This all started when I found George Antoine's obituary, printed on Wednesday, September 8, 1943 in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican. In the obituary, it says that his wife died "a little more than a month ago, on August 5."
I did a search and found an obituary for George's wife. As it turns out, she died on August 2, not August 5. In the obituary, printed Tuesday, August 3, 1943 in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican as well, it states the following:
1) Her first name is Louise.
2) She is survived by one son, named Joseph Breyette.
3) She is survived by two brothers, Joseph and John Chagnon, which means her maiden name is Chagnon as well.
Using the information I had from both George and Louise's obituaries, I started searching Ancestry for Census records. The first census I found was the 1905 New York State Census. The census had George and Louise (spelled Louisa in the census) living at 52 Champlain St, Plattsburgh, New York with their two children, Bessie and George.
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| 1905 New York State Census. (George's name is on line 28 on the right.) |
The Census came with some suggestions on the side, including the 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Censuses. This is where it became very, very confusing.
In the 1900 US Census, George is listed as living with his two children, George and Bessie, as well his mother, at 64 Champlain St, Plattsburgh. His marital status is listed as widowed.
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| 1900 United States Federal Census (George's name is on the last line. The rest of his household is listed on the following sheet.) |
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| 1900 United States Federal Census (George, Bessie, and Delia are listed on the first three lines.) |
In the 1910 US Census, George (surname spelled Antoyne on the sheet) is listed as still living with his two children, George and Bessie, at 56 Champlain Street, Plattsburgh. But also living with them now is a Mary Breyette and her son, Joseph Breyette. George is listed as head of household and married. However, there is no wife listed. If you look at the census, under the "number of years of present marriage", it says that George has been married for twenty years. Mary Breyette is listed as being the housekeeper (as well as a widow) and Joseph is listed as the housekeeper's son.
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| 1910 United States Federal Census (George's name is listed on line 58.) |
In the 1920 US Census, George is now living with just Mary and Joseph (surnames spelled Breyth on the sheet) at 59 Bailey Ave, Plattsburgh (incorrectly transcribed as Buley Ave). George is still head of household but is now listed as being widowed. Mary is still listed as being the housekeeper (and still a widow) while Joseph is now listed as being a boarder.
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| 1920 United States Federal Census (George's name is listed on line 98.) |
In the 1930 US Census, George (surname spelled Antwine on the sheet) is listed as still living at 59 Bailey Ave (spelled Baley Ave on the sheet), Plattsburgh. George and Mary are now married. George is still head of household. Joseph is still living with them and is now listed as being what seems to be "adopted son". Joseph is single. Also living with them is Joseph Congno and Viola Thompson. Joseph Congno's relation to head of house (George) is listed as being "brother-in-law" while Viola's relation is listed as being "niece".
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| 1930 United States Federal Census (George's name is listed on line 56.) |
In the 1940 US Census, George is listed as living at 85 Lafayette Street, Plattsburgh and has lived there since 1935. George is still head of household and married. Mary is still living with him as his wife. Joseph Breyette is still living with them, with his relation to the head of house (George) now listed as being simply "son". Joseph is now a widow. Also listed as living with George is Joyce Breyette, Joseph's daughter. She is listed as being the "granddaughter" to the head of house.
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| 1940 United States Federal Census (George's name is listed on line 27.) |
The point of this post is to mainly get insight on the whole situation and hear what people's thoughts are on this matter. This whole situation regarding George's marital status has left me very confused. Feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
Copyright © 2014, David J. McRae
Was the family Catholic? If so Louise could have easily been Mary Louise. I think the children Bessie and George were his children by his first marriage. He later marries his housekeeper, who has a son named Joseph. My great great grandmother's martial status went from married to widowed to divorced over three census. Sometimes it's just a mistake.
ReplyDeleteThe 1892 census of Plattsburgh includes a 27 year old George Antoine and 18 year old Delphine Antoine. His age matches that of your George's age in his obituary. It looks like he was a newlywed in 1892.
ReplyDeleteBessie May Antoine's marriage record shows her mother as Delia Bouvia. Delia was living with her parents in Plattsborough in 1880
ReplyDeleteAlso a Delphine Bouvia found with her parents in 1880 in Altona, Clinton, New York!
ReplyDelete