See historical records that document the Creole roots of the Pope in New Orleans

The Vatican Conclave surprised the world this week by selecting the first American pope, a resident of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, a respected genealogist surprised the world by revealing that the heritage of the new pope connected him with many more parts of the American experience than previously known.

Robert Francis Prevost, 69, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, Descended from Creools in color from New Orleans.

The detective work of Jari Honora, the genealogist and historian of New Orleans, was based on analysis of historical documents, including census, many of which are presented here. Other documents were dug up by the Archdiocese of New Orleans or obtained independently by the New York Times.

In their totality, the documents begin Trace the story of a familyOn the mother’s side of Pope Leo, with a diverse background rooted in the unique Afro-Caribbean culture of New Orleans that moved to Chicago later in the early 20th century.

It is unclear why they left, but many Creole families such as those of them moved to the north in search of better-paying jobs and a less racially hostile environment-a story that finds parallels in the new pope emphasis About taking care of migrants and poor people.

The documents also suggest a story that is not uncommon for some American people of color who have undergone such trips: a switch into racial categorization from black to white. One of the pope’s brothers, John Prevost, 71, who lives in the suburbs of Chicago, confirmed the origin of the family, but told the New York Times that he and his brothers always considered himself white.

As far as his mother is concerned, he said, “I really couldn’t tell you for sure. She may have just said Spanish.”

1870

Perhaps the earliest known report of the Pope’s grandfather, Joseph Martinez, a list of 1870, was taken when he was 6. Martinez’s father is mentioned as Jacques Martinez, 48, a tailor, while his mother, Marie, 43, “House is holding.” The birthplace of everyone in his family is indicated as Louisiana.

1887

Joseph Martinez married Louise Baquié, the grandmother of the Pope, on September 17, 1887, on September 17, 1887. Martinez is listed on the marriage certificate as a resident of Haiti. Baquié is the daughter of Ferdinand Baquié and Eugenie Grambois.

Both Louise families had long roots in New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has dug up records who document the marriage of her parents in 1864, and the baptism of her mother-a one of the tailgates of the Pope-in ​​1840 in the cathedral of St. Louis. The baptism type where she received her first sacrament stays there today.

1900

Joseph and Louise Martinez were both recorded as residents of New Orleans on the 1900 census. At that time they had two daughters, Irma and Margaret, and an aunt seemed to live at their address. All are mentioned as “B” for black.

The occupation of Joseph, which appears on line 6, is noticed as a ‘cigar maker’, and his birthplace as ‘Hayti’, who stand in line with the origin on his marriage certificate.

1908

The document below from 1908, known as a settlement (or Probate in other areas of law), divides the assets of Joseph’s parents between their heirs. At that time, those assets include around $ 800 worth around $ 800. Mr Honora, the genealogist, noted that there are “Beaucoup New Orleans family names” among the various heirs, where the ties between the grandfather of the Pope and many other New Orleans families are being documented.

1910

The 1910 Census Wrong the surname of the Martinez family on line 35 as ‘Martina’, and mentions their race as ‘W’ for White. The birthplace of Joseph is mentioned as “S. Domingo”, capital of the Dominican Republic (and possibly vague above, “West -India”?). The record seems to indicate that Joseph’s father was Maltese and his mother was Spanish.

There are now three different places of origin mentioned for the grandfather of the Pope on different historical documents: Louisiana, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Mr. Honora said that it was not uncommon at the time that people change their answers to recorders – part of the challenge of such research.

1911

After the 1910 census, the family seems to have moved to Chicago, although the exact date of their migration to the north is uncertain. This is a digital record of Cook County of the birth certificate of Mildred Martinez, the mother of the pope, who was born in Chicago and later known as Millie Prevost after she married. Her race is mentioned as white. (Other documents, also from Cook County, indicate her birth year as 1912.)

Her father’s birthplace is mentioned as Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, while her mother, mentioned here as ‘Louise Baquiex’, is identified as a resident of New Orleans. The races of her parents are not indicated.

1920

The 1920 Census The Martinez family, including Mildred, Joseph and Louise’s youngest daughter, shows in Chicago. The records that start on line 31 again indicate their race as white.