1785 Ile St. Jean – 1853 L'Ardoise, Nova Scotia
Continuation of tree (4th child of Francois Xavier Pitre/Marie Modeste Cheverie); all known surname descendants:
6 Benjamin Pitre b: Abt. 1785 Prince Edward Island; d: 8 April 1853 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 68)
+Martha Marie Martel b: Abt. 1794; m: Abt. 1814 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 8 August 1854 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 60)
7 Helene Pitre b: 15 October 1815 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 6 February 1905 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Birth date is from 1901 census; Burial record lists Helene aged 94, single]
7 Simon Pitre b: Abt. 1817 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 17 March 1889 Holy Guardian Angels, L’Ardoise, Richmond, NS (age 70)
+Domithilde Birette b: 1 March 1828 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; m: 25 January 1848 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Athanase/Marguerite Samson]; d: 1 February 1916 Holy Guardian Angels, L’Ardoise, Richmond, NS
7 Victoire Pitre b: Abt. 1819 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 6 December 1894 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 80)
+Emmanuel Grassie b: Abt. 1815 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; m: 10 January 1842 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Lazare/Archange Matte]; d: 12 February 1899 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 80)
7 Marguerite Pitre b: 17 June 1821 L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 7 November 1910 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 92)
+Pierre Birette b: 13 January 1826 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; m: 22 January 1849 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Pierre/Marguerite Maillet]; d: 10 June 1888 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 63)
7 Veronique Pitre b: 8 September 1824 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 29 September 1883 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 48)
+Augustin Leroux b: Abt. 1822; m: 25 January 1848 Holy Guardian Angel, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Philippe/Marguerite Sampson]; d: 11 October 1901 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged c79)
7 Caroline Pitre b: 1 September 1826 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 16 August 1897 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 70)
+Constant Samson b: 19 December 1824 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; m: 11 January 1853 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Francois/Rosalie Martel]; d: 4 July 1899 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged c75)
7 Samuel Pitre b: 24 March 1831 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; d: 25 September 1905 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS (aged 67)
+Adelaide Biret b: Abt. 22 March 1831 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS; m: 29 January 1856 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS [Benjamin/Adelaide Poirier]; d: 3 January 1920 Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise, Richmond, NS
Notes for Benjamin Pitre:
Benjamin was born on Prince Edward Island [letter from Stephen A. White to Leo Peters] but moved with his parents and siblings to Cape Breton sometime in the early 1800's. He married Martha Marie Martel c1814. Seven children were to follow.
There was a land petition noted in 1830 by Margaret Sampson & others: "Petitioners are natives of Cape Breton, resident at Ardoise. They have been in undisputed possession of certain crown lands there on which they have cut hay annually to support about ten head of cattle, for from "60 (sic) to 27 years". In 1822 a lot was laid off for Benjamin Peters which includes much of the improvements of petitioners. They ask that a grant shall not be issued until their claims are investigated. Margaret Sampson (Widow of Peter), Xavier Sampson, Benjamin Sampson and Sylvester Sampson."
The 1838 census of L'Ardoise found Benjamin listed as a fisherman, with wife Martha, and children Helene 23, Simon 21, Victoire 19, Marguerite 17, Veronique 14, Caroline 12, and Samuel 7. Four of the daughters married, with Helene remaining single. Sons Simon and Samuel married and produced sons who carried the Peters/Pitre name into the 20th century. Benjamin died in 1853, aged 68, listed as husband of Marie Martel. Wife Martha Marie Martel died 16 months later, aged 60.
Back one generation to parents of Benjamin Pitre
Items in RED sourced from Holy Guardian Angels, L'Ardoise registers provided on Patrick B. Burke's website, L'Ardoise Cemetery and Memorial Records, and from birth registrations/baptismal records, marriage/death certificates online at Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics.
- Births/marriages/deaths in RED also from Nova Scotia Antigonish Catholic Diocese (1823-1905) online records.
Last updated: 14 January 2011.