Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Almost Wordless Wednesday: NAVSECGRU, KamiSeya, Japan 1961-1963, Robillard

Photograph used with permission from Joseph A. Glockner, CTTCS, USN (Retired), webmaster of The Worldwide CT Community and Our Naval Security Group. From the personal collection of David T. Herr, former CTT2.

Some of the boys from the NAVSECGRU in Chinatown, KamiSeya, Japan .. 1961-1963


My dad, Jerry Robillard, 4th in from the left.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Oscar Robillard, 1898, Lowell, Massachusetts - Where We Connect

During my genealogical research of the Robillard family I found an article that was printed the Lowell Sun on 6 Oct 1898 in regard to an Oscar Robillard whom passed away the previous day. Well, I was at the cemetery today and I believe I found his headstone. In the article it states he is survived by his parents and 3 brothers.

The Lowell Sun 6 Oct 1898, pg. 1.
FATAL INJURIES
_____________

OSCAR ROBILLARD DIES AS RESULT OF ACCIDENT
_____________

WHICH OCCURRED ALMOST TWO MONTHS AGO
_____________

He passed Away Unexpectedly yesterday
_____________

Oscar Robillard, aged 24 years, died today as the result of a bicycle accident which occured about two months ago, when the deceased fell from his wheel, sustaining slight injuries, it was thought, of the groin. After the accident, he walked home and was attended by Dr. Patenaude. Robillard had been about, however, notwithstanding some pain caused by the injusries, but yesterday he was taken to his bed, and died several hours after.

He resides at 1 Old City Hall avenue, with his parents. Nine years ago Robillard came to this city from Canada, in a town of which he was born. He was well-known and highly respected in French circles. Besides his parents, he is survived by three brothers.
If you notice in the headline of the article it states that he died yesterday, but in the article it self it states he died today. The headstone is scribed with the date of the 5th, which would have been yesterday..Lol.

On 10 Oct 1898 in The Lowell Sun on pg. 8 there is his report of death..
REPORT OF DEATHS FOR WEEK ENDING OCT 8
5-Oscar Robillard, 24, Typhoid Fever
Here is his head stone at Cimetiere St-Joseph, Chelmsford, MA. It is in section H facing 4th Avenue.

Oscar Robillard's headstone at St Joeseph's Cemetery

Massachusetts Archives; record of death, Robillard Oscar Lowell 1898 482 270 Death. Oscar's parents are documented as being Ambroise and Celanire or Celanise Perreault. Here is Oscar's baptismal information from BMS2000
BMS2000 v.11 ID : 2649429 Class : 9 Responsible : LANAU
Role Name First name
Child ROBILLARD J.Oscar
Father ROBILLARD Ambroise
Mother Perrault Celanire
Godfather Rivet Joseph
Godmother Chartier son epouse Josephine
Sex Birth Baptism -
1874-01-06 1874-01-07
Parish Location County Province Country
St-Thomas St-Thomas Joliette Quebec Canada
Note

Here is the marriage of Oscar's parents, also from BMS2000.
BMS2000 v.11 ID : 3149060 Class : 9 Responsible : LANAU
Role Name First name Deceased
Groom ROBILLARD Ambroise Cardeur (this is a textiles occupation, carding cleans, aligns and fluffs up raw fibers)
Father - -
Mother - -
Ex-spouse Bordeleau Louise
Bride PERRAULT Celanire (Mj)
Father PERRAULT Jean-Baptiste
Mother Rinvi Nathalie
Ex-spouse - -
Parish Location County Province Country
St-Thomas St-Thomas Joliette Quebec Canada
Date Note
1869-08-10 -

In this record it states that Oscar's father was married before his marraige to Oscar's mother. So in order to find out who Oscar's father's parents were I had to go looking for that marriage and I found it too at BMS2000. Ambroise Robillard and Louise Bordeleau were married 6 Sep 1864 at St-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Joliette. Ambroise's parent's are Joseph Forgeron (a forgeron is a blacksmith) and Luce Routier. Joseph and Luce Routier were married 31 Jan 1832 at Ste-Elisabeth, Joliette, Joseph's parent's are Raphael and Genevieve Eneau [Henault?]. Raphael Forgeron (blacksmith) Robillard and Geneveive Heneault dit Porneauf married 11 Jan 1808 at Ste-Elisabeth. (all BMS2000) Raphael's parent's are Pierre Robillard and Marie Joly. Pierre and Marie marry on 15 Feb 1768 St-Genevieve, Berthier (BMS2000). Pierre's parents are Pierre Robillard and Marie Angelique Marette dit Lepine Richard (PRDH). They are married in April of 1742 at Lanoraie. Pierre's parents are Pierre Robillard and Catherine Coutu, married 5 Nov 1715 at St-Sulpice (PRDH). And we all know who Pierre's parent's are right? ?? Ah come on... You know! It's Claude Robillard and Marie Grandin. See... you got it, and there is where Oscar's line connects with mine. Right at the very begininng of the earliest Robillard line in Quebec.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday: The Obituary of Louis Joseph Zenon Robillard, 1918 Lowell, Massachusetts

Published in The Lowell Sun 18 Dec 1918, pg. 11.

L. J. Z. ROBILLARD DIED YESTERDAY
L. J. Zenon Robillard, prominent in fraternal, social and musical circles of this city died late yesterday afternoon at his home, 725 Moody street, Pawtucketville, after an illness of but a few days, death being due to a pneumonia. Deceased was taken ill with what was believed to be a slight cold last Thursday evening after attending a local theater, but his illness soon developed into pneumonia and the end came yesterday while he was surrounded by his wife and four young children.

Mr. Robillard was born at Ste. Melanie, Que.. Dec 30 1877 and after completing his studies at the Montreal seminary he came to this city where he secured employment as a bookkeeper for a local concern. After his marriage to Miss Rose Anna Foucher of this city, he returned to Canada with his wife, but came back to Lowell about 18 years ago and had made his home here since. For the past two years he was employed as a bookeeper for L. F. L. Turcotte & Co., in Merrimack street, where he was held in the highest esteem by both is employers and fellow employees.

Possessed of a genial disposition Mr. Robillard has a way of his own of making friends and the friends he made he held. He was always cheerful and his bright smile and sunny disposition assured him a welcome everywhere.

Deceased was a singer of great ability and an accomplished musician and for many years he was a conspicuous figure at social gatherings. He was connected with St. Joseph's church choir and was the bass soloist in the church double quartet that sang at requiem masses.

Mr. Robillard was a man of good habits and had no enemy. He was an exemplary father, and devoted husband and was always ready to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. He was a prominent member of Court St. Paul, C.O.F., the Lowell aerie of Eagles and Club Citoyens-Americains. He is survived by his bereaved wife, four children, Hector, Anita, Stella and Edna; five brothers, Octavien of Ste. Melanie, Que., Joseph of Montreal, Que., Arsene and Jerome of Cohoes, N. Y., and J. Arthur of this city; four sisters, Mesdames Pierre Joly of Joliette, Que., Gilbert Joly of Cohoes, N. Y., Joseph Deshais of Michigan and Geo. Ducharme of Springfield.
I was unable to find any information pertaining to his funeral. However, I do know that he is buried in

L. J. Z. is buried in sec. c, lot 12 at Cimetiere St. Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts. L.J.Z. (as I call him) Robillard was the son of Jerome (my father's namesake) and Sophie Riberdy. He was also the husband of Rosanna Foucher. The couple was married on 18 May 1896 at Lowell, Massachusetts [Source: Massachusetts Archives-Robillard Zenori Lowell 1896 461 217 Marriage] He was also an uncle and godfather to my paternal grandfather, Joseph Zenon Heria Robillard.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Corinne (Savard) Grondin, Cimetière Saint-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Sec BB lot 54, Here is Corinne Savard buried with husband Abraham Grondin. Corinne is the daughter of Frank and Anselme Picard. She was born 18 Aug 1880 in Fall River, Massachusetts and died on 22 Dec. 1959 in Lowell, MA. She is a g-g-g aunt to my youngest daughter.

Friday, March 05, 2010

"Write Quick": War and a Woman's Life in Letters 1835-1867 - New England Book Tour

Author Ann Fox Chandonnet is married to Fernand Chandonnet, Fernand was my father's nephew by marriage.

Title, "Write Quick": War and a Woman's Life in Letters, 1835-1867.
Authors: Ann Fox Chandonnet and Roberta Gibson Pevear. Publisher:
Winoca Books, Wilmington, N.C. 565 pages, 50 illustrations, 3 family trees, 2 maps. Paper and hard cover. info@winoca.com Publishing date: April 10, 2010.
Paperback price, $39.95.
ISBN: 978-0-9789736-8-1
-----
Miscellaneous genealogy about Ann Fox Chandonnet: Grew up in Dracut. I am the third cousin once removed of my co-author, Bobbi Gibson Pevear. I am descended from Henry Foster's sister, Mabelia Foster Fox. Mabelia is my great, great, great grandmother. My three brothers still live in Dracut on Marsh Hill Farm where Mabelia lived and Henry and Eliza visited. I am the third cousin, four times removed, of Gustavus Vasa Fox (1821-1883). Abraham Lincoln created the post of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for "Gus."

All events are free. All feature a lecture by Ann Fox Chandonnet.
All will conclude with a book signing.

DRACUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Dracut, Massachusetts)
Title: Write Quick: Local History through 19th-century Letters
Sunday, May 16, 1 p.m.
Harmony Hall, 1660 Lakeview Avenue, Dracut, Mass. 01826. Site: 978 957-1701.
Contacts: R. Harvey, 978 957-3445; N. Taplin, 978 685-0129.
The Society maintains a website," All Things Dracut," on which they sell books.

Talk will include material about the Fox family and Marsh Hill Farm (Dracut) not covered in other presentations. Chandonnet will be donating to the society John H. Bodwell's 1867 certificate of service from the State of New Hampshire to the Society, as well as a summer dress made c. 1910 by hand by her paternal grandmother, Ethel Marie Kimball Bodwell Fox. Bodwell was Ethel's foster father. President of the society will undertake the publicity for this event.



HAMPTON FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Hampton Falls, N.H.)
Monday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Hampton Falls Historical Society Museum at 45 Exeter Road,
Hampton Falls 03844

Bobbi will lecture about the Pevear family's involvement with Hampton Falls.
Edward Pevear, the late husband of Roberta, is a member of a family that has lived in Hampton Falls for more than 200 years. His grandfather Daniel Emmons Pevear (b. 1839) fought in the Civil War. Later he served in the New Hampshire Legislature. Edward Pevear attended the one-room schoolhouse that is preserved in Hampton Falls. Roberta was the first president of the Hampton Falls Historical Society. There is a Hampton Falls street named after the Pevears.
Ann will lecture about "Write Quick" in general.
Contact: Sheila Kennedy, President, 603 929-1878.



SAMUEL S. POLLARD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Wednesday: May 19, 7 p.m., as part of their "Forever Free" Emancipation exhibit.
401 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Mass. 01852
Lecture title: "A Knot of Relations: Henry, Eliza, Andrew
and Gustavus."
Blurb: Raised in Dracut, Ann Fox Chandonnet often wondered
about the pewter candlesticks on her grandmother's
sideboard—candlesticks bearing Cyrillic writing on their bases. She has solved the mystery of those candlesticks and much else in her new book, "Write Quick": War and A Woman's Life in Letters, 1835-1867.
This nonfiction book is a portrait of Eliza Bean Foster, a mill girl
who married a house painter. When her husband, Henry Foster, served in the 26th Massachusetts Infantry, he wrote dozens of letters to Eliza.
She also received and saved letters from her brother, Andrew Bean, who was serving with the 5th Maine Volunteers. More than 150 previously
unpublished letters from Henry and Andrew as well as members of the extended family network shed light on links with Abraham Lincoln's Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Gustavus Vasa Fox—to whom the candlesticks were given during a diplomatic mission to Russia.
Chandonnet will speak about the links among these family members, their ties to Lowell and Boott Mills and their various roles during the Civil War.
Information: 978 970-4120.

Some of the places mentioned in the book:

· 31 High Street, where Henry and Eliza lived in 1860
· #45 Boott Corporation, where Amanda Fox was boarding housekeeper and where Dana Fox boarded during the week
· Simpson photographer, whom they patronized in spring 1864
· 212 Tenth Street, where Andrew Bean lived after becoming guardian of Eliza's children
· Edson Cemetery—where Andrew, Eliza, Henry, and other family members are buried
· Eight rows of Boott Mill boarding houses between Amory and French Streets, where Eliza lived before her marriage
· Eliza patronized butcher Charles D. Starbird, corner Branch & Walker
· She also patronized merchant Theodore F. Parker and E. B. Patch, a secondhand furniture dealer
· Merrimack House (a hotel built in 1832 where Eliza and Henry attended entertainments). Burned down during her lifetime.
*Andrew bought his ledgers from Joshua Merrill, Bookseller, at 37 and 43 Merrimack Street.
· In the year 1869, Andrew dealt with merchants John Cain, Patrick Mars, P. Hirshfield, John A. Lewis, McGoverin, and Daniel Kelley.
· Receipts show he bought food from Litchfield, Edwards & Co. at the corner of Market and Shattuck.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

The Obituary of Paul E. Maille, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1994

Still not finished with my pile of obits and death notices..

Published in the Lowell Sun, Wednesday, May 18, 1994, pg. 21.
Paul E. Maille
...of Dracut,; 76


DRACUT -- Paul E. Maille, 76, a longtime resident of Dracut, died Monday at St. John's Campus, after a brioef illness. He was the husband of the late Rita G. (Moran) Maille.
Born July 19, 1917, he was a son of the late Cuthbert and Rose E. (Therrien) Maille.
He was a communicant of St. Francis Church and a member of the Dracut Senior Citizens Club and the A.A.R.P.
Before his retirement, he was employed as service manager with J.G. MacLellan and sons in Tewksbury.
Surviving him are two daughters, Patricia Riley, with whom he resided, and Roberta Maille of Londonderry, N.H.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Claude and Nancy Maille of Lowell and David and Diane Maille of Chelmsford; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Emile and Theresa Maille and John G. Maille, all of Dracut; a sister, Priscilla England of Dracut, his godmother, Alice Therrien Gormley of Dracut; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was also the father of the late Gail Robillard and brother of the late Leo Maille and rachel Maille Longridge.


MAILLE -- Died May 16, Paul E. Maille, aged 76, widower of Rita G. (Moran) Maille, a longtime resident of Dracut. Friends may call at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. Funeral Friday morning with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 o'clock at St. Francis Church, Kenwood. Burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Francis Building Fund in Dracut. Arrangements by the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Pauline Gail (Maille) Robillard

Photo of Pauline Gail (Maille) Robillard and an unidentified baby taken sometime in the 1970s (?) at the home of Francis H. Robillard, 163 Meadowcroft Street in Lowell, MA.
  
Photo courtesy of cousin Alan Robillard of Alaska.