Steve’s Genealogy Blog

On Wednesday evening I spent a couple of hours at my local Family History Center to browse through the microfilmed parish records of Szwelice, Poland. I had been waiting about two months for these films to arrive and was happy to learn that they are now available.

The Family History Library catalog includes seven films with records from Szwelice, Poland. On Wednesday, I examined two of these films: FHL INTL Film 1958806 and FHL INTL Film 1958807.

I acquainted myself with the records included in these microfilms. Each film was divided into several Items, each Item being a single book of birth/baptism, marriage, or death records.

FHL INTL Film 1958806

• Item 1: Births/Baptisms continued from FHL INTL Film 1958805 - October 1867-December 1869
• Item 2: Birth/Baptisms from 1870-1879
• Item 3: Births/Baptisms from 1880-1884
• Item 4: Births/Baptisms from 1885-1889
• Item 5: Marriages from 1826-1853
• Item 6: Marriages from 1853-1881 (film ends in the middle of the records from 1880; it includes 1880 marriages #1-26)

FHL INTL Film 1958807

• Item 1: Marriages 1853-1881 (film begins in the middle of the records from 1880; it includes 1880 marriages #25-28)
• Item 2: Marriages 1882-1889
• Item 3: Deaths 1826-1846
• Item 4: Deaths 1847-1877
• Item 5: Deaths 1878-1885
• Item 6: Deaths 1886-1889
• Item 7: Records from Święcieniec Parish
• Item 8: Records from Święcieniec Parish

When examining these films, I recorded the exact name of the book microfilmed in each item so that I could include these names in my source citations.

Each book included a label on the front cover, describing its contents. These labels appear to have been added at some relatively recent time, since the labels on all the books are written in the same hand.

The books of births/baptisms were titled:

Księga Ochrzczonych
parafii Szwelice
Od #### do #### r

The books of marriages were titled:

Księga Małżenstw
parafii Szwelice
Od #### do #### r

The books of deaths were titled:

Księga Zaślubionych
parafii Szwelice
Od #### do #### r

To cite my sources, I want to use the guidelines described in Evidence Explained (Mills, Elizabeth Shown. 2007. Evidence explained: citing history sources from artifacts to cyberspace. Baltimore, Md: Genealogical Pub. Co.). Although Mills does not provide examples for Polish church records, she does provide a format for German church records (section 7.40). Adapting Mills’ recommendations for German church records to Polish church records, the format for a source list entry should include:

Name of parish (location of parish). Polish-language label created by the filmer. Current location of original register. FHL microfilm number and item number. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The format for the first reference note should include:

Name of parish (location of parish), “Title of book in Polish [Title of book translated into English],” page on which the entry appears, name of individual to whom the entry refers, date of entry; filmed as FHL catalog title; FHL microfilm number and item number.

The format for subsequent reference notes should include:

Name of parish (location of parish), “Title of book in Polish,” page on which the entry appears, name of person to whom the entry refers.

I know the present name and location of the parish: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Szwelice, gm. Karniewo, pow. makowski, woj. mazowieckie, Republic of Poland). Although the name of the parish changed over the years, I assume I should use the present name and location of the parish in the source citations.

On Wednesday evening, I had recorded the title of the books in Polish and English. By referring to the Family History Library catalog, I learned that the microfilms were made from manuscripts in Warsaw and in the Archdiocesan Archives in Płock.

I still need the Polish-language label created by the filmer, something I’ll have to record on my next visit to the Family History Center. I’ll also need to record the page number and entry number for each record I plan to cite.

With the current trend of genealogy software manufacturers to accommodate source citations that comply with the guidelines in Evidence Explained, I’m looking forward to getting my citations in order!

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On Tuesday, I stopped by Filoli in Woodside, California to take some pictures of the hydrangeas in bloom.

Deep Blue Hydrangea

SOURCE: Deep Blue Hydrangea (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 Jul 2008.

Pink Hydrangea

SOURCE: Pink Hydrangea (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 Jul 2008.

Light Blue Hydrangea

SOURCE: Light Blue Hydrangea (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 Jul 2008.

White Hydrangea

SOURCE: White Hydrangea (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 Jul 2008.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Between 12 Nov 1669 and 18 Nov 1669, Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin were married in the parish of La Visitation de Notre Dame du Château Richer, Château Richer, Canada, New France.

The Marriage Record of Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin - 1669

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Notre Dame de la Visitation, Château Richer, Canada, New France, 1669. Marriage Record of Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin, page 32.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record of Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin. The record reads:

M[arriage] 62
Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin

In the year of O[ur] L[ord] J[esus] Ch[rist] one thousand six hundred sixty-nine, Mister deCaumont, missionary priest, published the bans and not finding any impediment married Pierre Gagnon and Barbe Fortin, living in Cap Tourmente, and in the presence of Jean Gagnon and Étienne Racine, Joseph Gravelle, and Jacques Gamache.
                        F. Fillon, Missionary Priest

This record can be found as image 477/727 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Château Richer (1661-1702). The record which seems to be a transcription made many years after the event, appears on page 32.

The number and letter that precede the names indicate that the event was a marriage, and that marriage was the 62nd in Château Richer for the year 1699.

This record does not state the exact date of the marriage but, based on the dates of the preceding marriage and the subsequent marriage, one can deduce that this marriage occurred between 12 Nov 1669 and 19 Nov 1669.

Two priests are named in this record. Father DeCaumont performed the marriage and Father Fillon recorded the event in the register.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 24 Oct 1699, Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier, wife of Nicolas Gamache, was buried in the Parish Church of St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier - 1699

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Canada, New France, 1699. Death and Burial Record of Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier, recto folio 21.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier. The record reads:

Bur[ial] Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier, wife of Mister Nicolas Gamache

In the year one thousand six hundred ninety-nine on the twenty-fourth day of October, was buried in the parish church of St. Ignace du Cap by me the undersigned parish priest of St. Thomas and missionary to St. Ignace du Cap, the body of the deceased Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier, wife of Mister Nicolas Gamache. She died on the previous day, a sudden death, she being about forty years of age. Assisting with her burial [were] her son Nicolas Gamache, Eustache Fortin, [and] Claude Guimont, who have not signed according to law.
Louis Mathieux, p[riest], mis[sionary]

This record can be found as image 22/948 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Cap-St-Ignace (1679-1808). The record appears on recto folio 21 (the front of folio 21).

Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier appears to have been buried in the parish church, not in the cemetery of the church. This privilege was reserved for the most notable parishioners. As wife of Nicolas Gamache, who was Seigneur and benefactor of the parish, Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier fell into this category.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 30 Oct 1699, Nicolas Gamache, husband of Élisabeth Ursule Cloutier, was buried in the Parish Church of St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Nicolas Gamache - 1699

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Canada, New France, 1699. Death and Burial Record of Nicolas Gamache recto folio 21.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Nicolas Gamache. The record reads:

Bur[ial] of Mister Nicolas Gamache, Seigneur of L’Islet

In the year one thousand six hundred ninety-nine on the thirtieth day of the month of October, was buried in the Parish Church of St. Ignace du Cap, the body of the deceased Mister Nicolas Gamache, Seigneur of L’Islet, benefactor of this parish, he being about sixty-three years of age. He died in the Communion of the Holy Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church, armed with all the Sacraments, after having given by entirely christian feelings to all who assist him to his death to beleive that God by his Pure Goodness made mercy on him. His son Nicolas Gamache, his nephew Eustache Fortin, Jacques Bernier, and Pierre Richard assisted in his burial, who, except for Eustache Fortin, have declared that they do not know how to sign as required by law.
Louis Mathieux, Eustache Fortin

This record can be found as image 22/948 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Cap-St-Ignace (1679-1808). The record appears on recto folio 21 (the front of folio 21).

Nicolas Gamache appears to have been buried in the parish church, not in the cemetery of the church. This privilege was reserved for the most notable parishioners. As Seigneur and benefactor of the parish, Nicolas Gamache fell into this category.

This record includes quite of bit of language that doesn’t occur in most death and burial records from Québec. One section in particular seems to contain a bit of flowery language that I cannot properly transcribe or translate.

UPDATE 03 Aug 2008: Many, many, many thanks to Gilles, The Nomadic Researcher, who consulted the religious copy of this record to clarify the section that was difficult to read and translate. The section in question reads (in French): après avoir donné par des sentiments tout à fait chrétiens Esperance à touts ceux qui l’assistaient à la mort de croire que dieu par sa Pure Bonté Luy aura fait miséricorde, which Gilles has translated as: after having given by entirely christian feelings to all who assist him to his death to beleive that God by his Pure Goodness made mercy on him.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 15 Jan 1703, Marie Marguerite Fortin, wife of Pierre François Fromage, was buried in the cemetery of the parish of Notre Dame de Québec, Québec, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Marie Marguerite Fortin - 1703

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Notre Dame de Québec, Québec, Canada, New France, 1703. Death and Burial Record of Marie Marguerite Fortin verso folio 4.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Marie Marguerite Fortin. The record reads:

Burial Marie Fortin

On the fifteenth day of the month of January 1703, was buried
in the cemetery of this parish Marie Fortin, aged about twenty-
eight years, wife of Mr. François Fromage, after having
received the Sacraments of Penance, Viaticum, and Extreme Unction,
in the presence of Jean Brassard de la Roze, soldier, and other witnesses.
                                              [signed] François Dupré

This record can be found as image 5/259 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Quebec (Notre Dame) (1687-1689). The record appears on verso folio 4 (the back of folio 4).

There exists a transcription found as image 378/564 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Quebec (Notre Dame) (1700-1704). The record appears on the front of page 374.

The birth/baptismal and marriage records list the name of this person as Marguerite Fortin, and the death/burial record lists the name as Marie Fortin. Even though the name changes from record to record, these records are linked together by various other pieces of information in the records, including the names of Marguerite’s parents in the birth/baptismal and marriage records and the name of Marguerite/Marie’s husband in the marriage and death/burial records.

One term in this record deserves additional attention. I have translated the French word “viatique” as “Viaticum”, a Latin word referring the the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist given to a person who is dying.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 28 Dec 1702, Marie Anne Fortin, wife of Étienne Miranbeaux, was buried in the cemetery of the parish of Notre Dame de Québec, Québec, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Marie Anne Fortin - 1702

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Notre Dame de Québec, Québec, Canada, New France, 1703. Death and Burial Record of Marie Anne Fortin verso folio 28 (277).

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Marie Anne Fortin. The record reads:

-Burial- Marie Anne Fortin 40 years

On the 28th of December was buried in this parish church, Marie Anne
Fortin, age forty years, wife of Mr. Mirambeaux after having
received the Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Unction [signed] F. Dupré

This record can be found as image 286/287 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Quebec (Notre Dame) (1687-1689). The record appears on verso folio 28 (277) (the back of folio 28 as numbered for the single book and 277 as numbered for the collection of books).

Much of this record is unreadable. Fortunately, there exists a transcription found as image 352/564 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Quebec (Notre Dame) (1700-1704). The record appears on page 348. My translation of this record is based largely on this transcript.

The husband mentioned in this record, Étienne Miranbeaux, is Marie Anne Fortin’s second husband. Her first husband, Jean Picard, was buried on 29 Nov 1700. Marie Anne Fortin married Étienne Miranbeaux on 07 Jan 1702, a little less than a year before she died.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 21 Nov 1687, Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine, son of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine and Geneviève Gamache, died. On 22 Nov 1687, he was buried in the cemetery of the parish of St. Joachim, co. de Montmorency, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine - 1687

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Joachim, Canada, New France, 1687. Death and Burial Record of Julien Fortin verso folio 1 and recto folio 2.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine. The record reads:

Burial of Julien Fortin

On the twenty-second of November in the year one thousand six hundred eighty-seven, Julien Fortin dit Bellefontaine was buried by me, Louis Soumand, performing the function of pastor, in the cemetery of the parish of St. Joachim, who died in Communion of Our Holy Mother Church on the twenty-first of the same month and year, after having received the Sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist, and [Extreme Unction]. Witnesses present at the funeral were [Antoine Baillon], Alexis Granelle and Jean Granelle who have declared that they do not know how to sign as required by law. Signed L[ouis] Soumande, P[riest]

This record can be found as image 4/6 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for St-Joachim (1687-1689). The record appears on verso folio 1 and recto folio 2 (the back of folio 1 and the front of folio 2).

Part of the record from the top of folio 2 has been destroyed. I was, nonetheless, able to reconstruct the missing section by comparison to other burial records on the same pages and by carefully noting the remnants of words in the damaged section.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 03 Jan 1756, Pierre Fortin, husband of Marie Gertrude Hudon-Beaulieu, died. On 04 Jan 1756, he was buried in the cemetery of the parish of Notre Dame de Bonsecours de L’Islet sur Mer, L’Islet sur Mer, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Pierre Fortin - 1756

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Notre Dame de Bonsecours de L’Islet sur Mer, L’Islet sur Mer, Canada, New France, 1756. Death and Burial Record of Pierre Fortin verso folio 20 (144).

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Pierre Fortin. The record reads:

Burial of Pierre Fortin

     In the year one thousand seven hundred fifty-six, on the fourth of January by Us, priest, was buried the body of Pierre Fortin, age about sixty years, [who] died on the preceding day, armed with the Sacraments of the Church. Assisting with this burial [were] Louis Caron, Jean Baptiste Belangé, and several other parishioners who did not know how to sign.  [signed] Dolbec, priest

This record can be found as image 151/312 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for L’Islet-sur-Mer (1679-1779). The record appears on verso folio 20 (144). The folios bear two numbers; the lower number is the folio number for a limited number of years, while the higher number is the folio number for a larger collection of years.

The age stated in this record is not consistent with Pierre Fortin’s birth in 1756. However, based on his presence at his son Louis’ wedding, Pierre is known to have been living in L’Islet sur Mer in 1742. Although the information in this record does not provide conclusive evidence that the Pierre Fortin named in this record is the Pierre Fortin born in L’Islet sur Mer in 1756, this record is the most likely match.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 21 Mar 1703, Marie Geneviève Fortin, wife of Noël Gagnon, died. On 22 Mar 1703, she was buried in the cemetery of the parish of La Visitation de Notre Dame du Château Richer, Château Richer, Canada, New France.

The Death and Burial Record of Marie Geneviève Fortin - 1703

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. La Visitation de Notre Dame du Château Richer, Château Richer, Canada, New France, 1703. Death and Burial Record of Marie Geneviève Fortin verso folio 8 (205).

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Marie Geneviève Fortin. The record reads:

20.S. Geneviève Fortin

In the year one thousand seven hundred three, on the twenty-first day of March, Geneviève Fortin, wife of Noël Gagnon, age forty three, after having received the Sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist, and Extreme Unction: and was buried the next day in the cemetery of this Church by me, the undersigned parish priest of this parish in the presence of Mister Gagnon, Dufournel, priest, and Mister Jacques LeBlond sub-deacon, who have signed. [signed] [Gaspard] Dufournel, pr[iest], Jacques LeBlond, [G] Gaultier, pr[iest]

This record can be found as image 63/116 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Château Richer (1691-1719). The record appears on verso folio 8 (205). The folios bear two numbers, the lower number is the folio number for a limited number of years, while the higher number is the folio number for a larger collection of years.

The number and letter that precede the name indicate that the event was a burial, and that burial was the 20th in Château Richer for the year 1703.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko