My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: C for Chartier

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While working on a project like mine, discoveries come from all kinds of sources. I first “met” Peter/Pierre Chartier—born in Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu in 1756—in a Revolutionary War Pension File application made by his wife, Polly Robinson. Peter marries Polly—Marie-Françoise Robinet—in New York State shortly after the war. He dies in Vergennes in 1820. Besides, their respective identity was corroborated owing to two of their children baptized in 1787 (parish of Chambly). Clearly, I had found in this family probably the oldest French Canadians living in Vergennes in the early 1800s.

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My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: B for Bixby

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The Bixby Memorial Free Library is located on Main Street, in Vergennes. It has a large collection of historical newspapers, and genealogy items. Moreover, the Vermont Collection has everything a history buff needs to read about the city, area, and the State of Vermont.

It was named after William Gove Bixby, born in 1829 in Vergennes where he spent most of his lifetime and died in 1907. To everyone’s surprise, Bixby—he had told no one of his wishes—had bequeathed funds for the establishment of a public library in his hometown. The first cornerstone was laid in September 1911.

To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.

My 2018 French ChallengeAZ in 100 Words: A for Addison

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Located in the western Central Vermont Region, Addison County is bordered to the west by majestic Lake Champlain. The primary stream of the county, Otto Creek, represents a significant source of water power. If numerous French Canadians settled in Addison County starting around 1840, others came much earlier, seeking work opportunities offered by the Monkton Iron Company, established in the little city of Vergennes at the outset of the 19th century, and several farms in Ferrisburgh and surrounding areas. Surnames of some of the French Canadian pioneers included the following: Yattaw (Guertin), Labonté, Little (Petit), and Rock (Desrochers dit Frenière).

To Learn More About my Vermont Project, click here.

Ovila Tourville (1885-1950) and the Gas Main Leak

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The first time I went to Europe, I was quite young and still living at home with my parents. While abroad, I had noticed that all the people I visited were using gas ranges for cooking and I really liked that.

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Genealogy? Still on my Mind… And the 2018 French ChallengeAZ Too

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You may have noticed that I was off the genealogy radar for a while now. Please do not assume that my interest in my favourite hobby has faded, quite the contrary!

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Genealogy Investigations in Missouri and Illinois #2a: Sophie Rousselle and her fourth husband

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Well, online trees sometimes prove to be helpful when they happen to provide you with new leads. Continue reading →

Montréal Newspaper Nuggets: David Tourville (1867-1908)

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We know from her obituary that Julie Tourville née Bélisle has left four children in mourning at the time of her death in 1912. Just before her, in 1908, passed away her last-born child, David Tourville. Continue reading →

Genealogy Investigations in Missouri and Illinois #2: Sophie Rousselle and her three—or four—husbands

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Sophie Rousselle—Émilie‘s sister and third-born child of Pierre Rousselle and Françoise Gagné—was born on November 19, 1807. She was baptized one month later, on December 20, at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, in Florissant, Missouri.

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French Canadians Living in Ferrisburgh, VT in 1850: #17 John Greenough

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vermont 2016

John Greenough is listed in the 1850 US Census for Ferrisburgh. He is referred to as John Green on Page 295 (stamped-left page), Line 12, Household 11, with the following persons listed, respectively, on lines 13, 14 and 15:

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