Tombstone Tuesday: Paul & Roland Savard, Cimetiere St-Joseph Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Originally posted to my blog back in 2007, I am posting these updated photographs because during a recent trip to the cemetery I noticed that the huge tree that once stood over Paul and Roland's marker, as well as two others, had been taken out and the markers reset. so I snapped a few pictures.. I have to say, I'm happy to finally see a little grass growing over here. Let's hope the sinking problem has been resolved..

The Obituary of Mrs. Evelina Savard nee Champagne

Good morning, today I'll be working with obits and the like- cropping, transcribing, uploading etc. etc. and I will be making a trip to the library later this afternoon to do a few RAOGKs. So if anyone needs a look up in the Sun, now's the time to let me know. I'm also thinking about possibly posting our Savard line for Surname Saturday later on this evening.

Eveline was the daughter of Joseph-Alexandre-Olympe Champagne and Anais Dube. Using the date calculator in FTM 2010, and the age given in her obituary, FTM calculates her birth date as being abt. 20 Jan., 1884. However, this is just an assumption, as I have yet to obtain a birth record for her. Eveline and Joseph-Alcidas 'Arthur' Savard married 17 Aug., 1903 at St-Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell and they had 11 known children. Eveline's Champagne family is a part of the Beaugrand dit Champagne line.

 Published in the Lowell Sun, 18 March, 1937, pg. 3.

MRS. EVELINA SAVARD

Mrs. Evelina (Champagne) Savard, of 32 Ennell street died yesterday afternoon at the Lowell General hospital after a long illness at the age of 53 years, 1 month and 25 days. She leaves her husband, Arthur Savard; five daughters, Mrs. Armand Jutras, Rita, Beatrice, Irene and Eva Savard; four sons, Leo Savard, Alfred Savard Jr., Louis Savard and Raymond savard; three sisters, Mrs. Marie Carroll of Boston, Mrs. Eva Champagne of Providence R. I . and Mrs. Blanche Driscoll of this city; a brother, Armand Champagne of Providence R. I.; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was a member of At. Anne's sodality of Sr. Louis parish. The body was removed to her home by Funeral Director M. R. Laurin.

SAVARD-- Died in this city, March 17 at Lowell General hospital, Mrs. Evelina (Champagne) Savard, aged 53 years, 1 month and 25 days. Funeral will take place Saturday morning at 8 o'clock from her home, 32 Ennell street. Solemn high funeral mass at 9 o'clock at St. Louis church. Burial will take place in the family lot in St. Joseph's cemetery. Funeral arrangements in charge of Funereal Director M. R. Laurin.

Funeral Card Friday: A la Douce Memoire de Louis Mayotte

Funeral Card Friday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging. Originating from Dee Akard's blog, Funeral Cards and Genealogy, Dee encourages those of us who genea-blog to share our funeral card collection on the first Friday of each month.

This week's funeral card, ou cartes mortuaires dans Francais, is a card that was made for one of my youngest daughter's paternal (on her father's maternal side) great-grand uncles, Louis Mayotte. I posted Louis' obituary a few weeks ago. Believed to have been originally published in L'Etoile in Lowell, MA, the obituary text is all in French (which has been extracted and translated) as is the text in this funeral card. Please see my extraction and translation below the card. I received both the obituary and funeral card from another of Louis' nieces, Sue Johnson nee Mayotte. Sue and I have been sharing our research in regard to her and my daughter's father's Mayotte line, as well as with the other  related branches of this family.

Click image to enlarge

A LA DOUCE MEMOIRE DE 
Louis Mayotte
EPOUX DE LILLIAN FRENETTE
Decede le 15 fevrier 1934, a l'age de
26 ans, 7 mois et 19 jours.

Je te supplie, espouse bien-aimee, et vous,
chers enfants, chers frere et soeurs,
parents et amis cheris, ainsi que tous ceux
qui m'ont connu de vous souvenir de moi
dans vos prieres.
Adieu, chere epouse que j' ai tant aimee
et vous enfants de ma tendresse adieu!
O qu 'il est dur et cruel ce sacrifice!
J'avais demande a Dieu quelques annes
encore, chers enfants, afin d'affermir vos
pas chancelants. Dieu ne l'a pas voulu, que
sa sainte volonte soit faite.
Parents et amis, ne pleurez pas celui que
vous avez perdu, Je n'etais qu'un depot que
Dieu vous a repris. Consolez vous!
Jesus, misericorde. (100 jours d'ind.)
Une Communion, une priere s'il vous
plait.
MADE IN FRANCE

IN THE SWEET MEMORY OF
Louis Mayotte
HUSBAND OF LILLIAN FRENETTE
Died the 15 February 1934, at the age of
26 years, 7 months and 19 days.

I beseech thee, beloved bride, and you,
dear children, dear brother and sisters,
parents and close friends, and all those
who knew me to remember me
in your prayers.
Farewell, dear wife that I have loved so much
and to you my children a tender farewell!
O it is hard and cruel this sacrifice!
I asked God for a few more years,
dear children, to help strengthen your
faltering steps. God did not want that,
may his holy will be done.
Relatives and friends, weep not for the one
you've lost, I was just a receptacle which
was once His. Comfort yourself!
Merciful, Jesus. (100 days of indulgence.)
A prayer of Communion, if you
please.
MADE IN FRANCE

Treasure Chest Thursday: A Celebration of Life - Part II

Treasure Chest Thursday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.

This week I am presenting a continuation of last week's Treasure Chest Thursday: A Celebration of Life - Part I. 

Born on 11 March, 1944 in Chelmsford, MA, Pauline Gail Maille was the daughter of Paul Maille (Cuthbert, Rose Therrien) and Rita Moran (John, Yvonne Ferron). She married my father, Jerome Charles Robillard (Joseph, Louise Esther Wright) on 13 Nov., 1965, at Sacred Heart Church in Lowell. Friday, November 5th will be the 28th anniversary of her death.

MY FIRST YEAR DEVELOPMENTS I SAT UP ALONE   8 mo's I STOOD BY MYSELF   11 mo's DISCOVERED MY TOES   6 mo's WALKED WITH HELP   9 mo's STARTED TO CREEP   6 mo's TOOK 3 STEPS   13 mo's Walked when she was 15 mo's	DAYS TO REMEMBER MY FIRST SMILE   3 wks. MY FIRST WORD   Da-Da I FIRST LAUGHED ALOUD   4 mo's I FIRST CRAWLED   Little at 5½ mo's I STOOD ALONE   11 mo's
MY FIRST HAIRCUT no hair cut for my girls Gails hair is starting to curl. Her hair is going to be very soft + silky }20 mo's The top doesn't curl yet and its a pest) A 3 yrs her hair does curl but its very soft and silky and I think she be the lightest of the four- They curl very good-	MY FIRST TOOTH Pauline Gail Jan 18, 1945 Gail Gail was in her stroller this morning when, Patsy wanted a drink of water and said the baby wanted one too. So I gave Gail a drink and heard a noise. Sure enough it was a tooth. I thought she would never have one. We all had to feel it. I called Irene + Ma to tell them. Now I owe Gail a dollar.
NOTES We are going to call the baby "Gail" She looks like her brother. In fact they look alike so much that they could be twins. Gail was very red when born. But she's getting Prettier everyday. She had the longest eye lases in the nursery. Her eye lacher are beautiful She is the best baby yet, sleep all the time. Patsy and Chickie just love her and thats not mentioning her father. I guess that when she get big she'll look like him. At 9mo's Gail is still very good and she has the most beautiful eyes yet. But she is kind of slow Words 5 mo's - Da-Da 7 mo's - Ma MA 7 mo's - Na - Na 9 mo's - Hi 11 mos - what 11 mo's - by by	-Notes- -1- 6 mo's she is playing with her toes. -2- 7 mo's she is eating wonderful and I am glad. -3- Janet Shaw took care of her when I went to Conn. -4- Gail has a sweet smile +  is very good. -5- Gail sleep with Patsy in their room. they both sleep well, -6- Gail is 7 mo's and she can't sit up by herself yet - but she is eating well now. -7- At 9 mo's Gail is starting to go in her stroller. I will be glad when she starts playing with Patsy.  -8- At 9 mo's - Gail's hair is starting to curl. I hope it curls as much as Patsy. Patsy plays with her and I think she thinks its a doll the way she handles her. -9- I am going to try and take the bottle away her starting today - (Didn't do it) >10- At 11 mo's Gail has 4 teeth. She cut her eye teeth first. }11} Gail is forever saying Da-Da- She says it all the time }12} At ? mo's she say Ma -Ma- }13} At 15 mo's she is walking and like a tin soldier. But she a very good baby - (14) Went swimming for the first time- June 28/45 (15) Her hair curls in the back but not on the top. Don't know what to do. (16)She been eating by herself since she's 13 mo's - hands and all. (17) First sun burn May 11 and I hope it will do her good.

The Second GALPSGC: Alouette, Gentille Alouette..

Published for The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge hosted by Bill West at West In New England.

I present to you something very near and dear to my heart.

According to Wikipedia, the song Alouette was first published in A Pocket Song Book for the Use of Students and Graduates of McGill College in 1879 and is said to be a song that was sung by the French fur traders. Also, published in a Canadian Folk-life and Folk-lore, by William Parker Greenough in 1897, it is a song about plucking the different body parts of a lark and just thinking about the lyrics makes me laugh.

Remembering the song with great fondness, every time I sing it, and I do, I am reminded of my maternal grandfather, Pepere Maille. Although he was born and raised here in Massachusetts, he spoke with a slight French accent, with some words being more pronounced then others. Remembering when he used to place me on his knee in my Memere's kitchen and bounce me on his knee while he would sing, is something I will never forget. I have shared this song with my youngest daughter Sabrina. When she was smaller, and had an interest in such things, we used to listen to, and sing, it together and have some great laughs at the cost of that poor bird!!



[Grennough, William Parker. Canadian Folk-life and Folk-lore. New York: George H. Richmond, 1897. 141. Google Books]

I don't think my translation is spot on, aren't a bird's beak and nose one in the same?

Lark

*Lark, nice Lark, Lark I will pluck you,
I will pluck your head, I will pluck your head,
And your head, and your head Ohhhhh,

Lark, nice Lark, Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck your beak, I will pluck your beak
And your beak, and your beak,
And your head, and your head, Ohhhhh,

Lark, nice Lark, Lark I will pluck you,
I'll pluck your nose, I will pluck your nose,
And your nose and your nose, and your beak and your beak,
And the head, and the head, Ohhhhh,

Lark, nice Lark, Lark I willl pluck you,
I will pluck your back, I'll will your back,
And your back, and your back, and your nose, and your nose,
And your beak, and your beak, and your head, and your head, Ohhhhh,

I will pluck your legs, I will pluck your legs
>And your legs, and your legs, and your back, and your back,
And your nose, and your nose, and your beak, and your beak< And your head, and your head, Ohhhhh,

Lark, nice Lark, Lark I willl pluck you,
I'll pluck your neck, I will pluck your neck
And your neck, and your neck, and your legs, and your legs,
And your back, and your back, and your nose, and your nose
And your beak, and your beak and your head, and your head Ohhhhh

*Repeat this bar once for 2d verse twice for 3d verse etc.

Enjoy!

Foodie Friday: Cretons

I made some cretons the other day. Using the recipes I received from my cousin Roger P. Foucher as a guide,  my recipe is as follows:

• 4 lbs of fresh ground pork
• 1 med onion, chopped fine
• 3.5 tsp of celery salt
• abt. 2 tbsp of Bell's (give or take a bit, I didn't measure the Bell's)
• 3 - 4 cups of water (cover pork mixture completely with water)
• Pepper to taste.

Lightly brown pork and onion, then add all of the seasonings, except for the pepper. Add the water and bring mixture to a boil, lower heat and lightly simmer for about 3 - 4 hours or until all the water is gone. You don't want to rush it.

While the mixture is simmering make sure you mash the pork rather frequently (potato masher or wooden spoon, I used both) you want it to be very fine by the time it is done cooking. Once most of the water is gone you can add your pepper. I like pepper.

Cool mixture in the pot (slightly warm to the touch), then pack the mixture into to small containers with tight fitting lids (I reused the containers I've collected from Cote's Market) or you can pack the mixture into molds for a fancier presentation. Then refrigerate overnight. I think I got 5 containers of an unknown size (I'll check on the sizes) out of this recipe.

The fat will rise to the top upon refrigeration and will probably end up sticking to the cover of your container. You can just scrape this off when you open it for the first time.

Enjoy your cretons on toast or crackers. With mustard or with out. Brian said he likes it and that the flavor is very good, just the way he likes it. I, myself, was stark raving mad over it. I think we only have 2 containers left *oink*. However, next time I think I may refrigerate the mixture in the pan that it was cooked in, then pack it into containers. I think doing it this way will make the fat that comes to the top easier to remove.

Treasure Chest Thursday: A Celebration of Life - Part I

Treasure Chest Thursday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.

This week for Treasure Chest Thursday I am celebrating the life of my mother by presenting a few pages from her baby book.

Born on 11 March, 1944 in Chelmsford, MA, Pauline Gail Maille was the daughter of Paul Maille (Cuthbert, Rose Therrien) and Rita Moran (John, Yvonne Ferron). She married my father, Jerome Charles Robillard (Joseph, Louise Esther Wright) on 13 Nov., 1965, in Lowell. Next Friday, November 5th, will mark the 28th anniversary of her death.

Cover	Page 1 Given by Mother - "44" GAILMAILLE
Page 2 "Pauline Gail Maille"	Page 3 TODAY I CAME INTO THE WORLD AT 711 O'CLOCK AM. ON SaturDAY THE 11 of March 1944 DOCTOR Dr. Namay NURSE

Page 5 "Pauline Gail Maille"

Note: There are known errors in the above chart.

Page 6 GIFTS Grandma F - Dress + slipp Irene - sweater set Aunt Blance - sweater + bootie Aunt Vic - blanket Elileen Poole - blanket - Mrs Poole - candy - Aunt Jenny - Dress - Doris Stafford - Dress Mrs L. Maille - Locket Mrs C. Therrien - sweater Mrs Mary Alain - $1.00 Mrs Rose Moran $2.00 Mrs. L Malnloney 1.00 Lillian Alrich Blanket Mrs Martineau Blanket Flowers: Mother - Pat+Chickie Paul - Mr + Mrs D Putnam Risa Blacher- Doris + Aunt Blanche

Mystery Monday: Mr. & Mrs. Paul E. Maille's Mystery Vacation - Solved

***Mystery Solved! Thanks to the great detective work of my fb friend and fellow genealogist, Albert Riezebos, the statue in the picture below is believed to be that of Saint Brother Andre Bessette, located at L'Oratoire Saint Joseph du Mont-Royal, Quebec (St-Joseph's Oratory of Montreal). Please read my original post below.***

Mystery Monday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.

I am posting this picture of my maternal grandparents, Paul E. Maille and Rita G. Moran, for this week's Mystery Monday in hopes that somebody will recognize the place in which the photograph was taken.

If you look closely, you will see that my grandfather is holding a home movie camera. This is why I am assuming that they were on vacation. I am also assuming that is was taken in a church yard somewhere, or perhaps a cemetery. Although I don't really believe the latter to be the case. The photograph, which you can plainly see, is severely damaged. This is the condition in which I found it. It was taped to the inside of my mother's scrapbook along with many other unidentified photos.  If you recognize this place, or have first hand knowledge of when and where this photograph was taken I would appreciate it if you could please leave a comment or contact me personally at callmeshell at gmail dot com...

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard - Editeur et Proprieteur du Pionnier et President de l'U.F.C.

Wordless Wednesday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.

In a follow up to last week's Wordless Wednesday I am posting another image of L.-G. I have cropped the original, from BAnQ, in order to compare it with the image I posted last week. I believe both of these images are of the same man. However, in this week's image he appears to be quite a bit older. Originally published in Le Monde illustre, vol. 18 no. 913. pg. 404  on 26 Oct., 1901, it is believed that L.-G. and his family fled Quebec in early 1902, shortly after this article went to print. 

Le Monde Illustre was published in Montreal between the years 1884 & 1902. A portion of the publication has been scanned and images are available for viewing from the BAnQ here. The page that the image below comes from is also available. My plan is to extract the text and translate it. Hoping that it will offer more clues as to why L.-G. and his family left Quebec.

 
The image above comes from the Revues d'un autre siècle collection at the Bibliotheque et Archives nationales Quebec (BAnQ) online and is used with permission. BAnQ allows, without special authorization, use of content from its Web portal for educational, private study or research purposes, provided the source of the images and/or texts is clearly indicated.

Reproductions of these images are also available. For more information on ordering please see this link.

Tombstone Tuesday: Louis Mayotte, Cimetiere St-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Louis Mayotte, the son of Olympe (Jean-Louis, Eualie Roberge) and Marie Alice Blanche Jodoin (Joseph, Parmelie Dupont), was the brother of my youngest daughter's great-grandmother, Celine Courtois nee Mayotte. Louis died in Lowell Massachusetts on 15 February, 1934 at the age of 26. He is buried in Section Q, lot 89 with his parents and two of his brothers, Olympe Gerard and Jerome. I have included his obituary below.

Unfortunately, the exact publication information of the obituary is not known. However, I am led to believe that it was published in the Franco-American newspaper, L'Etoile. I have included a translation below.

M. LOUIS MAYOTTE
         EST DECEDE HIER

Ce jeune boulanger etait proprietaire de la boulangerie Sunkist  dans la rue Cheever. ---Funerailles a 9h.15 lundi matin a St-Jean-Baptiste.

C'est avec regret    que les nom breux amis de M. Louis Mayotte du numero 201,   rue  Cheever  apprendront la nouvelle de sa mort survenue hier apres-midi a l'hopital St-Joseph, a l'age de 26 ans, 7 mois et 19 jours.

Il etait ne et avait ete eleve en cette ville depuis cinq ans il etait proprietaire de la boulangerie Sunkist, situee sur la rue Cheever. Il etait un jeune homme d'un caratere doux et aimable et un jeune Franco-Americain estime.

Il laisse son espous Mme. Lilliane Mayotte nee Frenette:, deux enfants, Andre et Paul mayotte; ses parents, M et Mme Olympe (Jodoin) Mayotte; deux soeurs, Mlls Celine et Therese Mayotte, et trois freres, Jerome, Gerard et Robert Mayotte. ? etait membre de la Societe de la Sainte-Famille de la paroisse St-Joseph. Le defunt tut transporte a la demeure de ses parents, 215 rue Cheever par l'entrepreneur M-R. Laurin.

Ses funerailles imposantes auront lieu lundi matin a 8h.15 de la demeure mortuaire. Le service solennel sera celebre a 9h.15 en l'eglise St-jean-baptiste avec diacre, sousdiacre et choeur de chant. Parents et amis sont pries d'y assister L'inhumation se fera dans le lot de la famille au cimetiere St-Joseph.

Les arrangements funeraires ont ete confies l'entrepreneur M.-R. Laurin.

My translation:

MR. LOUIS MAYOTTE
         DIED YESTERDAY

The young baker was the owner of the Sunkist bakery on Cheever street. ----Funeral at 9:15 Monday morning at St-Jean-Baptiste.

  It is with deep regret that the many friends of Mr. Louis Mayotte, number 201, Cheever street,. will learn the news of his death yesterday morning at St.-Joseph hospital, at the age of 26 years, 7 months and 19 days.

He was born and bred in this city and became the owner of the Sunkist bakery, located at Cheever street, five years ago. He was a young man of  character,  sweet and kind, a young Franco-American that everybody loved..

He leaves his bride Mrs. Lilliane Mayotte nee Frenette; two children, Andre and Paul Mayotte, his parents, Mr. and Ms. Olympe (Jodoin) Mayotte, two sisters, Misses Celine and Therese Mayotte, and three brothers, Jerome, and Robert Gerard Mayotte. He was a member of Societe de la Sainte-Famille at St-Joseph parish. The undertaker M R Laurin carried the deceased to the house of his parents, at 215 Cheever St

An impressive funeral will begin Monday morning at 8:15 at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held at 9:15 at St-Jean-Baptiste with deacon, sub-deacon and choir. Friends and family are invited. The burial will take place in the family plot in St-Joseph's cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to undertaker M.-R. Laurin.

Thank you to Ruth Major Lapierre & Sue Johnson nee Mayotte. Ruth, the author of  Major Boutron et/and compagnies, helped me with the obituary translation and Sue sent me the very nicely photographed photos you see above as well as a copy of the original obituary clipping.

L'Etoile, 1886 - 1957, Lowell, Massachusetts

Today I am working on extracting and translating a few obituaries that I think were published in the Franco-American newspaper L'Etoile.  The word étoile, in French, means star. From the personal collection of Susan Johnson nee Mayotte, the obituaries  I have are .jpg copies of  originals that were clipped out of a newspaper. The text is all in French, so I'm only guessing that they were published in L'Etoile. However, the years of death (1934 & 1938) for the persons the obituaries were written for fit the dates of publication  for this newspaper (1886 to 1957). Also, I believe it may have been the only French newspaper published in Lowell at the time these obituaries went to print. So the likelihood that they were published in L'Etoile, in my opinion, is high. 

L'Etoile is available on microfilm at the Boston Public Library. Also, the Library of Congress states that the Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque in Manchester, NH, has copies of the original newspapers. Where is this Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque? Do they mean the ACGS? I'll have to look into this as Manchester is certainly closer to me then Boston.

Update: After a bit of  research  I am led to believe that L'Institute Canada-American is now called the Association Canado-Americiane. The ACA is a Franco-American fraternal benefit society and, according to their website, they are located at 52 Concord Street in a historic building in downtown Manchester, NH. The ACA shares the building with The Franco-American Centre and I think it is here that I will find those original copies of L'Etoile. I'm going to call them in the morning to confirm this information. Also, I do believe I will be able to find copies of L'Etoile at the Center for Lowell History, located at 40 French St. in downtown Lowell. I have submitted a query asking them if the collection is complete and if the copies are originals or on microfilm, as I would really prefer to view original copies over microfilm.

Funeral Card Friday: Jerome C. Robillard

Funeral Card Friday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.Originating from Dee Akard's blog, Funeral Cards and Genealogy, Dee encourages those of us who genea-blog to share our funeral card collection on the first Friday of each month and since I have managed to collect a few, I have decided to participate.

This week I present my father's funeral card. Not really a funeral card though, as he didn't have a funeral. This card is more like a memorial card. I received it from the McKenna-Ouellettte Funeral Home, in Lowell, MA., on the day of his wake along with another laminated card preserving his obituary. When I went into my Robillard files earlier this morning to find the card, so I could scan it, I read the poem again and it brought back a flood of emotion.

In Loving Memory of
Jerome C. Robillard

January 2, 1943
February 22, 2009


AFTERGLOW
I'd like the memory of me
To be a happy one. I'd like
To leave and Afterglow of
Smiles when day is done.
I'd like to leave an echo...
Whispering softly down the
Ways of happy times and
Laughing times and bright
And sunny days. I'd like
The tears of those who
Grieve to dry before the
Sun of happy memories
That I leave behind when
Day is done.


McKenna-Ouellette Funeral Home

I miss you Dad..

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard From Sainte-Melanie

Today is not even close to being a "Wordless Wednesday" and I apologize, but I have a story tell..

Louis-Gaspard-Afred Robillard (1866 - 1914)

Brother to my great-grandfather, Joseph-Arthur-Robillard, Louis-Gaspard-Alfred Robillard was born on 15 April, 1866 and baptized the next day at the parish of Ste-Melanie in Joliette co., Quebec. His parents, Jerome Robillard and Sophie Riberdy(2) had 13 children, L-G was born fourth and the first child to survive past infancy. Raised in Ste-Melanie, I can only assume, since his father was an instituteur (teacher) and an agent, that he was highly educated when compared to the standards of the day.

Baptismal record for Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard

My translation:

On the sixteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty six, we the undersigned priest, have baptized Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard born yesterday of the legitimate marriage of Jerome Robillard, teacher, and Sophie Riberdy, of this parish. Godfather Antoine Alfred Robillard, undersigned; Godmother Marie Henriette Robillard, undersigned. The father has signed.

Jerome Robillard
Antoine Alfred Robillard
Marie Henriette Robillard
G. Jeannotte ptre

In 1881, Gaspard is the oldest child in his parent's household, as all of his half siblings from his father's previous marriage had left the home. He is 14 years old and is in school (+1). In 1883, at the age of 16 years, 11 months and 19 days, he marries Marie-Percide Parent (Isidore, Emilie Etu) at the parish of Ste-Melanie. Present at their marriage is, Jerome Robillard, Louis Gaspard;s father; Isidore Parent, the father of Percide; Marie-Louise Parent, Joseph Parent and Desiri Parent, all of whom are siblings of Percide; Louise Leontie Robillard, a sister of L-G and a Henri Benny, relation unknown. Unfortunately, Louis Gaspard and Percide's life together was cut short as Percide dies of causes unknown in 1888. Having not sired any children yet, L-G, an instituteur in Ste-Elisabeth, is determined to have several offspring so he marries Percide's sister, Elizabeth, seven months later.

In 1890, L-G, still an instituteur like his father before him, becomes a father for the first time. However, his first born, Joseph-Jerome-Isidore-Gaspard does not survive infancy. In 1891, L.-G.'s wife, Elisabeth, gives birth a second time to Joseph-Gaspard-Achille in June of that year. The baby is baptised on the 18th and his godparents are Joseph-Edouard Parent, notaire of St-Jerome and his spouse, Honorine Melancon.  It is also around this time that L-G. probably decides to go into the newspaper business. And in 1892 he becomes the editor and proprietor of Le Courrier Canadien: Commerce, Industry Literature et Education. This publication is a journal of sorts that is published in St-Jerome. I have only been able to find one copy of this journal and the copy that I found is the premiere copy, v.1, n1. However, in a Societe canadienne du microfilm inc. publication entitled Journaux du Quebec, Catalogue 2005 it is noted that Le Courrier Canadien (L.-G. Robillard, editeur), St-Jerome, made it's debut on 3 Nov., 1892 and published it's final copy on 17 Nov., 1892 with v.1, n.3, so there must have been three publications of this journal, Le Courrier Canadien.

By 1895, L-G's wife, Elisabeth, has given birth three times, but only baby has Achille survived, and will turn 4 this year. It is also in 1895 that L-G applies to be an inspector of schools, but his application is denied because there are no vacant positions available at the time. Shortly thereafter, in 1896, he becomes the the director and proprietor of  a publication from Montreal entitled La Nouvelle France. How many copies were published? I don't know. And like the previously mentioned publication, Le Courrier Canadien, I have only found one copy of La Nouvelle France and absolutely nothing else to offer me any further insight. Given the information that I do have in regard to L.-G.'s newspaper publishing enterprise, I can only surmise, at this point, that he went into the newspaper business for something other than money.  As I don't assume that the newspapers generated much income.

In 1897, L-G is finally appointed to be an inspector of schools by the Superintendent of Instruction in the Province of Quebec His first annual report on the Roman Catholic Schools, in his assigned district, is submitted to the Superintendent on 28 July, 1897. I hope to feature that report here on my blog at another time. In September of 1897, L.-G. resigns as an Inspector of Schools.

Around 1901, L-G purchases the Montreal publication entitled Le Pionnier, from an Amedee Denault and at this same time he, L-G, is also the president of L'Union Franco-Canadienne, a fraternal life insurance organization. Exactly when he went into the insurance business is not known to me. However, it is during this time he is accused of skimming money from the organization's reserves and with several lawsuits having been filed against him, it is written that he and his family fled Quebec for the United States. And in 1902, Louis Gaspard and his wife, Elizabeth Parent, are found entering the United States through Detroit, Michigan. With two children in tow, a boy and a girl, they move on to Chicago, Illinois.... To Be Continued.

The image above of Louis-Gaspard Robillard from the Revues d'un autre siècle collection at the Bibliotheque et Archives nationales Quebec (BAnQ) online is used with permission.  BAnQ allows, without special authorization, use of content from its Web portal for educational, private study or research purposes, provided the source of the images and/or texts is clearly indicated.
For information on the other sources used to create this post, please contact me.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Mr & Mrs. Charles Francois Therrien, circa 1894

This week for Wordless Wednesday I present to you, dear reader, a picture that was sent to me from my first cousin, one time removed, Kevin Maille (Emile J, Theresa Normandin). This picture is believed to be of Charles Francois Therrien (J-B, Marie-Celine Letourneau); his wife, Marie Provencal (Isisdore, Philomene Desrosiers) and their daughter Rose. The picture, sent to me in .jpg format, has been edited by yours truly, with a copy of the original having been retained. Written on the original, in red ink, were the words, Grandpa, Grandma and Rose. These words are thought to have been written by my grand uncle, John Maille (Cuthbert, Rose Therrien). Kevin said that this picture, along with some others, were found in my great-grandmother's home (which no longer stands) at 60 Wheeler Rd. in Dracut. My great-grandmother, Rose Maille nee Therrien, was born on 7 Feb., 1894 in Lowell. So, if the information that was written on this picture is correct, I am assuming that this picture was probably taken around that time.

Tombstone Tuesday: Mrs. Lauretta (Ferron) Reedy, Cimetiere St-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Buried in section C, near her mother, father and grandparents, Lauretta is believed to have been born in Plattsburg, NY in 1911.

Published in the Lowell Sun, 24 Feb., 1976, pg. 23.

Mrs. Reedy
...Notre Dame de Lourdes

Mrs. Loretta (Ferron) Reedy of 33 Cosgrove St., widow of Joseph J. Reedy, died last evening at St. Joseph's Hospital. Born in Plattsburg, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Victoria (Ferron) Simoneau. At the time of her death she had been employed by K's Lounge in Lowell. Mrs. Reedy was a communicant of Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, and was a member of the Marguerite D'Youville Charity League of the Franco-American School, Boys Town, St. Anthony's Guild, St. Jude's League and the Association of Marian Helpers. Her survivors, besides her mother, include a son, Alan J. Reedy of Nashua, N.H.; two step-brothers, Maurice Simoneau of Nashua, N.H., and Roland Simoneau of Lowell; and three grandchildren, Tina M. Reedy, Michelle L. Reeedy , and Allan Reedy, Jr., all of Nashua.

The Family of Victor Lefebvre and Marie Louise Leontine Robillard of Lowell, Massachusetts

Marie Louise Leontine Robillard was my great-grand aunt. Born to Jerome Robillard and Sophie Riberdy on 6 Nov., 1868 at Sainte-Melanie, Joliette, co., Quebec. She was the 17th child of 23 born to her father and his two wives.

[Gabriel Drouin, Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, 1868, Ste. Melanie d'Aillebout, Co-Joliette, PQ, pg. 17, B.69 Marie Louise Leontie, Register Photocopy to the Greffe of Joliette]

Leontine married Victor Lefebvre (Joseph, Eugenie Jacob) in Lowell, Massachusetts on 6 Sept. 1887.

I have not been able to find a birth record for Victor to confirm his date of birth or who is parents were.

On the 10th of April in 1891 the family of Victor and Leontine are enumerated in the 1891 Canadian Recensement and are found living in Ste-Melanie, Joliette co., Quebec. Victor is enumerated as being 23 years old, his occupation at this time is that of a boulanger. His wife, Leontine, as I call her, is 22. The couple, at this time time, have two children, a daughter, Rosanna, born in E.U. (Etats-Unis) is 1 year and 4 months old and a son, Achille, born in Quebec is only 4 months old. Ancestry.com has an alternate name listed for Victor's wife, Leontine, in this census. The name is Marie Louise Riberdy. Which is wrong. I wish people would thoroughly research before they go adding alternate names.

[1891;Canadian Recensement: Dist.#158, Ste Mélanie, Joliette, Quebec. Roll: T-6398, Family No: 40.]

On 5 June, 1900 I find the family of Victor and Leontine enumerated in the census by an Alexis F. Fecteau, and living back in Lowell at 196 Perkins St. Victor who is the head, is enumerated as being 32 years of age and has a birth date of April of 1868, born in Canada-French, as are both his parents. Married 12 years, he immigrated into the United States in 1884, he's been in the states for 16 years and he is an alien. Renting his home and working as a cotton weaver, he can read and write but he can't speak English. Leontine, who is enumerated as being 32 and born in Nov of 1867 [sic], has given birth 8 times with only 5 children living. Married 12 years, this census also enumerates her as immigrating to the states in 1884. She can read, write and speak English.

Victor and Leontine now, in 1900, have five children.

1. Rose A./daughter/w/f/Dec./1889/10/s/Mass/Can-Fr/Can/Fr/at school/10/yes/yes/no
2. Achille/son/w/m/Dec/1890/9/s/Canada Am Cert/Can-Fr/Can-Fr/at school/10/yes/no/no
3. Amede A./son/w/m/June/1892/s/Canada Am Cert/Can-Fr/Can-Fr/at school/9/yes/no/no
4. Fabiola/daughter/w/f/Nov/1893/6/s/Mass/Can-Fr/Can-Fr/at school/8/no/no/no
5. Alexis/son/w/m/Mar/1896/4/s/Mass/Can-Fr/Can/Fr

[1900; Census Place: Lowell Ward 7, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll  T623_661; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 809]

Now, in 1910, I find Leontine as the head, enumerated as living at 21 Hancock Avenue in Lowell, MA. She and her brother, Louis Joseph Zenon Robillard, and his family, reside in the tenement. Leontine, a this time is enumerated as being 41 years of age and widowed. 9 children born with 5 living, she was born in Canada-French as were both her parents. Immigration year is 1894 and she speaks English. Working as a weaver in a cotton mill, she has not been out of work in the past year. She can read and write and she rents her home.

[Year: 1910; Census Place: Lowell Ward 6, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll  T624_600; Page: 44A; Enumeration District: 861; Image: 609]

It's funny, in an odd kind of way, that Leontine has claimed herself as being a widow in the 1910 census. Because her husband, who is clearly estranged at this time, doesn't die until 1911. Sadly, I can only surmise that they, Victor and Leontine, had some rather serious marital problems as Victor commits suicide on the 29th of June in the year 1911. Below is an article from the Lowell Sun published on the front page of the evening edition on that same day. I must note, for you dear reader, that on Victor's certificate of death it documents his birth as being in April 1870 in New York and that his burial was at St-Joseph's cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. However, when I went to go find his final resting place, the cemetery had no record of his burial. His wife, Leontine, according to burial records, was buried 1 Dec., 1911 in section J, lot 514. For a copy of Victor's certificate of death please click here, and for more information in regard to my research on the families of Victor and Leontine please contact me.

 JUMPED INTO CANAL

Edmond Forget Made Heroic Attempt to Rescue Drowning Man

Brooding over family troubles and in a state of temporary aberration of mind, Victor Lefebvre, aged 46 years, committed suicide this morning by drowning in the Pawtucket canal. Edmond Forget, a young man living at 230 Cheever street made an heroic effort to save the man's life, but although the drowning man was brought to the edge of the canal, he died in Forget's arms before he could be pulled to the surface.

Victor Lefebvre, who was also living apart from his for thre past four years, was employed in a mill at South Boston as weaver. According to his son Achille, he had not been feeling well for the past few weeks, and two weeks ago he came to this city for rest abd stopped with the latter at his room, 152 Ford street. For the past two or three days the boy noticed that his father was acting strangley and he did the best he could to cheer him up and bring him to his senses.

Last night the father refused to retire and did not sleep all night. At 5.30 o'clock this morning he went out and was seen running up and down Ford street several times in an excited manner. His son went after him and took him into the house. A few minutes later he went out again and at 5.45 o'clock Mrs. William Smith of 239 Cheever street saw him jump over the fence of the canal opposite James street, and then into the water. Mrs. Smith screamed and attracted the attentiopn of Mrs. Edmond Forget, a neighbor. The latter awoke her husband and Mr. Forget, jumping out of bed, slid on a pair of tights and running around the building dived into the canal.

In the meantime Lefebvre had gone to the bottom, but shortly after he was seen floating and making efforts to sink. Forget swam across the canal and catching the man around the neck, swam to the canal's edge. There, however, he was handicapped for the wall was some two feet higher, and it was impossible to climb with Lefebvre who was still alive. The rescuer called for help and a few minutes later a young man named Leo Vigeant was on the scene, but his efforts in trying to pull the two to shore were fruitless. Forget was still clinging to the wall with the now lifeless body of the suicide. Undertaker Joseph Albert and patrolman Charles Jennell were notified and with the aid of a rope tied around the body of Lefebvre,
The ambulance was summoned, but it was useless, for the unfortunate man had expired. The body was remoced to the funeral parlors of Undertaker Joseph Albert and later to the home of the deceased's sister, Mrs. Elzear Harvery, 200 Perkins street.

Forget is to be congratulated on his heroic act, and had it not been for the fact that the water was somewhat lower than usual, he could have saved Lefebvre's life. Mrs. Smith, who saw the man jump into the water, said that Forget must have held the prostrate form of Lefebvre for at least seven minutes, clinging to the wall with one hand while waiting for help.

The deceased is survived by a wife, Leotine Robillard Lefebvre, and five children., Victor, a student at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Rosanna and Achille, Mesdames Ernest Paquin and Alfred Waterhouse; his father, Mr. Joseph Lefebvre of Mechanicsville, N. Y.; five brothers, Auguste of Mechanicsville, N. Y., Theotime of Bangor, Me., Lucien, Emile and Alfred of Lowell; four sisters, Mesdames Joseph Tremblay and Elzear Harvey of this city and the Misses Malvina and Virginie Lefebvre of Lowell.

The Death and Burial of Marie Percide Parent, Ste-Melanie, Joliette co., Quebec

Continuing on with the research of Louis Gapspard Robillard and his family, I find that his first wife, Marie Percide Parent, a daughter of  Isidore Parent and Emelie Etu, died at the age of 26 on the 20th of September, 1888 at the parish of Ste-Melanie and was buried in the vaults of the church on the 24th Sept. in that same year.

 [Gabriel Drouin, Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, Sainte-Melanie d'Ailleboust, co. Joliette 1888, P.Q., pg. 16, S. 33, M. Perside Parent, register photocopy to the Greffe of Joliette]

I am trying to learn to read French as I research so I have included how I have read the burial record above:

Le vingt-quatre septembre mil huit quatre vingt huit, nous pretre sous signe avons inhume dans les voutes de l'eglise de cette paroisse, le corps de Marie Perside Parent epouse de Louis Gaspard Robillard, instituteur de Ste-Elisabeth, decedee le vingt du courant, agee de vingt-six ans. Etaient presents Louis Gaspard Robillard epous de la defunte, Joseph Parent ecuyer Notaire frere de la defunte lesquels ont signe ainsi que plusieurs parents et amis. Lecture Faite.
Gaspard Robillard
C. T. Morel, M.D.
unknown Lacasse
R.H. Beaulieu
J. Parent
Clement Fontaine
Joseph Poulet
Joseph Lavoie
A.C. Dugas Ptre.
L.F. Bonin Ptre.
F. Jeannotte Ptre.

And my translation:

The twenty-four September, one thousand eight hundred eighty eight, we the undersigned priest have buried in the vaults of the church of this parish, the body of Marie Percide Parent, wife of Louis Gaspard Robillard teacher of St. Elizabeth, deceased on the twentieth day of the current month, age twenty-six years. Present were Louis Gaspard Robillard husband of the deceased, Joseph Parent squire Notary brother of the deceased which have signed and several relatives and friends. Reading was given.

Like I said, I am trying to learn how to read some French as I research my ancestors, and I enjoy it, but sometimes it proves to be to difficult for me and because I am just learning  I often question my research. For example, in my translation, I am a little skeptical in regard to the actual date of Marie Percide's death. If you look at the copy of her burial record you will read, what looks like to me, "decedee le vingt du courant. Now, to me, this translates to the 20th day of the current month. But I'm not so sure, is that "du" really meant to be a "deux"? Or am I analyzing those these words a little to much? Maybe. So, some times when I am not so sure, I ask for a second opinion, and more often than not, and I hate to admit this, I am wrong. So I think I'm going to ask a few of my gena friends, who can read French much better I,  to take a look at this and see what they have to say.

Treasure Chest Thursday: A L'Occasion des Noces d'or de M. et Mme J. A. Maille - 1881 - 1931

On the Occasion of the Golden Wedding of Mr. and Mrs J.A. Maille 

1881 - 1931

Earlier, during the summer, I had attempted to feature the 50th Anniversary of my maternal g-g-grandparent's, Joseph Adam Maille & Marie Amamda Prud'homme. Married at the Immaculate Conception rectory in Lowell, Massachusetts on 30 Jan., 1881, I had planned on featuring, in installments on Treasure Chest Thursday, a four page card that they received from their children in honor of that celebration. The card, as you can see below, is written in French and I had originally planned to feature 1 page a week for four weeks. Unfortunately, along the way I realized that my translation skills just were not up to par. Even with help from Google translate, all of the words just did not seem to make sense all the time.

Click images to enlarge

   Fortunately, while I was in the process of translating the card, I was contacted by my cousin Ron Maille via e-mail. Ron is actually my mother's 1st cousin, he is my 1st 1x removed. Anyway, while Ron and I were corresponding I mentioned the card and asked him if he could translate. Ron told me that he had been told that he spoke French before English when he was baby and that his French vocabulary skills were quite good at one time. But not worry, because he had a friend from his years in the Navy that was fluent in French and he would contact this friend for me.

Well, I thought that was just wonderful, and a few weeks later Ron wrote back and told me that his friend, Herman 'Frenchy' Ouellette in Florida, would help me out and that I should contact him. If you follow me on facebook you already know all about this, but for those who don't, I'll tell you. So, I contacted Herman and he was so nice. Willing to translate the card, I sent him 3 pages of the text. He told me to give him a few days and that he would be back in touch.. We corresponded a bit during the process and 5 days later I had the full translation and it's wonderful. It reads like fine poetry and I have to admit, with my poor translation skills, I never would have been able to do it any justice. In his final e-mail to me, Frenchy wrote, "..I enjoyed doing the translating and took great pleasure in reading this fine prose. No one writes like this nor in the Old French anymore."

I  am so grateful to Ron and Frenchy for the help they offered on this lil project of mine. I wouldn't have been able to do it and have it make sense with out their help. Thank-you both.

So with out further ado, I bring you Frenchy's translation:

January 1930


Dear Parents,


January 1931 brings to your children the incomparable happiness of celebrating the Golden Anniversary of your marriage.


The holidays are evocative:  Let us carry our thoughts back to 30 January 1881; the priest blesses a cutting of the ancestral oak, transplanted in the fertile soil of Lowell.


The young stem took root, grew strong, grew tall, and produced ten branches, of which, one, whose sap was so religious only found her corresponding ideal in the hothouse of the monastery.  Four detached themselves in turn from the Mother tree to multiply, for example, the field of the Master; four children, too weak to brave the storms, succumbed to the first Northwind; and to protect the trunk, weakened by so many losses, by the years of hard labor, consecrates to the training of these beloved limbs, by the shock of the years, there remains only one branch, but so strong, so solid, that is resists all the winds of storms, and stands upright, that stem, old woman of fifty years; she preserves the foundation and has affection for her cherished, tender foliage.


So this faithful branch keeps for us this Golden Relic, until the Diamond Wedding.


This is the wish to Heaven for you – Beloved parents.  From your Grateful children.

Beautiful, isn't it?

To read more about the 50th anniversary of Joseph and Marie Maille please see this previous blog post that features an article from the Lowell Sun which was published on 2 Jan., 1931.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Our Robillard Men

Taken in 1978 at a family reunion our family had when I was 9 years old. This is a photo of my paternal uncles, grandfather and my father. Moving left to right, from the oldest brother to the youngest and their father in the middle; Jim, Joe, Frank, Joe, Bob, Richard and Jerry. Does anyone remember where this reunion was held?

Tombstone Tuesday: Marie Louise Leontine Lefebvre nee Robillard, Cimetiere St-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

This week for Tombstone Tuesday I am posting the final resting place of my great-grand aunt Marie-Louise-Leontine Robillard. Leontine, as I call her, was born and baptized on 6 Nov., 1868 in Ste-Melanie, Joliette co., Quebec. She was the daughter of Jerome and Sophie Riberdy. She was the 7th child born to Jerome and Sophie Riberdy.

[Gabriel Drouin, Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, 1868, Ste. Melanie d'Aillebout, Co-Joliette, PQ, pg. 17, B.69 Marie Louise Leontie, Register Photocopy to the Greffe of Joliette]

According to Family Search Record Search, Leontine married Victor Lefebvre (Joseph, Eugenie or Virgine Jacob) on 6 Sept., 1887 in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts. I need to obtain more records to verify the date of this marriage.

Also, there is some confusion surrounding the date of Leontine's death. Family Search Record Search has her date of death as 5 Dec., 1911 in Lowell, but St-Joseph Cemetery has her date of burial as 1 Dec., 1911. Further research must be done to try and clear the confusion.

According to the cemetery records, Leontine is buried in section J, lot 514. She is buried with her son Victor, who, according to cemetery records, was buried on 26 July 1948. Also, in the same plot is a Rene Deziel, Joseph Broulet, Rose Deziel and a Joseph Paquin. I have not found an obituary for Leontine yet and the research surrounding this family is on going. Please contact me for the latest updates.

The Marriages of Louis Gaspard Robillard, Ste-Melanie, Joliette, Quebec

My current research goal is to track the children, all 23 of them, of my g-g-grandfather Jerome Robillard (Louis, Genevieve Riberdy). I know I have a big job laid out in front of me, but I am well on my way.

In an attempt to accomplish this goal I sometimes browse the public trees on ancestry.com to see what other people may have for information on Jerome's children. And the keyword here is, browse, as I'm just looking. I do my own research and I don't take from others. Anyway, while browsing through ancestry.com today I came across a family tree which includes my great-grand uncle Gaspard Robillard (Jerome, Sophie Riberdy). Actually, I have two great-grand uncles with the name of Gaspard, Louis Gaspard Alfred who is the one mentioned in this ancestry tree, and Pierre Jerome Gaspard, both born to the same parents. In this tree that I came across, it incorrectly documents the date and place of Gapspard's first marriage to Marie Percide Parent.  I know this because I had researched both Gaspards, Louis Gaspard and Jerome Gaspard, some time ago and at the time of this research there was great confusion in regard to which Gaspard married whom. But I believe I got that mess figured out and you can read about that here. The other Gaspard, Louis Gaspard's brother, Pierre Jerome Gaspard, married Marie Lea 'Delia' Bonin and their family ended up settling in Rensselaer & Albany counties in New York. You can read about some of that research here.

So, back to the tree on ancestry. In an attempt to correct the aforementioned tree on ancestry, I have contacted the owner of the tree and I am posting the marriage record of Louis Gaspard Robillard and Marie Percide Parent in order to aid in that the correction.

Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard was born 15 April 1866 and baptised the next day at the parish of Ste-Melanie in Joliette county Quebec. A son of Jerome Robillard and Sophie Riberdy, he was one of 23 (15th) children born to his father Jerome and his 2 wives. Louis Gaspard married Marie Percide Parent (Isidore, Emelie Etu) on 3 April 1883 at the parish of Ste-Melanie, Joliette county, Quebec. Click the image below to enlarge. For a specific source citation please contact me.

If we take a look at the acte in the image below you will see that Jerome Robillard, Louis Gaspard's father; Leontine, L. Gaspard's sister; L.Gaspard, himself;  his wife, Marie Percide; and some others, whom were present, all signed.

However, and unfortunately, Louis Gaspard's bride, Marie Percide, dies sometime between 1883 and 1889. I know this as I have found a marriage for Louis Gaspard and his sister-in-law, Elisa Parent.. Louis Gaspard Alfred Robillard and Elisa Parent were married 29 April 1889 at the parish of Ste-Melanie, Joliette co., Quebec.

If we take a look at this acte in the image above you will see that there is a bans of dispensation in the first degree for affinity. Gaspard, an instituteur (a teacher, like his father), is also the widower of Percide Parent. Those present are Jean-Baptiste Brisset dit Courshaine, brother-in-law of the wife, and Isidore Parent, brother of the wife, all of whom did not sign.

Wordless Wednesday: Celine Courtois nee Mayotte

Therese Mayotte, Alice Mayotte nee Jodoin, Gerard Mayotte and Celine Courtois nee Mayotte

Photograph received from the personal collection of Susan Mayotte Johnson 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Mr. Francis Xavier Bergeron, Cimetiere St-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

In a follow up to a post that I made last week, I am posting the final resting place and obituary of my first cousin 2x removed, Josephine Robillard's husband, Francis Bergeron. Born as Francois Xavier Bergeron, Francis was the son of Philippe (Francois, Louise Hele ou Helie?) and Odelie Courshaine (Damase, Margeuerite Lafond). He was born and baptised on 23 Feb. 1888 at St-Cyrille de Wendover, Drummond co., Quebec. In 1918 Francis worked for the Lawrence Manufacturing Company on Suffolk street in Lowell as a bolter and as far I can tell, he and Josephine only had one child. Francis died in 1952, twelve years before his wife, and is buried in section A, lot 112 with his parents and siblings.

Published in the Lowel Sun Thursday 24 April, 1952, pg. 6.

FRANCIS X. BERGERON
Francis X. Bergeron died last evening at St. Joseph's hospital. He was born at St. Cyrille P.Q. Canada, and had been a resident of this community for over 50 years. Mr. Bergeron was a machine operator in a cotton mill. He was a member of the Holy Name society of St. Jean Baptiste parish and also of the CMAC. Besides his wife, Mrs. Josephine (Robillard) Bergeron of Lowell, he is survived by a daughter, Miss Cecile Bergeron of Lowell; four sisters, Mrs. Claire Theriault, Mrs. Rose Bergeron and Mrs. Mira Brassard of Lowell and Mrs. Regina Lafond of Drummondville, Canada; three brothers, Deneri, Arthur and William Bergeron , all of Lowell; also several nieces and nephews.


BERGERON -- Died in Lowell, April 23, suddenly at St. Joseph's hospital, Francis Xavier Bergeron of 53 Salem street. Calling hours from 7 to 10 p.m. today and from 1 to 10 p.m. Friday. at the Tremblay funeral home, 744 Merrimack street. Funeral mass in St. Jean Baptiste church Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. Burial in St. Joseph's cemetery under the direction of the Joseph E. Tremblay funeral directors.

The Obituary of Mrs. Bergeron nee Josephine Robillard

Published in the Lowell Sun, 22 July, 1964.

Mrs. Bergeron
Mrs. Josephine (Robillard) Bergeron, wife of the late Francois Xavier Bergeron, died this morning at her home. She was born in Lowell and had been a life-long resident of the community, establishing her home at 53 Salem street. By occupation before her retirement she was a spinner. She is survived by one daughter Cecile Bergeron.


BERGERON-- Died, July 22 at her home. Mrs. Josephine (Robillard) Bergeron of 53 Salem street. Calling hours are from 2-5 and 7-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Tremblay funeral home, 744 Merrimack street. Solemn high mass in St. Jean Baptiste church, Saturday at 3 a.m. Burial in St. Joseph cemetery. Tremblay Funeral Home.

Born abt. 1893, Josephine was the daughter of Louis Arsene Robillard (Jerome, Sophie Riberdy) and Josephine Albert. (Fermin, Genevieve?) Josephine married Francois Bergeron in Lowell, MA on 8 Jan, 1911. According to cemetery records, Josephine was interred in the free ground at St-Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford,  MA on 25 July, 1964 at the age of 71.