This article was contributed by Mr. Alex Lee. Currently living in Beaumont, Texas Alex had been researching his Saint Landry parish Louisiana family for many years (https://www.facebook.com/Alexgenealogy?fref=ts) and, as he discovered the interconnectedness of the St. Landry families, branched out to research many other families of the parish. He is uncovering difficult to discern slave ancestors as well as European and Native American ancestory among the St. Landry creole families. As a researcher who is considerably younger than the average genealogist Alex has embraced uncovering his own ancestry as well as teaching others to do their own.
Martin Donato
On September 2, 1847, approximately 168 years ago, Martin Donato, a free man of color and prominent planter in the town of Opelousas, Louisiana, wrote a last will and testament which left behind a puzzling mystery as to why he wanted to grant freedom only to 12 of his numerous enslaved people upon his death. It was stated that immediately after his death, he wanted to give freedom to these following slaves to-wit;
Martin Donato’s Last Will and Testament
Julie, age about 32 years, and her seven children to-wit, Eugenie age about 14 years, Emile age about 12 years, Uranie age about 11 years, Felicianne and Felicie twin sisters age about 8 years, Philomene age about 4 years and Didier age about 1 year three months, and to Meurice & Olympie twin sisters age about twenty years and to Marie Jeanne, daughter of Olympie, age about 2 years more or less. In consideration of the recommendation that was made to Martin by his deceased son Edmond Donato, Martin also gave freedom to his mulatto slave named Leon age about 19 years (son of Rosine).
Martin Donato also mentioned the free status that was given to Sabin Donato (son of his negresse Celeste) who was given his freedom at birth by Martin and his deceased wife. Martin Donato also firmly declared that if any of his heirs would contest his wishes, they would be disinherited from his will.
[Historical notes on Martin Donato’s ancestry: “Governor Alejandro O’Reilly’s ordinance of 1770 provided renewed impetus for settlement along the western Louisiana frontier by establishing liberal guidelines for land grants. This ordinance resulted in the migration of modestly wealthy but ambitious settlers from the more densely populated areas to the east and southeast—the German coast, the Pointe Coupee district, and New Orleans. Donato Bello of New Orleans w[as] among those who moved to the Opelousas post with [his] dual (white and mulatto) famil[y], including [his] Creole of Color children.
Donato Bello, an infantry officer and a native of Corand, Naples, married in New Orleans on January 15, 1765, Suzanne Moreau of Alabama, the daughter of Joseph Valentin Moreau and Marie Jean Lafleur. The first records of Donato Bello in the Opelousas and Attakapas post appear in 1787.
Donato Bello obviously maintained a simultaneous relationship with Marie Jeanne Talliaferro, a New Orleans-born mulatto. Talliaferro bore Bello at least three children—Martin, Marie Celeste, and Catherine Victoire. These children first appear in the documentary record of the Opelousas post on November 3, 1789, with the signing of a marriage contract between Catherine Victoire and Jean-Baptiste Guillory, a native of the Opelousas post and the natural son of Gregoire Guillory and Marquerite, a free Negress. Martin Donato signed the document as a witness for his sister.
By 1803 Martin Donato owned a large vacherie (cattle ranch), a separate plantation where he and his wife resided on which was installed a new cotton mill and also 3 adult male slaves who worked alongside Martin’s 3 adult sons. He owned hundreds of cattle and more than a score of horses. He also had cash assets of $5,000 piastres (a former coin of Turkey, 1/100th of a lira), some of which were loaned out. Throughout his entire life he served as a private banker to his neighbors, both whites and Creoles of Color.”]
By Martin Donato being one of the most successful plantation owners in the country during this time period, it raises the question as to why he made sure that these certain mulatto slaves were to be given their freedom and taken care of after his death. Martin never specified the paternity of any of these slaves. Was Martin Donato the father, grandfather or uncle of the mulatto slaves he wanted to free? Not only did Martin want those certain enslaved mulattos freed out of all the 100+ slaves he owned, he also ensured that Julie’s seven children were to be given the security of a great future by making sure that the executor of his estate, Auguste Donato, funded their education.
Over the years, with the help of relatives’ research and Catholic Church records [Father Hebert’s Southwest Louisiana Records series and other Catholic Church Sacramental records series], I was able to find out why Martin Donato freed those 12 slaves. All the slaves mentioned in his last will and testament were related to him by blood. The mulatto slave Julie was Martin’s concubine who bore him those 7 children. Support for this is found in the Catholic entries: Ex. DONATO, Marie Philomene (Martin & Julie RAPHAEL) m. 8 Feb. 1872 Alexandre OLIVIER (Honore & Francoise FRILOT), CUNY; Louis B. (Cesar & Celeste THIERRY) m. 25 July 1861 Felice DONATO (Martin & Julie DONATO) (Opel. Ch.: v. 2, p. 322). The twins’ (Olympe and Meurice) relation to Martin Donato was confirmed in the succession of Sabin Donato, when Martin’s former doctor, Frederick Acher of France petitioned against Sabin’s wife to give his daughters, Anaise, Valentine and Marie Acher–daughters of Meurice and nieces to Sabin–their fair share of their deceased uncle’s estate. The family meeting consisting of the nearest relatives for Meurice’s children were, Martin Donato’s son, Francois Auguste Donato and Martin’s grandchildren, Francois Auguste Donato fils (son), Martin Lemelle, Joseph Delmont Donato, Cornelius Donato and Gustave Donato. These names show there was a family connection between Olympe and Meurice, two former slaves mentioned in Martin’s will. Had it not been for Dr. Acher acting against Sabin’s wife for his children’s inheritance it still would have been a mystery as to why Martin freed my ancestor. I am the great, great, great, great grandson of Olympe Donato.
[L. Gobert Note: Martin, Marie Celeste and Catherine Victoire are the ancestors of many, many Creole of Color families in St. Landry parish whose surnames are too numerous to mention here.]
Source for some historical information: Creoles of Color in the Bayou Country, Carl Brasseaux, Keith Fontenot, Claude Oubre.
Lenora A. Gobert
Please keep the family history coming. Alex, I’m waiting for your book
Great information. I found out yesterday that Martin Donato is my great, great, great, great grandfather. This is great history and makes for an awesome story over cocktails!
Nice article on PaPa Donato! Keep up the great work Alex.
Discovered that a great-grandparent is Fidelise Donato, married to Frank Key both of Opelousas. They were married about 1869. This would lead me to believe that Fidelise is a descendent of Martin Donato, but I cannot make a connection. Can you please help me determine the connection to Martin or any of his brothers who migrated often to Vera Cruz, MX and owned vast portions of land in Opelousas. Thanks in advance.
Adolph, go to the Alex Genealogy Facebook page. Alex is doing extensive research on the St Landry families and he can tell you the connection.
Hi my name is Chekeitha Mcgee. I would like to join CreoleGen. I have been looking for info on my grandmother Felicia Boudreaux. She spoke French creole and was born in March of 1906 or 1907 in the Crowley, La area. She was Catholic and I haven’t been finding any info on her. If you can be of any help to me I would truly appreciate it.
I am the oldest daughter of Randolph Donatto of Opelousas la. Granddaughter of Henry and Agnes donatto
Hi, Yolanda. I’m a decendent of the Donattos as well and I’m looking for more information on the family for a Louisiana Folklore project. Could you please email me?
I’m Philomene’s great- great- great- grandson. Could you please email me? I’d love to talk about our history.
Anyone knows soldier. name Donato who was in the army and served in Virginia with another soldier name Luke Owens, would like to here . We are about 80 years old now.
My Great Grandmother is Celeste Donatto Gagne on my mothers side.
She raised her family in Raywood,Texas.
She is a decendant of Martin Donatto .
I met Raymond her son a few years before he passed away. I thought he had a keen resemblance to Martin Donato.
Raymond was my father, and as I am not getting to see pictures of Martin Donato, I have to agree. Since I have a strong resemblance of my father I too must have similarities to Martin.
I too am a descendant of Martin Donato
Guillory Fontenot, Jolivet, Guidry, and Lemelle; just to name a few from Saint Landry Parish.
My Grandfather’s name was Ross Guidry and my Grandmother’s name was Evie Lemelle. My mother’s name was Shirley Guidry. I have heard that the Donatos are in our blood line. Anyone knowing any information on this, please respond.
Thank you,
Evie Augustine DuVernay
Contact me if you’d like. I might have some information for you.
Hi Mary Ellen,
I hope this message gets to you; I would love to hear from you in hope that we may have information to share in regards to our family.
Hi, Mary Ellen, I’m a descendent of the Donatos and I’m looking for more information. Email me when you get the chance please?
msu-mbertrand11@McNeese.edu
My mother’s maiden name is LeMelle and we too are descended from Martin.
Hi Emily,
Would love to hear from you. I know very little about my grandmother’s people. Hopefully, we have information that we can share with each other.
Your grandfather is the brother of my grandmother.
Direct descendant of Martin Donato. Luv to here from my kin. Much luv to ya.
Martin Donato is my 3-great grandfather.
His daughter Marie was about 4 at his passing. Her son Joesph is my Mother’s Grandfather. My DNA linked to his.
My maternal grandmother is a great-great-grandchild of Martin Donatto. By extension, I am a great-great-great-great grandchild.
I never tire of reading about these forebearers.
Also, I located the graves of Marie Tallifero and Marie Denise Donatto LeMelle. Marie Denise is the grandmother of one of my great-grandfathers (Victor LeMelle)….I wish someone could tell me where Leo Alexander LeMelle’s (Victor Le Melle’s father) grave is.
My Great- Great Grandmother, Vesta Donato (Martin’s Great Granddaughter) raised my mother (a Donato-Soraparu descendant). I’d love to get more information on the Donato family history! Thank you for posting this – is there anything else available that is written? Text/manuscript/articles? Many, many thanks! I have been told one of my cousins has a large portrait of Major Donato Bello, which I am feverishly trying to get info on, or at least have her snap a photo of.
Nicole, contact me on famille.la.louisiane@gmail.com for further discussion. Lenora Gobert
Hello, My grandfather is Frank Gobert that settled in Raywood, Texas and married Elmira LaDay. During this union they had 8 children: Whitney, Hester, Paul, Lillie, Sonora, Vita, Neda, and Mary. I have been trying to find out more on my grandparents’ bloodline, true nationality and where they migrated from.
Hello Nicole,
I have the history of our Gaubert/Gobert family. Contact me at famille.la.louisiana@gmail.com
I have spoken to Nicole before but I have information on Vesta as well as pics. She married my great grandmothers brother
Anyone have information on Philomene. I’d love to know anything about my history.
She’s my 4x great grandmother. How are you related?
My 4x great grandmother was Mary (Philomene) Donanto, making Martin my 5x great grandfather. Thank you for this info. Please email me, I’d love to speak!
I noticed in the story the mention of a Jean-Batiste Guillory. What is his connection to Martin Donate?
I am a direct descendant of Jean-Batiste on my mom’s side.
He was my great-great-Grand father.
Martin Donato was my 5x great grandfather through my maternal grandmother. Her grandmothers name was Onecia Lachapelle. My great aunt researched Martin and I have a lot of information on him. His burial location, where his home was located, marriage liscences, etc. She made a book out of it.
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I am the Great-Grand-Daughter of Doctor Raphael Donato,
My Grandfather was Frederick Felton Donato and my Great- Grand Mother was Ellias Marie Donato (maiden name Martin).
My maiden name was Alejandre. Please keep me up to date and what I could contribute. Please call me at 312-366-4318.
I was good friends with the late J. C. Donnato of Opelousas. Does anyone have info on his relation to Martin? My great- great- great Aunt married Augusta Donato.
Julia Bello is my 3rd g- grandmother and Valerie Bello is my 4th g -grand father. Julia married my grandmothers’ side of the family.