Her People
A record of the people connected to Anahareo, by blood or by choice.
Birth and Baptism
Civil registration of births began in Ontario, Canada on July 1, 1869; prior to this, births were only regularly recorded in Church registers. After a set number of years birth registration records are transferred from the Registrar General to the Archives of Ontario, where they are microfilmed.
Baptism records are interesting sources of historical information as they go back farther than civil registers and also contain useful information about the father, mother, date of birth, and godparents. Furthermore, because baptisms are performed shortly after birth, baptism records are generally more accurate in terms of revealing age and parentage than other historical records of their time.
• Catherine Papineau • Mary Louise • Johanna • Eddie • Anahareo • Gabriel
Catherine Papineau (Pimatanokse) -- March 7, 1833
The image at left is the baptism record for Catherine Papineau (Pimatanokse), Anahareo's grandmother. It reads approximately as follows:
"Aujourd'hui sept mars mil huit cent trente trois, par nous prêtre soussigné a été baptisée Marie Catherine née la veille de la légitime mariage de François Xavier Kaondinaketch Papino, Grand Chef de la nation des Nipissings et de Marie Anne Otickwekijikokwe de cette mission. Le parrain a été Amable Kwakona soussigné et la marraine Marie Catherine Webanakokwe qui n'a su signer."
Translation: "Today, the seventh of March 1833, by us the undersigned priest was baptised Marie Catherine, born last week to the legitimate marriage of François Xavier Kaondinaketch Papino, Grand Chief of the nation of Nipissings, and of Marie Anne Otickwekijikokwe of this mission. The godfather was Amable Kwakon, undersigned, and the godmother Marie Catherine Webanakokwe, who did not know how to sign.
Mary Louise Catherine Bernard -- February 26, 1898
The first image at left is the registration of birth for Mary Louise (Marilouise) Bernard, Anahareo's oldest sister, who died in childhood. The registration document identifies her date of birth as February 26, 1898 and her parents as Amable Bernard and Mary Nash.
The second image, which is Mary Louise's baptism record, reads as follows:
"Le deux mars 1898 nous prêtre soussigné avons baptisé Marie Louise Catherine, née le 26 février dernier, fille légitime de Amable Bernard et de Mary Nash de cette paroisse. Parrain Alexis Taneskon, marraine Marie Catherine Bernard, tante de l'enfant qui ont signé avec nous.
Alex Tennisco, Mary Catherine Bernard, Matt Bernard
W. S. Dozois, OMI"
Translation: "The second of March 1898, we the undersigned priest baptized Marie Louise Catherine, born the 26th of February, legitimate daughter of Amable Bernard and Mary Nash of this parish. Godfather Alexis Taneskon, Godmother Marie Catherine Bernard, the child's aunt, who signed with us.
Alexis Tennisco, Mary Catherine Bernard, Matt Bernard
W. S. Dozois, OMI"
Mary Louise's godmother and aunt, Mary Catherine, is likely Matthew's sister Kate, who would later raise Anahareo's sister Johanna and brother Edward.
Johanna Bernard -- March 24, 1901
The first image at left is the registration of birth for Johanna Bernard, Anahareo's older sister. The registration document identifies her date of birth as March 24, 1901 and her parents as Mathew Bernard and Mary Nash.
The second image, which is the baptism record for Johanna, reads as follows:
"Le 31 Mars 1901, nous, prêtre soussigné, avons baptisé Johanna, née le 24 de ce mois, du légitime mariage de Mathieu Bernard et de Mary Nash of this [sic] paroisse. M. J. Enright et son épouse étaient parrain et marraine. Ils ne sont pas parents de l'enfant.
P. M. O. Cornellier, Prêtre, OMI"
Translation: "The 31st of March 1901, we, the undersigned priest, baptised Johanna, born the 24th of this month of the legitimate marriage of Mathieu Bernard and Mary Nash of this parish. M. J. Enright and his wife were Godfather and Godmother. They are not related to the child.
P. M. O. Cornellier, Priest, OMI"
An additional notation was added to Johanna's baptism record on October 29, 1919, when she was married to Harry Murphy.
Walter Michael Edward Bernard -- June 12, 1903
The first image at left is the registration of birth for Eddie Bernard, Anahareo's older brother. The registration document identifies his date of birth as June 12, 1903 and his parents as Mathew Bernard and Mary Nash.
The second image, which is Eddie's baptism record, reads as follows:
"Le quinze juin mil neuf cent trois, nous, prêtre soussigné, avons baptisé Walter Michael Edward, né le douze du courant, fils légitime de Matthieu Bernard et de Mary Nash de cette paroisse. Le parrain a été Joseph Billy, parent de l'enfant, et la marraine Tessie François, tante de l'enfant.
E. A. Pepin, Prêtre, OMI"
Translation: "The fifteenth of June 1903, we, the undersigned priest, baptized Walter Michael Edward, born on the twelfth of this month, legitimate son of Matthiew Bernard and Mary Nash of this parish. The Godfather was Joseph Billy, a relative of the child, and the Godmother Tessie François, the child's aunt.
E. A. Pepin, Priest, OMI"
Gertrude Philomen Bernard (Anahareo) -- June 18, 1906
The first image at left is the registration of birth for Gertrude Bernard, or Anahareo. The registration document identifies her date of birth as June 18, 1906 and her parents as Mathew Bernard and Mary Nash.
The second image, which is Anahareo's baptism record, reads as follows:
"Le vingt et un Juin mil neuf cent six, nous, prêtre soussigné, avons baptisé Gertrude Philomen Bernard, née le dix huit Juin mil neuf cent six, du légitime mariage de Matthew Bernard et de Mary Nash, parrain Patrick Bernard.
R. P. J. Priour, OMI"
Translation: "The twenty-first of June 1906, we the undersigned priest, baptized Gertrude Philomen Bernard, born the eighteenth of June 1906, of the legitimate marriage of Matthew Bernard and Mary Nash, Godfather Patrick Bernard.
R. P. J. Priour, OMI"
Charles Angus Gabriel Benoit (Bernard) -- October 30, 1910
The first image at left is the registration of birth for Gabriel Benoit, Anahareo's younger brother. The registration document identifies his date of birth as October 30, 1910 and her parents as Mathew Benoit and Mary Nash. Mathew's occupation is given as "trapper" and Mary's as "housewife." Gabriel appears to have been born at home without the assistance of a physician. The birth was certified by Reverend G. Lemoine of Mattawa.
That both Matthew and Gabriel's surnames were registered as "Benoit" is interesting, though Matthew's surname is corrected to Bernard in the baptism record. Gabriel was adopted by his grandmother, Angelique Benoit, following his mother's death in 1911; it may be that his mother was already unwell at the time of his birth and that the adoption had already been arranged.
The second image, which is Gabriel's baptism record, reads as follows:
"Le six Novembre mil neuf cent dix, nous, prêtre soussigné, avons baptisé Charles Angus Gabriel, né le trente Octobre du légitime mariage de Matthew (Benoit - crossed out) Bernard et de Mary Nash, sauvages de cette paroisse. Parrain Charles Heansy, marraine Emma Fountain.
G. Lemoine, Prêtre, OMI"
Translation: "The sixth of November 1910, we, the undersigned priest, baptised Charles Angus Gabriel, born the 30th of October of the legitimate marriage of Matthew (Benoit - crossed out) Bernard and Mary Nash, Indians of this parish. Godfather Charles Heansy, Godmother Emma Fountain.
G. Lemoine, Priest, OMI"
There is a notation on the record that the name "Benoit" was substituted by the name "Bernard" by the priest.