"Favorite Name" - Marie Rosalie Seraphina Toups

I have found so many names in my family tree that I could call "favorites" for a variety of reasons.  For this post, I decided to choose a name that I like based solely on the name itself - Marie Rosalie Seraphina Toups.  She is my maternal third great-grandmother.  I particularly like the Seraphina part of her name, as well as that her given and middle names reflect her maternal French heritage.

My mother and I follow after Andrew Pampas
in the above lineage.

Name Information

• Marie is a common French variant of the ancient names Mary and Maria. Its meaning is not clearly defined.
• Rosalie is a French form of Italian and Late Roman name Rosalia.  As one would expect, it means "rose."
• Seraphina is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus and is typically spelled as "Séraphina" in French.  The name is derived from the Hebrew word "שרפים" "(anglicized as "seraphim"), which means "burning ones" and is used to identify the angels surrounding the throne of God in the Bible.
• Toups was derived from the surname Dubs and came into its current form in the late 1600s to early 1700s.  Rosalie's paternal ancestors who had this surname lived in Switzerland, except for her third great-grandfather who lived in Germany, before emigrating to Louisiana circa 1724.  The Toups were some of Louisiana's earliest settlers, starting with Casper Dubs/Toups originally of Zurich, Switzerland.(1)

Timeline

• 22 January 1841 - Rosalie, which is the name by which she was called, was born in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana(2), to Drauzin (a.k.a., Drausin) Joseph Toups (Abt. 1812 - Aft. 22 Jun 1880) and Marie Eulalie Stevens (a.k.a., Istiben, Estiben, Estiven, Estievenne, and other variations) Toups (1818 - Aft. 22 Jun 1880).
• 1 August 1850 - She lived with her parents, two older siblings, and two younger siblings in Grand Couteau, Lafource, Louisiana.(3)
• 23 July 1859 - Rosalie married Marcelin (a.k.a., Marcellin) Stevens (a.k.a., Stephens, Estievens, and other variations) in Lafourche Parish.(4)
• 27 July 1860 - The new Mrs. Stevens and her husband lived in Ward 1, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (Post Office: Thibodaux).(5)
• 01 June 1870 - Rosalie resided with her husband and their four children in Thibodaux, Lafourche, Louisiana.(6)
• 22 June 1880 - The U.S. Census shows Rosalie as widowed and living with her six children at Ellician Toups Plantation(7)(8)(9), now known as Ariel Plantation(10), located about "nine miles below Thibodaux," in the 5th Ward of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

This post is part of +Amy Johnson Crow's 2018 #52Ancestors challenge.

Bibliography

1. Deiler, John Hanno. The Settlement of the German Coast of Louisiana and the Creoles of German Descent. vol. 8, American Germanica Press, 1909. pp. 31, 77, 82, 83, 95, 103, 124.
2. Toups, Neil J. The Toups Clan and How It All Began. Neilson, 1969. p. 98.
3. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJW-1MC : 12 April 2016), Rosala Toups in household of Dransin Toups, Grand Coteau, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States; citing family 37, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. Toups, Neil J. The Toups Clan and How It All Began. Neilson, 1969. p. 98.
5. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPD-WLW : 12 December 2017), Rosela Stevens in entry for Marcellin Stevens, 1860.
6. "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87Q-Z2V : 12 April 2016), Rolelia Stephens in household of Marcelin Stephens, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 7, family 47, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,015.
7. Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, Lousiana Sugar Chemists' Association, American Cane Growers' Association. The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer. vol. 1, Lousiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer Company, 1888. p. 198.
8. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6T-1R9 : 15 August 2017), Rosalie Eliza Esteven, 5th Ward, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 131, sheet 641C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0455; FHL microfilm 1,254,455.
9. Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, Lousiana Sugar Chemists' Association, American Cane Growers' Association. The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer. vol. 15, Lousiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer Company, 1895. p. 198.
10. French, Benjamin Franklin, and Joh Gilmary Shea. Biographical and Historical Memories of Louisiana. Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1892. pp. 424-425.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2018 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint or repost this in full or in part or use excerpts from it without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put creating this.

Treasure Chest Thursday - My Maternal Grandfather's Rosary

This week, I am participating in +Genea Bloggers' Treasure Chest Thursday.

Years ago, my mom's family passed along my grandfather's childhood rosary to me.  Though my grandfather, Andrew Joseph Pampas, Jr. (1923-1995), grew up Catholic in Louisiana, my grandmother was Protestant.  After marrying Grandmama, he went to church with her and became a member of her church.  So, he was never a practicing Catholic during the years I spent around him.

I still clearly remember this rosary hanging on the top corner of the mirror of the vanity in my grandparents' bedroom, and I always thought it was quite lovely and a bit mysterious.  It is made of mother of pearl and metal (perhaps silver that has now tarnished?).  I haven't cleaned it, because I want to preserve it as-is.

Now that I have it, I store it - along with some other family heirlooms - in a unique, antique, compartmentalized box that my grandmother gave me.  (I will do a future Treasure Chest Tuesday post on the box.)

When my daughter moved from public school to Catholic school in 2013, my grandmama sent her a very similar rosary that also belonged to Granddaddy.  I didn't realize that he had owned more than one until then, and I was thrilled for her to receive such a meaningful gift to connect her to her great-grandfather, especially since she never got to meet him.

It truly seems to be the little things, like this rosary, that offer us strong connections to our ancestors and past.  I miss Granddaddy every day and am so thankful to have this piece of his life to treasure.

Granddaddy's rosary that was given to me.

A closer up picture of Granddaddy's rosary that was given to me.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2015 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint this post in full or in part or use excerpts from this post without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put into creating this post.

Andrea "Andrew" Pampas, Sr. - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 1, "Fresh Start"

Amy Johnson Crow of NoStoryTooSmall.com has issued the 2015 Edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.  Week 1's theme is "Fresh Start," and I have many ancestors in my tree that made sought out new beginnings.  I've decided to write about my maternal great-grandfather, Andrew Pampas, Sr.  He showed a spirit of adventure and determination,  starting a a young age, that I still find hard to imagine.  I hope you enjoy learning about his life!

Andrea "Andrew" Pampas, Sr.

According to his Declaration of Intent to become a naturalized United States citizen, Andrea "Andrew" Pampas, Sr., was born on 27 Oct 1900 in Piraeus, Greece.

Piraeus, Greece City Seal

Andrea "Andrew" Pampas' US Naturalization Declaration of Intent

His Social Security Number application, below, shows a different date of birth - 25 Oct 1899.  That same document lists his parents' names as Tony Pampas and Annie Rose.  Andrew asked that my grandmother to name aunt after his mother, Anna, so Annie's given name must have been Anna.  So far, I haven't been able to determine his original, Greek surname.

Andrew Pampas' Social Security Number Application

The back of this family photo shows yet another date of birth, 27 Oct 1901, and also indicates that he was born in Athens, Greece, rather than Piraeus.

Ola Mae Hodge Pampas and Andrew Pampas, Sr. - 1973

Back of Photo Above

For my genealogical purposes, I've chosen to use 27 Oct 1900 as his preferred date of birth and Piraeus as his preferred place of birth (perhaps in hopes that he didn't mislead the government on his naturalization paperwork!).  The documentation I've uncovered on him lists many different dates of birth, as well as alternates between his place of birth being Piraeus or Athens.

Seeking a fresh start, 15-year-old Andrea left his family in Greece, stowed away on a ship destined for America, and arrived in the Port of New Orleans, calling himself Andrew, on 15 Sep 1915.  (His date of arrival in the U.S. is documented the Declaration of Intent shown above.)

Once in America, he began working as a seaman based out of the Port of New Orleans.  Ships' passenger lists show that he worked in various roles, including as a Quartermaster and Cook, on commercial ships.  Some of the ships on which he worked were the SS Copan, SS Quimistan, SS Olancho, and SS Amapala.  He traveled between the Port of New Orleans and Puerto Cortés, Honduras, and Cristóbal, (Panama) Canal Zone, from the early 1920s through 1940.  Through working with men of many nationalities on these ships, he became multi-lingual.  According to his daughter-in-law (my maternal grandmother), Mildred Jane Litaker Pampas, he spoke seven languages including:  Greek, English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.  One ship's passenger list also documents his multi-lingual abilities.

SS Copan - courtesy of DVRBS.org

SS Olancho

Document Showing Andrew's Employment on the SS Amapala

Andrew Pampas Serving As a Cook on One of the Ships on Which He Worked

After settling in Louisiana, my great-grandfather married three times.  His first marriage occurred on 07 Apr 1918 to a young woman named Emma Theresa Bernadina Netter (sometimes shown with the name "Emma Vitter").  She was the daughter of Samuel Netter, Jr., (b. 24 Mar 1877) and Laura Laine (b. 09 Apr 1883) .  Tragically, Emma died just over six months after their marriage on 22 Oct 1918.  I have not yet been able to determine her cause of death.

Pampas/Netter Marriage Notice from the 10 Apr 1918 New Orleans States Newspaper

Emma Netter Pampas' Final Resting Place in St. Roch Cemetery, New Orleans

Andrew's second marriage was to my great-grandmother, Margaret Eleanor Rodrigue, on 28 Mar 1923.  They had one child (my grandfather), Andrew Joseph Pampas, Jr., who was born 16 Jan 1923 in Algiers, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.

Andrew Joseph Pampas, Jr.'s Baptismal Record Listing His Parents' Names

Grandaddy with his mother, Margaret, and his step-father, Edward "Eddie" Hunn

His second marriage was also brief.  On page 29 of the 24 Apr 1926 edition of the Times-Picayune newspaper, an announcement was published indicating that Margaret had filed a divorce civil suit against Andrew just over three years after they married.

Public Announcement of Divorce Filing

About 1930, my great-grandfather married for the third and final time to Ola Mae Hodge of Florida.  From all I've heard our family say about their relationship, Ola Mae truly seemed to be the love of his life.  They had three children, two sons and a daughter, and remained married for the rest of his life.

Andrew and Ola Mae Pampas

Great-Grandaddy and Ola Mae in Cherokee, North Carolina - 1948.
They took this trip with two of their children, Bonnie and George.

One of the highlights of my great-grandfather's life in America was being naturalized as a U.S. citizen.  This special event occurred in New Orleans on 04 Jun 1942, and our living family vividly recalls how proud he was of this achievement.  An interesting note related to his citizenship is that, in order to be eligible to be naturalized, he had to spend time in jail for entering the U.S. illegally, as a stowaway, almost 27 years earlier.  I think that strongly demonstrates his level of passion about becoming a U.S. citizen.

Great-Grandaddy on the Naturalization Petitions Recommended to Be Granted - 04 Jun 1942

Andrew Pampas' United States Certificate of Naturalization - 04 Jun 1942

"Great-Grandaddy," as I call him, went on to live a full life residing in Gretna, Jefferson, Louisiana, with Ola Mae until his death at 6:00 am on 16 Nov 1973 in West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero, Jefferson, Louisiana.  His death was caused by bronchogenic carcinomas and a bleeding duodenal ulcer as shown below on his death certificate.  He was buried in Westlawn Cemetery in Gretna, on 16 Nov 1973.

Andrew Pampas' Obituary

Andrew Pampas' State of Louisiana Death Certificate

Andrew Pampas' Headstone in Westlawn Cemetery - Gretna, Louisiana

His remains are now at rest a long distance and many adventures away from where he began life in the seaside town of Piraeus, Greece.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2015 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint this post in full or in part or use excerpts from this post without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put into creating this post.