Mary Marguerite Helen Langevin Livingston Lafreniere

This is my attempt to trace the ancestors of my Great Grandmother Marie Marguerite Helen Langevin, loving spouse of Ulric Livingston. 

This is written to commemorate the wonderful living legends, John and Bernie Livingston, still living upon this glorious sunny afternoon. It's Bernie's 85th birthday today so let's take a moment and send him a barrelful of well wishes!

None of the information posted in this blog can be shared without mentioning the wonderful work carried out by my Great Auntie Doreen and Great Uncle Bernie - we would be so lost without your wonderful guidance, encouragement, and enthusiasm!  

Helen and Ulric Livingston

Marie Marguerite Helen Langevin was born to parents Joseph Langevin and Clara Ann Lafreniere on October 6, 1897, but we'll discuss her parents momentarily.

Helen was born in 1897, wed Ulric in 1917 and died in 1984 (some of the information can be found in earlier blog posts as well as the Livingston Family book published in 2013). 

Helen and Ulric married on July 2, 1917 in Scott, Saskatchewan.

A wonderful family photo of Ulric and Helen Livingston and the Langevin family in December 1920.

Back row: Nora, Leo VanColeart, Jack Grandison, Joe Langevin, Mary Langevin Kearns, Anthony Langevin ("Tenny"), Blanche Langevin, Arthur Langevin, Ernest Langevin

Centre row: Anna VanColeart, Marie Clara Langevin (Helen's mother), Lea Grandison holding Noel, Helen Livingston holding daughter Eileen, Ulric Livingston holding daughter Marguerite, Joseph Langevin (Helen's father)

Front row: Ralph Grandison, Edgar Grandison, Archie Livingston

Helen and Ulric moved to Oak Lake, Manitoba (near Brandon) before 1921 where they were recorded in the Canada Census.

1921 Canada Census, Oak Lake: Ulric (age 30), Helen (age 23), Archie (age 3), Marguerite (age 2), and Eileen (age 1) Livingston.

They resided in several homes as their family grew and as Ulric followed his dreams described in last week's post. In addition, they lived in six different homes in the Lower Mainland, including 3 acres with a cow, 250 chickens, 45 rabbits and a field of lily of the valley on 14th Avenue in New Westminster; a home on 996 Imperial Street in Burnaby which Bernie describes as more of a "lean-to" that Ulric fixed up; and that beautiful house many of us remember at 926 13th Street, New Westminster. 

While Ulric had several odd jobs over the years, Helen always made sure that there was food on the table for her family and for any guests who happened to stop by. I have so many wonderful memories of the 13th Street home filled with family, laughter, music, fabulous cooking and baking, handmade quilts made out of old rice bags. and always a Catholic calendar outlining special saints whom I never got to know very well. In their later years, they had a cat that my younger brother loved to lay down with in the middle of the living room floor in between cookie breaks, and my mother bringing them home-cooked frozen dinners when Ulric's health started failing.

early 1940's

Helen, Ulric, Bernie (youngest), John, Pat, Mickey, Gerald, Doreen, Frances, Marguerite, and Archie

I am very excited to report that I have received Doreen's original ancestry research binders full of letters and more photos. Starting this weekend and as time permits, I will be posting more information here. A sincere thank you to Doreen's children for entrusting this treasure in my safekeeping!

May 1977

Back row: Mickey, John, Doreen, Archie, Gerald, and Bernie

Front row: Pat, Marguerite, Helen, Francis, and Eileen

May 1996

Pat, Eileen, Gerald, Kit (wife of Archie), Bernie, Marguerite, Doreen, John

Helen's parents

Joseph  Langevin and Clara Ann Lafrenière wed on April 6, 1891 in St. Leon, Manitoba.  

The marriage record of the two lovebirds states their parents and where they were born. Joseph was born in Palmer, Massachusetts to parents Francois Xavier Langevin and Mary Shea (of Cork, Ireland) on January 20, 1857, while Clara Ann was born in St. Croix, Simcoe, Ontario on February 15, 1863 to parents Ovide-Benjamin Lafreniere and Marie Maurice.

It's really quite puzzling why Clara Ann's birth record is so very difficult to find and if you have any ideas on how to obtain it, this researcher would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can offer.

Helen's siblings were:

When Helen was growing up, her family lived on a farm where the 1906 Canada Census recording three horses, four milk cows, three cattle, and two hogs.

Helen was about 36 years old when her father passed away in 1933.

It is interesting to note that Helen's brother Joseph Alphonse was noted as a hero in Winnipeg in the Star Phoenix Saskatoon newspaper:

Helen's Grandparents

Ovide-Benjamin Lafrenière wed Marie Maurice on January 11, 1858 in the Tiny Township of Simcoe, Ontario where they had a farm. They had 17 children over a 29 year period.

Joseph Magloire, Louis Napoleon, Marie Maurice, Marie Clara, Ovide Benjamin, 

Virginia Marie, and Jeanne Marie. 

From Bernie Livingston's collection, here are more photos of the Lafrenière children:

Louise and Josephine

Pacific Lalonde and bride Lea Lafreniere

Joseph and Louis

Thomas

Victoire

During the first part of 1878, Ovide-Benjamin Lafrenière and his wife Marie-Maurice of Lafontaine, Ontario, moved from Ontario to Emerson, Manitoba along with eleven of their children in the Pembina Mountains to settle on section 32, district 4, alignment 8, to farm the land. Marie Maurice Lafrenière was known to suffer from rheumatism and asthma. 

Ovide-Benjamin and Marie-Maurice celebrated their wedding anniversary with 250 of their fellow parishioners at St. Leon, Manitoba on 27 June 1908.

 

Helen's Great Grandparents

Antoine Lafrenière, born October 16, 1799, wed Madeleine St. Onge dit Letard dit McTavish, born about 1801 likely on or near Mackinac Island, Michigan. 

(Unfortunately, I am unable to locate birth/baptism records for Madeleine, but her death records state that she was 82 when she died in St. Leon, MB in 1883. See below for more information.)

(The photo below is taken from La Montagne Pembina au demps des colons by Marie-Anne A. Roy published in 1970.)

In the early 1800s, Antoine Lafrenière was residing with his parents and siblings northeast of Fort Michilimackinac, a busy fur trading post between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron near Drummond Island (see the map below). 

The British military post at Michilimackinac was transferred to the United States in 1796 by mutual agreement, but in 1812, the United States declared war on the British Empire and American soldiers attacked various areas of Lower and Upper Canada. During the War of 1812, some of our ancestors were among the famous volunteer contingent of 160 Canadian voyageurs under Captain Roberts who helped recapture the Mackinaw. 

In a subsequent attack by the Americans to recover the post the Canadian voyageurs gallantly assisted in its defense. Mackinaw was again restored to the United States according to treaty stipulations in 1815, when the British garrison found refuge on Drummond Island, in proximity to the former post of St. Joseph. The Canadian voyageurs still preferring to follow the fortunes of the British flag, with one or two exceptions, removed with the forces to Drummond Island. On the completion of the treaty surveys, Drummond Island proved to be in United States territory. Thereupon the British forces, under Lieut. Carson, commanding a detachment of the 68th Regiment, withdrew to the naval station at Penetanguishene, which event occurred on the 4th of November, 1828. 

(The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828,

Ontario Historical Society, Canadian Archives, 1898, p. 553.)

(from The Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History ed.by Helen Hornbeck Tanner)

Antoine was a voyageur for the Northwest Company post at the British Fort Michilimackinac (also known as Mackinac) when he wed Madeleine dit Letard dit St. Onge dit McTavish on August 17, 1826.

 

Antoine Lafrenière and his wife Madeleine

 As part of concessions for the war, Canada rescinded claims to Drummond Island and it became part of the United States territory permanently. The British garrison was transferred to Penetanguishene, Ontario along with the French volunteers in recognition of their services rendered during the War of 1812.

In 1834, Antoine and his wife Madeleine received a land allotment of Park lot No.18, approximately 20 to 40 acres on Penetanguishene Bay in the Village of Lafontaine in the Simcoe township of Ste. Croix and today called Tiny.

Antoine and Madeleine's children:

• *Olivier Lafreniere born 31 March 1827 in LaCloche, Michigan; married (1) Delima Moreau and (2) Olive Maurice 26 November 1866 at St. Croix, Lafontaine, ON; and died 19 February 1899 at St. Leon, MB. Olivier was one of the founders of the town of St. Leon.
• Antoine Lafreniere was born about 1828 and died in 1850 at Lafontaine, ON.
• Josephte Lafreniere was born about 1830 and married Samuel Tessier on January 20, 1845, in Penetanguishene, ON.
• Henri Lafreniere was born June 1835 at Penetanguishene, ON, and married Elizabeth Moreau on 26 April 1858.
• Marie Lafreniere was born about 1836 at Penetanguishene, ON; married Constant Moreau on February 29, 1848, and died on 7 June 1865 and was buried in the Ste. Croix Cemetery, Lafontaine, ON.
• Ovide-Benjamin Lafreniere was born on June 26, 1837 at Penetanguishene, ON; married Marie Maurice on 11 June 1858 at Penetanguishene, ON; and died 10 July 1917 at St. Leon, MB.
• Zoe Lafreniere was born on August 17, 1839, and married (1) Touissant Moreau on 26 September 1864 at Lafontaine, ON, and (2) Joseph Vautrin at St. Leon, MB on October 17, 1887.
• Julie Lafreniere was born 11 May 1841 at Penetanguishene, ON; married Louis Labissoniere on August 18, 1863; and died 22 October 1877 at Ste. Croix, Lafontaine, ON (white grave marker partially buried and illegible).
• Charles Lafreniere was born May 16, 1843 at Penetanguishene, ON; married Marie-Lucie Brausseur on 9 February 1866 at St. Croix, Lafontaine, ON; and died September 13, 1903 at St. Leon, MB.
• Theophile Lafreniere was born about 1844 at Penetanguishene, ON, and September 13, 1903 at Penetanguishene, ON.
• Louise Lafreniere born 5 June 1845 at Lafontaine, ON and married Laurent Anthime Pilon in November 25, 1863 in Lafontaine, ON; and died 1882.
• Victoire Lafreniere was born about 1847 at Penetanguishene, ON, and married (1) Ismael Desroches on February 8, 1869 in Lafontaine, ON;(2) Ovila Rondeau date unknown.
• Virginie Lafreniere was born 30 March 1850 at Penetanguishene, ON; married Joseph Brasseur on August 13, 1869 in Lafontaine, ON; and died 29 May 1925.
• Auguste Lafreniere was born 21 September 1851 at Penetanguishene, ON, and died 3 July 1864 at St. Croix, Lafontaine, ON.

 Antoine donated the land to build the first Roman Catholic church in Ste. Croix, which is now recognized by the Ontario government as a heritage building. Antoine died December 2, 1880, and was buried in the Ste. Croix Cemetery in the first eight 8 rows where partial white stones are somewhat visible, but no longer legible. 

Based on Odile Martel's Pionniers de la Montagne Pembina*, Antoine and Magdeleine's son Olivier and his own son were amongst a group of settlers who founded the town of Saint-Leon in Manitoba, about 100 km southwest of Winnipeg.  It was described as:

St. Leon was a small place located near a round lake founded in 1870. This town had a unique start in that it was initially built at the south end of the lake, but it disappeared a decade after the arrival of early settlers. The town was moved to north side of the lake for reasons unknown, but perhaps due to flooding.

Madeleine dit Letard dit St. Onge dit McTavish and her First Nations descendants

Magdeleine dit Letard dit St. Onge dit McTavish's parents were:

• Katrine-Genevieve Vasseur (born about 2 July 1792 St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Michigan).
• Joseph dit Letard dit St. Onge (I am searching for data) 

This is Katrine-Genevieve's birth record:

Sex: F

Birth: ABT. 2 JUL 1792 in St. Ignace, Mackinac Co.

NATI: Metis

Note:  Godparents were Antoine Adhemar St. Martin and Genevieve Blondeau. August 15, 1799, by us the undersigned priest, the ceremonies of Baptism were supplied to Genevieve, privately baptized by Laurent Bertrand, born July 2, 1792, of Jacques Vasseur and of Madeleine, an Outawa, his lawful wife. The father was present and signed with us. The godfather was Antoine Adhemar St. Martin; and the godmother Genevieve Blondeau, his wife, who signed with us.           Gabriel Richard, priest.

                         Jacquess Vasseur; Bd. adhemar; adhemar St Martin

Magdeleine's mother Katrine-Genevieve wed Joseph dit Letard St. Onge about 1810.  Their children present at the wedding ceremony were:

• Amble dit Letard St. Onge
• Genevieve dit Letard St. Onge
• Joseph (Jr) dit Letard St. Onge

Katrine-Genevieve, Joseph dit Letard dit St. Onge and their three children were baptized on the same day. Four more children are attributed to this marriage:

• Touissant dit Letard St. Onge born about 1815, and died 1881.
• Magdeleine dit Letard St.Onge born 1801-11 Mackinac Island, MI.;married Antoine Lafreniere and died 6 December 1883 at St. Leon, MB.
• Marie Louisa dit Letard St. Onge was born in 1822 and died on April 23, 1908 at Britt, Parry Sound, ON.
• Marie Veronique Marguerite dit Letard St. Onge born 25 July 1825 at Drummond Island.

Katrine-Genvieve’s parents were:

• Jacques Vasseur
• and Madeleine Ouiouiskoin of the Outawas Nation (more commonly known as Ottawa First Nations of the Ojibway).

Below is their official marriage and baptism registration:

1695--1821: REGISTER OF BAPTISMS OF THE MISSION OF ST. IGNACE DE MICHILIMAKINAK, MI. August 5, 1799, after one publication of bans, with dispensation from the two others, between Jacques Vasseur, son of Jacques Vasseur and of Madeleine Gatien, a native of Montreal, of the one part; and Madeleine of the Outawas Nation, baptized the same day, there being no opposition whatsoever thereto, We, the Undersigned priest, received their mutual consent and gave them the nuptial benediction and legitimized five children whom they acknowledged, namely: Marie Louise, about eleven years old; Jacques, about nine and a half years old; Louis, about eight years old; Genevieve, about seven years old; and Joseph, born on the eighth of the month of August 1797. The whole in the presence of Pierre Queri, of Augustin Hamelin, and of others who signed with us.

Gabriel Richard, priest. P. Thierry, witness; Madelaine, + her mark; August Hamelin; Jac Vasseur.

Children of Jacques Vasseur and Madeleine Ouiouiskoin were:

• Marie Louise Vasseur was born in February 1787; married Joseph Gautier dit Caron on 1 July 1804.
• Louis Vasseur born 15 June 1790 probably at St. Ignace, MI.
• Katrine-Genevieve Vasseur was born 2 July 1792 at St. Ignace, Mackinac County, MI.; married
• Joseph Vasseur was born on August 8, 1797.
• Jacques Vasseur III was born on January 8, 1799 at St. Ignace, Mackinac County, MI.
• Jean Baptiste Vasseur was born in 1801.
• Andre Vasseur was born in 1802 and died at Bruce Mines, ON (date unknown).

------------------------THIS POST IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS----------STAY TUNED :)

Helen's Great Great Grandparents

Antoine Charles Lupien Lafrenière (son of Joseph Lupien Lafrenière and Marie Anne Dupuy) wed his first wife Marie Louise Marguerite Voligny on February 5, 1787. 

Sadly, she died that same year on December 1st (see the account below -if anyone would like to attempt to translate, I would love to receive it).

Antoine wed his second wife Marie Josephe Banliac Lamontagne February 21, 1791 at Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville) and they had the following children: 

• Marie Nathalie was born May 30, 1792, and died on August 29, 1792 in  Maskinonge, QC
• Louis was born on May 25, 1793 in Maskinonge
• Marie Josephe was born on August 2, 1795 in Maskinonge
• Marie Louise was born on August 7, 1797 in Maskinonge
• Antoine was born on October 16, 1799 in Maskinonge

Helen's Great Great Great Grandparents

Joseph Lupien Lafrenière wed Marie Anne Dupuis on November 9, 1750 in Maskinonge. 

They had the following children (all born in Maskinonge): 

• Marie Anne birthdate unknown; wed Joseph Vital Vidal Caron on Jan. 22, 1771; and died on June 23, 1817 in Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville)
• Joseph was born on Sep. 17, 1751; wed Marie Louise Lemire Gaucher on January 8, 1776; and died on Dec. 20, 1829 in Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville)
• Jean Baptiste was born on August 14, 1754; wed Marie Josephe Marchand on February 1, 1779; and died on Jan. 13, 1835 in Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville)
• Marie Charlotte was born on February 19, 1757 and died less than four years later on January 8, 1760 in Maskinonge
• Marie Louise was born on October 6, 1760; wed Louis Lemire Gaucher on June 25, 1781; and died on March 5, 1799 in Maskinonge
• Antoine was born on November 15, 1761; wed Marie Louise Marguerite Voligny on February 5, 1787; and died on October 5, 1826 in Maskinonge
• Marguerite was born on August 3, 1765; wed Louis Paille on January 28, 1783; and died on August 9, 1804 in Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville)

Here is a record of concession found in the Quebec notary records where Joseph's neighbour Joseph Buman conceded land 

Helen's Great Great Great Great Grandparents

Joseph Lupien Lafrenière Baron wed Marie Anne Lemire on September 15, 1721 in Quebec.

They had the following children:

• Joseph born in 1722 wed Marie Anne Dupuis on Nov. 9, 1750; and died on Jan. 28, 1790 in Maskinonge.
• Marie Madeleine was born on June 7, 1729 in Maskinonge; wed Joseph Petit Bruneau on February 15, 1752. They had one child, Marie-Madeleine-Rosalie nine months later, but Marie Madeleine wouldn't live long - she died on November 3, 1754 in Maskinonge.
• Male baby born and died on December 12, 1731
• Marie Marguerite was born on April 20, 1733; wed Jean Baptiste Dupuy on April 23, 1758; and died on September 13, 1802. They had four children together.
• Antoine was born before 1737; wed Marie Judith Bergeron on February 11, 1765 in Riviere-du-Loup (Louiseville). They had about 11 children. They were married for 44 years when Antoine died in 1809.
• Marie Anne with a birthdate unknown; wed Louis Leclerc on April 24, 1747 in Quebec and died in 1809. They had about 10 children.

In 1741, Joseph Lupien Lafreniere Baron weds for a second time (reasons unknown but his first wife will live until the 1780's). His second wife was Marie Madeleine Sicard Carufel whom he married on February 9, 1741 and they had 10 children.

Helen's Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents

Andre Joseph Ethier, born in 1678 in Quebec, had an illegitimate son, Joseph Lupien Lafreniere Baron, with Marthe Chauvin before he married his wife Anne Perron Suire in 1704 in St. Francois-de-Sales(Ile-Jesus). 

They had three children with Anne before he died at age 30 in November 1708.

Helen's Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents

Leonard Ethier was born and baptized in Puyrichard in Chirac, France in 1641. He lived in Manot until he ventured to New France (Quebec area) in 1670. 

Leonard's brother François Ethier / Ithier (pioneer), born before 1653, and married to Jeanne-Thérèse Pilet, and moved to New France (Boucherville, Quebec) His brother Léonard Ithier born in 1660 married Marie Pérot, age 21 years old (Jean Pérot and Marsaude Pérot) in Manot (St-Martial), on October 15, 1680. His sister Catherine, married Léonard Bosnat (late Jean Bosnat and Catherine Bouyer in Delaprade, Chirac. His father died in 1670.

His sister Marie Anne was born on November 25, 1635, and married merchant Denis Maupetit (late Heslie and Nicolle Tribot) on February 8, 1675. 

He wed Elisabeth Faudalay Godillon, a Filles-du-Roi ("a King's daughter"), in 1670 in Notre-Dame, Montreal, QC. The Filles-du-Roi was a program set up by King Louis XVI to help procreate New France. He offered free clothing, passage, and dowries to approximately 700 unwed women of France. 

The Tanguay Collection records some of their 11 children that they had over their 16-year marriage:

In 1680, Leonard and his family lived in 1681 at the seigneury of La Chenaye, Quebec. Léonard Ethier was a sabotier, a wooden shoe maker, and owned a rifle, six-horned animals, and 12 arpents (about 10 acres) of land as recorded in the 1681 census below.

Histoire des Canadiens-Francais, 1608-1880

Leonard was killed by the Iroquois in 1689 at the Lachine massacre, and the rest of the family seemed to have escaped any harm. The Lachenaie Massacre November 1689 (louisianalineage.com. This website also describes the gruesome death of hisbrother Francois, his wife Jeanne and some of their children. 

Helen's Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents

Etienne Ethier was born in 1610 in Confolens, Charente, France to his father Etienne and mother Collineau. He wed Marguerite "Daisy" Sabelle wed before the end of 1643 in his hometown (I think it's more likely that they wed in 1634 before their first child was born). 

They had the following children:

Etienne died on the wedding day of  Leonard Ethier and Elizabeth Godillon on September 22, 1670 in Confolens, Charente, France at the age of 60.

Helen's Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents

Etienne Charles Ethier was born in 1589 in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France. He wed Marguerite Collineau de Montaguerre in 1609. They had two children, Etienne (mentioned above) and Louise born a few years later. Etienne died at age 81 in Manot, Charente, France. 

Helen's 9th Great Grandparents 

Francois Rene Ethier Ithier was born in Arnac, Correze, Limousin, France in about 1554. He wed Jeanne Bringuier in Languedoc-Roussillon, France in about 1583. They had two children: Etienne Charles (mentioned above) and a son named Claude. Francois died on April 19, 1654

Helen's 10th Great Grandparents 

Jacques Ethier Ithier was born in Arnac, Correze, Limousin, France in 1535 and wed Andrine Rouviere in Manot, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France in 1552. They had one son Francois mentioned above. the death dates for Jacques and Andrine are very difficult to determine at this time.

Helen's 11th Great Grandparents 

Pierre Ethier Ithier was born in Vendargues, Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France in 1514 and wed Marguerite St. Martin in 1534. They had one son Jacques mentioned above in 1535. Pierre died on May 4, 1574 in his home town.