My attempt to create a story that goes along with my family tree.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Robert Family

Charlotte Roberts married Charles Simard/Seymour in upper Michigan in 1874.  Her ancestors were some of the original settlers in New France.

This write up is adapted from a copy that was sent to me from a distant Roberts cousin.

The first known Robert was Pierre Robert.  He was born in LaRochelle, France in about 1580.  His wife was Leonne Rembault, and they had two children.  Pierre died before 1637



One of Pierre's children was Andre Robert dit Lafontaine.  He was born in Breuilaufa, Angoumouis, France, just east of LaRochelle, in 1607.  He married Catherine Bonin in LaRochelle on February 20, 1629.  they had four children before Catherine died.  Andre remarried, but did not have any more children. He survived a fifteen month siege of LaRochelle in 1627-1628 by Cardinal Richelieu. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_La_Rochelle) He died in 1663 and was buried September 5, 1663.

One of Andre's sons was Louis Robert dit Lafontaine.  He was baptized September 12, 1638 in LaRochelle, France.  He immigrated to New France in May of 1665 as part of an army to suppress the native people in the area of Trois-Rivieres.  He married Marie Bougery, from Quebec, in 1666.  He was a shoemaker and a solder, and eventually was listed as living in Boucherville.  He and his wife had 11 children.

Pierre Robert dit Lafontaine was one of Louis' children.  He was born in Boucherville, Quebec on August 19, 1671.  He married Angelique Ptolomee in 1698 and they had seven children.  Pierre was a fur trader, and appears to have worked with his brothers.  He died at Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit on August 16, 1716.  Today this is Detroit, Michigan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pontchartrain_du_D%C3%A9troit

His son, Pierre Robert dit Lapierre.  He was boen November 11, 1704 in Lachine, Ville de Montreal.  He married Marie Reine Benoit dit Livernois on March 27, 1726.  They had eight children together.  Pierre drowned on February 28, 1740.

Pierre's son Joseph Robert was born in Longueuil, Quebec on June 10, 1737.  He married Veronique Gauthier dit Ste. Germaine on February 19, 1759.  They had twelve children.  Joseph died in Mareville, Quebec on October 10, 1832.

Joseph's son Jean Francois Regis Robert was born in Boucherville, Quebec on June 29, 1777. He was a farmer and a laborer. He married Margurite Baudry on August 16, 1808 in Marieville, Quebec. They had twelve children. He died on August 2, 1832.

Markers from left to right: Yellow marks Lachine, Red marks Boucherville, Blue marks Marieville, and Green marks Trois-Rivieres.  Trios-Rivieres is about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. 


Jean's son was Antoine Roberts. This is the first time there was an "s" in Roberts. Antoine was born on March 3, 1816 in Marieville, Quebec. He and Domitilde "Matilda" Poyer were married on February 20, 1838 in Rouville County, Quebec. They had eleven children together.  In 1845, he was a farmer in Rouville County, Quebec. In 1860 he lived in Peru, Clinton County, New York. He died in late 1879 or in early 1880 in Peru, New York. 
Matilda (Poyer) Roberts

It is said that Matilda Poyer Roberts moved to Ford River, Michigan sometime after Antoine's death. She is listed in the 1880 US census in Ford River, Delta County. She died May 19, 1906 in Ford River, Michigan. 

Antoine and Matilda were Charlotte Roberts' parents. 

Alexander Roberts was Antoine and Matilda's son. He was born in Keesville, Clinton County, New York on January 9 in either 1855 or 1856. He married Cordelia (possibly Caroline) Beaudin at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Escanaba, Michigan.  They had one son.  Cordelia passed away, and Alex remarried Adeline Tessier of Fond du Loc, Wisconsin on January 2 1889.  They had ten children together.  Alex worked for Chicago Northwestern Railroad, and was later the Sherriff of Escanaba, Michigan for eight years. At the time of his death, on May 2, 1907, he owned a livery stable in the 800 block of Ludington Street, the main street, in Escanaba. Adeline passed away on August 11, 1944. They are both buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Escanaba. 

Alexander Roberts at intersection of 7th St. and 1st Ave. in Escanaba, Mi. Abt 1906.


Alex and Adeline's son was Raymond George Roberts. He was born on March 12, 1897 in Escanaba, Michigan. He married Agnes Peterson on October 23, 1922. They had two children, Mary Hellen and Raymond Clinton. Agnes passed away in 1929. Raymond remarried Hazel Deal. Hazel had worked as a housekeeper for Raymond after Agnes' death. Raymond was a boiler foreman at the Escanaba Paper Mill. He liked gardening, fishing, and dogs. Raymond and Hazel had four children together. They were James, Raymond Peter, Mary Margaret, and Frances Charles. Raymond passed away on June 16, 1959. 


Pierre Robert (1580) is my 10th great grandfather.

6 comments:

  1. Great job! Thanks for sharing! Just for reference, Alexander is my Great grandfather, Raymond my grandfather, for those that read this.

    Thanks Katie!
    Ray Roberts

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  2. A wonderful site. I am descended from Louis Robert dit Lafontaine, through his son, Francois. Our name changed from Robert to Roberts when my grandfather, Narcisse (Nelson) left Hemmingford, Quebec for Northern New York in 1925. -Mark J. Roberts, Schenectady, NY

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  3. Thanks for your reply, Mark! I'm always interested to hear from people who are related, even distantly.

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  4. I am a decendant of this family. Alex had son named Joseph. Joseph had a son named Clifford. Clifford is my grandfather. This was just wonderful reading!

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  5. Thank you so very much for writing this. I just loved it! The last with the Robert surname in my line is Prudent. I'm just outside Chicago in Illinois, and I just missed the opportunity over the summer to visit Escanaba. Now I have to!

    We did one side of Lake Michigan one three day trip, and the other side another three day trip. I'm definitely saving this and making sure I get there the next time I'm up there.

    FYI, the Robert descendants on my side of the family landed marrying Thyfault women three generations from Prudent, and the Thyfaults had much to do with the settling of Bourbonais, Illinois. They were also fur trappers. Nice to see all of the distant relatives!

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  6. https://grandefamillerobert.com/familychart.php?personID=I112585&tree=2

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