General Chat

i AM HAVING REAL PROBLEMS . I am trying to trace my Grandfather Charles Lee Audette who was born in Montreal we think in 1887. He left home age 16 and found work in USA. Shipped horses over to UK and joined the Army. There is a bit of a mystery about him and his family in Canada and stories that he may have stabbed someone possibly his strict father. I can't find any info at all about any of them anywhere. I don't know Canada so maybe someone can help with place names etc. We have La Chute between Otawa and Montreal,Brownsburg,and Hawkesbury. It seems his mother used to plait his hair and she smoked a clay pipe,possibably Red Indian Blood there? Any information would help. Thanks Sue.

Going to bed now so just a little nudge, Night all Sue

Sue, do you know his parent's names? Have you tried the 1881 Canadian census? There are variations of the name Audette and I found three or four at the National Archives for Canada under "Soldiers of WW1". Was there anything on the 1901 Canadian census? I am in Calgary, so don't know Ontario or Quebec that well, but there are GC members out that way, they may be able to find some of these towns for you. Let me know if I can be of any help. Patsy

They are not on the 1901 census (that I could see). (The father is Frank?) The census has only been 34% transcribed, so if you want to keep checking back, here is the site: http://automatedgenealogy(.)com/census/NationalSummary.jsp (remove brackets) I checked inGeneas also, didn't see a Frank or Charles. They are also continually adding information, so it would be worthwhile to check this site again, in the future: http://www.ingeneas(.)com/ingeneas/index.html Don't know if you typed the name incorrectly or don't know the name, but Ottawa has two t's. :~) (Just trying to help, not trying to get picky. I know what it's like trying to search from another country -- with the exception of one ancestor who lived in the States for 5 years, all of my family is from Canada, England or Ireland. Fun researching from another country, eh?) There is a Frank Audette on FamilySearch http://www.familysearch(.)org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp who was born in 1859 in Quebec, but he was a law student. Have you tried a google search or an Ask Jeeves search? Someone here advised me to try it for my ancestors and I actually found a bit out about them! Try every variation of Charles Audette, Quebec, La Chute, etc. Good luck! PS I'm from Ontario (LONNGGGG ago), so if I can help with any websites, please let me know.

Thank you very much for your help Patsy and Lisa. I was so tired last night,when I wrote that it was gone 3 in the morning so spelling wasn't great. I'll try those sites you mentioned. Lisa, I had already found the Frank Audette you mentioned but somehow don't think that was his father. I do know he put his fathers name as Frank on his own marriage cert but could it have been Francois? We think his mothers name was Viola,he had 2 brothers one was named Paul who worked for Polywink Clothing Company. He had 2 sisters,Ruth and Mertle who married a doctor and a lawyer. His family had a farm,we think it was a tobacco farm. When he left home he crossed Niagara falls and worked for Atkinson Saw Works then American Mercantile Marines,thats how he ended up in UK. He had a very hard life in Canada and it seems his father used to tie him to a tree and hickory twist him,not really sure what that means. He would never have a general anaesthetic for fear of what he might say about his past while under. We are pretty sure there was a stabbing or possibly murder in his history. Any help about any of this would be great. I am determined to get to the bottom of all this mystery.

Another little nudge,help still needed please from all those who live or know about Canada Thanks Sue

Sue: Seems more likely that Charles' father was Francois, as the last name is rather french. Depending on the circumstances, he could have anglicized it, to fit in with others (my ancestor did the same upon arriving in England from France). When my younger son was in kindergarten, one of the dad's mentioned his method of punishment. His religion encouraged the parents to lightly strike the child on the calf with a stick. Perhaps that is similar to what your ancestor's father used to do with the hickory stick. Charming.

nudge