| Celestine Mosley Hepburn 1855 - 1931 |
A story has passed to WH from cousin Ronnie Crain in which "Sis" (Magdalyn Bileci Leumas) told Ronnie that Celestine remembered escaping from New Orleans by boat at night during the US Civil War. We have rumors in the current generation that the elders from early 20th century refused to talk about family history as if they were guarding a secret. The secret could be that Celestine and Samuel were never legally married but were common-law spouses. We also have the question of identity. One Celestine DELONEY gave birth to a child Sam Hepburn, declared to be lawful issue of said Celestine and Saml Hepburn. This Celestine was a native of St James Parish in Louisiana, according to the deposition show below. In the US Census 1880, one Celestine Delaunay is living with children George, Anna and Stella at 135 Royal Street, New Orleans, sharing the residence with Saml Hepburn who is listed as father on marriage and birth certificates for George, Annie & Stella Hepburn. Celestine Marie MOSLEY's father was Francois Mosley. Her mother was Nanine Deloney. Celestine DELONEY's name is identical to Celestine MOSLEY's mothers maiden name. Whatever the reasons of the time, I conclude that Celestine Mosley and Celestine Deloney are one and the same person. As of June 2006, no amount of searching has turned up origin records for any Mosley, Deloney, or Delaunay, who can be connected to our Celestine. All the mentioned children were born after Samuel was paroled from prison at the end of the Civil War.
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Line by line transcription of above document:
SAM HEPBURN - Deposition As To Birth
Be it remembered, that on this day to wit: the Fifteenth of March
in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy
and the ninety fourth of the Independence of the United States of America, before me, L.Peissou, duly
commissioned and sworn Recorder of Births and Deaths, in and for the Parish and City of New Orleans,
personally appeared:
Celestine Deloney
a native of the Parish of St James Louisiana
residing on Orleans Street no 104 in
this city. Who hereby declares that on the
twenty third day of February Eighteen
Hundred and Sixty Seven (February 23, 1867)
on St Philippe Street no 111 in this city was
born a male child named
Sam Hepburn
lawful issue of deponent with Saml
Hepburn a native of Scotland
Thus done at New Orleans, in the presence of the aforesaid Celestine Deloney
as also in that of messrs A L Saffenandero H Babin both of this City,
witnesses by me requested to so to be,
who have hereunto set their hands together with me, after due reading hereof, the day,
month, and year first above written,
signatures: Henry Babin, Celestine Deloney, A L Saffenandero, L Peissou
_census1880_nola_135_royal.gif)
US Census 1880 - New Orleans LA - 135 Royal St 1880 06 01
Color Gender Age Born Status Relation Occup Birthplace
Hepburn, Saml W M 57 abt1823 none --- Civil Engnr Maryland
Delaunay, Celestine M F 36 abt1844 M --- kpng hse Louisiana
" George M M 12 abt1868 S son at school Louisiana
" Anne(or Anna) M F 9 abt1871 S dau at school Louisiana
" Stella M F 6 abt1874 S dau at school Louisiana
Durel, Adele M F 19 abt1861 S niece at home Louisiana
" Amalie M F 17 abt1863 S niece at home Louisiana
Adele and Amalie Durel are living at the same address and listed as related to
Celestine Delaunay. ('Delaunay' is how Deloney sounds in French.) Celestine
is marked on census as M = married; the children and nieces are all marked S=single.
Saml status is blank. Samuel, who died in 1888, disappears from records thereafter.
If the Durel girls are nieces, one of their parents was Celestine's brother or sister
but no identifiable links between persons named Durel and persons named Deloney or
Delaunay have been located.
Sam, born 1867, never again appears in records associated with Louisiana. In 1880
he would have reached age 13 and should be living with his mother. If he died, the
record is not indexed in Louisiana databases.
1900 United States Federal Census
New Orleans Ward 4, Orleans, Louisiana - 408 Royal St
Name age born place relationship
Celestine Hepburn 52 1848 Louisiana Head
Robert Hepburn 16 1884 Louisiana Son
1910 United States Federal Census Recordinfo -
4-Wd New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana - 239 Bourbon St
Celestine Hepburn 60 abt 1850 Louisiana
has 3 boarders, no family
1920 United States Federal 14th Census Recordinfo
New Orleans Ward 3, Orleans, Louisiana - 3333 Tulane Ave
Celestine Hepburn 70 abt 1850 France Mother
Stella Hepburn 42 1878 Louisiana Head of household
John [Baltz] 20 1900 Louisiana Son
Olga [Baltz] 12 1908 New York Daughter
1930 United States Federal 14th Census Recordinfo
New Orleans Ward 3, Orleans, Louisiana - 2320 Gravier Street
Stella Baltz 49 1871 Louisiana Married Head laundress, private family
John Baltz 21 1909 Louisiana S Son self employed huckster
Celestine Hepburn 74 1856 Louisiana Widow Mother no occ
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