52 Ancestors: Aime Godin (1852-1909) Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada

I am back on the Mazerolle-Godin side of my family tree this week with Aime Godin, my great-great-grandfather, the father-in-law of Beatrice Hebert from my post on Feb 8, 2014.

Aime was born in approximately 1852, most likely in Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada. I have not yet been able to find a birth or baptism record to verify this information. His death certificate does list Caraquet as his place of birth but his age is slightly incorrect. His age reported on all the census records are consistent with his birth year being 1852, someone remembered his birth year, just not the person who reported his death!

Aime's was the 4th of 8 children of Joseph & Tharsile Godin. He grew up in Caraquet where he learned the art of being a farmer from his father, along with his older and younger brothers.  He must have went to school when he was younger as he was able to read and write and his parents were unable to.

On Feb 18, 1879 Aime married Marie Theriault in Caraquet at Ste. Pierre Aux Liens Parish. What a great reason to celebrate during the long dreary winters, having a wedding! Aime and Marie lived in Caraquet and raised at least 7 of their 10 children there until sometime between 1891 and 1901 when they moved approximately 20 km away to Paquetville. I wonder why they moved there? Did they have the opportunity for a larger farm? Were they following other family members who went before them? The only thing I know for sure is that if they had not moved to Paquetville, my great-grandfather (Jean Godin) most likely would never have met my great-grandmother (Beatrice Hebert) and I would not be here today.

Aime continued to make his living as a farmer in Paquetville until his death April 14, 1909 from stomach cancer. Although he was not attended to by a physician at the time of his death he must have seen a doctor to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Aime must have worked through the pain and illness to put his farm to bed for the winter for the last time before being diagnosed. He suffered from cancer of the stomach for 6 months (Oct-April). It must have been a difficult winter for his family knowing that they would not spend another one with him and for his wife who would have just celebrated 30 years of marriage to him.

                                                           NB Archives, Provincial Returns Death, Godin, Aimee, accessed Feb 22, 2014.