Celena DESJARDINS-GARDNER/ Celina MARTIN??, b. 1879
Any descendants out there of Celena DESJARDINS aka GARDNER, daughter of Joseph DESJARDINS/GARDNER & Pauline (BOLIER) of Bradley, Old Town, and Connor, Maine??
Celena was born in Aroostook County, Maine, probably in Connor/KR2 Plantation where her family lived at the time of the 1880 US Federal Census. Celena's age as recorded in that census, taken on June 1st, was 1 year, which means she was probably born in the latter half of 1878 or in 1879. A few years ago, I posted messages on this forum that Celena and Odelie DESJARDINS were the same person. However, I discovered that the former was born in 1878-79, and the latter, in Oct 1882.
Since it is not known whether Celena was dead or married at the time of the 1900 census, her death date has been hard to pinpoint. She certainly would have died before her sister Ella's death in April 1916, since she is not listed in Ella's obituary as one of the surviving siblings, nor is she listed as surviving her mother in August 1916.
1900 US Census: Celena DESJARDINS, her mother Pauline, her sister Marie--she married Damase/Thomas BRETON in 1886--and brother, Edward, have not been found in that census. However, Pauline and Edward are found in later records, while Marie and Celena are not.
The following theory is a bit of a stretch, but please bear with me: ** Could the Celina who married Frank MARTIN (s/o Frank & Margaret) and lived in Connor, Maine be Celena DESJARDINS?? **
In the 1900 US Census of Connor, Maine, there are two Frank & Celina MARTINs:
1) One couple (Frank b. May 1881, Celina b. May 1881), supposedly have one child living, which is not listed in census;
2) The other couple (Frank b. Jun 1879, Celena b. May 1882), have no children, are living in the household of parents Frank & Margaret MARTIN, and live next door to Celena DESJARDINS' oldest brother Theodule's family. Possibly these two couples are the same, counted twice.
In the 1910 census, Frank & Celina MARTIN's oldest child is George who was born about 1901-02, too late to have been included in the 1900 census. Frank's father Frank is widowered and living with the family of Frank & "Celeni" MARTIN who are both recorded as 29 years old, which calulates to an estimated birth year of 1879, the same as Celena DESJARDINS' estimated birth year. (This census was taken on 15 Apr, which suggests that their birthdays were between that date and the date of the 1880 census, 1 June.) Celina MARTIN has had four children with all four still living: George (8), Corinne (5), Clara (4), and Blanche (3 mos). Celena's DESJARDINS' oldest brother Theodule's family still lives next door.
In the 1920 US census of Connor Maine, Frank MARTIN is remarried (23 Dec 1912) to Roseanna CASTONGUAY, the widow of William DUFOUR whom she married at age 15. This fits with Celena DESJARDINS' estimated death between 1910-1916. Children listed in this census are:
Celina's:George (17), Corrine (15), Clara (13 ), (Blanche, born Mar 1880, now missing),
Roseanna's:Narcisse (6), and Mariange (3).
Also living with Frank and Roseanna are Frank's son George's wife Clara (22, nee DUFOUR, yes, Roseanna's daughter!) and grandchild, Orise (7 mos). Father Frank is 83 years old and a boarder a few doors away with Johnny & Sophie Ouellette. In the 1930 census, Frank & Roseanna have an additional son: Lionel, age 8.
All this seems to me to be evidence, although not conclusive evidence by any means, that Frank's wife Celina could have been Celena DESJARDINS. So, are there descendants of any of these folks out there? Please let me know.
Thanks,
Anne