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Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 4 Dec 2002 11:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 Apr 2003 11:42AM GMT
Surnames: LeClair, Auclair, Cook
I had previously asked if anyone knew where a person had lived in Quebec who reported his/her birthplace as "Masco, CE", (or Quebec)? I received lots of leads, but have not been able to find my ancestor. Frank LaClair (also O'Clair, so possibly Auclair) who claimed this place of origin. Along the way I have found at a dozen other persons also claiming the same place of origin, including at least one apparent Anglophone, Sandy Cook. I know that these people MAY be referring to Mascouche, Yamaska, Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, St-Demase, etc.

My question now is much more specific. Does anyone have any record (probably in the U. S.) of a person who claimed to be from "Masco" and was later proven to be from a specific town or parish in Quebec? Such a record may not be despositive, but it would be very helpful in guiding my continuing reseach

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Bridget (View posts)
Posted: 11 Jun 2003 12:57AM GMT
Classification: Query
I had found a Quebec marriage record which stated that the groom's parents were from Maska. After much searching I found an answer on the Rootsweb Quebec Research mailing list. On Jan. 5, 2003 someone posted the answer to your question, and mine, too.

He quoted an article written in 1879, which stated that Mosco was actually St. Hyacinth, which is in Yamaska and was called Maska by the locals and in English became Mosko.

Hope this helps you. It did help me find my missing ancestor from Maska.

Bridget

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 7 Aug 2003 9:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
I had a ggggrandmother Margaret Maher who in the records of Vermont was listed as coming from Mosco Quebec, and I have traced her family back to the Parish of St. Henri in Mascouche. There is a library in Manchester NH the American Canadian Genealogical Society has the published baptismal, marriage and buriel records for this parish.

I hope this helps.

Phil

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 20 May 2009 4:16PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello, I do have an ancestor who was apparently from "Maco, PQ"; My ggg grandmother's death certificate states her place of birth as "Masco". I have reached a dead-end.
Her married name was Margaret Bruso. Her maiden name was listed on several documents as Margaret "Penn". Her father's name was listed as Joseph Penn or Joseph "Pann".
I'm sure the spellings were changed or Anglicized. They were French-speaking people who settled in Highgate, VT, but who also resided in Swanton, Franklin, East Berkshire.

According to family lore, one or both possessed Indian heritage. I am trying desperately trying to find more information about these people.

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 22 May 2009 9:28AM GMT
Classification: Query
To Dburbov !

It would be better if you had some dates to accompany your names for time frame purposes. Give us the details of the marriage certificate of Marguerite and her husband name.

Just for example in the 18th century the Seignoiry of Maska or Yamaska which is now called Ste-Hyacinthe.

Trying to help

Ginette

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 22 May 2009 1:51PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you, Ginette:

My ggg-grandmother, Marguerite BRUSO was reported on her death certificate as having been born in "Masco" abt 1826.
Her name on several of her children's birth certificates was
"Margaret Penn", or Pann. Her father's name was listed as "Joseph PANN" on her death certificate. I found a baptizm record for her daughter, my gg-grandmother, Zoa Bruso, stating her parents were "Marguerite Sanschagrin" and "Jean Brousseau". The Vermont records all list him as "John Bruso". I have not been able to find a marriage record. Both were documented on US Census records as having been born in Canada. They were French-speaking. They lived in various communities in Franklin County, Vermont. The seem to have spent most time in Highgate, VT.

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 22 May 2009 6:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
I looked at the marriages for Marguerite Sanschagrin

There is one (do not have details)
1821 Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets
Joseph Bourassa Marguerite Roux Sanschagrin

I looked at a map and there is a small municipality (15 miles) from it called Manseau.

I know it is just another speculation. Do you have the marriage date of Marguerite and Jean. Also when did they move to the States. When do you see them for the first time on U.S. Census. Where were their children born.

Ginette

Re: Masco, Quebec - A new tack on an old question

Posted: 23 May 2009 2:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
I do not have more information, other than the baptism record for their daughter, Zoa (or Zoe), was recorded at Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Swanton, VT in 1853. On that record,
they record their names as Jean Brousseau and Marguerite Sanschagrin. However, on all subsequent VT documents and
US Census records, they are recorded as "John BRUSO" and "Margaret PENN", or "PENNE". Marguerite's father is recorded as "Joseph PANN" on her Vermont death certificate.
Marguerite was born in 1826 in Masco and John (or Jean) was born between 1819 and 1821 in "Canada". Both were French-speaking and one reported had an Indian heritage, although I don't know which. Most of their married life was spent in Swanton, VT.

Re: BRUSO from Quebec to Northern Vermont

Posted: 23 May 2009 8:03PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello,

Having spent some time being stumped by northern Vermont genealogy myself, I thought I might know where to locate your ancestors. But I've spent several hours trying to solve your puzzle, and I'm absolutely out of "tricks up my sleeve." Sorry.

So, for your notes or your further research:

1860 US Census Fairfield, Franklin Co., VT
John BRUSO age 40, farmer, Real estate valued $240; personal property at $30; born Canada, cannot read or write
Margaret, age 25, b. Canada, cannot read or write
Zoa, age 5, born in Vermont
Melissa, age 2, born in Vermont

1870 US Census Highgate, Franklin Co., VT
(Indexed at Ancestry.com as BRACE)
NOTE: all reported born in Canada this census
John Brocu, 42, farm laborer
Margaret, 36, keeping house
Zoa, 15, at home
Joseph, 10
Lilor (?) (female), age 7
Louise, 3

1880 US Census Sheldon, Franklin Co., VT
John Bruso, 59, laborer, b. Canada
Margaret, wife, age 56, keeping house, b. Canada
Louisa, daughter, 14, b. VT
Levi, son, age 12, b. VT

1900 US Census Highgate, Franklin Co., VT
John Bruso, b. Sept 1819, 80 years old, married 54 years, b. Canada. ARRIVED 1825, NATURALIZED
Margaret, wife, b. June 1825, age 74, mar. 54 yrs; has had 9 children and 4 are living; b. Canada; ARRIVED 1831.
Louise, daughter, b. March 1867, age 33, single
Joseph, son, b. Aug 1861, age 38, Divorced; Farm laborer
Levi, son, b. Dec. 1868, age 31, single, Laborer.
(They are enumerated just before Peter and Zoe Lambert and their family, including two of their grandchildren.)

NOTE: IF the above 1900 entry is true, both John and Margaret arrived in the US as young children - perhaps other relations can be found in earlier censuses. In addition, John is Naturalized, which required applying and giving birth date and location. These application and citizenship certificate should exist, probably at the state level. I've never sent for a Vermont naturalization before, so I'm not sure where you would write.

Before the French Catholic Church in Swanton opened its doors in 1854 (although you have a 1853 date for Zoe's baptism?) the French in this area either waited for Missionaries to arrive and perform the sacraments, OR they traveled back to Quebec. Sometimes baptisms and even wedding "blessings" were performed YEARS after the actual event. Not all of these records survived, unfortunately, in the case of the missionaries. An excellent explanation where many were performed is at:
http://www.vt-fcgs.org/catholic.html

Other thoughts:
There is a Quebec name that is spelled PIN. In fact, one Jean Baptiste PIN married Tharsille SAUVAGEAU (an early French Canadian name with origins in France) on 18 Oct. 1825 at Ste-Martine. This same couple was living in unstate New York State when a missionary registered their child's baptism at St-Jean-Chrysostome:

(Translated) 12 April 1840, baptized Marguerite, age 6 months, daughter of Jean Baptiste PIN, farm laborer in New York, and Tarsille Savageau. Godparents: Charles Gagne and Felicite Savois.

Another possibility for PIN is the PAYAN family from St-Hyacinthe, which is in your "MASKO" area. There is a possible Marguerite Payan baptized there in 1826.

Also, it was common in northern Vermont and New York to shorten French names - so ARPIN, DESPINS or DEPIN, as well as LEPINE, might well become simply "PINN."

Other information:
The LDS at familysearch.org, in the IGI has some transcribed records from the State Vital Records of Vermont. These pertain to your BRUSO family:

13 March 1866 Highgate Township, a "(female)" BRUSO, born to John BRUSO (This is Louise, most probably)
9 Sept 1868 Highgate Township, Levi BRUSO, to John and Margaret.
9 Sept 1868 Highgate Township, Oliver BRUSO, to John and Margaret.
(We can't tell from this if they were actually twins - it might be a variation on the given name, at the transcribers discretion.)

Perhaps of interest in this same State Vital record transcription:
18 April 1865, at St. Albans, Victoria L BRUSO, to Theodore and Mary.
This Theodore is in St. Albans as early as 1850, where you will find him indexed at Ancestry.com as BURSOT, but it is actually written BRUSOT.

Good luck!
Shari Strahan

Re: BRUSO from Quebec to Northern Vermont

Posted: 24 May 2009 3:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Dear Shari:

I can't tell you how grateful I am that you took the time to do this research! If there is any way I can reciprocate, please let me know. I intend to take what you have given me and run with it!

Best Regards,

Deb
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