The Bangle Files: #28 | A Twenty-Year Gap

Remember John Bangle and Louise Couvillon? The last we heard from them, they were both serving a sentence in a Montréal prison during the course of the month of October 1820. If you are like me, you are no doubt brainstorming about what happened to them.

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ChallengeAZ 2017—A Bangle Dictionary | V for Visitor

The visitor we’re talking about here is Michael Flynn, 26, Irish and Catholic, a private of the British 37th Regiment of Foot which was stationed in Sorel in 1820. The house of John Bangle on King Street seems to have been a welcoming hangout for privates looking for a drink. When he knocked on John’s door on that September night, it seems that Michael had already had a glass too many. As he used a window to let himself in, John warned the intruder to get out. No use: John shot him and Michael Flynn died right on the spot.

The Bangle Files


The 2017 Challenge A to Z is proposed to the French community of bloggers by Sophie Boudarel of La Gazette des ancêtres

ChallengeAZ 2017—A Bangle Dictionary | S for Sorel

At the turn of the 19th century, John Bangle’s family and mother, and later on, sister Catherine and Jacob Smith’s family, settled in Sorel. The Seignory of Sorel was bought by Governor Frederick Haldimand in 1781 to accommodate loyalists who came to Canada from America after the Revolutionary War in 1777. Various military regiments were stationed in Sorel. There was also an Invalid Establishment, mainly for loyalists, veterans, and their family. The town was once known as William Henry from 1787 to 1860, after His Royal Highness’ visit to the town. Afterwards, the place changed its name back to Sorel.

The Bangle Files


The 2017 Challenge A to Z is proposed to the French community of bloggers by Sophie Boudarel of La Gazette des ancêtres

ChallengeAZ 2017—A Bangle Dictionary | L for Law

For all these ancestors we have never met, we might come up with a clue or two about their traits of personality. Take John Bangle for example. Don’t you think the guy had an aversion to authority? Thanks to the laws in place and the documents left behind for future generations to enjoy, we know that John was sued by his brother-in-law for not having reimbursed him; that he didn’t care much for the Invalid Establishment’s rules in Sorel by failing to show up for the muster roll; and that he murdered a private in his later years.

The Bangle Files


The 2017 Challenge A to Z is proposed to the French community of bloggers by Sophie Boudarel of La Gazette des ancêtres

ChallengeAZ 2017—A Bangle Dictionary | H for Hogan

William Hogan was a private of the British 49th Regiment of Foot stationed in Sorel. He married Mary Bangle (daughter of John; granddaughter of Adam) in January 1810 in the same town. According to the Catholic church records, they had three children (1810; 1811; 1815). William Hogan deserted his regiment during the course of 1810. In 1811, he was sentenced to be deported to the Leeward Islands for the next seven years. Was he really the father of Pierre, the third child? Has he returned to Sorel? Or was Mary left behind with the children? Sleuthing work is needed quickly!

The Bangle Files


The 2017 Challenge A to Z is proposed to the French community of bloggers by Sophie Boudarel of La Gazette des ancêtres

The Bangle Files: #20 | Murder She Wrote

BANQ

Parish of Saint-Pierre of Sorel
Michel Flynn

On September Seventh, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, I, the undersigned vicar priest, have buried in the cemetery of this parish, the body of Michel Flynn, Roman Catholic, assassinated on the sixth instant, in one of this borough’s houses, according to the testimonies of several witnesses. The said Michel Flynn was about twenty-eight years old. Were present Thomas Pratt and William Pococh, people who have signed with us.

Thomas Pratt
William Pococh — M. Cusson, Priest

[Translation from French: Diane Tourville]

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The Bangle Files #14: John Bangle & Marie-Louise Couvillon

BANQI prefer not to rush things regarding the land records of John Bangle as I still have some dots to connect, so I thought it would be a good idea to present to you the second wife of John Bangle in the meantime. Continue reading

French Canadians Living in Ferrisburgh, VT in 1850: #8 Marie Cognac

vermont 2016

Mary Sorrell (née Cognac) is listed in the 1850 US Census for Ferrisburgh. She is referred to as Mary Sorell on Page 306 (stamped), Line 18, Household 190, with the following persons listed, respectively, on lines 17 and 19 to 21:

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French Canadians Living in Ferrisburgh, VT in 1850: #7 Oliver Sorrell

vermont 2016

Oliver Sorrell is listed in the 1850 US Census for Ferrisburgh. He is referred to as Oliver Sorell on Page 306 (stamped), Line 17, Household 190, with the following persons listed, respectively, on lines 18 to 21:

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The Bangle Files: #4 | The Children of Catherine Bangle and Jacob Schmidt

BANQThis week, let’s turn our attention to the daughter of Adam Bangle and Marie Davis, Catherine (she’s also the sister of William whom I wrote about in this series’ previous article). We know from her father’s will that she was married to Jacob Smith (or Schmidt). Once again, the church records of Saint-Louis-de-France Parish of Terrebonne will allow us to know who were the couple’s children. Continue reading