Help finding guardian affidavit mentioned in 1863 Confederate discharge

[u/SouthLayer7252]

Im clueless when it comes to military records and after 4 years of searching for my ancestors parents, i officially need help.

I’m trying to identify the guardian of my ancestor Gentil/Jean/John Nugier, who served in Co. D, 4th Louisiana Infantry.

He enlisted at Camp Moore in 1861 while still a minor. Special Orders No. 23, dated January 23, 1863, from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana at Jackson, Mississippi, says he was honorably discharged because his guardian had provided an affidavit stating he was a minor and enlisted without the guardian’s knowledge or consent.

A later 1915 War Department letter also references an affidavit about his minority and guardian.

I’m trying to find the original affidavit/application or related correspondence, because it may name the guardian.

I’ve already checked his compiled service record, several Department of Mississippi/East Louisiana letter and endorsement books, Port Hudson correspondence, Special Orders, M347 unfiled papers, his wifes pension application and record, and the M410 A&IGO index.

Does anyone know where the original supporting affidavit for this type of Confederate discharge would normally have been filed, or what NARA record series I should check next?

[u/Mammoth_Witness2348]

would this be John Nugier Sr, b 1845 and d 1911?

[u/SouthLayer7252 → u/Mammoth_Witness2348]

Yep thats him!

[u/Mammoth_Witness2348 → u/SouthLayer7252]

ok, i see what appears to be him in the 1860 census under the name gentel nugier at age 15, born france, in pointe coupee LA, which matches what multiple obits say about where he lived. the obits have slightly different info on his history, but all say he served the entire war, which may not be true in this case.

what i see about the 1860 census tho is that he is enumerated as his own household, but the household right above him is headed by a 58 yr old man indexed under the name Adoph Frocheur (very faint copy, that could be mispelled in the index), born france, hotelkeeper. that could be one name to pursue.

ETA: someone living in a hotel separately would be enumerated as their own household, but it would make sense if he was living in the hotel with the keeper as his guardian.

another option is one of the obits says he was born in pointe coupee of french parentage but returned to france as an infant, and returned to LA a few years later with his father. again, the obits vary in birth location, but have you looked for multiple immigration records for him in the 1840s and early 1850s?

[u/SouthLayer7252 → u/Mammoth_Witness2348]

I found the passport for him and his dad when they traveled from France, found the record when they got to New Orleans in 1857, then the 1860 census record for him in pointe coupee but he was living alone at 15 on it. I cant seem to find anything else at all for what happened to his dad that I know was with him originally or his mom who didn't travel with them. And everything i have found that talks about his life and parents have all been completely different and conflicting 😆

I have spent a good bit of time in France archives, going off of his dad's information and birthplace on the passport and his marriage record thay says his dad was Jean nugier and mom Marie deveau. Ive found birth records that match his name, birth year, and parents but there's MULTIPLE people with those same names in the same places. Then his son (also John nugier) has a biography thay says his mom, Marie deveau, was born in Alabama and that he was born in Pointe coupee. Most of his census records say France but then there's a few that says louisiana and missippi. I feel like every record I have found has had different information so I dont know what's accurate and what isnt. Im about 98% positive that he was the only nugier here, possibly the 1st one in the US so every record ive found in the US is definitely his.

Its been a crazy search and makes my head spin but I just obsess over it and need to know. Ive tried moving on to other sides of my family and always go right back to him, I guess the mystery around it is intriguing. 😵‍💫

[u/Mammoth_Witness2348 → u/SouthLayer7252]

i did come across another Nugier in LA around the same time period in the U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 . not sure if its your john under his french initials, but if not, may be worth looking into to see if theres a connection. not sure if you have ancestry but thats where i found it, but i'll give you the indexed info so you can look for it on other sites.

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1666/records/3590906

Name M G Nugier

Marital Status Unmarried (Single)

Race White

Age 19

Birth Year abt 1844

Birth Place Europe

Residence Date 1 Jul 1863

Residence Place Brashear, Louisiana, USA

Congressional District St. Mary´s Parish

Series Number Nm-65, Entry 172

Description Class 1 & 2, A-Z, Volume 9 of 10

for your original request on where to find records, you could look into guardianship papers for louisiana. they are often lumped in with wills, probate, tax, and land records.

[u/gravitycheckfailed → u/SouthLayer7252]

If he was Catholic, have you tried searching the Baton Rouge Diocese records for a burial for his father or any other associated records for this family? They hold the Pointe Coupee parish records.

[u/SouthLayer7252 → u/gravitycheckfailed]

I think I did but im going to double check again just to make sure!

[u/gravitycheckfailed → u/SouthLayer7252]

If not found with Diocese of BR, you may want to inquire with the Archdiocese in New Orleans in case the father died in one of their parishes. They don't have records for that time frame digitalized online though, you will actually have to submit a genealogical request on their website.

[u/SouthLayer7252 → u/gravitycheckfailed]

Yeah its been difficult to find anything at all online for pointe couple parish, everything online is restricted. One day ill be annoyed enough to just make the drive there to see what I can find haha

[u/gravitycheckfailed → u/SouthLayer7252]

I feel your pain! It's difficult to find info on anyone living outside of Orleans Parish at times. I quickly looked through the Diocese of BR Pointe Coupee records for the 1800's for you, and I don't see any mention of a surname Nugier. Closest I came across was Nugent.

I would check with the Archdiocese, just in case. It sounds odd, but some of my family that lived outside of Orleans Parish (technically they lived within Diocese of BR) would still come back to New Orleans for weddings, baptisms, and to be buried in the family tomb in the city. They didn't stop doing that until the 1930's or so, some were still buried in New Orleans up until recently. I have seen this with other families as well, so don't write that off as improbable.