Wilfred William (1859 - 1943)

Born 25 Feb 1859 in Lockport, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States

Died 1943 at about age 83 in Golden Meadow, Lafourche, Louisiana, USA

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Biography

Wilfred William is a part of US Black heritage.

Wilfred William was born on 25 February 1859, son of Evariste William (~1830 - <1887) and Marie Emelie Brunet (~1830 - ).^[1]

Known siblings:

1. Evariste Edgard William (c.1860 - )

Wilfred civilly married Delphine DARDEN/Bourque/Bourg (c.1870) on 13 January 1887 at the Thibodaux Courthouse, and they married at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Larose, Louisiana almost three weeks later.^[2] Note: the bride's entries in the same volume show that her father's name was Bourg and her mother's name was Dardar or Darden. Perhaps the courthouse would not allow Delphine to use her father's name but the church did?

Known children of the marriage:

1. Emma William (1888-1947)^[3]
2. Angelina (William) Leboeuf (c.1897-1919)^[4]
3. Violet William (c.1910)^[5]

He may have had children with a younger woman, Dauphinia or Ophelia Verdun, possibly a younger relative of his wife (judging only by her name as listed on the 1940 census)?

Known children of the union:

1. Pe Rome William (1939)^[6]
2. Calvin Joseph (b/d 1939)^[7]
3. Adoude Jean William (b/d 1942)^[8]

Note: this may be for a different person but the year of birth and location and name match. He registered to vote as a white man in 1939. The document states he is white, has lived in Louisiana since 1857 and in Lafourche Parish since 1919. Signs with his mark. Lives at 1117 Bourbon Street.^[9]

Note: According to the family, Wilfred's wife was named Delfine and they had a child named Violet. In 1940 he was counted on the census in New Orleans, Louisiana: Wilfred William, 83 year old head of his household, married to Delphine Verdun William, age 71, with a daughter Violet, age 30. All were listed as born in Louisiana.^[5]

Correct man? He was 87 when he died in Golden Meadow, Louisiana in 1943.^[10]

Research Notes

Mysteries:

Must have been a second marriage? See ages of children and differences in wife's names. Delphine Bourg/Darden would have been about 40 in 1910 when Violet was born. Violet may have been her last child. Need census from 1880-1930.

Not at all sure about Emma, if she's his. All of her records name her mother as "Josephine" Burke. Also not sure about Wilfred's death-- looks like wife is Josephine Bourke. Age and location are possible, along with the "phine" and Burke/Bourke?

Golden Meadow, Lafourche: Emma+ possible second wife "Ophelia/Dauphinia + later-born children born to second wife + his death. But also lots of records in N.O.

(It's not unheard-of for two men with same names (even same father) to be of different race and marry women of similar names in similar or close locations.)

Sources

1. ↑ Stamped copy of Birth-Baptismal Record issued by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Thibodaux, Louisiana sent by a family member. volume 1, #60, Holy Savior Church, Lockport, Louisiana;

   Mother is Marie Emelie Brunet, father is Evariste William

   Under remarks: Evariste, slave of J. Augeron [1]

   Godparents: Adam Babin & Louisa Augeron [could this be Augeron's wife or sister?]

2. ↑ South Louisiana Records, vol. 8, 1886-1890, Rev. Donald Joseph Hebert, compiler (Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1978) p. 494
   • (Thib. Ct. Hse.: Mar. V.27 #12)
   • Wilfred WILLIAMS, 27 years old (son of deceased Evariste & Amelie Brunet) married Delphine BOURQUE, 17 years old at the Larose Church on 2 February 1887 (Larose Ch.: v.1, p. 111)
3. ↑ "Louisiana, Orleans Parish Death Records and Certificates, 1835-1954", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZR5R-VY6Z : 14 June 2020), Wilford Williams in entry for Emma Williams Campbell, 1947.

   Mother: Josephine Burke

4. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F33P-78C : 4 March 2021), Wilfred Williams in entry for Angelina Williams Leboeuf, 11 Feb 1919; citing Golden Meadow, Lafourche, Louisiana, certificate number 3409, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,365,342.

   Mother: Delphine Bourg

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYPN-Z9G : 4 January 2021), Wilfred William, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 36-129, sheet 61A, line 23, family 171, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1422.

   Wilfred William, 83 year old head of household, married to Delphine Verdun William, age 71, with a daughter Violet, age 30.

6. ↑ "Louisiana Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF4T-N5V : 11 March 2018), Pe Rome William and Betty Mae Lehmann, 10 Jul 1955; citing Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 4,286,151.

   Groom's age: 16

   Groom's mother: Dauphinia Verdun

7. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3MD-YFT : 4 March 2021), Wilfred Williams in entry for Calvin Joseph Williams, 10 Feb 1939; citing Golden Meadow, Lafourche, Louisiana, certificate number 2255, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,266,981.

   Mother's name: Ofalia Verdui

8. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3Q9-W7X : 4 March 2021), Wilfred William in entry for daughter Adoude Jean William, 31 Aug 1942; citing Golden Meadow, Lafourche, Louisiana, certificate number 2244, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1,183,937.

   Mother's Name: Ophelia Virden

   [Note: "Delphine Verdun William" was 71 on the 1940 census, about the age of the woman Wilfred married in 1887-- so 73 when this child was born.]

9. ↑ "Louisiana, Orleans and St. Tammany Parish, Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZTL-VC8T : 2 August 2021), Mr Wilfred Williams, 1939.

   Mr Wilfred Williams, Roll • Louisiana, Orleans and St. Tammany Parish, Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905. Ward 6, Precinct 2.

   Name Mr Wilfred Williams

   Event Date 13 Oct 1939

   Event Place Orleans, Louisiana, United States

   Birth Date 1857

   Birthplace Lafourche, La

   Race White

   Event Type Voter Registration

10. ↑ "Louisiana, Orleans Parish Death Records and Certificates, 1835-1954", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZVMG-YCPZ : 30 May 2020), Wilfred Williams, 1943.

    Wife: Josephine Bousbe