52 Ancestors: David Lebreton (1878-1926)

 This week I'm back over to my father's side of the family tree where I'll share with you what I know about my Great Great Uncle David Lebreton. David is the brother of my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Lebreton who I have already written about. David lived his entire life in the Inkerman area of New Brunswick, specifically in Maltempec. Today, Maltempec is approximately 13 square KM with a population of near 300.    

David was the first born son of Patrice Lebreton and Margaret Comeau, when he was approximately 3 years old his family lived in Inkerman, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada.  His father was a farmer as many of the men in the area were and he would become.  When when David was approximately 13 years old he was still living in Inkerman, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada with his parents: Patrice Lebreton and Margaret Comeau; siblings: Elizabeth (16) Mary (18), Francis (11), Nazaire (8) and Malvina (2); an aunt, Margaret Lebreton and also his grandparents, Morice (71) and Alice (77) Como (Comeau). David continued to live with his family until his marriage on October 11, 1897 to Elenor Laplante. After his marriage David did not move far, with his wife and daughter, he lived next door to his parents until at least 1901 and then just a few households away as his siblings were married and started their households between David and his father.

In 1911 David's family had grown to 5 children (4 daughters and 1 son). His life was not without tragedy as he lost 3 of his children as infants to various common childhood diseases (flu, whooping cough and cholerea). David provided for his family primarily as farmer but he also worked as a lumberman (probably logging in the forests near by). His family continued to grow with the addition of 4 more daughters between 1911 and 1921, unfortunately he also lost 2 daughters as infants. I wonder how they managed to feed, clothes and house such a large family in his 4 room house. There must have been lots of hands working on the farm, many hand-me-downs with lots of mending to keep every item owned in good condition and sharing with family members who lived a short distance away. In 1919 David's 1st born child Olizine was married, it must have been a great time for celebration in his house.

David died on April 23, 1926 from asthma. I wonder how long he suffered from asthma? It must have been very difficult for him to farm and work in the woods as a lumberman while suffering from asthma.