History: French Canadian Immigration

I am going to tell you as well as I can the story of the French Canadian textile worker; what brought him here; how he came, lived, worked, played and suffered until he was recognized as a patriotic, useful and respected citizen, no longer a ‘frog’ and ‘pea soup eater,’ a despised Canuck. And it’s the story of all the French Canadians who settled in New England mill towns. The picture of one French Canadian textile worker and the picture of another are just as much alike as deux gouttes d’eau, or, as we have learned to say in English, like two peas in a pod.

French Canadian Textile Worker, U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers’ Project, Library of Congress, a Narrative by Lemay, Philippe (Author) and Pare, Louis (Reporter), series: Folklore Project, Life Histories, 1936-39, MSS55715: BOX A718

Silent Flying Christmas Eve Canoe

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The voyageurs dipped their paddles. The canoe rose in the air. Faster and faster. higher ad higher. It skimmed the treetops, skirting the clouds as it turned southward.

The Flying Canoe, A Christmas Story retold by Eric A Kimmel and illustrated by Daniel San Souci and Justin San Souci

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My Immigrant Ancestors: Francoise and Jean Venne

This example of Immigration in the USA is taken from my own family tree.

This couple never entered the United States. The Venne family (on my mother’s side) landed in Canada in 1671 and stayed there until 1864. That’s 193 years and 5 generations of Venne men living in Canada prior to entering the USA.

All other French Canadian/Creole branches (on both my mother’s and father’s sides) extend into the 1700 to 1800s – at least. This is the only couple I was able to trace back to a country other than Canada or the United States. Completing the necessary research on the rest will require significantly more time, so they will not be posted in the near future.

That said, the following data is the best currently available. There are many gaps in the information. It is presented as research in progress.

Francoise Manseau (Manseaux) and Jean Baptiste Davoine Voyne (Venne) (Voine) (Vien)

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Francoise Manseau (Manseaux)

Unknown birth and death dates

  • Birth Location: France
  • Immigration Year: 1671
  • Canada Residence: L’Assomption, Lanaudiere Region, Quebec, Canada
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation: Housewife
  • Education: Unknown
  • Naturalization Status: Unknown
  • Number of children: At least 2

Jean Baptiste Davoine Voyne (Venne) (Voine) (Vien)
1657 – 1736

  • Birth Location: Rennes, Departement d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France
  • Immigration Year: 1671
  • Canada Residence: L’Assomption, Lanaudiere Region, Quebec, Canada
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation: Unknown
  • Education: Unknown
  • Naturalization Status: Unknown

More details about the Venne family line in Canada can be found on the Claude Dupras website.

My Immigrant Ancestors: Victoire and Jacques Mayotte

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.)

My Immigrant Ancestors: Marie and Edmond Richard

This example of Immigration in the USA is taken from my own family tree.

Marie Azarine Brault and Edmond Richard

Relationship to me: Great Great Grandparents

Marie Azarine Brault
1854-1922

  • Birth Location: Joliette, Quebec, Canada
  • Immigration Year: 1873
  • US Residence: Coleman, WI
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation: Housewife
  • Education: Unknown
  • Naturalization Status: Unknown
    • 1910 Census: Not mentioned
    • 1920 Census: Alien
  • Number of children: 9

Edmond Richard
1853 – 1934

  • Birth Location:  Ste. Julienne, Comte de Montcalm, Lanaudiere, Quebec, Canada
  • Immigration Year: 1869
  • US Residence: Coleman, WI
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation:
    • USA: Motor Factory Sweeper, Paper Mill Grader
    • Canada: Mill Worker
  • Education: Unknown
  • Naturalization Status: Unknown
    • 1910 Census: Naturalized
    • 1920 Census: Naturalization papers submitted
  • Number of children: 9

My Immigrant Ancestors: Justine and Didace Venne

This example of Immigration in the USA is taken from my own family tree.

Justine Brault and Didace Venne

Relationship to me: Great Great Grandparents

Justine Brault
1852-1895

  • Birth Location: Joliette, Quebec, Canada
  • Immigration Year: Before 1871
  • US Residence: Coleman, WI
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation: Housewife
  • Education: Unknown
  • Naturalization Status: Unknown
  • Number of children: 16

Didace Venne
1846 – 1936

  • Birth Location: St-Jacques-l’Achigan, Montcalm, Québec, Canada
  • Immigration Year: 1864
  • US Residence: Coleman, WI
  • Native Language: French
  • Occupation: Farming, Saw Mill Laborer, Iron Mine Laborer
  • Education: None, Illiterate
  • Naturalization Status: Naturalized per the 1910 Census. Date of naturalization is unknown.

More details about the Venne family line in Canada can be found on the Claude Dupras website.