Belanger Branch
Introduction
It is said that "if you are a Bélanger and live in North America the chances are about 99% that you descend from one of two progenitors of the name. That being Francois or Nicolas."2 Nicolas is my 8th Great Grandfather; to learn more about Nicolas I recommend visiting: http://www.belangers.us/E.Nicolas.htm. My 7th Great Grandfather was Nicolas' son Paul. "Paul was born 24 March 1674, married Jeanne Maheu 07 April 1704 and died 01 May 1717."3 From there my line of ancestry goes to Paul's son Jean Baptiste born 1709 and grandson Ignace born 1754. Ignace was the father of Jean Baptiste Belanger my 4th Great Grandfather. You can find more information about Jean and his descendants on this page.
4x Great Grand Parents: Jean Baptiste Belanger & Angele Gagnon
Jean Bapiste Belanger was born May 1, 1780 to Ignace Belanger and Jeanne Pageau in Quebec. Angele Gagnon was born in 1810 to Alexis Gagnon and Pelagie Isoire Provencal. Jean & Angele were married on November 10, 1830. They had 2 children: Alexis born in 1839 and Vitaline born in 1851. Jean (age 80) & Angele (age 51) are listed in the 1861 Census of Canada with their children Alexis (age 22) and Vitaline (age 10) with their home listed as Mégantic, Canada East.5 Jean died in 1864. Angele died on June 20, 18874 and is buried in Saint Marys Cemetery, Lake Leelanau, Michigan4.
3x Great Grand Parents: Alexis Belanger & Adelina Champagne
Alexis was born in 1839, and Adelina was born in 1835.
Alexis is listed in the 1861 Census of Canada, see Generation 4x great grandparents for details.
Alexis & Adeline are listed in the 1870 United States Census as living in Michigan; Alexis (age 31) and Belinda (age 34) with their children: Eugene (age 9), Alexander (age 8), Gregory (age 5), Joseph (age 3), Gideon (age 2), and Samuel (age 3 months).025
Alexis & Adelina are listed in the 1880 United States Federal Census as Alexander (age 41 - Farmer) and Adlina (age 44) with their children: Eugene (age 19), Alexander (age 17), Gregory (age 15), Joseph (age 13), Gideon (age 12), Samuel (age 10), Liduvine (age 8), Severin (age 7), Theodule (age 6), Auguste (age 5), and John (age 3).
Alexis (age 59) & Adelina age 63) are listed in the 1900 United States Federal Census as living in Leelanau, Michigan with their daughter Mary (age 19).
Adelina died May 15, 1905.018,019
Alexis is listed in the 1910 US Census as an age 71 widow living with his son John in Centerville, Leelanau, Michigan.
Alexis is listed in the 1920 US Census as an age 82 widow living with his son John in Centerville, Leelanau, Michigan.
Alexis died in 1929.
Alexis & Adelina are buried in Saint Marys Cemetery Lake Leelanau, details can be found by searching for them in the Leelanau Cemetery Listing.
2x Great Grand Parents: Gregory Belanger & Pauline St. Jean
Gregory
Pauline
Gregory was born November 16, 1864 in Quebec, and Pauline was born in March 1875(Source 1900 Census).
Gregory is listed in the 1870 United States Census (census record), see 3x great grandparents for details.
Gregory is listed in the 1880 United States Federal Census, see Generation 5 for details. Pauline is listed in the 1880 United States Federal Census (census record) at age 7 and living in Bingham, Leelanau, Michigan with her parents Oliver (age 36, farmer) and Angeline (age 30) St John; brothers and sisters: Joseph (age 11), Mary (age 7), Amelia (age 6), Antonie (age 2), Melinda (age 8 months); and grandfather Antoine (age 74).
Gregory & Pauline were married on February 1, 1892 (marriage record).
Gregory & Pauline had a son Esdras in 1893, a daughter Florence in 1897 (birth record), a daughter Dellamen in 1898 (birth record), and a son Felix in 1900 (birth record).
Gregory (age 36) & Pauline (age 25) are listed in the 1900 United States Federal Census with children: Esdras (age 7), Florence (age 3), Dellamen (age 1), and Felix (age 1 month). The census lists them as living in Leelanau, Michigan. (On the same page are Gregory's brothers Joseph & Theodore and their families)
Pauline died on November 6, 1902 (death record) in Solon Township, Leelanau, Michigan.
Gregory is listed in the 1911 Census of Canada as Gregorie (age 46 - widow) with his sons: Esdras (age 18) and Felix (age 11).
Gregory is listed in the 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta as Gregorie (age 51 - widow) at the address 67, 16, W4m, Plamondon with his sons: Esdras (age 23) and Felix (age 16).
Gregory remarried to Elmire Gagnon in 1920 or 1921. Elmire was born in about 1869. Elmire was the widow of Olivier St, Jean who died in January of 1920.
Gregoire (age 56) and his wife Elmire (age 52) are listed in the 1921 Census of Canada as living with Esdras and his family. Gregoire was employed as a farmer by Esdras.014
Elmire died in 1929 and is buried in Edmonton.
Gregory died in January 1932 in Lac La Biche, Alberta.
Great Grand Parents: Esdras Belanger & Melinda Schaub
Esdras
Melinda
My Great-Grandparents were Esdras and Melinda Belanger. Esdras J. Belanger was born December 14, 1893 in Provemont (Lake Leelanau), Michigan, USA. Melinda M. Schaub was born March 11, 1898 (birth record) in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, USA.
Esdras left Provemont, Michigan in 1908 (history book article), and eventually ended up in Plamondon, Alberta.
Esdras is listed in the 1911 Canada Census with the following details: age 18, single.
Esdras is listed in the 1916 Canada Census at the address 67, 16, W4m, Plamondon with the following details: age 23, single, Roman Catholic, and a farmer.
"Although Melinda & Esdras attended the same school in Lake Leelanau they didn’t meet until their families moved to Plamondon, which was a journey of over 2500 kilometers."1 "Melinda & Esdras met at a house party. At the party Esdras was playing the fiddle, which caught Melinda’s attention. The two of them courted for a short period of time and were married on August 16, 1916, having a bigger wedding then any in Plamondon at the time."1
Esdras and Melinda had nine children.
Esdras (age 28) is listed in the 1921 Canada Census at the address Section 34, Township 67, Range 16, Range W4 which was a farm in the Municipality of Plamondon. It says he owned is single house that was constructed of wood. He is listed as having the following people living at his home: Melinda (wife - age 24), Wilbert (son - age 3), Harold (son - age 2), Pauline (daughter - age 5/12), Felix (brother - age 21), Gregoire (father - age 56), and Elmire (stepmother - age 52).014
Their daughter Yvonne said her mother “was very gentle and worked so very hard; but always had a smile for anyone”1, and that her father "was a jack of all trades"1.
Melinda died on January 4, 1955 in Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada.020
Esdras married Della Roy in 1959.
Esdras died on January 1, 1970 in Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada. Both Esdras and Melinda are buried in Plamondon Community Cemetery, Plamondon, Alberta, Canada.
The Children of Esdras Belanger & Melinda Schaub
Wilbert Joseph Belanger (1917-1979)
Wilbert was born on October 23, 19176,8i in Plamondon, Alberta. Wilbert married Rita Margaret Plamondon on January 4, 19408i; Rita was born October 29, 19198i. Wilbert and Rita had six children. Wilbert died on April 21, 1979 and Rita died January 12, 199916; they are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta. Wilbert is listed in the 1921 Census as age 3 living with his family in Plamondon.014
Harold Joseph Belanger (1919-1971)
Harold was born on November 15, 19196,8d in Plamondon, Alberta. Harold married Anne Marie Shapka on November 13, 19418d; Anne was born July 3, 19218d and died August 25, 20139. Harold and Anne had 3 children. Harold died on June 17, 19718d; he is buried in St. Isidore's Catholic Cemetery, Plamondon, Alberta10. Harold is listed in the 1921 Census as age 2 living with his family in Plamondon.014 Harold and Anne are mentioned in La survivance article on September 19, 196213.
Pauline Marie Belanger (1921-2016)
Pauline was born on January 8, 1921 in Plamondon, Alberta.021 Pauline married William Roderick MacMillian on October 23, 1940.008j Pauline and William had 3 children. William died on June 14, 1999022 and Pauline died on February 14, 2016;021 and they are buried in Saint Albert Roman Catholic Cemetery.023,024 Pauline is listed in the 1921 Census as age 5 months living with her family in Plamondon.014
Hubert Joseph Belanger (1922-1984)
Hubert was born on March 13, 19226,8e,15 in Plamondon, Alberta and died April 29, 19848e,11,15; he is buried in Saint Theresa Cemetery, Kelowna, British Columbia11. He married... No information added to protect living individual. They had 4 children. Hubert was in the Royal Canadian Artillery11,12 and was mentioned in La survivance article on March 29, 194412.
Yvonne Marie Belanger (1924-2019)
My Grandmother.
Ovila William Joseph Belanger (1927-1980)
Ovila was born on August 13, 19276,8g in Plamondon, Alberta. Ovila married Violet Jean McKay on January 3, 19556,8g; Violet was born November 23, 19166,8g and died in 2009A. Ovila and Violet had two children. Ovila was in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Ovila died on December 26, 19807,8g at the age of 53; he is buried in Queens Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta7,B.
Paul Amedee Joseph Belanger (1933-1975)
Paul was born on August 6, 19336,8h in Plamondon, Alberta and died July 12, 1975. He married... No information added to protect living individual. They had 4 children.
F Belanger (living)
No information added to protect living individual.
Marcelle Marie Rita Belanger (1938-2006)
Marcelle was born on August 29, 19386 in Plamondon, Alberta and died May 8, 200617. She married... No information added to protect living individual. They had 5 children.
References:
1. "The Life Of Yvonne Marie Mellott ~ Even A Beautiful Garden Has A Few Rocks ~" by Farah Y. Ali; November 1999
2. Belanger Family Site - http://www.belangers.us/index.htm
3. Belanger Family Site - Nicolas Bellanger - http://www.belangers.us/E.Nicolas.htm
4. Find A Grave Memorial# 38851472 - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38851472
5. Roll: C-1295 - Page 111: Line 28 Jean Belanger, Line 29 Angele Belanger, Line 30 Alexis Belanger, and Line 31 Vitaline Belanger (image on file); Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1861 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Original data: Canada. "Census returns for 1861." LAC microfilm C-999 to C-1007, C-1010 to C-1093, C-1095 to C-1108, C-1232 to C-1331, M-1165 to M-1166, M-1168 to M-1171, M-556, M-874 to M-878, M-880 to M-886, M-896 to M-900. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.
6. Belanger Family Reunion 1995 by Carol Semashkewich
7. Queens Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta: Ovila Belanger (Lot 49, Block 16, Section P); visited August 18, 2013.
8. Plamondon: From Spruce Trees to Wheatfields 1988: (Belanger entries start at page 406) a. Edgar and Laurette Belanger; b. Esdras and Melinda Belanger; c. Felix and Caroline Belanger; d. Harold and Anne Belanger; e. Hubert and Isabelle Belanger; f. Ken and Louella Belanger; g. Ovila and Violet Belanger; h. Paul and Jean Belanger; and i. Wilbert and Rita Belanger.
9. Obituary for Anne Marie Belanger published in the Edmonton Journal on August 29, 2013.
10. St. Isidore's Catholic Cemetery, Plamondon, Alberta: Esdras & Melinda Belanger, Harold Belanger, Felix & Caroline Belanger; visited September 9, 2000.
11. Find A Grave Memorial# 51649722 - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51649722
12. La survivance, 29 March 1944, Page 3, Item Ad00310 - http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/newspapers/LSV/1944/03/29/3/Ad00310.html
13. La survivance, 19 September 1962, Page 4, Item Ar00403 - http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/newspapers/LSV/1962/09/19/4/Ar00403.html
15. "British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGM3-DBR : accessed 04 Sep 2013), Joseph Hubert Belanger, 1984.
16. Obituary for Rita Margaret Belanger - Published in Edmonton Journal on January 13, 1999 (image on file)
17. Obituary for Marcelle R. Dakin - Campbell River Mirror - http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/obituaries/?cmpRegion=&paper=6&name=dakin&year=&paperSelect=6&submit=Search
Research Notes
A. http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/METISGEN/2010-04/1272145196 lists Violet as "Violet Jean McKay [1916-2009]" but no source information is provided; I was able to find the obituary for her sister-in-law Daisy McKay which was published in the Prince Albert Daily Herald on April 24, 2010 which says Daisy was predeceased by her sister-in-law Violet Belanger. This record can be found at: http://www.inmemoriam.ca/view-announcement-194220-daisy-mckay.html
B. The Plamondon History Book8 page 413 says that "Ovila died in Calgary at age 53. He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in the Soldier's Plot." My research indicated that he was actually buried at Queens Park Cemetery, which I confirmed with a visit7. So the question remains is there something of interest at St. Mary's?
Find A Grave Memorials:
- Belanger, Adelina # 38804120
- Belanger, Alexis # 38803980
- Belanger, Angele # 38851472
- Belanger, Caroline # 116513477
- Belanger, Esdras # 98910450
- Belanger, Felix # 116513496
- Belanger, Harold # 115804685
- Belanger, Hubert # 51649722
- Belanger, Melinda # 98910472
- Belanger, Ovila # 115682155
Historical Documents:
1880 United States Federal Census - Census Place: Centreville, Leelanau, Michigan; Roll T9_589; Family History Film: 1254589; Page: 454.3000; Enumeration District: 158; Image: 0914.
1916 Census of Canada - Census Place: Alberta, Edmonton East, 18; Roll: T -21950; Page: 9; Family No: 87
Alberta Homestead Index for: Esdras Belanger, Gregorie Belanger (Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta)
Lac La Biche : Yesterday and Today: Esdras Belanger
Western Land Grants for: Esdras Belanger
If you have any information on the people listed on this page or know of any historical documents or pictures of the family members listed on this page please contact me.
Thanks,
Denny
Links:
If you are interested in more information on the Belanger family please visit Jim Belanger's site at: http://www.belangers.us/, Jim has done a massive amount of research on the Belanger family and is an invaluable resource!
