AFGS Newsletter September-October 2005

A TIP FROM YOUR BOOKIE

by Janice Burkhart

Our Drouin Collection is always surprising me. Just recently, while looking for something else, I came across the Acadian Collection and began to read through the titles. I was absolutely amazed at the depth of material on the Acadian people that our collection has. We have civil records, missionary records, church records, family genealogies, records of some of the people who were dispersed and census records. These records come from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and even Newfoundland. If you are doing Acadian research, I highly recommend that you check into these wonderful films. I have listed some of the locations and parishes so that you can see for yourself how vast the collection is.

Aboujagane; Acadie; St-Pierre de Caraquet, NB; St-Bernard de Néguac, NB; Census of Acadiens for 1720-1758, 1671-1784, 1763-1773, 1773; Missionary registers for Acadie and Gaspesie; French Neutrals in Massachusetts; Acadiaville; Adamsville; Annapolis-Royal; Ardouane; Argyle, NS; Arichat, NS; Baie-des-Chaleurs; Baie-des-Winds; Baie-des-Vents; Baie-du-Vin; Baie-Ste-Marie, NS; Baie-Ste-Anne; Baie-Verte; Balmoral; Barachois; Barnaby-River, NB; Bartibogue, NB; Bathurst, NB; Bathurst-Est, NB; Bathurst-Ouest, NB; Beaubasin; Belledune, NB; Blackville, NB: Botsford; Bouctouche; Boujagane; Burnt, NB; Campobello, NB; Cam’s River, NB; Cap-Pelé; Cape Beld; Cap-Tourmentin; Caraquet, NB; Central Kingsclear, NB; Chapel Point; Charlo, NB; Chatham, NB; Chezzetcouk, NS; Chigibouachis; Chigibougouet; Chimougouis; Chipoudy; Clair; Cocagne; Dalhousie, NB; Didiche; Dorchester; Drummond, NB; Ecouipahaq; Edmundston, NB; Eel-Ground, NB; Escuminac; Fairville, NB; Frédéricton, NB; Gagetown, NB; Gedaic; Gloucester, County; Golding-Grove, NB; Grand-Pré; Grand-Sault - Grand Falls; Grand-Digue; Halifax; Haute-Aboujagne; Harve-St-Esprit; Hillsborough, NB; Ile-du-Cap-Breton; Ile-du-Prince-Edouard; Ile-Royale; Ile-St-Jean; Iles-Madame, NS; Inkerman; Johnville; Kagebenacis; Kent County; Kingtown; Kouchibouguac; La Baleine; Lac Baker; Lameque; Laurent-le-Bec; St-Charles-Les-Mines; Loch-Lomond, NB; Lorembec; Louisbourg; Lower-Caraquet, NB; Madawaska Co.; Maliseet; Maugerville, NB; Memramcook, NB; Milltown, NB; Miramichi, NB; Miscou; Moncton, NB; Mont-Carmel; Musquagh; Nash Creek, NB; Nelson, NB; Newcastle, NB; Nipisiquit, NB; Northumberland Co, NB; Norton, NB; N-D-de Kent; Paquetville, NB; Petersville, NB; Petitcodiac, Petit - Degrati, NS; Petit - Rocher; NB; Plaisance, TN; Pointe-au-Sapin; Pointe-du-Diable, NS; Pokemouche-en-Bas, NB; Pokemouche-en-Haut, NB; Port-au-Basque; Port-Lajoie; Port-Royal; Quaco, NB; Red-Bank, NB; Renous-Bridge, NB; Restigouche Co., NB; Rexton; Richibouctou, NB; Richiboucton, NB; Richmond, NB; Riverside, NB; Riviere-a-l’Anguille, NB; Riviere-des-Mines; Riviere-Jacquet, NB; Riviere-St-Jean, NB; Robertville, NB; Rogersville; Sackville, NB; Scoudouc; Shediac; Shemogue; Shippagan, NB; South Brand; St-Andre; St-Andrew, NB; St-Anselme, NB; St-Basile; St-Bruno; St-Charles-Borromee; St-Charles-les-Mines; St-Francois-Xavier; St-Georges, NB; St-Ignace-de-Kent; St-Isidore, NB; St-Jacques; St-Jean, NB; St-Leonard; St-Louis-des-Francais; St-Norbert-de-Louisbourg; St-Paul-de-Kent; St-Pierre-du-Nord; St-Stephen, NB; Ste-Anne; Ste-Anne-de-Kent; Ste-Anne-de-Restigouche; Ste-Luce; Sunbury, NB; Sussex, NB; Tobique; Tracadie, NB; Victoria Co.; Weldford, NB; Wellington; Westmorland Co.; Windsor, NS; Woodstock, NB.

Combine these resources with the many books on Acadian History, church and town history, biography and of course vital statistics and you will have a very good chance of finding your acadian ancestors. Good luck!

AN IMPORTANT PROJECT

AFGS is in the middle of a very important and large project. We need help with data entry and from people who would be willing to do proof reading. To do data entry you will need a PC with Microsoft Access Version 95 or 97. We will provide the template and the material which consists of marriages from the Blue Drouin Books. You can do a few pages or as many as you want. If your last name is still available, we can send you those pages. For example, Beaudry, Poulin, etc. If you can help, please contact rdbeaudry@cox.net. We will gladly supply additional information. You will be doing the Society a huge favor and will have some fun at the same time.

DIVORCED IN CANADA

Patty Locke has passed on this important and interesting website. It is a link to the Canadian Archives’ Divorces.

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/022/008/022008-100.01-e.php

ADVICE FROM OUR WEB GUY
By Bill Pommenville

IMPROVING INTERNET SEARCHES

When looking for information on line most search places have short cuts to improve your search. here are a few you might want to try.

First, type your request in the form of a statement. Example: French Canadian Genealogical research in Rhode Island. In Google this returns 136,000 returns because it is counting each of these words it finds on any webpage. Other search engines would give you similar results.

If you place quotes around groups of words it will only consider the items in quotes as one word and that word must be on the web page exactly as it is shown inside the quotation marks. Example: "French Canadian Genealogical" research in "Rhode Island". This will display any page with "French Canadian Genealogical" as if it were one word and the same for "Rhode Island".

Spelling is also an important consideration as it can make a big difference in searches. Incorrect spelling can sometimes bring the results you are looking for. Try spelling the word the way it sounds and also try singular and plural forms of the word. The results may surprise you!

If you have a web tip you would like to share, send it along to misskoko@aol.com. We will make sure our “Web Guy” receives it.

WHAT’S COOKING

Tourtiere is French meat pie. Recipes for this very popular dish varied according to what part of French Canada you lived in. Some recipes include bread crumbs, Other recipes included potatoes and/or carrots. Spices varied as well including cloves, cinnamon, summer savory, bay leaves, garlic and of course salt and pepper. This basic recipe, sent to us by Doris Greer of Trenton, NJ, is very good on its own but you can experiment with other ingredients until you come up with a recipe that pleases your family.

Tourtiere
1-1/4 lb lean ground pork 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 lb lean ground beef 1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 onion, finely chopped 1/2 C water
1 tsp. salt Pastry for 2 crust pie 9”
1/8 tsp. pepper

Place all ingredients, except pastry, into saucepan and cook, covered, slowly for about 1 hour, until meat is tender and liquid cooked down. Stir occasionally. Put bottom crust in pie pan; spread mixture evenly. Put on top crust. Trim and crimp edges. Slash to let out steam. Place in 400F oven until light brown, 25 to 30 minutes, depending on oven. You may serve with catsup or brown gravy. This and other recipes are included in AFGS’ cookbook. Ordering information is on our website.

RENEWALS

It is time to renew your AFGS membership. Renewal notices have been sent. Please try to return them in a timely fashion. It takes time and money to send second and third notices. We hope every one of you decide to continue as a member of AFGS. We are working very hard to develop new products that will help you find your ancestors and are also trying to include more cultural information in AFGnewS. So when that renewal letter arrives, please return it right away.

FIFTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY DRAWING

We are pleased to announce our very popular Holiday Drawing! Many of you commented that you liked having the drawing early so that if you won, you would have the money before the Holidays so we will draw the prizes at the end of November.

Once again the top prize is $1000, second prize is $500, third prize is $250 and fourth prize is a beautiful Fontanini Nativity Set worth $200. The Nativity set contains a creche, the holy family, three kings, a Sheppard, a donkey, a sheep and two angels. This set has many pieces that can be added from a store near you and would make a wonderful gift if you already own a Nativity set.

Suggested donation is $2 per ticket, three tickets for $5 or 6 tickets for $10. You may return them to AFGS at P. O. Box 830, Woonsocket, RI. Proceeds will benefit our many AFGS projects.

HERITAGE ORNAMENT IS A BEAUTY!

The second Heritage Ornament will be announced soon. This year we will depict a soldier from the Carignan Regiment. These important men were very valuable to the colonists during the early days of New France and are an important aspect of our heritage. Watch for more information in our next mailing.

IMPORTANT COLLECTION ANNOUNCED!

We have a wonderful new collection to tell you about. AFGS has long possessed a collection of film known as the Drouin “Hard to Find Marriages”. This film contains about 937,000 marriages not found in the Blue Books, nor in the Female Collection. These films were rarely used, however, because they were very hard to read. (They have long been known as “The Hard To Read Marriages” at the library!) We have just purchased the digitized version which is now installed on the library computers. The images have been enhance and are much easier to read. I feel certain that you will find some missing links in this new collection and even better, you will be able to obtain a primary source record for any marriage that you find there! We are very happy to be able to provide this great new collection to you.

COME TO THE PARTY

You and a guest are invited to attend a celebration in honor of our many volunteers. It will be held on November 13th at 1:30 PM at our library on 78 Earle Street in Woonsocket, RI. We will serve light refreshments, recognize our volunteers for all the help they render to AFGS and enjoy some Holiday entertainment. Please join us to honor our volunteers and to spend a few hours meeting your fellow Society members. It’s free and it will be fun so please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

HALL OF FAME

Once again, AFGS will honor French-Canadians and Franco-Americans who have made significant contributions to society. The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held at the Kirkbrae Country Club on Old River Road in Lincoln, RI. The reception will begin at 6 PM and dinner will be served at 7 PM. The reception will include a vegetable crudités table and a cash bar. Dinner menu will include soup, salad, boneless stuffed chicken, vegetable, potato, dessert, rolls, coffee and tea. Cost for this event is $35.00 per person. It is so important to honor our cousins who have made a difference. They are so often overlooked and we should all celebrate their accomplishments. Please try to attend. Tickets will be available at the AFGS library. You may also contact Norm Deragon at 1-401-334-1672.

HISTORY CORNER

by Roy Forgit

FRANCO-AMERICAN PARISHES OF THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY
PRECIOUS BLOOD (PRECIEUX SANG) 1872, WOONSOCKET, RI

This first French Parish in Woonsocket, RI had been a part of St. Charles Borromeo and although it dates from 1872, the land for the church was not acquired until August of 1873. The cornerstone was laid under the guidance of Reverend Berkins, Pastor of St. Charles, on October 25,1874.

On November 12, 1875, Reverend Charles Dauray became Pastor of Precious Blood, a post in which he would become a legend. He had been born in Ste. Marie de Monnoir, PQ on March 15, 1838. Initially a law student, he left those studies to pursue a vocation as a priest at St-Sulpice Seminary in Montreal. Ordained in December of 1870, he served at St-Cesaire de Rouville, PQ, then as head of Marieville College. In 1872, he left that assignment for a “rest” in the United States, coming to St. Mary’s Parish in Pawtucket, RI.

Soon he was too busy serving the area’s French-Canadians, establishing Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur in Central Falls, RI in 1873. He arrived in Woonsocket less than three months before a disaster struck Precious Blood. On February 2, 1876, a winter gale toppled the new church of brick and stone which was nearing completion. It was a loss of $25,000.00.

Afterward, the rebuilding progressed only very slowly. The church was not dedicated until July 17, 1881. Seating 2,000, this new edifice had as its first two Parish Trustees Joseph Bouvier and Joseph Boucher. In 1884, the Sisters of Jesus-Marie from Sillery, Quebec took charge of a large parish school. A convent was erected in 1894 and a new school for boys was erected in 1898 under the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It opened with 147 students on September 6, 1898 but soon attracted students from all the French parishes of the area. In 1924, it became Mount St. Charles Academy.

In 1900, Bishop Hawkins bestowed upon Father Dauray the permanent Pastorship of Precious Blood. It was the 25th Anniversary of his appointment as Pastor. In 1918, Father Dauray was elevated to the rank of Monsignior by Pope Benedict XV.

Although first divided in 1890 by the establishment of Ste. Anne’s Parish, Precious Blood continued to grow. It soon held so many new immigrant families that the South Main Street parish could not provide for them. In 1902, St. Louis de Gonzaga Parish was formed. That was the third French church for Woonsocket. Eventually there would be six!

Information for this article was retrieved from:
Dowling, Rev. A., The Diocese of Providence, 1899, Hurd & Everts, Boston, MA.
Bonnier, Marie Louise, The First French Families of Woonsocket, RI.

AMNESTY DECLARED!

As we have stated in a previous newsletter, a number of our books are missing. We realize that some of these books may have been taken inadvertently and that the people who took them may now be embarrassed to find that they have a book they should not have. We understand how this could happen so if you have a book that belongs to AFGS, please return it. There will be no questions asked. You may simply deposit it on the table in the entrance way. We will be happy and we think you will be too. We thank you in advance for this kind act.

DEAD ENDS

As you may or may not know, AFGS has long been collecting the Early Franco-American marriages of RI. In many cases, the maiden names of the mothers have been omitted. We are going to list a few of these couples to see if our members might be able to fill them in.

1. Joseph Abbot (20 years old and born in Montreal) son of Anthony and Julia ... married Philomena Limber (19 years old and born in Montreal) daughter of Anthony and Susan ... on 26 Jul 1862 in Smithfield, RI.

2. Amelia Abendroth married Oscar Beauregard (29 years old and born in Canada) son of George and Ellen (Helene ?) ... on 06 Feb 1897 in Woonsocket, RI

3. Celestin Adam married Evangeline Levesque (22 years old and born in Canada) daughter of Thomas and ... on 02 Jan 1892 in Harrisville, RI

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