This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DennisBoudreau222 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.canada.novascotia.pictou/3896.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Jami, I live in North Providence, small world! When your grandfather came to RI in the timeframe you gave, there were already settled here a large French-Acadian Madelinot population in Centredale (North Providence), RI, of which I am a descendant. I have no doubt that several of the people in my families who lived here and travelled back to the Islands to visit family, spread the word concerning jobs down here. My grandfather, the first of a soon-to-be-large contingent of Islanders, arrived in Smithfield in 1908, then settled in North Providence by 1909, all this via Fall River, MA. He and my grandmother were the "magnet" couple which drew an additional 25-30 other Islands couples here. By the time I was born in the 1950s, the second generation had produced some 75 descendants of these couples, followed by a larger number in my generation, all of whom I knew personally, and which thus sparked my interest in tracing their genealogies. I also know of a Leslie family from Cap-aux-Meules/ Grindstone who lived in nearly Smithfield (Georgiaville). He worked for HP Hood and Sons (dairy). So why the Mc/MacLeans would emigrate here too is no surprise to me. By the way, I am the American authority on the Magdalen Islands families. My concentration is basically on the French (Acadian, Québecois, Miquelonnais) families, but I know a lot about the English and Scottish ones as well. I am also a friend of Rik Clark's. So between him and me, if you have an Magdalen Islands question, we both know a great deal about the Islands' families. I am also very active with the American-French Genealogical Society in Woonsocket, presently co-editor of their journal Je Me Souviens. Much of my published work can be found in their holdings. So now you may perhaps know why they came to Rhode Island. At that time, the manufacturing cities of the Boston vicinity and Southern New England were a big draw for those struggling with the impoverished conditions of that time in Canada. Other than fishing and farming, they came here as everyone else did... to create a better and more secure life for themselve and their families. Hope this post helped somewhat. Best regards, Dennis 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.