It has been a family tradition for Rosemary and I to celebrate Springtime in New York City. Occasionally, we will turn the event into an anniversary celebration if the timing is close to our Wedding Anniversary... which it was this year, our 42nd year. But this year, we had an additional element of excitement. 

As you know, the Terriot Acadian Family was fortunate last year to have added several new Great-Branches to our Jehan Terriot Archive with several new delegates to our organization. One of the new branches that we added in November 2004 was the Joseph Henry and Julia Halladay Thériault Great-Branch [MRIN 4083] of Paradise, California whose delegate is their grandson, John Mark Hopkins.

On learning that John Mark lives in New York City, we of course set some time aside for our first 'in-person' meeting and one or two 'photo ops.' 

 In the photo, John Mark, his partner Rainier, Rosemary and I had just enjoyed a few hours together over cocktails and dinner at our hotel, the Algonquin Hotel.

 It was Friday evening and a great way to kick-off a fun weekend. It was an astounding treat to recap John Mark's fantastic story about researching his family. And of course, a topic of mutual interest was New York City and what was happening on Broadway, off Broadway, what certain museums were doing, what was going on at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden... Being a 'gentleman about town', John Mark helped us with a few excellent recommendations which we enjoyed. 

See you next year, John Mark and Rainier!   -JRT

Just received a delightful note from Murielle Thériault this morning with a very old photograph. Murielle is our delegate for the George Thériault and Virginie Gagné Great-Branch from Ontario, Canada. The photo was conveyed to her by André Thériault, delegate for our Joseph and Gaudélie Thériault Great-Branch from Rivière du Loup, Québec. 

In her e-mail, Murielle explains: "What a beautiful gift I received from André, thanks to Joe's website (the Terriot Acadian Family website) which promotes these exchanges!" 

Jacques [RIN 49], brother of Anselme, Charles and Antoine always lived in St-Jean-Port-Joli after their arrival from Beaubassin. But Cyrille [RIN 2268], one of his (Jacques') 3 sons, followed his uncle Anselme and his cousin Abraham around 1811, to go clear the back country in Cacouna... I have a photo of the plaque, that is posted in the church of St-Arsène, PQ. Cyrille was deceased at the age of 96 years!!!!

This photo must have been taken around 1891...

Missing in the photo is Ferdinand [RIN 14667] who was deceased a few months after his father, also around 1891 at the age of 61 years... (ref: Dict. de Camille Albert p. 44)

 Accompanying Murielle's note was the original note from André with the attached photo. 

"Photo of Pierre-Cyrille Thériault and his sons and a grandson???? Alexis.

1st row from left to right: Thaddée (1840 -1920= 80 ans; merchant in Riv.-du-Loup), Pierre-Cyrille (1795 -1891 in April; 2 marriages and 12 children; farmer and pioneer in St-Arsène) and Alexis, son of Amable ????(1861-  ?   =13 children in L'Isle verte).

In the rear standing at left: Placide (1837-1913= 76 years; 10 children in 2 marriages)(father of Gaudiose) and Amable (1833 - deceased in L'Isle verte???; 13 children).

Thadée was 50 years; Cyrille: 95 years ???; Alexis 30 years. Placide: 53 years ; Amable: around 57 years. Note: Placide is also my great-grandfather."

(Note: The references to the RIN numbers are those from our Jehan Terriot Archive. JRT)

Terriot Acadian Family: 
First Dinner-Conference

It was a first of many firsts: the first Dinner-Conference of the Terriot Acadian Family... an organization which is a first among many, the first working Internet-based organization with twin goals to consolidate the Terriot genealogy and to re-establish the bonds between the hundreds of Great-Branches in the family. Many firsts!

The site for the First Dinner-Conference was ideal: at the Pines Resort Inn on the western shores of the Port Royal Basin, present-day Annapolis Basin, not far from the 'Gut', the opening of the basin into the Baie Française (present-day Bay of Fundy) through which our ancestral parents sailed on arriving in Port Royal. The staff at the Pines arranged for the Terriot Acadian Family to gather in their Garden Room for a short cocktail hour followed by a four course dinner served with white and red wine, and ending with the conference for the delegates. 
 

DELEGATES TO THE TERRIOT ACADIAN FAMILY AT THE FIRST DINNER-CONFERENCE: Back row (l-r) Alfred Theriault, Jr., Dr. Susan Therriault, Karen Theriot Reader, Gérard Thériault, Allain Therriault, Richard G. Theriault, Esq., Roger Theriault, Joseph R. Theriault, Founder and Director; front row (l-r) Charline Thériault Saulnier, Murielle Theriault, Louise Theriault and Marie Theriault Shaw. (Click on photo to zoom...)

The cocktail hour was punctuated with hugs and hearty handshakes and kisses as the delegates greeted each other personally for the first time. In many cases, many had been working together for more than three years strictly over the Internet. It was an overwhelming experience! A group photo was taken after we finally succeeded in getting everyone to settle down.

Before dinner, Roger Theriault was kind enough to focus our group with an invocation and a prayer of thanks. The entire meal was excellent but the dessert "My Mother's Acadian Molasses Cake with Acadian Maple Syrup Mousse" was especially scruptious. 
 

Delegates, spouses and guests at the First Dinner-Conference: Back row (l-r) Jim Theriault, Dennis Reader, Karen Theriot Reader, Clayton Emery, Dr. Susan Therriault, Alfred Theriault, Jr., Gérard Thériault, Anthony Theriault, Charline Thériault Saulnier, Roger Theriault, Rosemary and Joseph R. Theriault, middle row (l-r) Carole and Allain Therriault, Richard G. Theriault, Esq., Leo Coté, Britanny and Tyler, Roger and Judy's grandchildren; Anita Theriault and Judy Theriault; Sitting (l-r) Lise Theriault, Murielle Theriault, Louise Theriault, Marie Theriault Shaw. (Click on photo to zoom...)

Joe Theriault, introduced each of the delegates and other special guests including Gérard Thériault and Charline Saulnier, both delegates  from Nova Scotia but also our hosts that week in Clare, Nova Scotia to the Thériault Reunion. In addition, Joe presented his guests, his sister Mert Coulombe-Kemzura and her husband, George and Joe's spouse of 41 years, Rosemary from Massachusetts. The other delegates in attendance included Karen Theriot Reader and spouse, Dennis from California; Alain Therriault and guest, Carole from Quebec; Alfred Theriault and guest and cousin, Jim Theriault from Maine; Louise Theriault and spouse, Anthony from New York; Murielle Theriault and spouse, Leo Coté from Quebec; Richard Theriault and spouse, Lise from Quebec; Roger Theriault, spouse Judy and grandchildren, Tyler and Brittany from Ontario; Dr. Susan Therriault and spouse, Clayton Emery from New Hampshire; Marie Theriault Shaw and guest, Anita from Nova Scotia.

The theme for the First Dinner-Conference was "Oars to Water! / Rames a l'Eau!", a reminder of the ancient Acadian ethic that we all have a role to play and a contribution to make to achieve our organizational goals.
 

TERRIOT DNA SURNAME PROJECT PRESENTATION: Karen Theriot Reader introducing the Terriot DNA Surname project to the delegates. Karen is administrator for the project. (Click on photo to zoom...)

SETTING UP THE TELECON:  Joe Therialt trying in vain to initiate a three-point teleconference with delegates who were not able to attend. (Click on photo to zoom...)

After Karen's presentation, our plans were to convene an international teleconference with three delegates who were not able to attend for health reasons. These were Aline Theriot Meaux (Mizmo) from Louisiana, Suzanne Theriault Lévesque from Québec and Adrien Theriault from New Brunswick. Unfortunately, technology, the complicated rules of the telephone company and the striking Alliant workers prevented us from establishing our teleconference. A lesson-learned for next time...

Before proceeding with his presentation, Joe Theriault presented each delegate with a complimentary copy of the 'Descendants' Report', a two volume document consisting of close to 1000 pages. Joe explained that the format of this revision allows individual pages and sections to be replaced in the future as new revisions are published. The report which will be available electronically to all delegates soon was professionally printed and bound in a 3-ring presentation binder specially for the delegates in attendance. The report is also the first to fully report on all multiple lineages for individuals. Thus, many members of the family are listed more than once in the respective chapters pertaining for their generation. In a reciprocal act of generosity, the delegates organized a donation to cover the cost of shipping copies to the three delegates who were not able to attend.
 

"OARS TO WATER!": Joe Theriault in his opening remarks at the First Dinner-Conference presenting the theme for the evening. (Click on photo to zoom...)

Next on the evening's program was a presentation by the Director titled 'Promesse de l'Acadie', wherein he announced a new addition to our family website titled 'Promesse de l'Acadie / Promise of Acadia'. In his presentation, Joe summarized the goals of the new section, some notes and observations on his research and on the references that were used and some readings from some of the pages of the new section. The new section will cover the history of the Terriot family during the decades of 1650 through 1740. It will present the likely impact of those historical events on the Terriot family and will analyze the details of the progress of the family in population, relationships, accomplishments and migrations. He estimated that the new section will be deployed before Christmas.

Although running very late, the group agreed to continue with the Conference which was next on the program, to discuss the business of the organization . There were four key points of discussion: (1) what changes should be made to the organization to accommodate its growth? (2) what steps should be taken to expand our search for new Great-Branches and for members of the family to represent them? (3) how can we become a fully bilingual organization? and, (4) is our policy on confidentiality sufficient and our current privacy practices adequate?  There was much lively dialogue which will be more fully reported upon separately to the delegates later. 

The Terriot Acadian Family's First Dinner-Conference was adjourned at 2230 hours, Atlantic time with the delegates saying their fond farewells and  returning to their home destinations throughout the North American continent. They would return to their custom of working together over the Internet until their next Dinner-Conference.

A few weeks ago, we received an announcement accompanied with a photo from the proud parents of the lovely Canadian patriot at right. Her name is Catherine Theriault and she will be celebrating her very 1st birthday on 25 July. In the photo taken on 1 July, she is celebrating Canada's 137th birthday on that day by doing a little flag-waving.

Her parents are Bertrand and Michelle (Saucier) Theriault who tell us that "...She is now the proud owner of 7 teeth, a great crawling ability and has finally finished her first cold!  She loves to swing at the park and has recently discovered the slide.  We expect that her first steps are approaching as she enjoys walking holding on to furniture or fingers…"

Bertrand is delegate to the Ernest and Eva Theriault Great-Branch in Ontario, Canada. Thanks for the happy news Bertrand and Michelle and for the lovely photo.

(Click on the photo to zoom)
 

This from Mizmo, our delegate from Louisiana of  the 'Telesphore and Maria Theriot' Great-Branch. She received it in turn from James Perry from Canada who reported that "The old Acadian tradition of Mi-Carême recently passed us. This info was recently in our local paper." (Translated literally, 'mi-carême' means 'mid-Lent' or 'middle of Lent'... probably derives from the Acadian word 'mi-temp' meaning 'middle'.) 

"The visit from 'Mi-Carême' is based on an old Acadian tradition started several centuries ago. 'Mi-Carême' comes out of the woods 20 days before Easter to encourage the children, who have given up eating sweets and certain foods for Lent, and to let them know they are half way there. On this special day the children are allowed to eat a sweet and often the adults join in by dancing and playing music when she arrives. 

'Mi-Carême' was first invented by Acadian families as a way of breaking the monotony in the midst of winter. Samuel de Champlain created the Order of Good Times for the men, giving them the opportunity to (get) together every second week to socialize, play music and tell stories. Eventually the tradition came to some Acadian communities on the Island. There are still areas in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia where the tradition continues although its the special gatherings that have taken priority." 

Mr. Perry continues: "Here on the Island 'Mi-Carême' comes out of the wood where she lives with animals and birds, and visits some schools. She brings a basket full of fudge to pass out to the children. Mi-Carême showed the children a bit of life without television and computers :o(  She showed them a model of her wood stove, a replica of her wood table and bench which she made herself and the lanterns she uses to light her home because it has no electricity. This year she talked about living without modern conveniences. Then she posed for a class picture which was also published in the Journal newspaper. 

'Mi-Carême' is a tradition which is receiving some measure of increased popularity in the last few years. I think it is great that the traditions are not left to die away but are being revived. They give a wonderful window into the lives of our ancestors. So, all you Acadians, whip up a batch of fudge, or buy a box of chocolates, or some special treat and treat the kids. Sit down and, this is the important part, tell them a little of the Acadian history, you know, their family, where they lived, how they lived, how they came to be in Maine, Louisiana, or in Timbuctwo or wherever. It is important that we pass along to the next generation the messages and teachings of the past." 

Right on, Mr. Perry!