Hi Charlie?! Hope all is well with you. As you may remember, I am the person who is writing a manuscript about the life of my friend Kitty Fischer, who is the daughter of Alexandre Hoffpauir and one of the direct descendant of Thomas. Would you be willing to take a look at the chapter about Kitty's ancestors and review it for us? Am we right that Thomas does not appear in record until he was almost 40? Did we miss something? Thanks so much for all your help. And if you would be interested in reviewing the chapter, pls send me your "snail mail" address. thanks so much. Cathy

Dear good people, I have Thomas's documents 456 and 457 transcribed and ready to post in French with English translations, but have to pause for a while. I am presently involved with a time-consuming project; and also, my home PC has a virus which was not detected by my anti-virus software, and I have not been successful in downloading the updates from the Web, so I am keeping it turned off for the time being until I can find out what to do. Luckily I know I could not have spread it. I will try to post the above documents from my work PC later this week, unless somebody else would like to jump in at this point... I have not yet read Document 280. Are there any others? I found 3 in my files which I transcribed years ago, but no longer have the original photocopies. The oldest date is 1781. I will plan to do those last. When I posted Document 406, I included two asterisks after the phrase "monnaie du Prince" but forgot to include the footnote. I meant to say that I don't quite get the drift of this phrase. I will try to check it out with someone more expert in French than I am, to see if it is an idiom that might mean "coin of the realm" or something like that. Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu>

Thank you for your assisstance in transcribing these documents.... you are always so helpful...... Myra Foreman Whitlow -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu> To: HOFFPAUIR-L@rootsweb.com <HOFFPAUIR-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, October 12, 1999 9:01 PM Subject: Pause in translation project >Dear good people, > >I have Thomas's documents 456 and 457 transcribed and ready to post in >French with English translations, but have to pause for a while. I am >presently involved with a time-consuming project; and also, my home PC has >a virus which was not detected by my anti-virus software, and I have not >been successful in downloading the updates from the Web, so I am keeping it >turned off for the time being until I can find out what to do. Luckily I >know I could not have spread it. > >I will try to post the above documents from my work PC later this week, >unless somebody else would like to jump in at this point... I have not yet >read Document 280. Are there any others? I found 3 in my files which I >transcribed years ago, but no longer have the original photocopies. The >oldest date is 1781. I will plan to do those last. > >When I posted Document 406, I included two asterisks after the phrase >"monnaie du Prince" but forgot to include the footnote. I meant to say >that I don't quite get the drift of this phrase. I will try to check it >out with someone more expert in French than I am, to see if it is an idiom >that might mean "coin of the realm" or something like that. > >Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu> > > >==== HOFFPAUIR Mailing List ==== >The HOFFPAUIR-L list is available in both direct mail mode, and >Digest mode. Because the list is small, I encourage subscribing >in direct mail mode. > >

I AGREE! I am really in awe of everyone doing this great work. Please accept my thanks. Irene Jones -----Original Message----- From: JukNJ1@aol.com <JukNJ1@aol.com> To: HOFFPAUIR-L@rootsweb.com <HOFFPAUIR-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, October 09, 1999 7:10 PM Subject: Re: Thomas Hoffpauir Documents >Charlie...you are just TOO much. We are so lucky to have you working on this >family project. Thank you so very much. Judy J > > >==== HOFFPAUIR Mailing List ==== >If you're into genealogy, consider joining RootsWeb...... >RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative http://www.rootsweb.com/ > >

Well, I guess we have done the best we can with the name of Nathaniel "Ouinisime." The first letter could be a B or a Q. Here's my best effort at Document 406, dated July 25, 1785. French: Aujourd'hui vingt cinquieme jour du mois de Juillet de l'annee mil sept cent quatre vingt cinq par devant Nous Alexandre Chev. De Clouet Lt Colonel, Commandant [des?] Attakapas et Opeloussas fut present en personne le Sr. Thomas Hoffbauer qui de son bon gre, propre mouvement, dans la meilleure forme possible et avec garantie d'hipotheque - vend, cede et transporte au Sr. Nathaniel [Quinisime?] une [Negresse/Mulatresse] nomme Marie Louise, agee d'environ quinze ans, creole et imbecille telle qu'elle se comporte et sans autre garantie pour prix et somme de quatre cent piastres dont la moitiee payable dans le courant du mois de fevrier prochain et le restant au mois de fevrier mil sept cent quatre vingt sept en argent ou monnaie du Prince. A ce clause et condition - mondit Sr. [Quinisime] jouira de ladite esclave comme bien a lui en propre et sans aucun trouble de qui que se soit. Fait et passe en notre Domicile de commandement en presence des Sieurs [Bellai?] Collins et Brunet qui avec les Sieurs Hoffbauer et [Quinisime] ont signe et nous commandant ce meme jour et an que de l'autre part. - marque ordinaire Hoffpauer x Brunet de Nat'el [Quinisime] Will: Collins Le Chev. De Clouet English: Today twenty-fifth day of the month of July of the year one thousand seven hundred eighty five before Us Alexandre Chev. De Clouet, Lt. Colonel, Commander of Attakapas and Opeloussas, was present in person Sieur Thomas Hoffbauer who of his good will, own accord, in the bestform possible and with warranty [against?] morgage - sells, cedes and transports to Sieur Nathaniel [Quinisime?] a Negress/Mulatress [both words were written in the same place and I can't tell which one was written first and which was the correction written over it] named Marie Louise, aged about fifteen years, Creole and imbecile as to her behavior, without [any] other guarantee, for the price and sum of four hundred piastres, of which half [to be] payable in the course of the month of next February, and the remainder in the month of February one thousand seven hundred eighty-seven in money or "monnaie du Prince." ** To this clause and condition - my said Sr. [Quinisime] will have possession of the said slave as his own property and without any trouble from anybody. Done and passed at our house of command in the presence of the Sieurs [Bellai?], Collins and Brunet, who with the Sieurs Hoffbauer and [Quinisime] have signed and Us Commandant this same day and year [on the other hand?]. Usual mark of Nath'l [Quinisime?] (other signatures)

Hello, all - Before continuing with the document translations - thought I would mention finding a couple more documents involving Thomas. I went to the California Genealogical Society's library today, and discovered a copy of "Marriage Contracts of the Opelousas Post, 1766-1803" translated and abstracted by Jacqueline O. Vidrine and Winstone De Ville. (1960) Thomas is not listed in the index, because they did not include witnesses, so I went through each page and found Thomas mentioned in connection with two marriages. The entire documents are not quoted, but the data has been extracted and conveniently translated into English. The first one is dated July 6, 1785 and started out with the usual "Before Alexandre Chev. De Clouet, Lt. Colonel Commandant Civil et militaire des Postes Attakapas et Opeloussas." The groom's name was Jacob WILL, a native of "Ingflin" in "Bavire," son of Jacob Will and Dame Barbare. I suspect "Bavire" is/was "Bavaria" (Baviere in French). There is a city named Ingolstadt in Bavaria - perhaps "Ingflin" is a rendering of the name of some locality near there. The bride was Dame Marie Therese, native of Havana. The witnesses were Fr. Marcantel; Bp. Georgias; Henry Hergeroder; and HOFFBAUER. There is a note that "Groom is widow of Elizabeth Estoutz, the issue of the marriage being: Michel, Pierre and Guillaume. The partage [division] of goods was done November 3, 1784." It says the couple were married March 28, 1785, so would that have been the church ceremony? I noticed several of the marriage records had different dates for the religious ceremony as opposed to the civil record. Although Thomas was a witness, he did not sign the document. The other marriage document was dated October 21, 1803, "Before Don Martin Duralde, Capitaine de Milice et Commandant civil et militaire de ce poste et de celui des Atacapas." The groom was Oliver CLARK, "of major age," son of Thomas Clark and Marie Brooks, a native of "la Nouvelle York." The bride was Julienne Bridom, widow of "feu [late] Michel Stoots," daughter of Michel Bridom and Catherine Reytenauer; "native of this colony." [Reytenauer sounds Germanic.] Witnesses for the groom were Thomas Hoffpauer and William Gilchrist. Witness for the bride were: Dame Michel Pridom for her husband; Michel and Andre Bridom, the bride's brothers; Pierre Stoots, her "beau-frere" [brother-in-law]; and Joseph Andrews and Murtough Collins. The signatures include "pour ma soeur veuve Michel Stouts, Andre Prud'homme" [for my sister widow Michel Stouts] - thus it would appear that the family name was really Prud'homme rather than Bridom. Andre Prud'homme then signs again "pour ma maire & pour moy" [for my mother and myself]. Pierre Stoots signs as Peter Stuts; William Gilchrist signs his name as William Gilcreast; and Thomas signs with his usual "Hoffpauer." This book of marriage abstracts has a handy glossary of French terms in the back. The word "boeufs" which I had previously translated as "beeves" actually means "oxen" according to the glossary. I was not sure whether "boeufs" meant bulls or oxen (i.e. castrated or not) and didn't bother to look it up. Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu>

Judy, Wow! I have never heard of the name Onezine. Does it occur in Louisiana? How is it pronounced? I think your idea is terrific, that surely must be what it is, and I just am not familiar with it. You're absolutely right about our "real" names. I'm forever telling people that when our ancestors came to America, they usually either changed the spelling of their names to match the pronunciation, or they changed the pronunciation of their names to match the spelling - whichever was easier! Some families changed both! Barbara At 10:47 AM 10/9/99 -0400, you wrote: >In a message dated 10/9/1999 1:40:59 AM Central Daylight Time, >bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu writes: > ><< In Doc. 406 I would like to check the spelling of the > name Nathaniel "Ouinisime" which seems unlikely. > >> > >Ms Hill, > Here is a thought. Is it possible that "Ouinisime" is an early spelling >of the present day name Onezine? In the translations from Indian, Spanish, >English, French, Cajun and African dialects...it is a wonder any of us know >our REAL name. > Just an idea, > Judy Jukes > > >==== HOFFPAUIR Mailing List ==== >If you know of relatives who are doing genealogy work, encourage >them to subscribe to the HOFFPAUIR-L mail list. >

For those interesting in looking at the scans of these original documents sent in so far, I've created a link to them from my main page (the one you reach by clicking on the address below my sig). On the main page, go to the Timeline that we've been working on, and from there follow the link to a page I'm calling the documents page. There each document is briefly described, and there is a link to view the image. I will eventually also have the translation for the French documents linked from this page. I have checked this out, and I "think" everything is in place except for the translations. So if anyone has any trouble, please send me an e-mail describing the problem. Just send it directly to me, no need to let the whole list know about my mistakes <g>. -- Charlie Hoffpauir http://web.wt.net/~charlieh/ http://www.refurl.com/y2k_bug.gif (for a chuckle)

Charlie...you are just TOO much. We are so lucky to have you working on this family project. Thank you so very much. Judy J

Pauline's mother was Ethel Hoffpauir. Does anyone have the complete obituary. I think she had children. Bonnie __________ Descendants of Pauline Morgan Generation No. 8 1. Pauline8 Morgan (Francis Henry7, Hampton6, John5, Solomon4, John3, Samuel2, Thomas1) was born 1916, and died 06 October 1999 in Jefferson County, Texas. She married Oliver Faulk. Notes for Pauline Morgan: PAULINE FAULK, 83, of Port Arthur died Oct. 6, Clayton-Thompson Funeral Home, Groves. Source: Beaumont Enterprise...electronic. d/o of Francis Morgan & Ethel Hoffpauir. Buried at Ebenezer Cemetery

In a message dated 10/9/1999 1:40:59 AM Central Daylight Time, bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu writes: << In Doc. 406 I would like to check the spelling of the name Nathaniel "Ouinisime" which seems unlikely. >> Ms Hill, Here is a thought. Is it possible that "Ouinisime" is an early spelling of the present day name Onezine? In the translations from Indian, Spanish, English, French, Cajun and African dialects...it is a wonder any of us know our REAL name. Just an idea, Judy Jukes

Document 454 was quite easy to read, mostly. Here's my best guess as to the French and English versions: French: Aujourd'hui vingtieme jour du mois de decembre de l'annee mil sept cent quatre vingt cinq par devant nous Alexandre Chev. De Clouet Lt. Colonel, Commandant civil et militaire des Attakapas et Opeloussas fut present en personne le Sieur Thomas Hoffbauer qui de son bon gre, propre mouvement, dans la meilleure forme possible, avec garantie de toutes hipotheques et non d'autrui [?] vend, cede et transporte en toute propriete au Sieur Jean Francois Brunet, un Negrillon nomme francois Brut, age d'environ neuf ans, nation Ibo, pour prix et somme de quatre cent piastres dont trois cent piastres payable dans le courant du mois de juin de l'annee prochaine en Meres Vaches et leurs suivants ou Boeufs de deux ans en montant au prix du cour - livrable chez Mr. Bailly ou a son domicile et cent piastres en argent ayant cour [?] dans le courant de l'automne prochain. Fait et passe en notre Domicile de commandement en presence des Sieurs Georges Miller et Luc Hollier qui avec nous Commandant civil et militaire ont signe ce meme jour et an que de l'autre part. GMiller Hoffpauer F. Brunet L. Hollier Le Chev. De Clouet English: Today, twentieth day of the month of December of the year one thousand seven hundred eighty five, before us Alexandre Chevalier De Clouet, Lt. Colonel, civil and military Commander of the Attakapas and Opelousas, was present in person the Sieur Thomas Hoffbauer, who of his good will, own accord, in the best form possible, with warranty [against?] all mortgages and not other people's property, sells, cedes and transports in all propriety to Sieur Jean-Francois Brunet, a Negro boy named Francois Brut, aged about nine years, Ibo tribe, for price and sum of four hundred piastres, of which three hundred piastres payable in the course of the month of June of the next year in Mother Cows and their followers [i.e. unweaned calves] or beeves of two years amounting to the price of the court [?] - deliverable at Mr. Bailly's or at his house, and one hundred piastres in money [unknown idiom]* in the course of next autumn. Done and passed at our house of command in the presence of the Sieurs Georges Miller and Luc Hollier who with us, civil and military commander, have signed this same day and year [on all sides?]. ** [Signatures] There are two idioms I don't understand - * ayant cour (ayant = having; cour = court; must be a legal term?) ** que de l'autre part ("de l'autre part" usually means "on the other hand") If anyone can help out on any of this, I'd appreciate it. Shall I keep going with the rest of the documents? I have No. 406 written out but would like to check it against Charlie's Web version. This takes a lot of time - I have to keep pushing the "Reload" button until the whole thing loads onto the screen. When possible, I have used Ray's e-mail attachments to read or print the documents. In Doc. 406 I would like to check the spelling of the name Nathaniel "Ouinisime" which seems unlikely. In the English-language documents that Charlie posted, he pointed out the deterioration in Thomas's signature in the course of six years. I found it very poignant, and that last signature more than anything has brought Thomas vividly to life in my mind. Basically I think the timeline and documents are a great idea, even the slave deeds. Maybe some day, some African-Americans will be able to trace far enough back to find one of these deeds and thus learn the African origins of an ancestor. Also, tracking Thomas's known movements and the persons he was associated with may someday provide the key for discovering HIS exact origins. It would be great if someone can find the Natchez documents that Lamar Boulet remembers once having had copies of. Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu>

Here are 3 more documents submitted by Ray.... http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/280a.jpg http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/456a.jpg http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/457a.jpg -- Charlie Hoffpauir http://web.wt.net/~charlieh/ http://www.refurl.com/y2k_bug.gif (for a chuckle)

Okay - here is what I can make of the first document, #304, first my best effort at the French and then what I guess it says: Aujourd'hui quinzieme jour du mois d'octobre de l'annee mil sept cent quatre vingt trois par devant nous Alexandre Chev. De Clouet Lt. Colonel, Commandant civil et militaire des postes Attakapas et Opeloussas fut presente en personne la nommee Josine mulatresse libre qui de son bon gre propre mouvement, dans la meilleure forme possible, avec garantie de toutes hipotheques et du consentement du nomme Louis Ricard mulatre libre son mari, vend et transport au Sr. Hoffbauer une terre de sept arpents et demi de face sur la profondeur ordinaire attenant d'un cote a Madm Marcantel, et de l'autre au Sr George Miller, ladite terre situe au coteaux pour prix et somme de deux cents piastres payable dans le courant du mois de juillet de l'annee prochaine en argent [des vaches creusers??} marchandes et au prix du cour - livrables dans le parc du dit Sr. Hoffbauer qui a ces clauses et conditions jouira lui et les siens de ladite terre comme bien en propre et sans aucun trouble de qui que se soit. Fait et passe a notre domicile de commandement en presence des Sieurs De Villier, Florentin[?], [Joviet?] et Brunet on signe et nous Commandant civil et militaire ce meme jour et an -- Marque ordinaire Marque ordinaire X X de josine [M--?] de Louis Recard Florantin[?] [Joviet?] Hoffpauer Brunet Albt [?] de Villiers L Ch de Clouet The first paragraph is quite a run-on sentence so I will insert punctuation where needed to make sense: Today, fifteenth day of the month of October of the year one thousand seven hundred eighty-three, before us Alexander Chevalier De Clouet * Lt. Colonel, civil and military Commander of the posts Attakapas and Opelousas, was present in person the named Josine, free mulatress who of her good will, own accord, in the best form possible, with warranty [against?] all mortgages and with the consent of the named Louis Ricard, free mulatto, her husband, sells and transports to Sieur Hoffbauer a [piece of] land of seven and a half arpents wide with the usual depth, bordering on one side to Madame Marcantel, and on the other to Sieur George Miller, the said land situated on the hill; for the price and sum of two hundred piastres payable in the course of the month of July next year in money, [cows?], [plows?], goods and at the [court price?] ** - deliverable on the grounds of the said Sieur Hoffbauer, who with these provisions and conditions shall enjoy he and his*** the said land as his own possession and without trouble from anybody. Done and passed at our house of command in the presence of the Sieurs De Villier, Florentin[?], [Joviet?] and Brunet [who] have signed with us, civil and military Commander, this same day and year - Usual mark X of Josine [illegible] Usual mark X of Louis Recard [remainder of signatures] * Alexandre De Clouet was a Chevalier (Knight) and was using the "editorial we" when he refers to himself as "us." His signature "Le Ch de Clouet" = the Knight De Clouet. The British just use the prefix Sir in front of the names of persons who have been knighted. ** Was not at all sure about the words of this part. *** In English we would probably say "he and his heirs and assigns forever" or some such legalese. Feel free to ask me any questions. I see I have new mail so perhaps somebody has already "beaten me to the punch" on this. Barbara Hill

Two more documents from Ray, #454 and #455. Each one is two legal size pages, but this time I attached the pages so you'll get one page each, 8 1/2 by about 28 inches long. By combining the pages. I can set one link for each document.... http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/454a.jpg and http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/455b.jpg -- Charlie Hoffpauir http://web.wt.net/~charlieh/ http://www.refurl.com/y2k_bug.gif (for a chuckle)

Yes, Barbara, I'd like to see the French as well since I can barely read the documents. Thanks. Hugh ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Hill <bhill@uclink4.berkeley.edu> To: <HOFFPAUIR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 2:39 PM Subject: Re: Thomas Hoffpauir documents > Charlie et al, > > I read and transcribed both articles last night, but it is even more > legible on your site so I'm trying to read 304 again to pick up words that > I missed before or was only guessing at. I'll be glad to post what I > deciphered as soon as I get off work this afternoon. Is anyone interested > in the French version as well as a translation? I can't do accent marks, > of course. > > Barbara Hill > > At 02:20 PM 10/08/1999 -0500, you wrote: > >Hi all you linguists.... > > > >The first document that requires translation is on the web. > > > >This document was sent in by Ray Hoffpauir.... here's what he > >said about it: > > > >304 - October 15, 1783 > > > >Land sale from Josine, free mulattresse, with consent of her > >husband, Louis Richard, to Hoffpauer. > > > >The original was legal size (8 1/2 x 14) and Ray had to scan each > >page in two parts... I stitched the two parts of each page > >together again, so the document if you just download and print it > >will require the use of legal size paper. It is two pages long, > >and each page is a separate image on the web site. > > > > > ==== HOFFPAUIR Mailing List ==== > The HOFFPAUIR-L list is available in both direct mail mode, and > Digest mode. Because the list is small, I encourage subscribing > in direct mail mode. >

Hi all, Therse two documents are in English. Anna Marie Hayes sent me these scans, one from 1806 and the other 1812. They are land claims where Thomas appears to be attesting that his neighbors have occupied the lands. It's interesting to note the deterioriation of Thomas signature in the 6 years between the two signings.... and it's will be interesting to track the variations over the years, as we collect more of these. In this case, I've decided to combine both documents on one image, the earlier one at the top of the page. Reach it here: http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/thoff.jpg -- Charlie Hoffpauir http://web.wt.net/~charlieh/ http://www.refurl.com/y2k_bug.gif (for a chuckle)

Charlie et al, I read and transcribed both articles last night, but it is even more legible on your site so I'm trying to read 304 again to pick up words that I missed before or was only guessing at. I'll be glad to post what I deciphered as soon as I get off work this afternoon. Is anyone interested in the French version as well as a translation? I can't do accent marks, of course. Barbara Hill At 02:20 PM 10/08/1999 -0500, you wrote: >Hi all you linguists.... > >The first document that requires translation is on the web. > >This document was sent in by Ray Hoffpauir.... here's what he >said about it: > >304 - October 15, 1783 > >Land sale from Josine, free mulattresse, with consent of her >husband, Louis Richard, to Hoffpauer. > >The original was legal size (8 1/2 x 14) and Ray had to scan each >page in two parts... I stitched the two parts of each page >together again, so the document if you just download and print it >will require the use of legal size paper. It is two pages long, >and each page is a separate image on the web site. >

Well, I messed that up. The second page is at http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/406-2.jpg Charlie Charlie wrote: > > Here is the second document that Ray sent. This one is like the > first, on legal sized paper in two parts, with each page on a > separate image on the web. > > Page 1 > > http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/406-1.jpg > > Page 2 > > http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/406-1.jpg > > Here's what Ray had to say about it: > > 406 - July 25, 1785 > > Slave sale from Thomas Hoffbauer to Nathaniel Ouinisime. > This is one of the better of the copies. It is numbered the same > as 304. > > > Ray said he has more, that he'll try to send to me today. > I noticed that the clerk, or whoever made out the document, > spelled Thomas' name Hoffbauer, and the signature that Thomas > used, looks more like Hoffbauer than Hoffpauer. Interesting. > > > I also have received some scanned documents from Anna Marie > Hayes, and I'll be working on uploading them to the web page > also. >

Here is the second document that Ray sent. This one is like the first, on legal sized paper in two parts, with each page on a separate image on the web. Page 1 http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/406-1.jpg Page 2 http://users.ev1.net/~charlieh/406-1.jpg Here's what Ray had to say about it: 406 - July 25, 1785 Slave sale from Thomas Hoffbauer to Nathaniel Ouinisime. This is one of the better of the copies. It is numbered the same as 304. Ray said he has more, that he'll try to send to me today. I noticed that the clerk, or whoever made out the document, spelled Thomas' name Hoffbauer, and the signature that Thomas used, looks more like Hoffbauer than Hoffpauer. Interesting. I also have received some scanned documents from Anna Marie Hayes, and I'll be working on uploading them to the web page also. -- Charlie Hoffpauir http://web.wt.net/~charlieh/ http://www.refurl.com/y2k_bug.gif (for a chuckle)