To celebrate Black History Month, I chose to highlight an Avoyelles Parish born history maker, Judge Israel Meyer Augustine, Jr. His ancestors’ roots are buried deep in the soil of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. He’s my second cousin once removed, and he has many relatives, the Augustines, Benjamins, Pierres, Perrys and many others from Moreauville and Mansura. (The above picture was taken from a Georgia Family Reunion booklet) My great-great grandfather, Ursin Augustin (1808-1901) was his great grandfather, also. In 1969, [i]he was appointed to a district judge position of the Orleans Criminal District Court by Governor John McKeithen. He was the first Black to be appointed to a judgeship in Louisiana since Reconstruction.
Slavery
Eulalie Jacob-The Cause of a Lawsuit
The enslaved Eulalie Jacob was worth fighting over and Scholastic Normand sued her husband, for control of her. Moreover, the enslaved Jacob from Africa, once owned by Marguerite Wienaire may indeed be Eulalie’s father and the person from whom the African-American Jacob line from Avoyelles Parish descends. Eulalie goes from being an enslaved valuable asset to a free landowner.
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Simon in a Dangerous Confrontation
Visiting his Free minor children placed the enslaved Simon's life at risk. The accusations of a white landowner and the strict rules of the Louisiana Black code had the potential of having Simon harmed physically, imprisoned and/or hindered from visiting his children again. Also, discover a family connection between a slave-owner and the enslaved Simon.
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Unity’s Hidden Legacy
I continue with the lives of my great grandmother, Unity FWC (Free Woman of Color) and my great-great grandmother, Mally/Milla/Miley/Moilly. Unity had been bestowed the ultimate gift, the gift of freedom. Yet, something about William InRufty’s last will and testament gave me a feeling that there was more, something missing. I believe you will find the search for Unity’s Hidden Legacy very interesting.
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