Pioneers-Who Are Yours?

With today being "Pioneer Day" in Utah, I couldn't help but reflect on the pioneers in my own family. The above photo of footsteps is but a small symbol in what most pioneers endured as they traveled from one country to another and settled in that new country. The mode of transport would match the time period they came to that new country in combination of where the old country was located.

While my ancestors helped to settle Quebec, Canada in the 1600s, my four main direct lines from my grandparents all came from Canada between 1850 and 1900 and migrated down to the New England area where there was work in the mills which allowed them to support their families.

The Legacy from my great grandparents as they all traveled through St. Albans, Vermont into the United States and settled in the New England Area are:

• Elzear and Florentine (Soucy) Brisson immigrated in 1893 with 7 of their 9 children and Forentine was pregnant with their 8th. 
• Laurent and Marie (Ruel) Plante immigrated in 1904 with their 7 children
• Isaie-Gedeon and Josephte (Bougeois) Marotte immigrated in 1855 with 7 of their 8 children
• Joseph and Alida/Elida (Labbe) Theroux immigrated in 1866 with 5 of their 7 children.

The conditions of their travel at that time was most likely walking just like most pioneers who are settling in a new country during that time period.

My heart goes out to each one of them in total gratitude for the sacrifices they all made to provide for a better life for their children and their descendants going forward.

Each of their descendants have gone on to settle and love the country they live in and have led or are leading productive lives.

Thank you to all those who are pioneers..

Comments are always encouraged and welcome!

Building Bridges for All Generations!

Claire (*)

Timeless Genealogies

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Elzear Brisson

My Great-Grandfather, Elzear Brisson was born on 25 Aug 1853 in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada to Ludger Brisson and Henriette Fiola/Vignola. He was the 2nd child of seven children all born in Rimouski. On the same day of his birth, he was baptized as is shown in his baptismal record below in the parish of Ste. Cecile.

The 1861 Canadian Census has the whole family living in St. Germain Parish, Macpes, Rimouski, Canada. Their father is listed as a 'cultivateur' which is some one who grows crops. While this section of the census is only of his immediate family, at the top of the census page on line 6 are his grand parents and additional family members from both sides of their family. Elzear is on line 40 and is 8 years old.

The family stays in Rimouski according to the 1871 and 1881 census but by the 1891 census he is living with his wife, Florentine Soucy and two children, Joseph and Omer in Hull, Ottawa, Quebec. According to his naturalization petition papers, he immigrated to the United States on 14 Sep 1893. 

The family settled in Providence, Rhode Island where Elzear is listed as a railway worker. The family stayed in this area for many years and Elzear continued to work on the railway until his death on 21 Feb 1924. By this time all his children were married or on their own. Together, Elzear and Florentine had 9 children and many grandchildren who in turn have married and spread out throughout the United States. Of those 9 children, 5 died was still very young.

His death certificate states he died on 21 February 1924 and is buried in St. Ann's Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island. According to the cemetery records he and his wife are buried in Section 6, grave marker # 676 as shown below.

As I ponder the above marker it helps me to understand more clearly how difficult times were then. His dear wife, Florentine, had purchased the plot and she herself would be buried there in 1937, just 13 years later.

Being an immigrant family with many children often made it impossible to afford more than a marker. Each of their own children had large families too, and so this is the way it was at this time in Providence, Rhode Island.

Elzear Brisson: 1853-1924

Marie Florentine Soucy Brisson

Marie Florentine Soucy was born 23 Jul 1855 in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada to Pierre (Prudent) Soucy and Mides-Neiges Thibault. She was the 2nd of eight children. Here is a copy of her baptismal record.

We find this family in the 1861, 1871, 1881 Canadian census living in various location in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. Pierre, her father was a farmer.

Maire Florentine Soucy married Elzear Brisson on 4 Feb 1879 at St. Blanchard's Church, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. Together with three children they immigrated to the United States in 1893 and settled in Providence, Rhode Island. This family is located living at 44 Howard Street, Providence, RI. This census states she has had 9 children but only 4 are living. It is difficult to imagine how it would have been to leave their country knowing that these 5 children were buried and their family moved on for perhaps a better life in a new country.

Ancestry's "Quebec Vital & Church Records 'Drouin Collection', 1621-1967" allowed me to locate the missing 5 children who lived very short lives:

1) Elzear Brisson: 3 Feb 1882 to 13 Feb 1882

2) Marie Delphine Brisson: 30 May 1883 to 12 Dec 1886

3) Pierre Irenee Brisson: 28 Nov 1884 to 4 Dec 1886

4) Marie Exilda Brisson: 10 Jan 1887 to 19 Nov 1887

5) Joseph Theodore Pamela Brisson: 7 Apr 1889 to 12 Sep 1889

Their next child was my grandfather, Omer Joseph Brisson born 14 Jan 1891. The family moved to the US after this birth as their daughter Marie Victoria Leontine Rose Brisson was born in Providence, RI on 3 Apr 1893. It must have been difficult to leave family and loved ones behind and yet they were able to relocate, settle down and the remainder of their family stayed in the RI area for many years. Some of their descendants moved out of the area but most stayed in New England.

The 1900 Census finds her husband, Elzear working for the Railway and unable to speak, read or write English as was the usual situation during this time period. Florence was also unable to speak, read or write English, however all of their children had learned English within the 7 years they had been in the US.

The 1910, 1920 Census shows the family living on Huntington Ave. where they stayed for many years.  Elzear contined to work for the railways and died in 1924, Florentine lived till 1937 and was living with her daughter Evelina's family still in Providence. They had 8 children and she was probably able to help out with their care. She is buried at St. Ann's Cemetery in Cranston, RI.

She leaves a great legacy of endurance through difficult times to the many descendants she has today along with courage to be able to settle in a new country, learn a new language and instill in her family all the good qualities needed to be a productive member of society.

Marie Florentine Soucy Brisson: 1855-1937