ST. MARY PARISH HISTORY AND LOOKUP

Parish History Books

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St. Mary Parish, Louisiana: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of south-central Louisiana’s Acadiana region, St. Mary Parish lies along the Gulf of Mexico, defined by its bayous, marshes, and the Atchafalaya River. The parish is a center of Cajun and Creole culture, with a history deeply intertwined with the sugar cane industry, commercial fishing, and oil and gas exploration. Its heritage is a rich blend of Native American, French, Spanish, Acadian, and African-American influences that have shaped its unique identity for centuries.

I. Parish Formation and Evolution

Understanding St. Mary Parish’s formation from a larger colonial-era territory is essential for locating the earliest records for ancestors in the region.

  • 1811: Parish Formed: St. Mary Parish was established on April 17, 1811, by an act of the Orleans Territorial Legislature.
  • Parent Parish: It was created from the western portion of the original Attakapas County, one of the twelve original counties of the Territory of Orleans established in 1805. Records prior to 1811 for this area would be located in the records of Attakapas County.
  • Subsequent Parish Formations: St. Mary Parish was later partitioned itself. In 1868, its northwestern portion was combined with a part of St. Martin Parish to create Iberia Parish. Researchers with ancestors in this area, particularly around Jeanerette, must be aware of this boundary change.
  • Name Origin: The parish is named in honor of St. Mary, the mother of Jesus.
  • Parish Seat History: The parish seat was established in Franklin at the time of the parish’s creation and has remained there ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the traditional home of the Chitimacha and Attakapas peoples, who lived along the bayous and coastline. The Chitimacha reservation is located near the parish’s northern border today.
  • Colonial Settlement and Economy: The first European presence was French, followed by Spanish rule in the late 18th century. Significant settlement occurred with the arrival of the Acadians (Cajuns) exiled from Nova Scotia, who established small farms along the waterways. The antebellum period saw the development of a powerful sugar-based economy, with large plantations operated by enslaved African Americans lining Bayou Teche. Following the Civil War, the economy diversified to include lumber (especially cypress), commercial fishing and shrimping, and, in the 20th century, the discovery and production of oil and natural gas.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to St. Mary Parish.

  • Parish Clerk of Court: The St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court is located at the Courthouse, 500 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538. This office is the primary repository for most historical records, including successions (probate), land records (conveyances and mortgages), civil court cases, and marriage licenses dating back to the parish’s formation.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Louisiana began in 1914. Records from that date forward are held by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. For records prior to 1914, researchers should check church records (especially Catholic church records), which are often the only source, or inquire with the Clerk of Court for delayed birth certificates.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1811 to the present are held by the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • St. Mary Parish Library: The main branch in Franklin has a local history and genealogy collection with resources specific to the parish.
    • The Center for Louisiana Studies: Located at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, this is a major archival center for the history and genealogy of the entire Acadiana region.
    • State Library of Louisiana & Louisiana State Archives: Both located in Baton Rouge, these institutions are the most important statewide repositories for genealogical research, holding parish records on microfilm, newspapers, and state-level documents.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Iberia Parish, LA
    • St. Martin Parish, LA
    • Assumption Parish, LA
    • Terrebonne Parish, LA

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks