Our French- Canadian Ancestors

Thanks to my mom, Blanche (Gauthier) Mahaleris, for compiling the following genealogical information about the Gauthier family. She also wrote the narative below. Blanche has spent a large part of her life researching our family history in libraries, town offices, churches, and cemeteries all over New England and in Quebec. We are indebted to her for this labor of love.

Armand R. Gauthier

Born: July 4, 1907 in Lowell

Married: September 3, 1934 in Lowell

Died: July 18, 1993 in Lowell

Spouse: Aura J (Fortier) Gauthier

Father: Arthur Gauthier

Mother: Lydia Rheault

Aurea J. (Fortier) Gauthier

Born June 11, 1912 in LaPatrie Cte. Compton PQ Canada

Married: September 3, 1934 in Lowell

Died:

Spouse: Armand R. Gauthier

Their Children

Armand E.

Born: August 19, 1935

Arthur

Born: April 4, 1938

Blanche Alice

Born: August 16, 1939

Jeanne

Born: July 1, 1939

Jeannine

born: October 15, 1942

Jean- John

Born: October 16, 1942

Lorraine

Born: June 14, 1944

Cecille

Born: 1946

Our French-Canadian Ancestors Arrive in Lowell

by Blanche (Gauthier) Mahaleris

The immigrants arrived by the thousands to work in the textile mills, the shoe shops, and the lumberyards; it was their labor that helped the industrial revolution of the 19th century achieve production heights that it did. And largely because of the migration, New England is heavily populated with the descendents of the French-Canadians, the Franco-Americans.

The census of 1886 for the Parish of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel list Mathilde Boisvert/Gauthier widow 55 years old (USA), Elise Gauthier 25 years old (USA), Amanda Gauthier 22 years old (USA), Edouardina Gauthier 18 years old (USA), Napoleon Gauthier 24 years old (USA). In 1888, Mathilde is listed in the Lowell City Directory as a widow residing at 78 Fenwick. In 1892, Mathilde is residing at 43 Salem and in 1893, Mathilde died and was buried in St. Patrick Cemetery Lowell, MA.

In 1896, the Lowell Directory has Hercule, foundryman, 8 Decatur, Joseph tanner 16 Decatur, Elise 95 Salem. In 1903, Arthur Gauthier, moulder, house 37 Sarah, Hercule doesn't appear in book but is listed in 1904 at 37 Sarah.

On September 23, 1912 Arthur Gauthier died at the age of 26 years of tuberculosis, his aunt Amanda died in 1895 of the same disease at the age of 26, tuberculosis was a common ailment for those who worked in the mills along the Merrimack River. His wife Lydia returned to Canada after his death. On August 21, 1916, Lydia married Edouard Bourgeois, and they resided in Ste. Angele de Laval, 15 months later at the age of 31 Lydia died. The boys (Armand and Arthur) were sent to find their relative in Mont Carmel this journey entailed crossing the St. Lawrence River, which was frozen at the time of the year, in moccasins carrying with themtheir few meager possessions, they walked the 20 miles to the Rheault family who took them in for a short period of time, they were then sent to an orphanage in Trois-Rivers where they remained for 3 or 4 years. News didn't travel fast in the early part of the 20th century so it was quite some time before their grandparents Hercule and Elizabeth Gauthier were able to have the boys returned to Lowell.

Armand was sent to St. Joseph's school for boys. He became an altar boy at St. Joseph Church and would walk the mile to church and then go to school, at lunch time he would go to the mills with a lunch bucket to bring food for the relatives at work.

He was interested in body building and excercises and in the summer time would pitch a tent at Latours Grove and work with weights, swimming and rowing and each day he would walk from Tyngsboro to Lowell to go to work and walk back after work. For a time he was a wrestler and was a good one, but by nature he was easy going and I don't think the sport of wrestling was for him.

Armand met Aurea Fortier in 1932, she was the youngest child in a family of seven. She worked at Suffox Knitting Company and was a fun-loving, young lady who enjoyed dancing and ice skating as well as numerous other sports. They were introduced by Armand's aunt Diana Gauthier. They soon realized that they were quite compatable and as the friendship grew stronger, he sought her hand in marriage.

The joyful wedding took place at St. Louis Church in Lowell. The young couple settled into a rented apartment in Centerville and a year later Armand was born. He was soon follwed by Arthur in 1938 and Blanche in 1939. Soon they purchased a home on Phebe Ave in Lowell and five more children were born: Jeanne in 1941, John and his twin Jeannine who died shortly after birth in 1942, Lorraine in 1944 and Cecile in 1946, who lived only a few hours after birth. They were blessed with 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Mom and dad worked hard for their family. The children always came first. We were lavished with kindness and unselfish love. They shared many joys and sorrows. After 58 years of marriage, Dad died on 1993 shortly after his 86th birthday. His smile and laugha nd love of life and family lives on within all those he loved.