Biography: Marie Theresa Miller Fall, 1782: Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, LA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Fall ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** MARIE THERESA MILLER was the daughter of Jacob Miller and Ann Marie Thaison and was born in Opelousas on February 16, 1782 where she was also baptized on August 16, 1782 by the Rev. Louis Marie Grumeau. Her godparents were Miguel Prudhomme and Marie Teresa Benthelo (Bertholet, daughter of Louise Fonteau and Louis Bertholet). Jean of Germany, who lived in the Opelousas area, married MARIE THERESA MILLER on February 4, 1802, with the FR. Luis Buhot officiating and Mel Pruhomme, William Johnson, Meikel Stelly, and Jean Baptiste ____ witnessing. Jean was 45 years old and Marie Theresa was 20. They were married 19 years before his death and had six children. CHILDREN OF JEAN “OF GERMANY” FALL and MARIE THERESA MILLER No. Name DOB /Baptism DOD Spouse -DOM 1. Marie Theresa Fall /11-14-1802 (age 1 mo) 2-17-1892 Bernard Colgin - 2-15-1821 William Brisco - 8- 5-1837 2. Jean Baptiste Fall / 8-12-1804 (age 2 mos) 4-14-1863 Anastasie Miller - 7-14-1828 3. Jean Georges Fall 1-16-1806/ 3- 9-1806 11-19-1866 at 65 Marie Catherine Toussainte Quebedeaux-12-7-1835(died at age 24) Marie Therese Noel - 8-20-1842 4. Frank (Francois) Fall 12- 3-1807/12-19-1807 6-30-1850 5. Jacob Fall / 3-22-1810 (age 18 days) 7-10-1816 at 6 6. Anne Mathilda Fall /10-31-1812 (age 6 wks) On January 29, 1827, Marie Therese married her second husband, James Barton. Marie Theresa’s death certificate states that she died on the 14th day of August 1852 (making her 70 years old). The Miller’s are also referred to as “Germans by birth” in some of the records. It is possible that the Miller’s first settled in Frederick County, Maryland and then migrated to Louisiana. Jacob Miller’s wife, Ann Marie has her last name spelled a number of ways, including: TEYGEN, THEI, THAIGAN, LEGEIN, DEGIN, and THEYER. This is typical of the record keeping of the time. There is no mistake however, who is being referenced to when these spellings are used. Another daughter of Jacob and Ann Marie Miller was Marie Barbara Miller. The church records show that on Marie Barbara’s marriage to her first husband, Jean George Stelly on October 2, 1781, she was listed as: Marie Barbe Miller of Frederick County, Maryland. The Miller’s long and arduous journey is referred in different publications, including - Herbert Eugene Bolton’s, Anthanase de Meziers and the Louisiana - Texas Frontiers, 1767-1780 and Lawrence Kennaird’s, Spain in the Mississippi Valley, 1765-1794. The information from these publications is very interesting. They tell of an English schooner, La Bretana leaving the Port of Maryland on January 5, 1769. The La Bretana was bound for New Orleans, but on February 21st as they sighted the coast of Louisiana they were driven eighty leagues south and west of the Mississippi River due to bad weather. They were without food and water and were forced to put into port in Espiritu Santo Bay, at what is now Goliad, Texas. The ship was seized by Spanish officials and they were held captive until September 11. The Miller’s along with other captive shipmates were then forced to travel overland some 500 miles to Natchitoches. After being detained until June 10, 1770, sixteen Acadian families were finally issued passports to travel to the Mississippi River. On November 16, 1769, each family was given a large ax, hatchet, spade, iron pot, drawing knife, and 3 pesos per person. In addition, each of the German families who had settled at Fort Iberville was given 1 gun, 12 gun flints, and 3 pounds of powder. The Miller’s were listed on the ship register as: Jacob Miller-30, Anne Marie-30, Barbe-6, Catherine-4, Anne Marie-3, and Jacob-2.