It would, of course, be wonderful to learn herein that we Beauregards are nobility -- but we're not.  The Beauregards of old were mostly farmers.  Of course today our trades and professions could not be more diversified. 

Dottie & Ray Beauregard

            When Dorothy, my wife, and I went to France in 1985, we thought that "Beauregard" was the original family name so we looked up the name "Beauregard" in various libraries in Paris, Bourges, and Vienne. A cousin in Canada had told us that our Beauregard ancestor came from a place called Roye in the Diocese of Vienne in the area of France called Dauphiné. We spoke to a parish priest in Vienne who told us that we should go to Grenoble to do our research. He said that all the records of that region that were salvaged after the French revolution (1789 - 1799) were kept in Grenoble. We did not have the time to go to Grenoble. On this visit to France, we were not able make any connection with or find any information about our Beauregard ancestors. We discovered, however, that there was many different regions in France called "Beauregard." It seems that places that have a commanding or panoramic view of an area or are scenic (a “beau-regard”) are called by that name. Virtually, it means nice view, good lookout, or good appearance.

We discovered sometime after we returned to the States that Beauregard was not the surname of André, the ancestor of many of the "Beauregard” families, in America. In France and when he came to Canada, his name was André Jarret. There was a small area called "Beauregard" in the region where he was born. However it is possible that André did not use the name Beauregard until some time after he was granted some islands in the St. Lawrence River. By an act of concession dated 17 August 1674, Frontenac, the Governor, granted him three islands located in the St. Lawrence River just to the north of Montreal,, Quebec.

To see the map in detail, click on it... but be patient, this will take a while to download.

André may have given his land the name "Isles Beauregard" because of the area by that name near his home in France or he may simply have liked the beauty of the islands. The three islands are still there today however; they were changed somewhat by construction during the St. Lawrence Seaway project. The largest of the islands, Isle Ste-Marie, is still there and appears to be relatively intact. It is directly across from the "Parc des Pionniers" in Verchères, Quebec. This is the park where the monument to Madeleine de Verchères, André’s niece, is located. She was the French heroine who defended the fort against the Indians in 1696. Madeleine was the daughter of Francois Jarret de Verchères, André's half-brother.

As the owner of these islands, he became known as André Jarret Sieur de Beauregard. Eventually the name became Jarret de Beauregard or Jarret dit Beauregard. According to very helpful information provided by Denis Beauregard, a “dit” name is an alias given to a family name. An alias is generally given to one person. However in Canada, the dit names were given to many persons. It was used to distinguish between persons having the same surname but coming from different families, regions, areas, trades, etc. It appears that the soldiers from France sent to the Colony were responsible for the large number of dit names that were used in Québec.   Using the Denis Beauregard web site mentioned above one can trace the Jarret dit Beauregard family back to France in the mid 1400's. Also, the "BOOKS" section of this site provides more information.

As time went on, some of André Jarret’s descendants used the name Jarret and others Beauregard. In doing genealogical research one finds that the name Jarret was spelled a number of different ways. Jarret, Jaret, Jared, Jarais, Jarry, Charest, and Sharai are some of the variations. There are also many variations in the spelling of the name Beauregard. Apparently the name Jarret was dropped by some of my ancestors before 1861. The 1861 census in Canada (HIC 1319 p26) lists the family of François X Beauregard living in St. Denis, Quebec. This was Misaël's father, Arthur's grandfather, and my great grandfather. It is interesting to note that in the birth records at the parish Catholic Church in La Présentation, Quebec my father’s birth on 17 October 1897 is recorded as "Arthur George Beauregard” and Jared was written in the margin.

ANDRE JARRET DIT BEAUREGARD

This is a picture of the Chapeau Cornu castle. If you are interested in seeing this images in more detail, click on the small picture. 

André Jarret was born and raised in the Rual de Chapeau Cornu.  This is near the village of Vigneu.  Vignieu is located in the South of France between Lyon and Grenoble. André married Marguerite Anthiaume in Notre Dame church in Montreal on 12 January 1676. Marguerite was born in 1653 in France. Her parents were Michel Anthiaume and Marie du Bois of St. Nicholas-des-Champs, archdiocese of Paris, France. Michel Anthiaume was the "Exempt du Grand Prévôst de l'Hotel de Paris". This means that he was an officer in the guards of the royal palace. When they married, Marguerite had a dowry of 1200 pounds in currency and 1000 pounds of value in furniture, jewels, clothing, etc.  As this dowry compares favorably to that brought by daughters of noble origins, it appears that Anthiaume family had some wealth. 

            While visiting the Archives in Paris France, I requested a computer search of the records. The French officials found no documents referring to Michel Anthiaume. However according to a letter of 24 April 1990 from the French “Ministère de la Culture” at the archives, he was probably a member of the Parisian "bourgeoisie" Anthiaume family . This family was from either the region of  Argenteuil or Montmorency, which are just a few miles Northeast of Paris.

André Jarret and Marguerite Anthiaume had following children: Marguerite born 14 and baptized on 26 October 1677, Anne born on 13 and baptized on 29 September 1681, Marie born on 6 and baptized on 20 April 1683, François-Alexandre born on 9 February 1686, Louis born in 1686, Joseph  (my ancestor) born in 1690, and Vincent born in 1692. The birth records of Louis, Joseph, and Vincent were lost in a fire and there are no records of their births or baptisms.

The record of the death and burial of André has not been found; however from the records found, it appears that André was massacred by the Iroquois Indians.  We know from the records that André was dead when his son Vincent was born.   As was the case for Louis and Joseph, Vincent's birth records were lost and the exact date of his birth is not known. He was said to be 3 months old in April 1692. So he would have been born in January 1692. If, as records indicate, Vincent was born in January 1692, André would have been alive in April or early May 1691. From an inventory of André's goods taken by Bénigne Basset on 12 April 1692, we are told that Marguerite Anthiaume was the guardian of five minor children: “Anne 10 years old, François 6 years old, Louis, 4 years old, Joseph, 2 Years old, and Vincent 3 months old”. Thus we know that André died sometime before12 April 1692.

François de Verchères, André’s half brother, followed a military career. In 1691 Frontenac, the governor, assigned him to serve as Ensign in a company of Canadian troops. This was after his service with the Carignan Regiment. On this subject Frontenac wrote:

"The Sieur de Verchères was formerly an Ensign in the Carignan Regiment. Two years ago, one of his son-in-laws was killed by the Iroquois and this year, he lost another who was taken with one of his brothers and his son. ...”

The Iroquois killed Jean Duhouet, Marie-Jeanne de Verchères’ first husband, in December 1687. Antoine du Verger d'Aubusson, Marie-Jeanne's second husband, was killed by the Iroquois on 7 May 1691. These were probably the two son-in-laws that Frontenac referred to in his letter. As mentioned above, François-Michel, François' son, was also killed by the Iroquois at the Rivière des Prairies on 7 May 1691. André Jarret Sieur de Beauregard was the only one of François' brothers to come to Canada. Could this statement in Frontenac’s letter be in reference to André's death at the hands of the Iroquois? One of François’ brothers would be André and “his son” would refer François-Michel de Verchères, his half-brother's son.  This would be consistent with Vincent's birth in January 1692.

After André was killed by the Indians his widow, Marguerite, married Pierre Fontaine dit Bienvenue. The wedding was in Verchères on 13 April 1692. This was the day after Bénigne Basset had taken the inventory of André’s belongings to settle his estate. Marguerite and Pierre Fontaine had three children: Marie-Thérèse, Marguerite, and Gabriel. It is interesting to note here that Arthur Beauregard, my father, married Marie Reine Fontaine on 24 Sept. 1924. Her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all named Pierre Fontaine.   According to my mother and her siblings, they were all  "Bienvenues".

Marguerite Anthiaume died on Isle Sainte Marie (Verchères) in 4 October 1699 at the age of 40. Her son, Gabriel Fontaine dit Bienvenue, was born on 24 September and was baptized on 5 October, the day after his mother died. So Marguerite probably died from complications after childbirth. Anne-Marie, the oldest living daughter, was 17 at that time. Louis, Joseph, and Vincent, André and Marguerite's three youngest children, were, respectively, about 13, 9, and 7 years old when their mother died. After Marguerite Anthiaume‘s death, Pierre Fontaine married Marguerite Gentes and had eleven more children.

JOSEPH JARED DIT BEAUREGARD

Joseph, was André & Marguerite Anthiaume’s seventh child and my direct ancestor.  He was born about 2 years before his father, André, was killed by the Indians. He was said to be 9 years old when his mother, Marguerite Anthiaume, died on 4 October 1699. Joseph married Marie-Jeanne Joachim dite Laverdure on 26 November 1714 in Boucherville, Québec, Canada.

Joseph and Marie-Jeanne Joachim lived in Boucherville, Québec.  They had eight children: Joseph, Jacques, Jean-Baptiste, Alexis, François-Marie (my ancestor), Jeanne-Angélique, Louis, and Ambroise. After Marie-Jeanne Joachim died, he married Charlotte Pinot and had 13 more children: André, Madeleine, Marguerite, Charles, Pierre, another Pierre, Alexis, Louis, Marguerite, another Louis, Ambroise, Charlotte, and Catherine. Joseph died in Verchères on 16 December 1759.

FRANCOIS-MARIE JARED DIT BEAUREGARD

François-Marie Jared (Jarret) dit Beauregard, my ancestor, married Thérèse Charon dite Cabana dite Larose in Verchères, Québec on 16 January 1747. They lived in St. Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec and had twelve children. The children were François born on 9 December 1747 (he died at 2), Charlotte born on 8 November 1749, Charles born on 20 May 1751, a second François (my ancestor) born on 3 June 1753, Louis born on 18 December 1754, Françoise born on 27 February 1756, Thérèse born on 13 October 1757, Jean-Marie born on 6 January 1759 (twin), Joseph born on 6 January 1759 (twin), Jean-Louis born on 20 September 1760, Etienne born on 12 February 1762, and Marie-Ester born and died in 1763.

FRANCOIS JARED DIT BEAUREGARD

My great great great grand father, François Jared dit Beauregard married Marie Ledoux in St. Denis, Québec on 1 October 1781. François and Marie Ledoux lived on a farm in St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec and had eight children, François (my ancestor), Etienne, Marie-des-Anges, Marie-Madelaine, Pierre, Marie-Angélique, Félicité, and Marie. The Church record of their marriage reads as follows:

 “1 October 1781 Marriage: françois jared dit Beauregard age 29 son of deceased françois jared and Thérèse Charon of the parish of St. Charles and Marie Ledoux age 24 daughter of françois Ledoux and Marie Maheux of St. Denis.” (sic.)

FRANCOIS JARRET DIT BEAUREGARD

My great great grandfather François Jared dit Beauregard married Marie Louise Bergeron in St. Denis, Québec on 13 July 1807. She was born in 1783 and was the daughter of Joseph Bergeron and Marie Françoise Paquet. This marriage took place only one year after the end of the Lewis and Clark expedition in the U.S. François and Marie Louise Bergeron lived in St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec and had twelve children: François-Xavier (died young), Marie-Louise, François, Rose, François-Xavier, Sophie, Josephte, Marie-Aldée, Toussaint, Angèle, Louis, and Léocodie. All of their children except the first François-Xavier were born in St-Charles-sur-Richelieu. François, my great great grandfather, died of Cholera in St-Charles-sur-Richelieu on 3 September 1834. He was 51 years old.

FRANCOIS-XAVIER BEAUREGARD

My great grandfather,François-Xavier Beauregard was born in St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Québec on 26 June 1814. He married Anastasie (Sophie) Michon in St-Denis on 25 February 1840. The name, François-Xavier Beauregard, used here is as written in the 1861 census records. So either he or his father stopped using the name Jared. The following is a translation of the St-Denis church record of the wedding (Note: the spelling of the names is as written in that document):

“25 February 1840 Marriage: Francois Xavier Jarret dit Beauregard son of Francois Jarret and Marie Louise Bergeron in the presence of Francois Jarret, brother of the groom, jean Baptiste Michon, father of the bride, Pierre Corveau her uncle, Olivier Jarret, jean Baptiste Michon, and Christophe Faneuf. Signed by Francois Xavier Jarret dit Beauregard, Anastasie Michon, J B Michon, and Francois Jarret.” 

            François Xavier and Anastasie Michon had six children François, Adèle, Joseph, Jean-Baptiste Misaël, Raymond, and Emilie. The family lived in St. Denis-sur-Richelieu, Québec.  Eventually, François migrated to Connecticut, Adèle, Joseph, Misaël remained in Canada, and Raymond migrated to Chicago.  Emilie died when she was about seven years old.

.  

MISAËL BEAUREGARD

My grandfather Jean-Baptiste Misaël Beauregard, the son of François and Anastasie Michon was born in St. Denis-sur-Richelieu, Québec 2 October 1845. He was 16 years old when the American Civil war started in 1861. Misaël, as he was called, married Marie Rhéaume on 18 February 1873 in La Présentation, Québec. This was the same year that the Prime Minister, Alexander MacKenzie, founded the Royal Canadian Northwest Mounted Police. According to my father, Misaël’s youngest son, the family lived on a farm in La Présentation, Québec.

Misaël and Marie Rhéaume had 16 children, nine girls and seven boys -- Marie-Sophie, Victoria, Rose-Anna, Cédulie, Magloire, Jean-Baptiste, Elmire, Misaël, Marie-Louise, Joseph, Maria, Mathias, Adrienne, Elphège, Louisa, and Arthur. All except Arthur, my father, stayed in Canada and many had large families.

ARTHUR GEORGE BEAUREGARD

My father, Arthur, was born in La Présentation, Québec on 17 October 1897. In 1922 he was living in St. Thomas d’Aquin, Québec.  He and a friend heard that there was a labor strike at the Central Vermont Railroad shops in St. Albans, Vermont and that they were looking for workers. So they crossed the border in Highgate, Vermont and he was hired to work as a mechanic in the railroad car shops in St. Albans. Some time later, my father went back to Montreal to get his "papers" (green card) and became a legal emigrant. He was naturalized in the U.S. District Court, Burlington, VT on 1 March 1940 (Petition # 8922, Certificate # 4655126).

Arthur married Marie-Reine Fontaine, my mother, in Winooski, Vermont on 1 September 1924. Marie-Reine was the daughter of Pierre Fontaine and Hermina Archambault and was born in Lowell, MA on 6 December 1904.  He had met my mother in St. Thomas d’Aquin, Québec some years earlier. She had been there living with her sister, Domitilde Rivet. At the time they married she was living with her brother Francis and his family in Winooski, VT and working as a seamstress in the mills. Arthur and Marie-Reine settled in St. Albans, VT and had three children Laurence born on 25 September 1925, Joseph born on 23 September 1927 and Raymond (me) born on 21 December 1928.

RAYMOND L. BEAUREGARD

On my birth Certificate my name is given as Louis Raymond Beauregard but no one ever called me Louis. I've always been known as Raymond Louis or "Ray". I married Dorothy Mary Drissel on 27 Aug. 1955 in St. Gabriel's Church in Washington, DC. “Dottie” was born in Washington, DC and is the daughter of Winfield Lyman Drissel and Ruth Connor. We met while students at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. I was a veteran and had spent two years in the Army as a tank commander. My duty stations in the Army were Camp Pickett, VA, Fort Irwin, CA, and Munich, Germany. Dottie quit CU in our junior year and we got married. Needless to say, her father and mother were not too happy with our decision. Dottie worked as a Math Assistant at the John Hopkin’s University Applied Physics Laboratory in Silver Springs, MD while I finished my senior year. I received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Catholic University in 1956 and went to work as an Aeronautical Fuels and Propellants Chemist at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, MD. After working there for 10 years, I transferred to the Bureau of Naval Weapons located on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC.

Dottie and I had five sons (no girls), Michael, James, John, Robert, and Stephen. Dottie went back to school after all the children were in school and got a bachelor's degree in environmental health from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

As to our five sons, Mike married Maura McGuire on 25 Aug. 1984 at Providence College in Providence, RI. Maura is the daughter of Martin (Marty) McGuire and Kathleen O'Leary. Mike, Maura and their two children, Kevin and Katherine Connor (K.C.), live in South Windsor, Connecticut. Mike is a Chemical Engineer and owns a small company called RESOURCE ENGINEERING CONSULTING LLC.

Our son Jim died of a malignant brain tumor on 6 September 1979 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC. He was studying Industrial Engineering at Maryland University and was 21 years old at the time.

John married Cindy Werber in Washington, DC on 1 October 1988. Cindy is the daughter of Bill Werber and Ailcey Jones. John and Cindy have three children, Chris, Jill, and A.J.  They live in Potomac, MD. John received an MD from the Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, DC and then continued on there to specialize in anesthesiology.  Following that, he spend three years as a Navy doctor, but is now out and working as an anesthesiologist at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC.

Bob graduated from Maryland University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. For a number of years, he worked on Navy contracts which required him to spend many hours underwater on submarine sea trials.  He was spending too much time at sea so he decided to quit and move to the West coast to work with his brother Steve. He now lives in Santa Monica, CA and enjoys his work and the beach especially volleyball and ocean kayaking.

Steve married Lee Fox in Long Beach, CA on 24 May 1997. She is the daughter of Bob Fox and Linda Carnesale. Steve and Lee have three children, Danielle Fox Beauregard, Jarret Fox Beauregard and Pascale Lee Fox Beauregard. They live in Malibu, CA. Steve graduated from Frostburg University in Frostburg, MD with degrees in Computer Science and Accounting. He founded and now works in his company called REGARD Solutions Corporation and REGARD Venture Solutions.

[Home]