Tag Archives: Francois Violet

Violette Grist Mill

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This article was published under the Madawaska Historical Society, written by Guy Dubay, in the St. John Valley Times on September 6, 1973, title Van Buren Grist Mill Genealogy Listed. While the original mill and equipment are long gone, a similar grist mill and carding mill can be seen at The Acadian Village in Van Buren ME. The Violette Industrial Building and equipment there was donated by Alderic O. “Dick” Violette (VFA#100) and Alice Violette (VFA#101) in 2008.

the 1826 mill

Probably the mill from 1826

On the Picquanositaque Stream, there once stood an old grist mill which eventually led to the renaming of that Van Buren waterway. Continue reading →

Nationality of our ancestors

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NOTE: This story is drawn from Chapter 15 of A Violette History, published by the Violette Family Association, and available from Amazon using this link.

What was the nationality of our ancestors François Violet and his wives (he was married three successive times), children, and grandchildren? François came upon this continent in times of great turmoil, when national interests were in a flux and not consistently defined. His time on this continent spanned the period 1749-1824, and in that period he moved a distance or no more than 500 miles or so. But during that time the various lands were claimed by Britain, France, and the United States.

Part of the area was described as being Acadia, though “Acadia” was not a nation. Though large parts of that area are now part of Canada, Canada as an entity did not exist until 1867, long after he died. Continue reading →

A Visit To Violet France

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By Lee Anne Violet (VFA#2672, P60572)

Lee at Maison Galhaud winery

Lee at Maison Galhaud winery

“Violet? Maybe we should call you Purple!” “You some kind of delicate flower?” “Watch out. It’s Lee Anne Violent!”

Growing up with the last name Violet made me realize two things. First, creativity plays no part in the taunts of your average grade-schooler. Second, those kids cued in on something – my last name was out of the ordinary. That realization prompted questions. Where did it come from? Who were the people that passed on this name? And why wasn’t it something normal like Olson or Carlson, like the rest of my fellow Scandinavian Minnesotans?

The answers I received to these questions were at best murky family lore. The only detail regarding our name I was able to prize was that my great-great grandfather changed it from Violette to Violet to simplify pronunciation. Continue reading →

A pioneer family grows and grows

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Francois Violette Descendants

Descendant chart for Francois Violette, three generations

When Francois and Marie-Luce Violet moved their family around 1789 from lands they had lived on and farmed along the Hammond River in lower New Brunswick, there were twelve children ranging in age from infancy to 19 years old. Three more children would be born to this family after arriving in the Upper St John River Valley bringing the total to 15. But Marie-Luce died about 1800, at 50 years of age – not uncommon in those days when life was not easy. The community around the Hammond River could count on established commercial enterprises to provide supplies of all kinds – the things they could not raise on their farm. Pioneering in the Upper St John meant there was none of those “conveniences” available and they probably had to do without or make their own substitutes for many things.

Such was the age range of this large family that their first grandchild was born before their fifteenth child was born in 1792! Son Augustin married Elizabeth Cyr 11 years after moving to his new land (he was one of those who was granted land under the Soucy Concession) and their first child was born in 1799. Continue reading →

Early Violette land grants, St John River

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Figure 1

Figure 1: Original map of part of the original Soucy Concession map. Shows Tract 3 on the left with the lots pioneered by Francois and his son Augustin.

Let’s go back in time a bit – well actually back to around 1791 – and see where François and his family pioneered when they moved to the Upper St John Valley. They had felt forced out from the lands along the Hammond River where they had been settled for about 20 years, and with several other families sought land far away from the growing British influence in southern New Brunswick. Several families were granted land under what was called the Soucy Concession. Other families had recently been granted land under the Mazzerole Concession in the area where Madawaska ME is now located. Continue reading →

Have you read A Violette History book?

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A Violette History

A Violette History, published by the Violette Family Association

It has been over three years since A Violette History was published – have you ordered your copy yet? It is available on Amazon. Just search for the book title.  Book sales proceeds go to the Association. This was a major work authored by David A. Violette (VFA #621), Rod Violette (VFA #12), and Guy Dubay (VFA #892). The book traces the history of François Violet/Violette (1744-1824), acknowledged as the progenitor of our Violette family in North America. It covers the period from his grandparents in France through his own life in France, Fortress Louisbourg, New Brunswick, and Maine. Continue reading →