Before we are both dead

[Peter_uk_can]

Although my main genealogy research is with the Chaboillez families, I have a closer link that I have chased for over 30 years.

In 1974 I found some photographs of my Great Uncle, Edward Vibert, taken somewhere in Canada when he was a young man. From these and a little research I was able to discover that in about 1896 at the age of 13, he left the Channel Island of Jersey with a load of cattle bound for Canada.

He never returned to Jersey and only ever wrote to one of his 10 sisters.
In 1999 I found some photographs and postcards, which he had mailed, and from these was able to piece together a little about his life.

One particular photograph has always intrigued me. It is date stamped 1965 and was taken outside # 7936. After some searching, I discovered that the address was 7936 Rue La Jeunesse, Montreal, where Edward was living with his daughter, Hugette Lebel and his grandaughter Johanne. I then found that Hugette married Emilien Lebel in 1952.

In the 1965 photo Johanne would have been about 6 years old, so today she would be perhaps 48 ish.

Although I wrote to the address and to the neighbors, no one had any knowledge of the family. I have even mailed all the lebel or labelle I could find, but to no avail.

I have so much history of Johanna's grandfather, that I would really like her to have.

Several newspapers ran the story some years back, but to no avail.

I have tried posting the name in various forums hoping that perhaps with the help of Google, Johanne may some day stumble upon it.

If anyone out there can help in any way, I would be very grateful.

As I said in my title, it would be nice to make this link before we are both dead, just in case we are not able to make it after.

I trust this does not break too many forum rules.

Peter

[v.wells]

Cyndi's list has a message board as do genes reunited, ancestry. As this is Montreal have you thought about putting a blanket ad in the personal columns, eg: Montreal Sun, Toronto Sun/Star or the National Post? It's just a thought. Or try Canada 411 (google for url) - an online search for persons in the province that you think. Actually you may get lucky there as it is a unusual name. If you get a hit it costs little to phone and ask are you related to so and so, my name is.... Then go on to the next one.

[giveover]

Hi Peter,

I entered the name Emilien Labelle on Canada 411 and only two came up, both in Quebec.

Have you tried these two?

Anne

[v.wells]

That's terrific Anne! Hopefully Peter sees this and will be able to report back some happy news for us!:D

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi. We did indeed telephone these people, along with quite a few other Lebels on 411 but sadly to no avail.

Many thanks for thinking of me on this.

[v.wells]

Peter

I'm so sorry that it didn't pan out! Hopefully you tried Ontario and New Brunswick? There is a large population of French there as well. I have just googled Emilien Lebel and Hugette on Canada web only and lots came up. I don't know enough French. Have a go since you know what link you are looking for.

By the way Peter, I visited your web site and it is very well done. You are quite the historian. My knowledge is vastly inferior to yours!

[Peter_uk_can]

Vanessa. When I moved to Canada in 2002, I didn't know that I would become so engrossed in its history. I had spent many years on historical research connected with my family in the Channel Island of Jersey and a connection with the American Civil war.

The history of our ancestors, the places and manner in which they lived has always interested me. I have never placed much importance on the volume of names in my family tree, but rather the information that goes with them.

I estimate that the website is currently close to two years behind where we expected it to be at this time. We are hoping to close that gap over the next 3-4 months.

Thankyou for your interest

Peter

[IanBrowness]

Re "Lebelle": That's an extremely odd surname indeed, as the beginning and end don't match, i.e. in French, the first part is masculine but the second's feminine, so the combination would sound quite jarring to a French speaker (a.k.a. "francophone"), suggesting to me there's been a transcription error somewhere. Related combinations which do work are "Labelle", a very common surname, and "Lebel" or (far more likely) "Lebeau", on any of which, particularly the first, you might want to try redoing some of your searches. Coincidentally, I once worked for a senior civil servant named Huguette Labelle in Ottawa, who was quite an accomplished woman.

[Peter_uk_can]

The correct spelling is Lebel, or as it is written on some old postcards, Le Bel.

Sorry for any confusion.

[ET in the USA]

Peter,

Perhaps this is so obvious that you tried it first, but what makes you think that a 48-ish year old female would still have the surname Lebel ???

Have you scoured all marriage resources for Johanne - starting in say 1977 when she was about 18?

Ditto deaths for her parents? In the US there is a Social Security death index where you might find something like that. Any such site or obituary archives to search where you suspect they lived & possible died ?

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi E.T and thanks for your contribution. You are perfectly correct in assuming that Johanne could now be married and have a different name.

Some years ago we did look for records of a marriage in Montreal, it is of course possible that she married elsewhere.

Johanne's grandfather Edward Vibert, was one of the many Viberts included in a genealogy project some years ago, it appears he had a son who died without issue and a daughter Huguette.

Over the years I have made several postings under the names of Vibert and Lebel, hoping that perhaps one day Johanne may be curious about her family and stumble across the info.



Peter

[canuck1]

sometimes in Canada, it is extremely likely that you will never find your answers. alot of people came to the "new land" to do exactly that! become new! I traced my family on my fathers side back to when the family came to Canada and 2 of my great Uncles seem to disappear into thin air. 1 was a deserter from some branch of the English military and the other may have been a butcher. This I found from family records and on English sites.

Because of the IMHO stupid Privacy Laws in Canada much needed information is unavailable to be had at any price. Even from an immediate family member! Unless you have knowledge of where they settled, its like "looking for a needle in a haystack". 1 great uncle was in Ontario and the other was in BC, then the Yukon. I know that both married and had offspring but there are no records of them anywhere to be found. I have to settle with finding 7 of the 9 of the Daines lineage. I wish you luck in your endevours and may you have better luck then me. have a successful 2008. - canuck1; aka Don

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi Don.. Thanks for your good wishes for 2008. I trust it is a good year for you too.

Secrecy in families is not of course limited to Canada, I know that in my own lineage I was frowned upon for asking questions about certain family members. In the end, "big" secrets usually turned out to be perhaps a multiple marriage or even a child conceived out of wedlock. There is the odd muderer and abuser scattered through our family histories, but we are not here to judge or offer opinion.

[canuck1]

"not here to judge or OFFER OPINIONS" that where your wrong = every post from every member is THEIR opinion! or insight. i luv the australians; easy to talk too and help. know how many times i've been judged? every time i get called a "colonial". look at the hassel for the forum in the topic CANADA! i suggested a breakdown because posting Quebec links for BC researchers or for those looking for Maritime information could go to that section instead of researching 60 pages under Canada covering the territories.

[Peter_uk_can]

Don. My reference was directed at family members not posters on the forum.

Trust that explains it a little better.

[Ken Boyce]

Hi Peter in Winnipeg

I briefly visited your website this morning - it is fantastic!

The canoe painting is a masterpiece!

I noticed that part of your research involved Jersey which I believe because of its geographical location had strong ties with 17 &18C Canada and suffered from the same French - English turmoil’s as did Canada – It would seem to me that one big difference between Jersey and Canada was that at one period the population of the tiny Island of Jersey must have exceeded that of the entire immigrant population of the vast area of Canada West of say roughly the St Lawrence by a few 1000:1

I’m told that the cows imported into early Canada from Jersey were much better looking than those scraggly things with long horns imported from Scotland and it was sometime before the inhabitants of a certain part of Canada who shall be nameless discovered that the Longhorns were not for milking!!

May your research in 2008 be fruitful and fulfilling

Regards

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi Ken, and all others who may be reading this. Thanks Ken for your compliments about our website. There is always so much I want to do with it. My wife's family are the Chaboyers/Chaboillez which connect to the very earliest fur traders in Canada. My interest in history exceeds my interest in genealogy and I am fascinated by all early Canadian/American history.

My parents, g/parents and great grandparents all come from the Channel Island of Jersey, but prior to 1840 were deeply rooted in Hampshire.
The unfortunate unpleasantness of the 1940's saw them leave their beloved island and come to England.

It was my great Uncle Edward Vibert who left Jersey with the cattle bound for Canada, and I can confirm that it is not just weeks alone at sea that made these animals look attractive. :o

I consider them to be the prettiest of all cows and consider it a privelidge to have been able to spend time with them..

Although I have spent many many years researching so many lines of our family history, there are times when I read posts on here and realise just how much I don't know.

So many things interest me that I guess I am, at times my own worst enemy.

Perhaps along the way I can help others and maybe even provide them with that little bit of enthusiasm that bridges the gap between pure genealogy and the history of our ancestors.

Thanks Ken, and thanks to all others who have taken the time to read this.

As I have said ad'nauseam, if we are not doing this for the benefit of those who come after us, then who the heck are we doing it for.

Regards and all the best for 2008

Peter Lawford. aka Peter_uk_can.


P.S when I first logged into the internet many years ago, I chose the nickname Peter_uk, because Peter was taken. I added the can, when I moved to Canada in 2002.

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