Today started off as planned until my co-worker and good friend Roberto called stating that he hit a pothole which caused his tire to go on a flat, the same tire that my fiancé and I complained was 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. Roberto listened to several Spanish Music radio stations which seemed to have calmed his nerves from the events that had taken place earlier. Our first stop was at the Krogers in Sulphur, Louisiana. As we were in Krogers, Roberto blocked up the back door with the lift jack, something he’s known for doing but this time he had an excuse being that our product was located in front of the backroom entrance. One of the vendors he blocked up was a guy who I thought resembled many of my male Cousins from the Opelousas area, so I asked him was he was a Fontenot and he said that he was a Chenier from Opelousas. I said we might be related and asked did he know a Ben CHENIER. He said well Ben CHENIER was my father! I couldn’t believe! For the longest I been trying to locate members of this family. I told him that we were kin in a multiple of ways and showed him how from my ancestry.com App
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 3rd great grandmother Theresa DONATO. Philomene and Theresa were the daughters if 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 the son of Donato BELLO who was once head of the Opelousas Post militia. That’s one way.
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 by his maternal grandmother who purchased him and his mother and freed them. Joseph BATTIN became a big time land owner in the Plaisance area. That’s one way.
Emancipation of Joseph BATTIN
Ella’s mother Letitia PITRE is related to me through both her parents. Her 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 3rd great grandfather Valiere THIERRY. That’s one way. Through John PITRE’s wife Angelle PITRE I’m related through both her parents. Her father Francois Louis PITRE is also the brother of my maternal 4th great grandfather Lastie Louis PITRE. That’s one way. Angelle’s mother Marguerite GALLOT is the niece of my ancestor Helene TOM, the mother of my maternal 3rd great grandfather Valiere THIERRY, the one aforementioned above. That’s one way. 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 was only horse and buggy and a bunch of Cousins in the area. hehehehe.
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 who were 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 him and that has forever obligated me to meet as many relatives as I can to help them learn who those forgotten faces are and their contribution.
John and Angelle PITRE
Compliments of Leopold Frilot, Jr.
My newfound Cousin Mike seems to be involved into knowing his ancestry and he said he will keep in touch as well as share old photos that he has in his family photo album, pictures of his great grandfather Michel CHENIER, a picture who I can’t wait to see. This was my second time in that Krogers and the second time of me connecting with a family member. How cool is that?
Mike’s paternal family pedigree chart
Great! I’m a Chenier. Who is Rubish’ father?
Looks like you are my cousin also. My father is Benjamin Chenier, his mother Merrick Chenier, His mother Ella Batin
Hey there I would like to correspond with you. My email isbmtalex409@gmail.com
hello im Langston St.Clair Sinclair. Descendent of Mar Chenier Sinclair. and Marcellin St.Clair Sinclair. my email. sinclair.langston@yahoo