by Murphy Miller, March 8, 2020
Charles Darwin and his wife Emma were first cousins. A cousin marriage is a marriage where the partners are cousins (i.e. people with common grandparents or people who share other fairly recent ancestors). The practice was common in earlier times, and continues to be common in some societies today, though in some jurisdictions such marriages are prohibited. Worldwide, more than 10% of marriages are between first or second cousins. (1)
Accordingly, it is not uncommon to find cousin marriages in Southwest Louisiana. Moreover, the lack of mobility until the mid-20th century facilitated intermarriages as people lived in the same geographic area from birth to death when the U.S. was predominately an agrarian society. Parents frequently made room for a child by gifting property to farm. First cousins lived in close proximity to each other.
Many people in southwest Louisiana are familiar with the Pierrottie families that began with Constantino Pierotti (1832-1892), also known as August Constant Pierotti. He was from Italy and emigrated to America in hopes of earning enough money to return to Italy, perhaps to bring back loved ones so they too could escape the poor economy in Northern Italy. His plan to settle in the ante-bellum South fell apart upon his 1855 arrival and later when he was drafted into the Civil War.
Charles Darwin and his wife Emma were first cousins. A cousin marriage is a marriage where the partners are cousins (i.e. people with common grandparents or people who share other fairly recent ancestors). The practice was common in earlier times, and continues to be common in some societies today, though in some jurisdictions such marriages are prohibited. Worldwide, more than 10% of marriages are between first or second cousins. (1)
Accordingly, it is not uncommon to find cousin marriages in Southwest Louisiana. Moreover, the lack of mobility until the mid-20th century facilitated intermarriages as people lived in the same geographic area from birth to death when the U.S. was predominately an agrarian society. Parents frequently made room for a child by gifting property to farm. First cousins lived in close proximity to each other.
Many people in southwest Louisiana are familiar with the Pierrottie families that began with Constantino Pierotti (1832-1892), also known as August Constant Pierotti. He was from Italy and emigrated to America in hopes of earning enough money to return to Italy, perhaps to bring back loved ones so they too could escape the poor economy in Northern Italy. His plan to settle in the ante-bellum South fell apart upon his 1855 arrival and later when he was drafted into the Civil War.
Constantino "August Constant" Pierotti (Frances Pierrottie photo)
Thirteen months following the end of the American Civil War between the states, in May 1866, Constantino married Stephanie “Fanny” Martel (1848-1936). Stephanie is the daughter of Etienne Eugene Martel and Louise Mathilde Boutte. She is one of eleven children born to this couple. Her younger brother, Stephane Martel (1852-1934), married Ann Elizabeth Moore in 1877. Stephane and Ann had six children, Etienne (1885-1970) and Theogene Martel (1885-1962), twins, were the third and fourth born to the couple.
Stephanie "Fanny" Martel, Circa 1906, Larry Hollier photo
Theogene Martel married his first cousin Rosenia Pierotti, the daughter of Constantino Pierotti and Stephanie Martel, in 1910. This marriage had three children; Blanche (1911-1991), Louis Thomas Martel (1916-1989) and Aubry Theo Martel (1924-1988). Their common ancestry is their grandparents, Etienne Eugene Martel and Louise Mathilde Boutte.
Etienne and Theogene Martel, Circa 1888, Murphy Miller photo
Theogene & Rosenia Martel with grandchildren (Renee Martel photo) Theogene and Rosenia are also 3rd cousins via the Chachere/Vauchere family lines. Their common ancestry is their great great-grandparents Louis Dominique Chachere (1760-1827) and Catherine Vauchere (1764-1825). The charts below better illustrate this marital union relationship.
The third union of the Pierotti family line and the Martel family line marrying are Gervis Paul Martel (1912-1994) and Mary Lillian Naquin (1923-1992). Gervis is the son of Etienne (1885-1970), twin of Theogene, and his wife Clementine Savoy (1889-1935). My mother, Mary L. Naquin (1923-1992), is the daughter of Olan Naquin (1904-1940) and Bernice Pierrottie (1904-1977), she the granddaughter of Constantino and Stephanie Martel.
Gervis Paul Martel weds Mary Lillian Naquin, 1948. Murphy Miller photo
Gervis first married Ellenor Fontenot in 1931. She died in 1937. Gervis married Mary L. Naquin in 1948. Gervis “Slim” Martel was a master carpenter. He was employed as a Installation Superintendent and travel to the job to install store fixtures in stores like Macy’s. In 1959, when he was 47 years old, he allowed me to live in his home with him, my mother and half-siblings. Both he, my mother and the entire Brandon, FL community made a man out of a confused teenager. He was not perfect, but he gave me the break I needed at the right time in my life. For that kindness, I am grateful.
Other Pierrottie blogs
Ulysse Gabriel Pierrottie, A 33 year battle for his family's rights
Mary Pierrottie Soileau
Jane Bertrand Ortego
Sister Cesira Pierotti
Louis David "L.D" Verrette Obituary
Betty Lou Deshotel Hollier Obituary
Donald Joseph Pierotti Obituary
Books
Pierotti - Pierrottie - Pierrotti Family & Photos
Dominique Martel Southwest Louisiana Family
Constantino Pierotti Video
DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THIS BLOG
Ulysse Gabriel Pierrottie, A 33 year battle for his family's rights
Mary Pierrottie Soileau
Jane Bertrand Ortego
Sister Cesira Pierotti
Louis David "L.D" Verrette Obituary
Betty Lou Deshotel Hollier Obituary
Donald Joseph Pierotti Obituary
Books
Pierotti - Pierrottie - Pierrotti Family & Photos
Dominique Martel Southwest Louisiana Family
Constantino Pierotti Video
DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THIS BLOG
| the_pierrottie_and_martel_unions.pdf |
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