I have hit a brick wall with my gr.gr.G/f J.B.Chestang (b.1840) in Alabama, his was married? to Harriet (Moer?) of Miss. There is lots of information on the Chestang/Chastang's of Alabama tracing them back to Joseph Pierre Chastang and his brother Jean Baptiste "Dr.John"
2 brothers of European descendant who settled in Alabama in the late 1700's. Chris Nordmann did a descertation on the FPOC of Alabama and lots of other generational information has been compiled on the Chastangs and I just cannot find out where J.B. fits in.

The earliest I found him was on the 1880 census living in Scranton Ms.
Jackson county with his Harriet and about 5 children (my great Aunts and Uncles). I traced him in the 1900 census and 1920 census still living in Pascagoula, Ms(formerly Scranton). I don't even know when he died.

One other clue I have, is that a John B. Chestang served in the Civil War for Union in the 96th Col'd Infantry Unit Company E.

J.B.(I think that stands for John Baptiste) was a Blacksmith? as was one of his sons Emile (b.1881) my Great g/f. who was born in Pascagoula, Ms, and migrated to California in the 1920's.

I went to Miss this summer and checked at St.Peters Catholic Church which was his parish but the church was only build in in 1882,so their records don't go back far enough. There is another Catholic Church in Pascagoula, which I may have some baptismal information on his children and maybe marriage info on he and Harriet.

There are so many dupicate first names with in the Chestang/Chastang clan, that I just don't know how to proceed.

It was from the 1880 census that I found that J.B. was born in Alabama because earlier the information I had from my gr.g/f Emile's death certificate said his father J.B. was born in France.

I would apreciate any help, in finding out who J.B.'s parents were.

Thanks, Anne