I'm trying to find more information on my g-g-g grandfather, Theophile LaChapelle, a free man of color who lived in Opelousas, Louisiana. The earliest I found him was in the 1850 Opelousas census as a free mulatto laborer. What is interesting about this record is that in the Household with him lived a 60 year old white woman known only has Mrs. Pierre Bellome. I'm trying to figure it who is this white woman and why was she staying with my g-g-g grandfather??

Also Theophile married Julie Birot, free woman of color, at Opelousas in 1851. The last time Theophile appears in the census is 1880 in Opelousas. He is listed as Black even though the previous census had him as mulatto and white. This is also the first time Theophile lists the birthplace of his parents as Missouri( thats even more interesting). Any advice or info would be helpful

Rodney Sam