Francois Donato was the son of Martin Donato and Marianne
Duchesne. Martin married Marianne March 16, 1803, however, I believe two or more children may have been born before the marriage. Francois Donato married Celestine Dobbs, Nov. 30, 1824

The brother of Francois Donato was Augustin (Auguste) Donato who
married Marie Denyse Meuillon.

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Bello, Augustin Donatto of Opel. (Martin Donatto & Marie Anne Duchene) m. 3 Dec. 1827 Marie Denise Meuillion (Opel. Ct.Hse.: Mar.#87).
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Augustin and Marie Meuillon had a son named Francois also,

Francois Auguste Donato Bello, born Abt. 1830. He married his first (1st) cousin, Clara Donato, the daughter of Francois Donato and Celestine Dobbs. They were married May 12, 1853.

Clara and her mother, Celestine Dobbs appear in the 1850 census.
Celestine Dobbs is listed as the Wd Francis Donato, she is 40 years old. Clara is 19 years old.

1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Clara Donatto
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Birth Place: Louisiana
Race: Mulatto
Gender: Female
Home in 1850(City,County,State): St Landry, Louisiana
Household Members: Name Age Sex Color
Wd Francis Donatto 40 F M
Clara Donato 19 F M

Another daughter of Francois Donato and Celestine Dodds was Celestine Donato, born Abt. 1832. She married Sosthene Ozenne, Sept. 12, 1849. He was the son of Valérien Ozenne and Henriette Gallot. Valérien Ozenne was the brother of Celeste Olympie Grandpre

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Colomb Donato, born Abt. 1825, he was the brother of Clara Donato and Celestine Donato, and the son of Francois Donato and Celestine Dobbs. He was also the administrator of the succession of his father, Francois Donato. The family of Fracois Donato.

Petition 20885311 Details
Location: St. Landry, Louisiana
Salutation: To the Honorable the Judge of the District Court for the Fifteenth Judicial District of the state of Louisiana in and for the Parish of St Landry (, )
Filing Court and Date: District, 1853-March-19
Ending Court and Date: District, 1853-November-10

General Petition Information
Abstract: Colomb Donato, a free man of color, is the administrator of the succession of the late François Donato, a free man of color. He prays for an order authorizing Henry A. Garland, Notary Public, to make an inventory of the late
Donato's "goods, rights, credits and effects."

Result: granted

# of Petition Pages: 1
Related Documents: PAR #20882706 in the Donato Series; Order, 19 March 1853; Record of Inventory Proceedings, 24 March 1853; Supplemental Petition, 24 March 1853; Order, 24 March 1853; Oath of Administrator, 16 March 1853; Appointment of Administrator, 16 March 1853; Writ of Public Auction, 26 April 1853; Record of Public Auction Proceedings, 26 April 1853; Petition, Rigobert Lemelle, 10 November 1853; Order, 10 November 1853; Tableau of the Estate of François Donato, 30 July 1856

Pages of Related Documents: 15

People Associated with Petition 20885311
Slaves: 13
Free Persons of Color: 11
Defendants: 0
Petitioners: 1
Other People: 1

Citation Information
Repository: St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, Louisiana

Records of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court
Record Group:
Document Number
Box:
Folder:
Book:
Volume:
Page:
Microfilm:

Processing Information
Transcribed?: No
Book Edition?: No
Record Created: 1/21/1997
Record Final Edited: 3/23/2004
Record Last Updated on: 8/24/2006 10:35:00 AM

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People Listing
Free Persons of Color: 11

Name Role in Petition Enslavement Status Color Gender Age Birth Death
Owned slaves? Occupation

AUZENNE, Celeste Donato FPOC black female

AUZENNE, Sosthene FPOC black male Yes.

DONATO, Mrs. FPOC black female Yes.

DONATO, Auguste, Jr. FPOC black male

DONATO, Clara FPOC black female Yes.

DONATO, Colomb petitioner FPOC black male before 1856 Yes.

DONATO, François FPOC black male before 1852

Estate of DONATO, François FPOC black male Yes.

LEMELLE, Emélie Donato FPOC black female

LEMELLE, Emile FPOC black male before 1856 Yes.

LEMELLE, Rigobert FPOC black male Yes.

Harrison Thomas LaTour
LaTour Genealogical Collection