Clara (Carantin) Agnelly (1843 - 1907)

Born 30 May 1843 in Opelousas, St. Landry, Louisiana

Ancestors

Wife of Martin Richard — married 9 May 1860 in Opelousas, St. Landry, Louisiana

Wife of Joseph Etienne Agnelly — married 3 Oct 1872 (to 12 Jan 1907) in Opelousas, St. Landry, Louisiana

Descendants

Died 12 Jan 1907 at age 63 in Chataigner, Louisiana

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Biography

Clara was born in 1843.^[1] She married Martin Richard in 1860 when she was 17 years old.^[2][3] Their first son, Benjamin, was born the following year, but it seems he did not live to be 10 years old. He is not included in their household in the 1870 Census that lists three other sons, Ernest, Henry and Amos.^[4] Clara's marriage to Martin ended with his death in 1871. She became administratrix of his estate, and their community property was sold at public auction on March 20, 1872.^[5]

In October of 1872, Clara married Joseph Etienne Agnelly.^[6] They lived together in Washington, St. Landry Parish, and had two daughters, Cecilia Coralie Agnelly (b. 1873)and Mathilde Agnelly (b.1875).

The couple appear to have been in financial difficulty. In 1874 a piece of Joseph's property in Washington to be sold at public auction pursuant to a law suit.^[7] In 1875 additional Washington property in Joseph's name was to be sold at public auction pursuant to a Tax Collector's sale for debts owed the State of Louisiana for taxes on the property for years 1873 and 1874.^[8] In 1877, Mrs. Joseph Agnelly appears on a list of tax delinquents of 1874, with property in jeopardy of sale to settle the tax debt.^[9]

The status of the marriage after the 1875 birth of their daughter Mathilde is unknown. In 1880 (if not before), Joseph and Clara appear to be living separately. The 1880 census shows a widowed "Agnes Angeles" [sic], head of household, living in St. Landry with her five children: Ernest, Henry, Amos, Cecillia and Matilda.^[10] By 1900 the widow "Clara Richard" is living with her son-in-law Robert O. Hardey and her daughter Cecile in Acadia Parish.^[11]

In October of 1906, Clara was very ill and staying with her daughter Mathilda in Chaitaigner. She was visited there on a Saturday by her sister, Mrs. Buller. The next day a Dr. Moncla accompanied Clara to New Orleans where she was to have an operation for cancer.^[12] She passed away less than three months later on 12 Jan 1907. Her obituary in the St. Landry Clarion reads:

The Clarion regrets to learn of the death of Mrs. Clara Richard, which occurred in Chataigner on Saturday, the 12th. Deceased was 62 years and 7 months old at the time of her death, and had been a patient and resigned sufferer for many months. She leaves four children to mourn her loss - Mr. A. P. Richard, of Crowley; Ernest Richard, of Church Point; Mrs. R. 0. Hardy, of Church Point, and Mrs. Jos. Hardy, of Chataignier.^[13]

Clara was buried in Washington Cemetery on 13 Jan 1907.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ CARANTIN, Clara (Benjamin & Cecile Coralie ZENTZUN) b. 30 May 1843 (Opel.Ch.: v.4, p.215). Southwest Louisiana Records, Vol. 4, 1841-1847, p.88. Rev. Donald J. Hebert.
2. ↑ RICHARD, Martin m. 9 May 1860 Clara CARANTIN (Opel.Ct.Hse.: Mar. #2037). Southwest Louisiana Records, Vol. 6, 1855-1860, p. 508, Rev. Donald J. Hebert.
3. ↑ RICHARD, Martin (Francois & Anna MARTIN) m. 10 May 1860 Clara CARENTIN (Opel.Ch.v.C-2, #235). Southwest Louisiana Records, Vol. 6, 1855-1860, p. 508, Rev. Donald J. Hebert.
4. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census, Washington, St. Landry, Louisiana; Roll: M593-530; Page: 179A; Family History Library Film: 552029. Ancestry.com Operations, 2009.
5. ↑ Public Sale. Estate of Martin Richard, deceased. St. Landry Democrat, 17 Feb 1872, Sat. Page 3. Newspapers.com [1]
6. ↑ Clara Carantin marriage to Joseph Etienne Agnelly, 3 Oct 1872, St. Landry. Louisiana, Marriages, 1718-1925, Hunting for Bears, comp. Ancestry.com Operations, 2004, Provo, UT
7. ↑ Dominique Lalanne, et als., vs. Joseph Agnelly, Sheriff's Sale. St. Landry Democrat (Opelousas, Louisiana, 01 Jan 1874, Fri, Page 2. Newspapers.com[2]
8. ↑ Tax Collector's Sales, St. Landry Democrat (Opelousas, Louisiana, 10 Sep 1875, Fri, Page 2. Newspaper.com [3]
9. ↑ Delinquent Tax Lists, The Opelousas Courier, 10 Nov 1877, Sat, First Edition, Page 1. Newspaper.com [4]
10. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census, Record for Agnes Angeles[sic], 5th Ward, St. Landry, Louisiana; Ross: 470; Family History Film: 1254470; Page 295A; Enumeration District: 043, Image: 0191. Ancestry.com Operations, 2010, Provo, UT.
11. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census, record for Clara Richard, Ward 4, Acadia, Louisiana; Roll: T623-556; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 6.
12. ↑ Dr. Moncla to accompany Mrs. Clara Richard to New Oreans. Chataigner Letter, St. Landry Clarion (Opelousas, Louisiana) 20 Oct 1906, Sat, Page 1. Newspapers.com [5]
13. ↑ Mrs. Clara Richard Dead. St. Landry Clarion (Opelousas, Louisiana), 26 Jan 1907, Sat, Page 5. Newspaper.com [6]
14. ↑ "On January 13, 1907, Mrs. Clara Richard was buried, who died the day before after she had received the sacraments of the church at the age of 62. She was buried in Washington Cemetery." C. M. Schmith, Rector, St. Landry Parish Archive, p.117. Photocopy obtained by Sanny Adams circa 1980 and retained by Cathy Ciarrocchi.

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87V-K1N : Thu Sep 14 19:27:21 UTC 2023), Entry for Martin Richard and Clara Richard, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXF-3CN : Mon Sep 18 05:08:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Agnes Angeles and Ernest Angeles, 1880.