Chenault Family National Association

 

NEWS AND OBITUARIES

This is the place to look to catch up on current news about your Chenault, Chennault, Shinault, Shinall or "however you may spell it" cousins.  If you have news you would like to share about your kin, just e-mail our web master, and then look for it here.  If your branch of the family is planning a get-together or reunion, we'll post it here to get the word out. We look forward to hearing from you.

NEWS  | OBITUARIES | STATE REUNIONS

NEWS AND NOTES

Chenault Family National Association Now on Facebook - Check out the Chenault Family National Association page on facebook.com. It is intended to point visitors to our web site for more information about the association.  Other ways our page will be used to share family information with our members and others interested will be announced following discussion and approval in our July business meeting.

WANTED! While it may not be news, do you know you descend from a Huguenot?  Estienne Cheneau, our ancestor, is recognized by the National Huguenot Society as a Huguenot whose family fled France to escape religious persecution. You are in good company...Alexander Hamilton, Davy Crockett, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Keith Richards, Warren Buffett, E. I. DuPont, Winston Churchill, and Sara Roosevelt (mother of FDR). The National Association invites you to apply for membership to a local chapter. To find out more about this prestigious group and how to become a member, check out their website, www.huguenot.netnation.com.

Constable Elijah Chenault (abt. 1775-1823) - Yes, Constable Chenault, who died in 1823,  is still making news.  In January 2008, our association was notified that Constable Chenault would be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.  His appearance in the memorial was officially dedicated 13 May 2009 at the Annual Candlelight Vigil during National Police Week.  As to why his name is being added to the memorial, it came to light that he was quite possibly the very first law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty in the United States of America.  Our thanks go to Amy Bertsch, who was in charge of the investigation of the story about Constable Chenault.  She contacted us seeking information as to who this Elijah Chenault was and where he was born.  Our previous research of the Caroline County line of the family had provided enough information to make the connections and provide the background she needed about how he came to be in Alexandria, VA, in law enforcement at the time of his death.  For more about this notable Chenault, refer to his profile on the Notable Cousins page of this site.  

 

OBITUARIES

 

STATE REUNIONS
(see "SET SAIL" page for National Reunion details)


Note:  If you are part of a state reunion for the Chenault family by any of the spellings and do not find your reunion details below, please contact Sue Chenault, webmaster, to have the plans posted.