I don’t know about anybody else, but for me it’s been an exciting week.  I never dreamed when I first started on this journey that I would find so many cousins.  There are, at last count, 22 of us online, and it’s probably a good time to get everybody on the same page.

From my immediate branch, we are:

And each and every one of us is descended from Simon Pépin, through his youngest son, Donald Lewis Peppan, and Don’s three children, Shirley (aka Toots), Donald (aka Bud), and Jack (aka Peppy).  Those of us online are indicated by an asterisk, and are included in our email mailing list.  Some of what appears in this inaugural issue most of you have seen before but is being included for the benefit of those members of my immediate family who are not online and whom I have been remiss in writing to.

SIMON PÉPIN

Simon is where I started, but I didn’t know he was Simon when I started out, which is probably why it took so long to come round to the truth about his heritage.  The year was 1973 and all Daddy would tell me was that his paternal grandfather’s name was Seymour Peppan – Louis Seymour Peppan – that Seymour was French-Canadian, and he and wife Emma Sarah Houston had homesteaded Cattle Point on Washington State’s San Juan Island.  As I searched using this meager information, I discovered that Seymour had moved down to the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle in 1896; family stories say it was because the Hudson’s Bay Company had offered to trade him his homestead, lock, stock, and barrel, for a house with indoor plumbing.  Another family story said it was because Emma’s baked goods were impinging upon the baked goods sales of the Hudson Bay Company.

Record keepers on San Juan Island say there is no record of any Peppan, Peppin, or Pepin, living on the island, yet a tax record exists showing that in 1895, Seymour paid taxes on a plot of property on San Juan Island.

The 1900 Federal Census taken in Seattle Washington said that Seymour was a blacksmith.

A CHANGE IN SPELLING

I don’t know for sure why Simon changed his name to Seymour, but it wasn’t because Simon didn’t know how to read or write.  My two pet theories are that:

What I now know for sure is that Simon was baptized Simon Magice in 1856; he was married as Simeon Peppin in 1878, naturalized as a US citizen as Seymour Pepin, and was listed in the Seattle City Business Directories between 1896 and 1906 as Seymour Peppan.  Sometime in late 1905/early 1906, Simon died in a non-accident at a logging camp on the Puget Sound.

THE BREAK THROUGH

I hit a point where I figured I would never learn anything more about my Great Grandfather, but I was gifted with two big clues.  The first was Simon’s marriage record; the second was finding out that his father Etienne had worked for the Hudson Bay Company.  I turned to cyber-space and placed queries everywhere I could think of.  This put me in contact with a number of very helpful people, but the coolest thing about those very helpful people is that some of them have turned out to be cousins.

With the help of all of you, I was able to piece together my lost chunk of family history, that being the period of time between Etienne’s birth and Simon’s emigration to the US.

SURNAME NONCHALANCE

Both Simon and Etienne were real nonchalant about their surname.  Simon used 4: Magice, Peppin, Pepin, and Peppan.  His father, Etienne, was known by 5: Maillé, Magice, Papin, Pepin, and Peppin; I really think it depended upon his mood.  I understand the last three, but haven’t a clue as to the origin of the first two – though the first, Maillé, may have been a misinterpretation of his father’s surname, May . . . or Maie . . . or LaMay . . . or LeMay.  I don’t know why he chose to use his mother’s maiden name, but . . .

THE CONNECTION

It was through Etienne’s marriage record and a Hudson’s Bay biography that I was able to piece it together.   In the bio, it is stated that Etienne copped to being the illegitimate son of a Marguerite Pepin.  In his marriage record – in which his surname du jour was Magice – his parents were listed as Michel [Magice] and Marguerite Pepin, of Yamaska, Quebec.  So I started looking for a marriage between a Michel Magice and a Marguerite Pepin . . . without luck.

Then a fellow named Dwight Hebert popped up and said I probably wanted to take a good hard look at a couple who married May 3, 1802, at St-Michel-du-Yamaska, named Michel May and Marguerite Pepin.  Because Dwight recognized I occasionally need a good stout whack on the head, he added that my great great grandfather was no doubt the couple’s eldest child, baptized April 19, 1803, as Michel-Etienne MAY.  The couple’s other 9 children had birth dates listed and were baptized as MAIE, so Dwight figured that Michel-Etienne had been born before May 3, 1802.  I figured that Dwight knew what he was talking about.  One, because he owns a hard copy of the St-Michel-du-Yamaska parish records, and Two, because Louis-Etienne’s grandson, Etienne-Pascal married a gal named Luce Hebert, and Dwight is a descendant of that Hebert family.

Michel May is the son of Antoine May and Madeleine Lajeunesse.  For now, this is all I know about the May family.

Marguerite Pepin was the second youngest daughter of Louis-Etienne Pepin and wife Jeanne McClure/Maclure.

For more about Simon and Etienne, please visit The Northwest Twig of the Peppan/Pepin Family Tree at http://www.fortlangley.ca/pepin/index.html.

THE REST OF US

For my immediate family, the following folks range from 5^th to 7^th cousins, and at this point are 14 in number.  They are:

Most are Pepin by birth, a couple by marriage.  In the case of the later, they are the family genealogists.

And here I would like to insert a special note about Chuck Morley.

ABOUT CHUCK

Chuck (Hey, Chuck) is in about the same place I was about 10 years ago.  He knows the name of his paternal grandfather.  He even has something I didn’t: a birth date and place.  However, this is where his information stops.

His paternal grandfather is one Joshua Acan/Acon Peppan, born August 4, 1862, in Samsul, Missouri.  On August 18, 1894, he married Minnie Gladys Holder, and on August 20, 1948, he died in Garden City, Kansas.

Chuck and I found each other through our listings in the Family Tree Maker’s World Family Tree.  I had hoped that his uncle William “Satch” Peppan, whose death info I found in the Social Security Death Index, was a son of my own Great Uncle William Peppan.  But Satch wasn’t; he was a son of Joshua Peppan.

I have included Chuck and his sister Shirley because I do believe that they are a part of this family.  All that is lacking is the name of Joshua’s parents.

THIS MONTH’S FEATURE

Seeing as how there isn’t much info in this issue, I thought I would include a biography I found for our ancestor, Robert Pépin.

This is from a book entitled "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest, published in Palm Harbor, Florida (of all places) in 1983 by the LISI Press, a subsidiary of Laforest International Service Inc.  ISBN 0-914163-01-9 (Volume 1)  ISBN 0-914163-00-0 (Series)

Chapter 22 is about Robert.

It starts with this kinda cool looking woodcut-kinda-pen-and-ink picture of a fellow in a tricorn hat and knee britches placing shingles on a roof.

The text reads, and I quote:

If Paul Valery had lived three centuries ago and had known Robert Pépin, if he had seen him climb the roofs of Québec with agile and firm step, probably he would have willingly changed his doves for our man, his pines would have become chimneys, and the sea "ever renewed" would have taken the appearance of the formerly clear waters of the Saint-Lawrence.

There is no mistake about it, Robert could gaze nearly all year long at the Québec sky from on top of the roofs of New France.  Two and a half centuries before the invention of the airplane, many times he had seen the capital as would a bird, not in the manner of Icarius, who according to legend was the victim of his wings, but from the top of a solid ladder propped against the wall or laid on the planks which he so carefully covered with slate.

In short, Robert was a "master slater."  It was as such that he presented himself to New France and it appears that he practiced his trade until his unexpected death in 1686.

We do not know the date of arrival of the majority of our ancestors: Nor does Robert Pépin escape this deficiency in the history of our families.  It is certain that he was here by 1668.  It is even possible that he crossed the seas two or three years earlier.  On 2 October 1665, the Jesuit's Journal noted the arrival, on board a "vessel from Normandie" of 82 girls and women, 50 of whom came from a charity house in Paris.  Debarking at the same time were "130 workmen all in good health."

Well, it was precisely from Normandy that our colonist came to us.  The first known document which mentions him was an act by notary Romain Becquet dated 9 September 1668:  It concerned a deal concluded with the Jesuits.  The second document was his marriage contract.

THE FUTURE BRIDE WAS NOT 12 YEARS OLD

On 29 June 1669, Paul Vachon brought together in the town of Fargy⁽¹⁾, in the seigneurie of Beauport, the interested parties to this future union: Jehan Creste, master wheelwright, and his wife Marguerite Gaulin, both inhabitants of Fargy, representing their daughter Marie, baptized in Québec on 10 October 1657.  She was not yet 12 years old; this was probably the reason why the groom must wait until autumn of the following year to lead his fiancée to the altar.  Marie's witnesses were her brother Louis, Pierre Gaulin and Jacquette Lauvergnat, François Gaulin, Marie Rocheron, and others.

For his part, Robert Pépin inhabitant of Beauport, was said to be the son of the late Jean Pépin and Jeanne Dumont, from the parish of Grisy⁽²⁾, diocese of Sées in Normandy.  His witnesses were Brother Joseph Boursier, a Jesuit from the Collage of Québec; Denis Avisse, a tanner, and his wife Jeanne Crevier; Pierre Mourier, the flour merchant Joseph Langlois, as well as relatives and friends living in the seigneurie of Beauport.

Jehan Creste and Marguerite Gaulin proved to be very generous regarding the future couple.  They promised to give them a three year old bull, a cow, 2 suckling pigs, a suit of clothes made to measure, 2 blankets, 2 sheets, a bolster stuffed with feathers, 2 tablecloths and 4 napkins.  In addition, they committed themselves to feed and shelter their daughter for two years after her marriage.  Jacques, the eldest son, was not born before 1674; therefore it is possible that during these two additional years in which Marie remained with her family, the marriage was not consummated.  Besides offering food and lodging to their daughter, the Crestes added to her trousseau a platter and 2 plates and the bailiff, Paul de Rainville went there with his contribution, a valuable pistol.

Finally, the future husband and wife made each other irrevocable gifts, devolving to the survivor of the two, of all their furniture, rent, and real estate, that they may acquire or gain in whatever place they may find themselves.  Robert Pépin, Jehan Creste, Louis Creste, Joseph Boursier, Denis Avisse, Jean Gibaut, Paul de Rainville, Jean Crevier and Paul Vachon placed their signatures at the bottom of the document, the others stating they did not know how to write their names.

The nuptial ceremony took place about a year and a half later, more exactly, on 4 November 1670 and this act was entered in the parish records of Québec.  By then Marie Creste had completed her 13th year; she was still only a child but at that time it was not rare to see young girls of her age determined to launch themselves into matrimony and to raise numerous offspring.  All the children of Robert and Marie were baptized in Quebec, with the exception of François, born in 1680, whose baptism and death notice were found in Beauport.

MULTIPLE DEALS

Working principally at his trade of roofer, Pépin concluded many transactions whose details are found in the records of notaries Romain Becquet, Pierre Duquet, Michel Fillion, Gilles Rageot and François Genaple.  He did business with, among others, the Ursulines of Québec⁽³⁾, and the Fabrique Notre-Dame-des-Anges of Beauport.⁽⁴⁾

On 12 December 1674⁽⁵⁾, Robert received a land grant from the Ursalines; on 20 December 1682⁽⁶⁾, he worked for the Récollets.  He also did business with several of his contemporaries: Elie Jean, Henri Delaunay, Noël Boissel, Mathieu Ranuyer, Nicolas Brouillon, Adrien Sédillot dit Brisval, François Hazeur, Jean Gibaut, Pierre Dron, Philippe Gaultier de Comporté, and others.

In 1681, the census taker⁽⁷⁾ placed the Pépin family in the upper town of Québec.  The roofer was then 38 years old and his wife was 24; they had 2 sons: Jean and Robert.  Living with them also was servant named Nicolas, age 35 years.  It probably was Nicolas Brouillon whose indenture dated from 14 October 1670, but for reasons of which we are unaware, Nicolas remained close to the family.

MARIE CRESTE REMARRIED TO JEAN BRIDAULT. . .

On 14 August 1686, we learn that Robert had died, but we do not know exactly when or where or in what manner.  On that date, notary Gilles Rageot drew up an inventory of property for the heirs.⁽⁸⁾  On the following 6 October, notary Genaple drew up a marriage contract between Marie Creste and Jean Bridault, a native of Paris.  The second nuptial engagement of Marie took place in Québec on 24 April 1687.

Jean Bridault, carpenter, about 30 years old, was nearly the same age as Marie, and was the son of Jean Bridault from the town of Montmorency, and the late Marthe du Clos.  The ceremony took place in the presence of Jehan Creste, Marie's father; Henri Delaunay, her brother-in-law; Jean Lefebvre, senior; and Thomas Gubillon.  To the seven children whom she had with Robert Pépin, Marie added 5 more from her second union: Marie-Anne (1688), Marie (1691), Hilaire (1692), Marie-Françoise (1695), and Louise-Catherine (1698).

Marie Creste lived nearly 35 years longer than her first husband.  After the death of Jean Bridault, she was married in Québec on 9 January 1706 to another Parisian, one Pierre Jourdain, son of Pierre and Catherine Depuis, from the parish of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie.  Marie and Pierre lived together more than 16 years but they had no children.  On 10 November 1722, the widow of Robert Pépin was buried in her turn at Québec at the age of 65.  Several months later, Pierre Jourdain was married at Pointe-aux-Trembles (Neuville) to a 20 year old girl, Marie-Catherine Aide-Créqui; she gave him several children.

FIVE SONS AND ONE DAUGHTER

The union of Robert Pépin and Marie Creste produced six children as follows:

1. Jean (1675-1752) married Marguerite Moreau: they had nine sons and six daughters.

2. Robert (1677-1754) married Elisabeth Royer, then Marie-Anne Delasse (this family lived in the Montréal region).
3. François, born and died in 1680.
4. Another son, François, born in 1682 and died in 1684.
5. Marie-Rosalie (1684-1721) married Pierre Hélie.
6. Louis, born in 1686, married Elizabeth Boutin (this family settled in Charlesbourg).⁽⁹⁾

TWO NOTABLE DESCENDANTS

Two descendants of Robert Pépin were famous in the 20th century, one in the field of music, the other in politics.  Clermont, born in Saint-George de Beauce in 1926, was the son of Pierre Pépin and Sara Rodrique.  Clermont is one of the best known and prolific Canadian composers of out time.  These Pépins settled in Beauce for more than a century.  As for Jean-Luc, born in Drummondville in 1924, he belongs to a line established in the Yamaska region around the end of the 18^th century.  The former professor of political science and joint president of the Commission of Canadian Unity (Commission Pépin-Robarts) directed several ministries in the Trudeau cabinet in Ottawa.

Variations to the name Pépin are listed as: Cardonnet, De la Fond, Descardonnets, Lachance, Lachaussée, Laforge, Papin, Refort and Tranchemontagne.⁽¹⁰⁾

ENDNOTES

(1)  Marcel Trudel, "Le Terrier du Saint-Laurent en 1663", pp 94 to 98.  The name "Fargy" was created by an invertion of the name "Giffard".  It is speaking about a holding of some fifteen arpents on the Ecailles river.  In 1646, Robert Giffard had a palisade built in order to protect the people.  Later on a chapel and mill were added.

(2)  "Grisy", in Calvados, has been combined with the towns of Escures-sur-Favières and Vendeuvres.

(3)  Romain Becquet, act of 27 December 1671.

(4)  François Fillion, act of 18 January 1678.

(5)  Op Cit (3), act of 12 December 1682

(6)  François Genaple, act of 20 December 1682

(7)  Benjamin Sulte, HCF, Volume IV, p. 56

(8)  Gilles Rageot, act of 14 August 1686

(9)  Msgr Cyprien Tanguay, DGFC, Volume 1, p 472.  He attributes another son to Robert Pépin: Jacques, born in 1674 and buried at Québec on 9 Feb 1691.  This Jacques was probably the son of Antoine Pépin dit Lachance, baptized at Château-Richer on 4 September 1667.

(10)  Ibid.  Volume 7, p 576

THE REUNION

From the response so far has been very positive and I think it’s safe to say it will happen, I just don’t know when or where yet.  Said Marcel in an email dated November 18:

I think we should put this into the works and consider a North American Re-union to see if We (Pepin/Peppan/Papin/Peppin... not to leave out all the "Dit") look all alike.  The location would be a factor.  In fair spirit, how do we go about choosing the venue?  If it were held in winter, this fellow Canuck wouldn't mind going south.  Maybe we should look at densities.  That would mean that Quebec would be way up in the running, which might not be a bad thing for those of you interested with the history of the Family.  Or maybe the geographical center of North America.  At any rate, I believe that the "Heritage Ministry" of Canada might be able to provide support in some way.  Some of you might be familiar with the TV series being shown on the CBC about the birth of the nation (also mentions the migrations south and north by Americans and Canadians alike).  With proper marketing, we might also be able to jump on the band wagon and squeeze some free advertising.  Crazier things have been pulled off.  Personally, I am up to go anywhere as long as I get to try different foods.  Anyone from Louisiana???

Other locations suggested have been somewhere here in the Pacific Northwest, and in Las Vegas.

More on this later.

WHERE TO FROM HERE

If any of you would like to type up a bit about your branch of the Pepin, et al, family tree, I can put it here.  I’ve never done a newsletter before and haven’t the faintest idea where to go from here and open for suggestions.  Though I think this might be a good place to share any family info.

And since I can’t think of anything more to say, I will close for now.

Lisa Peppan

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If at anytime you wish to be removed from the list, drop me an email at lisa@fortlangley.ca and let me know.