FAQ
1) Can I provide a gedcom of the Pitre Trail database?
The short answer is no. This is an ongoing project as I continue to access registers, censuses, and other collections of information regarding our Pitre ancestors. On more than one occasion I have transcribed information which either solved a long-standing query or that conflicted with the 'accepted wisdom'. The database is therefore always under review and is constantly being updated. Some researchers have added my 'tree' info to their own databases and then uploaded them to places like ancestry.com. I am happy for them to share the info however some of that is already incorrect based on further research. Also, typing in the info yourself somehow makes those people belong to you more. It also gives you the opportunity to question my research.
2) Is there a published version of the Pitre Trail?
Not yet, though I hope to eventually produce a few volumes, organized by time and geography.
3) How/where did the surname Lajambe replace Pitre for some lines?
This is a question we will probably never be able to fully answer. The surname Lajambe emanates from a particular branch, extending back to Jean Baptiste Pitre (1732-1805) and his second wife Marie Anne Surette, but is not common in all descendant branches of that line. His grandchild Ignace Pitre (1799) s/o Jean Marie 'Jean Baptiste' Pitre/Julie Leduc was listed in the 1842 census at St. Regis as Lajambe, but in the 1825 census he was Ignace Petre dit Lajambe. The 1825 census included Ignace's father and brother as Lajambe. Another brother Pierre (1801) had some of his children baptized as Pitre and some as Lajambe. Lajambe seems to have started life as a 'dit' name which became the accepted surname for some. [There are many sites online to explain 'dit' names.] Those Lajambes who moved into predominantly English areas eventually became Lashomb (sometimes Lashamb), based on pronunciation and the English speaker's interpretation of that pronunciation.
4) How/where did the surname Lepitre replace Pitre for some lines?
This is another question without a definitive answer, but again seems to be attached to a particular branch, going back to Joseph Pitre (1771-1857) and his wife Marie Madeleine Arnaud dit Frederic. They had 11 children, but only a random 6 of them were listed as Lepitre in the baptism records of Nicolet, Quebec. The grandchildren are listed as Lepitre. Some remained in Quebec while others moved south into New Hampshire and Vermont. Some of the Vermont Lepitres became Lapete. Son Pierre moved into Ontario but remained Pitre, though some of his descendants were anglicized to Peters. Some of son Michel's descendants moved into New York and again were anglicized to Peters.
5) Can I help you get started tracing family/can I suggest where to look for information?
As I hope everyone can appreciate, my time is limited and valuable. If you want suggestions, advice, etc. please contact your local library, archive, family history centre, or search online. The amount of genealogical help available online is staggering compared to only a few years ago. The website links I've provided on the Useful Links page is also a great place to start.
6) Are the Puerto Rican or Spanish Pitres related to the Acadian Pitres?
I cannot find any connection thus far. There is an early Spanish family in New Orleans, whose records appear in the Catholic parish registers of that city. The spelling is consistently Pitre. The lineage is:
Francisco Antonio Pitre
+ Antonia Gomes Valcarzel
2 Antonio Domingo Pitre b: Abt. 1778 San Julian de Loyra, Galicia (Spain); d: 12 December 1841 New Orleans, LA
+Josepha Salazar b: Abt. 1773 New Orleans, LA; m: Abt. 1800 [Joseph/Sebastiana Ramires]; d: Aft. 1850 New Orleans, LA
3 Josefa Paula Pitre b: 30 June 1801 New Orleans, LA
3 Manuel Pitre b: 20 October 1802 New Orleans, LA; d: 11 November 1802 New Orleans, LA
3 Ambrosio Pitre b: 7 December 1803 New Orleans, LA
3 Cypriano Pitre b: 4 January 1809 New Orleans, LA
3 Andrea Catalina Pitre b: 30 November 1813 New Orleans, LA; d: 28 August 1817 New Orleans, LA
3 Andree Catherine Pitre b: 27 February 1817 New Orleans, LA; d: 27 August 1817 New Orleans, LA
3 Joachim Baldemero Pitre b: 27 February 1817 New Orleans, LA; d: 12 July 1817 New Orleans, LA
3 Dominique Mathieu Charles Pitre b: 14 March 1819 New Orleans, LA; d: Aft. 1880 St. Charles, LA
+Francoise ------ b: Abt. 1821 Spain; m: Abt. 1837; d: Aft. 1880
4 Domingo Pitre b: Abt. 1838 New Orleans, LA
+Elizabeth Lampkin (Sinama) b: Abt. 1853; m: Abt. 1869
4 Joseph Pitre b: Abt. 1840 New Orleans, LA
4 Josephine Pitre b: Abt. 1842 New Orleans, LA
4 Olivier P. Pitre b: October 1843; d: Aft. 1900 New Orleans, LA
+Mary Enezia ---- b: April 184; m: Abt. 1871; d: Aft. 1900
4 Richard A. Pitre b: Abt. 1848
4 Charles E. Pitre b: Abt. 1860 St. Charles, LA; d: Aft. 1880
4 Elvina Pitre b: Abt. 1863 St. Charles, LA; d: Aft. 1880
4 John R. Pitre b: May 1858 St. Charles, LA; d: Aft. 1920
+Azenia ---- b: Abt. 1853 St. Charles, LA; m: Abt. 1876; d: Aft. 1880
*2nd Wife of John R. Pitre:
+Arcadie Boutte b: March 186; m: Abt. 1890; d: Aft. 1920
*2nd Wife of Dominique Mathieu Charles Pitre:
+Antoinette ---- b: Abt. 1829; m: Bef. 1860
Last updated: 23 July 2007