1st generation

Pierre RIDEAU(born abt. 1760 in Senegal, Africa(Wolof) & Marie(last name unknown) had

2nd generation
1. Louis(Balthazar) Rideau born 1794/1800 in St. Landry Parish. He later married Caroline Francois Pitre(1796-1884).She was freed in 1820 by Francois Pitre of Opelousas. 2. Magdalaine Rideau had child, Zenon Rideau(1812-) by a white man named Zenon Reed. Zenon was later freed and between a prominent free man of color in St. Landry Parish. He founded the town of Palmetto, Louisiana and is buried there at the main church.

3rd generation

Louis and Caroline had a daughter named Euphemie Rideau(1840-1921)
who married Jean-Pierre Sam(1809/1814-?), free black man,in 1856 at Lafayette, Louisiana.

4th generation

their oldest son, Aristide Sam(1862-1917) married Leonora Young in 1903 at Washington, Louisiana after nearly 20 years together.

5th generation

Edward Cornelius "Wesley" Sam(1900-1979) married Irene Charles in 1920.

6th generation

Their son, Murphy Sam(1929-1952) married Thelma Edward in 1946.

7th generation

My dad, Alton Sam was born in 1949. He married Earline Marsh in 1976 in Houston ,Texas.

8th generation

I was born in 1979 in Opelousas, Louisiana.