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This is what I know of Thomas LaVatta: He was born in either 1818 or 1824 in what is now New Mexico. He crossed the Big Hole and arrived at Bitter Root Valley, Montana, in November, 1847. According to census records he had a grade two education. He married (1) Aslake, a Bannack Indian Woman and had two daughters, Ellen and Marceline. He married (2) Poor-oh-ge aka Angelique Serpante and had the following children: Marie Clara aka Laura Delores, Edward, Raphael, Thomas S., Phillip, Christine (died young) and Lucyanna (died young). He died at Fort Hall September 27, 1896.
Other than this family, I have found no LaVattas anywhere. Which leads me to believe that something got lost in translation and it was previously a different surname. The following, hopefully, may be some hints to other families:
1) He was known as "a red-headed Spaniard". [Was there a Spanish/Castillian connection?]
2) He spoke Spanish and several Indian languages. He was one of the very few 'non-Shoshone' who spoke fluent 'Snake' [Was he part Comanche who are off shoots of the Shoshone and share the Uto-Aztecan language?]
3) He may also have spoken French and may have come into what is now the Manitoba, Canada area.
4) Family history says he worked for the Hudson Bay Company. However, none of the HBC records relate to a 'LaVatta'.
5) The name LaVatta has been recorded variously. The most telling, however, may be "Lavaddie". [In Spanish, is the letter 'B' pronounced 'V'? His daughter's surname was recorded 'Lavatty'. Does this suggest the ending of the surname was a softer sound like the 'ie' in Labaddie?
6) His children all had Spanish names. Are these perhaps the names of his family members? Are they familiar to anyone reading this?
7) He left his two oldest children, Laura Delores and Edward at the St. Boniface convent and school at St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada to get an education. [This was primarily a very French area, populated mainly by French and Metis peoples. Does this suggest a French family background?}
6) He traded along the Oregon Trail and into Salt Lake City. He was known as an excellent rider and apparntly owned a beautiful team of horses.
If any of this is familiar to any one, I will be so grateful for your feedback! I am hoping to find a family member to do the DNA testing. I am interested in knowing how many Labadies have done the testing?
In advance, my very sincere thanks!
Anita Grant Steele
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