensued:
Today, the 9th of the month of August of the year 1845 and the 70 year of the U.S.A. Independence.
In virtue of an edict of the Honorable Y. Bermudea, Judge of the Court of Records in and for the City and Parish of New Orleans, having the date of 7 August present month given on the petition of Francois Carlon, h.c.l.,tutor of Etienne Carriau, son of the co-habitation of Alphonse Carriau and Marie-Pierre Suzanne Carlon, f.c.l., both dead, asking the above named court to order that the inventory be made of the estate of the minor Etienne Carriau.
Copy of the petition and order of the Court duely certified by Attorney A.D. Dorescourt, deputy registrar of wills.
I, Louis P. Claire, Public Notary in and for the City and Parish of New Orleans duly commissioned and sworn, I went to a home situated on Des Ursulines Street between Bourbon and Dauphine Streets and I have found-----
1. Francoise Carlon, named by the Court of Records, tutor of the minor Carriau the 7th of the present month.
2. Louis Carlon, h.l.cl, living in this city, acting now in the quality of surrogate tutor of minor Carriau, named by the above mentioned Court of Records the 23 Sept 1833.
3. Sirs Pierre Allard and P.A. Charbonnet, living both in this city, appraisers named by the Court of Records the 7th August current---
4. Sirs Courbeladreyere and Guy Duplantier, able witnesses living in this city and required by law.
And then Francois Carlon having declared to us there was nothing else to list to the present inventory but the property described in the following. We preceded to make the inventory which follows ---
A plot of land situated in the City of New Orleans street of Ursulines between Streets Bourbon and Dauphine with English measure 21 feet more or less of front on Ursulines Street by 120 feet in depth together with the buildings and improvements which were built there, bought by Etienne Carriau from Attorney Jean Chigneau by the edict or the report of the notary undersigned the 31 May 1834. Everything valued at $3500.
This done, Francois Carlon having declared there was nothing else (to list) to the present inventory, we have closed it on the day, month and year above mentioned, and we have signed with the appraisers, the witnesses and I, notary, after the reading of the documents.
Louis P. Plaire, Notary Public 19 Aug 1845
Etienne became a cigar maker and followed this trade all of his life.
On 12 Feb 1855, he married Eugenie Moreau, the daughter of Laurent Moreau and Denise Le Roy, and lived in a house located at 26 Bacchus Street. Later the name of the street and the house number changed to 337 Baronne Street. All fifteen of their children were born there. Their children were:
(See See Appendix B )
Neither birth nor baptismal records could be found for many of the children, nor could death records be found for several who did not live to adulthood.
The 1870 census showed Denise LeRoy Moreau, Eugenie's mother residing in their home.
The older children were baptized at St. Theresa de Avila Church at 1404 Erato Street while the younger ones were baptized at Immaculate Conception Church at 132 Baronne St.
Eugenie was a fine seamstress and worked at an establishment on Royal Street making lace and delicate hand-made garments for babies. Later, Victoria Camille joined her mother in this work.
Etienne dropped the use of his first name and used Armand, his middle name. This was probably caused by the confusion emanating from the alternating use of Etienne, Estevan, or Stephen by persons of French, Spanish, or English backgrounds. He died 23 Dec 1879 and was buried in the St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.
Eugenie died on 30 Dec 1898. She is also buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.
As indicated previously, Letitia Louisa married Mandeville Duvernay 11 Sep 1878.