At the mouth of the Mississippi River, on August 5, 1785, a French sailor aboard the frigate La Bergère, deserted ship. His name was Jean Chedotal. He and his Acadian wife, Victoire Hebert, are the progenitors of all persons who spell their name Cedotal, Chedotal, Sedotal, Etc. The story of this French-Acadian family is told here for all their descendants, however they may spell their names.