Thank you for starting this group and for the websites! They are very helpful. I am researching my husbands family VILDIBILLE. I've recently found that they came from Dung, Doubs, Franche-Comte, France.
The name does not seem quite right as it is spelled. Perhaps it was Ville de Bille? That makes sense gramatically (City of Bille) but not as a name. Doing a quick search on the archives site of Doubs, I looked for de Bille, and that brought up a bit. The Doubs archives do not yet have online the etats civils, but they are working on it.
I found a couple of teachers named Bille in the 1800s. There are 67 pages of the 10-year tables for the commune of Dung, from 1793-1902, if you want to search them for Bille, and de Bille. Here's how:
Go to the archives site:
http://archives.doubs.fr/
Click on "Portail de recherche"
Register with a user name and a password
Click on "Recherche guidee"
Click on "Recherche dans les documents numerises"
That brings up a search screen. In the box labeled "Partout" type Dung and click "Rechercher"
That brings one result. Click on the word "Dung"
That brings the pages of the 10 year tables for Dung.
Happy reading!
These tables refer to pages of births, marriages and deaths in the register books. They are alphabetical lists of names with the reference to the volume number and entry number. However, the actual register books are not yet online. Still, if you get this information, you can then write to the Mairie of Dung and ask for copies of the entries, if you find your ancestor, which I hope you do.
Hello, I have one ancestor who is French and the other may be French.
1. I am looking to find out what I can on Pierre Audrain who was born 1723 in Nantes, Normandy, France. We know quite a bit about his life after he arrived in America. He was active in the Revolutionary War and was instrumental in settling Pittsburgh and Detroit. He could read and write French and English, so he was educated. We are trying to find out something about his early life and why he was so well educated.
2. The other name I am looking for is Pierre Sanguinette who according to family tradition was born in Savoy around 1760. He emigrated to Northern Italy around 1787. This is all we know.
If anyone can tell me where to look for more information, that would be wonderful. My French is very, very limited so that could be a problem.
Hi Ann, Thanks for the information. That was nice of you to go to the trouble. I have to tell you that early in my marriage I was told the name was Dutch and someone said they had seen it written somewhere Ville de Bille. So you may very well be correct...it's always been a mystery. Information from several people that knew my husbands grandfather said that he was "a little frenchmen".
In tracing this family I did finally find that they came from France...as you already know. The ships records (SS Henri IV) leaving France spell it Vildibille and the record from the port of New York spelled it Vildebille.
The Archives site was recommended to me before but I've had much trouble with it. At first it wouldn't translate for me and now it's not accepting my user name and password and I don't see a place to enter a new one. :(
I was in contact with a gentleman that had the name Vildibille on his family tree. Although he knew nothing about those families he gave me a list of names from Dung...most of them Vildibille but also a Vilditbille. There were several other families that I found in the US with the same spelling that so far I haven't related to ours. However all were from France and one from Montbeliard.
One day I'm sure this puzzle will be all put together. :) Thanks again for your help.
Shirley
Hello, all,
I have one ancestor, a great great grandfather who it is claimed fled France after a fatal duel with a cousin. He arrived in upstate New York and Vermont about 1848. He was careful to never let authorities know he originated in France, but all of his daughters passed the stories down to their children. But now it seems impossible to prove and trace him back to France. If true, that would make me 1/16 French. It has been a goal of mine for 50 years to trace this elusive ancestor.
Pam, yes I do. He was known as Jonathan W. Archer when he married my GG grandmother in Shaftsbury, NY. Same name on my great grandmother's birth record in Gloucester, MA, and he claimed birth in Plattsburgh, NY. On 1860 census in Gloucester, b. NY; 1870 in Saugatuck, MI, b. NY; John W. Archer in Chicago, 1880, b. NY. But when my great grandmother died in 1848 (FL), they put her father as Capt. John W. Archer, born in Paris, France, which is what everyone in the family said he told them. When his daughters appear as adults, they list their father's birthplace as France. I'm thinking maybe his name was something like Jean Archer in France. The Archer surname does appear in France.
I'm looking for the parnets of Caroline Everhart. She was born 24 Aug, 1826 in France and died 30 Nov, 1881 in Wayne County, Iowa. Caroline married Franklin D. Haner. Franklin was born 15 Aug 1821 in Germany and died 20 Oct 1891 Wayne County, Iowa.
Without a location for a birth/baptism or marriage, it will be hard to find your ancestors. You really need to por over old documents, letters, photos, Bibles, to try to get a place, as all records are organized by place and still held locally by region.
If you read my blog about how to use geopatronym.com, you might get lucky:
Donald, a search shows a heavy concentration of Archers in the departement of Haute Loire. I would recommend starting there, looking for newspper articles on a duel. Have you the name of the ship on which your ancestor arrived?
Debra,
Everhart looks more German than French, so I tried a search on Eberhardt and got a number by that name in Bas-Rhin. Your Caroline seems too young to have been among the optants (see my blog on Alscae-Lorraine:
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2009/06/alsace-genealogy.html
It also has a link to the departmental archives of Bas-Rhin.
Hope this helps!
Is Haute Loire close to Paris? I have no documents I know of. Like I said, Capt. Archer seemed to want to hide his past. Paris was listed on my great grandmother's 1948 death certificate as her father's place of birth. It was probably put there by her daughter who had heard it from her mother and grandfather. By the time I had heard about it from my father, it had escalated into something to do with the French royal family. Since this was the 1840's well after the French Revolution, I'm sure it was just a (ex) nobiltiy/duel thing. A 3rd cousin I found told me about the duel, but I don't know what else he knows. He seems to think the cousin didn't actually die, and I'm not sure how he heard that.
Well, there's not much point in staying with this group. A 3rd cousin just informed me that my GG gr. father changed his last name to Archer when he arrived in Vermont. As far as anyone knows, he never revealed his real name and the secret died with him. I guess he took it seriously that killing someone in a duel means trouble. Unless Paris records would have anything about such an event (around 1848), I'll not likely ever know anything about his life before he fled.
Because everything relating to birth/baptism, death, marriage, embarkation, etc. records in France is based on the location of the event, I have set up discussion topics for each of the departments of France.
It is really almost impossible to search for an ancestor in France without a location for at least one life event. Once you have the location, you can make a start through the departmental archives, many of which are online.
To find out the department, search Wikipedia for your town or village name. In the description, the department where it is will be given.
Please put your comments and requests in the Discussion Topic for that department. You will then have a much, much better chance of connecting with others searching along the same lines.
Donald,
Are you still with us?
For your ancestor Archer. I suggest you piece together every story and scrap of information on him that you have. Then, read the Wikipedia article on the French Revolution of 1848 and see if anything seems to fit.
If Archer was not his real name, I would not throw it out entirely. What did the W. stand for? Have you got the date of his arrival in the US? The name of his ship? The port of departure? The full names he gave his children?
I have read other articles on that subject, as the date interested me. My ancestor very likely left France around 1848. I wondered if he was involved in that. My grandmother always said his flight had something to do with the French royal family. It was a newfound cousin who told me the duel story 2 years ago. I have been assured that all members of the royal family have been accounted for, so he probably wasn't in it. No one knows when or how he arrived. He was married in Shaftsbury, VT, in 1852, I found that record. My great grandmother's birth record (Gloucester, MA 1860) says her father was born in Plattsburgh, NY. There's no record of any Archer family there, perhaps that's where he entered the U.S. I know his birthday was Aug 19, probably 1832 based on census data. Children's names are Adelaide E., Eustacia Louisa (named after his wife), Emily Philena (my great grandmother), Ellen Amanda, Lillian Amelia, and James Victor John. James died 1881 of diphtheria, age 8. Adelaide's death record says father born France, my great grandmother's says father born Paris, France. He was a captain on Lake Michigan vessels, and was on water more than land, so it's hard to find many records. He was extremely paranoid about authorities knowing his origins. I have a newspaper picture and pdf file of his 1905 obit and it does say he came from France. I could attach both if I knew where to send them.
Hello Everyone! I am new to the group. My French ancestors were the Huguenots that settled in Henrico, Va. (SALLEE, GIVAUDAN, CHASTAIN, PERRAULT/PERROW, MARTIN) I also have French ancestors among the group that went to the Netherlands for several generations before moving on to New Amsterdam.(RAPALJE, COZINE, DES MARETS/DEMAREST)
Well, I have put up in my photos on my page, visibility for all, sample documents with links to the blog posts that explain them. As so much is now going up online, I hope that this can be of help.
Welcome, Victor! You should have plenty of good records judging by the dates. On this post, I give a list of pages on the web that translate the basic terms in French genealogy:
Just found this group today. It sounds very promising -- I really like it. Will have to check on all my French ancestors for exact places and records of actes.
I shall return! Marlene (LeMere actually was Lemaire ) Rochon
When you have the locations, please put your queries on the discussion for the département in which the ancestor lived. That way, you will have a better chance of responses from people who know that area, I hope.
Anne
Join the French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan the weekend of October 22-24, 2010 in Michiana (Niles), MI for a joint conference between the Center for French Colonial Studies & the French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan.
The theme of the conference is "The French in Michigan". A wine and cheese reception Friday evening, followed by a series of six speakers and a moderated discussion on Saturday. Included are presentations by Guillaume Teasdale, Tim Kent, Dennis Au, Lynn Evans, Susan Sleeper Smith, and out own Suzanne Sommerville. Dr. Jose Antonio Brandao will discussion moderator.
Saturday evening there will be a banquet, followed by 18th century entertainment. Sunday, the last day of the conference, will include an orientation to the Fort St. Joseph Project, a tour of Fort St. Joseph, and
admission to the Fort St. Joseph Museum. For more information, visit http://depts.noctrl.edu/cfcs/annual_meeting.shtml.
Hello everyone. My grandmother, Paule Anna Maria Bock was born in Mulhouse July 21, 1902. She was the youngest of 9 children born to Martin Bock and his wife Jeanne Francoise Walter. In the early 1920's, Martin, Frances and my grandmother moved to Jackson, Michigan to join 2 of their daughters (Lucie Odile and Julia). Since Mulhouse part of Germany at my grandmother's birth, should I be searching German records or French? I have copies of Lucie's birth certificate; one in French, and one in German.
Hi All, This looks like a very interesting site, I am researching my husbands lines, the surnames are Auger, Champagne, Desilets, Dansereau, LeBlanc, and others I don't remember rt now, I am on a library computer, my own has no internet in the location we are rt now. Anyone can contact me at califmeme@yahoo.com I pick up my email with my phone. Have traced many of the names from Quebec into France but the Dansereau's are giving me an especially bad time. Would love to hear from others researching these lines. Thanks, Lillian
I am gradually putting a note on the Discussions for each Département with the links to all of the Departmental Archives that have records on line. I have just done the first dozen. I will do the rest as soon as I can.
Meanwhile, they are all on The French Genealogy Blog, in the left-hand column.
Cheers!
I am not very good at self promotion, so when it was possible to vote, I forgot to tell everyone that The French Genealogy Blog was nominated to be one of the Family Tree Magazine's 2011 Best Genealogy Blogs (to be announced in May).
The purpose of the blog is to be a sort of how-to site in English, explaining how to research French Genealogy. I have tried to make each post informative, with lots of links to the sites explained. There are also links to every one of France's Departmental Archives websites.
May I ask, please, if any of you would like a particular subject covered? I do not do specific families on the blog, but areas and problems of research. I would be really grateful to know what research areas you would like covered, what problems need to be addressed, etc. I will do my best to find out about it and write about it.
Hi, I'm half French and Canadian. My research in my maternal family is oriented toward the department of Orne, in Normandy. So far I have the Plessis, Béchet, Baron and Faverais or Favrais. Of course, I'm still searching for more of them.
Recently, I unlock the Béchet genealogy up to the twelve generation.
BIRDWISA – BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE
Nous sommes les descendants d’un homme (semble-t-il d’origine française) venu s’installer en Ecosse, qui s’est marié avec une fille écossaise en mars 1882. Ils ont eu plusieurs enfants, dont les descendants habitent en Ecosse, en Angleterre, aux Etats-Unis, au Canada et en Espagne.
Le nom de cette personne, tel que cité dans les archives écossaises, est Gustave/Agustus Julien BIRDWISA.
Ce monsieur était illettré, ne sachant ni lire ni écrire. Néanmoins, des souvenirs de famille rapportent qu'il était convaincu que l’orthographe de son nom était incorrecte. Serait-t-il possible que son nom fût BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE ? Un inconnu a placé son nom dans le «International Genealogical Index», donnant pour date de naissance 1844, en France.
Nous espérons que des Bourdoiseau, Bourdoisant ou Bourdoise vivant en France reconnaîtront notre ancêtre. Nous pensons que le père de Gustave s’appelait Victor et sa mère Marie Louise ou Louise. Sa mère s'est remariée après le décès de Victor, et a pris le nom de famille de son nouvel époux, Russell (?).
The 1911 Scottish census has just been released. It gives his first name as Agustus born in Normandy, France. The IGI gives his date of birth as 12th November 1844. Can anyone do a look up and confirm ?
Please forward to anyone you think may be able to help.
BIRDWISA -- BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE ?
We are descended from a man who settled in Scotland and married a Scottish girl in March 1882. They had numerous children whose descendants now live in Scotland, England, USA, Canada and Spain.
This man's name is recorded in Scottish records as Gustave/Agustus JulienBIRDWISA, but he couldn't read or write and told his children that 'Birdwisa' was not the right way to write his name.
Could it be that his name was really BOURDOISEAU or BOURDOISANT or BOURDOISE? Someone, we don't know who, has entered him on the International Genealogical Index as having been born in France, in 1844.
We hope that some modern day French people called Bourdoiseau or Bourdoisant or Bourdoise might find this group and recognise our ancestor as a member of their own family tree. Gustave's father may have been called Victor; his mother may have been called Marie Louise or Louise, and she may have remarried after Victor's death to someone with a surname similar to Russell.
I trying to find out if Jeanne Schoenberg was a lady in waiting for Queen Antoinette of France and Mistress of her Bed chamber. Jeanne Schoenberg was a native of Lorraine she married Jean Hauser a valet to King Lois XVI. They fled France during the french Revolution.
Greetings! My French ancestry. From France via Haiti with a company of French marines to Mobile, Alabama; aide Maj. Pierre Gabriel de Juzan, killed in combat against Chickasaws, in the 1730's First Battle of Ackia, Tupelo, Mississippi Military District. Kinsman killed Second Battle of Ackia, Canadian French-Italian marines, Capt. Antoine de Tonty, and aide Maj. Charles Pierre de Liette. Maj. Juzan's mother was Mme. Michelle de Liette de Juzan "of the King's cabin", Versailles, France. I do not know the parents of Michelle, but I suspect her father and Capt. Antoine de Tonty and brothers Henri de Tonty, and Baron Alphonse de Tonty of Canada, mother Mdm. Isabella de Lietto de Tonty, descend Capt. Augustine de Liette, captain of the guard of the Duke of Guise, at the siege of Orleans, 1563?
In the Pyrenees Mountains there is the village of Louvie-Juzan in the Canton of Arudy, France. Supposedly, "Juzan/Juzzan/Jussan" means small village on the side of a hill. No known connection with my Juzans, except Maj. Juzan's son "Don Pedro", was His Spanish Majesty's Indian Commissioner to Alabama, Sieur Pierre Francoise Gabrial de Juzan (DAR ally "Patriot", as he ran Spanish service agents amongst the Indians against British agents amongst the Indians), who is believed to have spoken French, Spanish, Choctaw/Chickasaw/Creek "trade language", and possibly English? My Juzans seemed to be from near Toulouse, where Maj. Juzan's brother Francois Sauveur de Juzan was "courrier du cabinet de Roy; Count Pontchartrain's messenger to the King. Brother Jacques de Juzan, "commissionaire de La Marine, was a marine supply officer (bad eyesight?) at Toulouse. Their father Sieur Pierre de Juzan, Versailles, was the intendent of estates for the Count of Pontchartrain. Maj. Juzan, earlier had service on the Swiss border. I suspect that earlier the Juzan family was Swiss, Jussen, Jussian, or German, Jessien? The Mobile, Alabama, "Juzang" branch was originally French/Native American, and later also African American. In Louisiana is the small Cajun Juzan branch. I descend via Mrs. Margaret Hollinger Russell, who 1815 wed Col. Gilbert Christian Russell, Sr., 1782-1861, of the 3d U.S. Infantry, for whom Russell County, Alabama, is named (see "Find-a-grave", Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile). Col. Russell's brother-in-law, was U.S.Senator, Col. George Washington Owen, Mayor of Mobile, who's daughter wed Adm/Gen. Raphael Semmes, of the Confederate sea-rider CSS Alabama, sunk off France. The late Gen. Luke Wm. Finley, Sr., and his cousin, Adm. Oliver Semmes, USN, descend this Juzan lineage. My favorite branch is Juzan Lake, Mississippi, inn keeper, Choctaw chief, Capt. Peter Juzan, who in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, fought the British right flank ("...powdered the alligator's behinds and fired cannon balls at the British...") from the swamp, against the British right flank. At New Orleans before the impending Battle, Gen. Jackson indicated free American Patriots of color would be paid and rewarded (per rank) equally with other (white) Americans. After the battle won; Jackson took the Choctaw lands and removed them west; Peter Juzan was Choctaw conductor and brother William Juzan, Chickasaw conductor. My ancestor at the Battle of New Oleans was McGuiresbridge, County Fermanagh born, Ireland, John (W?) Nixon, Freemason, chief attorney for the City of New Orleans, Adj. Lt. in deJean's s1st Louisiana Militia, who fought on the far west bank until over-run by the British, when he spiked his two light canon and retreated. The two cannon and regimental flag may have ended-up in the War Trophy Room, Whitehall, England? The last wife of Don Pedro (not my line, no children Palegia's seemed to have lived beyond infancy) was Palegia Lorries de Juzan who died 1848 at her brother's Jacques Lorriens' plantation (called "Camley"?), Covington, St. Tammany Parish; I seek her grave? Can "Find-a-Grave" there help? Their French Canadan Lorriens parents home is the oldest still standing home in New Orleans at St. John's Bayou; perhaps mistakenly called the Old Spanish Customs House? My many early French-Canadian lines in Alabama and Louisiana later. Maj. de Juzan and Maj. de Liette, and Capt. Antoine de Tonty were allegedly considered for the post death, award of de La Legion di Honnour et Des Ordres de Chevalerie (Order of St. Louis?), but it was not awarded to their widows. Does the French or Canadian governments furnish tombstones or memorial stones for their marines fallen in combat on foreign fields, as the U.S. government honors it's fallen in combat? If so, if the Battle of Ackia National Park, does not permit placement, perhaps the nearest, oldest, Catholic Church cemetery might accept their memorial stones? What is the post office address of the, L'Association Des Amis Du Musee De La Marine?
I too hail from the Mobile Alabama French. My French lineage is that of the LaFargues and Rabbys. In my tree I do have some Juzans and some Laurents as well, but my primary French family is LaFargue. They married Neelys, Chestangs Weeks families. They were in the business of the abattoir or slaughter house. After the turn of the century, the LaFargues began to migrate back to Louisiana then to Texas and California. There are no LaFargues left in Mobile that I am aware of.
Researching the DE Witt ~ Nordingh de Witte family in the Reuilly, France. This family is connected with the de Brissac family and the d Escherny family. If any of you out there any information I would appreciate it. Or if you know someone in the Centre region of France that might help, that too I would appreciate.
A.M.
To search in France, you need to have a location, as that is how most records are stored.
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2009/05/the-first-question-you-must-answer-is-where.html
The link above takes you to an explanation of how to use the Geopatronym site to see where in France a name is most common. Good luck!
Anne
Jul 15, 2009
Cheryle Hoover Davis
Jul 15, 2009
Shirley Vildibill
Jul 16, 2009
A.M.
The name does not seem quite right as it is spelled. Perhaps it was Ville de Bille? That makes sense gramatically (City of Bille) but not as a name. Doing a quick search on the archives site of Doubs, I looked for de Bille, and that brought up a bit. The Doubs archives do not yet have online the etats civils, but they are working on it.
I found a couple of teachers named Bille in the 1800s. There are 67 pages of the 10-year tables for the commune of Dung, from 1793-1902, if you want to search them for Bille, and de Bille. Here's how:
Go to the archives site:
http://archives.doubs.fr/
Click on "Portail de recherche"
Register with a user name and a password
Click on "Recherche guidee"
Click on "Recherche dans les documents numerises"
That brings up a search screen. In the box labeled "Partout" type Dung and click "Rechercher"
That brings one result. Click on the word "Dung"
That brings the pages of the 10 year tables for Dung.
Happy reading!
These tables refer to pages of births, marriages and deaths in the register books. They are alphabetical lists of names with the reference to the volume number and entry number. However, the actual register books are not yet online. Still, if you get this information, you can then write to the Mairie of Dung and ask for copies of the entries, if you find your ancestor, which I hope you do.
Anne
Jul 19, 2009
Deborah Price
1. I am looking to find out what I can on Pierre Audrain who was born 1723 in Nantes, Normandy, France. We know quite a bit about his life after he arrived in America. He was active in the Revolutionary War and was instrumental in settling Pittsburgh and Detroit. He could read and write French and English, so he was educated. We are trying to find out something about his early life and why he was so well educated.
2. The other name I am looking for is Pierre Sanguinette who according to family tradition was born in Savoy around 1760. He emigrated to Northern Italy around 1787. This is all we know.
If anyone can tell me where to look for more information, that would be wonderful. My French is very, very limited so that could be a problem.
Jul 19, 2009
Shirley Vildibill
In tracing this family I did finally find that they came from France...as you already know. The ships records (SS Henri IV) leaving France spell it Vildibille and the record from the port of New York spelled it Vildebille.
The Archives site was recommended to me before but I've had much trouble with it. At first it wouldn't translate for me and now it's not accepting my user name and password and I don't see a place to enter a new one. :(
I was in contact with a gentleman that had the name Vildibille on his family tree. Although he knew nothing about those families he gave me a list of names from Dung...most of them Vildibille but also a Vilditbille. There were several other families that I found in the US with the same spelling that so far I haven't related to ours. However all were from France and one from Montbeliard.
One day I'm sure this puzzle will be all put together. :) Thanks again for your help.
Shirley
Jul 20, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
I have one ancestor, a great great grandfather who it is claimed fled France after a fatal duel with a cousin. He arrived in upstate New York and Vermont about 1848. He was careful to never let authorities know he originated in France, but all of his daughters passed the stories down to their children. But now it seems impossible to prove and trace him back to France. If true, that would make me 1/16 French. It has been a goal of mine for 50 years to trace this elusive ancestor.
Jul 24, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Jul 24, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Jul 24, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Jul 24, 2009
Debra Egbert-Foster
Jul 26, 2009
A.M.
Without a location for a birth/baptism or marriage, it will be hard to find your ancestors. You really need to por over old documents, letters, photos, Bibles, to try to get a place, as all records are organized by place and still held locally by region.
If you read my blog about how to use geopatronym.com, you might get lucky:
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2009/05/the-first-question-you-must-answer-is-where.html
Donald, a search shows a heavy concentration of Archers in the departement of Haute Loire. I would recommend starting there, looking for newspper articles on a duel. Have you the name of the ship on which your ancestor arrived?
Debra,
Everhart looks more German than French, so I tried a search on Eberhardt and got a number by that name in Bas-Rhin. Your Caroline seems too young to have been among the optants (see my blog on Alscae-Lorraine:
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2009/06/alsace-genealogy.html
It also has a link to the departmental archives of Bas-Rhin.
Hope this helps!
Jul 27, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Jul 27, 2009
Debra Egbert-Foster
Jul 27, 2009
Kay Mulneix Oertel
Jul 27, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Jul 28, 2009
A.M.
You can search the registers of La Rochelle on the online archives of Charente-Maritime:
http://extranet.cg17.fr/archinoe/registre.php
In my blog, I explain in English about parish registers, if you are unfamiliar with them:
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2009/06/les-registres-paroissiaux-parish-registers.html
Anne
Jul 29, 2009
A.M.
I would not say your information was wrong. It was just a guess. Spelling was very fluid in those days!
Anne
Jul 29, 2009
A.M.
Because everything relating to birth/baptism, death, marriage, embarkation, etc. records in France is based on the location of the event, I have set up discussion topics for each of the departments of France.
It is really almost impossible to search for an ancestor in France without a location for at least one life event. Once you have the location, you can make a start through the departmental archives, many of which are online.
To find out the department, search Wikipedia for your town or village name. In the description, the department where it is will be given.
Please put your comments and requests in the Discussion Topic for that department. You will then have a much, much better chance of connecting with others searching along the same lines.
Thank you.
Anne
Aug 1, 2009
A.M.
Are you still with us?
For your ancestor Archer. I suggest you piece together every story and scrap of information on him that you have. Then, read the Wikipedia article on the French Revolution of 1848 and see if anything seems to fit.
If Archer was not his real name, I would not throw it out entirely. What did the W. stand for? Have you got the date of his arrival in the US? The name of his ship? The port of departure? The full names he gave his children?
Let me know what you turn up.
Anne
Aug 3, 2009
Donald Noel Hagstrom
Aug 3, 2009
Deborah Leucretia Hund
Aug 7, 2009
A.M.
Sep 30, 2009
A.M.
Sep 30, 2009
A.M.
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/french-language/
Hope it can help you.
Anne
Oct 6, 2009
Marlene Rochon (LeMere)
I shall return! Marlene (LeMere actually was Lemaire ) Rochon
Dec 1, 2009
A.M.
When you have the locations, please put your queries on the discussion for the département in which the ancestor lived. That way, you will have a better chance of responses from people who know that area, I hope.
Anne
Jan 5, 2010
Marlene Rochon (LeMere)
Jan 12, 2010
A.M.
http://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/2010/03/the-french-expeditionary-force.html
Mar 21, 2010
James P. LaLone
The theme of the conference is "The French in Michigan". A wine and cheese reception Friday evening, followed by a series of six speakers and a moderated discussion on Saturday. Included are presentations by Guillaume Teasdale, Tim Kent, Dennis Au, Lynn Evans, Susan Sleeper Smith, and out own Suzanne Sommerville. Dr. Jose Antonio Brandao will discussion moderator.
Saturday evening there will be a banquet, followed by 18th century entertainment. Sunday, the last day of the conference, will include an orientation to the Fort St. Joseph Project, a tour of Fort St. Joseph, and
admission to the Fort St. Joseph Museum. For more information, visit http://depts.noctrl.edu/cfcs/annual_meeting.shtml.
May 3, 2010
A.M.
May 23, 2010
Sharie Mitchell
Jun 25, 2010
Lillian Alline Champagne
Jul 1, 2010
James P. LaLone
Aug 19, 2010
A.M.
The records are kept in either the Departmental Archives of Haut-Rhin:
http://www.archives.cg68.fr/Services_Actes_Civils.aspx
or the municipal archives of Mulhouse.
Those kept during the French years will be in French; those kept during the German years are in German.
Good luck!
Anne
Aug 28, 2010
A.M.
Meanwhile, they are all on The French Genealogy Blog, in the left-hand column.
Cheers!
Oct 17, 2010
Duane Lang
Oct 18, 2010
A.M.
I am not very good at self promotion, so when it was possible to vote, I forgot to tell everyone that The French Genealogy Blog was nominated to be one of the Family Tree Magazine's 2011 Best Genealogy Blogs (to be announced in May).
The purpose of the blog is to be a sort of how-to site in English, explaining how to research French Genealogy. I have tried to make each post informative, with lots of links to the sites explained. There are also links to every one of France's Departmental Archives websites.
May I ask, please, if any of you would like a particular subject covered? I do not do specific families on the blog, but areas and problems of research. I would be really grateful to know what research areas you would like covered, what problems need to be addressed, etc. I will do my best to find out about it and write about it.
Thank you all for any suggestions,
Anne
Jan 4, 2011
Madehlinne
I have posted the beginnings of a French Census taken in October 1787 of Forte Vincennes (IN) and Illinois Territory.
If you're interested, visit my blog at: http://maddiesancestorsearch.blogspot.com/
Jan 19, 2011
James P. LaLone
Jan 19, 2011
Laurence Durand
Hi, I'm half French and Canadian. My research in my maternal family is oriented toward the department of Orne, in Normandy. So far I have the Plessis, Béchet, Baron and Faverais or Favrais. Of course, I'm still searching for more of them.
Recently, I unlock the Béchet genealogy up to the twelve generation.
Mar 21, 2011
John McKinnon Gibb
Version française
BIRDWISA – BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE
Nous sommes les descendants d’un homme (semble-t-il d’origine française) venu s’installer en Ecosse, qui s’est marié avec une fille écossaise en mars 1882. Ils ont eu plusieurs enfants, dont les descendants habitent en Ecosse, en Angleterre, aux Etats-Unis, au Canada et en Espagne.
Le nom de cette personne, tel que cité dans les archives écossaises, est Gustave/Agustus Julien BIRDWISA.
Ce monsieur était illettré, ne sachant ni lire ni écrire. Néanmoins, des souvenirs de famille rapportent qu'il était convaincu que l’orthographe de son nom était incorrecte. Serait-t-il possible que son nom fût BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE ? Un inconnu a placé son nom dans le «International Genealogical Index», donnant pour date de naissance 1844, en France.
Nous espérons que des Bourdoiseau, Bourdoisant ou Bourdoise vivant en France reconnaîtront notre ancêtre. Nous pensons que le père de Gustave s’appelait Victor et sa mère Marie Louise ou Louise. Sa mère s'est remariée après le décès de Victor, et a pris le nom de famille de son nouvel époux, Russell (?).
The 1911 Scottish census has just been released. It gives his first name as Agustus born in Normandy, France. The IGI gives his date of birth as 12th November 1844. Can anyone do a look up and confirm ?
Please forward to anyone you think may be able to help.
Merci, thank you.
johnmgibb@blueyonder.co.uk
English version
BIRDWISA -- BOURDOISEAU ou BOURDOISANT ou BOURDOISE ?
We are descended from a man who settled in Scotland and married a Scottish girl in March 1882. They had numerous children whose descendants now live in Scotland, England, USA, Canada and Spain.
This man's name is recorded in Scottish records as Gustave/Agustus Julien BIRDWISA, but he couldn't read or write and told his children that 'Birdwisa' was not the right way to write his name.
Could it be that his name was really BOURDOISEAU or BOURDOISANT or BOURDOISE? Someone, we don't know who, has entered him on the International Genealogical Index as having been born in France, in 1844.
We hope that some modern day French people called Bourdoiseau or Bourdoisant or Bourdoise might find this group and recognise our ancestor as a member of their own family tree. Gustave's father may have been called Victor; his mother may have been called Marie Louise or Louise, and she may have remarried after Victor's death to someone with a surname similar to Russell.
Apr 28, 2011
James P. LaLone
May 22, 2011
Libby McCann
Jun 26, 2011
James P. LaLone
Wish I could read French, this looks like it could be interesting -
GeneAnnuaire.
http://www.geneannuaire.net/Aug 22, 2011
James Alfred Locke Miller Jr.
Greetings! My French ancestry. From France via Haiti with a company of French marines to Mobile, Alabama; aide Maj. Pierre Gabriel de Juzan, killed in combat against Chickasaws, in the 1730's First Battle of Ackia, Tupelo, Mississippi Military District. Kinsman killed Second Battle of Ackia, Canadian French-Italian marines, Capt. Antoine de Tonty, and aide Maj. Charles Pierre de Liette. Maj. Juzan's mother was Mme. Michelle de Liette de Juzan "of the King's cabin", Versailles, France. I do not know the parents of Michelle, but I suspect her father and Capt. Antoine de Tonty and brothers Henri de Tonty, and Baron Alphonse de Tonty of Canada, mother Mdm. Isabella de Lietto de Tonty, descend Capt. Augustine de Liette, captain of the guard of the Duke of Guise, at the siege of Orleans, 1563?
In the Pyrenees Mountains there is the village of Louvie-Juzan in the Canton of Arudy, France. Supposedly, "Juzan/Juzzan/Jussan" means small village on the side of a hill. No known connection with my Juzans, except Maj. Juzan's son "Don Pedro", was His Spanish Majesty's Indian Commissioner to Alabama, Sieur Pierre Francoise Gabrial de Juzan (DAR ally "Patriot", as he ran Spanish service agents amongst the Indians against British agents amongst the Indians), who is believed to have spoken French, Spanish, Choctaw/Chickasaw/Creek "trade language", and possibly English? My Juzans seemed to be from near Toulouse, where Maj. Juzan's brother Francois Sauveur de Juzan was "courrier du cabinet de Roy; Count Pontchartrain's messenger to the King. Brother Jacques de Juzan, "commissionaire de La Marine, was a marine supply officer (bad eyesight?) at Toulouse. Their father Sieur Pierre de Juzan, Versailles, was the intendent of estates for the Count of Pontchartrain. Maj. Juzan, earlier had service on the Swiss border. I suspect that earlier the Juzan family was Swiss, Jussen, Jussian, or German, Jessien? The Mobile, Alabama, "Juzang" branch was originally French/Native American, and later also African American. In Louisiana is the small Cajun Juzan branch. I descend via Mrs. Margaret Hollinger Russell, who 1815 wed Col. Gilbert Christian Russell, Sr., 1782-1861, of the 3d U.S. Infantry, for whom Russell County, Alabama, is named (see "Find-a-grave", Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile). Col. Russell's brother-in-law, was U.S.Senator, Col. George Washington Owen, Mayor of Mobile, who's daughter wed Adm/Gen. Raphael Semmes, of the Confederate sea-rider CSS Alabama, sunk off France. The late Gen. Luke Wm. Finley, Sr., and his cousin, Adm. Oliver Semmes, USN, descend this Juzan lineage. My favorite branch is Juzan Lake, Mississippi, inn keeper, Choctaw chief, Capt. Peter Juzan, who in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, fought the British right flank ("...powdered the alligator's behinds and fired cannon balls at the British...") from the swamp, against the British right flank. At New Orleans before the impending Battle, Gen. Jackson indicated free American Patriots of color would be paid and rewarded (per rank) equally with other (white) Americans. After the battle won; Jackson took the Choctaw lands and removed them west; Peter Juzan was Choctaw conductor and brother William Juzan, Chickasaw conductor. My ancestor at the Battle of New Oleans was McGuiresbridge, County Fermanagh born, Ireland, John (W?) Nixon, Freemason, chief attorney for the City of New Orleans, Adj. Lt. in deJean's s1st Louisiana Militia, who fought on the far west bank until over-run by the British, when he spiked his two light canon and retreated. The two cannon and regimental flag may have ended-up in the War Trophy Room, Whitehall, England? The last wife of Don Pedro (not my line, no children Palegia's seemed to have lived beyond infancy) was Palegia Lorries de Juzan who died 1848 at her brother's Jacques Lorriens' plantation (called "Camley"?), Covington, St. Tammany Parish; I seek her grave? Can "Find-a-Grave" there help? Their French Canadan Lorriens parents home is the oldest still standing home in New Orleans at St. John's Bayou; perhaps mistakenly called the Old Spanish Customs House? My many early French-Canadian lines in Alabama and Louisiana later. Maj. de Juzan and Maj. de Liette, and Capt. Antoine de Tonty were allegedly considered for the post death, award of de La Legion di Honnour et Des Ordres de Chevalerie (Order of St. Louis?), but it was not awarded to their widows. Does the French or Canadian governments furnish tombstones or memorial stones for their marines fallen in combat on foreign fields, as the U.S. government honors it's fallen in combat? If so, if the Battle of Ackia National Park, does not permit placement, perhaps the nearest, oldest, Catholic Church cemetery might accept their memorial stones? What is the post office address of the, L'Association Des Amis Du Musee De La Marine?
Sep 17, 2011
Tracy Neely
Mar 6, 2012
Robert D Reese
Researching the DE Witt ~ Nordingh de Witte family in the Reuilly, France. This family is connected with the de Brissac family and the d Escherny family. If any of you out there any information I would appreciate it. Or if you know someone in the Centre region of France that might help, that too I would appreciate.
May 23, 2012
James P. LaLone
Book notice/review:
http://www.genealogytoday.com/roots/xweb.mv?xc=RootsDocument&xo...
Oct 28, 2012
Richard A. Hayes
I am interested in finding fhere my relative, Jean LaForte, lived in France and when
he went to Canada with his brothers. He changed his name to Jan Fort when he was married Margriet Rinckhout Albany, NY about 1679.
Richard
May 23, 2013