One of the most frustrating things about doing family tree research is the variety of names that one person can have,and it seems that those who come from other countries are usually the ones who have the most.
A couple of examples....my great grandfather's name was Hilaire Lessor. He was born in Broughton,Quebec,Canada. For years, I could not find him anywhere. No census,nothing,so I also couldn't find out what his parents names were. It was very frustrating. Here are the names that I eventually found him under:
-Elaire
-Milaire
-this one is my favorite-Frank
Lessor became Lessard in America. I have also seen it spelled Sessard in the 1910 census.
My great grandmother,his wife,is even better. Her name was Delima Bonsaint. She was also called:
-Delia
-Delina
-Demelle
-and her last name was also listed as Bonsang and Goodblood.
What was helpful in putting two and two together was that I knew birth and death dates,as well as the name of siblings.
Delima's father's name was Amable Bonsaint. In the 1880 census in Bartlett,NH,he is listed as Alic Goodblood (Bonsang is Goodblood in French,though it was also spelled Bonsaint).
My great uncle's name was Urbain,but he was listed under birth records as David,and in the 1880 Bartlett census,he was listed as Dane. I suppose that Dave and Dane sound alike if one has a heavy accent.
You can see how confusing it gets.
Why so many names?
The best theory is that the record takers 1) didn't know how to spell the names properly 2)couldn't understand what someone with a heavy Canadian accent was saying 3)they just changed the names to make them more Americanzied.
My suggestion is to bear in mind that the names could be wrong. Try various spellings. It just might get you there!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
How To Begin
So! You've decided to to a bit of genealogy. Good for you! Now the question is,were does one start? Bear in mind I am not an expert,and everything I share is based on my own experience of over a decade.
Thankfully,every year there seems to be more and more options for obtaining family tree information,with the advent of personal computers and genealogy sites. However,the first line of attack will never change: your family.
1) Talk to your parents and grandparents. They can be a very valuable resource. Even if they don't have information dating back hundreds of years (which is unlikely,anyway) they can give you a starting point. My parents knew some about their families,but not tons. My mother,for instance,has no idea where her grandfather Thompson is buried or when he died.My father only knew that his grandfather had been born in Canada was buried in the local cemetery.They both could tell family lore stories,but they knew very little facts. However, if you can get basic information-names and places of birth, it's a start.
2)Go to town/city halls and local libraries.Both my parents were born and bred in Somersworth,NH,so I knew that city hall would have records. I was dismayed to find out that I just couldn't pour through books,like you can in some towns. I had to have a name,and what type of document I wanted,which cost me $10. I did get my great grandfather's death certificate. However,if you don't have a lot of money,documents can get pretty expensive when you are investigate over 100 people. I also went to the city library and looked up old City reports. In these books they list marriages,deaths,births,etc,and I was lucky enough to see that the city reports went back over a hundred years.I also found an old St Martins Parish record book. Both sides of my family were Catholic,so I knew I could find some great info in there. In fact,I discovered the answer to one of the big mysteries-the name of my Dad's grandmother. I found it in the notation about my great uncle's wedding. Where it listed Mother of the Groom,there was her name-Delima Bonsaint Lessard. It was very exciting!
3) Go on line. When I did step #2, I didn't have a computer. When I did finally get a PC, I started off using Rootsweb.com because it was free. I then decided to bite the bullet and pay for a subscription to Ancestry.com. Ancestry has come a looong way since I started using it 10 years ago. I also purchased Family Tree Maker to keep to track of my discoveries. Until then,I was writing everything down and making my own handwritten family sheets. It was very time consuming,but I admit I liked having a hard copy of the info. It's amazing the amount of information I have found using Ancestry. 99.9% of my facts have come from their site,as they have marriage records,death records,military records,census,etc.
That's where you can start. Next...what is up with the different names for the same person?
Thankfully,every year there seems to be more and more options for obtaining family tree information,with the advent of personal computers and genealogy sites. However,the first line of attack will never change: your family.
1) Talk to your parents and grandparents. They can be a very valuable resource. Even if they don't have information dating back hundreds of years (which is unlikely,anyway) they can give you a starting point. My parents knew some about their families,but not tons. My mother,for instance,has no idea where her grandfather Thompson is buried or when he died.My father only knew that his grandfather had been born in Canada was buried in the local cemetery.They both could tell family lore stories,but they knew very little facts. However, if you can get basic information-names and places of birth, it's a start.
2)Go to town/city halls and local libraries.Both my parents were born and bred in Somersworth,NH,so I knew that city hall would have records. I was dismayed to find out that I just couldn't pour through books,like you can in some towns. I had to have a name,and what type of document I wanted,which cost me $10. I did get my great grandfather's death certificate. However,if you don't have a lot of money,documents can get pretty expensive when you are investigate over 100 people. I also went to the city library and looked up old City reports. In these books they list marriages,deaths,births,etc,and I was lucky enough to see that the city reports went back over a hundred years.I also found an old St Martins Parish record book. Both sides of my family were Catholic,so I knew I could find some great info in there. In fact,I discovered the answer to one of the big mysteries-the name of my Dad's grandmother. I found it in the notation about my great uncle's wedding. Where it listed Mother of the Groom,there was her name-Delima Bonsaint Lessard. It was very exciting!
3) Go on line. When I did step #2, I didn't have a computer. When I did finally get a PC, I started off using Rootsweb.com because it was free. I then decided to bite the bullet and pay for a subscription to Ancestry.com. Ancestry has come a looong way since I started using it 10 years ago. I also purchased Family Tree Maker to keep to track of my discoveries. Until then,I was writing everything down and making my own handwritten family sheets. It was very time consuming,but I admit I liked having a hard copy of the info. It's amazing the amount of information I have found using Ancestry. 99.9% of my facts have come from their site,as they have marriage records,death records,military records,census,etc.
That's where you can start. Next...what is up with the different names for the same person?
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Joining Of Families
First,welcome! If you are reading this,you are probably interested in the genealogy of the Lessard and Shaw families. You may be a family member,or wondering if we are related to each other.
First, a bit of background. As early as I can remember, I have been interested in my family history. My Dad started me on the path to genealogy by telling me stories about his family,and telling me about our background. What I gathered was this: from my Dad's side,I am French,Irish,and Native American. From my Mom's side,I am French and Scottish.
When I married my husband Rick,there was whole new pool of genealogy to uncover. What little I knew about my family history,he knew even less. After a while of digging,I discovered that from Rick's Dad's side he was English. From his Mom's side,he was English,Irish,and French.
Then our son Zach was born,and my interest in genealogy became even more of a passion. I wanted him to know where he came from-what countries his ancestors were from,who they were,when they arrived. Were any famous? How many fought for this country? Were they part of the religious movement that brought so many to our shores? Involved in town politics? What did they do for a living? I am always digging around trying to find these things out.
Since the arrival of such sources as Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com(which is what I use the most) finding info through census,state marriage records,death records,birth records, military records and even newspaper has become easier than having to go to various libraries or town halls for records,but not everything is on the web. I have had to pour through old records at town halls,or town reports at the library.Sometimes I hit pay dirt. Sometimes I left the same way I arrived-empty handed.However,that makes the quest all that more exciting and fun. You never know what you may (or may not) find.
So,with that said, let's begin!!!!!
We'll start with my parents....
Albert Martin Lessard and Doris Louise Charrette were wed in 1947 in Somersworth,NH. Both were born and raised there.My Mom still lives in Somersworth. My Dad passed away in 1990. My Dad was the son of Albert Joseph Lessard and Alice Marie Magnan(pronounced Mahn-yah). My Mom, the daughter of Alias Charrette and Blanche Thompson.(Alias is pronounced All-e-ouce) Both my Dad's parents and my Mom's parents have passed.
So now we have three last names besides Lessard...Charrette,Thomspon,and Magnan.
Now to Rick's parents.......
Now added to the Shaw family are the names Batchelder,McQuilkin,and Pratt. I haven't forgotten great grandparents!! I just haven't gone there yet.
Thanks for joining me on my journey!
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