Person:Zephirin Theriot (1)

!CHRISTENING-SPONSOR: SWLR-CD. HARTMAN, Olivier (Jacob ARTMAN & Marie McMARTRAIT) b. 4 May 1825, bt. 20 May 1827 Pats: Pierre ARTMAN [HARTMAN] & Anna RAYEN; Mats: Sem McMARTRAIT & Catherine ----; Spons: Zephirin THERIOT & Marcellite POLASTIE. Fr. Marcel BORELLA (SM Ch.: v.7, #1918)

!CHRISTENING-SPONSOR: Baton Rouge Diocese, CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS; vol. 5, p.291. Zephirin TERRIAU acted as godfather for his sister Leonisa TERRIAU HARTMAN's daughter Leonise in 1833[?]. (ASM-8, 430).

!CHRISTENING-SPONSOR: SWLR-CD. MAYON, Hippolite Terence (Hippolite & Celeste MILLER) b. 15 March 1834, bt. 7 July 1835 Pats: Francois MAYON & Isabelle COMEAU; Mats: Jacob MILLER & Sophie OFMAN; Spons: Zephirin THERIOT & Alixe BERTRAND. Fr. Marcel BORELLA (SM Ch.: v.8, #872)

!LAND: St. Mary Parish Courthouse, Original Conveyances (vol. D-2, #2079-4190); pp. 134 & reverse. Celeste MILLER, wife of Hypolite MAYEU sold to Catherine MILLER, wife of Jean Baptiste FELTEMAN, exchanged land. One piece was on the west side of the River Teche or Atchafalaya, about 1 1/2 arpents by 40, bordered above by land of Zepherin THERIOT, and below by M. H. CARROLE. Dated 9 Jul 1835.

!LAND: Carl A. Brasseaux, ACADIAN TO CAJUN, TRANSFORMATION OF A PEOPLE; 1803-1877; Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1992; pp. 6 & 15. ...Acadian sugar growers quickly emerged as a significant force in the Louisiana sugar industry. By 1849, ...St. Mary" parish had 12. "In 1850, six of St. Mary's twelve Acadian farmers produced an average of 77.33 hogsheads of sugar. ...Led by such influential men as Alexandre Mouton, pioneer sugar growers amassed small fortunes in the 1830s and 1840s."

!CENSUS: LOUISIANA SUGAR CENSUSES; 1850-1860; UT, Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1987; p. 213; California State Library Sutro, F368 J23 1987. Zephin/Zephirin THERIOT is listed for four consecutive years, 1850-1853 [when he died]. In the Parish of St. Mary (Attakapas), p. 35 or 43. Description of location is Atchafalaya Blo [sic, should be Bayou?], Patterson.

!DEATH: Article "The Fever in St. Mary's Parish," in OPELOUSAS COURIER, 26 Nov 1853, p. 2 , col. 2. Reports on deaths from yellow fever reported in THE PLANTER'S BANNER of Franklin, LA. It mentions a frost there in November which seemed to curtail new cases, so "the quarantine stations at Maskell's Mill and Rentrop's Point are broken up, being considered no longer necessary, and steamboats and vessels can now arrive without detention."

!DEATH: Gloria Lambert Kerns, DEATH NOTICES FROM LOUISIANA NEWSPAPERS; 1836-1887; vol. 4, author, 1984; p. 88; California State Library Sutro, F368 M39 1984 v.6; covers Acadia, Iberia, Rapides, St. Landry & St. Mary Parishes. Notice for Zephirin THERIOT Estate appeared in the PLANTER'S BANNER of Franklin, St. Mary Parish, LA on 10 Feb 1853 (p. 3, col. 2). [This is on microfilm from Louisiana State University, Microfilm roll #285-4].

!PROBATE: Estate notice appeared in the PLANTER'S BANNER in Franklin, St. Mary parish, LA for 28 Jul 1853.

!PROBATE: Succession #798, St. Mary Parish Courthouse, 14th Judicial District; 1853-1871; pp. 104-135 [reverse]; photocopy [50pp.] in possession of Karen Theriot Reader. On 24 Jan 1853 Thersille RENTROPE, widow of Zephirin THERRIOT, was confirmed natural tutrix to her minor children: Autien [sic], Belisaire [spelled Belisdore?, on a copy Belizaire] & Eulalie THERRIOT. A family meeting was called for, and an inventory required to be made of the "considerable estate held...as community property acquired during their marriage consisting of land, slaves & personal & moveable effects," with "considerable liabilities." Tersille RENTROP made her mark. Isaac BOWMAN was named undertutor. (Tersille was named administrator, signed with X on 29 Mar 1853. Bond was set at $26,046.25.)

  On 10 Feb 1853 another paper shows that Auguste F. RENTROP, maternal uncle; Rosemond THERIOT, paternal uncle; Henry KNIGHT, Joseph KNIGHT, Thaddeus KNIGHT and Valsin H. RENTROP, all second cousins, attended family meeting. (All but Thaddeus reside in St. Mary Parish. He was from Assumption. Nicolas ROBINET, a first cousin, was absent from Parish.)
  On 16 Feb 1853 the family meeting was held, a sale was advised, where credit was given by note, conditional to bear 8% annually, payable to the widow as administratrix. All the above family members signed, plus Isaac BOWMAN, and Adelard FELTMAN made his mark.
   Conveyance were recorded in Book II, pp. 229-232, entered 18 Feb 1853. [Get]
   Appraisers appointed were Antoine COMO and Henry KNIGHT, sworn in on 16 Feb 1853. Lot No. 1 was a sugar plantation in St. Mary Parish measuring 10 x 40 arpents, fronting on the East side of the River Atchafalaya 10 arpents, the side lines closing in the rear bounded above by land of Wm. DEVLIN, and below by Isaac BOWMAN. Valued with buildings and improvements at $12,000.
   Lots No. 2 to 6 were slaves: William, a negro man aged 33 years, value $1,000; Washington, negro man age 31, value $1,000; Jeff, negro man age 28, value $1,000; Robert, negro man age 27, value $1,000; and Ann, negro woman age 27, value $800.
   Lots No. 7 to 14 was farm equipment, total value $97. Lots No.15-18 were livestock, value $302. Lots 19-20, Other household goods, value $55. Lot 21, a parcel of land on Wax Bayou of 80 acres, worth $100. Lot 22 was a sail boat, value $115. Lot 23, a ferry flat, $20. Lot 24, a pirogue, $3. There were 3 guns, a watch worth $25, and 72 hogsheads of sugar ($40 each) worth $2,880. Total amount of inventory: $20,837.00.
    A sale was held on 29 Mar 1853, proceeds totalled $20,814.77. The sugar crop and molasses yielded another $2998.39. The estate received from estates of Chs. Cerasin & Hermogene THERIOT $433.19; from estates of brother and mother, $681.83. Total assets: $24,928.18.
    Debts discharged totalled $16,801.09: included $10.00 for coffin & $44.75 for tomb & $20.00 for funeral expenses; $439.94 plus another $551.00 to J. B. CAPELLE, tutor; pew rent in Catholic Church, $2.50; taxes $35.92 & $3.34; notices in newspaper PLANTERS BANNER $40.00; "My commission on $24,929.18 [recipts]" = $623.20. Final amount of community estate = $8127.09.
    The "personal rights of the widow Mrs. Tersille Theriot (Comeau) amounted to sums received by her deceased husband from the Estates of her father, mother & grandfather" totalling $2,507. 53. The total value of her personal rights in the estate came to $4,532.30, filed on 19 Jul 1858 [son Austin was now 23 years old].
    Just before Austin's 21st birthday, on 29 Apr 1856, his mother Thersille RENTROPE, wife of Adrien COMEAU, petitioned the court to restore her tutorship (lost at marriage), and calling for a family meeting to advise on minor children. Nearest relations (or any five) named: Auguste F. RENTROPE; Rosemond THERIOT; Peter A. ROBINET; --- ROBINET; Henry KNIGHT; Edward THERIOT; Valsin H. RENTROP; Thaddeus KNIGHT; and Alcide THERIOT.
   Family meeting was held on 13 Jun 1856, with Rosomond THERIOT; Augustus F. RENTROP; Peter L.[?] ROBINET; Henery KNIGHT; Edward THERIOT, all residents of St. Mary Parish present. There were now only two minor children of deceased Zephirin THERIOT: Bellisard and Eulalie THERIOT. Henry M. RENTROP [of St. Martin Parish] was named under Tutor. Terzille THERIOT was restored to tutorship and administrator of her minor children's property.
   Austin THERIOT signed an acceptance of his mother's accounting as administrator on 20 Feb 1857 [did he then receive his share? He was 23 years old, married less than two months.]
   On 28 Dec 1858 Madam Terzilh RENTROP filed a petition stating she made an error of $1,994.00 in accounting her husband's estate, in her favor, and wishes to amend the Tableau filed. [Was she challenged?] She asks that she be finally discharged as administratrix, her bond cancelled, and for general relief [?]. This was granted by the court.
   On 22 Apr 1870 [after reaching their majority] William B. THERIOT and Margaret E. THERIOT, wife of Henry M. TOPHAM, petitioned the court that the account filed by their mother Mrs. Tersille THERIOT of $4,247 (or $5,123.55 with interest) be "homologated."  [Was the money not forthcoming, so the suit was filed in Apr?]
    On 4 May 1870 it was decreed by the Court that there be judgment against said tutrix Mrs. Tersille RENTROP, and that she pay to William B. and Margaret E. THERIOT each $2,123.55, with legal interest from 9 Jul 1869 [sic, should be 1856]. The costs of the rendition to be borne by the heirs. They acknowledged receipt on 1 Mar 1870 
   On order dated 13 Jun 1870, the Sheriff of St. Mary Parish seized property belonging to the estate of Zephirin THERIOT of two vacant losts in Pattersonville, measuring about 60 feet front each running back 200 feet, bounded north by Mrs. James GROUT[?], west by BOUDIEN, east by Second Street, south by public line. Sold at public sale for cash on Saturday 5 Aug 1870 at 11:00 a.m. Sold for $102.00 to A. J. STANSBURY. Filed 21 Jul 1871. Conveyance recorded in Book Q, p. 486, dated 2 Jan 1871 (#11920).

1. ↑ Donald J. Hébert. Southwest Louisiana Records, 1750-1900: compact disk number 101. (Rayne, LA: Hébert Publications, 2001).

   THERIOT, Zephirin (Charles - of Vermillion & Rosalie LEBLANC) b. 14 June 1813, bt. 19 May 1814 Pats: Joseph THERIOT & Magdeleine BOURGEOIS; Mats: dec. Josine LEBLANC & Marguerite DUHON; Spons: Marcillien THERIOT, brother of the child & Azelie SAVOIE. Fr. Gabriel ISABEY (SM Ch.: v.6, #1661)

2. ↑ Donald J. Hebert. Southwest Louisiana Records, vol. 2A
   p. 907.

   Zephirin THERIOT, son of Charles of Vermillion & Rosalie LEBLANC, born 14 Jun 1813, baptized 19 May 1814. Sponsors: Marcillien THERIOT, brother of the child & Azelie SAVOIE. Grandparents named: paternal, Joseph THERIOT & Magdeleine BOURGEOIS; maternal, deceased Josine LEBLANC & Marguerite DUHON. Recorded by Fr. Gabriel ISABEY in St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, St. Martin, LA (SM Ch.: v.6, #1661).

3. ↑ St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, Courthouse. Succession Record
   pp. 104-135 [some 2-sided].

   Succession No. 798, in District Court, Parish of St. Mary, for Estate of Zephirin Theriot, deceased. On p. 106 of packet, dated as received and filed on 24 Jan 1853, "The petition of Tersille Rentrop, widow of Zephirin Theriot, deceased, a resident of this Parish of St. Mary, with respect represents that her said husband departed this life on the third January instant, leaving a considerable Estate held between your petitioner and her said deceased husband as community property."

4. ↑ USGenWeb.

   "This is not a complete record of the cemetery as a lot of wooden crosses and markers were burnt while the sextons have cleaned the weeds out of the cemetery by burning them. The cemetery is directly behind the church and the original church was burned shortly prior to 1898 and the early records of the cemetery were destroyed in the fire. Records however, have been kept since the fire beginning in 1898."
   [This might explain why Zephirin THERIOT is not recorded as being buried here. He also died during the devastating yellow fever epidemic year of 1853.]

   ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY-PATTERSON, ST. MARY PARISH - transcribed in 1935. Submitted by: Robin Carvallo {RCarvallo@aol.com}

5. ↑ St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, Courthouse. Succession Record.

   In his succession record, a listing of $44.75 for tomb indicated that he should have a tombstone.

6. ↑ U.S. federal census
   Microfilm M19, Roll 44, p. 119.

   Line [2]: Ch's. Thériot:
   Free White Males Free White Females Male Slaves / Female Slaves Total
   0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59... 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19...40-49...0-9 10-23... 0-9 10-23 24-35...
   1 1 2 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 1 16
   [Charles was the oldest male, around age 52, his wife age 43. There were seven sons still at home, but Zephirin is apparently listed in age 20-29 column, although he was probably only 16, to turn 17 in 2 weeks. The only daughter at home was Ceraline, age 4. There were six slaves.]

7. ↑ U.S. federal census
   Microfilm M704, Roll 128, pp. 334 A&B.

   Line [25]: Zephrian TERRIO.
   MALES FEMALES SLAVES
   0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-29 30-39 40-49... / 0-4 4-9 10-14 15-19 20-29 30-39...
   2 0 0 0 1 0 0 / 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
   [Zephirin was age 26, his wife Tersille 22. They had two young male children, Austin Desiré age 5, and Belisaire, age 1. Was the girl age 10-14 a daughter, probably only age 3? or Zephirin's sister Ceraline, age 14? There were 5 persons in household. No slaves.]

   Ancestry.com, image 25/28 & 26/28.

8. ↑ St. Mary Genealogical and Historical Society. St. Mary Links. (St. Mary Parish, LA)
   vol. 10, No. 3, p. 26, Fall 1994.

   "Comparative Statement of Sugar Produced in the Parish of St. Mary, in 1843, '44, '45, & '46," appearing in PLANTERS' BANNER AND LOUISIANA AGRICULTURIST, vol. XII, No. 3, in Franklin, Attakapas County, LA, on 14 Jan 1847. Listed only for years 1845 and 1846 was Zephirin Theriot, with 41 hogsheads of sugar in 1845, and only 28 hogsheads in 1846.
   According to crop totals, however, this drop was typical of the general production levels for those years, with 1845 being an exceptionally productive year with nearly 25,000 hogheads of sugar crop. There were in the parish 195 sugar planters, and 167 sugar houses.

   Copy of original newspaper in my files.

9. ↑ St. Mary Genealogical and Historical Society. St. Mary Links. (St. Mary Parish, LA)
   vol. 10, no. 2, p. 19 , Summer 1994.

   In article called "Local Sugar Planters 1843-1844-1845, From PLANTERS BANNER Feb. 2, 1848," is listed Zepherin THERIOT, living on River Atchafalaya.

10. ↑ U.S. federal census
    p 417 [p. 209 stamped].

    Line 42, Dwelling/Family #162: Zephirin THERIOT, male age 37, born in LA, a Planter on real estate valued at $9000. He is living with Marguerite THERIOT, age 33, and four children ages 15 to 4, all born in LA.

11. ↑ U.S. federal census
    p. 233, line 15.

    Zephirin THERIOT, with five slaves: all are listed with "Color" B[lack], there are 4 males (ages 40, 30, 25, 25), and 1 female (age 20).

12. ↑ Donald J. Hébert. Southwest Louisiana Records, 1750-1900: compact disk number 101. (Rayne, LA: Hébert Publications, 2001).

    THERIOT, Zephirin m. Thersille RENTROPE Succ. dated 24 Jan. 1853 (Frank. Ct. Hse.: Succ. #798)
    RENTROP, Thersille m. Zephirin THERIOT In Succ. of Zephirin THERIOT dated 24 Jan. 1853 (Frank. Ct. Hse.: Succ. # 798)

13. ↑ Mary Elizabeth Sanders. Annotated Abstracts of the Successions of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. (1972)
    p. 181.

    Marguerite RENTROP, daughter of Frederick William & Marie Marguerite LIQUEUR, married Zepherin THERIOT. Her [sic] succession [really of 1st husband] was opened in 1855, Estate #880.

14. ↑ Planters' Banner
    p. 1, col. 4, 17 Feb 1853.

    Notice in the newspaper, both in English and in French:
    
    Estate of Zephirin Therriot, deceased.
    State of Louisiana--District Court, Parish of St. Mary--
    Whereas TERSELLE RENTROPE widow of Zephirin Therriot, deceased, of the parish of St. Mary, has filed in this court a petition praying that she may be appointed administratrix of said estate:
    Notice is therefore given to those whom it doth or may concern, to show cause, if any they have, within ten days from the date thereof, why the prayer of said petitioner should not be granted.
    J. V. FOURMY, Clerk
    Clerk's Office, Feb. 10, 1853.

    Copied at the Morgan City Archives in 1999.

15. ↑ Donald J. Hebert. Southwest Louisiana Records, vol. 5. (Cecilia, LA, Author, 1976)
    pp. 470 & 540.

    Zephirin THERIOT married to Thersille RENTROPE, in his succession record dated 24 Jan 1853, recorded in St. Mary Parish Courthouse, Franklin, LA (Frank. Ct.Hse.: Succ. #798).