The Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal catalogued in February ten Quebec families histories and one from Ontario for its genealogy collection.
The Grande Bibliothèque is the flagship library facility of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). All books published in Quebec, including family histories, must be deposited at the Grande Bibliothèque. They form part of the national collection.
Although most of the family histories at the Grande Bibliothèque are written in French, if you find one about your ancestors, you will probably figure out a way to use it in your research.
If interested in learning more about the books listed below, contact BAnQ by completing the online form. (Click on English in the top right corner of form to see the English-language form.) The people at BAnQ will respond in English or French, depending on the language of inquiry, within a couple of days.
Family histories
The family names in the following new books have been highlighted in bold.
To help, I have provided a brief description in English after each title below.
Reconnaissance et mémoire au cœur : les Martel, histoire d’une famille by Martin Bergeron. Alma, Quebec : Martin Bergeron, famille Martel, 2019. 374 pages.
A 160-year history about the Martels who settled in Alma, Quebec. When the book was launched in October 2019 at the Alma library, 125 descendants of the author’s grandparents, Henri Martel and Ophélia (Ophilia) Martin, attended.
The train of events: the Blais story by Solange Blais Sigouin. Second edition. Gatineau, Quebec : Editech Documentation Inc., 2019. 103 pages.
An historical account about the Blais family, built around the arrival and disappearance of the railroad in Embrun, a Franco-Ontarian village in Prescott and Russell United Counties, between Ottawa and Cornwall.
Une famille ordinaire by Ann Charron. Gatineau, Quebec : Ann Charron, 2020(?). 361 pages.
An ordinary family is about the Charron / Charon and Lapointe families. Includes a bibliography.
Latour : Balard dit Latour : un soldat devenu habitant by Daniel Latour and Madeleine Blanche Lussier. Sorel-Tracy, Quebec : Société historique Pierre-de-Saurel Inc., 2019. 272 pages.
About Louis Balard dit Latour, 1649-1724, a soldier who settled on a farm. Includes a bibliography. This is one of 14 publications, produced by the historical society in Sorel-Tracy, about the region’s founding families and their first three generations. The book is available in select Quebec bookstores, such as Archambault and Renaud-Bray.
Michel Lemay, premier ancêtre (1631-1684) : de Chênehutte à Lotbinière by Claude Le May. Quebec : Claude Le May, 2019. 361 pages.
About Michel Lemay, 1631-1684, who travelled from Chênehutte, France to Lotbinière, Quebec. This is a revised and expanded edition of the book on the author’s “first ancestor.”Includes a bibliography.
Bérard : Gabriel Bérard dit Lépine : commerçant de fourrure by Madeleine Blanche Lussier et Roland Plante. Sorel-Tracy, Quebec : Société historique Pierre-de-Saurel Inc., 2019. 367 pages.
About Gabriel Bérard dit Lépine, a fur trader, who lived from 1664 to about 1705. Includes a bibliography. This is one of 14 publications, produced by the historical society in Sorel-Tracy, about the region’s founding families and their first three generations. The book is available in select Quebec bookstores, such as Archambault and Renaud-Bray.
Rageot : Gilles Rageot : un notaire royal au caractère fougueux by Madeleine Blanche Lussier and Roland Plante. Sorel-Tracy, Quebec : Société historique Pierre-de-Saurel Inc., 2019. 306 pages.
About Gilles Rageot, a royal notary with a “fiery character,” who lived from 1642 to 1692. Includes a bibliography. This is one of 14 publications, produced by the historical society in Sorel-Tracy, about the region’s founding families and their first three generations. The book is available in select Quebec bookstores, such as Archambault and Renaud-Bray.
Biographie des Mathon : généalogie descendante de Sylvain Matton, fils de Jean-Louis et Jeannine La Victoire : de l’Espagne à la Nouvelle-France by par Sylvain Matton, 1997; updated by Gabrielle Matton. 2nd edition. Trois-Rivières, Quebec : Gabrielle Matton, 2019. 665 pages.
Biography of the Mathons, from Spain to New France. Family history of the author, Sylvain Matton, the son of Jean-Louis Matton and Jeannine La Victoire. Joseph Mathon was born in 1714. Includes a bibliography and index.
George C. Fréchette & Éva Pellerin : leurs enfants et leurs petits-enfants by Noël G. Richard. Sherbrooke, Quebec : Noël G. Richard, 2019. 56 pages.
About George C. Fréchette and Éva Pellerin and their children and grandchildren. François Freschet, about 1654-about 1722; George C. Fréchette, 1884-1980; and Éva Pellerin, about 1885-1938. Includes a bibliography.
Joseph Léopold Letendre & Clara Proulx : leurs enfants et leurs petits-enfants by Noël G. Richard. Sherbrooke, Québec : Noël G. Richard, 2019. 60 pages.
About Joseph Léopold Letendre and Clara Proulx and their children and grandchildren. Pierre Letendre, about 1636-1710; Joseph Léopold, 1878-1973; and Clara Proulx, 1882-1982. Includes a bibliography.
Au-delà du temps by Raymonde Scrosati with Réjeanne Scrosati. Waterville, Quebec : Raymonde Scrosati, 2019. 477 pages.
Beyond time is about the Scrosati family history and Joseph-Angelo Scrosti, 1859-1940. Includes a bibliography.
