Descendants of Martin DONATO’s Last Will and Testament

On September 2, 1847, approximately 166 years ago, Martin DONATO, a free man of color and prominent planter in the town of Opelousas, Louisiana, left behind the wishes of his last will and testament. The will left behind a puzzling mystery as to why he wanted to give liberty to 12 slaves upon his death which happened on 2 Jan 1848. The will specified that immediately upon his death, freedom was to be given to the following slaves who were JULIE, age about 32 years, and her seven children to-wit, EUGENIE aged about 14 years, EMILE aged about 12 years, URANIE aged about 11 years, FELICIANNE and FELICIE twin sisters aged about 8 years, PHILOMENE aged about 4 years, DIDIER aged about 1 year three months, and to MEURICE and OLYMPIE, twins sisters, aged about twenty years and to MARIE JEANNE, daughter of OLYMPIE aged about 2 years more or less. In consideration of the recommendation that was made to Martin by his late deceased son Edmond DONATO, Martin also gave freedom to his Mulatto slave named Leon aged about 19 years (Son of Rosine).

Martin also mentioned the free status that was given to Sabin DONATO (son of his Negresse Celeste) who was given his freedom at birth by Martin and his deceased wife. Martin DONATO also firmly declared that if any of his heirs would contest his wishes, they would be disinherited from his will.

Although Martin made it clear that he wanted these certain slaves freed, he never specified the reason he wanted to liberate these slaves or the relationship he had with them. Could one assume that Martin DONATO was their father? grandfather? or their uncle? Not only did Martin request them to be freed, but he also ensured that Julie’s seven children were given the security of a great future by making sure that the executor of his estate, his son Auguste DONATO, funded their education by giving them money from his estate.

CONFIRMAITON OF BLOOD RELATIONS TO MARTIN

Throughout the years of researching along with the help of many relatives, Catholic Church and courthouse records, I was able to find answers as to why Martin freed those 12 slaves. I was able to confirm that all those slaves were all blood related to him. Julie as I thought, became Martin’s concubine upon his wife’s death. Catholic marriages of her children prove that Martin was their father: DONATO, Marie Philomene (Martin & Julie RAPHAEL) m. 8 Feb. 1872 Alexandre OLIVIER (Honore & Francoise FRILOT); CUNY, Louis B. (Cesar & Celeste THIERRY) m. 25 July 1861 Felice DONATO (Martin & Julie DONATO) (Opel. Ch.: v. 2, p. 322).

As for my ancestor Olympe DONATO, and her twin sister Meurice, their family relationship to Martin was confirmed in the succession of Sabin DONATO, where Martin’s former physician, Frederick ACHER of France petitioned against Sabin’s wife to give his natural (illegitimate) daughters, Anaise, Valentine and Marie ACHER, children of the late Meurice DONATO, to inherit an equal share of their late Uncle Sabin’s estate. Dr. ACHER called for a family meeting of his children’s nearest relatives which consisted of Martin DONATO’s son, Francois Auguste DONATO, pere [Sr.] his sons, Francois Auguste DONATO, fils, [Jr.] and Gustave DONATO, Martin’s grandsons Martin LEMELLE, Joseph Delmont DONATO and Cornelius DONATO. The names of these men who came to the family meeting for the security of Meurice DONATO’s children substantiate that there was a family connection between Olympe and Meurice DONATO and Martin DONATO. I would later find more documentation to prove who the father of the twins was. However, you will have to purchase my book for more details.

In addition to connecting the families, I have discovered that two of my cousins, Paul GEORGE, (NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist) and Joe YOUNG (NBA all-star) are descendants of Olympe DONATO and Meurice DONATO.

Martin BELLO-DONATO

Me and my daughter Aviynna with our Cousin Neddie GEORGE, great-great-great granddaughter of Meurice DONATO

Me with my Cousins Rodney SAM, great-great-great grandson of Olympe DONATO with Nell PAINTER, scholar and author, great-great granddaughter of Emile DONATO, son of Martin DONATO and Julie.