“If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.” Madeline L’Engle
From France to Acadia (now Nova Scotia).
The Morin family traces back to France through Pierre Morin dit Boucher, born in what is now Normandy, France in 1634. He emigrated to Acadia, where he married Marie Martin ~1659 in Beaubassin, Acadia. Marie was born in Acadia in 1637. Her parents were Pierre Martin and Catherine Vignault/Vigneau. Of this union, 12 children were born. 1n 1688 the Morin family was forced to relocate to Restigouche at the end of Baie-des-Chaleau (Chaleur Bay) where Pierre died in 1690. The widowed Marie had moved to Province Quebec by1702, and died in Quebec in 1714.
For this accounting, this is the 1st Generation. The family history and lineage into the 13th generation, along with that of the Hebert, Frigon, St. Peter, and Senesac families, is documented in Ma Famille (My Family), authored by Sr. Veronica Roy and published in 1994.
From Acadia to Province Quebec
The Morin lineage of the 2nd generation is through their 2nd child, Pierre Morin, born in Port Royal, Acadia in 1661. Pierre married Francoise Chiasson-Lavallee in 1682 in Beaubassin, Acadia. Pierre and Francoise moved to St. Francis/ Montmagny County, Quebec Province in 1688. Pierre and Francoise had 11 children. The Morin lineage of the 3rd generation is through Pierre II, born in 1683 in Montmagny. Pierre died in 1741.
Pierre II married Mary Francoise Boule in 1707. Mary Francoise was born in 1687 in Montmagny. Pierre II inherited the Morin farm place. Pierre II and Mary Francoise had 13 children. The Morin lineage of the 4th generation is through their 8th child, Augustin Morin, born in 1725 in St. Francis/ Montmagny. Pierre II died in 1767.
Augustin married Marie Judith Talbot in 1750. Augustin inherited the Morin farm place. Augustin and Marie Judith had nine children. The Morin lineage of the 5th generation is through their 6th child, Toussaint-Irrenee Morin, born in 1764. Augustin died in 1802.
Toussaint-Irrenee Morin married first to Madeline Angelique Bouchard in 1791 at St. Pierre Rivere du Sud. They had 10 children. Toussaint-Irenee inherited the estate of his forefathers at St. Francis and continued to clear timber. The Morin lineage of the 6th generation is through their 3rd child, Irrenee Morin, born in 1792. Tousssaint-Irrenee married a second time to Genevieve Proulx in 1829. He died in 1851.
Irrenee Morin (known as Rene) married Marie Anne Gervaise Gendron (who was born in 1802) in 1823. They had eight children. Toussaint-Irenee inherited the home place at St. Francis (east of Quebec city) and continued to clear timber (about 44 acres, leaving four acres). The Morin lineage of the 7th generation is through their 3rd child, Olive Morin, born in 1828. Her younger brother, Vital, born in 1837, inherited the home place. Rene (Irrenee) died in 1848 at 52 years. His eight children (2 boys and 6 girls) were under 19 years of age when he died. His wife, Marie Anne, died in 1877.
Olive Morin married Jean Baptiste Morin*, who was born in 1822 in St. Theodore d’Acton (or perhaps St. Hyacinth). It is through this couple that the Morins of Damar Kansas separate from the Morin family tradition at St. Francis of Montmagny County, Canada. They had 15 children. The Morin lineage of the 8th generation is through their 9th child, Stanislas Morin, born in 1862. Jean Baptiste died in 1883. Olive Morin died in 1906.
*The relationship of the two Morin families is unknown; they may have been cousins, married by dispensation. The line of the mother of Olive (Marie Anne Gervaise Gendron) traces back to another family of Morins, that includes Noel Morin, who married in Quebec in 1640, and his father Claude Morin, who married at Ile de France (presumably in France)
Onward to the United States – To Illinois and to Kansas
Illinois
Stanislas and his brother, Joseph, born in 1859, are the only known family to live in the United States. His first destination was in the area of Kankakee, Illinois.
The Hebert family also initially settled in Iroquois County, near the village of St. Marys (now Beaverville), Illinois. Jean Leon Hebert, born in 1841, is the son of Francois Hebert and his second wife, Marie Christine Corbeil, whom he married in1838 in Parish St. Laurent de Montreal, Province Quebec. They moved to St. Marys (now Beaverville) in the 1850’s.
The Frigon family also initially settled in Iroquois County, near the village of St. Marys (now Beaverville), Illinois. Louise Frigon Hebert, born in 1851, is the daughter of Joseph Frigon and Mathilde Poulin Frigon, married in 1836 in Maskinonge County, Louisville, Province Quebec. They also moved to St. Marys (now Beaverville) in the 1850’s.
Background on the above areas of settlement – Acadia-Quebec, Illinois, and Kansas may be found at this LINK: http://acadia-morin.net/homepage/early-journey/
The Destination – Kansas
Stanislas Morin came to Damar, Kansas by way of Kankakee, IL, around 1880 – looking for cheap land and a new home under the Homestead Act of 1860. Recalling flooding he had experienced in Illinois, in 1888 he claimed the “Mound Quarter”, which was 161 acres in Morland Twp, Graham County, the NW 1/4 of Section 2, Range 21, Township 9.
Rosanna Hebert, born Oct 22, 1875 to Leon and Louise Frigon Hebert in Iroquois County, near the village of St. Marys (now Beaverville), Illinois. The Heberts reached the Damar, Kansas community in 1886. Stanislas Morin married Rosanna Hebert Sep 16, 1894, recorded at St. Anne Church, Zurich, KS. Thus begins the 9th Generation of the Morin lineage, and by this union, the 9th Generation of the Hebert lineage and the Frigon lineage. A chart of the ancestry of each family lineage is displayed below.
** Stanislas was a farmer and a carpenter. The family spoke only French at home. The children learned English at school. The 1925 Kansas Census records that he owned 480 acres, free of mortgage, along with livestock. He died on the wedding day of Ed and Irene, in 1929. Dying “intestate” (without a will), the eldest son, Alphonse, was appointed as administrator of the estate. The settlement accounting is documented in Ma Famille (My Family).
The Damar Community Foundation is dedicated to preserving the past, for the present and the future. Throughout the town are commemorative benches, dedicated to the memory of the original settelers by their families. This is the Morin Bench dedication plaque.
The Family of George Phillip Roberts
George, born in Brookville, Kansas Apr 24, 1882, to Simeon Roberts and Delphine Gervais, married Alice Delphine Simoneau on 10 Nov, 1902. George died Mar 6, 1924.
In 1995 Shirley Morin asked Irene (Roberts) Morin “was “What did your father do for a living? Irene replied “George (my father) worked and tilled the land for crops, mostly wheat, sometimes corn and feed [crops] also had cattle, cows and calves.”
The Family of Stanislas and Rosanna Hebert Morin, the 9th Generation **
Anna Rosalie Morin, born Feb 25, 1896, married Emile Anthony Desmarteau Sep 6, 1921. To them were born seven children. She died Jan 3, 1972.
Alphonse Arthur Morin, born Dec 8, 1897, married Rosalie Elaine Desmarteau Sep 7, 1920. To them were born eight children. He also raised Levi from the age of 13, on his father’s death in 1929. He died Jul 7, 1966.
Angela Morin, born Apr 7, 1899, made religious vows under the name Sister Rose Irma, Congregation of St. Josephs (CSJ), Concordia, KS on Aug 15, 1926. She died Mar 27, 1988.
Emile Morin was listed as four years old on the 1905 census. No other records are available.
Mary Emma Morin, born Jun 4, 1900, married Oliver Francis Brin Feb 10, 1920. To them were born 11 children. She died Jan 18, 1970.
Rosa Josephine Morin, born Oct 30, 1903, married Frank Med Balthazor Oct 18, 1921. To them were born eight children. She died Feb 24, 1982.
Joseph Morin, born Mar 22, 1904; died at the age of 3 1/2 yrs in 1907, from an accident.
William Edward “Ed” Morin, born Oct 23, 1904, married Irene Delphine Roberts Jun 10, 1929. To them were born six children. Ed died Feb 23, 1979. Irene, born Oct 21, 1905, died Nov 9, 2002.
Phillip Morin, born Dec 8, 1906, died Jul 23, 1930 – his car hit by a train. At the time of his death, he was engaged to be married.
Joseph Henry Morin, born May 6, 1908, married Lucille Harriette Desmarteau Oct 28, 1931. To them were born nine children. He died in a tractor rollover accident Aug 24, 1973.
Olive Lena Morin, born Jul 31, 1914. ,married John Felix Roy Aug 23, 1932. To them were born 10 children. She died Sep 11, 1985.
Levi Henri Morin, born Jul 22, 1916, married Ona Rita Robicheau Mar 26, 1951. To them were born five children. He died Oct 24, 1986.
** One, two or three children may have been (still)born between 1909 – 1913.
The Family of Alice Delphine Simoneau Roberts
Peter Pierre Simoneau was born in Quebec, Canada 18 January 1853. His parents were John Baptiste Simoneau and Oliver Hubert. John Baptiste Simoneau was born in Quebec, Canada 18 January 1823. Oliver Hubert was born in Quebec, Canada 5 June 1824. Peter Simoneau married Delphine Bechard, born in Kankakee, IL 14 July 1858. Her parents were Israel Bechard and Petronille Lanoue. Israel Bechard was born in Quebec, Canada 20 September 1837. Petronille Lanoue was born in Quebec Canada 19 June 1838.
Alice was born in L’Erable, Illinois 16 August 1882 to Peter Simoneau and Delphine Bechard. Her family moved to Damar Kansas in 1885. Delphine died 7 March 1909. Peter Simoneau died 21 January 1940. Alice married George Roberts on 10 Nov, 1902. Alice died June 4, 1975.
The Family of George Phillip Roberts and Alice Simoneau Roberts **
Irene Delphine Roberts, born Oct 21, 1905, married William Edward “Ed” Morin Jun 10, 1929. To them were born six children.
Harvey Edmund Roberts, born May 21. 1909, married Juanita Roe Jun 14, 1943. They had no children. He died Apr 16, 1882.
Eugene Wilbert Roberts, born Jul 20, 1912, married Jeanette Laura Berland Jan 10, 1934. To them were born 14 children. He died Dec 27, 2003.
Cecilia Marie Alma Roberts, born Aug 23, 1915, married Edgar Exave Thibault Apr 17, 1934. They had four children. She died Apr 25, 2001.
Yvonne Lucilla Agnes Roberts, born Apr 21, 1917, married Philip Roberts Dec 26, 1940. They had five children. She died Jul 8, 1982.
Lena Marie Teresa Roberts, born Feb 5, 1919, married Alcide Desmarteau Sep 9, 1940. They had seven children. She died Nov 30, 2000.
** Two children died at birth, one prior to Irene and one after Lena Marie.
William Edward Morin & Irene Delphine Roberts
William Edward “Ed” Morin married Irene Delphine Roberts Jun 10, 1929. The Morin lineage for this family continues here as the 10th generation for the descendants of Ed and Irene (Roberts) Morin. The family history continues on this page.