Pioneers: Bertil Poissot Family, 1987, Winn & Natchitoches Parishes, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: March 11, 1987 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Winn Parish Past Tense, Article No. 102, by Enterprise Staff Historians Bertil Poissot Family Mrs. Judith Davison has submitted a family story and photograph of her ancestors, the Poissots, which we hope you readers will find interesting. Please note our underscored portion where Mrs. Davis requests information regarding Sophia Poissot and H. C. Wagley descendants. BERTIL POISSOT FAMILY This accompanying photo was taken about 1898. It is the family of Benoit Bertil Poissot. Bertil was the son of Jacque Victor Poissot and Marie Lolette Frederic. His mother, Lolette, died at the age of 34 leaving two young sons, Bertil, age 5, and Joseph Cyrille, age about two in 1850. Bertil and Cyrille inherited land from their maternal aunt and uncle, Marie Heloise Perot, nee Frederic, and Jean Louis Perot of Natchitoches Parish. The two young boys grew up with their father and stepmother, Lise Brevelle. Their father disposed of some of their inherited land but they were able to retain a sizable portion until they reached their majority. Bertil was born on January 12, 1845 and was baptized in the Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church on April 2, 1845. At 17 years of age, Bertil enlised in the Army of the Confederacy in April of 1862, assigned to Co. G, 26th La. Infantry. His pension application states he was never wounded in battle "but had my left shoulder broken by a fall while on duty". When he enlisted, Ovide Metoyer was his captain, Alexander Declouet was his colonel and Winchester Hall was his colonel when he mustered out. He further states he was captured at Vicksburg, paroled, and then was returned to Natchitoches. He then says "he reenlisted in the CSA and was with my regiment when the war ended." When the surrender came he was at Mansfield, Louisiana. Bertil found time to marry when home on leave to Marie Louisiana Bossier. Lou, as she was called, was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Bossier and Marie Louise Orphelie La Renaudiere. Bertil was 18 and Lou was 17 at the time of their marriage on the 4th of August, 1863. The couple had at least ten children this writer knows of. There were, as follows: Marie Antoinette Poissot, born April 26, 1866; Philosome Poissot, born 1867; Peter Tillis and Thelisma Poissot, born July 15, 1868; Harriet oissot, born c. 1870; Marie Louise Poissot, born February 15, 1873; John Walter Poissot, born August 16, 1877; Laura Poissot, born c. 1872; Anita Sophia Poissot, birthdate unknown; and Amir Anne Poissot, born December 23, 1884. After the Civil War, life and fortunes changed drastically for southerners, and Bertil's family felt the effects of the reconstruction as did everyone else. He and his brother had to sell their inherited land to exist. Three of his children had died by then. At present, it is still unknown where they are buried. Bertil's brother died in about 1883 from unintentionally drinking poison whisky. It is said that he had witnessed the murder of a friend. Being the only witness to the crime, he was a danger to the culprits. None of the persons involved were ever apprehended. Bertil's father, Victor, died of old age around 1887. Both are buried in the Old River Cemetery at Cypress, Louisiana in unmarked graves. Lou is believed to have died between 1905 and 1908. The exact date is unknown to this writer at this time. It is also this writer's opinion that at the time this photograph was taken, Lou had suffered a stroke if one notes the left side of her face and left hand. Anita Sophia Poissot in the photo is thought to have died shortly after this photo was taken. She married H. C. Wagley in February 1900. Anyone who can supply any information on Sophia's life or descendants, please contact the address below. Harriet Poissot in the photo never married but was engaged to a man named Fleury. She died in 1951. Anne Amir Poissot in the photo married Joseph McDermit. She was about 14 at the time this photo was made. As one can judge from her expression, she was angry. She said the reason was that her "sisters had a sash for their dresses but she didn't and therefore had to hold her dress with her hand". This article was contributed by a great great granddaughter of Bertil and Lou Poissot, Mrs. Judith Davison, Winnfield, La.