52 Ancestors: Marie Mazerolle (1856/7 - 1955)

I'm back over to the Mazerolle side of my family tree, this time to Marie Mazerolle my Great Great Aunt.

Marie was the fifth child and second daughter of Germain Mazerolle and Christine Hache. I have been unable to locate Marie's baptism certificate to confirm her date of birth, guess I will need to look page by page on the parish registry to see if I can find it (no time to do that last week!). Her age and birth year vary over the census years, they were listed as: 1856 (5yrs old in 1861), 1861 (30yrs old in 1891 & 40yrs old in 1901) to 1866 (45years old in 1911). Her birth month, May, when stated has always been consistent. Based her first showing up on the census records in 1861 and her death certificate I have concluded that she was born in May of 1856/57 in Pokemouche, Gloucester county, New Brunswick, Canada.

Marie was raised and went to school (learning to read and write) in Inkerman, Gloucester county, New Brunswick, Canada with her 9 brothers and sisters. She continued to live in Inkerman even after her marriage to George Bruno St. Pierre on Sunday Jan 6, 1878 at l'Immaculee Conception parish, Pokemouche-en-Haut. It must have been a celebration for the whole community that Sunday mass, welcoming in the new year and the beginning of a new family.

Marie and George lived with George's parents and younger siblings at the start of their marriage until at least after their second child was born. It must have been a lively household as Marie & her mother-in-law both had children born around the same time (Marie's first child and her mother-in-law's last child). With large families this must happen often as my oldest sibling and my youngest aunt on my Dad's side can attest to.

When Marie and George moved into their own household they did not move far, the lived right next door! They continued to live right next door raising their 11 children (4 boys & 7 girls) until at least 1901. Starting around this time Marie's children began to marry and start families of their own. By 1911, with the 4 oldest children married, they were down to only 7 children living at home. In 1921 they were living in the Cowan Creek area of Inkerman with only their youngest child still living at home. They were not far from their 3 youngest sons as they settled with their families right next door to each other with Marie and George living in the middle of them. Marie may have been losing her children to marriage but she was rapidly gaining grandchildren (9 living next door).

At some point between census periods or after 1921 Marie adopted a 12th child, a girl. I don't have any information on this child, other than her name and who she married. This information was obtained from Marie's funeral notice that was published in the Nov 11, 1955 edition of l'Evangeline. This is another mystery to solve!

At the time of her death Marie was still living in the Cowan Creek are of Inkerman, possibly with her youngest son. Marie's death was reported by her youngest son on October 31, 1955. She was 98/99 years old at the time of her death. This seems like an incredibly long life for anyone, let alone someone who was born in 1856/7. We seem to have some long lives on the Mazerolle side of the family tree.

 Nov 11, 1955 edition of l'Evangeline

 Nov 11, 1955 edition of l'Evangeline

52 Ancestors: Joseph Alexander Christie (1886 - 1979) Sawmill worker to Sawmill Manager

Joseph Alexander Christie is my Great Uncle on my Mom's side of my family tree. He was born on May 24, 1886 to Alexander Christie and Margaret Legace in Peter's River (West Bathurst, Gloucester, New Brunswick, Canada), he was their third child and first son. Joseph was baptized on May 30, 1886 when he was 6 days old. His baptism sponsors were Francis Christie and Elizabeth Legacey, most likely his Uncle and Aunt.

In 1891 Joseph lived in West Bathurst with his parents, 2 older sisters, a younger sister and brother and his grandmother Teresa Christie (Arseneault). He went to school and learned to read and write. Sometime after completing his schooling he went to work for the sawmill in Beresford, this must have been how he met his future wife as she was from Petit Rocher (just a little further down the road).

When Joseph was 21 he married Rose Godin in Petit Rocher, Gloucester, New Brunswick on May 21, 1907 at St. Polycarpe parish. The witnesses for their marriage were Maggie Christie (Joseph's sister) and Arthur Godin (Rose's brother?). Joseph and Rose started their family right away with the birth of their first child Catheline in April 1908 and a second daughter Delia in May 1910. Joseph worked on average 60 hours per week earning less than $10 per week. In 1910 his yearly earnings from the sawmill were $320 for 48 weeks of work. This was close to the average wage and hours of work for mill workers in 1910. In 1911 Joseph's household consisted of his wife Rose, daughters Catheline and Delia and a 4 year old girl from the U.S. that is listed as a lodger. I don't know how this girl came to live with them or what happened to her after 1911, she is a mystery to solve!

Joseph and Rose continued to expand their family with the birth of daughters Margarette in 1915, Frances in 1917 and Josephine in 1919. In 1920 after the death of his sister Brigitte and her husband, Joseph's nephew Wilfred Daigle came to live with him (finally a boy in the house!). Joseph and Rose continued their family with a 6th daughter, Georgine, in 1921. Joseph and his family were living in West Bathurst in 1921 and Joseph continued to work at the sawmill except that he was no longer a labourer, he had moved to Manager and now earned $1000 per year. Joseph continued to work at the sawmill until his retirement sometime between 1953-1957.

Joseph lived his entire life in West Bathurst. He died in 1979 at the age of 92 and is buried in the New Holy Family Roman Catholic Cemetry in Bathurst, Gloucester, New Brunswick.

52 Ancestors: Marie Theriault (1853-1950)

Marie Theriault is my Great Great Grandmother and spouse of Aime Godin. She was born November 6 1853 in Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada to Benjamin Theriault and Celeste Young.

I don't know much about Marie's childhood, I have not been able to find any official records for her before her marriage to Aime Godin on Feb 18, 1879 in Caraquet. Was she the oldest, youngest or somewhere in between? Did she come from a small or large family? Her death record state she was born in Caraquet and her marriage record have her being married in Caraquet. I can make the assumption that she probably was raised in Caraquet. Clearly, I need to dig a little deeper into her family!

Marie was approximately 25 when she married 26 year old Aimi Godin on Feb 18, 1879 in Caraquet at the parish of St-Pierre-aux-Liens. It is from Marie's marriage record that I was able to determine who her parents were.

Marie and Aime started their family right away with their first child, Jean-Aime (my Great Grandfather), born in November 1879/80. Their 10 children were born within a year or two of each other except for a four year gap between their third and fourth child. I wonder if they had additional children within this time period (1882-1886) that died as infants? I will have to go back and scroll through the parish baptism records for this period to see if I can find any additional children baptised for Marie and Aime.

After the death of her husband, Aime, in 1909, Marie's son Aime became the head of the household (according to the 1911 census). In 1911 the only children living at home were Aime (head of the house) and Marie's daughter Amanda (born in 1891). At this time she also lived next door to her eldest child (my Great Grandfather Jean-Aime) and his growing family. I wonder if my grandmother had any memories of living next door to her grandmother, she would have been 6 years old at that time. My grandmother has passed on now, it is to bad that I never had a conversation with her about her past.

Marie lived the rest of her life with her son Aime. On the 1921 census she is living with her son Aime and his family and next door to another of her son's, Nicolas and his family. Marie experienced so many things in her lifetime; the birth of Canada as a country, World War 1 and World War 2 not to mention all of the changes in technology from transportation by horse and wagon to the use of cars and the use or telephones to communicate and the invention of television for entertainment. Aime reported the death of his mother, Marie, May 1, 1950 in Paquetville, New Brunswick of old age.

52 Ancestors: Hilaire Pitre (1817/8-1902) Farmer, Carpenter and Store Merchant

Hilaire Pitre is my Great Great Grandfather. He is the father of Victor Pitre.

Hilaire was the 6th child of Jean Baptiste Pitre and Marie Hache. He was baptized April 6, 1818 in the Ste. Famille parish, Nipisiguit (Bathurst), New Brunswick. This was the first time the missionary priest had visited since November 1817 and was one of many children baptized that day. The only time that Hilaire's actual birthday is recorded anywhere is on the 1901 census, it is listed as Jan 8, 1817. It is unlikely that the year of his birth is 1817 since it would have been unusual for a family to wait a year to have their child baptized if they had the opportunity to do so sooner. However, the ages listed for Hilaire on most census records do match with an 1817 birth year. He at least believed that he was born in 1817!

Hilaire married Tarsille (Teresa?) Boudreau on September 1, 1835 in the St. Polycarpe parish in Petit Rocher, New Brunswick. They settled in Beresford, New Brunswick, which is about halfway between Bathurst and Petit Rocher. It is here that Hilaire raised his family of 10 (5 boys and 5 girls) working as a farmer, carpenter and finally as a general store merchant. Hilaire must have worked until the day he died as he is listed as a general store merchant on the 1901 census at the age of 84. As his family married and started families of their own they did not move far away. In 1901, Hilaire was living surrounded by 1 daughter, 3 sons and 20 grandchildren! It must have been wonderful to have his family so close by. Hilaire deeded his land to 4 of his 5 sons (one must have died), I wonder if some of this land is still within the family.

Hilaire died about 2 months after his wife on October 24, 1902 in Petit Rocher, New Brunswick at the age of 84/85, no cause of death listed. Was it old age or a broken heart at the loss of his wife?

52 Ancestors: Joseph Cyrille Mazerolle (1893-1918) Spanish Flu Victim

Joseph Cyrille Mazerolle is my 1st Cousin Twice removed. He is the grandson of Germain Mazerolle. Cyrille was the third child of Urbain Mazerolle and Caroline Albert.

Cyrille was born Nov 22, 1893 in Pokemouche, Gloucester, New Brunswick, Canada. He lived with his parents and 8 siblings on a farm in Inkerman and Upper Pokemouche. Next door to Cyrille and his family were his grandparents, several uncles and their families all earning their living as a farmer. Cyrille was also a farmer when he became old enough.

Farmer was the occupation he listed when he was arrested in Upper Pokemouche on July 11, 1918 for defaulting on his draft orders. Why did he not report for the draft? Was it because he could only speak French (1901 census indicates he only spoke French; unable to locate 1911 census) in what would most likely be an English environment. Was it a fear of dying? By July 1918 Canada had fought in many battles (Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, etc.) and had lost many men. Did he believe that he was exempt from the draft because he was a farmer? Prime Minister Borden promised labouring farmers exemptions during his campaign but broke this promise after the election. We will never know his reason for not reporting.

Four days after being arrested for defaulting, Cyrille underwent medical examination in Sussex, Kings county, New Brunswick where he was declared fit for duty but lacked training. The description on his calling up describe him as 6 feet tall with a 39 inch chest, fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair with no distinctive marks.

Cyrill's time as a soldier was short, it is unknown if he even completed his training. He fell ill November 22, 1918 (approximately) of the Spanish Influenza while in Upper Pokemouche and died one week later on November 29, 1918. Cyrille was one of the 776 Canadian Expeditionary Force members for whom the Spanish Influenza Pandemic was fatal.

Library and Archives Canada; War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death; Box: 239

52 Ancestors: Margaret Legace (1861-1940)

Margaret Ann Legace is my Great Grandmother. She is the wife of Alexander Christie from an earlier post.

Margaret or Maggie, as records seem to refer to her as, was born September 17-22, 1861 in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada. She was the 1st born child of Isaac Legace and Thersile (Theresa) Daigle. Margaret was baptised when she was just a few days old, sponsors were Michael Daigle and Angel Pitre (more research needed to find out who they were), in West Bathurst at Ste. Famille Parish. The more research I do, the more I find that Ste. Famille Parish is a big part of my roots on my mothers side.  So many, almost everyone so far, have either been baptised, married or buried in this parish. Maybe I should do some research on the parish.

Margaret lost her mother when she was between 7-10 years old. She would have had to assume the role of running the household; cooking, cleaning and looking after her 2 younger sisters while her father was working the farm. Margaret would have continued this daunting task until sometime between 1871-1873 when her father re-married. This most likely was the reason she was unable to read and write as Margaret would not have been able to go to school with all of these household duties to look after. She most likely continued to assist her step-mother (who was deaf) with the running of the household and looking after the two brothers who were born before she was married.

On October 30, 1882 when Margaret was 21 years old she married Alexander Christie in West Bathurst at Ste. Famille Parish, the same parish she and Alexander were baptised. The witnesses to their marriage were William Christie and Mary Jane Boyle. William Christie could have been Alexander's brother. I don't know who Mary Jane Boyle could be as I have not found any connection to a Boyle in the family tree yet.

Margaret and Alexander has 12 children (4 girls and 8 boys) all who were able to read, write and speak both French and English. I wonder if Margaret felt that this was a priority for her children as she never went to school and only learned to read and write and speak English after her marriage to Alexander. I wonder if she learned along side her youngest children.

Margaret lived her entire life in West Bathurst. She died Jan 27, 1940 from hypertension (heart attack) when she was 78 years old.  Margaret outlived her husband and 6 of her 12 children.

52 Ancestors: Nicolas Godin (1886-1958)

Nicolas Godin is my Great Great Uncle from my Dad's side of the family.  He is my Grandmother's uncle. He was the 4th of 10 children born to Aime Godin and Marie Theriault. Although I have been unable to find a baptism or birth record for Nicolas his age and birthday are consistently recorded to support a birth date of May 17, 1886 in Paquetville, New Brunswick, Canada.

Nicolas, like his father before him and his male siblings was also a farmer. He must have became a full time farmer around 15-16 years old (school must have stopped at this age) as he was able to read, write and speak French and all siblings younger than 16 were attending school and those 16 and older were farmers or listed with no occupation.

On Thanksgiving day October 14, 1907, Nicolas Godin married Marie Antoinette Godin (10 years his senior) in Paquetville at St. Augustin of Paquetville Parish. They were both from this parish and must have met there originally. After their marriage Nicolas and Antoinette quite possibly lived in the same dwelling as Antoinette's parents. The 1911 census records Nicolas, Antoinette and their 4 month old son Dosithee living in an "appartment" with Antoinette's parents and 3 of her siblings. My guess is that they lived in the same house but had separate living quarters. In 1911, Nicolas was supplementing his farming income with carpentry work to support his growing family. Unfortunately, this son like their daughter, Nelida, 2 years previous would die before his 1st birthday. Such sadness to have lost two children back to back at such a young age when they were just starting their family.

In 1921, Nicolas and Antoinette are still living in Paquetville as a farming family but now have 3 children, 2 girls and a boy! They continue to live in Paquetville until Sept 1939 when they moved about 10km away to the community of Notre-Dames-des-Erables with their son Armand as reported in the September 7, 1939 edition of the La Voix d'Evangeline. Nicolas lived in Notre-Dames-des-Erables until his death August 15, 1958. According to is death certificate he spent the last 5 days of his life in the Hotel-Dieu St. Joseph (hospital) and died of a stomach ulcer. Nicolas is buried in the cemetry at Paroisse De Notre Dame De Auxiliatrice Roman Catholic, Gloucester County.