GRANDPA EDDIE JOLICOEUR 1894-1983
My grandfather Eddie Jolicoeur was born in 1894 at St. Jovite, Quebec which is in the heart of the Laurentides region of Quebec. He was the youngest of five children. He had two brothers and two sisters. In 1911 (per Census) he was the only child residing with his parents. They were living in the Labelle District of the Laurentides. His older brothers Alcide and Philias and their families lived next door. In April of 1918 he was drafted into the Canadian Army Medical Corps where he served in England during World War I.
My grandfather was the only member of his family to migrate to western Canada. He moved to Alberta first (early 1940s) and then to BC (mid 1940s). He did not really have a profession or calling, he worked at many jobs during his lifetime. He was born late in the 19th century and lived through two world wars and the great depression. Although cars became common place during his lifetime, he never owned one. I recall that he had a jolly nature, enjoyed watching sports on TV, loved sweets and had several chihuahua dogs during his later years.
L to R: Circa 1960s Eddie Jolicoeur (my grandfather), brother Philias born 1878, brother Alcide born 1883
FRENCH ANCESTORS OF GRANDPA JOLICOEUR:
For the full story about the surname change from Meloche to Jolicoeur see the bottom of the Surnames Page on this website.
FRANCOIS MELOCHE 1676–1741 ARRIVAL prior to 1700 from FRANCE
Francois Meloche was born in 1676 at Frontenay Rohan-Rohan, France. The first official record in New France for Francois is his marriage to Marie Mouflet in 1700. It is reasonable to assume that Francois may have arrived a few years prior to this. Possibly he arrived together with his cousin Yves Pinet who arrived in 1698. Yves was present at his wedding. A commitment contract or a passenger list has not been found to document this. Francois was an early settler on the “Cote de Lachine”. Lachine was a popular departure point for voyageurs and Francois managed a fur trading business from here that supplemented his income as a habitant farmer. Francois and Marie. had 10 children. Five of their eight sons were voyageurs. They journeyed in giant canoes from Lachine to Michilimackinac, Green Bay, Lake Winnipeg and the Illinois River. Francois Meloche is my 6th great grandfather.
MARIE BLANCHARD 1647 – 1722 ARRIVAL 1667 from FRANCE
Marie Blanchard was born in 1647, at Rouen, France. She sailed across the Atlantic from the port of Dieppe on the St Louis (150 Tons). The ship arrived at Quebec City in New France on September 25, 1667. On board were approximately 100 workmen, 14 or 15 horses and more than 60 Daughters of the King. My ancestress was a “Daughter of the King”. These were single (or widowed) women who arrived in New France between 1663 and 1673 who benefited from royal assistance for their transport and settlement. They are considered to be the “mothers of new France.” Marie married Mathieu Brunet dit Letang in 1667 and they had 10 children. Marie Blanchard is my 9th great grandmother (matrilineal).
CONECTING THE 17th and 21st CENTURIES
During the French regime in New France family inheritance and provisions for elders were often made at the same time. The “Custom of Paris” was applied in New France for Inheritance. The surviving spouse would retain 50% of the assets and liabilities of the marital community. The other half would be split evenly amongst the surviving children. While the law stipulated splitting assets evenly amongst the surviving children, it was often not practical to divide the land (and other assets) evenly amongst the large number of surviving children in the family. So some families reached a specific agreement amongst themselves.
Francois Meloche died in 1741, his widow Marie Mouflet lived for another 16 years. In 1753, the family gathered to assign inheritance rights to Simon Meloche, his youngest living son. He made specific payments to each of the siblings that were present. Provisions were also made for the family matriarch Marie Mouflet. She would remain in the paternal house, receive a life annuity consisting of foods, sweets, wine, water, shoes and clothing, remedies and surgeon care when ill, burial arrangements, and solemn services.
Today elder care is a huge issue. It is unusual for multi generations to live in the same household. The COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that in Canada we have serious issues within long term care homes throughout the country. The level and quality of care differs widely between provinces, and between publicly funded and for profit homes.
ANCESTRY BY THE NUMBERS
KEY REFERENCES FOR FRANCOIS MELOCHE
- Cyprien Tanguay, Genealogical Dictionary of French Canadian Families, (Montreal, Quebec: E. Senécal and Sons, 1871-1890), Volume 1, 422.
- James Lawrence Meloche, Meloche Legacy -An extract from a book prepared by James Lawrence Meloche, revised July 2015, 27. Available at com/the-meloche-legacy-2015/ (Unsecured website) Accessed 23 March 2021.
- James Lawrence Meloche, La Famille Meloche-Appendices A to Y, published 2015, 413-576.Available at famillemeloche.com/appendices-et-notes/ (Unsecured website) Accessed 23 March 2021.
- Janine Giraud-Héraud and Gilbert Pilleul, These towns and villages of France, … cradle of French America, (CFQLMC and Association France-Quebec LDMC-Publication,2008), Volume 11, Poitu Charente, 219.
- The Origin File: Francois Meloche
KEY REFERENCES FOR MARIE BLANCHARD:
- Cyprien Tanguay, Genealogical Dictionary of French Canadian Families, (Montreal, Quebec: E. Senécal and Sons, 1871-1890), Volume 1, 94.
- Janine Giraud-Héraud and Gilbert Pilleul, These towns and villages of France, … cradle of French America, (CFQLMC and Association France-Quebec LDMC-Publication,2008), Volume 3, Normandie, 213.
- The Origin File: Marie Blanchard