Hello, everyone. I'm pretty new on this list, and this is the first time I've posted something here. I'm wondering if anyone may be able to help me with a major brick wall. I've been looking for any trace of my family before they arrived in Michigan from Canada, between 1860 and 1867. They have been very hard to trace even after that period. Sorry, but this is a very long message. I tried not to leave anything out. Jane RIVERS  b. 1835 Canada, d. about 1884 Moses RIVERS b. 1827, d. 1907 Anna RIVERS b. 1857 Canada, d. 1939 Ralph RIVERS  b. 1860 Canada, d. between 1920 and 1930 Louisa RIVERS b. 1865 Michigan William RIVERS b. 1867 Michigan Ellen RIVERS  b. 1869 Michigan Amelia RIVERS, b. 1871 Michigan  Rosa RIVERS, b. 1875 Michigan Other names and variations that we encountered in our research: Moses (Moises/Guillaume Moises/Charles) RIVERS (LARIVIERE/RIVIERE) and Jane (Jeanne/Eugenia) RIVERS (maiden name SOVA/SAUVE) Ralph (Alfred/Raoul/Breeze) RIVERS/BEAUDETTE Anna RIVERS/BEAUDETTE Rosa/Rose/Rosamund RIVERS Also, Moses married Mathilde PELTIER in 1890, in either Bay City or Pinconning, MI. According to the record, he was widowed. Anna married Seth HALL in 1874 in Tuscola, MI Rose married Charles CURLEY, who's from Oscoda (his father had a lumber camp there) Ralph is found living in Bay County 1820, with his nephew, Walter CURLEY (Rose's son). Ralph is listed as Alfred BEAUDETTE and widowed. Anna remarried after Seth died, in 1923, to James LONG. The marriage record lists her father's name as RIVERS, and her mother's name as SOVA, which is probably SAUVE. I've searched the Sauve Marriage Index online, but haven't found a connection so far. Note: Anna, my great great grandmother, always claimed her name was BEAUDETTE. We did not know of any other surname, besides that, until we started the research. I'm not sure where this name comes from. Anna died in 1939. Her death record says her father was from Canada, and mother is unknown. That's it. Ralph/Alfred (also known by my grandmother as Raoul) is supposedly buried in the Chippewa Indian Cemetery, in Taymouth, MI, in an unmarked grave. My grandmother used to take my mom there to visit his grave. However, years later, it was hard for her to remember the exact location, since there was no marker. Local residents from 20 years ago, remember him. Current residents, the younger generations, of this area do not know of him. We can't find a record of his death. Since we have been unable to locate Ralph/Alfred/Raoul in the 1930 census, we're assuming he died some time between 1920 and 1930. Living relatives found during our genealogy research confirm that Anna's family was Chippewa. They lived in the Grand Marais area (Michigan? Minnesota?), traveled to Canada in the early 1800s, and came back through Sault Ste. Marie in the mid 1800s. This may or may not be correct. It's just what family members were told while growing up. Does anyone out there know of this family? It's like they appeared out of nowhere in 1870. No records prior to that date have been located. Any birth, death, and marriage records that we have found, do not give any new information so far. I'd appreciate it so much if anyone has any information. Also, if there is anything I can do to help someone, such as locate records in my area, I would be happy to do so. I live in Saginaw, MI. Jennifer

Is anybody familiar with these surnames? Any possible connections?