Mathee Clarac Lisle

Mathee married Etienne Morlas on 30 Jun 1761 in Gers, France. Etienne was born before 1743 in France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn notes that his godparents were Dominique LAENS and Jeanne LISLE. The family attended church at L'Eglise de Saint Jean de Laas. He is buried in Au Capule.

Dominique married Anne Matharan on 25 Feb 1804 in Laas, Gers, France. Anne (daughter of Jean Matharan and Marie Cabdecomme) was born before 7 Sep 1785 in Laas, Gers, France; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that witnesses to the registration of his birth were Francois MORLAS, farmer, and Louise DARAN, his wife, both adults living in Laas.

Francois married Catherine Bernes on 2 Oct 1833 in Laas, Gers, France. Catherine (daughter of Jean Bernes and Therese Domerc) was born on 25 Mar 1812 in Laas, Gers, France; died on 4 Jan 1889 in Laas, Gers, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn indicates that there was no record of his marriage or death found in Laas, which indicates he may have emigrated elsewhere.

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that she married Isidore Toison-Pefau of Miramount, Gers, and they were the parents of two children, but had no known grandchildren.

Notes:

Bennie Zahn wrote that "Jean-Marie Morlas was born at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, 14 May 1846 au Capule with Joseph GORDAY, farmer, age 36, and Pierre BIAMOURET, 48, as witnesses." She went on to note that the dates of his immigration, marriage and death are unknown. As daughter Marie Morlas was shown on the 1870 census to be born circa 1862 in New Orleans, his immigration and marriage were sometime prior to that date.

There appears to be discrepency between Jean/John's date of birth as reported by Bennie Zahn, and as shown on the 1870 Louisiana census. If his age on the above referenced census was accurate, then he would have been born circa 1838. If the birth date of May, 1846 is accurate, then he should have instead been listed on the 1870 census as age 24. Being born in the year 1846 would also mean that he was just 16 when he married Caroline and when his first daughter born, with his wife being five years his senior. Perhaps the original French records were misread or mistranscribed?

Jean-Marie abandoned his family. It is assumed he vanished sometime in 1878, as according to Bennie Zahn, his sons Bertrand and John Dominic were admitted to St. Mary's Catholic Orphan Boys's Home on 17 Jan 1879, and discharged in February 1880. The city directory of 1888 listed his wife as the widow of John Morlas. Her residence at the time was Tonti between Poydras and Julia Street.

(Research):
Census Information:

1870 census

Lousiana, Orleans Parish, New Orleans, Ward 3
1155-2378
Morlas, John 32 Butcher France
Morlas, Caroline 29 Keeps house New York
Morlas, Mary 8 At School Louisiana
Morlas, John 5 Louisiana
Morlas, Bertrand 1 Lousiana

Jean-Marie married Caroline Maria Holmes before 1862. Caroline (daughter of James Holmes and Mary McKnight) was born in Jan 1841 in New York; died on 7 Jun 1901 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Cypress Grove Cemetery, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bennie Zahn writes that witnesses to the registration of his birth were Pierre GORDAY, age 68, farmer and Jean SEISAN, age 69, blacksmith. Bertrand sailed from Bordeaux aboard the windjammer "Jupiter" when he was 13 years old, the journey taking over two months.

Bertrand's home and dairy were at 2220 Calhoun Street at the turn of the century, according to Simone Morlas of Marrero. "The home and business were shared by Bertrand Morlas Sr (born in France) and his nephew, John Dominic Morlas (born in New Orleans), and their families. Among them, the uncle and nephew and their spouses had 19 children. "A few years later, the uncle/nephew unit when into seperate businesses operating from the 3200 block of Calhoun called 'The Calhoun Dairy' and from the 6300 block of South Claiborne called 'La Creole Belle'. During the 1920s, there was an exodus of the large dairy farms from within the city limits," said Morlas, who added that both dairies moved to Jefferson Parish. (The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Sunday, January 9, 2000).

Bertrand married Anna Roquevert on 14 Jun 1884 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Anna (daughter of Jean Louis Roquevert and Blazine Pene) was born on 14 Jun 1867 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana; died on 1 Jun 1920 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]