However, I have not given up, as after trying to find information on my father's french-canadien ancestors for several years, I recently discovered a new name from a local source and lo, I was suddenly able to trace the Blanchard family back to my 4x great-grandfather, Pierre Blanchard (about 1734-after 1763) born in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France and died in New France (Quebec). Even better, I could then go even further back in his wife, Marie Louise Julienne Clement's family to a "Filles du Roi", namely my 7x great-grandmother, Anne Masson (1637-1710). She was born in Les Moities, Dallonne, Normandie, France, arrived in New France about 1669, married Robert Gallien in 1670 and died in Quebec City in 1710. Marie Louise Julienne Clement was Anne Masson's great-granddaughter.
BTW, do you have information on the Irvine Family, descended from William Irvine, born 12 Aug 1841 in Sandwick, Orkney, Scotland and died 30 Oct 1918 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada? He emigrated from Scotland in 1862 and worked for the Hudson Bay Company in York Factory where he was known as William "B", not as an initial, but to distinguish him from another HBC employee also named William Irvine. William "B" contracted a first marriage with a Cree woman according to the rite of "Marriage à la façon du pays". He had at least one daughter, named Jessie, with his first wife, whom he kept with his second family when Jessie's mother died. William's second wife was Margaret Catherine MacGillivary Pritchard (b. 26 Dec 1862 in Red River Settlement, Assiniboia, Rupert's Land; d. 11 Dec 1896 in Fort Norman, Northwest Territories). According to some quite convincing sources, Margaret was a direct descendant of Edward III, King of England. Her grandfather, John Pritchard Sr. (b. 01 Jan 1777 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England; d. 14 Oct. 1855 in Red River Settlement, Manitoba) was known to say he was "a humble sprig of nobility" and a document titled "A Peritchard (Pritchard) Line of Descent" does give some rather convincing authenticity to John Pritchard's claim. While this is of no actual importance (I am much more proud of my lineage from several First Nations ancestors) it is rather fascinating to be able to trace one's ancestors back so far in history. I stopped at Margaret of Wessex, b. circa 1045 in exile in Hungary; d. 16 November 1093 in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. She was the Queen Consort of Malcolm III mac Donnchada, King of Scotland, and she is also know as St. Margaret of Scotland (she was canonised in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV in recognition of her personal holiness, fidelity to the Church, work for religious reform, and charity). If this link is indeed valid, then Margaret and Malcolm III of Scotland are my 26x great-grandparents, but I started to feel I was acting a bit crazy, so although it is possible, I have not gone back any further in this line.
But I will never say never and I look forward to what may yet be discovered about more recent ancestors through your superb resource!
Yours truly,
Barbara Petepiece, born Blanchard, from South Glengarry, Ontario, Canada
