This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OHaraHaworth68 Surnames: ARBOUR FORTIN Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.arbour/301/mb.ashx Message Board Post: 27 April 1841 - Born and baptised in L'Islet, Quebec, Marie-Hortense ARBOUR was the 3rd of 13 children of Charles ARBOUR and Marie-Euphrosine FORTIN. Right from the beginning it almost appears as if Hortense was a little unlike the rest of her family. All of her siblings were born and baptized in Perce, Quebec, which is also where Hortense grew up. However, Hortense was baptized in the community in which her mother was born and raised and in which her parents were married. Although typical of the time, Hortense had no occupation outside the home but she no doubt was a tremendous help to her mother in caring for her younger siblings. In fact, she was one of 3 sisters in her family who never married and who died as spinsters in middle age. When she was 27-years old, though, Hortense seems to have had an illicit affair. On 06 April 1869, she gave birth to her daughter, Helene ARBOUR. Their situation is a bit unusual in that Hortense actually claimed Helene (aka Ellen) at her ba! ptism, but no mention was made of a father. Although Helene's marriage record shows that Hortense was married to a man named Joseph ARBOUR, we believe that there is no such person. Most assuredly, Helene was an illegitimate child and a fictitious father was created to give her some legitimacy. When she was 17-years old, Helene married and began her own family, but her mother never saw this. Hortense died in Perce on 08 March 1883, just shy of her 42nd birthday. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.