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.

Tombstone Tuesday: Joseph Albert and Athala Caron, Cimetière Saint-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Buried here is Joseph Albert and his wife, Athala Caron.  Baptized at the parish of  St-Eloi, Riviere-du-Loop, Quebec on the 26th of February, 1869,  Joseph was the son of Felix Albert (Fermin, Celeste Bergeron dit Damboise) and Marie Desneiges Michaud (Alexandre, Zoe Pelletier). Athala, Joseph's wife, was born, according to the headstone, in 1864. However, I can only find one baptismal record for an Athala Caron and that is in 1861 at St-Jean-Port-Joli, L'Islet, Quebec. The father of the aforementioned Athala is documented as being Moise Caron and the mother is Apolline, I can not read the mother's surname.

Below is the baptismal record for Joseph Albert from the parish of St-Eloi, Riviere-du-Loop. According to this record he was born le vingt duex ? (22)  du meme mois (of this month).

[Gabriel Drouin, Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, 1869, St-Eloi, Co. Riviere-du-Loop, pg.4, B.12., Joseph Albert, register photocopy to the Greffe of Riviere-du-Loop]

Joseph Albert and Athala Caron were married 17 Aug 1891, in Lowell, Massachusetts in a ceremony performed by Rev. A. Amyot. (click the image to enlarge)

[Massachusetts Archives, Albert , Joseph,  Lowell , 1891, vol. 416, pg. 212]

In the record cited above, Athala's mother is only recorded as being Apolline.

On 23 June 1900 the family of Joseph Albert was enumerated in the 12trh census of the United States, living at Jodoin Place in Lowell, Massachusetts. Joseph, the head, is recorded as being born in Feb of 1868. He is 31 years old and, according to the census, has been married for 9 years. He was born in Canada-French (Quebec) as were both his parents. The year of his immigration to the United States is 1881, he has been here for 19 years. He is an alien immigrant and his profession is that of an Undertaker with zero months not employed. Also, according to the census, he can neither read nor write, but he can speak English. Joseph Albert rents his home.

Athala, Joseph's wife, is enumerated as being Athela. according to the census, she was born Nov. 1864. She is married and has been for 9 years, four children out of five births are living and she too was born in Canada-French, as were her parents. Her year of immigration is 1883 and she has been in the United States for 17 years. The status of her citizenship is blank, she can read and write and speak English.

The children of Joseph and Athala are recorded on the census as follows:

1. Marie A. - daughter/w/f//Aug/1892/ 7/s/Mass/CanFr/CanFr/at school/10/yes/yes/yes
2. Bernadette - daughter/w/f/Aug/1893/6/s/Mass/CanFr/CanFr/at school/10/yes/
3. Joseph Jr. - son/w/m/July/1897/2/s/Mass/CanFr/CanFr/
4. Blanche - daughter/w/f/June/1898/1/s/Mass/CanFr/CanFr/

There is also a Pierre Caron living with the family, he is enumerated as being Joseph's brother-in-law. Recorded as being born in February of 1864, if Pierre is Athala's brother this date certainly conflicts with her  given birth date, doesn't it? I believe the census records Pierre as being widowed, he was born Canada-French, as were both his parents. His year of immigration is 1883, he has been in the united States for 17 years, he's an alien and his occupation is that of a Hostler (?). He can read, write and speak English.

In 1910 the couple, Joseph and Athala, are living on Cheever st. in Lowell. There are two more daughters, Dorila, age 7 and Claire, age 4. According to the census, Athala has now given birth eleven times but only 6 children are living. Joseph is still an undertaker, but now he owns his own shop and is also an employer.

In 1920 Joseph Albert is living with three of his daughters, Dorila, Claire, Maria F, a son-in-law, Edward J. Lynch, who is Maria's husband, and a maid. Athala, Joseph's wife, died in 1918 and Joseph will die on 27 September 1930. Please click the link above to read Athala's obituary. I am still searching for Joseph's.

In 1930 Joseph's son, Joseph Jr, is recorded in the 1930 census, on April 2nd of that year, living at 476 Merrimack st., he is recorded as being 32 years old. His wife, recorded as Florina, is 19. Age at first marriage for both of them is their age at which the census was taken. There are no children. Joseph Jr. is noted as being an embalmer in a Funeral parlor. Is Joseph Jr. getting ready to take over his father's business or had he already?

If anyone knows Apolline's maiden name I would be grateful if you could contact me at callmeshell at gmail.com.

The Marriage of Francois Bergeron and Josephine Robillard, Lowell, Massachusetts

Another article from my archives. This is interesting indeed...

Published in The Lowell Sun 9 Jan. 1911, pg. 6.

MATRIMONIAL

A pretty wedding was solemnized last night when Rev. Fr. Watelle, O. M. I. , united in marriage Mr. Francois Bergeron and Miss Josephine Robillard. The ceremony was performed at 7 o'clock at St. Joseph's rectory. The witnesses were Mr. Cleophas Heroux, the bride's uncle, and Mr. Phillippe Bergeron, the bridegroom's father. The bride wore a charming gown of white silk with silk lace trimmings, and she carried a bouquet of white roses and carnations.

At 8 o'clock a reception was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cleophas Heroux, 23 Decatur street. There were many guests and a fine entertainment program consisting of piano selections and songs was given by Miss Eugenie Heroux, Messrs. Arthur and Zenon Robillard and Alfred Duval and others. Among the guests present were Mrs. Arsene Robillard of Cohoes, N. Y., and Mr. and Mrs. Felix Albert of Pelham, N.H.

Mr. and Mrs. Bergeron, who received many rich and beautiful gifts will make their home at 23 Decatur street.

Interesting I say because Mrs. Arsene Robillard is the sister-in-law to Arthur and Zenon (I haven't traced Arsene's descendants yet) and an Alfred Duval married Zenon's wife, Rosanna Foucher, after he died in 1918. The marriage was short lived.. But I believe this Alfred to be that Alfred. Also I find it interesting that  Mr. and Mrs. Felix Albert were in attendance. I just finished reading the autobiography of Felix Albert a few weeks ago, it's entitled Immigrant Odyssey: A French-Canadian Habitant in New England.

I wonder who Josephine Robillard's parents were, there is no mention of them in this article.

Josephine's parents are Louis Arsene Robillard (Jerome & Sophie Riberdy) & Josephine Albert (Fermin & Genevieve?)  Now I just have to figure out who Genevieve is and how Felix and Fermin are related : )