Week 25 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks covers the theme Broken Branches. I’m not 100% sure what constitutes a broken branch. Is it when a family name dies out? Is it the premature death of someone before they can start a family? Can trauma due to alcoholism, neglect, and deprivation cause a broken branch? I wasn’t sure how to interpret it, but my great-grandmother Blanche’s family certainly constitutes a fractured branch if not a broken one. I’ve worked harder researching the Laberge branch than I have any other branch on my tree, so it’s one I hold dear. It started out as a looming brick wall. Once I was able to break it down and sift through the resulting debris, I unearthed a devastating family history that left me wanting to time travel to rescue my great-grandmother, her siblings, and mother from the alcohol-fueled stupidity and ambivalence of my great-great grandfather. This week’s blog is so long it will be published in two parts. The first part will cover my great-great grandfather. In the second part, I’ll focus on his children and the impact his neglect and selfishness had on their lives.
I remember my great-grandmother fondly. Blanche helped raise my dad and my uncles, yet she had a childhood that none of us could imagine. When I began researching my family in the mid-90s, I got basic information about Blanche from my dad and my grandaunt, Mildred. Blanche was born in Central Falls, RI on August 25, 1898. She married my great-grandfather, Dana Ladd, on February 27, 1915, in Westbrook, Maine. I received conflicting information about her parents’ names. Her baptism certificate listed them as Charles Laberge and Melanise Marcoux (it also listed her birthday as August 17th instead of the 25th). When I sent for her marriage certificate, it listed her parents as John Laberge (occupation: barber) and Mary Marcoux. My Aunt Mildred wasn’t sure of her grandparents’ names but was able to give me the names of her aunts and uncles. At my grandmother’s house, I found a box of old letters and postcards to Blanche from some of her siblings that gave me a bit more information, and I built my Laberge branch of the tree on the meager information I had on hand.
I didn’t pick up my research again until 2020, and with so many records readily available online, I was quickly able to fill in some, but not all of the blanks. I found the birthdates for Blanche’s siblings on FamilySearch by searching for Laberge children with a father named _____ Laberge and a mother named ______ Marcoux. It turned up several Rhode Island records. I not only learned that the father was definitely John instead of Charles and the mother was Melanise (sometimes listed as Mary or Melanie), but that the family had more children than I had originally been told by my Aunt Mil. Blanche was the second youngest. Some didn't make it to adulthood, including John (abt 1885-1894), Gertrude (b. 1887), and the first David (1889-1890). Seven did: Peter (1886), Lena Delia (1888), Annie/Anna (1891), David (1894), Rose (1896), Blanche (1898), and Antoinette (1901). I was unable to find Blanche and her family on the 1900 census or the 1910 census. I assumed they would all be together, but nothing I found fit. Where were they and what happened to this family?
I eventually got lucky and had three big breaks. First, I found John LaBerge’s death certificate. Second, I found an article in an old, French genealogical publication. Third, I discovered several newspaper articles that shed light on the Laberge family’s home life.
I found John Laberge’s death certificate on FamilySearch under the "Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950" database. He died in 1910 -- at the police station. His son, David Laberge, reported the death to the coroner. The cause of death was listed as alcoholism. This was my first clue that there were problems in the Laberge household. I was told that my grandmother, Helen, never allowed alcohol in her home, likely because her brothers were heavy drinkers. Maybe it wasn’t allowed because my great-grandmother, Blanche, didn’t want it in the house because her father was an alcoholic. Around the same time I found the death certificate, I came across the following article from the December 19, 1901 edition of the Fall River Globe which gives further evidence of John’s history of alcoholism:
Jean Laberge who claimed a residence in Centerville, RI, was found lying snow-bound in a gutter at Choate and Pleasant street about 11:45 last night by Patrolman Bassett. Laberge was in a semi-conscious condition, influenced somewhat by a “hot chocolate” jag and was just as helpless as could be. The patrolman shook him up pretty lively but that seemed to have no effect on Laberge and he was placed on a late red line car bound for the city. At the Eastern Police station the officer took the Centerville man from the car and brought him in to be softened up. When he began to realize his surroundings he was given a berth for the night. Before being placed in the cell he desired to make a complaint that he had been touched for $2.35 and a bundle of assorted calendars that he said he had collected from Quequechan street to Webster. He was not taken very seriously, however, and this morning when released he had forgotten all about it. When told that he had been found helpless in a gutter at Choate street he manifested some surprise and then said if he met the officer he would thank him for his kind assistance as he realized that if he had not been found for an hour or two it might prove dangerous.
I also found an article about his death in the Evening Bulletin, December 28, 1910:
DIED IN POLICE STATION
John Laberge, a man about 44 years of age, who was arrested Monday afternoon for drunkenness, died in one of the cells of the police station at an early hour this morning. When Laberge was brought to the station his face was badly bruised and scarred and it was evident that he had been in some kind of a fight where he had been badly used. When arraigned in court yesterday morning he was unable to tell Judge Tuck how he got his bruises. He was placed back in the cell and later in the day a bad case of delirium tremors developed, resulting in his death.
Now I knew almost without a doubt that my great-grandmother’s childhood was likely troubled, not only due to John Laberge’s history of alcoholism, but his early death. Blanche was only about 12 years old when her father died.
My next breakthrough came from a random internet search. I happened across an article in a 1982 publication, Je Me Souviens, A Publication of the American-French Genealogical Society. The article “The Elusive Jean-Baptiste Laberge” (this title will be important later) was written by Robert J. Quintin, the grandson of Blanche’s sister, Rose Laberge. John Laberge was his genealogical brick wall, and he uncovered Jean-Baptiste “John” Laberge’s family members, his Connecticut marriage certificate to Melanise Marcoux, and Connecticut baptismal records for 3 of his children, including a first David and a Gertrude who both must have died young. He also included a photocopied picture of John, so I at least had an idea of what he looked like. While Robert didn’t go into John’s alcoholism, he said he contacted his only remaining grandaunt, Annie Glode and interviewed her. Blanche was alive as well, but as she lived in Maine, perhaps he didn’t know. “I contacted my aunt (Mrs. Annie Glode of South Attleboro, Massachusetts, now deceased) and held a lengthy conversation with her but no information about her father was remembered. Aunt Annie at this time was well into her eighties and possessed a sharp mind. I suspect that she did not want to divulge any information.” People remember their parents. Annie was one of the eldest children in the family. If she had tender memories of her father, she probably would have given a short anecdote. She said nothing, which means she probably did remember her father, and the memories weren’t happy. My final breakthrough confirmed my suspicion in a big, unexpected, heartbreaking way.
I found a newspaper article through one of my favorite sites, GenealogyBank, that showed John Laberge was either a terrible, selfish person, had fallen so deeply into the chasm of alcoholism that he lost his morality, or both. This article from the April 24, 1900 edition of The Pawtucket Times reports on a court case that must have been sensational at the time. Melanise took John to court for failure to support her and her children. Neighbors testified on her behalf, and even one of her children – given the age, it was either Lena or Annie – testified as well. Blanche was around two at the time, and the youngest, Antoinette, wasn’t born.
NON-SUPPORT CASE
John Laberge’s Wife Makes Vigorous Accusations
In the District Court at Central Falls this morning John Laberge was charged with failing to support his wife and six children. In the absence of Judge Choquet Clerk of the Court Follett acted as judge. Laberge pleaded not guilty and was defended by Thomas Vance of Pawtucket and the prosecution was conducted by City Solicitor Butman.
Mrs. Laberge testified that her husband had failed to provide the necessaries of life for herself and children. He spent a considerable part of his earnings in the saloons. The 10-year-old daughter of this witness also testified to the effect that they were often without food in the house.
Mrs. McDonald, a neighbor, testified that she had frequently fed the children when they were hungry. Last Sunday there was no food in the house and the father had taken the bed from the children, she said, and had also left them without a fire. She had fed the children twice per week for several months.
The witness got rather excited while giving her testimony.
When telling about the father taking the bed from the children she looked at the prisoner and said “He’s there and he can’t deny it, no you can’t, and there’s no use laughing there; ugh, you sporting your money in the rum store while your children are without a bed.”
At another stage when Mr. Vance was cross-questioning her with a view to showing that she had seen nothing wrong but all she testified to had been told to her, she said, “You’re a lawyer but you needn’t cross question me for you’re not able.” She then left the stand in high dudgeon, but was obliged to return.
Mrs. Gingras testified that she employed Mrs. Laberge to do her washing, and always paid her more than she earned. She gave her money two or three times per week to help her along.
Mrs. Gendron testified that she had furnished Mrs. Laberge with money two or three times per week and with food five or six times per week, and had even given her and her children coal and wood. The children had come to her house, barefooted through the snow for coal and wood.
John Watson, meat cutter at H.J. Smith & Co.’s on Dexter street, testified that since Oct. 4 goods had been regularly supplied to Laberge. These goods were delivered at Laberge’s house and were ordered by Laberge. A book was produced showing the articles that had been supplied. Because of the large bill owing, over $80, Mr. Smith had stopped supplying the children on credit.
The prisoner then took the stand on his own behalf. He testified that he was employed at the copper works, and earned $9 per week. At night he conducted a barber shop. He had always supported his wife and family. He believed that this charge had been trumped up against him because he refused to keep his wife’s sister and brother. He had kept them from June to October, and they had paid him nothing for their board. He was willing to support his wife and family.
On being cross-examined he admitted that he had “posted” his wife in the newspapers. He had not provided any food or given her or the children any support since April 13.
Mr. Follett held the case for advisement.
John treated his wife and children appallingly. If it wasn’t for the kindness and support of her neighbors, Melanise and her children may not have survived the winter. I doubt any of her neighbors were wealthy, but they made sacrifices to help the Laberge children when their own father wouldn’t. Melanise did have a brother and sister staying with them temporarily; this was not a valid reason for John to disregard his responsibilities. The Industrial Revolution brought many Canadians to the US, and it was common for them to come in waves, often staying with family for a few months until they secured employment and housing. John tried to use this as an excuse to deny support, but I doubt it was well-received by the court. He stole the bed his children slept in and deprived them so much that they had to beg their neighbors, barefoot in the snow, for food, coal, and wood. He was the anti-Jean Valjean. Again, alcohol was mentioned in this case. He spent all of his money in the rum house, according to the feisty Mrs. McDonald. Alcoholism was the main problem and the true reason he chose to abandon his family.
The article also mentions that John “posted” Melanise in the newspaper. Posting was a way to let creditors know you were no longer supporting your spouse by taking out ad space in the newspaper. Sometimes it was used for a valid reason, like in cases of adultery. Why would a man want to support a wife who had left him for another man? Some men, like John, used it to shirk their responsibilities. He didn’t want to be on the hook for paying rent or food, and assumed that by posting Melanise, he could weasel his away out of it. If a store refused to give her credit and the children starved, it didn’t matter so long as John satiated his thirst and had his children’s warm bed to sleep in. Posting was a horribly abusive and controlling tactic during a time when women had little power or employment opportunities. Melanise was stuck in her marriage (as a Catholic, divorce wasn’t permitted) and truly at the mercy of her husband’s whims. I imagine she felt shame and embarrassment when she saw her name posted in the paper, falsely accusing her of leaving her husband. It made her look as though she had done something wrong, and she was faced with the likelihood that shops would deny her food and coal. There was no welfare or other social safety nets in place. Her only power in refuting John’s claims and regaining support was taking him to court, an unusual and bold move in 1900. She likely did so at the urging of her neighbors who promised to testify on her behalf.
John appears in the paper yet again on May 2, 1900. The Evening Times article reveals what happened after the initial court case for non-support. The title of the article leads me to believe that Robert J. Quintin came across it while conducting his family research. If so, I’m curious why he didn’t include any of the details in his article.
ELUSIVE LABERGE
John Laberge has been in the District Court several times lately. His first appearance was when he was arraigned on the charge of failing to support his wife and six children. He then pleaded not guilty and a date was set for the trial. His trial was a rather interesting one and Laberge, who appeared in his own defense, probably by his own testimony assisted the prosecution more than any of the other witnesses. Judge Follett presided at the trial and at the close held the case for advisement. He intimated that he would give a decision on Tuesday, May 1. Yesterday was the day for giving the verdict. Laberge was there early -- before the court opened --- he probably thought the decision would be against him and he told one of the officials that if it was he was going to enter an appeal. In order that he might do so he wanted to get a bondsman. He left the court to get one but failed to put in an appearance again.
This morning he was again in the court room before the court opened, but again got out of the way before his case was called. The police were told to search for him and Officer Coombs started for the west side. He found Laberge on Dexter street and escorted him to the court room where Judge Follett stated that he found the prisoner guilty of non-support and ordered him to be imprisoned in the state institution at Cranston for one year.
It was the general belief in court that if Laberge had put in an appearance at the proper time yesterday the sentence would have been much lighter.
I have to wonder if imprisoning John in the workhouse hurt the family more than it helped them. If money earned while John was there was sent directly to the family, it likely helped – he was unable to drink it away. If the money wasn’t sent to Melanise and was instead used for John’s support at the workhouse or to pay back his $80 debt at the grocer, Melanise was in the same, or possibly a worse position. John is listed as an inmate at the state workhouse in Cranston on the 1900 census, taken on June 2nd of that year. A 3rd cousin contacted the Rhode Island State Archives and learned that John was released on June 16, 1900, having only served a month and a half of his year-long sentence.
John’s alcoholism undoubtedly fractured his beautiful family. Each of his seven children and his wife were impacted by his selfishness. Though there’s no way I will ever know exactly what happened to Melanise and their children after his imprisonment in the workhouse and death ten years later, I’ve put together some general sketches based on records, newspaper articles, and connecting with some 3rd cousins who share John and Melanise as great-great grandparents. In Part II, I’ll cover what happened to them using a combination of facts, family lore, and a dose of speculation.
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