Robert LaJeunesse

Hi Robert,

I sent you a private message on 10 Jan 2024 about your request to take the Profile Improvement Project's PIP Voyage. It would have been in an email from WikiTree with the subject heading "Profile Improvement Project Voyage" I am following up as I haven't heard from you. Did you receive my message?

Thanks,

Robin

Hello Mr. Lajeunesse, my name is Louis-Paul Bédard, I am a descendant of Catherine Adélaïde Soulard, the sister of Marie-Louise Soulard, from whom I believe you are a descendant.

The story of the 2 Soulard sisters and all their half-siblings appears to be quite interesting. I have been trying to piece up what happened back in the early 1800s in Louiseville, because I believe something very tragic (but not necessarily an uncommon occurrence in those days) must have happened. If you have any information that would have been passed on through the generations, I would be very interested in it.

I can tell you what I have found out (no information was passed on to me through the generations, most of the information below comes from the Institut Drouin records):

Jean-Baptiste Soulard, a hughenot descendant of a very able pioneer, was raised on a farm in the Portneuf area neighbouring Quebec City. The earlier Soulards had previously settled mostly in Beaupré, one of his close forefathers had relocated to Portneuf. Louise Béland, his first wife, was one of two children of an earlier marriage, also from Portneuf, her mother having passed away giving birth to her brother. Her father, Augustin Béland remarried some time after. It is not known whether or not Louise got along well with the new lady of the house, but regardless, she seemed to have been ripe to leave the family nest and never come back. She got married at 22 with Jean-Baptiste Soulard, had many children, but from what follows, did not necessarily live happily everafter.

Many of her children died at a young age. At least 3 boys survived. She had 10 children, 5 confirmed deceased in their young age and 2 unknown. The last time the family is reported to live in Portneuf is in Les Écureuils ("The squirrels", owing its strange name to the oaks in the town, inhabited by loads of these cute rodents), when they were burying a child at the end of the Summer in 1799.

What comes next is a series of irreversible events most likely resulting from a decision after a lot of soul searching for the family, during bereavement and some arguably harsh Winters. (Winters in Portneuf are harder than in Southern Quebec). They must have evaluated their options and it is clear they decided to pack up and leave for greener pastures, as many of their ancestors had done 150 years prior, to cross the Atlantic.

That period is also very fluid in terms of social, economic and political events. In 1801, France is 27 million people and just 5 away for the Terror. Great Britain has just united with the entire island of Ireland, becomes the UK and is 11 million. The US is still only 5 million people and mostly East of the Mississipi. Napoleon concluded the Louisiana purchase in 1803 and that same year Great Britain declared War on France, which led to the War of the Third Coalition in 1805. Canada with its 400,000 people (over 80% francophone, less than 20% anglophone), seemed to be a land of opportunity at this time. So the couple elected to move the entire family to the Maskinongé capital, Louiseville, where Winters are somewhat milder, where crops are very different, the land being on a vast sedimentary deposit (In Portneuf, only a narrow strip on the shore is on the St-Laurent lowlands and most of the rest of the land is on the Canadian shield) and in a new town which is about to undergo an important economic boom later in the 19th century.

According to the records, they would have moved to Louiseville, between late 1799 and early 1802. People in those days usually moved in the Spring, so it's most likely one of these 3 years: 1800, 1801 or 1802.

Then, the unfortunate sequence of events goes down very quickly:

These first 3 are external to the family, but bear some relevance to what happens next: 1. On 14 May 1800, Angélique Carpentier, the Mother of Jean-Baptiste Soulard's future wife, Magdeleine Arseneault, dies at 46 years of age. 2. On 3 August 1801, the Father of his future wife, Antoine Arseneault, remarries for the 3rd time 3. On 18 June 1802, the Father of his future wife, Antoine Arseneault, dies at 54 years of age

The first tragic event: 4. On 12 July 1802, Louise Béland dies at 41 years of age

Then, what a remarriage, with a 32-year age gap between the bride and the groom: 5. On 3 Oct 1803, Jean-Baptiste Soulard, 51 years old, marries Magdeleine Arseneault, 19 years old

They have 3 children, 2 girls and the boy died at 4 years of age: 6. 1804 Marie-Louise 7. 1806 Antoine, who died in 1810 8. 1808 Catherine Adélaïde

Then, Act III of the tragedy: 9. On 14 April 1809, Jean-Baptiste Soulard, 57 years old, dies as well 10. On 18 Sept 1809, Magdeleine Arseneault remarries with Louis Gauthier, who died homeless (specified in the burial act)

Magdeleine will eventually remarry a third with François Hostin, who appears to have family links to both Portneuf and Maskinongé. Magdeleine will never leave Maskinongé and all the Soulards will move to Québec City in the St-Roch ward and never come back. It seems St-Roch was the location of the main naval shipyards back then, as the Foulon area had not been developed yet.

I can only imagine the existential angst of the Soulards when looking West at the St-Charles river and thinking of either Maskinongé (for Marie-Louise and Catherine Adélaïde) or Portneuf (for their Soulard half-brothers).

So there is it. I have found quite a bit of information, but I am still hoping to find out more.

Therefore, anything you would know, I would be quite interested.

Thank you Best Regards Louis-Paul Bédard

Hi Robert, It would be fun to see you active on WikiTree again! I sent you a Trusted List request. Awaiting your reply. Thanks!

Hello Robert,

Thank you for adding your DNA to WikiTree. :)

Here is a link that will tell you more about how DNA kits are used on WikiTree: Getting the Best from DNA

If you run into a sticky bit or have questions about how WikiTree works, you can log into WikiTree, and go to your profile. Use the Reply link below my comment to be sure that I will be notified. Alternatively, click my name to visit my profile. From there, you can leave a comment, or send a private message.

If you need help, let me know. Otherwise, best of luck with your research!

Claire ~ WikiTree Greeter

Hi, Robert. I was looking at the photo you found of "Marie Delia Boyte" (with baby). Of course, I'm intrigued. What do you know about her? I can't place the name anywhere.

drop a line when you get a chance. Regards, John Boyte

Hi Lori. Thanks for the comment. Eva's tree is already connected to mine. This link shows our relationship as 9th cousins.

http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Relationship&action=calculate&person1_name=Trudeau-355&person2_name=LaJeunesse-36

Can help Eva Trudea connect your tree to hers she new family tree connecting

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Trudeau-355 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SP1V-2M5

I would love to begin a dialogue with any of the Canadian (Canadien) Boyte's. This is such a relatively unusual surname, I feel in my heart that we must, in some way be related. I'd be very interested in seeing this surname research from the Canadian perspective.

Hi Robert

I see that you just did the Pre-1700 Self-Certification. That's great!

Is there a particular time period, location, or topic you're interested in? Maybe you have some historically-significant ancestors?

Let me know. I can help you figure out if there's a project and introduce you to the project leaders.

Dorothy - Volunteer Coordinator

Glad you Volunteered Bob!

You are now a member of WikiTree! Please help us build one Collaborative Global Family Tree, which means only one profile per person. It's important that no duplicates are created and profiles are properly sourced- if you have pre-1700's ancestors to add please read our Pre-1700 profiles info.

To help you get started, view this introductory WikiTree video.

For a list of Member benefits, see http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Community_Membership Community Members] page.

We also have Mentors who will be glad to answer questions.

Bobby

Hi Bob, I got your email. Glad you want to join us and add your family in with ours. Let us know if we can help in any way.

Hi Bob!

I'm just checking in with you to see how your experience is going on Wikitree. Please leave us message here if you want to contribute to our tree.

If you're just taking a look around then enjoy! Have you checked to see if you already have family on WikiTree? Try our Surname Search!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Bobby ~ WikiTree Mentor

Hi!

I see you have, or plan to upload a GEDCOM. Here are a few quick links that you will find useful, and answer a lot of your questions:

step-by-step of the process including screenshots.

'Before you import a GEDCOM'.

http://breescorner.com/post/115156682471/gedcom-video-tutorial-for-wikitree

Please keep in mind that our vision is to build a collaborative tree with just one profile per person, so please make sure to look for duplicates on WikiTree before adding a profile. Thank you for taking the time to go through your gedmatches.

Good Luck,

Fred

Hi again Bob,

We are glad you found our website, we think it's great also. If you clicked on the volunteer button to help us grow a worldwide family tree please leave another post here on your page and we will be happy to confirm you as a full member.

Thanks, Bill