LATTIER FAMILY IN AMERICA

FIRST HUNDRED YEARS

1760 - 1860

Our Lattier ancestors settled in the Red River Valley during the mid Eighteenth Century, when Louisiana was a French province.  Lattiers have lived in the valley ever since.  This history covers the first six generations of Lattiers, through the Antebellum period.

The notes are arranged by generations, starting with Joseph Lattier, the patriarch of the family.

Research of the family history has been relatively easy, as they lived on the land, moving very little.  On the other hand, the identification of some individuals was not very easy, as many members were named Francois  (Francis, Frank, Francoise, Frances, Francina).  And Francois Rene was married three times!

The Lattier family history is archived at Natchitoches Louisiana.  The marriage and baptisms are listed in the Catholic Church documents.  These fragile records have been researched and transcribed into published books; available at the Natchitoches Genealogical Library in the Old Courthouse building.  Land transfers, successions, mortgages, marriages, civil actions and adoptions are available at the Clerk of Court records in the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse.  Many early French civil records are stored at the Genealogy Library, but they are not cataloged.  Research requires patience and a good command of French.

Many branches of the Lattier family were not investigated; only the direct branches which touch the Maricelli family.  You are encouraged to add to this family tree.

Two translations have been offered as the source of the name ‘Lattier’.  One possible source derives from the French “Lait” and Latin “Lactic” for the English word milk, suggesting a milkman.  The more probable origin relates to the Old French “Latte” which translates to the English words lath or lattice.  This suggests that Lattier was a roofer, installing laths or shingles.

GENERATION ONE

Joseph Lattier was the patriarch of the Lattier family in Louisiana.  Joseph was born in 1729 in Dauphin Province, France, the son of Jean Lattier and Francoise Revoir.  He was baptized at St Nicholas Catholic Church, Saint John Vienne Diocese.

Joseph was a corporal in the French Army and was assigned to Natchitoches about 1755.

On June 7, 1763, Joseph married Anne Verger in St Francis Catholic Church.  Anne was a native of Natchitoches, the daughter of Joseph Verger and Angelique Dumond.

GENERATION TWO

Joseph and Anne Verger Lattier reared their family on lower Cane River (Rivere aux Cannes.)  their children:

1.   Catherine Lattier, daughter, born June 17, 1765.

2.   Joseph Jacques (Santiago) Lattier, son, born July 17, 1767.

3.   Jean Baptiste Lattier, son, born December 1, 1769.

4.   Francois Lattier, son, born Feb 16, 1775, died May 4, 1852.

GENERATION THREE

Francois Lattier (Senior) married Marie Pelagie Cheletre at Isle Breville (Rivere aux Cannes) on August 12, 1806.  Francois was the son of Joseph Latter and Anne Verger.  Marie Pelagie Cheletre was born at Des Allemands, the German Coast, Saint Charles Parish Louisiana, the daughter of Pierre Cheletre and Marie Reine Fredrick.  Mary Pelagie died March 12, 1848

Francois and Marie Pelagie reared their family on lower Cane River, Natchitoches Parish.  They owned land of Bayou Nid Aigle, about 6 miles up river from present day Cloutierville.  Their children:

1.   Marie Feloise (Louise) Lattier, daughter, born August 9, 1807.

2.   Francois Lattier (Junior), son, born October 2, 1809.

3.   Marie Joachine Lattier, daughter, born October 8, 1812.

4.   Pedro Naysa Lattier, son, born April 26, 1814.

5.   Zeline Lattier, daughter, born 1816.

GENERATION FOUR

Francois Lattier (Junior), son of Francois Lattier and Marie Pelagie Lattier, married three times. 

1.   At age 20, on December 31, 1829, he married Marie Francoise Phannie Plaisance.  The bride was the daughter of Bertrand Plaisance and Marie Barbe Grillet.

2.   At age 28, on January 26, 1837, he married Marie Adelaide (Athenais) Delaye (Delouche).  The bride was the daughter of Pierre Delouche and Marie Felicite Pommier.

3.   At age 31, on June 29, 1840, he married Marie Elisa Rachal.  The bride was the daughter of Cyprien Rachal and Marie Azelie Rachal.

The death records have not been located for this couple, but on January 3, 1847, Marie Elisa Lattier was deceased; on October 10, 1849, Francois Lattier Junior was also deceased.  On this latter date, Francois Lattier Senior acted for his grandchildren in the sale of a tract of land.

The children of Francois Lattier Junior:

Francois Rene Lattier, born 1830

Bertrand Lattier, son

Zeline Lattier, daughter

Ernest Lattier, son

GENERATION FIVE

Francois Rene Lattier married Elodie Rachal about 1851.  They lived on Isle Breville, lower Cane River and reared their family there.  The land transfers indicate that they lost their property in the chaos following the Civil War.  Their property was in the direct path of the Union advance during the Red River Campaign of the Civil War.

Children of Francois Rene Lattier and Elodie Rachal:

1.   Francina Lattier, daughter, born 1855.

2.   Sephalide Elodie Lattier, daughter, born 1857.

3.   Rene Lattier, son, born 1859.

4.   Firmin Lattier, son.

GENERATION SIX

Three siblings in the family of Francois Rene Lattier and Elodie Rachal Lattier married into the Maricelli family; their descendants are included in the Maricelli family tree.

Francina Lattier married William Tell Maricelli on June 3, 1873.

Sephalide Lattier married Maurice Maricelli on February 6, 1877.

Firmin Lattier married Eugenia Maricelli about 1890.

Revision date:  Nov 8, 2001:  James Jules Maricelli

Converted to Word format June 9, 2002 jjm