Amanuensis Monday: Last Will and Testament of Alphonse Grozelle

An amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I recently wrote about my distant cousin Alphonse Grozelle (aka Alphonso Grozell); see Alphonse Grozelle (1854-1921).

Today, I look at his last will and testament. It is rare that I find wills for my ancestors or relatives, so I was pleased to come across Alphonse’s will at FamilySearch.org last week. The digitised probate packet wasn’t large (it consisted of 40 images) and the documents weren’t complicated.

In the spring of 1912, Alphonse made a will in which he named his younger son Joseph as executor. The total value of Alphonse’s property was not more than $3225.00. [1] He bequeathed all his real and personal estate (two ¼ sections of land) and “all the horses, machinery, and in fact all that is pertaining to the said land” to his son Joseph. He added that he owed $100.00 to his son Peter Richard Grozell. Last, he specified, “to the rest of my children they are not to receive any of Estate what so ever”. [2]

Last Will and Testament of Alphonso Grozell, part one (FamilySearch.org)

Alphonse’s will, dated 12 May 1919, was proved and registered in Surrogate Court of Judicial District of Estevan, Saskatchewan on 30 December 1921. Its administration (letters probate) was granted to Joseph. [3]

Last Will and Testament of Alphonso Grozell, part two (FamilySearch.org)

Here is my transcription of Alphonse’s will. (Note: Portions of text that are filled-in by hand or typewriter are shown underlined.)

[image 7 of 40]

Sources:

1. "Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931," digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTN-FJT : accessed 3 October 2016), Alphonso Grozell [sic], 1921, probate file, no. 0648, “Petition For Probate” (image 3 of 40); citing Saskatchewan Estevan, Queen's Bench Provincial Court, Regina; GS film no. 1,220,692.

2. "Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931," digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTN-FJT : accessed 3 October 2016), Alphonso Grozell [sic], 1921, probate file, no. 0648, “Last Will and Testament of Alphonso Grozell” (images 7-8 of 40); citing Saskatchewan Estevan, Queen's Bench Provincial Court, Regina; GS film no. 1,220,692.

3. "Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931," digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTN-FJT : accessed 3 October 2016), Alphonso Grozell [sic], 1921, probate file, no. 0648, “In The Surrogate Court of […]” (image 33 of 40); citing Saskatchewan Estevan, Queen's Bench Provincial Court, Regina; GS film no. 1,220,692.

Copyright © 2016, Yvonne Demoskoff.

Alphonse Grozelle (1854-1921)

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been researching Alphonse Grozelle, my 2nd cousin 4x removed. Using records I’ve found about him at Ancestry.ca and FamilySearch.org, like his homestead applications, his death registration and his will, I’ve put together a brief biography for him.

Birth and marriage

Alphonse was born on 1 January 1854 in Ops Township, Victoria County, Ontario. [1] He was the ninth of eleven children of Pierre Desgroseilliers (later Grozelle) and Félicité L’Eriger de la Plante dite Laplante. In about 1850, Pierre, his wife and their children moved from Châteauguay County in Canada East (now Quebec) to Victoria County in Canada West (now Ontario).

When he was 22 years old, Alphonse married Annie McAlpine in August 1876. [2] The couple had ten children: seven sons and three daughters. Alphonse worked as a farmer, lumberman, and general labourer, according to census records and some of his children’s birth registrations. In early 1903, Annie gave birth to her tenth child, a son named Archibald, who did not survive. Sadly, Annie died a few months later on 1 September 1903. [3]

Saskatchewan

Entrusting his youngest surviving children to the care of his eldest son, Alphonse left Ontario for Saskatchewan between 1903 and 1911. He was enumerated in that prairie province on the 1911 census as ‘Alfonso Grozell’, laborer. [4]

That July, Alphonse applied for a homestead (SE¼, S18, T4, R23, W2) near Bengough, Saskatchewan. [5] After making the necessary improvements on his 160 acres of land, he was granted his homestead in November 1914. [6]

Alphonse wrote his will on 12 May 1919. He named his son Joseph, who had moved to Saskatchewan in about 1910, as executor and sole beneficiary. [7]

Illness and death

About October 1920, Alphonse returned to Ontario. Within a few months, he was ill and sought a doctor’s care in May 1921. [8] Soon after, Alphonse made his last appearance on a federal census when he was enumerated in his brother Eric’s household in Bexley Township, Victoria County. [9]

Alphonse Grozelle's death registration (Ancestry.ca)

With his health deteriorating, Alphonse was admitted to Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Victoria County in mid-August. [10]. He died there ten weeks later on 12 October 1921. [11] The cause of death was “sarcoma of sternum” and exhaustion. [12] He was buried on 14 October 1921 in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Victoria Road, Victoria County, Ontario. [13]

Discrepancies

According to his death registration, at which his son William was the informant, Alphonse had been 10 weeks at his place of death, that is, in hospital since about 17 August 1921, and had resided in the province of Ontario for one year, that is, since about 12 October 1920. [14] However, his son Joseph, as executor of his will, stated in an affidavit that Alphonse’s residence at the time of his death and for at least six months prior was Bengough, Saskatchewan. [15]

Next week on "Amanuensis Monday", I’ll examine Alphonse’s last will and testament.

Sources:

1. “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928”, digital images, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 9 September 2015), entry for Delfonce Grozell – Annie McAlpin [sic], 28 August 1876; citing Archives of Ontario, Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Toronto, Ontario Canada: Archives of Ontario; microfilm series MS932, reel 22. 1901 census of Canada, Township Dalton, Victoria (North), Ontario, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 119, subdistrict D-1, p. 5, dwelling 33, family 33, [Fronce?] Grozelle (written as [Fronce?] Grozelle, indexed as France Grozelle); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 30 September 2016); citing Census of Canada, 1901, microfilm reels T-6428 to T-6556, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Library and Archives Canada, 2004.

2. “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928”, digital images, Ancestry.ca, entry for Delfonce Grozell – Annie McAlpin [sic], 28 August 1876.

3. Find A Grave, digital images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 4 October 2016), photograph, gravestone for Annie McAlpine (1855-1903), Find A Grave Memorial no. 119300728, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Victoria Road, Ontario, Canada.

4. "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 5 October 2016), entry for Alfonso Grozell [sic] (b. 1859); citing Regina Sub-Districts 6-71, Saskatchewan, Canada; Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,418,579.

5. “Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, Homestead Grant Registers, 1872-1930”, digital images, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 4 October 2016), entry for Alphonse Grozell, homestead no. 426681; citing Homestead Grant Registers, R190-75-1-E, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

6. “Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, Homestead Grant Registers, 1872-1930”, digital images, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozell, homestead no. 426681.

7. "Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931," digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTN-FJT : accessed 3 October 2016), Alphonso Grozell [sic], 1921, probate file, no. 0648, “Last Will and Testament of Alphonso Grozell” (images 7-8 of 40); citing Saskatchewan Estevan, Queen's Bench Provincial Court, Regina; GS film no. 1,220,692.

8. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 31 August 2015), entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921; citing Archives of Ontario, Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1938; Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Archives of Ontario; microfilm series MS935, reel 232.

9. 1921 census of Canada, Township Bexley, Victoria (North), Ontario, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 135, subdistrict D-2, p. 1, dwelling 4, family 4, Alfonso Grozell [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 4 October 2016); citing Sixth Census of Canada, 1921, Library and Archives Canada, 2013; Series RG31; Statistics Canada Fonds.

10. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921.

11. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921.

12. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921.

13. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921. Find A Grave, digital images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 4 October 2016), photograph, gravestone for Alphonse Grozelle (1854-1921), Find A Grave Memorial no. 119300761, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Victoria Road, Ontario, Canada.

14. “Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947”, database, Ancestry.ca, entry for Alphonse Grozelle, 12 October 1921.

15. “Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files, 1887-1931," digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTN-FJT : accessed 3 October 2016), Alphonso Grozell [sic], 1921, probate file, no. 0648; “Affidavit To Domicile of Deceased” (image 10 of 40); citing Saskatchewan Estevan, Queen's Bench Provincial Court, Regina; GS film no. 1,220,692.

Copyright © 2016, Yvonne Demoskoff.

Jean-Baptiste Desgroseilliers’ 1755 Burial Record

Today is the 261st anniversary of the death of my maternal ancestor Jean-Baptiste Desgroseilliers. He didn’t start out life with the surname Desgroseilliers, though. He was Jean-Baptiste Bouchard at his baptism in 1698. Later, he used Dorval and Desgroseliers [sic] as surnames.

I wrote about him earlier this year in Sibling Saturday: The Children of Jean-Baptiste Bouchard (1698-1755).

Jean-Baptiste died on 11 October 1755. [1].He was buried the next day in the seigneurie of Deschambault, west of present-day Quebec City. Deschambault's St. Joseph church, its cemetery and its presbytery (maison curialle), where the parish priest Menage recorded the details of the burial, are located on Cap Lauzon, a promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

Jean Baptiste Desgroseliers burial record (FamilySearch.org)

The burial record above reads in French (original lineation indicated by / ):

[Sidebar] 
Enterrement / 
de Jean / 
baptiste / 
Desgroseliers

[Text] 
Le douzieme jour du mois d’octobre de l’année mil sept cent cinquante cinq dans /
le cimetière du cap lauzon paroisse de St Joseph seigneurie d’Eschambeau a été /
enterré Jean baptiste Desgroseliers âgé autour de cinquante ans mort du jour /
précedent après avoir recu tous ses sacrements. Et on assisté a son enterrement /
pierre Arcan et pierre grolo pris et appeller pour temoins lesquels ont declaré ne /
sçavoir écrire ni signer de ce enquis suivant l’ordonnance. lequel enterrement /
a été fais par nous prêtre soussigné curé de St. Joseph en foi de quoi nous avons /
signé dans nôtre maison curialle au cap Lauzon les jour et an que dessus

[signed] Menage ptre

My translation:

[Sidebar]
Burial /
of Jean /
baptiste /
Desgroseliers

[Text]
The twelfth day of the month of October of the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five in / 
the cemetery of cap lauzon parish of St Joseph seigneurie of Eschambeau was /
buried Jean baptiste Desgroseliers aged about fifty years died of [the] day /
preceding after having received all his sacrements. And have assisted at his burial /
pierre Arcan and pierre grolo taken and called as witnesses who have declared not /
knowing [how to] write nor sign [their names] as inquired following the regulation. which interment /
was done by us undersigned [parish] priest of St. Joseph in witness we have /
signed in our parish home [presbytery] at cap Lauzon these day and year as above

[signed] Menage [priest]

Source:

1. St-Joseph (Deschambault, Quebec), parish register, 1705-1782, p. 56 verso, no entry no. (1755), Jean Baptiste Desgroseliers burial, 12 October 1755; St-Joseph parish; digital images, "Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ : accessed 8 October 2016). Note: To access this browsable-only image, follow this path from the FamilySearch homepage: Search > Records > Canada > Quebec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979 > [Browse] > Deschambault > Saint-Joseph-de-Deschambault > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1705-1782 > image 238 of 392. 

Copyright © 2016, Yvonne Demoskoff.

Tombstone Tuesday: Gilbert Grozelle

Gilbert Grozelle is my maternal third cousin three times removed. We descend from Joseph Prosper Desgroseilliers by his wife Charlotte Nunegand dite Beaurosier: Gilbert through eldest son Ambroise (b. 1774) and me through younger son François (b. 1783).

The fourth child of Alphonse Grozelle (né Desgroseilliers) and Annie McAlpine, Gilbert was born on 20 May 1884 in Bexley Township, Victoria County, Ontario. [1] He had nine brothers and sisters: Jennie, Peter, Charles, William, Joseph, Mary, Mabel, John, and Archibald.

A labourer, then farmer, Gilbert married Mary O’Connor on 2 June 1905. [2] Daughters Ruth and Carmen were born in Ontario before the family moved west to the prairie province of Saskatchewan in about 1910. The family moved once more, to Alberta, about 1912. Four more children (Thelma, Sylvia, Melvin, and Murray) were born between 1915 and 1923.

About 1945, Gilbert and Mary relocated to British Columbia. Gilbert, who had suffered from chronic coronary sclerosis for five years, died on 12 June 1953 in Kelowna, British Columbia. [3] He was buried four days later in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery in Kelowna. [4]

Gravemarker of Gilbert Grozelle

His gravemarker reads:

Grozelle Gilbert

In Loving Memory

1884 – 1953

Gilbert and Mary, who died in 1971, are interred next to each other. Their son Murray, who died in 1981, shares his mother’s plot.

Graves of Gilbert (left), Mary (right) and Murray (right, bottom), foregound

My husband and I took these photographs during our recent visit to Kelowna, when we attended the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society’s conference in September 2016.

Entrance to Memorial Park Cemetery, Kelowna, BC

Sources:

1. “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928”, digital images, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 3 September 2015), entry for Gilbert E. Groselle – Mary O’Connor, 2 June 1905; citing Archives of Ontario, Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928, 1933-1934; Toronto, Ontario Canada: Archives of Ontario; microfilm series MS932, reel 119. 1901 census of Canada, Township Dalton, Victoria (North), Ontario, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 119, subdistrict D-1, p. 5, dwelling 33, family 33, Gillbert Grozelle [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 30 September 2016); citing Census of Canada, 1901, microfilm reels T-6428 to T-6556, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Library and Archives Canada, 2004.

2. “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928”, digital images, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 3 September 2015), entry for Gilbert E. Groselle – Mary O’Connor, 2 June 1905.

3. “Genealogy – General Search”, digital images, BC Archives (http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy : accessed 6 July 2016), entry for Gilbert Eric Grozelle, 12 June 1953, death registration no. 1953-09-006570.

4. Memorial Park Cemetery, City of Kelowna, database (http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page270.aspx : accessed 21 September 2016), entry for Gilbert Eric Grozelle, death 12 June 1953, plot B 6 62 82.

Copyright © 2016, Yvonne Demoskoff.