The adage “if you play with dynamite, you’re bound to get blown up” resonates deeply within both my wife’s and my family histories, each marked by a harrowing tale of dynamite. The intriguing part? These incidents occurred within a few years and few miles from each other, despite my wife being a Southern Peach and me, a Yankee Towner.
In Bellows Falls, Vermont, a dam stretches across the Connecticut River. For about a century, this dam has been a vital source of power for both the state of VT and NH. On the morning of February 18, 1928, a tragic event unfolded at this site. Michael O’Brien, aged 67 and the great-great-grandfather of my wife, Kathy, was employed by Sherman’s Power Construction Company. His role? Keeper of the dynamite house. That fateful morning, at 8:15 AM, William and Fred Steele, two brothers, were dispatched to collect dynamite from Michael. Shortly after they entered the small building, a catastrophic explosion occurred. The company, in a bid for safety, stored only enough dynamite for a day’s work. Yet, on that chilly February day, this amounted to 250 pounds. The blast obliterated the wooden roof of the building, leaving the stone walls barely standing. The three men were tragically killed, and numerous others injured. The explosion was so intense that it resulted in Michael O’Brien receiving two death certificates, one from Vermont and another from New Hampshire. The reason? The remains of the three men were scattered across both sides of the river, covering a quarter-mile area along the Connecticut River.
Nearly eight years later, on February 6, 1936, a mere 16 miles away from the Bellows Falls dam, another dynamite-related incident shattered the peace of Vermont. At 9:30 AM, in a gravel pit at the intersection of French Meadow and Chester Roads in Springfield, Vermont, Harold Pelkey, an experienced powder man, sought refuge from the cold in Harry Stern’s truck cab. Harold, with five years of experience in handling dynamite, brought several fuses into the cab. As he unwrapped them, they detonated. The explosion sent the truck’s roof soaring 30 feet and Harold 10 feet into the air. The aftermath was gruesome: Harold lost his left arm, all but the pinkie on his right hand, was initially blinded in both eyes, but regained partial site in one, and suffered severe facial injuries. His brother, Alfred, the foreman, rushed him to the Springfield hospital. Miraculously, Harold survived, but his life was irrevocably altered.
Relationship between Dennis Partridge and Harold Pelkey
Harold’s connection to me is through a complex web of familial ties. His parents, John Pelkey and Ada Blanchard, had a son, Frank Clifford Pelkey, who married Thelma Illa Partridge, my half-great-aunt and granddaughter of Elnora Betsey Williams. Elnora, through a different marriage, is my second great-grandmother. Ada Blanchard, after marrying Arthur Cummings Partridge, my great-granduncle, became a stepmother to the Pelkey children. To add to the complexity, Elnora’s daughter through her first marriage, Nora Olive Rich, married Fred Partridge, my great-grandfather, and later Clarence Arthur Partridge, his brother, both younger brothers of Arthur Cummings Partridge. Thelma was born to Clarence and Nora. Confusing, isn’t it? Ancestry puts it this way, Harold Pelkey is the stepson of my great-granduncle, Arthur Cummings Partridge.
One of the sources widely used by English speaking descendants of French-Canadians is Tanguay’s Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes or Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families. It’s a relatively simple research tool that can be used to identify the kinship between different French-Canadians prior to 1763. It is comprised of 7 volumes. Volume 1 contains people who were married between 1607-1700. Volumes 2-7 contain people married after 1700, each volume specific to a portion of the alphabet for the surname. The 7-set volume is included in an Ancestry subscription as collection 2177 and typically is identified as a hint when you include families found within the books. This is problematic, because Tanguay’s work, while a great reference tool, is known to be full of errors. Any work of its size is likely prone to kinship mistakes, but Tanguay is notorious for having made a sizeable number of errors, and Ancestry, by enabling the quick and simple addition of these families, encourages error prone research.
Both of the works below are in French but are relatively easy to figure out. If you run into a word you cannot translate, see this list of key words for translation from French to English in the early records. Most dates have a letter in front of them. The letter “b” means a baptism date (baptême), “m” means a marriage date (mariage), and “s” means a burial date (sépulture).
Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes
I’ve linked to the 7 volume set at Archive.org enabling you to view or download each volume. These are the clearest copies of this work that I can find online and these are the versions I use. While the volumes reflect “individuals married” the information is actually for the entire family as known to Tanguay.
A lesser known additional source are J.-Arthur Lebouf’s Complément au dictionnaire généalogique Tanguay or Supplement to Tanguay’s Genealogical Dictionary. This series of manuscripts seeks to correct and add to Tanguay’s original 7 volume work. Most notably it includes some families from Montreal which are traced to the late 1800s. Three of the four volume work is available online using the following links.
Complément au dictionnaire généalogique Tanguay
These can only be found online at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) Numérique. This is one of my favorite websites for free early Quebec resources! You can read the manuscript there, or download a PDF copy.
The Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes or Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families by Cyprien Tanguay is a colossal monument erected in memory of the founders and ancestors of French Canadians. It is however, not bullet proof, and anyone using it should only reference it as a guide for further research on your ancestors.
An interesting series of events occurred in Montreal during September of 1658 which historians have failed to adequately document. The men of the Grand Recrue who had signed 5 year commitments with Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve now found themselves in Montreal and at the end of their contract term. Most of these men would settle in New France and marry. Apparently, many of those men were eagerly awaiting the end of their employment as the month of September saw a sudden increase in the number of marriage contracts notarized in Montreal. I stumbled upon this when documenting my 9th great-grandmother Marthe Autreuil’s first marriage to Pierre Chauvin, a member of La Grand Recrue. In the office of Notarie Benigne Basset dit Deslauriers on the 15th of September 1658 can be found the contract of marriage (no. 45) between Pierre Chauvin and Marthe le hautreux [Autreuil] . Witnesses to this event were Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust (L.), Jeanne Mance, B DeBoullongne, P Gadoys, Gilbert barbier, Simon depres, Jean Lemercher, L. Closse, Basset. Mentions were also made of: Jean Gervaise, T. Ragideau.
Jeanne Mance was the co-founder of Montreal [Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve being the other co-founder], and founder and director of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal.
B. DeBoullongne was Marie-Barbe DeBoullongne, wife of Governor Louis D’Ailleboust, and co-founder of the Confrérie de la Sainte-Famille at Montreal and benefactress of the Hôtel-Dieu at Québec.
P. Gadoys was Pierre Gadoys [Gadois], and this almost certainly is the Pierre Gadoys [sr.] who was considered the first farmer of Montreal and the churchwarden at Ville-Marie.
Gilbert barbier was Gilbert Barbier dit Minime, a master carpenter at Montreal who was responsible directly or indirectly for most of the buildings built at Ville-Marie.
L. Closse was Raphaël Lambert Closse, the Sergeant Major of the garrison of Ville-Marie.
Basset was Bénigne Basset Des Lauriers the notarie for the contract.
Mention is made of two additional individuals in the contract, that of Jean Gervaise and P. Raguideau (Pierre Raguideau dit St-Germain) both of them members of La Grand Recrue of 1653.
This series of contracts for marriage between men of the Grand Recrue and Montreal girls and women began on 1st September 1658:
1 September 1658
No. 35
Contract de mariage entre Jean Pichard et Louisa garnier – signent : Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, Jeanne Mance, Bde boulongne, Marie pournin, L. Closse.
9 September
No. 38
Contract de mariage entre honnore dasny (Honoré Danis dit Tourangeau) et Marie Bidart – signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, Jeane Mance, Johan Gervaise, Bde Bourlongne, L. Closse, J. Vailliquet, Nicolas Gode, Jean Lemercher, Gilbert barbier, Marque du st. de la Vigne, P. Desautels, Marin Jannot, U. Brossard, Basset.
No. 39
Contract de mariage entre Paul Benoist et Elisabeth Gobinet (Paul and Elisabeth are my 9th great-grandparents) – signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, B. DeBoullongne, Jobart, L. Closse, Gilbert barbier, J. Desautels, Jean Gervaise, U. Brossard, Nicol gode, J. Valliquet, Marin Jannot, marque V du S de la Vigne, Chartier, Jean Obuchon, Basset.
14 September
No. 41
contract de mariage entre Michel Louvrard meusnier et Francoise Jacqueline Nadreau. signent : Paul de Chomeday, (Louis) Dailleboust, B de Boullongne, Jobart, L. Closse, C. LeMoyne, Gilbert barbier, marin Jannot, Chartier, Dela Laridrage, maturin Jode, Nicolas Gode, P. Jadois, P. Desautels, J. Tavernier, Basset.
No. 42
Contract de mariage entre Simon LeRoy et Jeanne Godart. signent: Paul de Chomeday, (Louis) Dailleboust, B de Boullongne, gilbert barbier, P. Godard fils, Dela Saudraye, l. Closse, P. Desautels, J. Tavernier, Basset.
15 September
No. 43
contract de mariage entre forques Mousseaux (Jacques Mousseau dit Laviolette) et Marguerite Soviot. signent: Paul de Chomeday, J. Mousseaux, Louis) Dailleboust, Jeanne Mance, gilbert Barbier, B de Boullongne, L. Closse, P Gadoys, Mathurin Langevin, Simon depres, Dollard Chartier Duboi (?), Basset.
No. 44
contract de mariage entre Michel Theodore et Jacqueline Lagrange (Jacqueline is my 7th great-grandmother, I descend from her 2nd marriage to Laurent Glory Labrière). signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, B deboullongne, Jeanne Mance, gilbert barbier, U. Brossard, J. Vallicquet, L. Closse, P. Gadois, Jan Obuchon, Chartier, Basset.
No. 45
Contract de mariage entre Pierre Chauvin et Marthe Le hautreux (Pierre and Marthe are my 9th great-grandparents). signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust (L.), Jeanne Mance, B DeBoullongne, P Gadoys, Gilbert barbier, Simon depres, Jean Lemercher, L. Closse, Basset. mentionnes: Jean gervais, P. Ragideau.
20 September
No. 46
Contract de mariage entre Jean Valliquet et Renee Loppé (Jean and Renee are my 10th great-grandparents). signent: J. Valliquet, Paul de Chomeday, Marie pontonie, Dailleboust (L.), B de Boullongne, P. Gadois (fils), P. Raguideau, L. Closse, Besnard, Jean LeMercher, jacques Dore, J. Guyet, Marguerite Picard, C Robutel, Chartier, Mousnier, Basset. mentionnes: sebastien Odiot, Jacques Vautier, sergent enladger, rene Besnard, Jean diot, caporaux, Jacques Laval, soldat.
22 September
No. 48
Contract de mariage entre Leger Aguenier [Haguenier] et marie frie [Frit]. signent: Marie Frie, Paul de Chomeday, Nicolas Gode, Dailleboust (L.), B de Boullongne, C. Robutel, Jacques dela porte, Basset. mentionnes: Nicolas Gode de la Montagne, Mathruine Gode vestere, L. Closse.
This is an analysis of the marriage record for Charles Martin and Mary Emery dite Codere of Highgate, Vermont, my 3rd great-grandparents
Determining kinship often involves sifting through evidence, a process that, while straightforward in many cases, can sometimes morph into a meticulous investigation requiring deep analysis of all available data. Imagine each piece of evidence as a dot; our task involves connecting these dots to form a coherent picture, demonstrating how each piece relates to the same individuals. This task grows exponentially challenging when ancestors relocate across borders, their records scattered across nations, often under various spellings of their names.
Such was the challenge I faced with my 3rd great-grandparents, Charles and Mary Martin of Highgate, Vermont. Their marriage record stands as one of several crucial pieces in their genealogical puzzle—a linchpin document, if you will. In genealogical parlance, a ‘linchpin’ document is indispensable. It serves as the definitive link that conclusively connects disparate elements of an ancestor’s life, affirming their identity across different records. This pivotal piece of evidence not only validates the ancestral connections but also acts as a beacon, guiding us through the fog of historical records to illuminate familial ties that span generations.
The significance of this document cannot be overstated. Despite not mentioning their Americanized names or hinting at their eventual migration to Highgate—a move that occurred a few years later—it is an essential dot among many, proving that Charles Martelle in Saint-Hyacinthe and Saint-Hugues did marry Archange Hémeri (Emery) of Sainte-Rosalie and Saint-Hyacinthe, and, combined with other evidence, proves that these two individuals are the same individuals as Charles and Mary Martin of Highgate. This example underscores the intricate nature of genealogical research and the importance of thorough evidence analysis to bridge the gaps in our ancestral lineage.
M8
Charles Martelle + Archange Hémeri
le quatre mai, mil huit cent trente cinq, après la publication de trois bans de mariage faite au prône de leneuf paroissiale, par trois demandes courentisse entre Charles Martelle, cultivateur, de la paroisse de Saint Hugues, fils <majeur> de feu Antoine Martelle + de défunte Louise Languedoc en leur vivant de la paroisse de Saint Hyacinthe, et Archange Hémeri, residant dans cette paroisse, fille majeure de joseph Hémeri cultivateur, et de defunte Marguerite Daufinas, de la paroisse de Saint Hyacinthe, Curé sue publication ayant en leur dures les paroisse de Saint Hyacinthe + de Saint Hugues ne fitant decouvert ancure pechement a ce mariage, nous pretre
soussigné curé avec l’agriment des paventy avons reçu leur mutuel consentement des parties, et leur avons donné la bénédiction nuptiale in presence de Francois Martelle, prere de l’epoux, de Noel Paulin, son témoin, de joseph Hémeri, pere de l’epouse, + de Michel Daiguean, son témoin, qui ainsi que les époux n’ont su signer, un mot interligne bon.
Denys pretre
Transcription and Annotation
Marriage #8
Charles Martelle + Archange Hémeri
on May 4, one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, after the publication of three marriage banns made at the new parish, and three requests at the old between Charles Martelle, farmer, of the parish of Saint Hugues, <adult> son of the late Antoine Martelle + of the late Louise Languedoc while they were alive in the parish of Saint Hyacinthe, and Archange Hémeri, residing in this parish, adult daughter of joseph Hémerifarmer, and of the lateMarguerite Daufinais, of the parish of Saint Hyacinthe, Undersigned of this agreement having in their jurisdiction the parish of Saint Hyacinthe + of Saint Hugues not having discovered sin at this marriage, we the undersigned parish priest with the approval of the parents have received their mutual consent from the parties, and have given them the nuptial blessing in the presence of Francois Martelle, brother of the husband, of Noel Paulin, his witness, of joseph Hémeri, father of the wife, + of Michel Daiguean, his witness, who as well as the spouses did not know how to sign. One word inserted <> is good.
Denys priest
Analysis
Majority in Quebec in 1835 for men and women to marry was 21. Charles was 23 and Archange was 21. While no parental approval was required, a parent (Joseph Hemeri), the only one still alive, indicated that he did approve of the marriage.
The records for Ste. Rosalie at Ancestry.com start in 1836. There were actually 2 years prior to then (1834-1835) which were recorded, and those pages were found on FamilySearch. A different copy was microfilmed and digitized at GenealogieQuebec. I do not know which of these two were the original source, or if they were both copies of a different copy or the original. I have not discovered any copy of this marriage at Ancestry.com.
Proof
These marriage records provide proof of the marriage between Charles Martelle and Archange Hémeri on 4 May 1835 at Saint Rosalie.
They also provide kinship proof between Charles Martelle and his parents Antoine Martelle and Louise Languedoc of Saint Hyacinthe, and between Charles and his brother Francois Martelle. They also provide evidence that both of Charles parents were deceased by 4 May 1835.
These records also provide kinship proof between Archange Hémeri and her parents Joseph Hémeri and Marguerite Daufinais. They also provide proof of her relationship to her brother, Joseph Hémeri.
Sources:
Page 1 of Charles Martelle and Archange Hemeri marriage record as found at FamilySearch.Page 2 of Charles Martelle and Archange Hemeri marriage record as found at FamilySearch.Charles Martelle and Archange Hemeri Marriage Record 1835 as found at GenealogieQuebec.
H. M. Atkinson was either not impressed with the application of Mary Martin claiming dependent support from her son, Lewis Martin, who had died during the Civil War, or he was just doing his due diligence. In his process to confirm the physical disability of Charles Martin, husband of Mary, and father of Lewis, he wrote to the Postmaster of Highgate Center, Vermont, J. R. Cross, and had him do a little snooping into the situation. The most damning testimony on the character of the family may have also been the most beneficial as it provides proof that Charles was unable to rely on his other sons. It comes at the end of Cross’ letter where he states Charles “has other sons but in like condition of the father poor +some of them remarkably shifters.”
First, I notice that he used the word “some” implying that it was more than just one (aka Seleme). I wonder who else he was describing in 1875? The only other sons that an individual who resided in Highgate Center since 1865 would personally know would be Joseph, John, and Antoine.
A shifter is another word for a cozener. Both are words which describe a fraudster. The Post Master is directly stating that some of the sons of Charles Martin practiced deceit to obtain things they desired. And that’s saying it nicely!
C M T K 50.
Department of the Interior Pension Office
Washington D.C. Oct. 5th 1875
Sir:
Mary Martin, mother of Lewis Martin has filed a claim as dependent mother for a pension (no. 215,996.) Will you please report to this office such facts as you have or may obtain on inquiry, touching the nature and degree of the physical disability of claimants husband (Charles Martin) during the years 1863 and 1864. What amount of labor could he perform, and what was the value of his property during this period. Were said parents dependent upon this son and if so, to what extent were they assisted by him.
Your communication will be treated as confidential (over)
Very respectfully H. M. Atkinson Commissioner
Post Master Highgate Centre, Franklin Co. Vt.
Please return this letter with your reply endorsed thereon.
Highgate Centre, Vermont Oct 13th 1875
Charles Martin + Mary Martin I have known for about ten years [since 65 written above]. Charles Martin, husband of Mary is able I should wage to do about 3/4 of a mans labour. He works by the day job + carries on land on shares as opportunity offers do not think he was worth any thing in 1863 or 1864 and nothing now. Whether the parents were dependent on this son or not I do not know when he went into the army. I think his father able to earn a good living + did so, do not think the son helped any until after he enlisted then he bought 20 acres of land (if I am correctly informed) and paid for it or nearly so and his father went to live on it + when he died the father became the owner but has since lost it in consequence of bad management + is poor to day but manages to live some how. He has other sons but in like condition of the father poor + some of them remarkably shifters.
Yours truly, J. R. Cross Post Master
P.S. If I have not answered this so you understand it or all the points you wished to know write again
Page 28Page 30Page 29
Source: Box 35098, Pension Certificate #219698, Charles Martin (father of Lewis Martin), Federal Military Pension Application; Civil War and Later Complete File, National Archives record Group Form 85D; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
I learned a new word today: the word was gallimaufry, and it means “a confused jumble or medley of things.” That word will accurately describe my investigation into the parentage of Nora!
I have never identified the parentage of Nora Williams, my 2nd Great Grandmother, and whom my Great Grandmother was named after. Over the past few weeks I decided to try and determine it using Census records and both sets of Vermont Vital Records – one from Ancestry, and the other from Family Search. Nora remains the only Great Grandmother of my father’s side that I had not yet identified the parents, and it was time for that to change!
What I knew of Nora L. Williams (as I have her listed) is not much. I originally retrieved her name from my research into the Rich family of Washington County, Vermont; I was able to deduce her name as Nora L. Williams, and that she was born about 1867 in Vermont. Enumerated with them was the child, Nora O., my great-grandmother. But that was all I had to work with.
The first method of researching people living between 1850-1950 for me is to search the federal census records for them. Often, these census will provide clues that can point you in the correct direction, and occasionally by my experience, give you your answer to your question.
Nora Williams – 1880 Census
The only census record I could find of Nora as a child (searching for her by name at Ancestry), is the Warren, Washington, VT 1880 census, where at the age of 12, she is residing as a servant in the household of Nahum and Jane Nichols.
Enumerated within Warren, VT was the family of Chester D. Williams – his family appeared on the same page (247A) with Nora, and he is of the correct age to be a possible parent. Also enumerated in the town, was a Ferrin Williams, age 23, who resided with his wife – Lilla, age 15, and Effie, his sister, age 9. The fact that Ferrin, as young as he and his wife were, had a sibling also residing with them cautioned me that there was more to this story. Here we have a 12 year old child living as a servant instead of with her parents. We also have another child living with what appeared to be an elder sibling, all in the same town. This pointed to something possibly having happened to the parents. The very fact that Nora was living so close to Chester, yet listed as a servant in another house, instantly made me think she was likely related to Chester, but not his child. I determined then that I needed to back up 10 years and search within Warren to see if I could find the identity of the parents of the children. The thing I had going for me, was I now had two children names I could use to help pinpoint the right family (Nora and Ferrin, since Effie would not yet have been born in the 1870 census), IF they were of the same family.
A search of the 1870 census for Warren, Washington, VT quickly led me nowhere. Chester D. was there, listed as C. B. Williams this time. There was no mention of any of the children I found in the 1880 census. There was a Dana and Julia Williams residing with their family, but again, no sign of Ferrin, Lilla, or Nora (Effie would not yet have been born.)
When conducting a census search at Ancestry, I rarely try and perform a broad search of the records (unless just starting out on a person or family), but instead concentrate on specific searches. While this does produce more negative results, it also produces better results, as I can fine tune my search. The census at Ancestry were often indexed by people not familiar with the intricacies of English names and instead took a strict approach at identifying the letters and listing them, even when the combination doesn’t make sense. I’ve found that I often need to construct searches based on first names, or ages of the person, to properly identify them. And when that fails, if I’m quite sure they’re in the community or county I’m searching, then I browse the images one by one, just like in the old days.
In the case of this search, I had already started out at the most specific location and had no match. So I spread my search out further and tried all of Washington County, Vermont instead of limiting myself to just the town of Warren. I already knew by my earlier search that Nora was not listed as Nora Williams (I did conduct a broad search initially, so I searched for her brother Ferrin, which produced the following match:
Eleazer Williams – 1870 Census
In the 1870 census, residing in Roxbury, Washington, VT was the family of Eleazer and Jane Williams. Residing with the family in that enumeration were 7 children: Ithiel 17, Olive 14, Ferrin 13, Elmer 7, Elwin 4, Ervin 4, and Betsey 2.
This listing of children immediately stood out to me. Ithiel, is not a common name. In fact, there were only 39 Ithiel’s in the whole 1880 census. Why is that important? Because Nora Williams grandson was named Floyd Ithiel Partridge… In fact there are two Ithiel’s related to me. Also, listed in the family of Eleazer and Jane was a daughter named Olive. While Olive was a more common name, the child of Joel and Nora (Williams) Rich was Nora Olive Rich.
Nothing above is conclusive, but it helps paint a picture, and insures me that I am definitely looking in the right direction. But Nora wasn’t mentioned in Eleazer’s family by name. And as already mentioned, I couldn’t find her in Washington County, VT. A more general search outside of the county, also failed to produce a positive match.
This is often the point where genealogists will get frustrated with their search. Everything keeps ending up at dead ends… then again, everything may not appear as it actually is.
To buttress my belief that the parents passed away sometime during the 1870’s I went back to the 1880 census and searched for the children of Eleazer and Jane:
We already know about Ferrin. We found him living at Warren with Lilla and Effie.
I was unable to find anything concerning Ithiel and Olive by simply searching the 1880 census. Both, however were of age during the 1880 census and could have been living elsewhere, or were enumerated in such a manner as to not make them easily searchable. Olive was likely married and had another surname.
Elmer, who was 7 during the 1870 census can be found residing with the family of Melvin and Clarissa Spalding in Roxbury, age 17.
Erwin and Elwin, twins, both 4 during the 1870 census, can be found residing with the family of George and Edna Williams of Roxbury, age 14.
Betsey E. Williams, age 2 in the 1870 census, cannot be found in the 1880 census under her name.
So, the census have provided me with clues to further my research. Namely, who is Betsey E. Williams, age 2 in the 1870 census, and could she be my Nora Williams?
It’s obvious that just using the census isn’t working out, so it’s time to start using the Vital Record searches available for Vermont ancestors.
Let’s start again with Nora, and see what comes up in a search for her name as Nora Williams. I started my search using the databases at FamilySearch first since theirs covered the years before 1900. Using the Vermont Births and Christenings 1765-1908 database I was able to get 1 match for a Nora Williams.
This time I find a Nora Williams, b. in Roxbury, married to Ben Warner. This marriage produced a child named Paul G. Warner, b. 26 Mar 1887 at Moutown, Washington, VT. Moutown is likely a misprint of Moretown. One should keep in mind when using transcriptions, that they’re not always completely accurate, as is this case.
Is this another dead end? I’m getting the feeling I’m painting a picture of a brick wall in this search!
The next search was in the Vermont Death Records 1871-1965. I searched for Nora Williams first and came up with nothing and then tried Nora Rich which again resulted in zilch.
On to the Vermont marriage records! And on this search I again hit pay dirt. This time I find 2 listings…
Nora B. Williams and Joel O. Rich were listed on the marriage certificate as parents of Nora Olive Rich in her marriage to Fred in 1905. Something stood out in this record though that was different from what I knew about Nora… the middle initial. I had Nora L. Williams as taken from the 1900 census (and a second check confirmed that was the way it was entered on the census image) but it appears she also used Nora B. This could be big, because if we go back to the family of Eleazer and Jane, we find that their youngest child in the 1870 census was a Betsey, age 2! So I reopened that census image to check if by chance they had listed a middle initial, and they had… an E. So we have a Betsey E. Williams born the same year as Nora B. (and L.) Williams. While the B could definitely stand for Betsey, I couldn’t make the E. stand for Nora. So back to the records.
The second match for Nora was for a Norah B. Williams, b. 1865 at Roxbury, VT, who married Benjamin Warner in 1883. As previously mentioned they had the child named Paul G. Warner I had found in the birth records. This Norah B. was listed as the child of Elmer and Jane Williams. Eleazer’s wife was named Jane… But I have no indication if Eleazer himself going by Elmer, or if that was his middle name, so there’s no match proven here. Eleazer and Jane did name one of their sons Elmer – coincidentally… Elmer E.
When I conduct searches I often find that information is given in the records for one person, concerning somebody else in the family. So it’s important to search for their names as well. Finding the name of Elmer and Jane listed as parents in the marriage record made me think that I should try a search for the death records of Joel and Nora’s child Nora.
Nora O Partridge death card
Since they died after 1900 I went and used Ancestry’s search for Vermont Deaths and Burials 1909-2008. I hit pay-dirt, but not the way I had expected! Instead of finding Nora Williams death certificate, I came across her daughters death certificate…
Nora O. Partridge died on 2 June 1976 at Springfield, Vermont. On her death certificate were listed her parents, Joel Rich and Elnora Williams! Elnora… with an E!!!! I’ve looked at this record several times and I never caught the real name of the mother! Back to Eleazer and Jane… Betsey E. Williams in the 1870 census, same age as Elnora B. Williams in the 1880 census… do you think it’s possible? I do!!!
Death Record of Paul G. Rich
There’s some loose ends that need to be wrapped up to help support this. The first is to detail something I recently found when conducting a search for the Rich family of Moretown, Vermont. Joel and Nora had one other child listed in the death records as theirs… Paul George Rich, child of Joel and Nora Rich, b. 26 Mar 1887 at Moretown, Washington, Vermont, d. 20 Mar 1940 at Barre, Washington, Vermont. Obviously this Paul G. Rich is the same Paul G. Warner, child of Ben and Norah B. Warner (the dates and birth location match and that’s too much of a coincidence). So if somebody is wondering what ever happened to Paul G. Warner, I think we now know!!!
We also need to identify that the Elmer Williams is in deed Eleazer. A search of the Vermont Marriages at FamilySearch for Elmer Williams produced matches for Eleazer’s son Elmer E. Elmer married twice, the first marriage to Emma Smith listed his parents as Eleazer M. Williams and Jane. The second marriage, however, listed his parents as E. E. Williams and Nancy Silsbury.
Finding multiple names for his parents made me conduct a search for the marriage records for Eleazer. What I found, instead of his record, were the records of many of his children. Their parents were listed as Eleazer (various spellings) and Jane Williams/Sillsbury (various spellings). One, Ichiel (obviously Ithiel), listed his mother as Mary J. Silsby.
As you can tell by this entire post, the family really enjoyed using a combination of different names when documenting each other. It appeared quite common for an individual to go by their middle name, and even a nickname, and have it used on official documents. But for a diligent study, this nomenclature would have created a gallimaufry of their genealogy. But the dates, locations, family relations, and obvious consistencies paint enough of a picture for me to determine, by the information here in provided, that Elnora Betsey Williams was indeed the child of Eleazer and Jane Williams.
My 8th great grandparents were Vincent Croteau and Jeanne Godequin This is their Life Story
Ruines de l’église Saint-Nicolas à Veules-les-Roses et la croix hosannière du cimetière. Rue Paul Meurice.
Situated along the Normandy coast of France lies a bustling tourist commune called Veules-les-Roses – the “River of Roses”. Down by the seaside, along the street Paul Meurice, rests the vestiges of Saint-Nicolas, a twelfth century Roman Catholic church. Destroyed in the sixteenth century by landslides caused by the sea, it was rebuilt of sandstone, only to be destroyed again during the Anglo-French war in 1789. All that presently remains is a section of the tower, a sandstone cross, and the torn and tattered remnants of its registers. From an ink blotted partial page of one of those registers we find that a baby boy was brought by his parents, Andre Croteau and Marguerite Metayer, on Tuesday, 29 March 1644, to be baptized in the sanctuary of Saint-Nicolas. That baby would be named during the ceremony as Vincent Croteau. Unfortunately, I know nothing more of Vincent’s early life in Veules, France, the name by which Veules-les-Roses was known during Vincent’s time. When I next find Vincent he is over 3,000 miles from Veules, employed by the Jesuits at Nostre Dame des Anges during the 1666 census of Quebec.9
A transcript of the census of 1666 lists Vincent Croteau as 25 year old cordonnier Vincent Croutier.9 A transcript of the census of 1667 lists Vincent as 26 year old cordonnier Vincent Croustier.10 The 1681 census lists Vincent Crosteau as a cordonnier, 34 years old, along with his wife and family.27 The common denominators between those three listings were the given name Vincent and the fact that the men were a cordonnnier, or shoemaker. The age of the men is problematic, but the 1681 census is incorrect as to Vincent’s age anyway, he being 37 at the time. Was the surname simply a clerical mistake in the census taking or subsequent transcriptions? Whatever the case, it contributes to the various ways in which the shoemaker’s name appears in the records of Quebec: Crodeau, Crosteau, Croteau, Crothos, Crotteau, Croustier and Croutier.
Eighty miles east of Veules-les-Roses is situated the city of Amiens. It is here in 1649, in the great cathedral of Notre-Dame, the largest cathedral in France, that Jacques Godequin and Jeanne Dupuis brought their baby daughter to be baptized. After Jacques death, Jeanne Godequin, now fatherless, was encouraged to travel to Quebec to find a husband. She became one of the approximate 800 girls and women to take part in the Catholic Diocese program to colonize Canada by encouraging Filles-du-Roi to wed Quebec men. Filles-du-Roi stands for daughters of the king. Traveling by land to Dieppe this maiden would there board a ship and arrive in Quebec in August of 1669 with no knowledge of whom she would marry.
The Marriage Contract of Vincent Croteau and Jeanne Godequin
Here’s a story of a man named Vincent, and a maiden named Jeanne, and how they, on 22 Sep 1669, inside the home of Lady Bourdon in the city of Quebec, came together to sign a contract of marriage in front of the Notary Romain Bequet. It was likely that Lady Bourdon, widow of Jean Bourdon, attorney general at the Sovereign Council of New France, had both recruited Jeanne while in France and then sheltered her while in Quebec City. Lady Bourdon was a well established benefactor of the Filles-du-Roi program. The meeting between Vincent and Jeanne was not by chance; history shows us that the men and women were well vetted candidates and that the process of meeting, getting to know each other, and culmination of the marriage contract, was a well orchestrated design of the nuns. Present that day in 1669 to witness this historic event in our ancestors life, was Marie Barbe de Boulogne, widow of the governor of Ailleboust, Denis Joseph de Ruette d’Autheuil, Lord of Sillery, who had succeeded Jean Bourdon as prosecutor general, and Simon Francois Daumont de Saint-Lusson, future explorer of the region of the Great Lakes. Neither the bride or groom was obligated or forced to marry the other. Jeanne must have seen something in the answers Vincent gave to her questions, as she chose him over the other suitors.
A marriage in New France was a coming together of not only the two participants getting married, but also their property. It is the marriage contract which stipulated how that property was to be combined into a figurative community chest — the husband, wife and children comprising the community. On Vincent’s part he was to provide property valued at 200 livres, taken from the finest and best part of his personal property. While Jeanne had lost her father before she came to Quebec she was well endowed for a Filles-du-Roi, her personal property value being rated at 300 livres. She contributed one-half of her property into the community chest, or 150 livres. She also had by gift of the King 50 livres for her participation in the program, and that went into the chest as well, bringing her total to match that of her groom. In front of several dignitaries, the couple had agreed to a lifelong partnership and promised that they would soon be married in a “Notre Mére Sainte Eglise Catholique,” a Catholic Church.
The marriage record itself cannot be located.
A Study of Notarized Contracts by Vincent Croteau
A uniqueness to researching genealogy in Quebec, is the reliance of Quebec law on notarized documents. If you wanted to make something legal, you had it signed in front of a notary. A similar process exists even today in Quebec. The notary in turn would make a copy of the document and catalog it in their log book. Notarized documents, just like their counterpart, the Drouin church records, haven’t all survived the elements of time and tragedy. When available, however, they remain a valuable and necessary tool for descendants to understand better the life of their Quebec ancestors. I’ve already shared one example of a contract that Vincent signed in front of the Notary Romain Bequet of Quebec City. He would sign three more before changing his primary Notary to Gilles Rageot.
In the marriage contract of 1669, Vincent Croteau was listed as a resident of Cap-Rouge. The typical amount of time contracted by all servants to the Jesuits was from 3-5 years. During his time employed by the Jesuits Vincent would not be free to marry. He could only have signed that contract on 22 September 1669 if he had fulfilled his contractual requirements to the Jesuits. A few months prior to his wedding Vincent signed another contract in front of Notary Bequet, this time an obligation, by which his formal engagement ended, but he agreed to continue to work for the Jesuits. He recognized, as a resident of Cap-Rouge, the sum of 49 pounds, both in goods and silver borrowed from the Jesuits. Here we have the binding of Croteau not only to Cap-Rouge, but also to the Jesuits. It is this notarized document that lends credence to the theory of the earlier census individual Vincent Croutier/Croustier, being Vincent Croteau, and an error in the census itself or the later transcription of it. The later 1681 census solidifies this theory as earlier elucidated.
On 4 April 1670, in front of Bequet, Vincent notarized a Bail. Unlike the American form of bail, the French form represented a rent of farm, land, or buildings, or, as in this instance, a cow. Croteau, of Cap-Rouge, agreed to lease from Jean Routtier, also of Cap-Rouge and the owner of the said seven-year old red milking cow, for three years at the cost of 30 pounds total. In this unique action we get a glimpse into what type of a man Vincent was, and perhaps what drew Jeanne to him. Why rent a cow? Why else — a baby was on the way! The soon-to-be father was planning ahead.
Probably on 9 November 1670, or soon thereafter, in front of the notary Pierre Duquet, dit de La Chenaye of Quebec City, Vincent leased a farm from Antoine Augeron, resident of Rivière-des-Roches, the location of said farm. This land measured 3 arpents in front by 40 in depth and was provided with a dwelling. The property was situated between the land of Pierre de la Voye on one side, and Mathieu Huboust sieur Deslongschamps on the other. Pierre de la Voye “Pierre Lavoie” is another of my 8th great-grandfathers. The Croteau family would soon move away from Rivière-des-Roches and it would be many generations before descendants of both men would eventually unite. That these two great-grandfather’s of mine, knew each other and interacted with each other is obvious in the next notarized document.
On the 2nd of December 1670, Vincent “Crosteau” is once again found at the house of notary Becquet, this time in the company of Laurent Herment (Armand), Jacques LeMeilleur and his neighbor, Pierre de La Voye. All four are contracting a Marché with Jean Talon, intendant of New France — A Marché is a business agreement or contract between two or more people. The deal is as follows: to deliver “… four thousand feet of cedar wood framing proper to the construction of gates and stockade, which will be 20 feet long by 8 or 9 inches square, and other pieces to be used in decorating the stockade posts…they have to deliver this wood …. at the dock of the said city of Quebec or at the inn … for the sum of twenty two “deniers” for each foot of wood to be paid by seignior Juchereau to the said enterprisers or their nominee…”. While Vincent would list his trade as a shoemaker in the census, to feed his family and prosper in New France he would have to do much more than his trade. He also had gained experience in clearing land and creating lumber from the fallen trees for the Jesuits while at Nostre Dame des Anges.
At the home of Notary Gilles Rageot in Quebec City, on 5 Oct 1671, Vincent leased land of Estienne Dumets, at Saint Michel in Cap-Rouge which measured 4 arpents 4 perches abreast by 40 deep, located bordering the Cap-Rouge river in the Demaure seigneury. This time, the lease includes 2 cows, 1 calf, 9 hens and 1 rooster and was witnessed by Jacques de la Touche and Guillaume Roger. The land is described as having had an arpent and a half burned from which Vincent, the farmer, could now clear with a pickaxe, enjoying any income from the crops grown. The contract provides for Vincent to give each year to the lessor the sum of 75 pounds and provide him with 25 bushels of wheat and 6 bushels of peas. He was responsible for the care and maintenance of the buildings and the animals for three years.
The first land purchase, as opposed to lease, by Vincent Crotteau occurred on 20 Feb 1673 and was for farm land located in Saint Michel owned by Jacques Arrivé and sold by his wife Renee de la Parte (Renee Laporte). This was a farm of 2 arpents front and 30 in depth and lay along the St. Lawrence River. Some genealogists claim that this farm was sold a few days later to Pierre Mailloux dit Desmoulins. I disagree. The notarized sale of this land did not occur until 5 Oct 1676 and in that document it clearly states that the lessor (Crotteau) was behind 2 years in arrears to the Seigneur, implying that he had owned the land at least that long. In that same document it states Vincent Crotteau was an inhabitant residing in the coste Saint Michel.
On 26 February 1673, only 6 days after the purchase of his property above, Vincent signs another bail at the home of Notary Rageot for the lease of 3 arpents of land and a dwelling, along the St. Lawrence River, and between the properties of the widow of Jean Juineau (Anne Vidault) on one side and D’Antoine Augeron on the other. This land was owned by Mathieu Hubou dit Deslongchamps. Louis Hebert’s industrious widow, Marie Rolet (my 12th great-grandmother,) would marry Guillaume Hubou as her third husband, the uncle of Mathieu Hubou. The term of the lease was for three years. Our farmer could take from the arable land what wheat he could grow and was allowed to chop wood that he needed for firewood provided he waste none. The lease also came with a red-haired cow of 7 years and buildings that the farmer must provide for and maintain.
5 October 1676 arrives with Vincent Croteau once again visiting the home of Notary Gilles Rageot where he is selling the farm he purchased on 20 Feb 1673. Our great planner must have encountered financial difficulties as he was two years behind in his obligation to the Demaure seigneury. This sale to Pierre Mailloux, however, would satisfy those debts, and our ancestor would be free to pursue other land deals.
On 1 November 1677 Vincent Croteau rents the farm of Noël Pinguet in Saint Michel for a period of 5 years, or until 1 November 1682. This event was notarized by Gilles Rageot in Quebec City on 6 March 1678. The farm was two arpents of frontage on the river by a depth undetermined, but probably 30 arpents like the others lots in this sector, and contained a house, barn, and cellar. Vincent would be responsible not only for the 50 pound annual payment to Pinguet but also the seigneurial rents. The contract was signed in the presence of Pierre Biron and Nicolas Metre. Pierre Biron’s first wife was Barbe Martin, daughter of Abraham Martin and Marguerite Langlois, my 9th great-grandparents.
The Croteau Homestead
The granting of fiefdoms in the seigneurial system of Quebec was unique in North America. From the start of settlement in New France, the King’s representatives had been parceling out land to wealthy or influential members of the Quebec society called seigneurs or lords. In principle, the seigneur would then grant a piece of land to a family under a royalty system. The family would engage in subsistence farming to meet most of their food, heating, and shelter needs. The seigneurial system was based on the feudal system, which involved the personal dependency of censitaires (tenants) on the seigneur. In New France the similarities ended with occupation of land and payment of certain dues. The tenant was normally referred to as a habitant. You can see the usage of that in the notarial contracts signed by Vincent Croteau. The lords had the obligation to rule over their domain, to grant lots, to see to its population, to ensure the administration of justice and the safety of the inhabitants, to develop roads and to build, operate and maintain flour mills, sawmills and others.
For his part, the settler, who was not the owner of the land, undertook to live and build on his lot, to clear it, to fence it and to put it under cultivation. Those whose lots fronted on the river, as was the case for the first occupants, also enjoyed fishing rights. The colonists had to pay the lord the cens (kind of tax) and the rent, either in money or in kind, as the case may be: fish, vegetables, poultry, cattle, firewood, fencing, timber or other products. In addition, the tenants were called upon to pay their own for certain works on the domain of the Lord as well as for the construction and maintenance of mills, chapels or churches, roads and culverts.
On 14 March 1684, Pierre Duquet, dit de La Chenaye, king’s attorney and royal notary (Vincent had a prior document notarized by Pierre Duquet, dit de La Chenaye on 9 Nov 1670), granted land on his seigneur to Vincent Croteau. “Pierre Duquet, Sieur de La Chenaye, king’s attorney and royal notary, residing in this city, which voluntarily recognized … and confessed to having leased out, left, ceded, transported and abandoned from now on and forever as a seigniorial census and rent to Vincent Croteau, residing now at the Côte de Lauzon, present and accepting, taking for himself his heirs or successors in title, six arpents of land on the St. Lawrence River and forty arpents of depth in the land to start at high tide and end at the end of the said forty arpents of depth … in high … being in the fiefdom and Seigneury of La Chenaye.” This 6 arpents of land was along the river which separated the seigneurs of La Chenaye and Villieu, and on the other side, was the land of Antoine Bisson. Antoine was the son of Gervais Bisson and Marie L’Herault my 10th great-grandparents.
The area where Vincent settled is just a post on the road of the missionary, Father Claude Volant of the mission of Saint Claude who served the South shore from Bellechasse to the Duchesne river, in Leclercville. The churches or chapels that will become the closest will be those of Saint-Nicolas, in the seigneury of Lauzon, which will be built in 1690 and that of Sainte-Croix, in the seigneury of the same name, erected in 1694. In the meantime, it was common for people to go to Neuville, on the north bank of the river, for baptisms, weddings, funerals or other religious ceremonies. That required the Croteau family to travel by canoe across the St. Lawrence in order to receive the sacraments. This would play a fateful roll for one of Vincent’s adult children.
Part of this land is still settled by Vincent’s descendants to this day. Vincent planned very well indeed!
Additional Notarized Document
On 5 November 1684, Vincent Crosteau and Nicolas Marion de la Fontaine, signed a Marché in front of the notary Pierre Duquet, dit de La Chenaye. Nicolas Marion was a merchant in the city of Quebec, and he had three hundred cords of wood that he needed dragged to the edge of the city. For his work ten sols for each cord would be paid to Vincent. However, from the total, Nicolas would extract the 27 pounds and 2 sols owed him (probably for the annual seigneurial fees.)
Legal Troubles for Vincent Croteau
A year after his marriage, while living at Saint François, Vincent got into an altercation with Guillaume Constantin who was then residing at St. Ignace. The records left to us are short on specifics, but it appears that the two had a fight which caused injury to Guillaume on the 18th of July 1670. After the altercation Vincent fled the area, but was subsequently captured and imprisoned. The Conseil Souverain heard the case and jailed Vincent for three additional days beyond time served as well as requiring him to pay damages and interest to Guillaume, the doctor who attended Guillaume, and half the hospital charge. Interestingly they also required Guillaume to pay 1/2 the hospital charge which likely indicates he was in some manner culpable as well.
The Family of Vincent Croteau and Jeanne Godequin
Vincent Croteau and Jeanne Godequin had the following children:
Jeanne Croteau2, 33 was born on 02 Jul 1670 in Sillery, Quebec. She died on 08 May 1717 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec2. She married Antoine Beziers Moras on 26 Nov 1685 in Neuville, Quebec2, 33. Jeanne Croteau2, 33 was baptized on 03 Jul 167034 in Sillery, Quebec.
Louis Croteau1-2, 35-37 was born on 28 Nov 1672 in Cap-Rouge, Quebec (Riviere-des-Roches2). He died on 19 May 1747 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. He married (1) Marie Louise Bordeleau, daughter of Antoine Bordeleau Laforest and Pierrette Alie, on 22 Nov 1695 in Neuville, Quebec1-2, 36, 38. She was born in 1676. She died in 1720. He married (2) Marie Angelique Chatillion Godin Desroches, daughter of Pierre Chatillon Godin Desroches and Marie Jeanne Cochon, on 01 Sep 1721 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec37. Louis Croteau1-2, 35-37 was baptized on 30 Nov 1672 in Cap-Rouge, Quebec (Riviere-des-Roches39). He was buried on 20 May 1747 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec40. He also went by the name of Louis Creteau41. Marie Louise Bordeleau1-2, 35-36 was baptized on 15 Aug 1676 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec36. She was buried on 01 Jul 1720 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec36.
Laurent Croteau2 was born on 15 Nov 1674 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec, (Riviere-des-Roches2). Laurent Croteau2 was baptized on 27 Nov 1674 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec42.
Nicolas Croteau2 was born on 29 Jan 1677 in St-Michel, Quebec2. He died on 14 Mar 1723 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. He married Marie Catherine Meny on 11 Nov 1709 in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec2. Nicolas Croteau2 was baptized on 01 Feb 167743 in Sillery, Quebec.
Jean Croteau2 was born on 03 Apr 16792 in Sillery, Quebec. He died in 1684. Jean Croteau2 was baptized on 04 Apr 167944 in Sillery, Quebec. He was buried on 26 Dec 1684 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec2, 45.
Pierre Croteau2 was born about 1681 in Quebec, Canada. He died on 25 May 1760 in Hôpital général de Montréal2. The baptismal record for Pierre Croteau has not been found. His parents were listed as residing in St-Michel, a small settlement that would become part of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, in the 1681 census. Pierre was not included in that listing, but neither was his 2 year old sister Jean Croteau. It would appear then, that this 1681 census listing likely was not provided by Vincent or his wife at the time.
Charles Croteau2, 6 was born about 1682 in Quebec, Canada2. He died on 19 Jun 1745 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. He married (1) Suzanne Meny on 02 May 1709 in Sainte-Famille, L’Île-d’Orléans, Quebec2, 46. He married (2) Marie Dion, daughter of Philippe Dion and Suzanne Meteyer, on 13 Oct 1710 in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec6. Charles Croteau2, 6 was buried on 20 Jun 1745 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec47. The baptismal record for Charles has not been found. His parents were listed as residing in St-Michel, a small settlement that would become part of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, in the 1681 census. Neither his nor his brother, Pierre, baptismal record has been found. Charles was 27 when he married Suzanne Mesny (Meny) on 02 May 1709
Marie Anne Croteau2, 48 was born on 21 May 1685 in Quebec, Canada2, 48. She died in 1695 in Quebec, Canada. Marie Anne Croteau2, 48 was baptized on 27 May 1685 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec48. She was buried on 11 Jan 1695 in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec2.
Pierre Croteau2, 49 was born on 01 Sep 1687 in Quebec, Canada2, 49. He died on 26 Dec 1765 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. He married Marie Chartre Chartrain, daughter of Francois Chartre and Marie Pauline Morin, on 29 Apr 17152, 50 in Charlesbourg, Quebec. Pierre Croteau2, 49 was baptized on 07 Sep 1687 in Neuville, Quebec49.
Jacques Croteau2 was born about 16902. He died on 18 Dec 1766 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. He married Marie Charlotte Dupont on 11 Oct 1728 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2, 51. The baptismal record for Jacques Croteau has not been found.
Marie Louise Croteau2 was born on 21 Oct 1692 in Quebec, Canada2. She died on 14 Apr 1734 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2. She married Jacques Genest Labarre on 22 Nov 1733 in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec2, 52. Marie Louise Croteau2 was baptized on 06 Nov 1692 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec53.
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 23903, citing image d1p_31210606.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1710-10-13, St-Nicolas; Charles Croteau of Ste-Croix, single, and Marie Dion, single; father of groom, Vincent Croteau; mother of groom, Jean Gautier; father of bride, Philippe Dion; mother of bride, Suzanne Meteyer; witnessed by Jean Baptiste Dubois and Jean Alari; priest, Lepicart. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/23903; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Ancestry.com, Quebec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1637-1935 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016), Ancestry.com, Répertoires de notaires (Notarial catalogs), Québec, Becquet, Romain (1665-1682), 48 of 100; Fonds Cour Supérieure. Greffes de notaires. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61062/images/45894_83024005550_1161-00049.
Jugements et délibérations du Conseil souverain de la Nouvelle-France, Pierre-J.-Olivier Chauveau, New France, Conseil supérieur de Québec (1885), p 627-628; PDF, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/).
Ancestry.com, Quebec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1637-1935 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016), Ancestry.com, Répertoires de notaires (Notarial catalogs), Québec, la Chesnaye, Pierre Duquet de (1663-1687); image 60 of 250; Original data: Fonds Cour Supérieure. Greffes de notaires. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61062/images/45894_83024005549_1526-00061.
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 55159, citing images d1p_31100004.jpg and d1p_31100005.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1685-11-26, Neuville; Anotine Bessiere of Villefranche, Eveche De Rodez, Rouergue, single, aged 35, and Jeanne Croteau, single, aged 16; father of groom, Paul Bessiere; mother of groom, Etiennette Givergue; father of bride, Vincent Croteau, of De LaChenaye; mother of bride, Jeanne Gobquin of De LaChenaye; witnesses, Antoine Buisson, Henri Chatel and Jean Lepic; priest, J Basset. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/55159; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 74825, citing image d1p_31400657.jpg last accessed 28 Jul 2021. Baptism, 1670-07-03, Sillery; Jeanne Croteau, female; father, Vincent Croteau, mother Jeanne Cotquin; godfather, Jacques Girard; godmother, Jeanne Yvonne;pries, Josepg Marie Chaumonnot. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/74825; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 55216, citing images d1p_31100080.jpg and d1p_31100081.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1695-11-22, Neuville; Louis Croteau of Ste-Croix, Eveche De Quebec, single, aged 23, and Marie Louis Bordeleau, single, aged 18; father of groom, Vincent Croteau of Ste-Croix, Eveche De Quebec; mother of groom, Jean Godequin of Ste-Croix, Eveche De Quebec; father of bride, Antoine Bordeleau; mother of bride, Pierrette Aliere; witnesses, Claude Charpantier and Antoine Bordeleau; priest, J Basset. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/55216; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 134911, citing image d1p_31220508.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Burial, 1747-05-20, St-Antoine-de-Tilly; Louis Croteau, male, single, 76 years old; father, Vincent Croteau; mother, Jeanne Gotien; priest Noel; The act is dated June but it is truly an error; it is located between b 1747-05-08 and s 1747-06-09. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/134911; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 58809, citing image d1p_31410639.jpg; last accessed 29 Jul 2021. Baptism, 1672-11-30, recorded at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, but baptism occurred at La Riviere du Cap-Rouge; born 1672-11-28, Louis Cretau, male; father, Vincent Cretaul; mother, Jeanne Gotquin; godfather, Louis Delahaye; godmother, Madeleine Duval, wife of Pierre Chapeau; M. Dethune had officy at the baptism and M. Ango wrote the act. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/58809; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 59135, citing image d1p_31410667.jpg; last accessed 29 Jul 2021. Baptism, 1674-11-27, Notre-Dame-de-Quebec; Laurent Croteau, male, of Riviere-des-Roches; birth, 1674-11-15; father, Vincent Croteau, of Riviere-des-Roches; mother, Jeanne Godequin of Riviere-des-Roches; godfather, Laurent Armand; godmother, Madeleine Duval, wife of Pierre Chapeau; priest officiating was Cyprient Dufort of the Seminaire de Quebec, and the acte was written by Henri Debernieres. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/59135; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 75170, citing image d1p_31400662.jpg; last accessed 29 Jul 2021. Baptism, 1677-02-01, Sillery; Nicolas Crotteau, male, of St-Michel at Notre-Dame-de-Foy; birth, 1677-01-29; father, Vincent Crotteau, of St-Michel at Notre-Dame-du-Foy; mother, Jeanne Godequin of St-Michel at Notre-Dame-du-Foy; godfather, Nicolas Langar; godmother, Marie Bonhomme, wife of St Crespin; priest, Antoine Dalmas. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/75170; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 75270, citing image d1p_31400663.jpg; last accessed 29 Jul 2021. Baptism, 1679-04-04, Sillery; Jean Croteau, male, of St-Michel; birth, 1679-04-03; father, Vincent Croteau, of St-Michel; mother, Jeanne Godequin of St-Michel; godfather, Jean Nuau Destcrespin; godmother, Marie Duval, wife of Pierre Mauffouex; priest, Antoine Dalmas. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/75270; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 69485, citing image d1p_31410945.jpg; last accessed 29 Jul 2021. Burial, 1684-12-26, Notre-Dame-de-Quebec; Jean Croteau, male, 5 years old; father, Vincent Croteau; mother, Jeanne Godequin; witnesses: Charles Deschambaut and Charles Nepveu; priest Henri Debernieres. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/69485; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 32789, citing image d1p_30780334.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1709-05-02, Ste-Famille, Island of Orleans; Charles Croteau of Ste-Croix, single, aged 27, and Suzanne Mesny, single, aged 20; father of groom, Vincent Croteau; mother of groom, Jean Godequin; father of bride, Etienne Mesni, deceased; mother of bride, Catherine Leisne; witnessed by Thierry Hazeur of St-Francois, Jean Desblois, Jacques Croteau, Pierre Croteau, and Raymond Chretien; they dispensed of the usual three bans, Priest Glandelet, finding no impediment to the marriage, and Priest Felix gives his blessing to the marriage, Priest F. Lamy gave consent. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/32789; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 60233, citing image d1p_31410955.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Baptism, 1685-05-27, Québec (Notre-Dame-de-Québec); Marie Anne Croteau, female; birth, 1685-05-21; father, Vincent Croteau; mother, Jeanne Godequin; godfather, Jean Levrard; godmother, Anne Demer, wife of Jean Demer of Cote De Lauzon; priest, Henri Debernieres. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/60233; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 53804, citing image d1p_31100017.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Baptism, 1687-09-07, Neuville; Pierre Croteau, male; birth, 1687-09-01; father, Vincent Croteau; mother, Jeanne Godequin; godfather, Pierre Jallet; godmother, Ursule Trut, wife of Antoine of Cote De Lachenay du Quet; priest, Basset. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/53804; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 81285, citing image d1p_30991104.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1715-04-29, Charlesbourg; Pierre Croteau of Ste-Croix, single, and Marie Chartre of Ste-Croix, single; father of groom, Vincent Croteau; mother of groom, Francoise Gautier; father of bride, Francois Chartre; mother of bride, Marie Pauline Morin; witnessed by Simon and Jean Morin, Pierre Auclaid, Jacques Morand and Bernard Regneaul; priest, Leboullenger. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/81285; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 25116, citing image d1p_31220398.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1728-10-11, St-Antoine-de-Tilly; Jacques Croteau, single, and Marie Charlotte Dupont, single; father of groom, Vincent Croteau; mother of groom, Jeanne Codequin; father of bride, Guilladume Dupont; mother of bride, Suzanne Metaier; witnessed by Louis and Charles Croteau, Charles Rosseau, Jean Grenon, Francois Guyon, Degaspee, Jacques Houdes and Jean Baptiste Houde; priest, Resche. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/25116; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 134690, citing image d1p_31220423.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Marriage, 1733-11-22, St-Antoine-de-Tilly; Jacques Genet, widow, and Marie Croteau, single; spouse of groom, Louise Gaudin, deceased; father of bride, Vincent Croteau, deceased; mother of bride, Jeanne Gaudequin; witnessed by Louis, Charles, and Pierre Croteau, Jean Grenon, Etienne Demiets and Francois Grenon; priest, Rouillard. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/134690; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 60905, citing image d1p_31411146.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Baptism, 1692-11-06, Québec (Notre-Dame-de-Québec); Marie Louise Croteau, female, of Villeaux; birth, 1687-09-01; father, Vincent Croteau of Villeaux; mother, Jeanne Godequin of Villeaux; godfather, Louis Michel D’Huesre; godmother, Marie Anne Levrard, wife of Jean Levrar; priest, N Dubos. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/60905; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 25223, citing image d1p_31220394.jpg; last accessed 09 August 2021. Burial, 1727-10-04, St-Antoine-de-Tilly; Jeanne Gaudequin, female, widow, 80 years old; spouse, Vincent Croteau, deceased; witnesses: Rosseau and Jacques Houde; priest Resche. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/25223; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Proving a legend is a difficult task when so little facts are known. When time mangles memories, our minds try to fill in the gaps with something… anything. I find most family legends have a basic theme, but the actual facts may change depending on who you ask, and how much they embellish those missing gaps.
“Grandma’s Grandma was an Indian. Or was it Grandma’s Great-Grandma?” That is the legend that was passed down to me from my father, and to him by his mother. While the tribe and details changed depending on who I talked to in the family – some had grandma’s grandma as a full-blood, one cousin claimed we descended from Choctaw Indians – the general theme rang true, our recent family believed and passed down that an ancestor of Della Phyllis Grenier, my grandmother, was an Indian.
There is a great amount of circumstantial evidence surrounding our family legend. After all, many of our cousins are part of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi. This is a state recognized Nation in Swanton, Vermont. While based out of Swanton, the Nation claims many members from the area towns, including Highgate, the town directly north which shares the Missisquoi River. Highgate is where my grandmother, and her parents were born. A lot of the French-Canadian families which grew up in Swanton and Highgate have a similar legend, and that’s how the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi came about in the 1960s-1970s. It took until 2012 before the state agreed to recognize the Nation. The Nation failed in their attempt to gain Federal recognition, and I doubt they could succeed. There are excessive gaps in their timeline, and the legend as it was being told to the federal government had gotten too embellished.
I had to go way, way back to prove my grandmother’s Native American heritage. That she has a Native American direct ancestor is undeniably true. It may even be true that there is a second direct line, if not Native American by blood, then Native American by adoption. Further, there is a prevalent theme in her genealogy, and that is the inter-marriage of my ancestors and their offspring with Indigenous women.
Marie Olivier Ouchistaouichkoue Manitouabeouich… that’s a mouthful. If I spell her Native name as the French did it would look something like 8chista8ichk8e Manit8abe8ich, that is because the French were unable to directly translate the guttural ou sound made, it coming closest to the French number 8, huit. Marie Olivier is the name the Superior Jesuit, Barthelemy Vimont, used in her marriage record. When looking at that marriage record, you will see that her father was clearly identified as Roch Manit8abe8ich Sauvage. Sauvage is the French term for an Indian at that time.
The marriage record never mentions the mother of Marie. Nor can I find a baptismal record for her. But on 18 May 1642, priest Joseph Duperon baptized an Indian child named Claire Aimikoue at the same parish. Godmother of the child was Marie Olivier Ouchistaouichkoue. Some genealogists believe that Ouchistaouichkoue is her mother’s name, and the name Marie went by. Most tribes identified through the female line. When a man and woman from different tribes married, the man usually assumed the wife’s clan and tribe as his own, their offspring did the same. Contemporary genealogists have identified the mother of Marie as Huron, the father Algonquian. I see no evidence which clearly states either, and many friendly tribes were often intermingled around the French villages. Without specific proof I remain skeptic on our ability to know which Nation she belonged to. Eventually, most of these tribes friendly to the French assimilated themselves into the Abenaki by the 1700s.
Marie married my 10th great-grandfather, Martin Prevost, on 03 Nov 1644 at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec. Witness to that marriage was another of my great grandfathers, Guillaume Couillard. Martin and Marie would have eight children, four of whom would eventually marry and have children of their own. Many of their children and grandchildren would maintain connections to the fur trade, generation after generation, trading with the various tribes both in Canada and United States. They often had a lifestyle of living as the Canadians did when with them, and living as the Natives did when with them. In America they would be called “half-bloods,” in Canada they were called Metis. Canada has officially recognized these Metis communities. The United States has not.
I don’t expect anything from my ancestry but the knowledge of it. I do find it interesting though, that I can document and prove my ancestry from a Native American, while most members of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi cannot.
Institut généalogique Drouin, Le LAFRANCE, acte 66353, citing image d1p_31410434.jpg and d1p_31410435.jpg; last accessed 18 Jan 2021. Marriage, 1644-11-03, Québec (Notre-Dame-de-Québec); Martin Prevost of Paroisse de Montreuil, Bois-de-Vincennes, single, and Marie Olivier, single, Sauvagesse; father of groom, Pierre Prevost; mother of groom, Charlotte Vien; father of bride, Roch Manitouabeouich, Indien; witnesses, Olivier Letardif and Guillaume Couillard; priest Barthelemy Vimont. https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/66353; database with images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/lafrance).
Louis Hébert monument. Photo by Jean Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
In Quebec City, the Louis Hébert Monument stands in the corner of the garden of the Hôtel-de-Ville. The work of Canadian sculptor, Alfred Laliberté, the statue represents Louis Hébert, the first European settler of Canada, standing on the plinth, offering to God the first sheaf of wheat harvested on Canadian soil. At the base of the pedestal, on the right, is a group of children surrounding the courageous wife of Louis Hébert, Marie Rolet, considered the first teacher of the country; on the left, is represented full of nobility and pride, Louis Hébert’s son-in-law, Guillaume Couillard, the first to plow Canadian soil.
I descend from all three of the individuals depicted on this statue. Louis and Marie are my 12th Great-Grandparents. Their daughter, Marie Guillemette Hébert, married Guillaume Couillard, and they are my 11th great-grandparents. That means my ancestors were the first European settler, first European farmer, and first European teacher of Canada.
You would have to roll back the calendar to 1606 to discover when Louis Hébert first set foot on the new continent. He was an apothecary, which at that time meant he studied and cultivated plants for medicinal purposes. But on this new continent he also needed to study which European plants could be cultivated for food, and which new plants would he find for both food and medicinal purposes. It also helped that Louis was studied in what was considered medicine at the time and could substitute as a doctor. It is these reasons that he was engaged by the explorer Dugua on his voyage to the New World.
Like many at that time, Louis took on the same occupation as that of his father. But his father wasn’t an ordinary apothecary, he was the Queen’s (Catherine de’ Medici) apothecary and physician, and helped care for the gardens of the Louvre in Paris. He was also landlord for about 10 homes in Paris. Louis grew up just down the street from the Royal house, at 129 de la rue Saint-Honore. But the affluence of Louis childhood suddenly ended in 1580 when his mother fell victim to the plague. Louis mother dying while he was a child, it was his elder sister Charlotte, and her husband, who acted as guardians for Louis as late as 1602.
Louis was born abt 1575 to Nicolas Hébert and Jacqueline Pajot. His mother was on marriage two, having been widowed by Louis de Cueilly. This is where the affluence came from, as the homes managed by Nicolas actually came from his wife’s first husband’s first marriage. They were intended for his children, not subsequent children born to Nicolas and her. Added to that, France was in disarray. From 1588-1590 Paris was under siege due to the War of Religion occurring in France by King Henri III and his successor, Henri de Navarre. With Queen Catherine de’ Medici dying in 1589, it comes as no surprise that in 1596 we find Nicolas imprisoned two years for debts.
Like his father before him, Louis received an early education of Latin, grammar and humanities. After his education was complete Louis began study under the guidance of masters in apothecary. In 1600, at the end of his education Louis deigned himself a Parisian bourgeois, grocer, and apothecary merchant. His future plans, however, would be hard-pressed by his mounting debts. It is under the pressure of these debts that Louis saw the advantage of serving with Pierre Dugua de Monts at Port Royal for one year starting in March 1606. In September of 1606, Louis accompanied Dugua and Samuel de Champlain on a further exploratory excursion south along the Atlantic seacoast. On this excursion the party would stop at various points along the route and plant wheat and vines. On 2 October 1606 the party landed their boat at Port Fortuné which is now Stage Harbour in Massachusetts. That night, five of the party who stayed on shore were attacked by the Abenaki. Louis and another unnamed Frenchman who had stayed on the boat were alerted to the attack by shouts and came to the aid of those on shore. Unfortunately, while the two were able to fend off the assailants, only one of the men on shore survived. His hand partly blown off by the explosion of his own musket, Robert Gravé would be healed by Louis, and eventually founded the first European settlement in New Brunswick. Dugua lost his fur trading monopoly in 1607 and his excursion returned to France.
Louis returned to Port Royal in 1611. While there his status at the struggling outpost grew and he eventually found himself the mediator between the young governor and the Jesuits. The Jesuits had asked for more assistance from the authorities and until they received it they deprived the colony of it’s religious ceremonies. Unable to come to terms, the Jesuits left Port Royal and settled further south. Two years later, in 1613, at a time of Governor Biencourt’s absence, Louis took temporary charge of Port Royal. Before the British invaded Port Royal in October 1613, though, Louis had returned home to France and his family.
In 1617, Louis divested himself of his holdings in France and took up employment with the Compagnie des Marchands de Rouen et de Saint-Malo. He desired to take his entire family with him to New France, and settle the new outpost at Quebec. His final agreement with the company was to work for two years at 200 livres per year, and afterward, he would need to be reliant on him own work. During that two year period, anything Louis cultivated would be given to the company for distribution amongst the community, and his medical work would be provided free of charge. On 6 March 1617 he signed the contract even though the company had at the last minute demanded it be changed to their benefit. Having divested his holdings, with no material possessions but the few bags they carried, he was in little position to change his mind so late in the process.
On 14 June 1617, Louis and family arrived at Tadoussac, and less than a month later traveled to Quebec, probably by canoe. Once there, with the help of the company he built a small wooden house. Within three years, he would build a stone house, and it would serve as the only private residence in Quebec into the 1630’s. In 1623 the Duc de Montmorency, viceroy of New France, recognized Louis’s ownership of his lands on the promontory. Champlain complained to the Company that only Louis was farming. At that time, along with the stone house, Louis had cleared the land and planted a plot of grain, vegetables, and various herbs. He also had grape vines, apple and plum trees. All other members of the company were active in the fur trade and reliant on Louis, the friendly Natives, and the Company for their sustenance.
Louis struggled with his contract. The de Caëns, a Protestant family which headed up the commercial interests of Quebec, consistently made things difficult for Louis. They rebuffed his requests for a plough and two hired men to assist with the gardening, and they rejected complaints of damage their pigs were doing to Louis garden. The community was split between the two factions, those aligned with the commercial interests of the de Caëns, and those aligned with the Héberts. Eventually the de Caëns settled with Louis, and agreed to pay him 100 livres annually in provisions. Through all of this, Louis continued to supply the struggling community with the produce it needed to survive.
In the winter of 1627 Louis died after a fall on the ice. His body was first buried in the Recollect cemetery, but was later transferred to a vault of the Recollect chapel and laid beside the body of Brother Pacifique Duplessis.
If I look at the life of Louis I see a man driven by his earnest attempt to provide for the needs of his family, his community, and his nation. It is an attribute all men should try to achieve in life.
Certified genealogist, Amy Johnson Crow, created a program by which she encourages genealogists to write about 52 ancestors each week over the whole year. She calls it, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Since I was making a renewed effort to actually put down on paper all the stories my 40 years + research has accumulated, I thought in 2021 that I would take on her tasks as well. Why, since I was already planning to write anyway? I am hoping for ideas that trigger themes for me to adapt each week. That’s the point of her prompts. I, however, shall write many more than the 52 articles on 52 ancestors needed to complete the year. To keep these together I have listed them below as I complete them.
January 2021
Week 1 (Jan. 1-10): Beginnings
My choice this week is to continue my recent writings on the family of Mathurin Meunier and Françoise Fafard. They played an intricate role in the beginning history of Montreal, Canada. I also added an article about Louis Hebert, the first European settler in Canada.
Proving a legend is a difficult task when so little facts are known. When time mangles memories, our minds try to fill in the gaps with something… anything. I find most family legends have a basic theme, but the actual facts may change depending on who you ask, and how much they embellish those missing gaps.
