The Joining Of Families

First,welcome! If you are reading this,you are probably interested in the genealogy of the Lessard and Shaw families. You may be a family member,or wondering if we are related to each other. 

First, a bit of  background. As early as I can remember, I have been interested in my family history. My Dad started me on the path to genealogy by telling me stories about his family,and telling me about our background. What I gathered was this: from my Dad's side,I am French,Irish,and Native American. From my Mom's side,I am French and Scottish. 

When I married my husband Rick,there was whole new pool of genealogy to uncover. What little I knew about my family history,he knew even less. After a while of digging,I discovered that from Rick's Dad's side he was English. From his Mom's side,he was English,Irish,and French. 

Then our son Zach was born,and my interest in genealogy became even more of a passion. I wanted him to know where he came from-what countries his ancestors were from,who they were,when they arrived. Were any famous? How many fought for this country? Were they part of the religious movement that brought so many to our shores? Involved in town politics? What did they do for a living? I am always digging around trying to find these things out.

Since the arrival of such sources as Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com(which is what I use the most) finding info through census,state marriage records,death records,birth records, military records and even newspaper has become easier than having to go to  various libraries or town halls for records,but not everything is on the web. I have had to pour through old records at town halls,or town reports at the library.Sometimes I hit pay dirt. Sometimes I left the same way I arrived-empty handed.However,that makes the quest all that more exciting and fun. You never know what you may (or may not) find.

So,with that said, let's begin!!!!!

 That is us on our wedding day,in 1997. Richard Franklin Shaw,Jr and Donna Lee Lessard began a whole new branch of the Lessard/Shaw tree. It isn't just two last names coming together,but a whole variety of last names that have married into the Lessard/Shaw families throughout the years.What names helped create this family? 


We'll start with my parents....

Albert Martin Lessard and Doris Louise Charrette were wed in 1947 in Somersworth,NH. Both were born and raised there.My Mom still lives in Somersworth. My Dad passed away in 1990.  My Dad was the son of Albert Joseph Lessard and Alice Marie Magnan(pronounced Mahn-yah). My Mom, the daughter of Alias Charrette and Blanche Thompson.(Alias is pronounced All-e-ouce) Both my Dad's parents and my Mom's parents have passed.

So now we have three last names besides Lessard...Charrette,Thomspon,and Magnan.


Now to Rick's parents.......

Richard Franklin Shaw married Barbara Jean McQuilkin in 1961 in Portsmouth,NH. I don't have a good wedding photo,so I used this nice one instead. Rick's Dad was in the Coast Guard.Dad Shaw was the son of Ray Fred Shaw and Margaret Ruth Batchelder. Rick's Mom was the daughter of William Ernest McQuilkin and Louise Pearl Pratt. Both of Dad Shaw's parents are gone now. Rick's Mom and her parents have also passed away.

Now added to the Shaw family are the names Batchelder,McQuilkin,and Pratt. I haven't forgotten great grandparents!! I just haven't gone there yet.

Thanks for joining me on my journey!