Hi to all
Thank you for your suggestions and I I might add I think you may be on the right track. I was born in New Orleans and spent the first 38 years of my life there and am fairly familiar with burial customs. However I did not connect the meaning 'to the rear' or 'to the back' with the custom of pushing the remains of older burials to the rear of the vault to make room for another burial. Totally plausible.
I understand that St. Joseph cemetery is in poor condition with vault coverings missing, broken tomb stones, and I have been told that it is not recommended to go there alone. My mother and her family are buried in Laffayette cemetery just blocks away from St. Joseph. Several years ago I hired an off duty officer to accompany me to visit the grave but I do not know if conditions have improved.
The Diocese archivist has asked me to let him know what hintan means. I plan to call him today. The same goes for the NO Historical Society Williams Library office. When I called them there had no answer but also asked me to let them know if I found out the meaning.
Sandy, it would be great if you found out anything from your family in Slidell.
This would all be easier if the records had been more detailed. Its amazing that Dr. James Jones's fee of $2.50 is recorded. I will now see if there is a burial in St. Joseph's for a family member of this baby. My name has been misspelled frequently, Burgdorf (correct), Burchtorff, Burdoff, Boestrof and several other ways.
Thanks, Max