Who were Josephine's biological parents?

Question

Mary Josephine Fontenot (or Josephine Marie Fontenot) was adopted by Jules Reed and Margaret Deshotels Reed as noted on the 1890 census.  No previous records for Josephine.  She was likely related to either Jules and/or Margaret.   

Comments

just a thought -

both parents would be deceased before 1890

checking death records, there is one for Mrs. Ernest Fontenette, widow, died June 1889

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Thanks!  Good idea.  I will hold onto this info, although a connection to this person is not apparent at this time.  ;-)

Answer 1

Hi Jackie, I'm just a little confused. You mentioned an 1890 census but there is no citation for it. Can you point to the census you're talking about? I didn't think anything still survived from the 1890 census in Louisiana.

I found a marriage in 1892 and children of Jules Reed and Marguerite Deshotels, but nothing regarding a connection to a Josephine Fontenot. Marguerite's parents were  Alcide Deshotels and Celise Fontenot, so maybe the connection comes from her mother's side?

Comments

Thank you for catching that.  I said 1890 census.  It was the 1900 Census, St. Landry Parish, Ward 7. 

I have looked at the Fontenot, Deshotels, and Reed families extensively.  There are many marriages among these families, and I have not yet found the possible parents.  I will compare your other comment about Alcee and Mary Jane Bennett to those families.  An aunt recently told me that she thought Josephine's mother was a Bennett, so that sounds correct.  

Answer 2

Her ''possible'' parents are listed on her death record-- at least I think it's hers-- which I just cited in her biography:

:Father's Name: Alcee Fontenot

:Mother's Name: Mary Bennutte (Bennett on Family Search)

:Spouse's Name: Louis Guillory

I guess there could have been two women with same name, almost the same dates and location, and married to men with the same name.

Comments

I'm assuming this is her death record, since the date matches exactly what was in the profile originally. I've added her birth and marriage records from SWLR. It seems her marriage record gives the wrong mother, "Jimmie Johnson." I've searched and found no such person so it's probably an error.