Jacques Mete' Descendants

As reported earlier, Francis (Frank) was born on 31 August 1834, the son of Richard and Victoria (Bissonnet) Metty. He was still living in the household of his father at the time of the 1860 census, but was to marry shortly thereafter. He found his bride to be right in his father's household. On 5 February 1856, Richard had married for the third time and his new wife, Rachel Knaggs Digue, had a daughter Phillis, born in March 1837. The father was Thomas Diguier dit Courtois. Phillis and Francis married on 22 January 1861 at Sable River, Monroe County, Michigan. The years before Frank went off to war, were probably very difficult for the young couple. According to information I have located, particularly relating to St Antoine's Cemetery, their first child was born in 1861 and died 16 January 1864. The child was buried in St Antoine's Cemetery. Their next child was born in October 1862 and named Richard Stanley. This child died on 27 February 1863 and is also buried in St. A...

Francis (Frank) Metty was born 31 August 1834 at St Antoine, River Raisin, Monroe County, Michigan. He was the son of Richard and grandson of our common ancestor, Felix. He died on 2 April 1915 at River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan. On 2 February 1865 he enlisted as a Pvt Co D Reorganized 11th Michigan Infantry. Frank was described at time of enlistment as being 5'5", light complexion, gray/black hair and blue eyes. He was discharged on 16 September 1865 at Nashville, TN. Among the documents in his pension file is an affidavit of a comrade in arms, which gives insight into the life of a soldier during the Civil War. It reads as follows: “That while we served together in said Company we were frequently on duty together and some of the time we were engaged in train guard service accompanying United States Military Railway trains running between Chattanooga and Knoxville, in the State of Tennessee.: “That on or about the 20th day of April 1865, in Camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee,...

For anyone who has never checked pension files, they can prove to be valuable sources of information. This is an example of one of the items generally found in the file. In this case it was filed on 29 December 1898 and in it is information relative to the claimant's marriage and the birth of some of his children. Sometimes the information can be amusing as well. For instance question #3 on the form asks: What record of marriage exists? Here our ancestor proudly responds: "record is good." I do not believe that is really the answer the government was expecting?

The Monroe Evening News, Tuesday, 22 December 1925 Mrs. Celestine Metty, 71, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Edward Dubois, East Elm Avenue, at five o'clock this morning, following an illness of two weeks. She leaves a daughter in Grand Rapds. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's church, Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock. Note: The daughter is presumed to be Gertrude Metty, born 30 August 1895 in Detroit, Michigan. I have never been able to learn anymore about Gertrude. Several years ago, my wife and I visited the cemetery in Monroe, where Celestine is buried, but could find no grave for William. I can only assume that he died in Detroit and is buried there.

13 July 1876 - Louisville, Pottowatomie County, KS Kansas Reporter - Thursday Mrs. Mary Metty, wife of William Metty, of the United States army, died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 25th. Mrs. Metty was a sister to Paris Jackson and Mrs. Graham, of this county. Note: National Cemetery Interments, Vicksburg, Mississippi: Mrs. M. C. Metty, died 25 Jun 1876; buried in section E grave 16594; listed as a laundress of Co I 13th U S Infantry, which was William's unit

Did you know the U S Government was still granting land patents in 1939? Here is one signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt granting 160 acres to Blanche Metty. Blanche was Russell Metty's mother.

This is copy of William Metty's enlistment in the 13th Infantry on June 10, 1870. The enlistment took place "in the field" near Fort Shaw, Montana Territory. He is described as being 24 years of age, and a carpenter by occupation. Of greater interest is the second part of his enlistment contract shown below wherein he signs the Declaration of Recruit which reads as follows: I, William Metty desiring to ENLIST in the Army of the United States, for the term of FIVE YEARS, Do declare, That I am twenty four years and --- months of age, that I have neither wife nor child; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability, or by sentence of a court martial, or by order before the expiration of the term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for five years. On the 28th day of October 1869, at Louisville, Kansas he married Mary C. Jackson. What became of his new wife? The records show t...