My French Lineage

Bonjour ! Meet your French Ancestors

Genealogy

Dorothy Brown’s Memoir: “Mission Accomplished”

Some people’s lives touch me so much that instead of spending a little bit of time entering their vital records on my tree, I end up spending days in their company! Dorothy Brown is one of those individuals.

Genealogy and Gratefulness

Researching and learning about the lives of my ancestors living in the 1700s, 1800s, or early 1900s, has amplified my level of appreciation and gratitude for being born when and where I was. The plethora of good things in my life… I picked a pretty good life, this time around!

The Unknown “Mystery” Women of Genealogy

The further back in time we research, the more “unknown” women we find. Yet, these “unknown” women, our ancestors, have given birth to countless lines of royalties, anonymous and famous people, some of whom have shaped today’s world.

Genealogy Jokes!

Last Christmas, my husband and I looked for genealogy gifts ideas for me. We had so much fun finding cups, shirts, and jokes about genealogists! (He ended up giving me the best gift: a registration for the 3-day RootsTech 2025 conference in Salt Lake City!). Here are just a few jokes available online.

Melun, Saint-Aspais, 1697: Louis Huré and Nicole Dupont’s Wedding

I continued my research on my mother’s side of the ancestors of Marie-Jeanne Breton, born in 1778 in Vert-Saint-Denis, where I grew up. As usual in genealogy (and in life!), a surprise led to another. And better than that: it turned out to be a two-surprise discovery!

Édith Piaf and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: A French singer and a Saint… cousins!

All her life, French singer Édith Piaf kept a devotion to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, probably not knowing that they were related! I just discovered their cousin connection. Another time when I am blown away by my genealogy discoveries giving another “proof” (if needed) that we are all connected…

Odile de Hohenbourg (Odile of Alsace) (660-720)

Of all the beautiful discoveries I have made so far in my years researching my genealogy (and I have made so many!), Sainte Odile was one of the most touching and profound discoveries. Here is why. 

The French Roots of Pope Leo XIV

Since the election of Pope Leo XIV on Thursday May 8, 2025, French genealogists have been very busy researching his French ancestry. He was born Robert Francis Prevost. His paternal grandmother, Suzanne Louise Fontaine (1894-1979), was born in Le Havre, Normandie! His other French ancestry comes from…

My experience of RootsTech 2025: Fantastic!!

What an amazing 3 days… This event went above and beyond my expectations! You can speak about genealogy all day and nobody yawns! It was also extremely pleasant and refreshing to be around many different cultures, hearing different languages and accents, people from all over the world, …

Countdown to RootsTech 2025!!

In just a few days, I’ll be attending RootsTech 2025 in person in Salt Lake City!! Now… I’m a little too old to act like my son on this picture, but I surely feel like it! I’ll just need to make an effort to compose myself in public…

Madeleine Lescuyer (1899-1952), my Great-grandmother

Madeleine Radet (née Lescuyer) was my maternal great-grandmother. She spent her entire life in Sézanne (Marne department (51), France). She was the 5th generation descendant of the marquis Charles Louis Joseph de l’Escuyer d’Hagnicourt, who died during the French Revolution. I was told several cute stories and anecdotes about Madeleine. Here are three of them.

Mindful Genealogy

Over the years, the words “mindfulness” and “consciousness” have been used more and more in our vocabulary. Mindful meditation, mindful/conscious breathing, mindful eating, mindful… reading this post! So how about mindful genealogy?

The Origins of Backgammon

I have so many great memories with my son Jérémy of the hours we spent playing backgammon together! Had we known this game was already played in the ancient Roman times, we would have dressed up to play, and spoken latin! Alea iacta est. 

The arrival of the Fork in France

Ah, the joys that genealogy can bring… such a variety of discoveries! Take the fork, for instance. Have you ever lost sleep over this vital, existential question: “When did the fork arrive in France?” Well, I have… I’ve had so many sleepless nights wondering about it, waking up my husband in the middle of the…

My Family During World War II (Part 2 of 2) – Liberation of France

I dedicate this post to my mother who passed away in July 2022. There she is on August 28, 1944 (7 months old), in the arms of American soldiers who have just liberated the town of Sézanne, where she was living with my grandparents. This picture was taken…

My Family During World War II (Part 1 of 2)

I dedicate this post to my maternal grandfather (in the middle), flag bearer of the French 43rd Infantry Regiment during WWII. I also dedicate this post to all the victims of wars, civilians and soldiers. My heart goes out to everyone who still suffers today from past and present wars, especially children…

1924: France 100 years ago

100 years ago: A brief look at some of the 1924 events in France. (I dedicate this post to my father, who recently passed away…)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Genealogy

In researching our genealogy, we discover so much more than a person’s name, date of birth, marriage and death. Among many other things, we also brush up on History and geography, and learn new things. It’s all so fascinating! I wish I had paid more attention in school instead of goofing around with my classmates!

It’s a small world – “Le monde est petit”

As I mentioned in my previous post titled “To me, genealogy is about…”, I have already made so many pleasant discoveries thanks to genealogy which have continued to convince me over the years that we are all connected. Here is a “funny story” to illustrate this. And if you’ve been doing genealogy for a while,…

It all started with Aléaume…

Aléaume has a special place in my heart… He is the one who “took me” to our royal ancestors, and who also reinforced my conviction that in genealogy just like in life, we need to “trust our intuition”.

Alix de Thouars (1200-1221), Duchess of Brittany, Countess of Richmond

Alix de Thouars (my 25th grandmother) succeeded her half-brother Arthur Ier de Bretagne (1187-1203) in 1203 as Alix Duchess of Brittany, Countess of Richmond. She is represented on a stained glass in the “Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres” (Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral), in France, as well as her husband Peter I, her son John I,…

Eusèbe Lepoint: WWI Veteran and POW

Eusèbe Lepoint (1875-1952) was my paternal great-grandfather. He was Prisoner of War for 4 years in Minden, Germany, during the entire WWI…

Marcel Radet: WWI Veteran

Marcel Radet (1895-1960) was my maternal great-grandfather. He received the “Croix de Guerre” award for his service during WWI…

Charlemagne (747-814)

Charlemagne (747-814) was King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, Emperor of the Carolingian Empire. He had eighteen children with…