La Toussaint

Digging into Arthur C Dale’s family history was like diving into a treasure hunt with twists and turns! My paid historian had a real challenge trying to uncover details about Arthur’s mysterious dad, Dr. John Thomas Dale.

But, luck was on our side when it came to Arthur’s mom, Ines “Clementine” Galatas. Her side of the family tree led us to a quaint cemetery in LaCombe, Louisiana, called Dubuisson Cemetery.

Before we journey to New Orleans, let’s explore how our ancestors arrived in Canada then with Iberville the Gulf Coast. In the three decades starting in 1632, a significant number of immigrants to New France came from Perche, in what’s known as the Percheron immigration movement. Many Percherons were recruited to work in seigneuries (The seigneurs were nobles or merchants that were granted a large piece of land) being established along the Saint Lawrence valley.

It’s truly remarkable to discover just how many of these early colonists are my ancestors. But there’s something deeper brewing beneath the surface. As I trace their footsteps, I realize they were more than just settlers; they were comrades in arms, facing battles, sickness, and even death together. The sheer courage and resilience they must have possessed is almost unimaginable.

And as the story unfolds, I can’t help but feel there’s more to it than meets the eye. Perhaps the key to their strength lies in the formidable women who stood by their sides as wives. As we journey deeper into their lives, let’s prepare to uncover the untold stories of bravery and endurance that bind us to these extraordinary individuals.

As we peel back the layers of our family’s past, we stumble upon a startling truth: the first marriage contract in Nouvelle France (Canada) was signed when Anne Cloutier was just 11 years old. Astonishingly, she was my 8th great-grandmother. Her union with the 30-year-old Robert Giffard unveils a tale of courage and sacrifice, but also of heartbreaking loss. Tragically, Anne’s life was cut short at the tender age of 22, after birthing six children in that only two survived their infancy.

It’s moments like these that foreshadow the tumultuous journey ahead. As we delve deeper, we’ll come face to face with the harsh realities that prompted the French government to reassess their approach to colonizing the New World. Brace yourself for the twists and turns as we uncover the untold chapters of our family’s history.