Early American Era of Pointe Coupee 1800-1830s

On Saturday, June 12 I was fortunate to attend a forum of speakers in New Roads, La held at the Pointe Coupee parish library to speak about the early era of Pointe Coupee in early 1800-1830s. This annual event was brought to New Roads by Julie Eshelman-Lee, director of Creole West Productions, by the Foundations of Pointe Coupee Community Series Board and Les Creoles de Pointe Coupee.

Forum speakers were Glenn C. Morgan, Fr. LaVerne "Pike" Thomas III who spoke about the ancestral history of the LeDoux family in Pointe Coupee parish. Guest speaker, Ted Jambon spoke and gave the history on the Louisiana land grants in Pointe Coupee in early 1800s. The group Les Creoles de Pointe Coupee of New Roads did a wonderful presentation of singing hymns and songs in Creole. Everyone enjoyed Les Creoles de Pointe Coupee presentation. Later that afternoon I attended a book signing at a local restaurant in New Roads held by Brian J. Costello for the release of his new book A History of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.



On a personal note, I was very surprised to meet at the forum on Saturday a relative whom I never met from San Jose, California and to find out that both of us have been researching our Ladmirault family. At the end of the forum we met up at the book signing to purchase our book and then stayed to talk about our family connections. She was able to talk with a relative of ours in France who sent her documents in French of the family and our great-great-great grandfather who we refer to as the doctor or Dr. Ladmirault (because he was a licensed medical doctor)when he came to New Roads. Anyway, she was born in New Orleans, La. and spent her early childhood there until either her mother or both parents moved the family to California where she lived. It was her first visit to New Roads and her daughter and grandson made the trip with her the past weekend for the first time. However, the director and organizer overseeing the forum invited her to come so it was very fortunate that I was able to meet my new cousin.

It was too bad that I didn't think to take a picture of the both of us together. I will also be sending her my Ladmirault family records that I discovered from my genealogy research. The good thing is we both exchanged our e-mail and home address so we can keep in touch.

Julie Eshelman-Lee
www.creolewestproductions.com

Brian J. Costello, A History of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana
www.margaretmedia.com