GEN-MARKET-L Archives

From: Roger Bartholomy <>
Subject: Book - First 117 French Canadian settlers in Woonsocket, RI
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 1999 19:51:04 GMT

The American-French Genealogical Society
is pleased to offer for sale the following book.

The English translation of Marie-Louise Bonier's book, 'The Beginnings
of the Franco-American Colony in Woonsocket, Rhode Island'.
Originally published in French in 1920 and titled Debuts de la Colonie
Franco-Americaine de Woonsocket, R. I., the book is a a veritable
motherlode of information on the early history of the Blackstone
Valley and of the Franco-American community in Woonsocket. It also
contains the genealogy of the first 117 French-Canadian families to
settle in the city prior to the Civil War.

This historical work, which is the only local history written from a
woman's perspective, was translated and edited by Dr. Claire Quintal,
Director of the French Institute at Assumption College in Worcester,
MA. Dr. Quintal's work was a continuation of an earlier translation
begun by the Rev. Edward G. St. Godard, pastor of Holy Family Church,
who had translated some fifty pages of the book before his pastoral
and administrative duties prevented him from completing the project.

Mr. Raymond H. Bacon, well-known local historian and on-site director
of the Museum of Work and Culture, also contributed to this work by
verifying the accuracy of the author's notes and her concluding
chapter on Woonsocket since 1920.

Roger and Sylvia Bartholomy, vice-president and publicist,
respectively, of the American-French Genealogical Society, were
responsible for the data entry of the entire genealogical section
including creating an index which contains almost 5,000 names. The
names represent the first 117 French-Canadian families who began
arriving as early as 1815 and includes their descendants up to
1918.

The goal in translating Bonier's book was to make the information it
contains accessible to new generations, in a language they understand,
just as Bonier herself had done for her own generation by writing for
them in French. The descendants of many of the first families are
still represented in Rhode Island and particularly in the Blackstone
Valley with the names of Allaire, Auclair, Arsenault, Aubin, Benoit,
Brindamour, Harpin, Lavallee, Lemoyne, Normandin, Sylvestre and
Tessier, to name a few. The book also contains genealogical data on
French-Canadian families with surnames such as Brown, Berry, Dowling,
Gilbert, Jacob, Martin, Maranda, Page, and Wright and more.

The book sells for $26.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling.
Rhode Island residents please add $1.89 tax.
Checks, MasterCard and Visa accepted.

Mail to: AFGS, P. O. Box 2010, Woonsocket, R. I. 02895-0950.


Anyone wanting more information on the families in the Bonier Book may
visit or call the American-French Genealogical Society at 765-6141,
where work is ongoing to identify living descendants of the early
French-Canadian settlers.

--


American-French Genealogical Society
PO Box 2010
Woonsocket, RI 02895

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