Post by cynthiadaigle on May 4, 2009 21:42:39 GMT -5
This article may seem like a jumbled up mess but if Adrien and Melicere are your ancestors I urge you to read it.
Adrien BARBIER and Melicere BARRIOS
Written Oct. 6, 2006; Updated with corrections May 5, 2009
Sources for this article
SLR = South Louisiana Records by Hebert
DOBR = Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Church Records
SWLA = SouthWest Louisiana Records by Hebert
Census – Louisiana 1860, 1880, 1900, 1910
Rootsweb.com – Various online files
Before I jump into Adrien and Melicere, it should be pointed out here that using online files, or the genealogy of another person, should not be the primary method used for gathering your genealogical information. They are fine to use as a guideline, however, every effort should be made to verify information. Online file owners, including myself, use this disclaimer to cover their backsides a lot and with good reason. We are human and we make mistakes.
Often researchers make presumptions when parents are not named in a marriage record. These presumptions should have some basis and not be just a best guess or another researchers best guess. Adrien BARBIER and Melisere BARRIOS'S marriage record does not name parents. Thinking to save a little time, I decided to check out what the other files in Rootsweb.com had come up with for parents to Adrien and Melicere.
I thought I had hit the jackpot when I found about seven files in Rootsweb.com with Adrien and Melicere and naming their parents, but when I attempted to verify the information through reference books and census, the information just wasn’t adding up.
Nearly all these files name Adrien Vileor Barbier. Besides Adrien Vileor, I have also found a birth record for Alezi Adrien BARBIER s/o Marcelin BARBIER and Euphrosine Hebert. Alezi Adrien was born Oct. 2, 1839 and christened in Plattenville, LA. It is my opinion after thorough research that Alexis Adrien (called Adrien) is the husband of Melicere Barrios and not Adrien Vileor (called Vileor).
Adrien Velior BARBIER b. April 10, 1840 was christened as such, however, research shows that in subsequent records he is nearly always called Velior not Adrien BARBIER. He is godfather to nieces and nephews, he is witness at marriages of family members and he is named in census, all under the name of Velior BARBIER. In 1850 and 1860 he is living with parents and named Velior. He is found age 59 and single in 1900 census and named Velior. So the husband of Melicere BARRIOS was Adrien Alexis BARBIER and not Adrien Velior BARBIER. These two Adrien’s were born a mere six months apart, given the nearly the same name and are first cousins also. No wonder there is lots of confusion.
Another big confusion with this couple in online files centers around Adrien BARBIER'S wife. In several online files she is listed as either Lelasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX, Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX, or Melicere Clementine BARRIOS and so on. Some gave Adrien’s wife the correct name of Melicere BARRIOS but give her the birthdate of Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX and they generously give her Melasie's parents as well. All this confusion is not really surprising since some BARRIOS and BARRILLEAUX records are listed under the same surname in reference books. A BARRIOS may in fact be a BARRILLEAUX or vice-versa.
The first order of business is that the name of Adrien's wife needs to be clarified. In their marriage record they are named
BARRIOS, Melisere m. Adrien BARBIER (civil, SLR-4, 46)
Adrien and Melisere's names in their childrens birth records:
BARBIER, Marie Emma (Adrien & Melisere BARIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Joseph Sosthene (Adrien & Melisare BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Pierre Clareville (Adrien & Melissa BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER Palmira Maria (Adrien & Melvina BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Paul Telesco (Adrien & Melisa SAVOIE) (SLR-5, 26)
Don’t be put off by this last child being born to mother Melisa SAVOIE. “Telescope” age 8 is enumerated in 1880 as the last child and a son of Adrien BARBIER and Melisere.
Adrien and Melisere names in census
1880 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adrien & Melissa
1900 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adrien & Mellisane
1910 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adelien & Cheka
Who knows where those names came from in 1910. But I’ve no doubt it is them. Their daughter, Mary, is living with them, as she is in 1900, and they all live amidst some of Adrien and Melisere’s married children.
Adrien and Melicere's names in their children's marriage records
Joseph Sosthene (Adrien BARBIER and Melissaire BARRO) (SLR-7, 29)
Pierre Clareville (Adrien & Melissa BARRIOS) (SLR-8, 34)
Palmire Maria (Adrien BARBIER & Melicaire BARRIOS) (SLR-8, 34)
In NO record found in reference books or census is a middle name given for Adrien or his wife. In spite of a couple of creative spellings of her name, it appears to me that her name is definitely Melisere BARRIOS and NOT Melisere or Melasie BARRILLEAUX.
Adrien and Melisere are found living together with children in 1880, 1900 and 1910 Lafourche census. In an attempt to determine parentage for Melisere BARRIOS, we look to the 1860 census which was one year prior to their marriage. Remember, Adrien BARBIER is living with his parents in Lafourche Parish in Ward 4, family number 336. Just up the road (or down the road, if you prefer) also living in Ward 4, is family number 331, Joseph BARRIOS and wife, Rosalie (FORET), with several children. One of those children is Melisere BARRIOS, age 26. Neighbors.
Now, we have two possible women vying for the position of Adrien’s wife. They are Melisere BARRIOS, the neighbor who was born in 1828 (SLR-1, 37), and Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX b. 1847 (DOBR-6, 50), named in online files. Adrien was born in 1839 (DOBR-5, 49), so given the normal circumstance of husbands generally being older than wives, it seems likely that his wife might be Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX. We go back to the reference books to search for marriages for these two women.
No marriage record is found for Melisere BARRIOS the d/o Joseph BARRIOS & Rosalie FORET. But a marriage is found for Melisere BARRIOS who married Adrien BARBIER in 1861 (SLR-4, 46). Adrien and Melisere have five children between 1862 and 1872. These are all found in SLR and confirmed by census.
And Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX? In DOBR-11, 41 we find a marriage record:
BARILLEAU, Melasie (Valentin BARILLEAU and Marcelite THIBODEAUX) m. 11 May 1869 Aristide RICHARD (Basile RICHARD and Eloise GUILLOT)……….. (SJOPP-3, 40)
To cover all our bases we do a little more research on Melasie BARRILLEAUX by returning to census and reference books. Aristide RICHARD and Melasie are found living together with children in 1880 St. Mary census, in 1900 Iberia census and finally by 1910 Iberia, Melasie is a widow. Aristide and Melasie have nine children between 1870 and 1891. Birth records for these children are found in DOBR and SWLA and confirmed by census.
Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX b. March 31, 1847 cannot be the wife of Adrien BARBIER. Census and marriage records prove Melisere BARRIOS and Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX are two different women who married different men. Adrien did not marry first to Melisere and second to Melasie, as seen in an online file. The time line just doesn't support it.
So you're still not sure that Adrien BARBIER was married to an older woman? Twelve years is a big difference and not all that common. Let's study their ages in census
1860 Lafourche (prior to marriage)
Adrien, 21, living with parents and siblings
Melisere, 26, living with parents and siblings
1880 Lafourche
Adrien, 42
Melissa, 35
1900 Lafourche
Adrien, 62
Mellisane, 67
1910 Lafourche
Adelien, 70
Cheka, 80
By their last census together, Melicere (Cheka) is 10 years older than Adrien (Adelien).
My conclusion is that Adrien's wife is Melicere Antoinette BARRIOS b. 8 Jan 1828 d/o Joseph BARRIOS and Rosalie FORET. And Adrien is Adrien Alexis Barbier b. Oct. 2, 1839 s/o Marcelin Barbier and Euphrosine Hebert.
Anytime presumptions are made, there is always room for error. She may not be the correct one. Realistically speaking, Adrien may have plucked himself a wife fresh off the stage from Tim-Buck-Too. But that is not the likely scenario. It is more likely that he married the daughter of a neighbor. For a certainty, as proven by the above information, Adrien BARBIER did not marry Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX.
Adrien BARBIER and Melicere BARRIOS
Written Oct. 6, 2006; Updated with corrections May 5, 2009
Sources for this article
SLR = South Louisiana Records by Hebert
DOBR = Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Church Records
SWLA = SouthWest Louisiana Records by Hebert
Census – Louisiana 1860, 1880, 1900, 1910
Rootsweb.com – Various online files
Before I jump into Adrien and Melicere, it should be pointed out here that using online files, or the genealogy of another person, should not be the primary method used for gathering your genealogical information. They are fine to use as a guideline, however, every effort should be made to verify information. Online file owners, including myself, use this disclaimer to cover their backsides a lot and with good reason. We are human and we make mistakes.
Often researchers make presumptions when parents are not named in a marriage record. These presumptions should have some basis and not be just a best guess or another researchers best guess. Adrien BARBIER and Melisere BARRIOS'S marriage record does not name parents. Thinking to save a little time, I decided to check out what the other files in Rootsweb.com had come up with for parents to Adrien and Melicere.
I thought I had hit the jackpot when I found about seven files in Rootsweb.com with Adrien and Melicere and naming their parents, but when I attempted to verify the information through reference books and census, the information just wasn’t adding up.
Nearly all these files name Adrien Vileor Barbier. Besides Adrien Vileor, I have also found a birth record for Alezi Adrien BARBIER s/o Marcelin BARBIER and Euphrosine Hebert. Alezi Adrien was born Oct. 2, 1839 and christened in Plattenville, LA. It is my opinion after thorough research that Alexis Adrien (called Adrien) is the husband of Melicere Barrios and not Adrien Vileor (called Vileor).
Adrien Velior BARBIER b. April 10, 1840 was christened as such, however, research shows that in subsequent records he is nearly always called Velior not Adrien BARBIER. He is godfather to nieces and nephews, he is witness at marriages of family members and he is named in census, all under the name of Velior BARBIER. In 1850 and 1860 he is living with parents and named Velior. He is found age 59 and single in 1900 census and named Velior. So the husband of Melicere BARRIOS was Adrien Alexis BARBIER and not Adrien Velior BARBIER. These two Adrien’s were born a mere six months apart, given the nearly the same name and are first cousins also. No wonder there is lots of confusion.
Another big confusion with this couple in online files centers around Adrien BARBIER'S wife. In several online files she is listed as either Lelasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX, Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX, or Melicere Clementine BARRIOS and so on. Some gave Adrien’s wife the correct name of Melicere BARRIOS but give her the birthdate of Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX and they generously give her Melasie's parents as well. All this confusion is not really surprising since some BARRIOS and BARRILLEAUX records are listed under the same surname in reference books. A BARRIOS may in fact be a BARRILLEAUX or vice-versa.
The first order of business is that the name of Adrien's wife needs to be clarified. In their marriage record they are named
BARRIOS, Melisere m. Adrien BARBIER (civil, SLR-4, 46)
Adrien and Melisere's names in their childrens birth records:
BARBIER, Marie Emma (Adrien & Melisere BARIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Joseph Sosthene (Adrien & Melisare BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Pierre Clareville (Adrien & Melissa BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER Palmira Maria (Adrien & Melvina BARRIOS) (SLR-4, 40)
BARBIER, Paul Telesco (Adrien & Melisa SAVOIE) (SLR-5, 26)
Don’t be put off by this last child being born to mother Melisa SAVOIE. “Telescope” age 8 is enumerated in 1880 as the last child and a son of Adrien BARBIER and Melisere.
Adrien and Melisere names in census
1880 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adrien & Melissa
1900 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adrien & Mellisane
1910 Lafourche - BARBIER, Adelien & Cheka
Who knows where those names came from in 1910. But I’ve no doubt it is them. Their daughter, Mary, is living with them, as she is in 1900, and they all live amidst some of Adrien and Melisere’s married children.
Adrien and Melicere's names in their children's marriage records
Joseph Sosthene (Adrien BARBIER and Melissaire BARRO) (SLR-7, 29)
Pierre Clareville (Adrien & Melissa BARRIOS) (SLR-8, 34)
Palmire Maria (Adrien BARBIER & Melicaire BARRIOS) (SLR-8, 34)
In NO record found in reference books or census is a middle name given for Adrien or his wife. In spite of a couple of creative spellings of her name, it appears to me that her name is definitely Melisere BARRIOS and NOT Melisere or Melasie BARRILLEAUX.
Adrien and Melisere are found living together with children in 1880, 1900 and 1910 Lafourche census. In an attempt to determine parentage for Melisere BARRIOS, we look to the 1860 census which was one year prior to their marriage. Remember, Adrien BARBIER is living with his parents in Lafourche Parish in Ward 4, family number 336. Just up the road (or down the road, if you prefer) also living in Ward 4, is family number 331, Joseph BARRIOS and wife, Rosalie (FORET), with several children. One of those children is Melisere BARRIOS, age 26. Neighbors.
Now, we have two possible women vying for the position of Adrien’s wife. They are Melisere BARRIOS, the neighbor who was born in 1828 (SLR-1, 37), and Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX b. 1847 (DOBR-6, 50), named in online files. Adrien was born in 1839 (DOBR-5, 49), so given the normal circumstance of husbands generally being older than wives, it seems likely that his wife might be Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX. We go back to the reference books to search for marriages for these two women.
No marriage record is found for Melisere BARRIOS the d/o Joseph BARRIOS & Rosalie FORET. But a marriage is found for Melisere BARRIOS who married Adrien BARBIER in 1861 (SLR-4, 46). Adrien and Melisere have five children between 1862 and 1872. These are all found in SLR and confirmed by census.
And Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX? In DOBR-11, 41 we find a marriage record:
BARILLEAU, Melasie (Valentin BARILLEAU and Marcelite THIBODEAUX) m. 11 May 1869 Aristide RICHARD (Basile RICHARD and Eloise GUILLOT)……….. (SJOPP-3, 40)
To cover all our bases we do a little more research on Melasie BARRILLEAUX by returning to census and reference books. Aristide RICHARD and Melasie are found living together with children in 1880 St. Mary census, in 1900 Iberia census and finally by 1910 Iberia, Melasie is a widow. Aristide and Melasie have nine children between 1870 and 1891. Birth records for these children are found in DOBR and SWLA and confirmed by census.
Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX b. March 31, 1847 cannot be the wife of Adrien BARBIER. Census and marriage records prove Melisere BARRIOS and Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX are two different women who married different men. Adrien did not marry first to Melisere and second to Melasie, as seen in an online file. The time line just doesn't support it.
So you're still not sure that Adrien BARBIER was married to an older woman? Twelve years is a big difference and not all that common. Let's study their ages in census
1860 Lafourche (prior to marriage)
Adrien, 21, living with parents and siblings
Melisere, 26, living with parents and siblings
1880 Lafourche
Adrien, 42
Melissa, 35
1900 Lafourche
Adrien, 62
Mellisane, 67
1910 Lafourche
Adelien, 70
Cheka, 80
By their last census together, Melicere (Cheka) is 10 years older than Adrien (Adelien).
My conclusion is that Adrien's wife is Melicere Antoinette BARRIOS b. 8 Jan 1828 d/o Joseph BARRIOS and Rosalie FORET. And Adrien is Adrien Alexis Barbier b. Oct. 2, 1839 s/o Marcelin Barbier and Euphrosine Hebert.
Anytime presumptions are made, there is always room for error. She may not be the correct one. Realistically speaking, Adrien may have plucked himself a wife fresh off the stage from Tim-Buck-Too. But that is not the likely scenario. It is more likely that he married the daughter of a neighbor. For a certainty, as proven by the above information, Adrien BARBIER did not marry Melasie Clementine BARRILLEAUX.