This example of Immigration in the USA is taken from my own family tree.
This couple stands as an excellent example of the challenges presented by genealogy.
I have many facts and family legends handed down (verbally) through the Venne family line – these are wonderful when trying to decipher which information applies to your own family tree and which does not.
The Myers side is significantly more murky. I have a few bits and pieces to use when evaluating details, but the limited information is exacerbated by the inconsistency in documented details. Most notably, the names are spelled many different ways. Strangely enough, the spelling variations occurred across location, time and family members. Several of the Mayotte children were buried under last names that differ from both their parents and each other. All of the variations I have found documented are included below.
Because this side of the family requires significantly more investigation, I am providing the following information as an example of best-available and in-progress-research.
Victoire LaMois Niguette and Jacques Louis Mayotte
Relationship to me: Great Great Grandparents
Victoire (Victoria, Victory) H LaMois Niguette (Neget, Frechette)
1843-1933
- Birth Location: Quebec, Canada
- Immigration Year: 1865
- US Residence: Taftville, New London, Connecticut
- Native Languages: French. Unable to speak English (per the 1930 census).
- Occupation: Housewife
- Education: No schooling. Possibly illiterate.
- Naturalization Status: Alien. No evidence naturalization was ever achieved.
- Number of children: 11
Jacques (James) Louis Mayotte (Mailhot, Myers, Maillotte, Miers, Mayatte)
1832 – 1895
- Birth Location: Quebec, Canada
- Immigration Year: 1865
- US Residence: Taftville, New London, Connecticut
- Native Languages: French
- Occupation: Farm hand, Odd Jobs
- Education: No schooling. Illiterate (per the 1910 census).
- Naturalization Status: Alien. No evidence naturalization was ever achieved.
- Number of children: 15 (It appears that he had 4 children when he married Victoire, but no evidence of a previous marriage has been located.)
Hello, I am the great grandchild of this couple. I found on Ancestry.com the name of Jacques wife prior to his marriage to Victoire. Her name was Rosalie Bonneau, she was born in 1883 however I do not have the date of her passing.
Here’s my Ancestry.com entry for Rose: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/70373775/person/412062846549/facts
According to my research, she died in 1864, within a year after the birth of her last child Arthur Mayotte.
In 1865 Jaques, her husband, remarried. In 1869, he took the entire family to Rhode Island, USA. From there they moved south to CT.