Once again, thanks to Quebec parish registers, I managed to get a glimpse into the story of my Acadian ancestors. The baptismal record of my 4G aunt, Marie Esther Gaudet, reveals that if she was baptized at age 9 months in L’Assomption, Quebec, on September 28, 1767, she was actually born in Conaticotte—State of Connecticut in the US. Her parents, my ancestors, were Bonaventure Gaudet and Marie Bourgeois. Continue reading
Category Archives: Genealogy
My 2019 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words—or More | B for Brittany
Nearly 40 years ago, I visited Belle-Île-en-Mer in Brittany, France, where I remember having learned that some Acadians were deported to France and settled on this island. Continue reading
My 2019 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words—or More | A for Acadian Ancestors
When I first went down the genealogy rabbit hole in 1990, I visited one of my paternal aunts enquiring about old family pictures. As I expected, she didn’t have much. I remember clearly, though, that she handed me the picture of her paternal grandmother, proudly calling her “L’Acadienne“. Her name was Philomène Leblanc. Continue reading
French Canadians Living in Ferrisburgh, VT in 1850: #18 Antoine Stone
Antoine is listed in the 1850 US Census for Ferrisburgh. He is referred to as Antoine Stone on Page 304 (stamped-right page), Line 31, Household 162, with the following persons listed, respectively, on lines 32, 33, and 34:
The Mystery of Louise Tourville’s Birthdate (née Corriveau) (~1800-1875)
Cousin Denise was searching in vain for the baptismal record of Louise Corriveau (“our” Louise—as we will call her here for ease of reference—was married to her ancestor François Tourville/Courville), when she contacted me and correctly pointed out that one of our Louise’s sisters was called… Marie-Louise. I thought what an interesting puzzle that is!
My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: Z for Zezare
Let’s end this challenge with one of the funniest surname variations I have ever found in the Ferrisburgh Town Vital Records. I was in Salt Lake City, leaning over the microfilm reader, when I noticed a family name ending in “ville”. Who is this? Isn’t it Sophie Tourville’s marriage I am trying to establish for years? Yes, it is! The bride is indeed Sophie Tourville—or Sophia Curville as per the record—and the groom is Joseph Giguère—spelled Joseph Zezare! Isn’t this the proof that sometimes indexes are not that useful and that you need to go through everything?
To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.
My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: Y for Yattaw
I am so grateful to the parish priest of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu! In 1799, had he not rehabilitated the marriage of Joseph Guertin [Yattaw in Vermont] and Marie-Françoise Chartier—married in Vergennes on December 26, 1798—I would have never known that his parents were Pierre Guertin and Marie-Angélique Allaire. Marie-Françoise was Peter and Polly Chartier‘s daughter. Their first three children were baptized in Quebec. Starting 1806, the subsequent children were born in Vermont. The Yattaws are among the oldest French Canadian families living in Vergennes. Joseph’s name appears on the Vergennes Voters List in 1815.
To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.
My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: X for Maiden Name
I am thinking here of all the French Canadian women who lived in Vergennes and were only identified by their husband’s name. Being from Quebec, I now realize how lucky we are to have access to informative Catholic Church records. Searches I conducted in the United States proved to be frustrating when I was faced with the first name of Mary for any clue. Some French Canadians were married in Protestant Churches in Vermont—unfortunately, records have not survived. Looking for their maiden name can be annoying, indeed, but it can be so rewarding when you finally hit the jackpot!
To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.
My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: W for Water Street
I have always been a devoted fan of old maps. Especially those on which the land owners’ names are mentioned. I am indeed looking at a very informative 1871 map of Vergennes: there, on South Water Street, just east of Otter Creek, I read familiar names from my research such as Amblo (Imbleau), Douglass (Daudelin), Danyo (Daignault), Domino (St-Sauveur dit Dominé), Balduke (Bolduc), Garno (Galarneau), and so many. Mr. C. Sheller—Mitchell Rock and Elizabeth Cutler’s son-in-law—also resides on this street. That’s probably where the Rocks were living since Elizabeth died in that house in 1872.
To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.
My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: V for Vergennes
Last summer, while I was in Vergennes, I asked someone to tell me how to pronounce the city’s name. And surprisingly, she said that I got it right—it’s a French name! It was indeed named after Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (1719-1787), a Frenchman who played a role in supporting the rebels during the American Revolutionary War.
You might actually assume that my favourite place in town is the county clerk’s office where you may find vital records, land records, naturalization index, voters list index, tax records, and burial records. Well, let’s not forget the Black Sheep Bistro!
To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.