From Farm to Farm in New France — Michel LeMarié

B. about 1654 in Charente, France¹
M. 27 Feb 1680 in Neuville, New France²
Wife: Marie-Françoise Briere
D. 25 Oct 1727 in St-Nicolas, New France³

For a peasant farmer in 17th century New France, Michel LeMarié seems to have been all over the map. Michel was born about 1654 in the Charente region of France,¹ which was not far from the port city of La Rochelle. Michel’s parents were Jacques LeMarie (also spelled Marièr) and Marie Morin, and he was their oldest child. The next known child in the family was born in Quebec City on April 25, 1661,⁴ so sometime between these years, young Michel experienced the rugged journey across the Atlantic onboard a ship.

For the next few years, Michel’s family lived in the seigneury of Beauport, and this is where he grew up. Beauport was on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, a short distance east of Quebec City. The 1667 census showed they had a quite substantial farm of 80 arpents,⁵ and Michel as the oldest son likely worked in the fields alongside his father. Seven younger siblings were born there by 1672, but as the area filled with more people, Michel’s father looked to settle across the river in the newer settlement of Lauzon. On November 25, 1672,⁶ he secured concessions for himself, Michel and two other sons who were under the age of 12.⁷

Oddly, no one in the family moved to Lauzon that year; instead they seem to have gone to Maures (later called St-Augustin-de-Desmaures), which was upriver from Quebec City on the north shore. It was in nearby Neuville that Michel got married to Marie-Françoise Briere on February 27, 1680.³ After the couple had two sons born in that area, they moved to Lauzon in 1686;⁸ it isn’t clear whether this was the same property his father had gotten for him in 1672. Two more children were born in Lauzon, then in 1692, the parish in Neuville recorded the loss of their stillborn baby.⁹ Over the next decade or so, Michel and Françoise had children baptized at St-Nicolas in 1695,¹⁰ St-Antoine-de-Tilly in 1699,¹¹ Neuville in 1702,¹² and back in St-Nicolas in 1705.¹³ Births of two other children in 1693 and 1695 took place in unknown locations, making for a total of 11 children.

The places where Michel lived.

Why was Michel recorded in so many places? It’s possible that he was a part-time fisherman and he was seeking fertile waters. It’s known that his father had fished for eels in addition to farming, and one record from January 1680 suggested that Michel had a boat.⁷ He also may have moved from place to place to try to gain better farming. New France settlers had to deal with very harsh conditions for growing crops, and producing enough to support a family was often difficult. 

Eventually Michel seemed to put down roots in St-Nicolas on the south shore. This is where he died on October 25, 1727 at the age of about 73.³ His wife Françoise lived another 12 years, passing away in 1739.¹⁴ They were the ancestors of Leo Durocher.

Children:
1. Michel LeMarié — B. 6 Sep 1682, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, New France;¹⁵ D. 31 Oct 1757, St-Nicolas, New France;¹⁶ M. Madeleine Pilote (~1692-1742), 24 Nov 1715, St-Foy, New France¹⁷

2. Jacques LeMarié — B. 25 Oct 1684, Neuville, New France;¹⁸ D. 14 Mar 1714, St-Nicolas, New France¹⁹

3. Marie-Elizabeth LeMarié — B. 23 Oct 1686, Côte-de-Lauzon, New France;⁸ D. 27 Jul 1773, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec;²⁰ M. Jean-Baptiste Lambert (1695-1752), 25 Nov 1717, St-Nicolas, New France²¹

4. Marie-Thérèse LeMarié — B. about 1688, New France;²² D. 22 Apr 1778, St-Vincent-de-Paul, Laval, Quebec;²² M. François Boucher dit Deroches (1684-1760), 28 Nov 1709, St-Nicolas, New France²³

5. Baby Girl LeMarié — B. 3 Jan 1692, Neuville, New France;⁹ D. 3 Jan 1692, Neuville, New France⁹

6. Marie-Charlotte LeMarié — B. about 1693, New France;²⁴ D. 25 Apr 1767, Quebec City, Quebec;²⁴ M. Jean Chevrery (1685-1760), 3 May 1716, Quebec City, New France²⁵

7. Jean LeMarié — B. 9 Feb 1695, St-Nicolas, New France;¹⁰ D. 25 May 1769, Quebec City, Quebec;²⁶ M. (1) Jeanne Tareau (1700-1730), 13 Sep 1725, Quebec City, New France;²⁷ (2) Angelique Hebert (1709-1774), 4 Nov 1732, Quebec City, New France²⁸

8. Joseph LeMarié — B. 11 Sep 1697, St-Nicolas, New France;²⁹ M. Agnes Dumay (1708-?), 16 Sep 1729, New France³⁰

9. Marie-Françoise LeMarié — B. 27 Oct 1699, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec;¹¹ D. 26 Apr 1763, St-Vincent-de-Paul, Laval, Quebec;³¹ M. (1) Denis Gagnon (~1678-1736), 11 May 1727, New France;³² (2) Joseph Côte (1716-?), 11 Nov 1736, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, New France³³

10. Marie-Marguerite LeMarié — B. 5 Mar 1702, Neuville, New France;¹² D. 31 May 1755, St-Vallier, New France;³⁴ M. Antoine Remillard (1698-1757), 6 Jun 1728, Quebec City, Quebec³⁵

11. Marie-Anne LeMarié — B. 11 Jun 1705, St-Nicolas, New France;¹³ D. 14 Apr 1739, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, New France;³⁶ M. Fabien Côte (1706-1775), 26 Aug 1727, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, New France³⁷

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Michel Marier
2    Marriage record of Michel LeMarié and Marie-Françoise Briere, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Michel LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
4    Baptismal record of Thomas LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
5    Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France
6    Baptismal record of Robert LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
7    Histoire de la Seigneurie de Lauzon, Vol. 1, Joseph-Edmund Roy, 1897
8    Baptismal record of Marie-Elizabeth LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
9    Burial record of unnamed baby of Michel LeMarié and Marie-Françoise Briere, Q.C.P.R.
10  Baptismal record of Jean LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
12  Baptismal record of Marie-Marguerite LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Marie-Anne LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Briere, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Michel LeMarié (younger), Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Michel LeMarié (younger), Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Michel LeMarié and Madeleine Pilote, Q.C.P.R.
18  Baptismal record of Jacques LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
19  Burial record of Jacques LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Marie-Elizabeth LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Lambert and Marie-Elizabeth LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Marie-Thérèse LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of François Boucher dit Deroches and Marie-Thérèse LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Marie-Charlotte LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Jean Chevrery and Marie-Charlotte LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Jean LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
27  Marriage record of Jean LeMarié and Jeanne Tareau, Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Jean LeMarié and Angelique Hebert, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of Joseph LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Joseph LeMarié and Agnes Dumay, Q.C.P.R.
31  Burial record of Marie-Françoise LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Denis Gagnon and Marie-Françoise LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Joseph Côte and Marie-Françoise LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
34  Burial record of Marie-Marguerite LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
35  Marriage record of Antoine Remillard and Marie-Marguerite LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
36  Burial record of Marie-Anne LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.
37  Marriage record of Fabien Côte and Marie-Anne LeMarié, Q.C.P.R.

Ten Sons in Colonial Massachusetts — Robert Colburn

B. about 1647 in Ipswich, Massachusetts^1,2
M. 16 Mar 1669 in Beverly, Massachusetts²
Wife: Mary Bishop
D. 7 Jun 1701 in Concord, Massachusetts¹

Robert Colburn left his name to many descendants in 18th century New England by producing a large number of male offspring. Robert was born in about 1647 to Edward and Hannah Colburn in Ipswich, Massachusetts;^1,2 the early records of Ipswich were lost in an 1831 fire, so the exact date of his birth is unknown. He was one of seven brothers and only two sisters, suggesting there may have been something genetic about the abundance of boys.

On March 16, 1669, Robert married Mary Bishop of Beverly,² and for the next couple of years, they lived in that coastal town. A son was born in September 1670, then Robert’s father bought some wilderness land above the Merrimack River in Chelmsford, and Robert joined him by moving there. Robert made his home on this land; his only daughter was born there in 1673,³ followed by two more sons.³

The mid-1670s was a time of friction with the indigenous tribes who lived in Massachusetts. Because the northern fringe of Chelmsford was vulnerable to attack, Robert’s father enlisted him and his brothers to help build a garrison house. But during King Philip’s War, on March 18, 1676, some of the Wamesit tribe raided the area and burned several houses, including "three or four that belong to the family of Edward Colburn."⁴ It’s likely that one of the houses was Robert’s, because the family left Chelmsford after this date, moving back to Beverly. Robert remained there until at least 1691; during that time, six more sons were born, one of whom died young.

By the time Robert’s youngest son was born in about 1698,² Robert may have been living in Concord, where he spent his final few years. In 1700, he sold his Chelmsford property,⁵ now part of the new town of Dracut, to one of his brothers. Robert must have become sick in early 1701 because he made out a will dated April 21st.⁶ He died on June 7th at the age of 54, and the will was probated that summer. Along with dividing his estate among his daughter and nine surviving sons, he specified that 11-year-old William was to be "put out to a suitable apprenticeship to some good trade." This must have been carried out because William lived a long life as a shoemaker in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.²

Robert Coburn's signature from his will.

Children:
1. Edward Colburn — B. before 4 Sep 1670, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. before 6 Apr 1741, Concord, Massachusetts;⁸ M. (1) Sarah Hayward (1671-1719), 29 Mar 1694, Marblehead, Massachusetts;⁷ M. (2) Mercy Hett (1680-?)⁸

2. Mary Colburn — B. 22 Jan 1673, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;² D. about Feb 1757;⁹ M. (1) Jonathan Baker (1669-1707);⁹ (2) Samuel Balch (1678-1754), 21 Nov 1710, Beverly, Massachusetts⁹

3. Robert Colburn — B. about 1674, (probably) Chelmsford, Massachusetts;³ D. after 21 Apr 1701⁶

4. Ebenezer Colburn — B. before 20 Feb 1676, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;³ D. 27 Dec 1749, York, Maine;² M. Sarah Storer (1682-1770)²

5. Daniel Colburn — B. before 11 Aug 1678, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. before 22 Aug 1750, Dudley, Massachusetts;¹⁰ M. Elizabeth Conant (1681-1724), 21 Sep 1700, Beverly, Massachusetts⁷

6. Benjamin Colburn — B. before 13 Mar 1681, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. before 29 Aug 1746, Bedford, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Elizabeth French (1682-?), 6 Jun 1704, Concord, Massachusetts¹

7. Joseph Colburn — B. before 13 Mar 1681, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 21 Sep 1758, Dracut, Massachusetts;² M. Hannah Harwood (~1684-1760), 26 Jan 1709, Concord, Massachusetts¹

8. John Colburn — B. before 18 Apr 1686, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 19 Mar 1749, Waltham, Massachusetts²

9. William Colburn — B. Dec 1689, (probably) Beverly, Massachusetts;² D. 3 Apr 1774, Hollis New Hampshire;² M. Margery French (1687-1774)²

10. Thomas Colburn — B. 18 Oct 1691, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁷ D. before 21 Apr 1701²

11. Nathaniel Colburn — B. about 1698, Massachusetts;² D. before 1 Jan 1776, Leominster, Massachusetts;¹² M. Dorcas Jones (1704-1799), 19 Jan 1723, Concord, Massachusetts²

Sources:
1    Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850, 1895
2    Genealogy of the descendants of Edward Colburn/Coburn, George Augustus Gordon and Silas Roger Coburn, 1913
3    Vital Records of Chelmsford, MA, to the End of the Year 1849, 1914
4    History of Dracut, Massachusetts, p. 55, Silas Roger Coburn, 1922
5    History of Dracut, Massachusetts, p. 372
6    Middlesex County Probate packet #4788, Robert Colburn 1701
7    Vital Records of Beverly MA, to the End of the Year 1850, 1906-1907
8    Middlesex County Probate packet #4788, Edward Colburn 1741
9    The Essex Antiquarian, Vol. V., Sidney Perley, 1901
10  Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881, case #12574
11  Middlesex County Probate, File 4650, Benjamin Colburn, order for inventory
12  Worcester County Probate Records, case #12688, Nathaniel Colburn, 1776

A Hard Life in 17th Century New France — Jean Mingou

B. about 1660 in Villeneuve-la-Comtesse, St-Jean-d'Angely, France¹
M. 17 Sep 1685 in Charlesbourg, New France²
Wife: Anne Bruneau
D. before 28 Jan 1698 in New France³

Some New France settlers hoped to make a better life for themselves, only to have their labor fall short, and Jean Mingou was one such person. He was born in about 1660 at Villeneuve-la-Comtesse,¹ a small village in the west of France. His parents were André Mingou (also spelled Mingot) and Andrée Auché, and he had at least one brother born in 1662.¹ Nothing else is known about Jean’s early years except for that he seems to have had no education, and probably had no secure future in France. On October 28, 1683, Jean agreed to a contract to work in New France,¹ and soon after, he boarded a ship in La Rochelle to fulfill his commitment.

After Jean landed at Quebec, he wound up in the seigneury of Charlesbourg located just northeast of the city. He first turned up in records when he agreed to a marriage contract on August 19, 1685.⁴ His bride, Anne Bruneau, was just 15-years-old. Jean was described as a habitant of Petite Auvergne, a section of Charlesbourg where Anne’s family also lived. The village had a unique layout, with lots that radiated out from a single point, a pattern that still exists on today’s maps.

Records indicate that Jean seemed to have had a relationship with an older resident of Petite Auvergne, a man named Clement Guerin. He was one of the witnesses at Jean’s wedding, and when his first child was baptized in April 1687,⁵ the baby was named Clement with Guerin as its godfather. Guerin had a large farm and no sons to help with the labor, so perhaps Jean worked for him when he first arrived.

1687 baptism of Clement Mingou showing godfather, Clement Guerin. (Source: FramilySearch.org)

By the end of 1691, Jean and wife Anne had two more children. Sadly, only a daughter survived, with two boys dying as infants. Then on December 1, 1692, Jean was treated for some ailment at Hotel-Dieu in Quebec City;⁶ the records didn’t indicate how serious it was, or if he spent time in the hospital. After that date, Jean seems to have moved his family into Quebec City, said to be living near the residence of the Intendant of the colony,⁷ the authority figure who looked out for the needs of the people of New France. There’s no indication how Jean made his income because it wasn’t a place for farms. Two more daughters were born, one in 1693⁷ and the other in 1695.⁸ His wife Anne became pregnant one more time during 1697, but before the child was born on January 28, 1698, Jean died.³

Unfortunately, the final baby was another son who lived only a week,⁹ leaving no one to pass along Jean’s name. His three daughters had many children, though, so at least his bloodline carried on. His widow Anne remarried in October of 1698;¹⁰ she died in 1726.¹¹

Children:
1. Clement Mingou — B. 28 Apr 1687, Charlesbourg, New France;⁵ D. 1 May 1687, Charlesbourg, New France¹²

2. Jean Mingou — B. 19 Dec 1689, Charlesbourg, New France;¹³ D. 15 Jan 1690, Charlesbourg, New France¹⁴

3. Marie-Madeleine Mingou — B. 24 Sep 1691, Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁵ D. 9 Nov 1764, Cap-Santé, Quebec;¹⁶ M. Pierre Savari (1685-1750), 2 May 1707, New France¹⁷

4. Marie-Angelique Mingou — B. 19 Oct 1693, Quebec City, New France;⁷ D, 17 Oct 1766, Quebec City, Quebec;¹⁸ M. Jean-Baptiste Dassylva (1692-1761), 23 Nov 1716, Quebec City, New France¹⁹

5. Marie-Jeanne Mingou — B. 14 Nov 1695, Quebec City, Quebec;⁸ D. 30 Aug 1768, St-Augustin, Quebec;²⁰ M. (1) Pierre Dassylva (1690-1715), 2 May 1713, Quebec City, New France;²¹ (2) Charles Laine (1696-?), 18 Nov 1720, Quebec City, New France²²

6. Pierre Mingou — B. 28 Jan 1698, Quebec City, New France;³ D. 4 Feb 1698, Quebec City, New France⁹

Sources:
1    Fichier Origine listing for Jean Mingou
2    Marriage record of Jean Mingou and Anne Bruneau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Baptismal record of Pierre Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
4    Inventaire des contrats de mariage du Régime français conservés aux Archives judiciaires de Québec, V.1, Pierre Georges Roy, 1937
5    Baptismal record of Clement Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
6    Registre Journalier des Malades de L’Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec, Marcel Fournier and Gisèle Monarque, 2005
7    Baptismal record of Marie-Angelique Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
9    Burial record of Pierre Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
10  Marriage record of Jean Lamothe and Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
11  Burial record of Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
12  Burial record of Clement Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Jean Mingou (younger), Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Jean Mingou (younger), Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Pierre Savari and Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Marie-Angelique Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
19  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Dassylva and Marie-Angelique Mingour, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Pierre Dassylva and Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Charles Laine and Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.

Among Three Generations of Fur Traders — Marie Perthuis

B. 8 Sep 1678 in Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France¹
M. 24 Jan 1698 in Montreal, Quebec²
Husband: Vital Caron
D. 23 Dec 1766 in Chateauguay, Quebec³

Marie Perthuis spent her entire life of 88 years in the Montreal area as the men in her life worked in the fur trade. She was born on September 8, 1678 in the seigneury of Pointe-aux-Trembles,¹ located just downriver from Montreal. Her father, Pierre Perthuis dit La Lime, was a merchant in the fur trade who used his connections back in France to supply expeditions to the west. A couple of years before Marie was born, her father had been away on a business trip when her mother, Claude Damise, became pregnant by another man.⁴ The baby was given to another couple to raise, and Marie likely never met her half-brother. Her parents eventually had 12 children together.

When Marie was 19-years-old, she married a man from Montreal named Vital Caron. The wedding took place on January 24, 1698,² and by the end of the year, their first child was born.⁵ Marie had two more children before the family relocated to Lachine in 1702 or 1703.⁶ Like her father, Vital was involved in the fur trade, but while her father based his activity in Montreal, Vital was making trips to the Great Lakes area as a sea captain transporting goods. For Marie, this meant she was left at home for months at a time, taking care of the children and the house. Her husband Vital traveled on his own as far as Detroit in April 1707.⁷ This trip was probably one of many, and a gap of four years between the births of her children in 1709 and 1713 suggests his absence from home during that time. In spite of his time away from Marie, the family grew to a total of eight children.

A record dated December 31, 1720 showed that Marie represented her husband in court, as wives of fur traders often had to do.⁸ In this case, she brought a lawsuit against Vital’s brother-in-law, Jean Tessier dit Lavigne, for “payment of an obligation” going back to 1702. Marie’s late father had been owed some money, but if her husband was in town, he would have been the one to handle this legal action.

As Marie’s children got older, the lure of the fur trade seems to have influenced her sons Vital and Jean-Baptiste. Each went on expeditions to the west as young men in 1727,⁹ and they likely went on many other trips as well. By 1735, Vital moved to Detroit permanently,¹⁰ while Jean-Baptiste continued to make his home in the Montreal area.¹¹

In 1745, Marie’s husband died,¹² and once again, she took on the role of handling the family’s business. A receipt dated October 10, 1748 stated that she received 202 livres for the “building and animals” that had belonged to her children Vital and Angelique as their inheritance.¹³ This document is evidence that she was at least able to sign her name.

1748 receipt showing signature of Marie. (Source: BAnQ)

Some time later, Marie seems to have been taken in by her son Jean-Baptiste in her old age. He had settled in the village of Chateauguay, located west of Montreal on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, and it was here that Marie died on December 23, 1766.³ Her death record indicated she had been disabled for a long time before her death. She was the ancestor of Ricky Gervais and Tyrone Power.

Children:
1. Marie-Anne Caron — B. 17 Dec 1698, Montreal, New France;⁵ D. 1 Apr 1754, Chateauguay, Quebec;¹⁴ M. (1) Jacques Pare (1695-1719), 16 Nov 1717, Lachine, New France;¹⁵ (2) Paul Hotesse (1682-1730), 22 Sep 1728, Montreal, New France;¹⁶ (3) Jacques Forestier (1695-1747), 5 Nov 1736, Montreal, New France¹⁷

2. Vital Caron — B. 14 May 1700, New France;¹⁸ D. 18 Apr 1747, Fort Detroit, New France;¹⁰ M. Marie-Madeleine Pruneau (1708-?), 20 Jul 1735, Fort Detroit, New France¹⁰

3. Marie Caron – B. 19 Apr 1702, Montreal, New France;¹⁹ D. 4 Aug 1782, Montmorency, Quebec;²⁰ M. Jean-Baptiste Brault (1699-1773), 14 Dec 1721, Lachine, New France²¹

4. Jean-Baptiste Caron — B. 26 Apr 1704, Lachine, New France;⁶ D. 5 Nov 1785, Chateauguay, Quebec;¹¹ (1) Josephe Tabault (1708-1749), 26 Oct 1733, Montreal, New France;²² (2) Josephe Duquet (1726-1784), 7 Apr 1750, Chateauguay, New France²³

5. Angélique Caron — B. 17 Feb 1706, Lachine, New France;²⁴ M. (1) Pierre Lamothe (~1693-1752), 21 Jan 1740, Montreal, New France;²⁵ (2) Michel Henry (~1727-?), 6 Jun 1757, Montreal, New France²⁶

6. Catherine Caron — B. 25 Dec 1707, Montreal, New France;²⁷ D. 25 Nov 1799, Lachine, Quebec;²⁸ M. Antoine Picard (1700-1779), 8 Jan 1731, Lachine, New France²⁹

7. Jeanne Caron — B. 27 Nov 1709, Lachine, New France;³⁰ D. 13 Aug 1757, Fort Detroit, New France;¹⁰ M. Pierre Meloche (1701-1760), 16 Aug 1729, Lachine, New France³¹

8. Madeleine Caron — B. about 1713, New France;³² D. 18 Apr 1769, Lachine, Quebec;³² M. Antoine Tabault (1710-?), 10 Jan 1735, Lachine, New France³³

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Marie Perthuis, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Vital Caron and Marie Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
3    Burial record of Marie Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
4    Baptismal record of André Jean Paradis, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Caron, Q.C.P.R.
7    Le Détroit Du Lac Érié 1701-1710, Gail F. Moreau-DesHarnais, Diane Wolford Sheppard, Suzanne Boivin Sommerville, 2016
8    Court record of case between Marie Perthuis and Jean Tessier dit Lavigne, BAnQ  
9    Rapport de l’Archiviste de la province de Québec, 1929, 1929-1930, p. 261
10  Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region, 1701-1936, p. 225, Christian Dennison, 1987
11  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Caron, Q.C.P.R.
12  Burial record of Vital Caron (older), Q.C.P.R.
13  Note of receipt by Marie Perthuis concerning an estate, BAnQ  
14  Burial record of Marie-Anne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Jacques Pare and Marie-Anne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
16  Marriage record of Paul Hotesse and Marie-Anne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Jacques Forestier and Marie-Anne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
18  Baptismal record of Vital Caron (younger), Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Brault and Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Caron and Josephe Tabault, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Caron and Josephe Duquet, Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Angélique Caron, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Pierre Lamothe and Angélique Caron, Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Michel Henry and Angélique Caron, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Catherne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Antoine Picard and Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
30  Baptismal record of Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
31  Marriage record of Pierre Meloche and Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
32  Burial record of Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Antoine Tabault and Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.

Giving Up Comfort For His Religion — Simon Crosby

B. about 1609 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹
M. 21 Apr 1634 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹
Wife: Anne Brigham
D. Sep 1639 in Cambridge, Massachusetts¹

Many of the Puritans who founded New England were from poor or middle-class backgrounds, but others, such as Simon Crosby, were fairly well-off. Simon was born in 1608 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, England,¹ a village in Yorkshire. His parents were Thomas Crosby and Jane Sotheron the youngest of four known sons. His paternal line has been traced back to a John Crosby, who lived in the 15th century.² His mother came from one of the wealthiest families in the parish, and Simon was left small amounts of money in each of his maternal grandparents’ wills.²

Simon was a young man when his signature appeared along with his father’s on a document dated September 17, 1632.² Both men were assuming a mortgage for five dwellings with land belonging to the local nobility. They relinquished the properties the following March after the noble family paid them £400. This seems to verify their strong financial standing in the community. On April 21, 1634, Simon married a young woman named Anne Brigham.¹ Within a year, she gave birth to their first son, but soon after, their lives would dramatically change

By 1635, Simon had become a follower of Reverend Thomas Shephard,² who served at a parish that was about 12 miles northwest of Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor. Reverend Shephard was described as being a Puritan who was “fired with youthful zeal,” and he was “eloquent and persuasive as an orator.” Like many such ministers, he decided to migrate to Massachusetts with some of his parishioners. The Puritans sought to establish a society based on their common beliefs, away from the scrutiny and persecution they faced in England. Despite his comfortable life in Yorkshire, Simon decided to join the group of migrants, and in the spring of 1635, he travelled to London with his wife and newborn son to board a ship. The Susan and Ellen left port on April 18th, and arrived at Boston in July.²

The group of colonists led by Reverend Shephard settled across the Charles River in Cambridge.² Each man acquired their homes from an earlier group who left to form a new colony in Connecticut . Along with several other tracts of land, Simon bought his house in town from a man named William Spencer.¹ It was a prime location that was said to be the future site of Brattle House, an 18th century mansion that’s still standing. During the short time Simon lived in Cambridge, two more sons were born. He was also assigned the civic duties of constable, selectman, and “surveyor of highways.”²

(Source: History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877)

In 1639, Simon welcomed his father to Cambridge when he made the move from England.² But their time together in America lasted only a few months because Simon passed away sometime during September at the age of about 31.¹ His estate was worth about £471 when it was probated six years after his death.¹ Simon's wife Ann survived him, and she remarried to a minister;¹ she died in 1675.¹ He was the 10G grandfather of Sarah Palin.³

Children:
1. Thomas Crosby — B. 26 Feb 1635, Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ D. 27 Jun 1702, Boston, Massachusetts;² M. Sarah (~1635-1719), 1662, Barnstable, Massachusetts¹

2. Simon Crosby — B. 6 Aug 1637, Cambridge, Massachusetts;¹ D. 22 Jan 1725, Billerica, Massachusetts;² M. Rachel Brackett (~1639-?), 15 Jul 1659, Braintree, Massachusetts¹

3. Joseph Crosby — B. about Feb 1639, Cambridge, Massachusetts;¹ D. 26 Nov 1695, Braintree, Massachusetts;² M. (1) Sarah Brackett (1642-~1690), 1 Jun 1675, Braintree, Massachusetts;¹ (2) Ellen Veazie (1659-1722), 5 Oct 1693, Quincy, Massachusetts¹

Sources:
1    The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Milinde Lutz Sanborn, 2001
2    Simon Crosby the Emigrant, Eleanor Francis Crosby, 1914
3    FamousKin.com listing for Simon Crosby 

Working in Metal in Early Montreal — Martin Massé

B. 1646 in Luçon, Poitou, France¹
M. before 1671 in New France²
Wife: Jeanne Ducorps dite Leduc
D. May 1714 in Montreal, New France³

New France needed men who had artisan skills, including blacksmiths, locksmiths and tool makers, and Martin Massé seems to have been all of these. He was born in about 1646 in the town of Luçon, France, located not far from La Rochelle.¹ Nothing has been proven as to who his parents were. As a boy or young man, Martin was probably apprenticed to a local metal worker, and once trained, recruited to work in America during the early 1660s.

Martin was recorded as having attended a wedding in Quebec City on January 12, 1666, so he had migrated by that date.⁴ The groom was a Carignan-Saliéres Regiment soldier named Claude Desjardins dit Charbonnier. His relationship to the soldier is unknown; there were two other men named as witnesses, and neither seemed to be relatives of Desjardins or his Fille du Roi bride. Some researchers speculate that Martin was also a soldier, but documents don’t seem to back this up. He was described as a locksmith, and in about 1666, he offered his services to a man named Pierre Normand dit La Briere for 12 livres per month;⁵ his earnings went directly to a merchant, Jacques La Mothe, from whom Martin had received goods.

The records go silent for Martin for the next seven years until he was a father in a baptism on March 19, 1673.⁶ The event took place at Sorel, a seigneury on the south shore of the St. Lawrence between Trois-Rivières and Montreal. There is also indication that Martin had a son born in about 1671, and the mother of both children was Jeanne Ducorps dite Leduc,¹ meaning they were probably married before that year.² Jeanne had lived at Montreal in 1666, and this may have been when they met. She was presumed to be a Fille du Roi based on the timing of their union, but since no marriage record has survived, this can’t be confirmed.

By 1676, Martin and his family settled in Montreal,⁷ and the family grew to have eight children, although four died by age 12. Martin worked as a master edge tool maker, presumably with his own business in Montreal. His occupation included things like shoeing horses and oxen, repairing farm tools, making nails, and whatever blacksmithing was needed by settlers in the colony. His profession had a direct effect on two of his children’s lives. Daughter Marie-Anne married an edge tool maker in 1696,⁸ and the younger man may have worked for him. And in 1701, Martin’s son Michel asked for his father’s assistance in getting a working forge in Detroit where he was trying to set himself up as a blacksmith.⁹

During the summer of 1697, Martin was involved in a physical dispute with a woman.¹⁰ She was Marie-Thérèse Machard, the wife of a Montreal merchant, who also worked for herself as a “merchant of small goods.” She seems to have brought Martin a small box to be repaired, and had a disagreement over payment for his work. Court records showed that he was “attacked and injured” by Marie-Therese, suggesting she must have hit him with some object. Martin sued for damages, and he won the case.

Martin's signature on document from 1697 court case. (source: BAnQ)

Martin died in May 1714 in Montreal at the age of about 68.³ He was survived by wife Jeanne, who passed away in 1727.¹¹ Both of them were ancestors of Hillary Clinton and Ricky Gervais.¹²

Children:
1. Michel Massé — B. about 1671, New France;¹ D. 21 Jun 1730, Montreal, New France;¹³ M. Marguerite Couc dite LaFleur (1664-?), 1705, Detroit, New France¹⁴

2. Marie Massé — B. 19 Mar 1673, Sorel, New France;⁶ D. 18 Feb 1736, Montreal, New France;¹⁵ M. Jean-Baptiste Pothier (1671-1732), 24 Sep 1696, Montreal, New France¹⁶

3. Andre Massé — B. 30 May 1676, Montreal, New France;⁷ D. before 1681¹⁷

4. Marie-Jeanne Massé — B. 25 Apr 1677, Montreal, New France;¹⁸ D. 5 Sep 1764, Detroit;¹⁹ M. Michel Campeau (1667-1737), 7 Jan 1696, Montreal, New France²⁰

5. Martin Massé — B. 26 Jun 1679, Montreal, New France;²¹ D. 7 Oct 1692, Montreal, New France²²

6. Marie-Françoise Massé — B. 2 Aug 1682, Montreal, New France;²³ D. 4 Aug 1682, Montreal, New France²⁴

7. Marie-Anne Massé — B. 7 Dec 1684, Montreal, New France;²⁵ D. 23 Sep 1721, Montreal, New France;²⁶ M. (1) Guillaume Maillot (1680-1718), 16 Jan 1704, Montreal, New France;⁸ (2) Pierre Courault (1696-1779), 26 Sep 1718, Montreal, New France²⁷

8. Catherine Massé — B. 16 Dec 1687, Montreal, New France;²⁸ D. 11 Jun 1699, Montreal, New France²⁹

Sources:
1    King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000
2    Estimated marriage year based on estimated birth year of oldest child, Michel Massé
3    Burial record of Martin Massé, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
4    Marriage record of Claude Desjardins and Marguerite Cardillon, Q.C.P.R.
5    Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, V. 3, p. 210, Pierre Georges Roy and Antoine Roy 
6    Baptismal record of Marie Massé, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of André Massé, Q.C.P.R.
8    Marriage record of Guillaume Maillot and Marie-Anne Massé, Q.C.P.R.
9    Actes de notaire, 1668-1714, Adémar, 28 Sep 1701, FamilySearch.org
10  Court records of Martin Massé vs. Marie-Thérèse Machard, BAnQ 
11  Burial record of Jeanne Ducorps dite Leduc, Q.C.P.R.
12  FamousKin.com listing for Martin Massé 
13  Burial record of Michel Massé, Q.C.P.R.
14  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique français listing for Michel Massé 
15  Burial record of Marie Massé, Q.C.P.R.
16  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Pothier and Marie Massé, Q.C.P.R.
17  Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
18  Baptismal record of Marie-Jeanne Massé, Q.C.P.R.
19  Find-A-Grave listing of Marie Jeanne Masse Campeau  
20  Marriage record of Michel Campeau and Marie-Jeanne Massé, Q.C.P.R.
21  Baptismal record of Martin Massé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Martin Massé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Massé, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Massé, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Massé, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Marie-AnneMassé, Q.C.P.R.
27  Marriage record of Pierre Courault and Marie-Anne Massé, Q.C.P.R
28  Baptismal record of Catherine Massé, Q.C.P.R.
29  Burial record of Catherine Massé, Q.C.P.R.

Brothers-in-Law in Early Salem — Nicholas Patch

B. before 26 Jun 1597 in South Petherton, England¹
M. 17 Sep 1623 in South Petherton, England¹
Wife: Elizabeth Owsley
D. Nov 1673 in Beverly, Massachusetts²

It’s hard to separate the life of Nicholas Patch from that of William Woodbury, who married his sister. Both men were from the same town in England, they seemed to have migrated to Massachusetts together, and they kept up an involvement with each other as they settled in the same community.

Nicholas was born to Nicholas and Jane Patch sometime before June 26, 1596 when he was baptized in South Petherton,¹ a village in Somerset. Some sources say Nicholas was one of ten children, but many of them died young. His father was a church warden in South Petherton in 1600.³ Nicholas married Elizabeth Owsley (sometimes spelled Owley) on September 17, 1622.¹ Just two months later, their oldest son John was baptized,¹ so either there was a mistake in the transcript of the parish records, or Elizabeth was pregnant before they were married. Another son was born about three years later;¹ there were likely other children who were unidentified in records.

Some have claimed that Nicholas migrated to New England in 1622 as part of the failed colony of Wessagusset, but there doesn't seem to be hard evidence for this. Nicholas arrived in the Massachusetts colony, possibly in about 1636, along with his family and his sister Elizabeth,⁴ who was married to William Woodbury. The two brothers-in-law acquired 40 acres in a part of Salem called Mackerel Cove.⁵ Nicholas’ wife Elizabeth gave birth to a son in 1638,⁶ their final child.

The community around Mackerel Cove was tight knit and many people became related to each other by marriage. In 1646, Nicholas’ middle son James married William Woodbury’s daughter Hannah.⁷

Chart showing the relationship between Nicholas Patch and William Woodbury.

Another neighbor was John Balch, and Nicholas was the executor of his will, signed in 1648;⁸ Woodbury was named as overseer of the estate in the same document. It’s been speculated that Balch’s second wife was a daughter of Nicholas named Agnes. Nicholas and his wife both testified in court regarding a probate issue after Agnes died in 1657. This may suggest a relationship with Agnes, although several others took the witness stand as well.

On July 6, 1647, Nicholas and his brother-in-law headed a list of petitioners of Mackerel Cove to be exempted from “watching,” a matter that was sent all the way to the General Court in Boston.⁸ The law required that all men in the colony make themselves available to help police the community by watching the behavior of others. It’s interesting that Nicholas didn’t want to perform this civic duty; perhaps it was because he just turned 50 and felt that younger men should do this sort of work. Similarly, in January of 1651, he got permission to not train for militia service, and here it was stated that he was too old for it.⁸

Towards the end of Nicholas’ life, the eastern part of Salem, including Mackerel Cove, was split off to become the town of Beverly, establishing its own church on June 23, 1667, and he was one of the first members.⁹ A few years later, in about November of 1673, Nicholas died.² He had left no will, so the courts divided up his estate between his two surviving sons, John and Thomas.² It’s believed that wife Elizabeth had died before he did since she wasn’t mentioned in his probate case. Nicholas was the 9G grandfather of John Kerry.¹⁰

Children:
1. John Patch — B. before 26 Dec 1623, South Petherton, England;¹ D. after 14 Mar 1684, Beverly, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Elizabeth Blackenbury (~1628-1715)¹²

2. James Patch — B. before 28 Sep 1626, South Petherton, England;¹ D. 6 Aug 1657, Beverly, Massachusetts;¹³ M. Hannah Woodbury (~1629-~1703), about 1646, Salem, Massachusetts⁷

3. Thomas Patch — B. about 1638, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;⁶ D. 19 Feb 1722, Wenham, Massachusetts;¹⁴ M. Mary Scott (1637-1728), 1670, Ipswich, Massachusetts¹⁵

Sources:
1    England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999, FamilySearch.org
2    Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, FamilySearch.org
3    “Brief Life History of Nicholas,” Family Tree listing for Nicholas Patch (1554-1637), FamilySearch.org  
4    Speculation for 1636 arrival is from Wikitree page of Nicholas Patch (~1555-1637)  
5    Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Essex Institute, 1868-1934
6    Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume VI, edited by George Francis Drew, 1917
7    Estimated marriage date for James Patch and Hannah Woodbury based on birth of oldest child, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
8    Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume I, edited by George Francis Drew, 1911
9    Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire, Vol. 2, Ezra S. Stearns, William Frederick Whitcher, Edward Everett Parker, 1908
10  Famous Kin (website)  
11  Massachusetts, Essex County, Settlement of Estate of John Patch of Beverly 1694, FamilySearch.org
12  New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Ancestry.com
13  Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, FamilySearch.org
14  Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
15  The Great Migration, Robert Charles Anderson, page 212, 1999

From the Coast of Normandy — Catherine Ballié

B. about 1642 in St-Étienne-de-Fecamp, France¹
M. 24 Nov 1667 in Quebec City, New France²
Husband: Pierre Bouvier
D. 31 Oct 1677 in Neuville, New France³

When young women were recruited to migrate to New France during the 1660s, geography played an important part in who was chosen. And many were from northern France, including Catherine Ballié.

Catherine was born in about 1642 to Guillaume Ballié and Adrienne Tassé who lived in the coastal town of St-Étienne-de-Fecamp.¹ Nothing else is known of her family other than the fact her father died before she migrated to America. St-Étienne-de-Fecamp was located on the English Channel, west of Dieppe, and it was centered around the fishing industry, known for its smoked herring and cod. So Catherine must have been at least somewhat familiar with seeing ships before she boarded one in June of 1667.⁴

Location of the town where Catherine was born.

The Filles du Roi program had been going on for four years and was seen to be a success. That year, the man who supervised the effort, Jean Talon, sought to bring over about 100 prospective brides. France had an abundant amount of women seeking a secure future, which meant that recruiters didn’t have to search the entire country. Instead they signed up the women in Paris, which had a high concentration of them, and also the region around the port cities, one of which was Dieppe. Catherine’s ship, Le St-Louis, transported 80 Filles du Roi, and about two-thirds of them were from places in Normandy.⁴

The voyage took over three months, landing at Quebec City on September 25th.⁴ It had been a rough time for Catherine and her shipmates, who complained of ill-treatment from the crew, accusing them of doling out their food in small amounts.⁴ Many arrived sick and needed hospitalization before joining the process of finding a husband. It isn’t known if Catherine was one of the patients, but if she was, she recovered in time to get married on November 24th.² Her husband was Pierre Bouvier, who was a metalworker from Rouen. Since neither of them had families to attend their wedding, it was witnessed by two officials, one of whom was Germain Morin, the son of Nöel Morin and Hèléne Desportes, who was the first ordained priest born in New France.

The couple settled in Quebec City, and the following year Catherine gave birth to a daughter.⁵ Four more children were born by October of 1675, but sadly, Catherine didn’t live to see any of them grow up. After the family moved to the community of Neuville, she died on October 31, 1677.³ Pierre remarried a few months later, and he died in 1690.⁶

Children:
1. Marie Bouvier — B. 20 Sep 1668, Quebec City, New France;⁵ D. 28 Apr 1711, Ste-Foy, New France;⁷ M. Pierre-Jacques Custeau (1663-1711), Quebec City, New France⁸

2. Charles Bouvier — B. 8 Feb 1671, Quebec City, New France;⁹ D. 23 Jun 1712, Quebec City, New France;¹⁰ M. Marie-Catherine Renaud (1671-1723), 27 Feb 1696, Quebec City, New France¹¹

3. Jeanne-Thèrese Bouvier — B. 29 Jul 1673, Quebec City, New France;¹² D. 28 Nov 1729, Lotbinière, New France;¹³ M. Jean-Baptiste Barabé (1671-1729), 1693, New France¹⁴

4. Catherine Bouvier — B. 1674, New France;¹⁵ D. Before 1681, New France¹⁶

5. Pierre Bouvier — B. 12 Oct 1675, Quebec City, New France;¹⁷ D. 16 Mar 1715, Quebec City, New France;¹⁸ M. Marie Meunier (1685-1743), 30 Jan 1702, Beaupré, New France¹⁹

Sources:
1    King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000
2    Marriage record of Pierre Bouvier and Catherine Ballié, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Catherine Ballié, Q.C.P.R.
4    Navires venus en Nouvelle-France (website)  
5    Baptismal record of Marie Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
6    Burial record of Pierre Bouvier (older), Q.C.P.R.
7    Burial record of Marie Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
8    Marriage record of Pierre-Jacques Custeau and Marie Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
9    Baptismal record of Charles Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
10  Burial record of Charles Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
11  Marriage record of Charles Bouvier and Marie-Catherine Renaud, Q.C.P.R.
12  Baptismal record of Jeanne-Thèrese Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of Jeanne-Thèrese Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Barabé and Jeanne-Thèrese Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Catherine Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
16  Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
17  Baptismal record of Pierre Bouvier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Pierre Bouvier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
19  Marriage record of Pierre Bouvier and Marie Meunier, Q.C.P.R.

Piecing the Life of a Midwestern Farmer — Joseph Luckey

B. about 1795 in (probably) Rowan County, North Carolina¹
M. before 1829²
Wife: Esther J. Tucker
D. after Mar 1841 in (probably) Jersey County, Illinois³

No document survives that identifies the vital events of Joseph Luckey’s life, but from various sources, it’s possible to get a sense of him. He was born during the 1790s¹ to unknown parents, probably in Rowan County, North Carolina. That area had a large, extended family all descended from a common ancestor named Robert Luckey. This progenitor was from Northern Ireland, having migrated to Pennsylvania in around 1720, and by mid-century, several of his sons wound up in North Carolina. By estimating ages, Robert was likely Joseph’s great-grandfather, and by using other facts, a speculative pedigree emerges (see below).

Since Joseph wasn’t named in any probate records of a potential father, his family was likely poor, and his later migration west helps confirm this. Sometime during the 1820s, he married a young woman named Esther Tucker,² who was from Iredell County, North Carolina. The record of their wedding is lost, but it probably wasn't in Rowan County, where marriage records are fairly complete for that time. A daughter was born in Tennessee in about 1829,⁴ although we don't know if the family actually lived there — they may have been just passing through.

One of the few documents that shows Joseph during his lifetime was the 1830 census, and it’s unfortunately sketchy. That year, he was listed in St. Charles County, Missouri, which was located on the Mississippi River.⁵ St. Charles was the western frontier where Daniel Boone had died ten years earlier, but by 1830, the population had grown to over 4,000 settlers. Besides Joseph, the household consisted of his wife Esther and daughter Ellen, although the census didn't list them by name. During the next two years, two more children were born, then by 1835, the family crossed back to the east side of the Mississippi and settled in Illinois.⁶

The record that establishes Joseph in Greene County, Illinois was for a purchase of federal land on December 2, 1837.⁷ The government sold undeveloped land at a low price, and in this way, Joseph was able to purchase 84.82 acres. After the land was paid for in full, a deed was issued dated January 1, 1840.⁸ While living on this property, Joseph became a father twice more with the youngest child born January 7, 1842.⁹ By this time, the area had been split off to form a new county named Jersey.

Joseph Luckey land deed (Source: Ancestry.com)

After the land deed, there is no further record of Joseph. His family was listed without him in the 1850 census, where the personal wealth of his widow Esther was shown to be only $100.¹⁰ She survived him by many years, and died in 1883.¹¹

The speculative family of Joseph Luckey
In my effort to identify the parents of Joseph Luckey, I noticed there were other people who had the exact same migration from Rowan County to St. Charles County, Missouri in 1829. One family was headed by John and Jane Davis, and Jane’s maiden name was Luckey.¹² Another was a single man named James McGuire, and his mother’s maiden name was also Luckey.¹² By 1835, all ended up in Greene County, Illinois (later called Jersey County) where they lived for the rest of their lives.¹²

Joseph Luckey, Jane Davis and James McGuire were each born in the 1790s, and it seemed unlikely that these three people weren’t closely related. I’m proposing that Joseph and Jane were brother and sister, and that James was their first cousin. The significant thing is that James has a traceable pedigree: his mother was the daughter of Samuel Luckey (1733-1804), who was the son of immigrant ancestor Robert Luckey. From Samuel’s probate records we can see that he had two sons, Samuel and John,¹³ either of whom could be the father of Joseph and/or Jane.

The lack of records still creates a roadblock in definitively proving this. But I do feel that Joseph must be a descendant of Robert Luckey, and so I am making that claim.

Possible family of Joseph Luckey. (Joseph and Jane may not have the same father, making them first cousins instead.)

Children:
1. Ellen Ann Luckey — B. 1829, Tennessee;⁴ D. 1882, Labette County, Kansas;¹⁴ M. John Ross (1829-?), 3 Apr 1850, Jerseyville, Illinois¹⁵

2. Samuel Luckey — B. 7 Jan 1830, (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri;¹⁶ D. 8 Mar 1884, Labette County, Kansas;¹⁶ M. Mary Jane Davis (1834-1927), 7 Apr 1853, Jerseyville, Illinois¹⁷

3. Rachel E. Luckey — B. 10 Nov 1832, (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri;¹⁸ D. 23 Apr 1883, Morgan County, Illinois;¹⁸ M. Aaron B. Devore (1822-1884), 26 Feb 1861, Sangamon County, Illinois¹⁹

4. Joseph Luckey — B. 15 May 1835, (probably) Greene County, Illinois;²⁰ D. 20 Jan 1916, Jersey County, Illinois;²⁰ M. Edith Catherine Davis (1838-1913), 12 Jan 1865, Jersey County, Illinois²¹

5. John Luckey — B. about 1839, (probably) Jersey County, Illinois²²

6. Mary Jane Luckey — B. 7 Jan 1842, Jersey County, Illinois;⁹ D. 15 Jan 1908, Belvidere, Nebraska;⁹ M. (1) John Stanfield (about 1838-?), 1 Mar 1863, Sangamon County, Illinois;²³ (2) Charles N. Lovercheck (1847-1927), 3 Feb 1870, Sangamon County, Illinois²⁴

Sources:
1    Estimated birth year of Joseph Luckey based on his 1830 U.S. Census listing
2    Estimated marriage year based on approximate age of Joseph Luckey’s oldest child in census records and on Find-A-Grave
3    Estimated death date of Joseph Luckey based on birth date of his youngest child, counting back 9 months
4    1870 U.S. Census listing for Ellen Ann Ross
5    1830 U.S. Census listing for Joseph Luckey
6    Based on birthplace and birth year of Rachel Luckey on her 1850 U.S. Census listing
7    Jersey County Early Land Records, Jersey County IL GenWeb  
8    1840 Jersey County, Illinois land grant for Joseph Luckey
9    Find-a-Grave listing for Mary Jane Lovercheck  
10  1850 Census listing for Esther Luckey
11  Find-a-Grave listing for Esther Luckey 

12  Atlas of Jersey County, Illinois, 1872

13  Probate records of Samuel Luckey, Rowan County, North Carolina, 1804

14  Find-a-Grave listing for Ellen A. Ross  
15  Marriage record of John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
16  Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel Luckey  
17  Marriage record of Samuel Luckey and Mary Jane Davis, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
18  Find-a-Grave listing for Rachel Elizabeth Devore  
19  Marriage record of Aaron B. Devore and Rachel E. Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
20  Find-a-Grave listing for Joseph Luckey  
21  Marriage record of Joseph Luckey and Edith Davis, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org 22  1850 Census listing for John Luckey
23  Marriage record of John Stanfield and Mary Jane Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
24  Marriage record of Charles N. Lovercheck and Mary Jane Stanfield, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org