January 18, 2019: Longevity

The longest-lived ancestor I know of is my 4GGM Barbara McDonald.  This is what I know.  She first appears in the Ste Anne Detroit, MI marriage book. “Pierre Thessie (Tessier) son of deceased parents Pierre and Genevieve Parantot (Parenteau), grooms’ parents of the parish of St Michael, government of Trois Riviere. He was a resident of the Riviere aux Raisin “and “Barbe” were married on 31 October 1790.  Other sources list her name as Barbara McDonald.  She is listed on the Land Claims of the Riviere aux Raisin Area as widow and heir of Pierre Tessier, and it stated that after his death the property was occupied the tract.  Mr. de St Ours married Tessiers widow.  She is listed in the book “Souls of St Antoine” for Pierre; buried 15 October 1801. Wed Barbara Magdeleine McDonald, no parents listed.  The next notice was the 1850 census, as Elisabeth Tessier in the household of François Tessier (Grandson) age 100. On another website about the family, she is listed as Elisabeth Madeleine McDonald, the widow of Pierre, again showing her age as 100 years, The St Mary’s death record book listed her as Elisabeth Durosseau, buried 8 June 1851, 103 years of age born in Sandwich, Ontario.   The St Antoine marriage books shows two entries, just recently obtained.  Jean Marie Ours Baudreau dit Graveline son of Francois and Marie Joseph Duval, married to Barbe Desrusseau, unidentified widow of Pierre Tessier. She is also listed on son Dominque’s marriage as Elisabeth Madeleine Desrusseau, unidentified. Since French women were usually notated by their birth name, perhaps she was a Derusseau, not McDonald.  The mystery remains.  I have not given up the search for information on Barbara McDonald.

Here is a piece I wrote some time ago about Barbe:

“OUR ELUSIVE ANCESTOR

Every genealogist has that elusive ancestor, the one you know existed, but cannot document. Our elusive lady is Barbara Magdeleine McDonald.  She first appears as the spouse of Pierre Tessier, who was born 11 December 1747, in Yamanska, QP, CA. Pierre and Barbara were married at Ste Anne Church, Detroit, MI on 321 October 1790.  Her name is listed only as Barbe in the original French record, but in Father Dennison’s book she is listed as Barbara Magdeleine McDonald of Sandwich (Windsor, Ont.). There was no date of birth or parent listed.  There was a Barbara McDonald listed as a domestic working in Detroit prior to the marriage, but there is no documentation proving it was the same person.

Pierre and Barbara move south to Frenchtown settlement, and Pierre and their son Dominique are listed as land owners along the River Raisin.  In the copy of the verbal process of the Parish Assembly, 15 October 1788 of the original land owners, it is noted that Pierre Tessier signed with his mark.  There are several children listed for Pierre and Barbara; Pierre b 1791, Dominique b 15 April 1794, Antoine b 1996, Francois b 21 October 1798, Catherine b 21 January 1801. Pierre died in 1801, and was buried on 15 October 1801 at St Antoine Cemetery, along the River Raisin.  There is a copy of a grand issued by President James Madison, stating that the tract or parcel described was the be had and held by the widow and heirs of Pierre Tessier, signed in the city of Washington, 13 June 1812.

St Antoine church marriage records, dated 24 July 1803 shows her as Barbe Durusseau, married to Jean Marie Ours Baudreau dit Graveline.

No more is heard of Barbara until she is noted as living with grandson Francois Tessier age 51.  Now known as Elisabeth Tessier, 100 years of age, on the 1850 United States census.  Her last appearance was in the St Mary Church records, entry 17, showing her as Elisabeth Durousseau, age 103, date of death 8 June 1851.  There is a notation that she was 103 years, born in Sandwich CA, resided Monroe with the sacrament at 39 years.

In a family where French married French for generation after generation, Barbara is an anomaly. We like to joke that the family got their red hair from her. Her married to Pierre Tessier in 1790 was the only non-French marriage until our Grandmother Eliza Pauline (Lena) Rivard married August John (Gus) Wickenheiser in 1915, and ha a family filled with red heads. Unfortunately, our mother, Clara Mary Wickenheiser Joblinski missed the red hair gene, and none of her 8 children were blessed with that color.

So, the search goes on.  Barbara, we are determined to find you!”