Malenia,

Boy, are we going to have a lot to talk about!!!

I just this afternoon dragged my 15-mos. old son to find Desneo's (several spellings) grave in Griswoldville, now part of Colrain, Mass. And, after trudging around in the snow, I did find it! I didn't get any new information, but it was neat anyhow! He would be my great-great-great-grandfather, as well.

I do have some information on Desneo, including his death certificate, obituary, and record of his marriage to Esther in Keeseville, NY, in 1868. I have his parents' names as listed on his death and marriage records, but his mother's name is different on each one. But, I know it is the same Desneo. His father's name was Jean-Baptiste and his mother's name is either Marie Labelle or Laysea Hebert. But, I can find NOTHING on them.

My computer program with 30,000 plus names just crashed a month or so ago; so, I am basically starting all over again. It's okay, though, because I hadn't documented my sources very well, and since it is very important, I will be sure to do it right this time.

I am pretty sure my great-grandmother, who died last June at the age of 97 used to talk about visiting a cousin in the Greenfield, Mass., area years ago. Maybe this was your grandmother???

Well, please e-mail me and I will be happy to e-mail you all of the information that I have!

Jason M. LaForest
North Adams, MA

hi jason
so i'm still a little confused. are we talking about the same people? Darcus Shambo and Esther Plankey are who i was told are my GGG-Gparents. my search is to research them and their heritage... because i am named after their daughter. do you have info saying their daughter is Malenia? She married Everett Stafford, and they are both buried in Florida MA.
now i'm curious... who was your GGM that died last year? my GM died in the winter of 1994. Mary Malenia Sibley. maiden name Sullivan. lived in Greenfield her whole life.
thanks for getting back to me on this..... i hope we can help each other out with info.
Malenia Sibley

Hey, Malenia!

YES! We are talking about the same people! The french-canadians made up nicknames because they came from such big families. It was a way to distinguish which of a families ten or so children you were related to. Shambo is actually a nickname for ARCHAMBAULT and Plankey a nickname for PLANTIER. Now, I have found Desneo's name as Adolphe, Darcus, Darceneau, Desneo, Darcno, etc. Three reasons for that: 1) many people could not read or write, especially in english when talking about french-canadians who moved to the states to find work; 2) more than likely, it was a family member who was filling out a birth, marriage, death certificate, or giving information for an obituary, and they may not have had all of their facts straight; and, 3) there was actually a good deal of prejudice against the french-canadians who came here to find work since all of the European immigrants were already here and looking for work, too. (The french-canadians, for the most part comprised a wave of immigration that took place, for the most part, between 1900-1930, or so.)

I will post the information I have for Desneo later today, but I have to run for now! I checked my resources, and yes--Malenia was Desneo and Esther's daughter who was married to Everett Stafford. When Desneo died in 1929, they were living in Greenfield, according to his obituary. My great-grandmother who died last year was Rose Esther ARCHAMBAULT LaForest, whose father was Alfred ARCHAMBAULT, son of Desneo and Esther.

More later...
Jason M. LaForest
North Adams, MA

P.S. What information do you have on Esther???

North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA 01247
Monday, July 8, 1929
page 3

Desneo Archambeault, 83, died at the home of his son, Alfred Archambeault of Versailles Avenue, Greylock, on Saturday afternoon. [Greylock is a section on the west end of North Adams where many french-canadian families settled.]
Mr. Archambeault was born in Canada but resided in Colrain and Zoar during the greater part of his life. He made his home in this city the past three years and was held in high esteem by those who knew him.
He is survived by four sons, Alfred Archambeault of this city, Noe Archambeault of Greenfield, David Archambeault of Hancock and Felix Archambeault of Colrain, a daughter, Mrs. Edward Stafford of Greenfield, a sister, Mrs. Eli Laperriere of Milbury and a brother, Hildas Archambeault of Canada. He is also survived by 30 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held from the church of the Holy Family in Greylock, of which he was a devout member, tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. Burial will be in Branch Cemetery at Griswoldville. [end]
--------------------------

Alfred Archambeault was my great-great-grandfather. His daughter Rosalie Esther married Herman Felix LaForest. Their son, Herman Edward married Helene Rose Bourdon. Their son, Robert Edward married Jo Anne Camp. And, you have me...Jason M. LaForest.

City Clerk's Office, North Adams, MA 01247
Book 4, Page 174, Line 215

Name: Desneo Archambault
born: [no date]
at: St.-Pie, Canada [southeast of Montreal]
died: July 6, 1929
age: 83-3-15 [years-months-days]
marital status: widowed [I have not been able to locate any records for the death of his wife, Esther Plantier, who would have died some time between 1884 and 1929.]
died at: 2 Versailles Avenue [North Adams, MA]
cause of death: chronic nephritis and hypertrophied prostate, cerebral hemorrhage
buried: Branch [Cemetery], Griswoldville, Colrain, MA
father: Jean-Baptiste
born at: Rodden, Canada [I think this is supposed to be Rowdan, which is in Quebec, but it is written as Rodden, which to the City Clerk would have sounded the same anyhow!]
mother: Marie Labelle
born at: Rodden, Canada
occupation: retired
residence: 2 Versailles Avenue
-------------
(end of record)

jason, thanks for the great info you've been sending me. sorry to say i really know no specific details on Esther. except that she was from new york.
i do have some details on Malenia. her husbands name wasn't Edward, it was Everett Nathan Stafford. she was born Mar 28, 1882 in Lower Jay, NY. she died Jan 15, 1973, in Greenfield, MA. she died of Arteriesclerotic heart disease, severe anemia, cancer of the bowel.

what i really want to figure out is..... wherer does the name Malenia come from? i saw a picture of Malenia some years ago, and remember her being of, or partial, indian heritage. so who was indian? Esther? or Darcus? and what kind of indian? do you know these answers?

thanks.

Jason, I have noticed your message about Darseno Archambault. My husband is an Archambo. We know that the one of the other version of this spelling is Archambeau, and maybe even bault and a few others. We have been able to trace some of his relatives to Clinton County, New York area. And we know that they are originally from Canada. We have been told French, Canadian. Some names we have are Jon R. Archambo his father is Robert Eugene Archambo, his father is Arnes Archambo, His father is Clarence Archambo and Mother is May. Arne had several brothers names James, Agustus, B. Archambo, Frances, and Albert, all born in New York. We have not been able to find Clarence's father, but it is possible that he could be Lois Archambo. Does any of this sound familar? Thanks for your time. Della

This is really more about Della's reply to Jason, I think. I don't have info (or any connection that I know of to) Darseno. But I do have connections to the other people Della mentioned. Specifically, Clarence and May Archambo were my GG Uncle and Aunt. Clarence was the youngest of 9 children of Augustus James and Caroline (PRATT) Archambo. Clarence's 2nd oldest brother, Arthur James, was my G Grandfather. I would be happy to trade information with you (or anyone with connection to this family) and would in particular be interested in your sources. I have this family coming from Canada ca. 1852 to Phoenix, Town of Schroeppel, Oswego Co, NY, not Clinton Co, NY. according to 1880 Census.

How exciting, to find someone related. I really don't have much info on Clarence and May. I did find him on the federal census. I could have cited the wrong county. I need to go back and check to be certain. I know a lot of relatives came were in Clinton County, but some were elsewhere. I was trying to find who is Clarence's father. I know of a Luis Archambo, but not certain where he fits into this. I will check my resources later today and get back with you. Thanks for replying, I do appreciate it very much. Talk to you soon, Della

I have Clarence Archambo in the 1920 census. He is 44 years old. Living in New York Countyy Onondaga, township Dewitt. He is married to May. At this time they have 6 children, all sons. They are James P. Agustus E. Arnes E. Antoher male who's name start with a B. I can't make out the whole name. And they have Frances L. and Albert. Arnes is my husbands Grandfather. email me at my and we will exchange info. jaaad@earthlink.net. Thanks, Della