Thanks to Facebook, I joined the DAR. Eligibility had never crossed my mind, but
one day I was just messing around googling names, and I found a Facebook
page. I had put in the name Nicolas
Rivard which was sure to bring up a hit, since 5 of my grandfathers had that
name. I found many modern day Nicolas
Rivards, a few uncles, cousins, brothers
and hockey players, but then I hit pay dirt.
A woman had posted about Nicolas Rivard, my 5th great
grandfather. She had the same date of
birth, death date, spouse, and photos from his home in France, even the Baptismal
font in his French church with a plaque with the names of the men who had gone
to “New France” on the same excursion.
Definitely a match, until she uttered blasphemy. She stated he fought for the British in the Revolutionary
War! My first reaction was “Oh no, Nick!
Say it isn’t so!” The history of the
French and British in the early days of Quebec was not a friendly one. I just knew Nicholas wouldn’t have joined
with his enemy to fight the Americans.
So, I did my own research.
I found references that put Nicholas on the American side. There was paper published called “Canadian
Participants in the American Revolution” by Dr. Virginia DeMarce. And a book called “Quebec During the American
Invasion 1175-1776 “by Francois Baby, Gabriel Taschereau and Jenkin Williams
that was my primary proof. Not only did
it list Nicholas as a sergeant, but it also listed my 6th great
grandfather as his commanding officer. Since applying for DAR membership I have found
other ancestors that were participants in the founding of America as well. All French Canadians.
So, google those names. You will never know what you will
find!
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