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

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

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

Maple Sugar Day at Navarre Anderson Trading Post

Some brief sketches of some of the early settlers:

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! 

Tj,

Denissen, v.2, p.1170 indicates Jacob married in Quebec to Josette ROBERTJEANNE [dit JEAN(NE)(S)] and the children are from this marriage (as does the book MARRIAGE RECORDS STE. ANNE CHURCH DETROIT 1701-1850. It is possible that Jacob 2m. to a DONAIS. However, Denissen only mentions a few DONAIS and they  m. into the BELANGER family. There is also the possibility that DONAIS was a dit name for ROBERTJEANNE, but no indication of that in Tanguay's listing of dit names.

One thing to do is look at the land records for Macomb Co., however, church records indicate the wife's surname is ROBERTJEANNE and that you can probably find the marriage in either the Loiselle or Rivest marriage indexes. Good luck & keep us informed.

PS. Josette, Josephe, Josephte & Josephine are all basically interchangeable.

Interesting site:

http://habitantsandvoyageurs.blogspot.com/2010/06/meanwhile-back-in...

Tj,

Noticed you are from GR. The FHC in East Lansing has both the Loiselle & Rivest indexes on film (don't need to order them). The Library of Michigan has the Loiselle index on fiche and the "blue" Drouin, parts in book form & fiche. Might be worth a visit.

Another interesting site:

http://www.quebecheritageweb.com/

Richard N.

Did you notice the two links I posted on the SINNETT family in the F-C surname sites in the Discussion group? One of them is a google book you can download. While the name is French the book deals with a branch that settled in England and spread from there. SINNETT is a "dit" name for LOISELLE for the F-C group.

Acadian census for 1671
http://www.zonecousinage.com/recensement/acadie1671.html

The zonecousinage.com site is great!  Just found a whole bunch of little tidbits that I was having problems locating before.  Thanks Jim!

Patricia Q.,

Not that many passenger lists exist. You may want to read about the time period and what the passengers had to go through (also check out the bibliography for leads) in Gilles Proulx's BETWEEN FRANCE AND NEW FRANCE: LIFE ABOARD THE TALL SAILING SHIPS (BTW CHARBONNEAU was not mentioned in the index).

See also:

Diane B.,

I do not have your couple in my LALONDE/LALANDE database.  You apparently have her baptism? Not sure what info you are looking for. Do you have the marriage date & place? Try looking in the Rivest & Loiselle marriage indexes if you don't, or if you can get access to the "blue" Drouin marriage index. Then use FamilySearch (free) or if you subscribe to Ancestry you can then look at the parish records to find marriage, baptisms and burials.

Thanks for the links - I will follow up on those.  In the meantime, you posted before I had a chance to get back in here - I did find the ships list for Olivier Charbonneau and his family.  They arrived on the Saint-Andre on 7 September 1659.

Now to check out the links you just posted!  thanks again!

According to the www.bms2000.org database (transcribed records)

At the parish of "St-Joseph, Montreal (Bordeaux)", Ile-de-Montreal, Quebec on the 18th of Sept. 1911 were married:

Georges Jean-Baptiste ROY, son of Ferdinand Roy and Georgiana Chabot, and

Marie-Reine Blanche LALANDE, daughter of Isaie Lalonde (deceased) and Zephirine Paiement.

I could not find the corresponding parish registers in Ancestry.com's listing of Drouin microfilms. I'm sure the church is listed, it's just not something I can find for some reason.

Best regards,

Shari Strahan

Genealogist

Hi Looking for birth of Charles Crawford born about 1815 Father John

Thank You

Diane, that one more generation did it, here is Isaie's lineage:

A couple of history books I really want to recommend are THE WHITE AND THE GOLD: THE FRENCH REGIME IN CANADA, by Thomas B. Costain & DAILY LIFE IN EARLY CANADA FROM CHAMPLAIN TO MONTCALM, by Raymond Douville & Jacques-Donat Casanova. While being history they are not dry reading and they mention a lot of the early settlers (you ancestors!)

Another book which I have not read yet but comes highly recommended is Willa Cather's SHADOWS ON THE ROCK. It is historical fiction and gives a good flavor of life in New France.

I noticed the following from Shari (thanks!) did not get posted here, so am adding it for future reference.  As she says neither the FamilySearch nor Ancestry have a complete index of the church records, however you can use the Loiselle marriage & the Rivest marriage indexes to help narrow down areas your family originate.

Tj,

I would say that means English as opposed to being French.

Hello,

I'm looking for information on Peter DeRosier/DeRosia born about 1822 in Quebec, died 1907 in Commonwealth, Wisconsin and his wife M. Rose Chatereau/Chartrand born 1825-1835 in Quebec, died 1888 in Commonwealth.

Their son Albert's Marriage license has Rose's maiden name as Chatereau but his Death Certificate has Rose's name as McDonald.  I've heard from other descendants that her name is Chartrand and that McDonald was her grandmother's maiden name. Also heard Peter's parents are named Francois and Sofrana but I haven't found anything in the Drouin collection to confirm any of this.

Chris -

1) Since you did not say you need to determine if Peter & Rose were married in Quebec (or Canada) or if in Wisconsin, you should be able to determine this is any children were born in Canada by the census records. You will need to look at all the children's marriage records to determine the mother's maiden name (there may have been two wives? or she may have been married twice)

2) Get the death records of Peter & Rose, hopefully that should give the parent's name.

3) If Peter & Rose were married in Quebec then look at the Loiselle and/or Fabien marriage indexes to determine a parish (you will need to know all the dit names for DeROSIER as well as keep in mind CHATEREAU/CHARTRAND & McDONALD possibilities. Once you have a parish you can check Drouin if you have a subscription to Ancestry, or Family Search or order in the parish films in through you local Family History Center which hopefully will provide you with further info such as baptisms, marriages and burials.

Good luck, Jim