Meeting Cousin Mike CHENIER

Today started off as planned until my co-worker and good friend, Roberto, called stating that he hit a pothole causing a flat tire – the same tire that my fiancé and I complained about being too low. Roberto and I then came up with a plan for us to work my Beaumont stores so that I could help him out on his Louisiana stores. After finishing my stores, Roberto was able to find a used tire for $35 from the tire shop by my house – the same tire shop that charged me $40!!! Ha! After he got his tired fixed, we hit I-10 at 10 A.M. As we drove, Roberto listened to several Spanish music radio stations that seemed to calm his nerves from the events that had taken place earlier. Our first stop was at the Kroger’s Supermarket in Sulphur, Louisiana. At Kroger’s, Roberto blocked the back door with the lift jack, something he’s known for doing. But this time he had an excuse since our product was located in front of the backroom entrance.

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS, CUZ!

One of the vendors he blocked was a guy who I thought resembled many of my male cousins from the Opelousas area. I asked him if he was a Fontenot and he said that he was a CHENIER from Opelousas. I said we might be related and asked if he knew a Ben CHENIER. He said “Well, Ben CHENIER is my father!” I couldn’t believe it! For the longest time, I’ve been trying to locate members of this family. I told him that we were kin in multiple ways and showed him how using the Ancestry.com App on my phone.

MY DONATO CONNECTIONS TO MIKE’S FATHER

Big Ben Chenier was the son of Michel CHENIER and Therese HOLLIER. Michel’s mother was Philomene DONATO. Philomene was the half-sister of my 3 rd great-grandmother, Theresa DONATO. Philomene and Theresa were the daughters of Francois Colombe DONATO, free man of color, who died in 1853. Francois was born about 1823 in Opelousas, Louisiana to Francois DONATO and Celeste DAUBB. Francois DONATO was the son of Martin Donato BELLO, a wealthy free man of color who was the son of Donato BELLO. Donato BELLO was once head of the Opelousas Post militia. That’s one way.

BATTIN/LAFLEUR RELATIONS WITH MIKE’S MOTHER

I’m also related to Big Ben’s wife, Ella BATTIN, through both of her parents. Through Ella’s father, Francois BATTIN, we are related on the LAFLEUR side. Francois BATTIN’s father, Joseph BATTIN, obtained his freedom as a result of his maternal grandmother purchasing him and his mother and freeing them. Joseph BATTIN became a big-time land owner in the Plaisance area. That’s one way.

Emancipation of Joseph BATTIN

PITRE CONNECTIONS TO ELLA

Ella’s mother, Letitia PITRE, is related to me through both of her parents. Letitia’s father, John PITRE, was the son of Onesime Louis PITRE, who is the brother of my maternal 4th great-grandfather – Lastie Louis PITRE. That’s one way. John’s mother, Celeste ESPRIT, is the niece of my maternal 3 rd great-grandfather – Valiere THIERRY. That’s another way.

I’m related to Ella’s mother and John PITRE’s wife, Angelle PITRE, through both of her parents. Angelle’s father, Francois Louis PITRE, is also the brother of my maternal 4 th great grandfather – Lastie Louis PITRE. In other words, Onesime Louis PITRE, Francois Louis PITRE, and my 4 th great-grandfather, Lastie Louis PITRE were brothers. That’s how many ways?

THIERRY/GALLOT CONNECTIONS

Angelle PITRE’s mother, Marguerite GALLOT, is the niece of my ancestor Helene TOM, the mother of my maternal 3 rd great-grandfather Valiere THIERRY (the one mentioned above). That’s one more way.

LOST?

Are you all still here? Lost yet? I’m sure many got lost in the lines of all of this family mixing and kinship. Hey, there were only horse and buggies for transportation and a bunch of cousins in the area! Hehe Hehe!!!

Family photo of Francois BATTIN and Letitia PITRE

Compliments of Katelynn JOUBERT

About two years ago I was able to locate the original pictures of John and Angele PITRE hanging up in Frilot Cove, Louisiana. John and his wife were huge contributors of the Plaisance community. After her husband died, Angele gave up her home to start a Church that was also used as a school. The owner of the originals didn’t know the names of the people but he knew his relationship to them. That has forever obligated me to meet as many relatives as I can to help them learn who those forgotten faces are and their contributions.

John and Angelle PITRE:

Compliments of Leopold Frilot, Jr.

My newfound Cousin Mike seems to be interested in knowing his ancestry. He has promised to keep in touch as well as share old photos that he has in his family photo album including pictures of his great-grandfather Michel CHENIER, a picture can’t wait to see. This was my second time in that Kroger’s and the second time I connected with a family member. How cool is that?