Welcome! If you have anything to share regarding your French-Canadian acestors, social customs, history, music, etc. please do!

I collect genealogies of all persons with the following surnames:
TREMBLAY / TROMBLEY, etc., LALON(D)E / LALANDE, MELOCHE, LeROY-AUDY, BOURASSA, MONTURE / MONTOUR and the LeCLAIR / LaCLARE family that eventually settled in Ellensburg / Plattsburg area of Clinton Co., NY.

Some of the other families I an descended from are: ADHEMAR, ALINOE-SANSCHAGRIN, AMIOT/AMYOT, ARCHAMBAULT, BAILLARGEON, BAU-LEBAU, BEAUCHAMP, BEAUVAIS, BENOIT, BLANCHET. BOLDUC, BOUCHER, CARON, CHARRON, DAUDIN / DODIN, DAVID, DeLAMARE/LAMARRE, DENEAU-SULLY, DENIAULT, DESCHAMPS, DRAPEAU, DUCHARME, DUCHESNE, DUMAIS / DUMAY, FAILLE / FAYE, FONTAINE, GAGNE / GASNIER, GAUDET, GIRARD, GRAVEL(LE), GUYON / GUION, HEBERT-JOLICOEUR & -LECOMPTE, HUBOU(X)-TOURVILLE, JOUSSET, LABERGE, LACOMBE, LEBER, LeHOUX, LEMAIN, (Le)TAVERNIER, MENARD, MOREAU, PAISE, PARADIS(E), PEPIN, PIPETTE, RACINE, RIVEST, ROSSIGNOL, SEGUIN, SENECAL, TERRIN and TOUCHETELLE to name a few.

My Quebec/Jersey island family: La Pierre, Le Moignan, Dupuis

It should be noted that in the SURNAME WEB SITES I do add to the "numerous" links at the end of that catagory, I keep running across them as I am updating the other links. I had originally posted these on the FRENCH-CANADIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN's mailing list a year or so ago & I am finding that already many of them are no longer valid.

Welcome to all of the new members

I am interested in Wark families that came from Donegal and Londonderry to Quebec, starting in the early 1800's. I know some settled in the Montreal area.

Chery, these are obviously not French-Canadian. If they were Catholic then there are the church records you can look at. There are the Fabien, Rivest & Loiselle marriage indexes as well as the Drouin collection which is available on the Family Search (LDS) site. If they were not Catholic again check the Family Search site for the Protestant church records which were filmed. Some of the Protestant church records have also been published and are available at libraries with larger genealogy collections. If you can get titles you might try to order them on interlibrary loan. You might also want to post on the Canadian site here on Genealogy Wise. Good Luck.

Good day to all. Some of you may note that I have included some of the Facebook surname sites on the surname list. There are many more then I have posted, some I have skipped because they are one particular family, but the majority I have skipped because they had spam posted on them so not sure if the moderator even pays attention to their page. Having said that there are three pages that are general French-Canadian which may be of interest, two of which are specially geared for Michigan:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109717099063919
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49070801352
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15424459491

Welcome Anthony, have you worked on the LaCLAIRs lately? I haven't for awhile but do have some obits to type in I think, have to dig the material out.

Anyone who tries to contact me via my gmail addy I am having trouble and cannot respond, I can recieve ok but cannot send or reply. I am hoping it will heal itself:)

ust joined genealogywise and this group.

Two comments about the links -1) good job and 2) the light green link color makes it quite hard for my old eyes to read.

Plan to contributr my research on my Achin Ancestors.

Some of my French-Canadian names include: FONTAINE, GAGNON, BIENVENU, FONTAINE DIT BIENVENU, CHARBONNEAU, MALTAIS/MALTESE, FORTIN, TREMBLAY, GARNIER, GUYON, GAUTHIER, ALLAIRE/DALLAIRE, BARBEAU, BEAUCHAMP, BELANGER, BENOIT, BERLOIN, BISSONNETTE, BOUCHER, BRUNET, CHARPENTIER, CHARTRAND, CHAUDILLON, CHAUSSE, CHAUVIN, DENOYON, DION, DESSUREAU, GUAY, HEBERT, HUBOULT, JOLY/JOLI/JOLIE, LABELLE, LE BLANC, LACROIX, LAHAIE, LAMOUREUX, LE FRANCOIS, MCNICOLL (Duncan McNicoll, who married into the GAGNON family)....

Basically, pretty much pick a name in Quebec.....

Welcome Robert, I did add your material (URL) you posted on the Canadian Group here. I did a genealogy on the ACHIN family ages ago for Michigan's Habitant Heritage (not descended from the family that I know of). I will have to dig it out & post it here.

Everyone - sorry it is taking so long to repost the surname list but I spent six hours on it (probably an average, try to do 5-6 pages a day), please be patient, will get through the alphabet eventually (then will probably have to start all over again. Please feel free to send me any additions/corrections so I can post them, Thanks, Jim.

For those of you who are into medical genealogy, I knew that Tay Sachs disease was from an Acadian line but did not know about this other:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/10/attention-fr...

A few more interesting sites for background info on researching F-C ancestry -
Timeline of Quebec history (in French):
http://page.infinit.net/histoire/

Origins of F-C ancestors:
http://home.gwi.net/~frenchgen/origins3.htm

Distribution of F-C descendants in US:
http://news.webshots.com/photo/1011663714015378899SCsOwbPrQe

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Just got my Oct. 2010 issue of "Michigan's Habitant Heritage" in and it has an interesting article "The Founder Effect in Quebec" by Susan Colby, et al (p. 182), dealing with various diseases or genetic disorders found amoung French-Canadians. Other articles of interest for those who do not have Michigan F-C ancestry are "Confirmations in the Parish of DonBour, 25 May 1669; Montreal, 1 May 1669", p. 223, Don Bourg is the Seigneurie de Dombourg (Neuville), and "Names Are Not Always What They Seem: from Parker to Paquin" by Patricia A. Brundirks, p. 178, not only deals with a name change, but also the records back in France concerning the PAQUIN family.

Anthony, for your PAULIN(T) keep your eyes open for the HUS family, descended from Paul HUS which has a number of "dit" names such as PAULHUS, PAULET(TE), and MILLET to name a few.

Welcome Janet Lachman,

LAROSE is a “dit” name for the following:
ABIRON, AUBRY, BATINIER, BELLEAU, BERGERON, BERNET, BIZEU, BLANCHARD, BLANCHON, CARTIER, CHARON, CHAUVEAU, CHEDEVERGUE / CHEFDEVERGUE, CHEDEVERT, CLEMENCEAU, CRESPIN, CROIZAU, DAVELUY, DEGUIRE, DERNY, DERY, DOUTRE, GAUT(H)IER, GIROGUE, GIVOC, GROUARD, GUERARD, GUICHARD, GUILLOT, GUINEAU, GUIRE, HEBERT, HERODO, KERE, LAMBEYE, LAROCHE, LAURENT, LECOMPTE, LUCHEUX, MAILLOU, MAROT, MAZEAU, METIVIER, MIRMOND, RAVELET, REBEL, RICHARD, ROSE, SAUVIN, ST-GERMAIN, TAUPIER, TISSAUT, VIGEANT. For LAROSEE see also ALY, FARE & SILVAIN, (Ref: Tanguay, v.7, pp.553-4).

For LALUMONDIERE the “dit” name is LAFLEUR.

Have no listing in Tanguay for THOMURE, however names which are close are:
THAUMIER & THAUMUR de la SOURCE

Hopes this helps some., Jim.

Anthony, have you seen the series of articles by Virginia DeMARCE published in LOST IN CANADA on "Canadian Participants In The American Revolution - An Index"? It mentions Anthony PAULINT (apparently not descended from the HUS family). He was born in 1737, diocese of Grenoble, France, son of Antoine PAULINT & Marie-Dominique VALOIS of the parish of St-Paul-de-Varse.

Related sites here on Genealogy Wise.

http://www.genealogywise.com/group/acadiangenealogyhistory

http://www.genealogywise.com/group/nativeamericanancestry?commentId...

http://www.genealogywise.com/group/louisianaancestry?

Happy holidays to all!

Happy New Year everyone.

Happy New Year to everyone!  I'm wishing all a very prosperous and peaceful 2011.

From the French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan:

 

Hello Folks,

I just wanted to let you know that I updated the Contents bibliography for
Michigan's Habitant Heritage.  It now covers from 1998 to 2010.  Point your
browser to http://fchsm.habitant.org/Journal.html, slip down the page to the
Contents subheading, and then click on the Contents button.  Alternatively,
you can just point your browser to http://fchsm.habitant.org/MHHContents.pdf
to go directly to the bibliography.  The file is in Adobe Acrobat format so
you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it.

The bibliography is sorted by author and article title.  However, you can
use the search feature in Adobe Acrobat to look for subjects of interest.

It is my goal to enter all our table of contents back to 1980, the founding
year for our journal and Society.

Regards,

 

John P. DuLong, Ph.D.
Acadian and French-Canadian Genealogy
959 Oxford Road
Berkley, MI 48072-2011
(248) 541-2894, home
(248) 890-4853, cell
http://habitant.org

Thanks to Suzanne Sommerville, current editor of Michigan's Habitant Heritage, for permission to reprint the following from her handout on French-Canadian research.

 

From handout by Suzanne Sommerville:

SEVENTEENTH- AND EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY RECORDS (considered in historical perspective):

 

TANGUAY

Tanguay, L’Abbé Cyprian. Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Canadiennes.

Éditions Élysée, 1975 reprint in seven volumes, originally published 1871-1890.

The great-grandfather of French-Canadian genealogy. Selected and transcribed vital records from the beginnings of the New France colony to scattered references to late 18th century. Not all parish registers consulted, but contains documentation for some original records that have since disappeared, such as some of the Sorel parish records. Flawed by many guesses, “corrections” or assumed additions; incorrect links of children to parents; and the suppression of illegitimate births. Tanguay’s valuable work has been revised ever since it first appeared. Some corrections and additions were provided by LEBOEUF in the 1950s. Use Tanguay with extreme caution, especially for events without a precise date. Tanguay is available on CD-Rom and in some libraries in book form, and from the Web, a huge file. Remember that “n” is naissance (birth) and “b” is baptême (baptism); “s” is sépulture (burial), not death (décès)

 

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST LATTER DAY SAINTS, the Mormons : FHL

Family History Library. BMD and Census records. http://www.familysearch.org

 

The largest genealogical data base in the world. You can access its card catalog and key databases online or at local Family History Centers. Unfortunately, this data base is not particularly helpful for modern French-Canadian genealogy as most of the contributions were taken from the older indexes and not from more current research. Microfilms of actual parish, notarial, and census records, though, can be borrowed and used at FHL centers and are VERY valuable, as are the internet digital images of records at Family Search Pilot.

 

“RED” DROUIN

Commissioned by the Drouin Institute, which researched “pedigrees” for pay and went out of business in 1970. Originally based mainly on Tanguay and, therefore, subject to the same cautions and restrictions. Now on CD- Rom. Called “red” because of the color of the cover of the book.

 

JETTÉ

Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec.

Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal. 1983. Copy at Mount Clemens Library.

 

Vital records up to 1730 only, based on PRDH as of 1983 but without references to many notarial records and other primary sources consulted since 1983. Valuable, but contains some errors or misreadings. Updates and corrections have been published in a variety of sources, including PRDH.

 

“BLUE” DROUIN: marriages-only dictionaries, indexed by male and female last names, that cover the years 1760-1935. The Blue Drouin in book form is rare; only 18 copies are accessible to the public. See also http://www.francogene.com/qc-res/blue.php

 

PRDH Programme de recherche en démographie historique – Currently *BEST* for records from the mother colony, to 1799, less complete for originally French settlements in modern-day U. S. [In English: Program of research in historical demography]

A NEW reading and computerization of actual extant records, begun in the 1960s and committed to ongoing corrections and additions. Originally designed to support research in demographics, population patterns, as its title states, so links were not attempted among families in the book form edition. Spelling is as found on the records (or as read by whoever did the reading from the originals!). You may well find the same ancestor listed under varied spellings and one or more "dit" or “dite,” the feminine version, (called or also-known-as) names, but names have been standardized on the Internet version to ease searching. Contains references from early censuses, confirmations, lists of patients at some hospitals, etc. The Internet edition provides family links. All names recorded in the text of a document are transcribed, such as parents, godparents (although not identified as such), witnesses, officiating priests, and sometimes brothers or sisters

or other relatives of married couples, if mentioned in the text, for all records, basically, to 1765. Later “certificates” are not as complete. Names of those who only signed a document, such as a marriage contract, are NOT listed if the names do not appear in the text. I have found some interesting information by examining copies of the originals to see all of the signatures. Some labels on the “certificates,” such as whether an individual was present at an event (for example, the father and mother of a baptized child) can cause misunderstanding in interpreting the original event. All that can be said is that the parents were considered to be alive at the time of the record unless one or both signed as present.

 

PRDH: Programme de recherche en démographie historique (Program of research in historical demography). Gaëtan Morin Éditeur. http://www.genealogie.umontreal.ca

Available in book format, records to 1765; on CD-Rom to 1799 (very expensive), and on the Internet to 1799, with some deaths after 1799 now included. There is an English version. You can browse the Internet site at no cost but must subscribe to see the full “certificates” available. Cost is very reasonable. Background material on the site is wonderful. Take the time to read it and to examine the sample documents and to consult the glossary. Also see Name Variations.

 

So, when ONLY Tanguay or the earlier sources, for both genealogy and history, are cited, researchers must understand that genealogical and historical research is on-going.

 

Interesting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0n-5kLi6iU

 

I might add that in Suzanne Sommerville's handout she mentions the "Blue Drouin" dictionaries. This master index is available in a combination book & microfiche form at the Library of Michigan in Lansing.  Fort Wayne, Allen Co. Library in IN has the index and the microfilm of the parishes records.

Just recently posted some of my French-Canadian surnames on Facebook so will pass them on here just in case someone may be related! Of course this is only just a few of them: Brisson, Marotte, Plante, Theroux, Audette, Ruel, Soucy, Limoges. Quebec is where all of these names are from in Canada, France is a different situation altogether.

If you have ancestors who settled in Vincennes this might be on interest:

 http://maddiesancestorsearch.blogspot.com/2011/01/enumeration-of-male-inhabitants-french.html#comments

http://maddiesancestorsearch.blogspot.com/2011/01/enumeration-of-male-inhabitants-french_19.html#comments

 

Hi Iam looking for the birth of Charles Crawford born in Canada  about 1816 His father was John Crawford a baker As found in Charles marriage cert in London 1847 Came to UK as a mariner and stayed

Found a Charles Crofort father Jean born  May 1815 The birth was in French

 Thank You Tim

Tim, does not sound like CRAWFORD is French, unless it is some take on a French name. However, he may have married a French-Canadian lady. You say you found what you think may be a birth record in French? Where did you find this, and did it give a mother's name?

James: Merci beaucoup! Thank you so much for all this information. Now if I just had a few extra minutes... you already know that the Crevier name is in my family (Crevier dit Bellerive). The Creviers immigrated towards the end of the 19th c. like many others, to New England. My great great grandparents, Henri and Mathilda Leroux Crevier lived briefly in Woonsocket RI and then settled on a farm in New Braintree, MA. My great grandmother, Mary, was one of the older children of 10. She married Joseph Lacasse (Casse) and had one child with him (my grandfather, Arthur J. Casse) but then Joseph died very young (25). Mary remarried a few years later and I guess they lost touch with the Casse side of the family, but stayed close to the Creviers. The name "Casse" was originally "Cazes" in Quebec, especially in Kamouraska. Anyway... that's my French Canadian side. If you know anything about the names I mentioned, it'd be great to hear. I will continue reading all the links you posted. Thanks again! DJT

Maple Sugar Day at Navarre Anderson Trading Post

The Monroe Historical Museums will be hosting its annual Maple Sugar Day on Saturday, February 26th from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Navarre Anderson Trading Post in Monroe, Michigan.

Visitors to the trading post complex will visit a 1790s maple sugar camp. The ‘sugar bush’ was a late winter activity that occurred when the sap began to rise into the trees as early spring approached. Visitors can watch as living historians make maple syrup following 18th century methods. Syrup was first used by Native Americans who discovered the maple tree’s sap, when cooked, reduced to a sweet amber syrup. The hot syrup, when reaching this phase was often poured out onto fresh snow, which froze the syrup upon contact into a sugary candy. Further boiling of the syrup allows the sugar to solidify and be formed into cakes. Maple syrup has been enjoyed by both Native Americans and the European settlers for hundreds of years, just as we enjoy it today.

The Navarre Anderson Trading Post complex recreates a 1790s French homestead along the River Raisin. The main building, built in 1789, is one of the oldest wooden residence still standing in the state. Other buildings at the complex include an 1810 cookhouse and a replica 1790’s French-Canadian style barn.

The Martha Barker Country Store will also be open during that time. This is the first time this year these buildings will be open to the public.

The complex is located 3775 North Custer Road in Monroe Michigan. For additional information call (734) 240-7780.

Some brief sketches of some of the early settlers:

 

 

http://www.leveillee.net/ancestry/histnotes.htm

Welcome to the new members, please post your French-Canadian names you are searching so we know how we are all related, thanks. Jim.

I have recently started genealogy research as a hobby.  I have searched ancestry.com considerably and have been stumped looking for genealogy information in Canada about Dominique Henry Tremblay, b Aug 1857 in Canada, d 9 Feb 1904 in Oregon, likely had a brother William Clovis Tremblay (a priest).  Dominique Henry immigrated to the US in about 1875 and married in about 1886 to Catherine Rupp, b Jun 1864 in Canada, d 10 Nov 1936 in Oregon. He lived in Washburn, Wisconsin from about 1888 to about 1895 and worked for Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, before moving to Oregon.  Any tips on finding information about Dominique Henry Tremblay and his ancestors would be greatly appreciated.

William C., look in the Discussions section at the F-C short bibliography, you need to know the basics first. Get the death certificates of Dominique Henry & William Clovis, see if it gives parents, check for obits to see if other siblings are mentioned & get their obits, look for census records, perhaps the parents also came to Oregon. Once you find the parents names in Quebec, look in the Rivest or Loiselle marriage indexes for a marriage, that will give you a starting place. If you belong to Ancestry they have the church records (not indexed) so you can look for baptisms, marriages & burials. FamilySearch also has the church records (some/few indexed), same thing you will have to go through the records. The films can also be ordered in through your local Family History Center if you prefer that to looking on the monitor screen. Also once you get a couple back to Quebec, I may be able to help you (don't have a lot on the TREMBLAY family in the US), I have a database of about 38,000 TREMBLAYs which prints out (the male lines) of over 1,100 pages. Good luck. Jim.

French words to help translate vital recordsL

 

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~luxwgw/frword.htm


http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/rg/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&a...

 

Don't forget Google and Bablefish also have translation programs.

I am researching the Thomas family as mentioned in the book, "Past and Present of Macomb County, Michigan," by Robert F. Eldredge: 

 

"We now come to claim 174, and here find the first exception to purely French occupation we have struck in coming up the lake shore. Among the first, if not the first English speaking man to permanently locate in this part of the country was Jacob Thomas...  He married into a French family, Donai by name and located on the lake shore, where his family and descendants have in part remained, and owned lands ... They have intermarried almost invariably with the French, until the fact that they were not purely French blood has been almost lost sight of."

 

Jacob Thomas died Jun 1799 in Detroit.  I have not found the Donai name associated with him.  I have found him married to Marie Josephe "Josette" Jeanne (many public trees list her as Josette Robertjeanne).  Thank you for any help!