Pombrio Family History & Genealogy

The name Pombrio first appears in 1851, but it wasn't until the 1920s that it came into constant use. The first Pombrio to come to the United States was Francois-Eustache. He was the third child of sixteen born to Jean-Baptiste Pontbriand dit Sansregret and Marie-Therese Perron. He was born on the 11th of February 1798 at William Henry, Lower Canada (Sorel, Quebec) and was baptized at the church of St. Pierre de Saurel. He grew up on the banks of the St. Lawrence River where life was dictated by the changing of the seasons. As a young child he would have had many responsibilities, including specific jobs, such as collecting the eggs and feeding the animals. As he matured he might have dreamt of following in his father's footsteps, but reality would soon spoil that dream. Over trapping had depleted the once abundant supply of prized furs and hostilities along the U. S. border during the War of 1812 was a constant threat. Not exactly the way anyone would want to spend their childhood. To complicate matters even further, in 1815 a volcanic eruption in Indonesia sent thick clouds of ash and dust into the air. The result being a cloud cover that in 1816 would prevent the sun from warming the crops; over 80,000 people world wide starved! The average temperature was so low that snowstorms in July were common. To a family whose economic stability was based on farming, this had to have been hard to swallow. Would these events have had an impact on his political and economic choices? Would he have chosen farming as his livelihood? If so, many French-Canadians were uneducated and not up-to-date on agricultural practices. Things that we take for granted today, were not known in the early 1800s. The idea of rotating the crops to preserve the mineral contents of the soil is a fairly modern technique. Over use of the land and a growing population forced many families to look south of the border. At age thirty-nine, this is just what Francois-Eustache did. Small industries were popping up all over the northern tier of Clinton County, New York. Industries such as potash, lumber, charcoal, tanneries, marble, wool and lime were just a few of the developing businesses. Once a family had sons old enough to work outside the home, they would get a job in one of these industries to supplement the family income. For some families this was the only cash brought into the household. Did Eustache and his sons cross the border looking for work? I will explore this later on.

Commonly called Eustache, he was married at the age of 21, on the 11th of January 1820 to Felicite Vandal daughter of Jean-Baptiste Vandal and Marguerite St. Martine. Felicite was born about 1826 in Canada, probably in the area of William Henry. She was he great-great granddaughter of the well known 'Coureur de bois,' Francois Vandal and a descendant of Marin Boucher one of the first settlers of New France. To learn more about these ancestors read, Our French-Canadian Ancestors, Vols. 4 & 15 by Thomas J. Laforest.

They were married at St. Pierre de Saurel, and the marriage record reads:
"The 11th of January 1820, after the publication of three banns of marriage at High Mass at the parish of Saurel, between Eustache Pont Briand, son, of age, of Jean-Baptiste Pont Briand and Therese Peron, of this parish, of the first part and Felicite Vandal, daughter, of age, of Jean Vandal and Marguerite St. Martin, of this parish, of the second part. Without opposition to the marriage, I, the undersigned priest and curate, as is customary with their mutual consent and knowledge of the benediction nuptials and according to the form prescribed by our mother the sacred Roman Church, and in the presence of Jean Pont Briand brother of the groom, of Antoine Peron uncle of the bride, of Paul Ausang brother-in-law, of Jean Vandal father of the bride, Joseph Desault brother-in-law, of Antoine Mathe brother-in-law, and several others of the bride who did not sign." M. Cusson, Ptre.

Felicite gave birth to fifteen children, nine of which were born in Canada. Marie was born and baptized nine months after the marriage at St. Pierre de Saurel in 1820. Felicite Louise celebrated her birthday on Christmas Day, but was probably born on the 23rd in 1821. Joseph-Eustache in 1823, Francois in 1826, Narcisse in 1828, Edouard in 1829, Maxime in 1831, Marie-Marcelline in 1833, David in 1835 and Emilie in 1836. Both Marceline and David were baptized at Contrecoeur and Emilie at St. Ours. Why these last three were not baptized at Saurel, I do not know. Perhaps the strain of a growing family had already forced Eustache to look for work elsewhere. All seven of the living children immigrated with their parents to the United States some time between August 1836 (the birth of Emilie) and the winter of 1838-39. According to his son Joseph's naturalization papers he came to the North Country in 1839. Pierre was the first to be born in the US in 1839. The twins Julliette and Julianne were born in April 1841 and Moise in 1842 or 43. There are no baptismal records in Coopersville prior to 1844; the area was served by missionary priests who came through on an irregular basis, therefore, their birth dates come from various records. The last to be born was Thomas in 1845. His baptismal record can be found at St. Joseph's de Corbeau in Coopersville, New York (a small hamlet in the town of Champlain).

Major political changes were taking place during this time in Canadian history (1836-39). We do not know whether Francois-Eustache was a Redcoat or a Patriote, but it is safe to say that he wouldn't have moved such a large family unless he was involved in the rebellions or feared for his family's safety. He would have become painfully aware of this danger during a bitter snowstorm on the night of November 16, 1837 when the Royal Montreal Calvary set out to arrest some of the Patriote leaders. Word had leaked out about the plan and the troops were only able to arrest two of the rebels sought. Upon their return to Longueuil on the 17th, they were met by a barricade blocking the road and over 200 rebels waiting to ambush them. Though the soldiers were tipped off, they continued on towards the ferry. This mistake cost them their prisoners: Pierre-Paul Desmaray (Desmarais) and Jean-Francois Davignon were now free. Several of the rebels who participated were interrogated on the 22 of November about their part in the attack. Ironically, this was only one day before the hostilities would escalate. Among those arrested was Eustache's cousin, Regis Pontbrillant, (Archives de Quebec, 1925-26, p152) would have been a major blow to the family, and may have even prompted the move. If his family was still in St. Ours by as late as November 23-25, 1837 he would have witnessed the battles of St. Denis and St. Charles. Reinforcements "from Contrecoeur, St. Ours and Vercheres sailed past the regulars unharmed, the Patriote soldiers defiantly singing their national songs turned the tide of battle in favor of the Patriotes" (from Redcoats and Patriotes by Elinor Senior 85). Their victory was short lived for at the battle of St. Charles over 150 rebels died, homes were burned and families destroyed. Did Eustache play a role in this conflict? That is a question that I can not definitively answer, but according to Dr. Elinor Senior, "a great number of Canadians [were] taking up quarter at Plattsburg, Champlain and other villages on the frontier where arms and ammunition [were] collected for their use" (Senior 151). The History of the Town of Chazy, Clinton County, New York by Sullivan and Martin mentions that the stone house of John-Baptiste Trombly became a refuge for many of them (Patriotes), some made Chazy (which included Altona at this time) their permanent home. The hamlet of Sciota, especially, was settled by these people" (Sullivan and Martin 319). The danger that many families were in, was real for on the 8th of January 1838 we find eleven men were taken prisoner in the town of Mooers and taken back to Canada (Town of Champlain). We can only imagine the fear these people must have lived through. We later find these men being interrogated on the 8th of February 1838 (Archives de Quebec, 1925-26, p252). The largest movement of French-Canadians into the Champlain Valley took place during the second rebellion in November 1838. The family most likely came during this wave of immigration. It was during this time that the military court-martial against insurgent leaders was going on in Montreal. The result was the execution of twelve rebel leaders and the deportation of fifty-eight of their followers to Australia's penal colonies. William Lyon Mackenzie published a letter from a refugee relating the conditions in the North Country, "in cold open barns, on straw, hundreds of poor dejected exiled and wounded Canadians, destitute of everything, receiving but little succor from the people of this place who are themselves poor" (Senior, Lifelines, 23). These brave immigrants "took a gamble for what they hoped would be a good or at least a better life" (Senior 76). "Coming on foot, as they often did, it was impossible to bring with them anything of consequence. Many of the settlers were reduced nearly to salvation" (75).

This poverty was described by Dr. David Kellogg in his personal journal. He "described the squalor of a French-Canadian household that he had visited in order to deliver a child. This passage dispassionately described the poor woman who had no cloth in which to wrap the newly delivered infant and so was forced to remove one of her petticoats to receive him. Dr. Kellogg's observations included the fact that there was little furniture: it was icy cold in spite of the fact there was a stove in the main room of the house: that this was the woman's ninth child: and his final comment on the whole affair concluded that 'they ought to have named the baby Klondike, but instead they called him Napoleon'" (Ouellette 11-12). Dr. Kellogg's description of this birth is similar to the birth of Julliette and Julianne in April 1841. Our ancestors were very poor and now they had twins! How easy it is to picture their dilemma. The following story was retold prior to 1967 by Gladys Lamondy Gould Demerioux in a letter to Audrey Pombrio Dragoon, it tells the story of the adoption of Julliette:

"About the child that was given away. Mother's father had twin sisters. One named Louise but she doesn't remember the other ones name. Louise was married to Pisson (Passant) Jeannotte. When they were young they were poor and this women was well to do had lost a child recently, had begged the mother of the twins to let her have one of the girls and promised to take good care of [her]. They were Americans and the child was not brought up Catholic. When she became the age to make her First Communion her mother wanted her back but the lady refused to to give her back to her mother. They went to the law about it and the law told the parents that they either had to pay for the child's bored and room all the time this lady had her or if they could steal her, they could keep her. They did get a hold of her one day but the woman saw them and got a hold of the girl and nearly pulled her arm off. So the parents gave up, rather then hurt her. The child grew up and married a well to do man. Mother says she was a handsome woman" (Lamonday Letter, nd).

Note: Felicite Louise (pictured in an earlier post) was not one of the twins. Jullianne died at age 16 and her twin Julliette who was given away married Stephen Chilton (6).

In the Catholic Church First Communion and Solemn Communion were significant events in a child's life. Near the end of the first grade, children received First Communion in a group at a very informal ceremony in the church sacristy. Solemn Communion was a very "impressive ritual. Girls wore white dresses, gloves, shoes, stockings, and veils; boys dark blue suites with a white arm band. At Mass, the communicant was given a cloth scapular to wear and a certificate that was often framed and proudly displayed in the parlor. A festive meal in the young person's honor followed in the home. It was customary for parents and Godparents to present to their child gifts on this occasion" (Brault 33). When Eustache and Felicite realized that Juliette was not going to be brought up in the Catholic faith, it must have been quite a blow to them.

Felicite died soon after the attempt to get Juliette back, on the fourth of April 1848, at the age of forty-two, and is buried at St. Louis de France Cemetery Sciota, New York. Since Felicite is buried in Sciota and Eustache didn't purchase land there until 1849 it may be safe to say that the family was probably renting at this time.

According to the 1840 U. S. census the family was listed in Champlain, New York. Eustache was listed simply as working in agriculture. By 1849 he purchased land from Allen Wilson situated in lot #4 of the 420 acre lots of the Refugee Patent (Clinton County Deed Books Vol. 17, 1849:261). This chosen lot is located two miles east of the village of Sciota on the Miner Farm Road (see map). He was one of the first settlers on the road in 1848. Prior to the purchase of land, there usually was a gentlemen's agreement to clear the land, and keep whatever lumber was needed to build a house and the rest of the trees went to the lumbering company that owned the land. Once a large enough section was cleared and was of no use to the company, they'd sell the land to their tenant. Settling in this area of Clinton County was no easy task, the "forest [was] so thick [you] couldn't see the sun till noon" (Sullivan and Martin 133). Eustache and his sons would have needed to first clear the land and then build a cabin to live in. "The ideal time for cutting trees was in early summer. They were then left lying on the ground until September, when they were set fire and burned ...the choice oak and pine were saved for lumber. After the initial cutting, it took another half dozen years to rid the fields of the stumps" (73).

The first dwelling used by the family was a log cabin. The logs would have been hewn on the inside and the cracks plugged with cedar wedges and moss and plastered over with clay. At first the windows were covered with greased paper or wooden shutters that could only be opened in good weather.

The roof was often made of thick shingles pegged to the roof with hand whittled pegs. There was one, all purpose, room with a packed dirt floor and a loft reached by a ladder (74). "Wheat and turnips seemed to have been the first crops. With the help of only a sickle, a hoe, a grain cradle, and a plow or even just a forked stick to break the soil...corn was eventually available. Later apples, pears, and peaches, plums and cherries were added. It took several years before there were many apples as the trees were mostly started from seeds...Apple brandy, cider, and various kinds of strong drink were usual beverages"(75).

Eustache married for the second time to Marie Anne Chauvin at St. Joseph's de Corbeau on the 22nd of September 1848. Marie Anne was the widow of Joseph Livemois and the daughter of Joseph Chauvin and Marianne La Roche. This marriage did not produce any children. They were married only five months after the death of Felicite in April. It would not be fair to judge this union with today's standards. A widower with eight children at home, six under the age of thirteen, needed a woman to run the household and take over the raising of the children. One month after this union the family celebrated another wedding, that of Marie-Marcelline to Alexander Faureault, grandson of Lt. Alexander Faureault of "Congress' Own Regiment" (10).

Eustache was quickly turning his home into a prosperous enterprise as demonstrated in the 1850 U. S. census for Chazy, which listed the value of his real estate at $300. Another document pertaining to Eustache is found in the Clinton County Mortgages between his son Francois, himself and his wife Mary of Chazy, New York in consideration of $680 sold to Francois, twenty-four acres of land off the north part of the west 150 acres of lot #4 in the Refugee Tract, also a piece of land which was part of lot #3 of the 420 acre lot. Also sold were all cattle, horses, and all other personal property of any description. The grant was intended for the fulfillment of the following,...to be supported in a manner in sickness and in health at his present residence or any other suitable place, they should also have the use of a horse wagon needed for business or comfort for taking rides for health or to be furnished with a necessary amount of money when there [is a need]...recorded July 15, 1864 (Vol. NN, p97).

Marie-Anne died on All Saint's Day (11) in 1865 at Sciota, and was buried on the 3rd of November at St. Louis de France Cemetery, Sciota. The witnesses to the burial were Francois Pontbriand and Michel Paquet.

Eustache lived out his remaining years with his son Francois' family. It is impossible to give an accurate description of Eustache, but after viewing photographs of five consecutive generations of Pombrio men, one might determine that he was quite tall, fit and trim with brown hair and brown eyes.

Over the years Eustache saw his family spread throughout the country. During his lifetime he saw the birth of fifteen children and at least seventy-one grandchildren. He died on the 30th of April 1878 at Sciota (12) and was buried on the 1st of May at St. Louis de France Cemetery. The witnesses to the burial were James Pelletier and Louis Pontbriand (13). The burial record at St. Joseph de Corbeau Coopersville, New York recorded his name as "FanFan."

Children of [1] Francois-Eustache Pontbriand and Felicite Vandal:
2) Marie born 21st/baptized 23 Sept. 1820 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada

3) Felicite Louise born 23 or 25 December 1821 or 1822 Sorel, Lower Canada, died 15th of January 1915 married the 11th of February 1840 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, Passant Jeannotte (Person Genette )

4) Joseph-Eustache born 19th/baptized 20th October 1823 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada died July 28, 1886 Sciota, New York, married the 4th of October 1847 St. Joseph's de Corbeau, Coopersville, New York, Angeline Lepine

5) Francois born 15th/baptized 16th April 1826 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada died 18th January 1906 married 9th January 1849 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, Marie LaRouche

6) Narcisse baptized 14th June 1828 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada d. 29th of September 1828 buried St. Pierre de Saurel

7) Edouard baptized September 1829 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada, burial stone lists birth as 2nd August 1828 died 5th May 1898 (stone reads May27) buried St. Louis de France, Sciota, New York, not married, Clinton County Wills, Vol. II 30th August 1896 left to his brother Moses #15 all his property, land, mortgages, notes, certificates of deposit in the First National Bank of Plattsburgh, etc., the mortgage against his brother Francois #5 shall not be foreclosed and that Moses shall be executor of this will.

8) Maxime baptized 20th August 1831 St. Pierre de Saurel, Sorel, Lower Canada m/1 14 April 1852 St. Joseph's de Corbeau, Coopersville, New York, Julie Pinsonnault-Methot, m/2 27th September 1864 St. Peter's Plattsburgh, New York, Edesse Germaine-Belisle

9) Marie-Marceline baptized 15 June 1833 Contrecoeur, Lower Canada died 26th September 1862 married 30th October 1848 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, Alexander Faureault

10) David baptized 28 February 1835 Contrecoeur, Lower Canada died 19th October 1910 Altona, New York married Amelia (Emilie) Dame

11) Emilie (Amelia) born 30th/baptized 31st August 1836 Saint-Ours, Lower Canada died 24th January 1890 Barrie, Vermont married 4th of July 1854 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, Oliver Jeanotte (15)

12) Pierre born ca 1839 Champlain, New York went west or south at age 16, never returned home (Hazen)

13) Julliette born April 1841 Champlain, New York (twin) died 26 January 1914 buried Protestant Cementery Ellenburg Corners, New York, married ca 1859 Stephen N. Chilton of Ellenburg, New York

14) Julianne born April 1841 Champlain, New York (twin) died 17th of July 1857 Sciota, New York buried 19th of July 1857 St. Louis de France Sciota, New York

15) Moise, (Moyse, Moses) born 28th of May 1842/43 Corbeau (Champlain), New York died 23rd of December 1920 St. Louis de France Cemetery Sciota, New York, married 16th of July 1873 Champlain, New York, Adalina Willet (Ouelette)

16) Thomas born 7th/baptized 9th July 1845 Corbeau (Champlain), New York Godparents: Francois Chapdelaine and Marguerite Lamoy, died 7th/buried 9th of June 1857 St. Louis de France Cemetery Sciota, New York

Second Generation

4) Joseph-Eustache Pontbriand [son of #1] eldest son of Francois-Eustache Pontbriand and Felicite Vandal, was born on the 19th of October 1823 in William Henry, Lower Canada. He was baptized on the 20th at St. Pierre de Saurel, his godparents were Joseph Young (16) and Marie Esthier-Defisiau. His cemetery stone has his birthdate as February 19, 1821 however, this cannot be correct since his sister was born in September 1820.

According to his naturalization papers he immigrated at the age of fifteen from the province of Canada East. His papers were filed on the 24th of September 1856 at the age of thirty-five while residing in the town of Champlain, New York (Clinton County Book 2, 271). If Joseph-Eustache was fifteen years old when the family immigrated then they most likely came in the fall or early winter of 1838. After all a large family needed to have a place to stay. I find no indication that his family remained behind. Another possibility is that they came in a hurry after the failed rebellions of 1838. What must it have been like to be a young man approaching adulthood and have all that was familiar to you uprooted, your dreams gone. Not old enough to decide to remain behind yet old enough to be expected to help out with whatever was needed to support this family. He married at St. Joseph de Corbeau Coopersville, New York on the 4th of October 1847 to Angeline Lepine.

The witnesses to this union were the father's of the bride and groom. Joseph and Angeline set up house in Champlain near his parents' home. The 1850 U. S. census shows that he was listed as a farmer with the value of his real estate at $125.

The role of both mother and wife was not an easy one. This marriage saw the birth of twelve children, the first Angeline was born in 1849. The following year was Marguerite's turn and then Joseph in 1853, Marie-Rosalie in 1855, Francois in 1857, Jean-Baptiste in 1859, Julie in 1861, Maxime in 1864, Simeon was born around 1865 (the only record of him that I can find is the 1870 U. S. Census records for Altona, New York), Antoine in 1867, Julianne in 1871 and nine years later in 1880 William was born.

According to the "Sullivan Papers" found in the Chazy Town Historian's office, Joseph first settled in Altona on the French-Settlement Road (17) around 1859. He purchased land on the 12th of December 1858 from Horace Hayford (18) of the Town of Champlain and his wife Elizabeth; for the sum of $375.00. The chosen lot would take some time to clear. It was located on the north half of the south-east quarter of lot #151 of the Dueville Patent, containing thirty-one and one-fourth acres of land (Clinton County Deeds, Vol. 32, 463). This lot was located near the OK Wood Company and is most likely where he worked. In the 1860 census for Altona, he was listed as a day laborer, who could neither read nor write; however, by 1870 we find him running his own farm.

Angeline was born on July 28, 1828 at William Henry, Lower Canada, the daughter of Antoine Berard dit Lepine and Marguerite Germaine dit Belisle. She was a descendent of Thomas Hayot, Sebastien Provencher and Andre Bergeron. To learn more about these men read, Our French-Canadian Ancestors Vols. 5, 6 & 19 by Thomas J. Laforest. Her parents soon left the Champlain Valley and moved to Pepin County, Wisconsin where the family finally settled. Antoine was the great great grandson of Gabriel Berard dit Lepine a well know "Coureur de Bois," a runner of the woods, from the Seigneurie of Lanoraie.

In Clinton County the Lepine family were still known as "voyageurs" and the pamphlet "Antoine Paulin" (Reed 44) found in the Clinton County Historian's Office mentions the excellent singing voice of Mr. Lepine, a local voyageurs (3) and fisherman.

Joseph-Eustache died on July 28, 1886 at the age of 63 and is buried at St. Louis de France Cemetery Sciota, New York. Following his death the family farm was run by their son Joseph. Angeline moved soon after the death of her husband to Nashua, New Hampshire to live with her son William when she decided to buy the farm from the heirs for $1.00 on the 6th of October 1897. She then sold the farm and all the equipment to her son Joseph on the 26th of March 1898 for the same amount.

In 1910 we find Angeline still living with her son William in Nashua, where she died on the 11th of February 1916 at age 88 of acute bronchitis and was buried on the 13th at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Nashua.

Children of [4] Joseph-Eustache Pontbriand [son of 1] and Angeline Lepine

17) Angeline born 25/baptized 27 January 1849 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, died 3rd of July 1928 Mooers, New York, married 5 July 1870 St. Joseph's de Corbeau, Edgar (Ignace) Brousseau (Bruso)

18) Marguerite born 20th of December 1850 Champlain (Coopersville), New York died the 22nd December 1938 in Sciota, New York, married Isreal Leaor

19) Joseph P. born the 24th of February 1853 Coopersville, New York died the 3rd of May 1940 married the 14th of May 1872 at St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York Matilde Brousseau (Bruso)

20) Marie-Rosalie born 2nd of April 1855 Champlain (Coopersville), New York, died the 3rd of June 1933 Nashua, New Hampshire, married 16th of July 1873 Champlain, New York, Richard Clairmont

21) Francois H. born the 5th of June 1857 Champlain, New York, died the 23rd of December 1933 Nashua, New Hampshire, married 1st 14th of August 1876 Grand Isle, Vermont, Eliza (Louise) Tarte, married 2nd 20 February 1882 Nashua, Rose Monty

22) Jean-Baptiste born 8th of September 1859, Chazy, New York baptized the 8th of October 1859 St. Joseph 's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York Godparents: Francois a Rondeau and Eleonore Lepine, died 1860/buried 19th of September 1860 St. Joseph's de Corbeau

23) Julie born 19th August/baptized 29th September 1861 St. Joseph 's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, Godparents: Louis Lepine (Uncle) and Marie Forget, died the 24th of October 1862 Sciota, New York

24) Maxime H. born 24th/baptized 27th July 1864 died 23rd of May 1934, married 19th of August 1889 Nashua, New Hampshire, Exeline Monty

25) Simeon born around 1865 Sciota, New York

26) Antoine born 3rd of November 1867 and baptized 2 February 1868 St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville, New York, died the 26 the of January 1952, married 26th of December 1898 St. Peter's Church Plattsburgh, New York, Amelia Millette

27) Julianne born 21st of August 1871 Sciota, New York, died the 4th of April 1967 Nashua, New Hampshire, married 24th of November 1890 Nashua, New Hampshire, Oliver Ellingwood (Pierre La Normandin)

28) William W. born 24th of May 1880 Sciota, New York, died 17th November 1941 Nashua, New Hampshire, never married

Third Generation

19) Joseph P. Pontbriand (Pombrio) [son of #4, #1] (farmer) eldest son of Joseph-Eustache Pontbriand and Angeline Lepine was born on the 24th of February 1853 at Coopersville, New York and baptized at St. Joseph's de Corbeau Coopersville. His godparents were Joseph Lepine and Leonora St. Germain. Six years later his family settled in Sciota, New York where he remained until his death in 1940. It is there that he met his future wife, his next door neighbor Matilde Bruso (Brousseau) (20).

Joseph attended school house #9 a mere two mile walk. The family may have also walked to church, though the church building was still to be constructed, but services were often held in local homes. In 1899 he donated money towards the construction of St. Louis de France Church in Sciota, where one of the windows is dedicated to "M. et Mde. Joseph Pontbriand."

A neighbor of his future in-laws, he was listed as a day laborer in the 1870 U. S. census. Could he have worked for Louis Brousseau? Or the OK Wood Company whose property adjourned his parents? The area where they settled was described in the 1869 Beer's Atlas as rolling upland, with a slight incline to the north-east and the Great Chazy River as it's principle stream. The soil is light and sandy, with a large share unfit for cultivation.

Joseph and Matilde were married on the 14th of May 1872 at St. Joseph's de Corbeau. She was born during the summer of 1853 on August 26th at Sciota to Louis Brousseau and Rosella Jeannotte (21). Her baptism took place on the 15th of September 1853 at St. Joseph's de Corbeau in Coopersville. Her godparents were Oliver Brousseau and Meli Yacon.

Soon after this union their home began to fill with children. David was born in January 1873, Edouard in September 1875, George in July 1878, Elsie in December 1880, Henri in April 1883, Hartford in April 1885, Joseph-Henri July 1887, Aurelie in March 1889, and Anna Marie in January 1891. Though this family may seem large enough, according to the 1910 census Matilde was the mother of twelve children with nine still living. My dad tells me there was a Leeward but I can't seem to find him listed any where. I wonder if he might be thinking of Leeward (22) son of Francois Pontbriand and Alberta (Bertha) Dame? I also found an Alice listed as being born in 1880 on the census records, but I'm not sure if this is Elsie or not.

On the 9th of March 1897 Joseph purchased the land next to his mother's property for $250.00, from Luther and Alice Hager of Plattsburgh. The lot was twenty-one and one quarter acres of land more or less in the south-west one quarter of lot #151 of the Dueville Patent bounded north by land owned by James Blair; east by the highway, south by land of John Liberty and J. Brombia (Joseph Pontbriand) and west by land of the OK Wood Company, on by the lot line, the said lot owned by Silas Sheldon on the assessment roll, and recorded on the 31st of March 1897.

In 1898 he purchased the family farm from his mother for $1.00 on March 26th, she had bought it from the heirs for one dollar (Clinton County Deeds Vol. 95, p975). The north half of the southeast quarter of lot #151 of the Deuville Patent, contains thirty-one and one fourth acres of land. As his holdings began to grow it probably seemed like nothing could go wrong, but it did. In the fall of 1900 a tragic farm incident left Joseph-Henri dead from a ruptured spleen. He could not have been the first child to die, I am still looking for mention of the remaining children.

According to the "Sullivan Papers" in the Chazy Historians office, Joseph Pontbriand (Pombrio) after settling on the French Settlement Road (17) later moved to the Altona-Sciota Road (9), on the so called Murkin's Farm where he died. I have not yet found when he sold his properties and moved, but it is believed that he moved some time between 1915-1918 since he was still living on the Vassar Road (Old French Settlement Road) during the 1910 and 1915 censuses.

In 1918 following the deaths of their son David, their daughter-in-law Addie and two of their grandchildren, the family took in the surviving children. This however turned out to be too much for a couple in their mid-sixties to handle. The children would end up being split up among their aunts and uncles. My grandfather Oral ended up living with his aunt Mamie for a time.

Sometime between 1937 and 1939 author Celeste Pember Hazen paid a visit to Joseph Pombrio at his home in Sciota. I would caution the reader to be careful with the conclusions that she came too. She does however, leave us a quote from Joseph, which was mentioned in a previous article and repeated here. "You'll notice that we spell our name Pombrio. The name has changed several times, because the older people could neither read nor write. They had no school privileges in Canada. When we went to school the teacher would ask us our name and we would have to let her spell it the best she could from the pronunciation. So it has been written: Pontbriand, DesPonbriand, Pombrah, Pombria, Bombrah etc" (Hazen 133-134). I do not know if Joseph learned to read or write in English. The census records indicate that he could not read or write, yet the letters home were all in English. Could someone have read the letters to him? He must have been able to understand and speak the language.

Matilde died on the 9th of March 1937 just two months shy of their 65th wedding anniversary. At the time of her death she had witnessed the birth of twenty-three great grandchildren.

Joseph died on the 3rd of May 1940 in Plattsburgh, and the burial service took place at St. Louis de France at Sciota at 9:00 AM, with the Mass celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Lawrence E. Mallette. Those who attended the funeral from out of town were, Mr./Mrs. Antoine Pombrio (23), Mrs. Juliane Lamonday (24), Mr./Mrs. Lawrence Pombrio (25), Mr./Mrs. Floyd Pombrio (26), Jeanette Pombrio (27), and Mr./Mrs. Maxwell Pombrio (28). The pall bearers were Wilmer (29), Willard (30), and Maxwell (28) Pombrio, Hershey (31) and Russell (32) Trombley and Henry Neverette (33).

By the time of his death he had seen the birth of forty-five grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren. One of the great grandchildren to have known him was my father David. Though only six years old at the time he can still remember the visits to the farm and how much fun he had when he went to visit.

Children of [19] Joseph P. Pombrio [son of 4, 1] and Matilde Bruso

29) David born January 5, 1873 Sciota, New York died October 2, 1918 Barre, Vermont married October 5, 1898, Addie Neddo (Nadeau)

30) Edouard born September 18, 1875 Sciota, New York died January 13, 1963 married December 26, 1905 Marguerite Dowd, Plattsburgh, New York

31) George born July 27, 1878 Sciota, New York died 1954 married September 27, 1905, Elizabeth Pelletier

32) Alice born ca 1880 Is this Elsie or one of the missing children?

33) Elsie Mae born December 4, 1880 Sciota, New York died October 2, 1980 Married November 26, 1906, Henry Neverette

34) Henri born April 21, 1883 Sciota, NY, died May 11, 1873, never married, according to the 1917 Chazy Military Rolls his occupation was a painter

35) Ardie (Hardie, Hartford) born April 1, 1885 Sciota, NY died June 29, 1906 married Dec. 24, 1911, Ida (Edith) Mousseau

36) Joseph-Henri born July 1887 Sciota, NY died 13 yrs. 3 mos. buried Oct. 9, 1900 Sciota, NY, ruptured spleen, witnesses Joseph Pontbriand and David Pontbriand

37) Aurelie (Rillie) born March 7, 1889 Sciota, NY died March 25, 1959 married April 1, 1907, Wilburt Trombley

38) Anna Marie (Mamie) born Jan. 4, 1891 Sciota, NY died Feb. 17, 1981 married/1 April 19, 1909 Alfred Trombly, married/2 after 1938 Wilfred Varno

39) ?
39a) ?

Fourth Generation

29) David [son of 19, 4 & 1] Pombrio eldest son of Joseph P. Pombrio and Matilde Bruso born on the 5th of January 1873 Sciota, New York. In 1892 he was listed as living at home it was some time after that that he left to find work in Nashua, New Hampshire in the mills. He most likely left with a group of other young men from the area for we find a strong connection between the families of Clinton County, New York and Nashua, New Hampshire. I can not determine the exact dates that he lived there, but we know that he was living in Barre, Vermont and working as a granite cutter in the quarries in 1898 when he married Addie Neddo (Nadeau). They were married on the 5th of October 1898 at St. Monica's Church in Barre. The pastor P. M. McKenna officiated at the nuptial Mass.

The bride was born on the 22nd of October 1877 or the 13th of November 1876 in Mooers, New York. Though the 1877 date is widely accepted her baptism was recorded on March 18th 1877 at St. Anne's Mooers Forks, New York. Her Godparents were Joseph Desjardin and Henrietta Desjardin.

Addie was the daughter of Philippe (Felix) Joseph Neddo (Nadeau ) and Emma (Amanda) Longway (Langlois). After losing her mother during the summer of 1888 at the young age of eleven her father would soon move the family from Ellenburg, New York to Barre, Vermont where he ran a blacksmith shop.

We know that Addie could read and write in English and it may have been the language of the household since all of the letters and postcards in my possession were written by her in English. We can also glean from one of her postcards home that she supported a woman's Right to Vote, but we have no indication what the men in her life might of thought of the idea.

We can also determine that this was a typical French-Canadian household living in the northeastern United States at this time in history. English was beginning to replace French, schooling was becoming more important and the families were leaving the farms and heading to centers of industry such as Nashua, New Hampshire and Lowell, Massachusetts.

The following letter was written by Addie around the summer 1917.

Barre, VT
Dear Folks at Home,
We are all well here at the present and hope you are all the same. David and the boys are working everyday all but Oral he left work to go to school and suppose you know that Floyd is back. He had his finger broke and all jammed up so had to come home it is better now and he is working in the stone shed but don't like it very well. He gets paid $2.00 per day and so does Virgil. There is lots of work here and big pay and there is lots of folks leaving Barre going down country to work. Father came here with Floyd but has gone back. David says we are going after Christmas we are having lonesome weather it is raining today and I hate to think of the Long winter coming. Must tell you about the baby, I named her Ivas Marie and we all think she is the cutest baby we ever see and she is just as good as can be she sleeps most all the time. We could have went to see you last Sat. with Wm. Abair folks they went to Canada to his folks they wanted us to go but we could not leave. The boys are always saying they are going to grandpa 's for Christmas, would like to have you come for X-Mass do you think you can? Mother must tell you that we had very poor luck we planted a lot but did not get hardly anything, our potatoes are rotten and they are going to be nigh. Again this fall we pay .50 per lb for butter .10 a quart for milk, .50 for eggs, sugar .10 lb ... I don't know what people will do if it keeps on having to pay $3.50 for a load of stove wood, and $10.00 for coal. I just got a card from Ellis (33), he is in Valley City, North Dakota. I was awful surprised to [hear] from him hadn't heard from him for a long time. Hope father is better. Is George (#31) working in Montreal yet? Is Henry (#34) working in the same place? This is all it is supper time. The kids are coming in good-bye.

From, Addie

P. S. This is all for this, write soon. Love from Addie and Dave.


Children of (29) David Pombrio [son of 19, 4, 1] and Addie Neddo:

40) Floyd Elles born January 23, 1900 died May 30, 1967 married November 30, 1920, Beatrice Mayette

41) Virgil Anthony born September 3, 1901 Barre, Vermont died October 10, 1918 Barre,Vermont (Tool Sharpener)

42) Marvin Joseph Lyles born September 6, 1902 Barre, Vermont died October 4, 1918 Barre, Vermont (Tool Sharpener)

43) Aurele (Oral) David born April 20, 1904 died December 17, 1981 married September 2, 1933, Albaine Blanche Naomi Elizabeth Laravie

44) Maxwell Philip born July 11, 1906 died October 28, 1953 married December 26, 1931, Marie Ann Ida Soucy

45) Audrey May born August 22, 1908 died May 1, 1991 married March 22, 1927, Ralph Dragoon

46) Madeleine born March 22, 1912 Barre, Vermont died March 22, 1912 Barre, Vermont, 5 hours old (born prematurely)

47) Dorothy Lorraine born 13/14 May 1913 Barre,Vermont died February 7, 1983 married June 24, 1935, Joseph Loyal LaRouche (Stone)

48) Female unnamed born April 23, 1915 Barre, Vermont died April 23, 1915 Barre, Vermont, 5 hours old (stillborn after a fall)

49) Ivas Marie born July 20, 1917 died 1990 Married May 12, 1937, Albert Paro

Fifth Generation

43) Aurele (Oral) David [son of 29, 19, 4, 1] was born on April 20, 1904 in Barre, Vermont. He married on the second of September 1933 at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh, New York to Albaine Blanche Naomi Elizabeth Laravie the youngest child of the late Napoleon E. Laravie (founder of the first paid fire department in the city of Plattsburgh) and Philomene Fountaine. It was a very simple ceremony with only a few family members present. They were married at St. Peter's Church Plattsburgh, New York in the sacristy chapel with Marjorie Laravie and Wilmer Pombrio as their witnesses. The Rev. G. Ouellette, OMI., officiated at the ceremony.

Blanche was born in the spring of 1907 in Plattsburgh, New York. The first Laravie (Larrivee) to come to Plattsburgh was Calixte Laravie (Larrivee) who was married to Marguerite Smith. The granddaughter of John Smith and Anastasia Hebert, an accepted Royal descent that have common ancestors with Henry I of England, William the Conqueror, Alfred the Great and Charlemagne etc.. She was a graduate of the Plattsburgh Normal School now the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. A career girl she was twenty-six years old when they married, Oral was twenty-nine. Blanche gave up her career to become a full time wife and mother.

They moved into their first home on the Quarry Road in Plattsburgh. Blanche purchased the home from Francis Archambault and his wife Rose for $2,032.99. It was a one-quarter acre lot. Within a few years they would sell the house to her brother Arthur and move to 3 Lynde Street in Plattsburgh.

Oral soon settled down to earning a living for his family. He found employment at the U. S. Post Office where he remained until his retirement. It was estimated that he had walked the circumference of the earth while doing his deliveries over the years. An avid fisherman it was not unusual to hear that he and Blanche had gone fishing for the day with the children. He even belonged to the local Rod and Gun Club.

Both sons David and Philip received the sacraments at St. Peter's Church and attended Mount Assumption Institute (now Seton Catholic).

Oral died December 17, 1981 in Plattsburgh, New York and Blanche died February 20, 1988 in Plattsburgh.

Children of (43) Oral Pombrio [son of 29, 19, 4, 1] and Blanche Laravie

50) David Joseph Pombrio born February 24, 1934 Plattsburgh, New York married September 25, 1954 at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh, Marian Patricia Baker born December 13, 1934 in Chazy, New York died March 15, 2001 in Plattsburgh, daughter of Lawrence Baker and Grace Brault

51) Philip Ronald born December 21, 1935 in Plattsburgh, New York married/1 1957 in Corinth, New York Barbara Ann Hughes born April 29, 1941 in Corinth and died February 3, 2012 in Corinth, (divorced), daughter of Joseph Hughes and Mary Gabriel, married/2 Janet___________________

52) Unnamed female, born and died same day


Footnotes

1) Between 1787-1845 the town of Sorel, Quebec was called William Henry.
2) The National Geographic Society reported that this was the worst eruption ever recorded.
3) A "Coureur de bois" traded for furs, often without a license. By this time in history the terms "Coureur de Bois" and "Voyageur" were being used to mean the same thing, though there is a difference. A voyageur signed a contract with a company under specific terms, and they did not need to hunt for their food since the merchant's had regular supply depots.
4) Dr. David Kellogg was a doctor in Plattsburgh in the 1880s.
5) Juliette was adopted by James and Amy (Babcock) Sweet of Champlain, NY later of Ellenburg, New York.
6) Author's note- Not the correct sister. The twins were Juliette and Julianne. Louise however, did marry Pisson Jeannotte.
7) In the Catholic Church First Communion and Solemn Communion are now celebrated as one event, but still much in the same fashion as described.
8) Sciota was formerly known as Obers Corners.
9) The Miner Farm Road used to be known as the Sciota Road.
10) Congress' Own Regiment, was made up of a French-Canadians who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
11) November 1, 1865
12) His tombstone reads: Augustus Pombrah, Latin version of Eustache.
13) I do not know how these gentlemen are connected to the family. Perhaps this Louis Pontbriand is his second cousin once removed.
14) Francois in 1857 was listed on a military census for Chazy as eligible to serve.
15) Oliver in 1858 was listed on a military census for Chazy as eligible to serve.
16) Joseph Young, was the son of Hendrick Young, and according to Benoit Pontbriand he was known as a loyalist during the American Revolution.
17) Old French Settlement Road in Sciota, New York is now called the Vassar Road.
18) Horace Hayford was his neighbor in the town of Champlain.
19) Chazy Landing was commonly called East Chazy between 1836-1900.
20) Matilde is accually his third cousin. Both Joseph and Matilde are the great great grandchildren of Francois Berard dit Lepine and Marie-Angelique Moreau.
21) Rosella is the sister of Passant Jeanotte spouse of #3 and the aunt of Oliver Jeanotte spouse of #11.
22) According to Matilde's funeral announcement she was survived by her sons Henri, Edouard, Ardie and George. Since Matilde died in 1937 when my father was only three years old and no Leeward was listed, then I must conclude that he remembers visiting his father's second cousin once removed who married Emma Dragoon (note Audrey May Pombrio #45 married Ralph Dragoon)
23) Antoine was the son of Joseph-Eustache and Angeline Lepine.
24) Julianne was the daughter of Joseph-Eustache Pontbriand and Angeline Lepine.
25) Lawrence was the son of Antoine Pontbriand and Amelia Mayette.
26) Floyd was the son of David Pombrio and Addie Neddo.
27) Jeannette was the daughter of Floyd Pombrio and Beatrice Mayette.
28) Maxwell was the son of David Pombrio and Addie Neddo.
29) Wilmer was the son of Edouard Pombrio and Marguerite Dowd.
30) Willard was the son of Hardie Pombrio and Ida Mousseau.
31) Hershey was the son of Aurelie Pombrio and Wilbur Tromblay.
32) Russell was the son of Anna Marie Pombrio and Alfred Tromblay.
33) Ellis is Addie's brother.

Works Cited

A.C.G.S. Letter. Dec. 14, 1982.

Archives de Quebec. Rapport de L'Archiviste de La Province de Quebec, 1931-1932:290, 296.
Jean-Baptiste Billerant dit Sans Regret.

---. ---. 1942-1943:343. Joseph Pombriant.

Bernier, Olivier. Louis the Beloved: The Life of Louis XV. Garden City, New York:Doubleday @
Company Inc., 1984.

Brault, Gerard J. The French Canadian Heritage in New England. Kingston/Montreal:McGill-Queen's
University Press, 1986.

Buskey, Edna. 'A Quebecois in "Congress' Own" and The New York Refugee Tract.' The Genealogist
Vol. IX No. 2, Fall 83:44-48.

Careless, James M.S. "Life in New France, 1663-1760" Our French-Canadian Ancestors Vol. 1.
Ed. Thomas J. Laforest. Palm Harbor, Florida:LISI Press, 1984.

---. ---. ---. Vol. 2. Ed. Thomas J. Laforest. Palm Harbor, Florida:LISI Press, 1984.

Casanova, Jacques-Donat and Armour Landry. America's French Heritage. La Documentation
Francaise and the Quebec Official Publishers, 1976.

Charbonneau, Hubert and Jacques Legare. Repertoire des Actes de Bapteme, Mariage, Sepulture,
et des Recensements du Quebec Ancien. Vol 14 (1700-1729). Montreal:Les Presses de
L'Universite de Montreal, 1981.

---. ---. Vol. 15 (1700-1729). Montreal:Les Presses de L'Universite de Montreal, 1981.

---. ---. Vol. 26 (1729-1749). Montreal:Les Presses de L'Universite de Montreal, 1984.

---. ---. Vol. 41 (1750-1765). Montreal:Les Presses de L'Universite de Montreal, 1988.

Cyr, Roger. "The Forgotten Filiation." The Genealogist. Aug. 1981, 31-47.

Dicinson, John a. and Brian Young. A Short History of Quebec. Toronto:Copp Clark Pitman, 1993.

Dow, Lynnette M. "Brault-The Journey." Lifelines. Spring 1995:49-61.

Ducharme, Richard. Letter. Feb. 2, 1997.

Harris, Richard C. The Seigneurial System in Early Canada. Quebec Les Presses de L'Universite
Laval, 1968.

Hazen, Celeste P. John Pember, A History of the Pember Family in America. np, 1939.

Hemon, Louis. Maria Chapdelaine. Toronto:MacMillan Co. of Canada, 1923.

Institut Genealogique Drouin. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens-Francais. 1608-1760. Three Vols.
Montreal:Institut Genealogique Drouin. 1965; rev. ed, 1975.

Jette, Rene. Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles du Quebec. Montreal:Les Presses de
L'Universite de Montreal, 1983.

Lamonday, Gladys. Letter. nd.

Lavender, David. Winner Take All:The Trans-Canada Canoe Trail. New York:McGraw-Hill Book Co,
1977.

"Loiselle Marriage Records." Microfilm

Mongeau, Antonio. Mariages de St. Pierre-de Sorel 1675-1865. Ed. Benoit Pontbriand. Sillery, Que:
Pontbriand, 1967.

Pontbriand, Benoit. Letter. Nov. 7, 1982.

---. Letter. nd.

---. "Briand dit Sansregret (Pontbriand)." Lifelines. Spring 1992:63-86.

Potaski, Michael R. "Garrand's in New York." Lifelines. Spring 1995:37-41

Senior, Elinor K. Redcoats and Patriotes: The Rebellions in Lower Canada 1837-1838. Stitsville,
Ontario:Canada Wings, 1985.

Stacey, C.P. "Military History." Canadiana. Vol. 7. Toronto: Grolier of Canada Limited, 1970 ed.

Tanquay, Cyprien MSGR. Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles Canadiennes. Vols. 1-7.
Pawtucket, R.I.:Quintin-Rock Publication, 1982.

"Town of Champlain." Plattsburgh Republican. Jan. 20, 1838. 1:1.

Zoltvany, Yves F. Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil: Governor of New France 1703-1725.
Toronto:McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1974.

"500 Nations." CBS Television. New York:CBS


My Ancestry
Jean-Baptiste Briand (1658-1765) and Anne Larande
Jean-Baptiste Briand-Sansregret (1681-1761) and Marie-Anne Baillargeon
Jean-Baptiste Briand-Sansregret (1724-1780) and Marie-Francoise Jodoin-Larose

Jean-Baptiste Eustache Brilland (1760-1839) and Marie-Therese Perron
Francois-Eustache Pontbriand (1798-1878) and Felicite Vandal
Joseph-Eustache Pontbriand (1823-1886) and Angeline Lepine
Joseph P. Pombrio (1853-1940) and Matilde Bruso

David Pombrio (1874-1918) and Addie Neddo
Oral David Pombrio (1901-1981) and Blanche Albain Elizabeth Neomian Laravie
David Joseph Pombrio (1934---) and Marian Patricia Baker
Susan Lee Pombrio (1958---)


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