Benjamin Philip Cuny Family

Benjamin Philip Cuny was born in Rapides Parish on July 19, 1804 to the marriage of Richard Edmond Cuny and Tabitha Judith Wells.  He moved to Sicily Island where he married Jane Catherine Lovelace in 1832.

Jane was born on August 15, 1814 to the marriage of George Washington Lovelace and Sophia Dorcas Wells.  Sophia was a sister to Tabitha.

Benjamin was a planter and served as a constable in Sicily Island from 1846-1857.  He died on April 18, 1883 and Jane died after June of 1900.

Benjamin is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  Jane's date of death and location of burial are unknown at this time.

The Benjamin Philip Cuny Family Papers are part of the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections housed in the Hill Memorial Library at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Cuny Family Papers



The following children were born to the marriage of Benjamin Philip Cuny and Jane Catherine Lovelace:

1. Alexander Hamilton
2. Stephen Edmond
3. Maria A.
4. Henry Thomas
5. Theodore Cholett
6. Mary Jane
7. Fannie Lovelace
8. Emma Tabitha
9. Richard Roland  

1.  Alexander Hamilton Cuny was born circa 1835.  On November 15, 1855, he married Sarah Jane Smith.  Both died after 1870 but no confirmation of dates of death or location of burials are known at this time.  Census records for 1860 and 1870 indicate only one child was born to the marriage of Alexander and Sarah.

Emma Elizabeth, abt 1862-aft 1900 (m. Peter Herriff, abt 1842-after 1900).  Emma and Peter Herriff were married on April 27, 1880 and had one child, Amy Elizabeth (1886-1973; m. Joseph Earl Boyle, 1904-1966).  Peter and Emma also raised three daughters born to Peter and his first wife, Elisa J.  These daughters, Carrie (b. 1868), Mamie (b. 1873; m. J. P. Clark) and Alta (b. 1878, m. Wiley Shamblin) were born in Illinois between 1868 and 1878. 

2.  Dr. Stephen Edmond Cuny was born circa 1837.  In 1861, he is listed as a medical student at the University of Louisiana.

Dr. Cuny had two sons from his first marriage (wife's name unknown).

William Benjamin, Sr., 1865-1948 (m. Alice Fenella Ensminger, 1878-1945); Both are buried in the Old Winnsboro Cemetery in Franklin Parish.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Shirley Burks Wells at FindAGrave.com)

Stephen Edmond, Jr., 1869-1933 (m. Delia May, 1875-1910)

In 1874, Dr. Cuny married Rosa Morris (1856-abt 1880) in Franklin Parish.  No children were born to this marriage.

After Rosa's death, Dr. Cuny married a third time to Martha "Mattie" Ditto (1853-?).  Mattie was born to the marriage of William Lego Ditto, Jr. and Levinia A. Holstein.  One son was born to this marriage.

Marion Ditto, 1882-1887; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The dates of death and location of burials for Dr. Cuny and his three wives are unknown at this time.

3.  Maria A. Cuny was born on September 28, 1839.  Her first marriage was to William Henry Gillespie.  William died on September 3, 1878 and is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Two children were born to this marriage.

George Lovelace, January 10, 1868-March 8, 1869

Laura, circa 1869

William Henry, Jr., February 8, 1872-1940 (m. 1.  Ellen Claudia German, 1876-1950; m. 2. Edith C. Wales, 1890-1959)

Maria's second marriage was to John W. Whansley*.  The location of John W. Whansley's burial is unknown at this time.

One child was born to this marriage.

Thomas Benjamin, February 7, 1880

Maria A Cuny Gillespie Whansley is buried in the Rapides Cemetery in Pineville, Rapides, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karl and Paula T. Morely at FindAGrave.com; *also of note, the tombstone states 2nd husband's name was Wamsby.  Marriage records show his name as Wansley)

4.  Henry Thomas Cuny was born circa 1843.  The 1860 census shows him living with his parents in Sicily Island.  No other information is confirmed on Henry Cuny.

5.  Theodore Cholett Cuny was born circa 1844.  On October 27, 1880, he married Lillie Alice Harper who was born in 1858 to the marriage of Dr. Miles Hampton Harper and Letetia Ann Lum.

Theodore died on November 29, 1897.  The location of his burial is unknown at this time.  Lillie remarried to C. F. Perry and died on October 27, 1940 in Mobile AL.  No children were born to this marriage.

6.  Mary Jane Cuny was born circa 1848.  She married J. D. Blount on November 22, 1871 in Catahoula Parish.   J. D. Blount died before 1880.  His date of death and burial location are unknown at this time.  Jane is shown in the 1880 census as a widow living with her parents and two children.

Fred, 1873
Charley, 1875

7.  Fannie Lovelace Cuny was born on August 17, 1849.  On January 10, 1872, she married Thomas M. Clarke in Franklin Parish.  Thomas died in 1885.  His date of death and burial location are unknown at this time.  Fannie died on December 3, 1933 and is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of Fannie Lovelace Cuny and Thomas M. Clarke:

Rosa Lovelace, 1875-1958; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Fannie Jeanette "Nettie", 1875-1960; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

8.  Emma Tabitha Cuny, 1851-1854; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

9.  Richard Roland Cuny, 1853-1855; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Additional information on Maria A. Cuny family was provided by her descendant, Heather Lee.