Source of information for Louis Letain and his descendants.
Louis Letain
The Louis Letain who immigrated to Canada was the great grandson of Louis, the second born of Remy Letain. The birth date given by the descendants now living in Canada indicate that Louis was born in 1860, while those from the Mernier family tree in Belgium as well as the Letain genealogy written account of Willy Mathoux both indicate he was born in 1855. The final proof is in the record itself (click here for a copy) The possible reason or reasons for the discrepancy are unsure, and as to which source is the most reliable is a good question. In my opinion I feel more confident about the 1855 date since it was probably obtained from the Vital statistics records of Chassepierre, where Louis himself was probably born. On the other hand, you would think that the descendants of Louis would have reliable records as well, but more likely some records might have been passed on verbally rather than written, so gradually 1855 was rounded up to 1860.
The records indicate that Louis immigrated to America with his son Edmond Louis. Louis was married to Marie-Louise Delaunoit. The Mernier family tree spells her name as Delaunoy, which again is probably an older version of French. I.e. many words in the more ancient French used a Y instead of an I in words. She was the Vicountess Louise DeLanois, daughter of Francois Count de Launoit and Donitine Mernier. According to some descendants of the family now living in Canada, Louise Delanoit was born in Incourt, near Nivelles, Belgium, where both places are found in the province of Brabant-Wallon. However, written documents owned by another more elderly descendant, Lucy (Lucienne) Ewert of Port Alberni, British Columbia, indicate she was born in Houtaing, in the province of Hainaut. Also according to Lucy (March 19, 1998), his son Edmond Louis immigrated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island around 1907-1908 and later met his wife in America (Rhode Island). I.e. both families knew each other before immigrating.
Pictures
Left Louis Letain
Right Marie-Louise Delanoie
Here is the birth record rewritten:
L’AN mil huit cent cinquante-cinq, le
Vingt-Six du mois de Janvier à deux heures de relevée par-devant nous Jean? Joseph direc?Laherai?? officier de l’état civil de la commune de Chassepierre canton de Florenville province de Luxembourg, est comparu Joseph Letain âgé de vingt-huit ans, journalier domicilié à Chassepierre lequel nous a présenté un enfant du sexe masculin né aujourd’hui à deux heures du matin à Chassepierre de lui déclaré et de Marie Melanie Bourguignon, son épouse, âgée de vingt huit ans, ménagère domiciliée audit Chassepierreet auquel il a déclaré vouloir donner le prénom de
Louis.Les dites déclaration et présentation faites en présence de
Henri Joseph Alexandre âgé de cinquante ans, garde champêtre domicilié à Chassepierre et de Dieu-Donné Arnould? Domicilié à Breux?, et ont les témoins sign avec nous le présent acte de naissance, après qu’il leur en a été fait lecture Jean joseph Letain père qui a déclaré ne savoir signé de ce require au nom de la loi
Children of Louis Letain and Marie Louise Delaunoit