My Journey Into My Past

“Oh no, don’t name him John!”   When my brother John was born on August 21, 1959 my dad’s sister Stella was very upset.   She told my mom how unlucky the name John was.   They had a brother John who died as a two-year-old.   Their dad Frank had a brother John who died as a four-year-old, and their cousin John had died in WWII. Her outcry was too late.   My parents had already named him at that time. On September 6, 1959 my baby brother John died. I don’t believe in lucky or unlucky names.   But I always wondered what my parents thought after their sweet little baby died.   Did the chastise themselves for using the name?   Did Aunt Stella regret putting that thought in their heads?   I know my parents never had any grandsons named after Johnny. I used family names for my children.   Lena Clare after my two Grandmother Lenas, Clare after my mom. My Lena was born after all three women had died.   David Joseph was named for his ...

I received my DAR Certificate in the mail today.  I am really proud of my family.  God Bless America.  God Bless Quebec.

Today it became official.   I am a Daughter of the American Revolution.   It is not an honor I never thought I would be eligible for. Most of my ancestors came to American in the mid to late 1800’s, the last ones coming in 1903.   The exceptions were the French Canadians, who came to Michigan while it was still French territory.   But a post on a strangers Facebook page upset me.   It stated my 5GGF Nicolas Rivard fought for the British during the Revolution.   My initial reaction was “Oh, No Nick, say it isn’t so!”   There was great animosity in Canada between the French and the British.   I didn’t think my GGF would have aided his enemy.   That sent me on a search to find out the truth!   I had some of the same references as the Facebook user, but perhaps read it more carefully.   I also found two other documents proving my research.   I used “Quebec During the American Invasion 1775-1776: the Journal of Francois Ba...