An Examination of the Succession of Ursin Patin 

My Fifth Great-Grandfather

Ursin Patin was the husband of Aspasie Guidry^[1]Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 2A:739-740. Citation reads: “PATIN, Ursin – native of this parish (major son of Antoine – inhabitant at la grand point & Catherine BOISSIER) m. 22 April … Continue reading and the father of eleven children, one of whom died as a young child.^[2]Sindi Broussard Terrien, “Carrow-Walker Family Tree,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/76901568/family?cfpid=46353451744 : viewed 13 April 2022), Ursin Patin. Ursin and his family lived in the 15th Judicial District of Lafayette, Louisiana. He and Aspasie had been married over thirty-six years when he died in March 1853.^[3]Ursin Patin, James H. Walker family record book, 1847-1978, Louisiana State University – LSU Libraries, Special Collections, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, “Ursin Patin departed this life the — day of … Continue reading Upon his death, the estate had to be divided among the heirs: his wife and children.

The distribution of an estate to the heirs in Louisiana is called “succession.” The surviving spouse usually received one half of the estate and the children divided the other half. This was the civil law followed in Louisiana at the time of Ursin Patin’s death. To accomplish a fair distribution of an estate, in some cases, a decision was made to sell off or liquidate the estate and monies received were then distributed to the heirs.

Ursin Patin’s Succession documents were found on FamilySearch.org under the Lafayette, Louisiana Probate Records in the digitized book Successions v. A 1848-1859 within the “Successions, 1848-1868; index to successions, 1823-1971″ database, pages 555-566.^[4]Succession of Ursin Patin deceased, Succession Volume A 1848-1856, pgs. 555-566; FamilySearch.com, “Successions, 1848-1868; index to successions, 1823-1971,” Successions v. A-C … Continue reading

An examination of the Succession follows. The legal proceedings began on 31 March 1853 to distribute the estate to the heirs. The Succession was closed twenty months later in November 1854. Over eighty people were involved in the succession. The document names Ursin and Aspasie’s children, their son-in-laws, the public servants involved, the enslaved people, the neighbors, and the people who bought items at the sale of the estate. (The term “enslaved people” is used versus “slave” to recognize the enslaved were people first, though their owners may not have recognized them as people but only as a commodity.) This examination includes a concise description of most of the people named. The author transcribed the twelve-page document which can be viewed within this blog. Unless otherwise cited, all information in this examination is derived from the Succession. 

The author transcribed Ursin Patin's Succession for two reasons: 1. The document image is in a locked database on FamilySearch.org which requires going to a FamilySearch library to access it; and 2. though the handwriting is beautiful and neat and it was written in English, it can be difficult to read. Every effort has been made to transcribe the document as it was written which means that names may have several variations of spelling, words may be spelled incorrectly, and punctuation may not be used as expected. Additionally, line and page breaks were followed. Please excuse the author for any errors made during transcription.

The documents were beautifully handwritten in English script. Though William Brandt was the Notary public and recorder, it appears that Ernst Mouton Clerk of the 15^th Judicial District Court was responsible for copying the original documents into the volume of successions for Lafayette.

Throughout the succession documents several different spellings for the area called Vermilion were used. Today, “Vermilion” seems to be the official spelling. Vermilion was also spelled “Vermillon” and “Vermillion.” Did the clerk copy the spellings exactly as they were written on the original documents or did the clerk make some mistakes? Given names were also spelled several ways within the document, such as Fanili and Fanelly. Faneley will be used in this writing as that is how her name was spelled in her baptismal record.^[5]Rev. Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (Eunice, Louisiana: 1976) 3:508. “PATIN, Faneley (Ursin & Marie Aspasie GUIDRY) B. 11 APRIL 1831 (LAF. CH.: V.3, P. 133).” Additionally, Jean Dupre Patin, eldest son, is referred to as J.D. Patin, Jean Dupreville Patin, John Dupréville Patin, and Dupre Patin. There are other instances in the document of various spellings and variations of the name of people who were referred to more than once.

Alexander Latiolais and Charles Z. Martin inventoried the estate and estimated values for at least forty-nine items which included land, farm equipment, and enslaved people. The inventory did not include any cash. When the sale of the estate took place, ninety-seven “lots” of land, enslaved people, cattle, horses, and farm equipment were sold for a total of $20,821.10. A second auction was held nine months later in which the enslaved Emilie and her children were sold for $1,500. 

The process for this succession proceedings included the following actions:  

• Oath of Tutor Jean Dupré Patin (31 March 1853) 
• Oath of Tutrix Aspasie Guidry (5 May 1853) 
• Inventory (31 March 1853) 
• Oath of Members (31 March 1853) 
• Two family meetings (31 March 1853 and 5 January 1854) 
• Sale of Estate (9 February 1854) 
• Sale of property (4 October 1854) 
• Bond of Administrator (7 February 1854) 
• Recording of documents (16 November 1854)

Note: Unless otherwise cited, where the dwelling and family is given in the tables below, information was obtained from the 1850 U.S. census for Lafayette, Western District, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, roll 232.[6]1850 U.S. census, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Western District, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, roll 232; ancestry.com … Continue reading The dwelling and family number are given to provide an approximation of how close the individual was to Ursin Patin's plantation.

Table 1. Family Members Involved in the Succession 

Name	Relation to Aspasie Guidry	Residence in 1850
Aspasie Guidry	Widow of Ursin Patin	Dwelling and family 19. Ursin Patin’s real estate was valued at $7,074.
A. Guidry	Cannot confirm, may be Aspasie’s brother or nephew
Alexandre Guidry fils	Aspasie’s nephew	Neighbor; possibly dwelling and family 35. He was a merchant with real estate valued at $1,660.
Alexandre Guidry perè	Aspasie’s brother	Neighbor, dwelling 81, family 83. He was a planter with real estate valued at $14,144.
Antoine Guidry	Aspasie’s brother	Neighbor; dwelling 245, family 249. He was a planter with real estate valued at $6,600.
Eusèbe Guidry	Aspasie’s brother	Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.[7]1850 U.S. Census, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Western District, Ward 4, p. 420b, dwelling 49, family 49, Eusebe Guidry household; National Archives and Records … Continue reading
Louis Theoginè Judice	Son-in-law; husband of Hortiste (Azéma) Patin	Neighbor; dwelling 57 & family 59. He was a butcher and had real estate valued at $1,000.
Césaire Martin	Son-in-law; husband of Pamela Patin	Neighbor; dwelling 86 & family 89. He was a planter with real estate valued at $130.
Desire Dalson Patin[8]Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (Rayne, Louisiana: Hébert Publications) 2-C:602. Citation reads “PATIN, Desire Dolze (Onesime & Adelaide GUEDRY) b. 21 Feb. 1828. … Continue reading	Ursin’s nephew; son of Onesime Patin and Adelaide Guedry, probably a cousin of Aspasie.	Dwelling 243 and Family 252, Grande Pointe, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana.[9]1850 U.S. Census, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 155b, dwelling 243, family 252, Treville Guidry household; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm … Continue reading
Emilie Patin	Minor; daughter	Living with Aspasie.
Ermina Patin	Minor; daughter	Living with Aspasie.
Faneley Patin	Daughter	Living with Aspasie.
Hypolite A. Patin[10]Donald J. Hébert, Southwest Louisiana Records (Rayne, Louisiana: Hébert Publications) 2-B: 732). Citations reads: “PATIN, Hyppolite Alphred (Macel & Celeste CORMIER) b. 11 … Continue reading	Ursin’s nephew; son of Marcel Patin & Celeste Cormier	St. Landry, storekeeper.[11]1850 U.S. Census, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 24 (stamped) dwelling 484, family 538,Hypp. Ab. Patin household; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) … Continue reading
Marie Sylvanie Patin	Widowed daughter	Living with Aspasie.
Emile Patin	Son	Living with Aspasie.
Jean Dupré Patin	Eldest living son	Dwelling and Family 23, planter, real estate valued at $6,548.
Joseph Sonnier	May be Aspasie’s brother-in-law	There are at least two Joseph Sonniers in Lafayette in 1850.
J.H. Walker	Son-in-law; husband of Azelima Patin	St. Mary Parish.[12]J.H. Walker has not been found in the 1850 U.S. census by this author. His place of residence was noted in the Succession documents.

Court and Succession Appointees 

Eleven men who lived in the Western District of Lafayette served in different legal capacities. Some may have lived very near Ursin and Aspasie. William Brandt was the notary public and recorded all the succession proceedings. See Table 2.

Table 2. Court and Succession Appointees 

Name	Role	Location of residence 1850 Census	Information from 1850 Census
William Brandt, Esq.	Notary public and Recorder	Dwelling and Family 15	He was born in Germany.
Auguste Cesar	Witness	unknown	Was not identified in the 1850 U.S. census.
Jules Dugat	Witness	Dwelling and Family 28	Was not identified in the 1850 U.S. census.
E.J. (Eugene) Guegnon	Clerk of Succession Court	Dwelling and Family 14	He was born in France. His real estate was valued at $8,492.
Duncan Grieg	Witness	Dwelling and Family 46	Duncan’s father was a lawyer and from Scotland; Duncan attended school in 1850.
Antoine Hernandez	Appraiser	Dwelling and Family 21	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $4,300.
Alexander Latiolais	Appraiser	Dwelling 39 and Family 40	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $25,000.
Charles Z. Martin	Appraiser and witness	Family and Dwelling 14	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $16,500.
Ernst Mouton	Clerk 15th Judicial District Court, Lafayette		Was not identified in the 1850 U.S. census.
Charles Homer Mouton	Witness	Dwelling 306 and Family 209	He was a lawyer with estate valued at $3,500. He also later served as Lieutenant governor of Louisiana.
Horace F. Voorhies	Sheriff and auctioneer	Dwelling and Family 18	His real estate was valued at $2,400.

Ursin Patin’s Real Estate 

The succession documents describe the property that Ursin owned and identified several neighbors who may have had property that was near or shared borders with his property. See Table 3. (Some of these neighbors would purchase properties from Ursin’s estate at the auction.)

• Plantation in Western District of Lafayette. Ursin Patin’s home and furnishings were not described in the Succession. Aspasie was adjudicated the plantation (see Aspasie’s Inheritance below).
• Tract of land in the parish of Lafayette, on the west side of Bayou Vermilion. 
• Tract of woodland in Lafayette Parish, on the west side of the Bayou Vermilion, in “Prairie Sorrell” containing about sixty-four arpents.
• Vacherie (an enclosure for cattle) in the State of Texas. 
• Tract of wood and prairie land, in Lafayette parish, on the west side of Bayou Vermilion, measuring seventy-nine and one quarter in depth by four arpents. 

Table 3. Property Neighbors Near Dwelling and Family 19

Name	Location of residence 1850 Census	Information from 1850 Census
Widow Narcisse Begnaud	Dwelling and Family 29	She was a planter. Her real estate was valued at $5,720.
Olivier Boudreaux	Dwelling 59 and Family 61	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $12,327.
Antoine Dominguez	Dwelling and Family 31	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $3,900.
Joseph & Narcisse Dugat	Dwelling and Family 26	They were planters with real estate valued at $4,300.
Marcelin Dugat	Dwelling and Family 34	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $3,030.
Madam Ch. Mouton	Dwelling and Family 17	She was a planter. Her real estate was valued at $16,500.
Charles H. Mouton	Dwelling 306 and Family 209	His profession was legal services. His real estate was valued at $3,500.
John A. Rigues	Dwelling and Family 37	He was a doctor and from Kentucky. His real estate was valued at $8,930.

Aspasie’s Inheritance

At the second family meeting held ten months after Ursin’s death, Aspasie made an offer of relinquishment. This meant she released her right of inherited property to the other heirs as it was in the interest of the minors, Emilie and Ermina. The offer was accepted. The family then decided to adjudicate to Aspasie the plantation which consisted of 340 arpents (an arpent is a measure of land just under an acre), a tract of wood land, nine of the enslaved (see Table 4), and other items. It was also decided that the remaining estate would be sold. 

Some of the enslaved people in the inventory of 1853 may have been counted in the 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules,^[13]1850 U.S. census, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, slave schedule, Western District, Ursin Patin, owner or manager (twenty-four unnamed slaves); NARA microfilm publication M432, record group … Continue reading but since names were not included in the schedules, identification is uncertain. See Tables 4 and 5.

Table 4. The Enslaved Aspasie Retained

Enslaved	Age in 1850	1850 Slave Schedule	Age in 1853	Value	Owner after Sale	Age 1860	1860 Slave Schedule
Adeline	53		56	$200	Aspasie Guidry	63	70, f  maybe
Colas	62		65	$200	Aspasie Guidry	72
Gaston	26	25, m  maybe	29	$1,200	Aspasie Guidry	36	35, m  maybe
François	11		14	$900	Aspasie Guidry	21	22, m  maybe
Marcelite	27	30, f  maybe	30	$1,500	Aspasie Guidry	37	45, f  maybe
Raimond	3	3, m  maybe	6		Aspasie Guidry	13	13, m  maybe
Augutte	infant	6/12, m  maybe	3		Aspasie Guidry	10	9, m   maybe
Edgar	unborn		10 months		Aspasie Guidry	7
Adèle	9	10, f  maybe	12	$700	Aspasie Guidry	19	20, f  maybe

Sale of the Estate 

A section of the Succession document was entitled “Proces [sic] of Verbal Sale” which describes the items sold at the auction. The items sold were land, enslaved people, cattle, horses, and farm equipment. The sale of the land brought in a total of $6,380. The following people, either family or neighbors, purchased the different properties. 

Land Sold at Auction 

• Son-in-law Louis Theogene Judice bought the tract of prairie measuring ninety arpents. 
• C.H. Mouton & John A. Riques bought the tract of prairie measuring fifty arpents. 
• Joseph Dugat bought the land around Martin Cypress Swamp.  
• Joseph M. Dugat and Narcisse Dugat won the bid for the tract of wood and prairie land. 
• Son Clairville Patin purchased the tract of land owned jointly by Ursin Patin and Robert Cade, which was in Jefferson County, Texas, at Pine Island.  
• Aspasie won the bid for one vacherie in Texas along with the brand and the horses within.  

The Enslaved 

Twenty-six enslaved people were documented in the Inventory and the sale of the estate. Aspasie retained nine of the enslaved. Five of Aspasie’s children or the spouses of her daughters bought eleven of the enslaved. The enslaved people who were included in the sale were purchased for more than the estimated value assigned at inventory. See Table 5. The total sale amount of the enslaved people was $10,995, which was just over half the proceeds. 

It is not known why Emilie and her two children were not included in the sale conducted on 9 February 1854. An auction was held on 4 October 1854 and they were sold to Emilien Bernard, someone who lived nearby. 

Table 5. Enslaved Who Were Sold

Enslaved	Age in 1850	1850 Slave Schedule Age & Sex	Age in 1853	Value at Inventory	Owner after Sale	Sale	Age in 1860	1860 Slave Schedule Age & Sex
Etienne	42	45, m maybe	45	$800	Jules Dugat	$1,280	52	Not found
George	57	Not found	60	$200	Henry L. Monnier	$300	67	Not found
Thérence	32	30, m maybe	35	$200	Jean Alvarado	$305	42	Not found
Frederick	11		14	$900	Clairville Patin	$1,250	21	Not found
Francis	11		14	$900	James H. Walker	$1,200	21	Not found
Cephalide	22	20, f maybe	25	$1,500	Sylvanie Patin Ve Valery Boudreau	$1,900	32	42, f maybe
Marie	3	3, f maybe	6		Sylvanie Patin		13	12, f maybe
Philomine	infant	1, f  maybe	3		Sylvanie Patin		10	Not found
Louise	unborn		12 months		Sylvanie Patin		7	8, f maybe
Dominque	9	8, m  maybe	12	$600	George Jackson	$1,060	19	Not found
Emilie	18		21	$1,000	Emilien Bernard, neighbor, Dwelling 104, Family 107, planter	$1,500	28	28, f  maybe
Adeline	unborn		2		Emilien Bernard		9	10, f  maybe
Infant	unborn		1		Emilien Bernard		8	Not found
Delphine	15	15, f  maybe	18	$1,000	Cesaire Martin	$1,780	25	26, f  maybe
Julie	unborn		2		Cesaire Martin		9	10, f maybe
Infant	unborn				Cesaire Martin		7	Not found
Sally	22		25	$800	Odil Bernard	$925	32	28, f maybe
Julie	57		60	$600	Faneley Patin	$975	67
Mathilde	5		8		Faneley Patin		15

Other Items Sold at Auction 

The Echo of Lafayette advertised the sales of the estate. The sale was also “announced to the by Standers, in a loud & audible voice both, in french and English languages.” At the auction held at Jean Dupré Patin’s residence, family, neighbors and visitors to the area purchased ninety-seven “lots.” Aspasie and her children bought fifty-one of the lots and paid what amounted to just over half of the proceeds on 9 February 1854. Aspasie bought seventeen lots for $1,962.25. Son-in-law Louis Theogene Judice bought land and five lots for $1,386. Son Jean Dupré bought sixteen lots for $692.50, and son Clairville bought land, horses and Frederick for a total of $1,515. 

Thirteen lots consisted of cattle for a total of $146.25. Twenty-seven lots consisted of farm equipment that brought in only $166.85. Twelve lots consisted of horses bringing in a total of $1,083. Twelve pair of oxen were sold along with five ox carts bringing in a little over $1,000. See Table 6 for names of neighbors and others people who won bids at the auction.

Table 6. People Who Purchased Items of the Estate 

Name	Relation to Aspasie	Information from 1850 Census
Charles Babineaux perè	Neighbor; Dwelling162, Family 165	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $4,000.
Adolph Begnaud	unknown	Not identified in 1850 census
Jn L. Bernard	Neighbor, Dwelling 142, Family 145	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $9,333.
Hervilien Bernard	Neighbor, Dwelling 138, Family 141	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $15,600.
Rd Breaux	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
Méance Broussard	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
Pierre Chiasson	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
Narcisse Chiasson	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
Oscar Chiasson	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
Adonis Dominiguez[14]1860 U.S. census, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p.18, dwelling 130, Adonis Domingue household; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, … Continue reading	Neighbor in 1860 census	Not identified in 1850 census.
Rd Dugat	Unknown	Cannot confirm in 1850 census. Abbreviation could be Richard or Rosemond.
Joseph Dugat	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census
Andrew Dyer	Neighbor, Dwelling 198, Family 198	He was a mason, and his real estate was valued at $300. He was born in Massachusetts.
A. Greig	Unknown	Possibly Arthur Greig.
Théodule Hébert	Probably Aspasie’s brother-in-law, married to her sister Elisa Guidry	Not identified in 1850 census
Aladin Herpin	Neighbor, Dwelling 169, family 169	He was 18 years old and son of Victor Herpin who was a planter with real estate valued at $8,200.
Joseph Hidalgo	Neighbor, Dwelling 124, Family 127	May be either father or son. Planter whose real estate was valued at $750.
Jn Lo. Lebert	Probably Jean Louis Lebert, Neighbor, Dwelling 154, Family 157	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $1,680
André Martin	Neighbor, Dwelling 40, Family 41,	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $37,200.
Miss Adeline Martin	Neighbor, Dwelling 297, Family 300	Female planter, 40 years old. Her real estate was valued at $3,300.
Widow Marvin Martin	Unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
V.D. Martin	Probably Valery D. Martin, neighbor, Dwelling 261, Family 264	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $3,000
Aldophe Martin	unknown	Not identified in 1850 census.
A.E. Mouton	Neighbor, Dwelling 56, Family 57	He was a planter, and his real estate was valued at $44,800
J.D. Patin	Son
Clairville Patin	Son
Dolzé (Desire Dalson) Patin	Aspasie’s nephew (see above)	See Table 1.
Emile Patin	Son
Léon Pillard	Unknown	Was not identified in the 1850 U.S. census.
J.H. Walker	Son-in-law

Ernst Mouton, Clerk of the 15^th Judicial District Court in Lafayette recorded the Succession 16th November 1854 for $5.50.