I had created a memorial for Catherine (my 4th great grandmother) in 2013, but deleted it in July 2021 because findagrave has been transferring management of my memorials to others who created duplicates and then requested the memorials be merged and the "new" person was given management of my memorials. This is wrong of findagrave to do that and violates their own policies.

However, I've decided to add back the over 100 memorials I deleted because I want to honor my ancestors. Here's hoping findagrave quits this ridiculous practice.

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*Catherine Stelly is my 4th great grandmother

Chaterine 'Catherine' STELLY was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Stelly (1753-1813) and Maria Magdaleine RITTER (1761-1823).

She was born on 24 Nov 1793 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish Louisiana and died on 11 Oct 1856 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana - probably at the plantation that she and her husband owned which was located on the Bayou Vermilion. Catherine was christened on 24 Nov 1793 per Gladys De Villier, THE OPELOUSAS POST (1972, Polyanthos, Cottonport, LA), p 137. 1776-1806. Listed as "Eufrosina STELY".

NOTE: Given that her baptism was on 24 Nov 1793, Catherine was probably born earlier. An alternate date has been given of February 1793.

Catherine married Hilaire Elias Steen (c1780-1859) on 7 April 1809 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana [per the Southwest Louisiana Records]. Elias' name appears in Catherine's succession records after her death in October 1856 which further confirms their marriage.

Elias and Catherine had the following children:

Lucille 'Lucy' (1810-1844), Marie 'Mary' (c1812-1858), Augustine 'Arsene'(1814-1881), Emelie (1816-1817), Elaisa 'Eliza' (1817-1859), Elias (1821-1827), Catherine Minerva (1824-1923), Jean Baptiste 'John' (1827-1862), Felice 'Philise' (1830-bef 1856), Sidney (1832-1913) and Wesley (1832-1906)

*I am descended from Elaisa

Hilaire and Catherine appeared on the following census records:

1810 - Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
1820 - St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
1830 - St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
1840 - St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
1850 - Grand Pointe Twp, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana

In addition, Catherine's husband, Elias, appeared on the following Louisiana Sugar Census Indexes:

1850 - Bayou Teche R Side, St. Martin Parish
1851 - Bayou Fusilier, St. Martin Parish
1852 - Bayou Teche, St. Martin Parish
1854 - Bayou Teche R Side, St. Martin Parish
1856 - Bayou Teche, St. Martin Parish
1857 - Bayou Teche R Side, St. Martin Parish
1858 - Bayou Teche R Side, St. Martin Parish
1859 - Bayou Teche R Side, St. Martin Parish

*the 'R' means Right side which would be the west side of the river

Catherine's date (year) of birth is known based on census records and her date and place of death from her succession records.

**Sept 16 2016 - I CONFIRMED with the Saint Charles Borromeo Church that Catherine Stelly is buried in the Saint Charles Borromeo Cemetery along with her little boy Elias Steen who died in 1827. Unfortunately, there is not a record of her husband, Hilaire Elias Steen, as having been buried in the cemetery so we're still searching for him but believe that Elias is also buried in Saint Charles Borromeo Cemetery.