Michael GAUTHIER

• Father: Joseph GAUTHIER
• Mother: Elizabeth DEVILLE
• ANCESTOR CHART:
• 1860 CENSUS:
• 1880 CENSUS:
• BIRTH: 1856 (4 in 1860 census, 22 in 1880 census)
• DEATH: ABT 1890 
• BURIAL: Fort DeRussy Cemetery, no dates on stone 

Sarah Anne BETTEVY

• Father: Francois BETTEVY
• Mother: Louise BEAUBOEUF
• ANCESTOR CHART:
• BIRTH: 29 AUG 1864 
• DEATH: 8 MAY 1955
• BURIAL: Roselawn Cemetery, Baton Rouge LA
• MARRIAGE: 15 JAN 1880 by William Hall, Parish Judge.

Witnesses to the marriage were: Deterville Deville, Paulina Deville, and John Batties Bettevy.  

(Note: Three BETTEVY children married DEVILLEs, plus Michael GAUTHIER's mother is a DEVILLE.)

NOTE: MICHAEL & SARAH ARE 2nd COUSINS, ONCE REMOVED.

• CHILDREN:

1.  Lucinda (Cindy) GAUTHIER
2.  Paulina "Polliny" GAUTHIER
3.  Louise Isabelle "Belle" GAUTHIER
4.  Peter Michael GAUTHIER
5.  Michel Ross GAUTHIER

Suspicions:

Michel Ross Gauthier's first name is the French spelling of Michael.  The father of our first US ancestor, Rene Gauthier, is Michel Gauthier.

Peter Michael Gauthier's first born was baptized Michel Ishmael Gauthier.  Ishmael always thought his name was Ishmael Michael Gauthier. 

So, we wonder if Peter Michael was not really Peter Michel.  His father Michael is listed as "Michel" in daughter Isabelle's baptism record and in son Michel Ross's baptism record. 

At the time of Michael and Sarah' s marriage neither of them could write their name and both signed the marriage certificate with an x.  Same for Michael's parents.  So the spelling of their names was entirely up to census takers, the judge that married them and recorded the event, and the priest of the time.  So those of French background as Michael is, spelled it Michel.  But his gravestone is engraved 'Michael' and "Michael' it shall be.

In later years Sarah could read and write.  It is not known if Michael ever learned during his brief life.