Sunday 20 March 2016

52 Ancestors: Tarsiel Arseneau (1822 - between 1891-1901)

Tarsiel (possibly Teresa) Arseneau is my Great Great Grandmother on my Mom's side of the family.

Tarsiel was the first born child of Isadore Arseneau and Victoire Duguay. She was born in Petit Rocher, New Brunswick on November 19, 1822. Tarsiel was baptised at Ste. Famille Parish in Bathurst on Dec 1, 1822.

Baptism record of Tarsiel Arseneau
Acadia Canada Vital and Church Records Drouin Collection Accessed October 22 2014 Via Ancestry.ca


Tarsiel'sfather was listed as a farmer at the time of her baptism. I assume that she would have been expected to help her mother with her younger siblings as she was the oldest of her ten siblings (one of only two girls). Her last three siblings were born after she was married and started a family of her own and were probably raised near Tarsiel and her family.

Eight days after Tarsiel turned 17 years old she married 25 year old William Christie on November 27, 1839 in Petit Rocher, New Brunswick with John Christie (William's brother?) and Isidore Arseneau (Tarsiel's brother or father?) as their witnesses.


Tarsiel and William had 12 children in their years together. Sometime between 1875 and 1881 Tarsiel became a widow. On the 1881 census at 60 years of age, she is listed as a farmer and the head of the household with five of her unmarried children living with her. It appears she had family support near by as one of her younger brothers was living just 2 families away. By 1891 Tarsiel was living with her son Alexander and his wife and children. Sometime between 1891 and 1901 Tarsiel died.

2 comments:

  1. Hello, I was wondering if you have the names of all of Isidore and Victoire's children. My Paternal Great-great grandfather is supposed to be their son (William) and is found on one of the census as living with Victoire, but I have not been able to confirm he is their child and any other children besides
    i. Dominique
    ii. Fabien 1839 or 1841 -m- Mary (Haché)Arseneau
    iii. Simon 1830-1891
    iv. Tharsille 1822

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  2. Hello Cousin,
    I have the baptism records of what I believe to be 9 of 10 of Isadore Arseneau and Victoire Duguay's children. They were all baptised in Bathurst at Ste. Famille Parish.
    Tarsiel Nov 19 1822
    Marguerite Aug 28 1824
    Isadore Jan 1827
    Isadore August 1828
    Simon Oct 18 1830
    Dominic Aug 20 1835
    Fabian Jan 26 1838
    Hilarion Nov 16 1842
    William June 13 1846
    Basil - No baptism records

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