An Unusual Parish History Louisiana has sixty-four parishes and many of them are as individual and different as that state itself is different from others in the Union. St. James Parish, a small parish of 249 square miles, is not only one of the oldest settlements in the state, but it is "different" in its population make-up and is important historically.
"Cabanocey", written by Lillian C. Bourgeois, is a splendid history of the Parish of St. James. It is not only fine history, but the writer has captured and expressed the spirit which animates the population descended from French, Spanish, Acadians, German, and Creole people. She writes of their customs, their beliegs, their language differences, and their folklore. "Cabanocey" is not just a collection of dry facts and dates. It gives a view of the people of more than a hundred years ago and tells how they lived, who they were, and what they did for St. James Parish.
An Educational Center
St. James Parish before the Civil War was the educational center of Louisiana. Jefferson College was the first important college in the State. Founded in 1830 it had fine buildings, a well-equipped laboratory, and a fine library. The Convent of the Sacred Heart (1835) for girls was famous, and prominent families from Louisiana, Mexico and Central America sent their daughters there. Miss Bourgeois tells interestingly of these schools.
St. James Genealogies
A local history to be of great value must list the names of early settlers and the important families. "Cabanocey" contains thousands of names-- the first settlers with their children's names, lists of soldiers, taxpayers, officials, and prominent families. From the early census one can trace descent from these names by consulting church and court records. The censuses of 1766, 1769 and 1777 are complete and were obtained from the Archives in Seville, Spain.
