My LeBlanc Roots

Nicolas Audet dit Lapointe

2013-05-24T15:53:00.001-07:00

Nicolas Audet, my 9th Great-Grandfather, was born on 12 July 1637 in Mulais, Poitou France. Nicolas was the second of four children born to Innocent Audet and Vincende Reine.

Baptism at St Pierre, Mulais, France

This year of 2013 marks the 350th anniversary of Nicolas Audet's arrival in the New World in 1663, where Nicolas would assume the surname of "Lapointe". Nicolas's early years in Quebec would mainly be in the employment of Monsignor Laval, Lord of Beaupré and île d'Orléans.

On 22 June 1667, Monsignor Laval granted Nicolas 3 Arpents of land. Nicolas would continue to obtain more land throughout his life as he was in possesion of 75 Arpents of land upon his death.

On 15 September 1670, at Ste-Famille, Isle d' Orleans, Quebec, Nicolas took for his wife a Madeleine Despres. From this marriage would be born eight son's and three daughters.

Plaque honoring Nicolas Audet in Mulais France

Nicolas died at the age of sixty-three on 9 December 1700 and was buried the following day at St Jean, lle d' Orleans, Quebec

For Family Genealogy See: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I14949

Patrick Powers and Nancy Kiley

2013-04-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

From Ireland to Iowa

Patrick Powers and Nancy Kiley, my 3rd Great-Grandparents, were from County Cork, Ireland. They married in Ireland about 1847 and had three children, a son and two daughters, born in Ireland from 1848 through 1850. Nancy Kiley evidently spent the first years of her married life in a pregnant state as she had the three children in a twenty-nine month period.

In 1851, the Powers family immigrated to the United States first settling in New Jersey. Patrick Powers would work as a laborer in order to feed his growing family. Nancy Kiley would continue to do what she did best in that she bore four more children in New Jersey between the years 1851 and 1856. (This made seven children born in a period of seven years and six months)

In 1856, the Powers family moved on to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where Patrick would continue to work as a laborer to support his family. While at Fond du Lac, Nancy would give birth to her final four childern. Nancy and Patrick would have ten children in an eleven year period.

The Powers family made their final move around 1864, when they moved to Iowa. They would purchase a small farm near Fort Dodge Iowa and remain farmers for the rest of their lives.

Nancy Kiley would die on 13 December 1876 and Patrick Powers would follow her in death on 19 August 1888. Nancy Kiley and Patrick Powers are buried in The Corpus Christi Cemetery of Fort Dodge Iowa.

Wording of Plaque placed in front of Farm

The Kiley-Powers farm would remain in the family through three generations and was honored as a "Century Farm" for being in the same family for over 100 years. When the last "Powers" living on the family farm died without any heirs the farm was willed to the Iowa State University Agricultural Foundation. Unfortunately Iowa State University sold the property without informing the Foundation of their acquisition of the farm, and the proceeds from the sale were used for projects un-intended in the will. An agricultural scholarship in the name of Kiley-Powers is maintained to this day by the University

For Family Genealogy See: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I16968

Michel Graton

2013-04-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Michel Graton, my 3rd great-Grandfather, was born in the town of Saint-Eustache Quebec on 29 July 1800. Michel was the youngest of ten children born to Joseph Marie Graton and Marie Louise Plouf.

Baptism record at Saint-Eustache Parish Church

On 13 August 1822, a twenty-two year old Michel took for his bride a sixteen year old girl by the name of Louise Rollin. The couple were married in the town of Beauharnois Quebec and from this marriage would be born thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters.

Marriage of Michel Graton and Louise Rollin

The family would live and farm in the southwest part of Quebec, primarily in the Huntingdon Quebec area.

In 1870, Michel's wife of forty-eight years passed away and was buried in Huntingdon Quebec. Michel would move to Prescott Ontario to live with one of his son's where he died at the age of eighty-eight on 5 April 1889. Michel was buried at the St Isadore Church in Prescott Ontario.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I611

Mercy Dudley (A Governor's daughter and Reverend's Wife"

2013-03-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

Painting of the "Arbella"

Mercy Dudley, my 10th g-Grandmother, was born on 27 September 1621 in Oakley, Northampton, England. Mercy was the youngest child born to Thomas Dudley and Dorthy Yorke.

In 1630, at the age of nine, Mercy moved to the new world with her family as part of "The Winthrop Fleet" aboard the ship "Arbella". Mercy's father would serve on and off as Govenor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her family originally settled in Newtown (present day Cambridge), moved to Ipswich and then onto Roxbury.

At the age of Seventeen, Mercy married a John Woodbridge on 20 May 1639 at Andover Massachusetts. The couple would have twelve children, of which eleven would reach adulthood.

Mercy's husband would teach school and become an ordained Minister at the urging of her father. In 1647, the couple would return to England, where her husband taught the Gospel for the the next seventeen years.

On 27 July 1673, Mercy and her husband returned to the new world on the ship "Society". and they would ultimately settle in Newbury Massachusetts. Mercy would die, at the age of sixty-nine, in Newbury on 1 July 1691 and was buried at the "First Parish Burying Grounds".

Blaise Juillet dit Avignon

2013-03-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Baptism at Saint-Agricol France

Blaise Juillet, my 10th g-Grandfather, was born on 16 February 1611 in Avignon France. He was baptized on 26 February 1611 at Saint-Agricol Parish, the son of Jean Juillet and Gabrielle Barbarine.

On 21 April 1644, at the age of thirty-three, Blaise contracted to go to Ville-Marie (Montreal) Quebec as a becheur (wood cutter). The contract was to last for three years, but Blaise chose to remain in Quebec. In 1848, Blaise was offered a concession of land in Montreal of which he took title in November of 1650.

On 2 February 1651, Blaise married an Anne de Liercourt at Trios-Rivieres Quebec. The couple would reside in Montreal and from this marriage was born two daughters and two sons.

Burial at Montreal Quebec

On 19 April 1860, Blaise was involved in a battle with the Iroquois Indians. While trying to flee in a canoe, the canoe overturned and Blaise drowned in the river. Blaise was buried the next day in Montreal.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I15247

My Otis Family of Dover New Hampshire

2013-03-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

My Otis family was one of the early families of Dover New Hampshire. On the night of 28 June 1689, in what would be called "The Cocheco Massacre", two generations of my family would be killed and a third generation would become captives of Indians and sold in Quebec "New France".

Richard Otis, my 8th g-Grandfather and the patriarch of the Otis family in Dover, was murdered in his bed. His two year old daughter was also murdered and his wife and youngest daughter were taken captive to Quebec. Three other daughters of Richard, from a previous marriage, were originally taken captive and rescued a few days after the massacre.

Stephen Otis Sr., my 7th g-Grandfather and son of Richard above, was killed on the night of the massacre. Mary Pittman, my 7th g-grandmother and wife of Stephen, was presumed killed in the massacre as she was never heard from again.

Nathaniel Otis, my 6 g-Grandfather and subject of a previous post, was taken to Quebec along with his elder brother "Stephen Jr" and sister "Rose" All three of the siblings would grow up and marry, remaining in New France.

For Further reading see: http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/doverhistory/cocheco.htm

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I15195

Esther Dupuis (A farmer's wife)

2013-02-17T16:22:00.001-08:00

Baptism of Saint Regis Parish

Esther Dupuis, my 3rd great Grandmother, was raised as the daughter of a Judge and would become the wife of a farmer. Esther was born in Saint-Anicet Quebec and baptized on 9 July 1821 by the Parish Priest of Saint-Regis Quebec. Esther was the daughter of Louis Dupuis and Genevieve LeBlanc (Subjects of previous posts)

Marriage Record of Saint-Anicet Quebec

On 21 November 1843, Esther married an Augustin Dubreuil in Saint-Anicet Quebec. The couple would have nine children born in Saint-Anicet, seven daughters and two sons, while operating a farm.

Esther died, at the age of sixty-two, in Saint-Anicet on 25 March 1883 and was buried in the Parish Cemetery.

For family gemealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I676

Elizabeth Weld (Early Pioneer of Roxbury Massachusetts)

2013-02-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Grave at Eustice Burial Grounds in Roxbury

Elizabeth Weld, my 9th g-Grandmother, was born on 9 May 1625 in Sudbury England. Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Weld (subject of an earlier post) and Elizabeth Shatswell.

At the age of seven, Elizabeth traveled to the New World with her parents, arriving in Massachusetts on the ship "William and Francis" in June of 1632. Her family would be one of the earliest families of Roxbury Massachusetts.

At the age of fifteen, on 30 March 1641, Elizabeth married an Edward Denison of Roxbury. Elizabeth and Edward would have thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, of whom only four would live to adulthood.

Elizabeth's husband Edward would die in 1668 and she would remain a widow for the next forty-nine years residing in Roxbury. Elizabeth would die at the age of ninety-one on 5 February 1717 and was buried at the Eustice Burial Grounds of Roxbury.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I371

The Dubreuil Daughters From Saint-Anicet Quebec

2013-01-27T17:24:00.002-08:00

My 3rd g-Grandparents, Augustin Dubreuil and Esther Dupuis, had seven daughters in Saint-Anicet Quebec. Five of the seven Dubreuil daughters would play a part in my ancestry with my LeBlanc and Graton branches.

Esther Dubreuil Francois Graton

1. Esther Dubreuil was born on 21 March 1845 in Saint-Anicet Quebec. Esther would be the first of three Dubreuil sisters to marry three Graton brothers She married, in Saint-Anicet, Francois Graton on 4 October 1870. The couple would have eight children born in Saint-Anicet, before emigrating to Aitkin Minnesota.

Melanie Dubreuil

2. Melanie Dubreuil was born in January of 1855 in Saint-Anicet Quebec. She was the second Dubreuil sister to marry a Graton brother, when she married Maurice Graton on 6 Jun 1875 in Saint-Anicet. The couple would have four children, born in Quebec, before they emmigrated to Aitkin Minnesota. In Aitkin Minnesota the couple would have an additional two children.

Damas Graton Sons of Genevieve Dubreuil

3. Genevieve Dubreuil was born on 10 April 1858 in Saint-Anicet Quebec. She was the third sister to marry a Graton brother, when on 24 February 1881, she married Damas Graton in Saint-Anicet. The couple would have seven children of which three sons and three daughters would survive infancy. Damas and Genevieve would emmigrate to Aitkin Minnesota.

Antoine LeBlanc Genevieve Dubreuil

4. Marguerite Dubreuil was born on 21 dec 1853 in Saint-Anicet Quebec. Marguerite married Antoine LeBlanc on 5 November 1877 in Saint-Anicet. The couple would have ten children of which four would reach adulthood. Like her sister's, Marguerite and her family would emmigrate to Aitkin Minnesota.

5 Virginie Dubreuil was born about 1844 in Saint-Anicet. She married an Adolphas Villeneuve and the couple would have seven children. Unlike her sister's, Virginie's family would settle in upstate New York.

The story of the Dubreuil sisters and their families would become intertwined in that;

Melanie (2) would become a widow in 1915. Her sister Marguerite (4) would die around 1920, and Melanie would marry Marguerite's widowed husband Antoine LeBlanc.

Esther (1) would have a daughter named Helena. The younger brother of Marguerite's (4) husband would marry the daughter Helena and become my g-Grandparents George LeBlanc and Helena Graton.

Esther (1) would have a son named Steven and Virginie (5) would have a daughter named Marie. Steven and Marie, first cousins, married each other.

Catherine Richert (A woman of Alsace France)

2013-01-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

(Example of a Costumed Woman of Urhwiller France)

Catherine Richert, my 4th g-Grandmother, was born in the Alsace town of Uhrwiller on 20 December 1800. Catherine was the daughter of Johann Michel Richert and Maria Elizabeth Kieffer.

(Marriage Record of Catherine Richert and Peter Kieffer)

On 24 November 1823, in Uhrwiller, a pregnant twenty-two year old Catherine married a Peter Kieffer (subject of a previous post). Catherine would give birth three months after her marriage to a daughter named Margaret. (Subject of a previous post). Catherine would give birth to another daughter in Uhrwiller in 1826.

Around 1828, Catherine and her family would leave Alsace for the "New World", first stopping in Canada, where Catherine gave birth to her third daughter. Catherine's family would settle in Ohio for awhile where Catherine gave birth to another daughter and two sons. Catherine's family would finally settle in Northern Indiana where her final child, a daughter, was born in 1840.

Catherine would spend her last twelve years of life as the wife of her farmer husband in Cleveland Township, Indiana, where she died on 2 November 1852. Catherine was buried at the Salem Cemetery in Granger Indiana.

For family Genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I20008&style=TEXT

Isaac Bedard (Born a Protestant and died a Catholic)

2012-12-29T19:22:00.001-08:00

Huguenot Cross

Isaac Bedard, my 9th G-Grandfather, was born about 1616 in LaRochelle France. Isaac was the son of Jacques Bedard and Marie Guerineau, French Protestants also known as "Huguenot's".

Isaac's grew up in LaRochelle in troubled times between the Huguenots and Catholics, culminating in the blockade of his city and the eventual confication of his Protestant Church by the winning forces of The Catholic Church. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_La_Rochelle

Isaac married a Marie Girard, a fellow Huguenot, on 20 March 1644 in LaRochelle. Between 1644 and 1658 the couple would have six sons and one daughter born in LaRochelle and all would be baptized in the Huguenot faith. Sadly only two sons, of the six children, would live past the age of two.

On 20 April 1660, in LaRochelle, Isaac and his family renounced the Huguenot Faith and were baptized in the Catholic Faith. It is speculated that the family renounced their Huguenot faith in order to emmigrate to New France where being a Catholic was requirement for residency.

Isaac Bedard "The Carpenter"

Isaac and his eldest son sailed to New France by 1661 and set up residency in Quebec City. Isaac's wife and younger son would join him in Quebec by 1663 and a daughter would be born there in 1664. By 1866. the family would further move to the village of Saint-Jerome in the Charlesbourg area where they would permanently settle.

Isaac's occupation was a "Master Carpenter". In New France, he would take on carpentry jobs, while primarily working on his farm. Isaac died in Charlesbourg on 14 Jan 1689 and was buried there on 15 Jan 1689. (See Burial Record:)

Burial Record

Jean Pierre (Peter) Kieffer

2012-12-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

My 4th g-Grandfather was born "Jean Pierre Kieffer" on 8 December 1798 in Uhrwiller, Bas-Rhin, France. Pierre or Peter as he was to be known, was the son of Johann Kieffer and Anna Steinmetz.

On 24 November 1823 in Uhrwiller, at the age of twenty-four, Peter took for his wife a Catherine Richert. The couple would have two daughters born in Uhrwiller in 1824 and 1826.

Peter, a farmer by trade, would take his family to the New World, first to Canada where a third daughter was born in 1829. From Canada Peter again moved his family, this time to Stark County Ohio. The family would reside in Ohio for the next ten years where two sons and a fourth daughter would be born. By 1840 Peter moved his family for the last time to Indiana where his last daughter was born in 1840.

Peter would acquire land and farm for the rest of his life in Cleveland Township, just north of Elkhart Indiana. Peter was a resident farmer of Cleveland Township for over thirty years when he died on 15 August. Peter was buried at the Salem Cemetery in Granger Indiana.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I12387

Anne Cloutier (A bride at eleven years old)

2012-12-08T21:22:00.003-08:00

Anne Cloutier, my 9th g-Grandmother, was born 19 January 1626 in Mortagne France to Zacharie Cloutier and Xainte Dupont. At the age of eight she arrived in the New World with her parents as one of the earliest families to settle in New France.

At the age of ten, Anne was contracted to marry a twenty-nine year old brickmaker named Robert Drouin who was a resident at the Cloutier household. The marriage contract stipulated that the marriage would take place after a wait of one year, and that the newly married couple would remain at her parents residence, with no conjugal visits for two more years. The marriage took place on 12 July 1637 (See marriage record)

Anne would give birth to her first child six days after her fifteenth birthday; a daughter named Agnes, on 25 January 1641. This child would live for only six days. In the next six years Anne would give birth to five more children, three daughters and two sons, of which only two daughters would survive birth and grow to adulthood.

Anne would die at the age of twenty-two on 4 February 1648 and would be buried in Quebec, New France the following day. Her two surviving daughters would be raised by her parents.

For Family genealogy see:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I4238

Margaret Kieffer (My 3rd g-Grandmother)

2012-11-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

Margaret Keefer was christianed Marguerite Kieffer in Uhriller, Bas-Rhin France on 17 March 1824 (See birth record). Margaret was the first child born to Peter Kieffer and Catherine Richert.

At the age of three, Margaret traveled to the United States with her parents by way of Canada, and the family would settle in Stark County Ohio by 1830. Around 1840, she moved again with her family to settle near Granger Indiana.

At the age of seventeen, Margaret found herself pregnant by her next door neighbor, a Cyprien Johnson. As an un-married woman, Margaret filed a paternity suit in court for support of her un-born child. A daughter was born of this pregnancy on 16 Feb 1842.

On 26 November 1843 in South Bend Indiana, Margaret married a George Wilkeson (Subject of an earlier post). From this marriage would come twelve children, two sons and ten daughters. The family would reside around the South Bend area through 1869, when they moved to Iowa settling in Fort Dodge.

Margaret died of a stroke in Fort Dodge Iowa on 28 April 1906 and was buried at The Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge.

For family genealogy see:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I98

Genevieve LeBlanc (My 4th g-Grandmother)

2012-11-19T17:22:00.000-08:00

Genevieve LeBlanc was born on 11 March 1799 at Mission du Sud du Lac, Saint Francois, Quebec., and she was baptized on 15 July 1799 at Les Cedres, Soulanges, Quebec. Genevieve was the eleventh child born to Etienne LeBlanc and Amable Rivard (subjects of earlier blog posts)

On 26 November 1817 Marguerite married a Louis Dupuis in Saint-Anicet Quebec and the marriage was recorded in the parish records of St Regis, Quebec. The couple would live in Saint Anicet, where Louis was a Judge. From this marriage would come eleven children, one son and ten daughters.

Genevieve would die on 1 September 1869 in Saint-Anicet, where she was buried beside her husband. At one time, the couple supposedly had the largest headstone in the Saint-Anicet with a bust of Louis on the top.

For Family Genealogy See http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I684&style=TABLE

Walter Carroll Phillips (My Maternal Grandfather)

2012-11-14T21:01:00.002-08:00

Walter Carrol Phillips was born in San Francisco California on 7 July 1902. He was the fifth child of six born to Walter John Phillips and Mary Smith (Subjects of earlier posts), and would be the only son to reach adulthood.

By the age of two, Walter would lose his mother and two siblings, and would be raised by his father and three older sisters. He would go through the earthquake and fire of 1906 in San Francisco as a four year old. He grew up in San Francisco and attending Columbia Elementary School from 1908 to 1915, and Mission High School from 1916 to 1920 where he graduated.

By 1920, Walter had move to Southern California, where he would work as a longshoreman for nine years. He then got into the petroleum industry in 1929 working first on oil derricks, and then into fueling ships in Long Beach and San Pedro California. When WWII came, he was classified as 3A (H) allowing him to continue his work in the petroleum industry. On 3 February 1943 Walter was hired by the Navy, fueling ships, and with the exception for one month in 1950 he would work as a Federal employee until 1 Dec 1960 when he retired on disability.

Walter married Agnes Hartnett (Subject of another post) in Riverside California on 25 June 1927 and the couple would have two daughters and one son. Walter would live his entire married life in Long Beach California where he died on 16 October 1967 at the age of sixty-five. Walter is buried beside his wife in Westminster California.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I35

George Wilkeson (My 3rd Great Grandfather)

2012-11-04T18:43:00.001-08:00

Organized by Anne Cassidy Kiser

George Wilkeson was born March 10, 1822 in Pennsylvania to John and Catharine Wilkeson. (See Previous post at http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8545416888743417776#editor/target=post;postID=6870980143375235208) He was raised in Pennsylvania until about 1832 when his family left Pennsylvania and moved to Osnaburg Township, Stark County, Ohio. Sometime around 1843 the family moved to South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana.

On November 23, 1843 a marriage license was issued for George and Margaret Keefer. They were wed on November 26, 1843 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Margaret came with a daughter which George raised as his own. George and Margaret would have twelve children of their own, ten daughters and two sons

The family resided in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana where George worked as a famer. About 1845 they moved to Michigan where their two daughters, Mary and Martha were born. By 1850 the family had moved back to South Bend.

By 1960 George ceased his farming operations and engaged in the successful business of manufacturing of wagons. He went into a partnership with A. Coquilard. George later left the business and Coquilard continued with the business.

George and his family moved to Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa in 1869, and in 1870 the family resided in Oneida, Delaware County, Iowa where George worked as a farmer

In 1871 the family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where George would work as a farmer, later in a bakery, and by 1885 he was operating a skating rink.

George died on July 9, 1883 in Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa at age 63and he was buried at the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

For family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I97

Agnes Rosalia Cecilia Hartnett (My Grandmother)

2012-10-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Agnes Hartnett was born in Fort Dodge Iowa on 16 June 1901. She was the first child of two born to Patrick Hartnett and Nellie Reynolds (Subjects of earlier posts:http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8545416888743417776#editor/target=post;postID=8806948059932969331 and http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8545416888743417776#editor/target=post;postID=974628204830990456)

Agnes's parents would divorce a few years after her birth, and she and her brother would grow up being shuttled between living in foster homes and living with their uncle due to her mother having mental problems. By 1920 Agnes and her brother were living on their own in Des Moines Iowa, where Agnes worked as a saleslady in a dry goods store.

In the mid 1920's Agnes moved to California where she married a Walter Phillips on 25 June 1927. (see Marriage Certificate) From this marriage three children, two daughters and one son, would be born. The family resided in Long Beach California (See photo of home) for almost fifty years, while Agnes worked as an accountant for a Walkers Department Store, from which she would retire.

Agnes's husband died in 1967, and she would sell the family home and move to North Long Beach to live near her eldest daughter. In 1980 her eldest daughter died and she would later move to Orange County to live near her youngest daughter. Agnes died on 24 October 1998 and was buried beside her husband in Westminster California. (See photo)

For family Genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I36

John and Catharine Wilkeson (My 4th g-Grandparents)

2012-10-15T16:02:00.001-07:00

(The following was organized by my cousin Anne Cassidy Kiser)

John Wilkeson was born February 3, 1796 in Pennsylvania. It is unknown at this time who his parents were. He married a woman named Catharine before 1818. Not much is known about Catharine at this time but she is believed to have been born December 12, 1798.

John and Catharine had the following known children born in Pennsylvania:
John Wilkeson born June 23, 1818
Catherine Wilkeson born April 15, 1820
George Wilkeson born March 10, 1822
Lydia Wilkeson born about 1825
Samuel Wilkeson born April 21, 1828
Jacob Wilkeson born February 28, 1832

The family resided in Pennsylvania where they raised their children and John worked as a farmer.Sometime after 1832 the family left Pennsylvania and in 1840 John and his family were living in Osnaburg Township, Stark County, Ohio. His daughter, Catherine and husband, Jacob McEntaffer lived a few houses away with their daughter Rebecca and John’s son, John, also lived a few houses down with his wife, Harriet and a young son, Levi. Around 1844 the families moved to South Bend, Indiana where John continued to work as a farmer.

Catharine died August 12, 1846 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana at age 47 She was buried at the Harris Prairie Cemetery in Granger, Indiana. After her death, John remained in South Bend and lived with his son, Samuel and widowed daughter, Catherine McEntaffer and her children.

John died May 7, 1874 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana at age 78 and was buried at the Harris Prairie Cemetery in Granger, Indiana.

For Family Genealogy See: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I114

Albert George LeBlanc

2012-10-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

Albert George LeBlanc, my Paternal Grandfather, was born on 7 July 1895 in Aitkin Minnesota. Albert was the first of my LeBlanc line, after nine generations in North America, to be born in the United States. Albert was the second child and the first son of of thirteen children born to George LeBlanc and Helena Graton, subjects of earlier posts at: http://leblancroots.blogspot.com/2012/07/george-osias-leblanc.html and http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8545416888743417776#editor/target=post;postID=8757320980295552262

Albert would grow up on the family farm on the outskirts of Aitkin Minnesota. He was educated in a one room school, where most of the students were his siblings and cousins. (See school momento's)

At the age of twenty-three, on 22 July 1918, Albert was drafted into the United States Army at Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was sent to Camp Custer Michigan, where the 14th Infantry Division was being trained for overseas deployment to Europe for WWI. Albert would serve in Battery C, 40th Field Artillery, where he would attain the rank of Corporal. WWI ended before the 14th Division was deployed, and the Division was demobilized by the end of February 1919. Albert was discharged on 7 February 1919 and returned home to Aitkin Minnesota.

In the early 1920's, Albert moved to Duluth Minnesota where he would become a Truck Driver, an occupation he would do for the rest of his life. In Duluth, Albert met his future wife, Lois Clarke (subject of an earlier posts: http://leblancroots.blogspot.com/2011/06/eloise-pauline-clarke-single-years.html and http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8545416888743417776#editor/target=post;postID=6982931587365043378 ) Albert and Lois would marry on 16 June 1925 at St Mary Church, Stone Lake Wisconsin. The couple would reside in Duluth Minnesota, where they would have two sons and adopt a daughter. The couple would also serve as foster parents for numerous children while in Duluth.

In the early 1940's, Albert moved his family to Southern California, where he continued to work as a Truck Driver. In the 1950's, Albert and his wife bought property in Wilmington California and built and operated a small motel until they retired in the early 1960's.

Albert would die on 9 October 1974 in Bellflower California and is buried at "All Souls Cemetery" in Long Beach California. For Family genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I18

Nellie Aldrich Reynolds

2012-10-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Nellie Aldrich Reynolds, my 2nd g-Grandmother, was born in 1885 in Fort Dodge Iowa. She was the 2nd child born to Aldrich Reynolds and Margaret Wilkeson.

At the age of thirteen, she lost her father in a gun accident (see previous blog post at:http://leblancroots.blogspot.com/2011/01/aldrich-jackson-reynolds.html ) The sudden loss of her father would evidently affect her throughout her life.

At the age of fifteen, Nellie was three months pregnant when she married the father on Christmas day 1900. This marriage would only last a few years and would result in her only children, a daughter and a son.

Nellie's mental state was such that she was in and out of mental hospitals all her life. Her children were in and out foster care or living with Nellie's brother. Nellie would marry at least five times through her life with none of the marriages lasting very long.

Nellie died at Des Moines Iowa in July 1944 and was buried next to her parents at the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge Iowa. She was buried under the name of her first husband "Hartnett" with a footstone placed on her grave by her children.(See Photo)

For Family Genealogy see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I75

Joseph LeBlanc

2012-09-19T20:51:00.001-07:00

Joseph LeBlanc, my 5th g-Grandfather, was born on 10 November 1718 in Grand-Pre' Acadia. Joseph was the son of Jacques LeBlanc and Elizabeth-Isabelle Boudrot

On 26 Nov 1742, at the age of 24, Joseph took for his wife a Marie Madeleine Melancon (Melanson). The couple were married in Grand-Pre' and would remain there till world events forced them to be deported from their home in 1755. See:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadian_deportation

On 2 September 1743 Joseph and Marie Madeleine's son Etienne was born. Unfortunately this son would live only eighteen days. Joseph and Marie would have three more children, a girl named Marie Madeleine, and two boys named Anselme and another Etienne.

On 5 September 1755, Joseph, along with the other males of Grand-Pre', were locked in the Parish Church and informed that all but their personal property was being forfeited to the British Crown. The men would remain in captivity until transports arrived to take them to the Colonies.

Joseph and his family were transported to the Colonies, where they were held captive at Sutton Massachusetts until the end of the "French and Indian War". Massachusetts records indicate that Joseph was "in poor health, unable to do much work" Records indicate that the family grew by four girls and one boy while in captivity, but lack of records cannot confirm if these children were born to Joseph and Marie or orphans that they took charge of.

Upon release from captivity, most Acadian families returned to Canada. There are no records indicating that Joseph and his family ever returned to Canada and it is speculated that he may have taken his family to "The West Indies" were many famlies died of disease.

The only member of Joseph's family known to survive is the son "Etienne". Etienne appears to have reached Quebec by 1776 when he was recruited into the American Continental Army to fight the British in the American Revolution. A marriage of the son "Etienne" in 1778 indicates that his father "Joseph" was deceased.

Grand-Pre Acadia is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site;(See;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Pr%C3%A9_National_Historic_Site

For family Genealogy See http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I1586

James Robinson "Early Settler of Hardwick Massachusetts"

2012-09-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

James Robinson, my 7th g-Grandfather, was born on 15 March 1690 in Boston Massachusetts to Thomas Robinson and Sarah Dennison.

James Robinson would work as a "house-wright", a builder of homes similar to today's occupation of a carpenter. He inherited property in Boston from his paternal Grandfather, across from the Old South Church, on what is today's Washington Street. He sold this property in 1712 and bought a home on Boyston Street. In 1714, he sold the property on Boylston Street and moved his family to Rochester Massachusetts.

On 3 July 1711, in Roxbury Massachusetts, James Robinson married a Patience Ruggles. From this marriage two sons would be born in Boston Massachusetts and another three sons and three daughters would be born in Rochester Massachusetts.

With the exception of one daughter, James Robinson and his family would move to Hardwick Massachusettes. The Robinson's and the Ruggles's famlies were some of the earliest settlers of Hardwick, helping to establish the Town in 1739..

James Robinson would die on 11 March 1762 in Hardwick and is buried at Hardwick Central Cemetery. (See Photos)

Family Genealogy at: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I319

Mathieu Gervais "A soldier of the King"

2012-09-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

Mathieu Gervais, my 7th g-Grandfather, was born in Paris France in 1646 to Pierre Gervais and Catherine Saillard.

At the age of nineteen, Mathieu sailed to the New World as a soldier of "The Grandfontaine Company" of "The Carnigan Regiment".(See photos of Unit" Flag and Uniforms) The Company left France on 16 May 1665, on the French Warship "L'Aigle d' Or" and arrived in New France on 18 August 1665. The "Carnigan Regiment" would provide security for French settlers against Indian attacks in Quebec. See:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carignan-Sali%C3%A8res_Regiment

Matheiu Gervais,like many other soldiers of his unit, remained in New France upon the units return to France. Matheiu and other members of his unit were rewarded for their remaining in New France with parcels of land.

On 31 August 1676, in Montreal Quebec, Mathieu Gervais married a Michelle Picard. From this marriage four sons and six daughters would be born.

Mathieu Gervais would die at the age of eighty-two on 31 January 1728 in Montreal Quebec, where he was buried on 1 February 1728.
See:http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I5366

Peter Weber

2012-08-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Peter Weber, my 2nd Great-Grandfather, was born on 3 November 1842 in Calumet Wisconsin. Peter was the first child born in the United States to German immigrants Anton Weber and Anna Koenigs.

In 1863, at the age of twenty-one, Peter traveled to the west coast and lived for 5 years in California and Nevada. Peter returned to Wisconsin by 1868 and settled in Mount Calvary Wisconsin.

On 3 November 1868, at Mount Calvary Wisconsin, Peter married an Austrian immigrant named Paulina Flatz, From this marriage nine children, five daughters and four sons, would be born in Mount Calvary.

In Mount Calvary, Peter established and ran a general repair and blacksmith shop. Peter served as a Justice of the Peace for three years and a member of the town's Board of Supervisors as a Democrat.

In the 1880's, Peter moved his family from Mount Calvary to Superior Wisconsin to live. Peter would die of Pneumonia in Superior Wisconsin on 18 June 1891. (See Photo) Peter is buried at the Old St Francis Cemetery in Superior Wisconsin, (See Photo)

See family record at:http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-leblanc&id=I462