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(1280 acres) that had been owned by his father, Jean Baptiste, plus 224 head of meat cattle and eight slaves. The slaves and their ages are listed as Paul 35, Teresa 22, Octavine 5,
Madaline 23, Mary Ann 2, Washington 16, and Rose 2 months.
Also mentioned is a note for the sale of the schooner Elizabeth. (In other research involving JFH Claiborne, I have found that the schooner was probably named after the daughter Elizabeth, as Thomas had another schooner named Elodie, named after another daughter. In both cases,
John Favre was involved with the schooners.)
Thomas' children were listed as orphans by the court in 1853, when White (owner of a neighboring plantation and namesake for White's Bayou, near to Bayou Cowan) was appointed to administer the estate. White and Thomas Brown and William H. Brown were required to bind themselves in the amount of $8,000 for White to be allowed to serve.
A number of reports were made to the court in 1853. In one of the earliest, White listed seven children: Thomas, Eliza, Estelle, Raphael, Jose, Elizabeth, and Elodie. (This is a little confusing, as Christina and I assumed that Eliza was Elizabeth, but here they were listed separately.) In June, White found it necessary to report information that he had not previously given the court, telling "of the death of two of said to wit Raphael who died in New Orleans some time in the fall of the year of 1850 and Eliza who died of consumption in April 1852 at Madam Gabrail's near Pearlington."
Other detailed reports are made, including the account of the slave boy Octave, who was burned and then treated by J. W. Pendleton for $2.00. (Octave apparently died, as he was not listed in the next inventory of slaves.) Detailed accounts of debits and credits were kept, including amounts of tuition, taxes, and "sundry bills." Guardian compensation was 10% of $465, coming to $46.57.
In June, White reported that Estelle had married on the 9th of the month, and that she had asked for a distribution. This, in the eyes of the court, necessitated "the sale of all the property personal estate that the same may be converted into money for the greater facility and convenience of distribution." David Wingate bought the cattle for $$2,069, and William Poitevent, E.F. Russ and O. Favre paid $4,900 for the slaves.
After the sale of all assets, the money was divided equally among the heirs and White, who appears to have been given a full share.
The above is perhaps more than you bargained for, but I think you will find it interesting. Now, back to Sarah Gabriel.
The names Sarah Splitly and Henry Gabriel do not appear in the census reports prior to 1880, but here Henry and Sarah Gabriel, ages 40 and 35, are listed as boarders of a 50-year old female named Leander King, living in Pearlington. Two other boarders are listed, named Alexander Gabriel, age 18, and Cora Favre, age 10. All were born in Mississippi. None is listed with an occupation, but interestingly, all were mulattoes.
My guess is that Sarah was a much beloved, loyal family servant, who was not only entrusted with the care of little Eliza when she was dying, but in other ways as well earned a place of honor in the family cemetery.
It is probable that nothing else will ever surface to give more information about the Gabriels, but if I do find something I will let you know.
Again, many thanks for including me and making me feel welcome among your kinfolks.
11/14/02