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Apr 28, 2009

THREE OR MORE TUESDAY: Old Records

Let me start off by saying I don't speak French although I am French/Metis. I have trained myself to read these French records and it has been quite a learning process. Some of them were so poorly written at the time that almost no one would be able to read them but I have found them especially challenging. I have gone through many thousand in doing research on my family and the families of my clients. And hey...I'm getting better at it.
This first record from the Drouin Collection of French Catholic records is for the baptism of my 2nd. Great Grandfather, Emmanuel Beaugrand dit Champagne1 (1799-1872) and is from 1799. Or so it would appear. When dealing with these records you are not always sure whether is was written out on the dates specified or if is a transcription done many years later.
This one here is for the burial of Emmanuel's father who would be my 3rd. Great Grandfather Jean Baptiste Beaugrand dit Champagne (1737-1817). One way to tell if the pages were trancribed is to look for signatures on them of the people involved like parents, godparents etc. If there are no original signatures but only the same one of the officiate over and over it may be a copy of the original.

Transcription or not without the Drouin Records I would have never been able to trace my family back to the early 1600's like I have.
The record below is a 1880 census record showing my Grandmother, Rosana Pinard (1877-1946) from Manchester, Hillsboro, New Hampshire which would seem totally out of place from my Quebec records except that her uncle Edmond Pinard had started a little place called Pinardville in New Hampshire. I talk about him in a previous posting here.
UPDATE: I am trying to learn how to insert footnotes so I am adding to this post.



Well I have a computer class to teach and I must get going but in the mean time please check out the other Three or More Tuesday posts over at Tam's at The Gypsy's Corner. Thanks for stopping by.

9 comments:

  1. Hi Lori, I have been away for awhile, and thought I would stop by and say hello. Love these posts on archives. You must have amazing access to them.

    I too, am French Metis, although no one would know it looking at me. I have always loved the history of our family, and one of the cousins did research our family tree years ago.

    You must have heaps of patience to go through those records, but what a interesting pursuit.

    Jen

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  2. Trashing your anceistry is such a time consuming job but oh so worth it. One of my uncles traced our family history when he retired. It became a full time job, but the information is wonderful to have. I'm sure you are learning many interesting stories about your family also. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty

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  3. What a task you've undertaken! Happy 3xTuesday.

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  4. Wow!! I am so impressed with your ability and perserverance!!! I would love to research my family history but haven't aclue how to get started. Thanks for a very interesting post!

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  5. Family history is fascinating! And you are an extraordinary researcher... amazing skills!

    I'm even caught up in tracing the histories of the families that lived in That Old House -- it's addictive!
    Cass

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  6. I am our family historian. I love searching through the old documents! Happy Three or More Tuesday ~ Susan

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  7. Hi,
    Love the name of your blog....LOL .
    Thanks for sharing your history on your family. Some of my family did some research and was only
    able to go back to the late 1800's. I know it
    is alot of work ! I am sure the rest of your family will love what you have accomplished !
    I also want to thank you for the kind note you left on my blog , I do believe it is true,..LOL.
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  8. My aunt tracked my families anceistry and I know how time consuming and how much work it is. But how wonderful to pull together the pieces of the puzzle. Loved this wonderful post.
    Have a great day,
    Tam

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  9. Wonderful story of your family history!!!

    Thanks for sharing!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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