Remembering Them Fondly: James Francis Robillard (1916 - 2011)

James F. Robillard, Rose Chandonnet nee Robillard, Pauline Robillard nee Barraclough, and Leonce Chandonnet

 Although I was just a child when I first met my uncles and aunts that are pictured above, and didn't see them much, if at all, throughout my life, I do remember them fondly. This photograph was taken on a day that will live on in my memory. A day that will always be close to my heart. A day when we all came together to celebrate who we were, and where we came from. Let us never forget.

SNGF on Sunday Morning

That was fun Thanks, Randy!

Wordless Wednesday: Doors Open Lowell 2011 - St-Jean-Baptiste Church

L'Etoile Tuesday: Les Avis de Décès pour Francois-Xavier Savard

I've decided to start my own little blogging meme for Tuedays. Calling it L'Etoile Tuesday, the plan is to take one article each week from L'Etoile, transcribe it, and then translate. L'Etoile, a very popular Franco-American newspaper, was published in Lowell, MA from 1886 up until 1957. It's available on microfilm at several repositories in the area, including the Pollard Memorial Library in downtown Lowell

So... this week, because I transcribed and posted his Petition for Naturalization yesterday,  I have chosen the death notice for Francois-Xavier Savard, my youngest daughter's paternal third great-grandfather, which was published in the October 26, 1916 edition of L'Etoile.

As far as I can tell, at the time, L'Etoile listed death notices according to which undertaker was handling the arrangements, hence the heading below.

JOS. ALBERT & FILS

SAVARD -- Francois-Xavier Savard, est decede ce matin a sa demeure No 711 Lakeview Ave., a l'age de 61 ans. Il laisse dans le deuil 3 fils, Arthur, Oliver et Edouard Savard; 2 filles Mmes Corrine Grondin et Clorida Tremblay des freres et des soeurs au Canada. Le defunt appartenait au Tiers-Ordre et a l'Association Funeraire. Le service aura lieu samedi matin a 8 heurs, en l'eglise St-Louis de France avec diacre sous diacre et choeur de chant. Parents et amis sont pres d'y assister.

My translation:

JOS. ALBERT & SONS

SAVARD - Francois-Xavier Savard, died this morning at his residence No. 711 Lakeview Ave., at the age of 61. He is survived by three sons, Arthur, Oliver and Edward Savard; 2 daughters Mrs. Corrine Grondin and Mrs.Clorida Tremblay brothers and sisters in Canada. The deceased belonged to the Third Order and the Funeral Association. The service will be held Saturday morning at 8 o'clock in the church of St. Louis de France with sub deacon deacon and choir singing. Relatives and friends are welcome to attend.

One thing to note about this death notice is the mention of Frank's membership to the Funeral Association. That little reference is very interesting.. Verrry interesting, indeed. Because on page 80 of  Felix Albert's autobiography an Immigrant Odyssey: A French-Canadian Habitant in New England, Felix, father of Joseph Albert the Lowell undertaker, refers to Frank as his clerk. And, in a small 1892 Lowell Sun article, which tells us of Frank's mother's death in Point-aux-Trembles, Frank is referred to as being Felix's foreman. Was Felix Albert an undertaker as well? I think he made caskets, but I didn't take too many notes when I read the book, so I'm not sure. Needless to say, I need to revisit that book again. Also, what about the 1909 Lowell Directory that states that Frank was insurance agent at 13 Merrimack Square. Now, I'm wondering what type of  insurance he sold, and for who, was he in business for himself?? I need to go to the library and go through all of the pertinent directories to see if I can obtain any more details. One more thing, there was no mention about Frank's membership to the Funeral Association in the death notice that was published in The Sun. Which just goes to show you how invaluable a source L'Eoile is for anybody researching their Franco-American connection in Lowell.

Amanuensis Monday: Petition for Naturalization - Francois-Xavier Savard

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme from GeneaBloggers, originating at John Newmark's Transylvania Dutch, the theme encourages the transcription of family letters, journals, and other historical artifacts.

Francois-Xavier Savard is my youngest daughter's 3rd great-grandfather, and according to the research of Jean-Guy Savard of Quebec, and myself, it is believed Francois was a son of Jean-Baptiste Savard and Elise Beland. Born and baptized on 11 March, 1855 in Neuville, Portneuf County, Quebec, he married Anselmie Picard (Norbert, Henriette Blanchette) on 15 Sept, 1878 at Saint Anne's Church in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

According to this Petition for Naturalization, I can only surmise he emigrated from Quebec to Fall River, Massachusetts at the age of 16 in 1871. And, that he was in Fall River for about 10 years before moving on to Lowell.
.
Believed to have been employed by Felix Albert of Lowell for a short time as a clerk, Francois was also an insurance agent, and worked out of an office at 13 Merrimack Square. Francois and Anselmie had five known children:

Clarida, believed to have been the couple's first born in Fall River, married Joseph Tremblay on 28 October, 1907 in Lowell; Corrine, also born in Fall River, married Abraham Grondin on 2 June, 1901, in Lowell;  Alcidas, my daughter's ancestor, also known as Arthur, was the couple's first child to be born in Lowell.. Born on 28 Oct., 1881, he married Eveline Champagne on 17 Aug., 1903. Edouard, he married Malvina Otis on 20 Oct., 1907, again in Lowell; and Olivier, he married Lydia Grenier in Lowell on 8 Nov., 1915.

Francois-Xavier died on 26 Oct., 1916 in Lowell, and is buried in family plot; section F, lot 27 at St-Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. His death notice, which was published in the Lowell Sun on 26 Oct 1916, pg. 8, reads:

SAVARD---Frank Savard, aged 61 years, died this morning at his home , 711 Lakeview avenue. He leaves three sons, Arthur, Oliver and Edouard and two daughters, Mrs. Corinne Grondin and Mrs. Florida Tremblay.

And his funeral notice, published in The Sun October 28th 1916, pg. 7.

SAVARD--The funeral of Frank X. Savard took place this morning from the home, 711 Lakeview avenue. Solemn high mass of the requiem was celebrated at St. Louis church at 8 o'clock by Rev. J. B. Labossiere, assisted by L. C. Bedard as deacon and Rev. E. J. Vincent as sub-deacon. The bearers were D. Belleville, J. Daneau, T. Savard., U. Larue, P. Fortin and G. Deziel. Burial was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, where the committal prayers were read by Rev. Fr. Vincent. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Undertakers Joseph Albert & Son.

---

[Superior Court Middlesex County, Cambridge Mass.; Minor Series, Vol # 3-1, pg. 565]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts District, SS. _____________
                         To the Honorable the Justices of the Superior Court, holden
at            Lowell      within and for said County of Middlesex, on the      third   
Monday of     October     A.D. 188 3 .
RESPECTFULLY REPRESETS                Francois X. Savard                    of
       Lowell      in said County,  an alien and free white person, that he was born
at        Quebec        in               Canada               within the dominions of Victoria,
Queen of the United Kingdon of Great Britain and Ireland, on or about the   15  
day of    March    A.D. 18  55  , and is now              2 8                   years of age;
that he emigrated from        Canada        and arrived at            Fall River      in the 
United States of America, on the          12        day of                  June         , A.D.
1871, being then a minor under the age of twenty -one years, to wit, of the age of
      16             years; that he has ever since resided within the said United States;
that he now resides at             Lowell                  and he desires and it has been, for three years past, his bona-fide intention to become a citizen of said United States,
and to renounce all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate , state and sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to Victoria, Queen as aforesaid.  Wherefore he prays to be admitted by this Honorable Court to become a citizen of the said United States, according to the laws in such cases made and provided.
                                                                              /s/    Francois X Savard     

MIDDLESEX, SS.    Oct. 29    1883 . Signed and sworn to.
                                                                              /s/      Theo (illegible)         
                                                                                                               Clerk.
WE,                               Joseph H (illegible)                                             and
                                      Charles Beaulieu                                            both of 
        Lowell     in said County, and both citizens of the United States of America, 
on oath, severally depose and say, that we have known    Francois X. Savard    the foregoing petitioner, for more than five years, last past, during all which time he has resided within the United States of America, and at least one year thereof in said Commonwealth;  that  he has  during  that  time  behaved  as  a  man  of  good  moral  character, attached to the priciple of the Constituttion of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; that he arrived in the said United States while a minor aforesaid, and resided in the United States _____________years before he arrived at the age of of twenty-one years, and we verily believe it has been, for three years past, his bona-fide intention to become a citizen United States.                                                                                         
                                                                         /s/   Joseph H (illegible)       
                                                                         /s/   Charles Beaulieu          
MIDDLESEX SS. OCT. 29   188 3 . Signed and sworn to.
                                                          
                                                                            /s/     Theo (illegible)
                                                                                               Clerk.
I         Francois X Savard                 do solemnly swear that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, and sovereignty whatsoever, and of Great Britain and Ireland, whose subject I have heretofore been;   that I have never been of any of the orders of nobility, not borne any herediatry title, and that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God.
                                                                           /s/  Francois X. Savard     
MIDDLESEX SS. Superior Court,                   Oct.                         TERM. A.D. 188 3,
viz.:   Oct. 29    188 3 . Sworn and admitted a citizen.
                                                                          /s/ Theo  (illegible)
                                                                                               Clerk.

Amanuensis Monday: Petition for Naturalization - Joseph Wright

Yup, I'm jumping on the Amanuensis Monday bandwagon...

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme from GeneaBloggers, originating at John Newmark's Transylvania Dutch, the theme encourages the transcription of family letters, journals, and other historical artifacts.

Joseph Wright is one of my paternal great-grandparents, father of my Memere Robillard, Louise Esther Wright.

---

[U.S. District Court, Boston Mass; Vol. 123, Page 163]

United States of America
Massachusetts District, SS. _____________
To the Honorable the Judge of the District Court of the United States, within and
       for the District of Massachusetts.

RESPECTFULLY represents          Joseph Wright   26  High St    Neponset  
of  Boston                               in said District,  by occupation a      Nailmaker  
an alien,  and a free white person,  that he was born in          the Isle of Mann   

                                                                                                on or about 
the       19th       day of          November        in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred        fifty three     and is now about            thirty          years of age;
that he arrived at Boston        

                                          in the United States of America, on or about the
               Twelfth           day of            March          in the year of our Lord
eighteen hundred and          seventy         being then a minor under the age of
eighteen years;  that is then was and still is, his bona fide intention to reside in and
become a citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce all allegiance and
fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate and Sovereignty whatsoever --- more
especially to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,

whose subject he has heretofore been.
     And the said petitioner further represents, that he made a primary declaration
of his intention to become a citizen of said United States, before the Honorable
                                         Court,                                                    or the Clerk
thereof, on the                                  day of                                       A.D. 18    
     And the said petitioner further represents, that he has ever since continued to
reside within the jurisdiction of said United States, that he has never borne any
hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility; that he is ready to renounce
and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or
Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to Victoria, Queen as aforesaid,

 whose subject he has heretofore been ; that he is attached to the principles of the
Constitution of the United States of America, and well disposed towards the good
order and happiness of the same.
   And the said petitioner further represents that he enlisted in the Volunteer forces
of the Armies of the United States, and that he was honorably discharged therefrom
on the                                            day of                                           A. D. 18
     Wherefore your petitioner prays, that he may be admitted to become a citizen
of the said United States of America, according to the forms of the statute in such
case made and provided.

/s/ Joseph Wright                                     /s/ Joseph Wright
Oct 20th 1883 . Sworn to by said Petitioner, before said Court.

Attest :                                            (illegible signature)          Clerk.

---

[U.S. District Court, Boston Mass; Vol. 123, Page 163A]

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Massachusetts District, to wit:    City of Boston,                      188   .
We          James P. Kelley  Neponset  Ave  Neponset ,
            Michael Meleedy  Taylor St  Neponset

both citizens of said United States, severally depose and say that we have known the foregoing Petitioner, for five years, last past, during which time he has resided in said
Boston
and that he has resided  within the State of Massachusetts one year at least; and has
conducted himself and behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the
principles of the Constitution of the United States , and well disposed towards the
good order and happiness of the same.
                                                                                /s/   James P. Kelley
                                                                                /s/   Michael Meleedy

          188   .  Sworn to by the above named Witnesses, before the said Court.

ATTEST:                                                                                        Clerk.

OATH TAKEN BY PETITIONER

I                       Joseph Wright                 do solemnly swear that I do absolutely

and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, 

Potentate, State, or Sovereignty whatsoever---particularly to Victoria, Queen of the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 

whose subject I have heretofore been; and that I will support the Constitution of the

United States of America---so help me God.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

District of Massachusetts, to wit:

At a Special District Court of the United States holden at said Boston on the

      twentieth        day of                       October                        in the year
of our Lord 1883, the said                Joseph Wright                     having
produced the evidence required by law, took the aforesaid oat and was admitted to
become a citizen of the United States of America; and the Court ordered that
record thereof be made accordingly

                    ATTEST:
                                                                                                             Clerk.

On This Happy Mother's Day

Using TMG's companion utility product On This Day I am able to take a look into my database on any given day and see the events that occurred.

Louis-Arsene Robillard married Josephine Albert in 1887.

Cecile Godin dit Bellefeuille died in 1804.

And, Emilie Robillard was born in 1810. Today is also my Aunt Joan's birthday. Happy birthday, Aunt Joan!

“Write Quick”: War and a Woman’s Life in Letters, 1836-1867

I was recently informed that the Bethel Historical Society, of Bethel, Maine, will now be publishing a new edition of  “Write Quick”, a history of the Civil War based on letters, diaries, and documents from the ancestors of Anne Fox Chandonnet, formerly of Dracut, MA, & Roberta Gibson Pevear, of Exeter, NH. The price for the new edition has been reduced to $34.95, and Bethel will print on demand. However, they will print only soft cover. Please see The Bethel Historical Society website for more details, or contact Randall Bennett; director@bethelhistorical.org directly for orders.

On This Day: The Marriage of Joseph Achille Robillard & Delia Lepine

Joseph Achille Robillard, son of Octavien Robillard & Marie-Louise Naud, married Delia Lepine, daughter of Urgel Lepine and Elisse Beauchin (?), on 1 May, 1919 at the parish church of Ste-Melaine, Joliette County, Quebec. Joseph Achille Robillard was my first cousin 2x removed, and I am working on extracting the text below in order to translate it. I haven't done too many marriage records, so this may take me some time.

Update 3 May 2011: Here is my transcription thus far, a translation will follow once I am finished.

Le premire Mai mil neuf cent dix neuf. Apres le publication d'un ban de mariage faite au prone le notre messe paroissiale entre Achille Robillard, cultivateur, fils majeur de Octavien Robillard, cultivateur, et Marie Louise Naud de cette paroisse d'une part, et Delia Lepine fille majeure de Urgel Lepine, cultivateur, et de Elisse Beauchin (?) de cette paroisse d'autre part. ? la dispene de deux bans a le mariage accordie par Mgr...

Marriage records are so hard for me. I mean, I can always pluck out the important stuff, like dates and names, and I can tell if there's been a dispensation of consanguinity or affinity, but getting the rest right can be quite the challenge. Any help that anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated : )

[Gabriel Drouin, Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, 1919, Ste-Melanie, Joliette, P.Q., pg 6, M. 1, Achille Robillard & Delia Lepine, register photocopy to the Greffe of Joliette]

Robillard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robillard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robillard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robillard is a surname of French or Breton origin. It is not uncommon in Canada and is known in certain areas of the United States, namely New England. People with this last name include:

• Alexander Robillard, Canadian politician
• Claude Robillard, the City of Montreal's first director of Urban Planning
• Duke Robillard, acclaimed blues guitarist and singer
• Elizabeth Robillard, Anglo/Canadian Actress and Holistic Medicine & Science Researcher
• G. Xavier Robillard, American writer, humorist
• Honoré Robillard, Canadian politician, brother of Alexander
• Lawrence Robillard, Anglo/Canadian Quantum Mechanic Theoretical Scientist
• Lucienne Robillard, Canadian politician
• Melanie Robillard, Canadian curler

Robillard may also refer to the:

• Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, a multi-purpose sports facility in Montreal, Quebec. It is named after the previously mentioned Claude Robillard

Categories: French-language surnames | Breton-language surnames | Breton loanwords | Disambiguation pages