THE BRANCHE FAMILY GENEALOGY PAGE

(Note: Dreamweaver and I are having a conflict at the moment, and some pictures which should appear --are not. Be patient. Thanks.)

Catholic Church in Rosiere, N.Y.

Catholic Church in Rosieres, France

IN 1829 JEAN LOUIS BRANCHE AND ONE OF HIS SONS, SIMEON, LEFT ROSIERES, FRANCE AND EMIGRATED TO THE NEW FRENCH SETTLEMENT JUST OUTSIDE CAPE VINCENT, IN NEW YORK STATE.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS JEAN ( NOW SPELLED "JOHN" ) WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE HIS OWN FARM. BELOW IS A PICTURE OF THE HOME JOHN SOLD IN 1857 PRIOR TO MOVING TO ILLINOIS. WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF RECORDS CONCERNING JOHN IN ILLINOIS, EXCEPT THAT HE DIED THERE AT THE AGE OF 85.

SIMEON IS SHOWN ON A CONTEMPORARY MAP AS OWNING TWO FARMS .

ONE QUESTION WHICH REMAINS TODAY IS WHAT HAPPENED TO JEAN'S WIFE AND REMAINING CHILDREN BACK IN ROSIERES, FRANCE? WE DO NOT KNOW IF HE SENT FOR THEM PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR ILLINOIS, OR EVEN THEN. PERHAPS THERE IS A BRANCH OF THE FAMILY IN FRANCE OF WHOM WE DO NOT KNOW.

SIMEON CERTAINLY STAYED IN ROSIERE, AND LIVED A LONG LIFE. HIS GRAVE IS IN THE CEMETERY BEHIND THE CHURCH IN ROSIERE, N.Y. THE MARKINGS ARE FAINT BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE DATE OF HIS DEATH IS JUNE 5, 1893, AT THE AGE OF 81 YEARS.

ON THESE PAGES WE WANT TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT RECORD OF THE BRANCHE FAMILY, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF JEAN LOUIS AND SIMEON, WHICH LIKELY NUMBER IN THE HUNDREDS.WE HOPE TO HAVE MANY PICTURES, AND WRITTEN MEMORIES TO PROVIDE AS COMPLETE A FAMILY PORTRAIT AS POSSIBLE.

JEAN LOUIS WAS THE FATHER OF 6 CHILDREN. HIS SON, SIMEON, ALSO HAD 6 CHILDREN, WHOSE NAMES WERE: MARGARIT (1836), MARIE (1837), ACHILL(1840), LOUIE(1844--SPELLING OF HIS NAME IS NOT CLEAR ON THE RECORDS WE HAVE, AS IS THE SAME FOR THE LAST TWO CHILDREN, BORN IN 1845 AND 1849, RESPECTIVELY. AT SOME POINT WE WILL ASCERTAIN THE PROPER SPELLINGS. IN FACT, AS WE DEVELOP THIS PAGE WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR DESCENDANTS OF SIMEON TO FILL IN THE GAPS IN OUR FAMILY HISTORY.

SINCE SCANNING, PHOTO-COPYING, FAXING, AND EMAILING ARE READILY AVAILABLE TODAY WE HOPE THAT THESE TECHNOLOGIES WILL HELP YOU TRANSFER INFORMATION EASILY. CONTACT KATHY AND LARRY BRANCHE, 204 PIKE STREET, BROWNVILLE, N.Y., 13615: DAN BRANCHE, 11 BEAVERWAY, WEST MONROE, N.Y. 13167 (DDBranche@lcsfcu.net; OR CAL BRANCHE, 12718 SUGAR CREEK BLVD., HUDSON, FL. 34669 (cbranche@earthlink.net

A BRANCHE FAMILY REUNION IS BEING PLANNED FOR JULY 3, 2004. LOOK TO THIS WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AS THEY ARE ARRANGED. THE REUNION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE THOMPSON PARK, WATERTOWN, N.Y. TIME IS 1 TO 5 P.M. CONTACT ANY OF THE ABOVE NAMES IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER OR ASSIST IN ANY WAY.

SEND EMAIL TO: cbranche@earthlink.net

April 30, 2004