A JOURNEY INTO THE PAST October 26, 1983 Newsroom 985-2131 SECTION FASHION - FOOD TRAVEL NV woman uncovers 350 years of ancestry IT WAS 1967 when 59-year-old North Vancouver housewife Adrienne Leduc first became interested in investigating her husband’s ancestry. His casual references to his Norman descent intrigued Leduc, and she decided to find out more. NEWS photo Enc Egyertson COLONY HOME FURNISHINGS IS N | bh ‘ ‘ ‘ Py With TV's, Major Appliances, Bedding, Fumiture and’ Money-Saving WAREHOUSE PRICES IF YOU FIND IT ADVERTISED FOR LESS — WE’LL REFUND THE DIFFERENCE! ° 2 eggs COME SEE FOR YOURSELF ..We’re Open Monday - Saturday A persistent |1l-year search took Leduc back in time 13 generations and over 350 years to a tiny French hamlet called Louvetot, between Dieppe and Rouen. In an an- cient church the Leduc family found an epigraph to Nicolas Leduc — an ancestor who had been the parish priest. It was dated 1626. Leduc wrote up teresting tale of her search for her family’s roots for Reader's Digest, and the arti- cle ‘On the Trail of Ancestor the in- Antoine’’ appeared in a 1979 wsue. Antoine Leduc was the first descendant to leave France for Quebec-and it was .n Antoine that Andrienne Leduc took a special interest. While living in Ontario, Leduc took a special interest. While living in Ontario, Leduc consulted the Quebec National A-chives” until-11 generations tack - she found Antoine listed tn the 166¢- census as living in Cap-de la Madeline. Leduc’s research turned up fascinating facts about ADRIENNE LEDUC has spent many hours poring over books and sear- ching through = ar- chives, reconstruc- ting her husband's family tree. The North Van woman traced his) ancestors back 13 penerations. BREAKFAST BONUS e Bacon or Sausage ° Hotcakes, Toast or Hashbrowns ne” ae Every Monday Saturday 8 am 11 am “ The Price Is Right” By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN ancestor Antoine's life. Notaries’ records showed that he once rented a three- and-a-half-year-old pregnant black cow for 20 livres a year. Leduc found that Antoine's wife was one of 800 sent by France to marry, and populate the country Later research showed that in 1682, Antoine sold his two bulls, willed 500 livres to his wite, and set off with five other men to canoe the Great Lakes to trade furs with In- dians. Each man was record- ed as having had permission to carry a gun, a blanket, and clothes to trade Leduc also discovered that during a portage, Antoine and his’ frends travelled along the Humber River, right) behind her family’s former home in Pine Grove, Ontano. | Her extensive research over the years has made Leduc something of an authonmty on genealogical research. She 4 now teaches up tol six-hour workshops a year on tracing your family tree. Leduc will be giving a workshop on Oc- tober 29 at West Vancouver Secondary School (For intor mation call 985-8741.) She says interest in tracing family ancestry has gone up since the popular book *Roots'’ by Alex Haley came out. But while many people are interested, only the per- sistent get results. **You have to be curious some people hope to find a famous ancestor, of someone well known for certain things maybe settled in an area that was named after him," said Leduc. She says the first step to tracing one’s family roots 1s to talk with older relatives. ‘And look at all the papers of the oldest relative. Even social insurance numbers, hospital records, old letters. all with a view of picking out areas where the family lived.”" Leduc said the Mormom Church, based in Salt Lake City, has provided an in- valuable tool for prospective genealogists by compiling ex- tensive information on peoples’ ancestories from all over the worid. The Mor. CONTINUED ON PAGE €2 Willy _ QUITTIN BUSINESS 2 SALE A DOWNWARD rane, PRICE CRASH:: Sale Continues Check our Daily Specials Wed Oct 26 Diamond Pendants & Earrings 30% off Thur Oct 27 Fri Oct 28 All Watches 30% oft Diamond rings 30% oft SatQOct 29 Birthstone Rings 30% off Tues Nov | Wed Nov 2 All China 30% off All Clocks 30%. off Park Royal's Friendly Restaurant 9 am - 5:30 pm COLONY HOME PURNISELINGGS _ Werehouse/Uistrithstion (entre 1079 Roceevet! Creacent North Vaencouve: ORS arte EP AML igs WATOH SHOR LTD P8ER mnie Nant ne ores GRA 1929 Next to Eaton's Park Royal 1010 South Park Royal, W Van 922-8215