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Archiver > CUBA > 1999-11 > 0942549894


From: "Augusta B. Elmwood" <>
Subject: A Cuba-Bordeaux-silk mills connection?
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 21:24:54 -0600


Marie GARNIER/GANIER was a very wealthy woman, according to family stories. She supposedly lived in Camaguey, Cuba and visited her nephew, George Bettencourt (my g-grandfather, born 1847), who lived in Algiers, Louisiana (westbank New Orleans) at least once.

This visit (or visits) took place some time between 1860 and 1890, probably around 1875, when we know that George actually lived in Algiers. She brought gifts of beautiful shawls for the women in the family, and gave gold coins to the children. She also lit her cigars with dollar bills! Family stories also say that she was somehow allied with (married into?) a family that owned a shipping fleet (in Cuba?) and silk mills in Bordeaux, France.

George Bettencourt descended from an Azorian family (island of Graciosa), whose allied lines include deAtaide, Correia, Roza, do Coracao de Jesus, Machado, da Soledade, and de San Pedro. His father, Custodio Joze deAtaide deBettencourt (b. 1823, Graciosa), emigrated to Boston, MA, ca 1843. Custodio is said to have died at sea some time between1847 and 1852. His mother was Luisa CHIBANTE (possibly BONFANTE), born ca 1826 in Connecticut or New York. She and George moved to New Orleans in 1852. We do not know if Marie GARNIER/GANIER was related to George through his paternal or maternal line.

Any comments or information about the Cuban and Bordeaux connections would be greatly appreciated.



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With apologies for my wretched Spanish.

Según mi abuelo, Marie GARNIER/GANIER fué muy rica! Ella vivía á Camaguëy, CUBA (más ó menos en 1860-1890) y fué (por afinidad?) de una familia de Bordeos, Francia, propietarios de una fabrica de seda (á Bordeos). Ella tuvo parientes á la Nueva Orleans, donde ella visitó una vez con la familia de su sobrino, George BETTENCOURT (mí bis-abuelo). Algunos nombres de familia emparentado con Marie GARNIER/GANIER son: BETTENCOURT, deATHAIDE, CORREIA, y CHIBANTE, todas familias Azorianas (isla Graciosa). No sé nada de la familia en Camaguëy ni en Bordeos, sí exigiera.

¿Quién puede decirme algo de la conexión entre Camaguey y las fabricas de seda á Bordeos? Vivian familias de estos nombres (GARNIER, deBETTENCOURT) en Camaguey?

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Thanks, & mil gracias,

Augusta B. Elmwood
Saint-Domingue Special Interest Group
New Orleans, LA

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