The Rainville Reunion of 1955
The Rainville Reunions
1955 Reunion at BeauportQuebec
On September 4, 1955, the Rainville family had a North American wide reunion, held in Beauport, Quebec, Canada. There were Rainvilles from all over North America attended, and these were all descendants of Paul DeRainville, who was born in 1619, and came to Canada in 1655. The following is a copy of the Program handed out at that reunion. Irene Rainville and Joe Ross attended that reunion and later on there is a letter from Irene stating their adventures at the reunion.
Page - 7-1
The Rainville Reunion of 1955
1655-1955
Translation of Historical Sections of the
of the
“SOUVENIR PROGRAMME”
published on the occasion
of the
THIRD CENTENARY
of the Arrival in America
of
PAUL de R A 1 N V I L L E, Esquire.
Beauport, Quebec, September 4, 1955 .
WELCOME
Dear Relatives,
It is to all the descendants of Sieur Paul de Rainville that we would like to shake hands with and welcome them. This would not be an easy task. Allow us the Committee to tell you the joy we feel in being able to receive you in the parish our ancestor lived.
"Whatsoever be the places the ramifications of our family has taken us, you have wanted, in the sake of gratitude, to take part in this souvenir day. May this meeting permit us all to bind tighter the ties that already bind us together.
The Joint Committee Presidents.
Armand E, Rainville, Montreal.
Marcel Rainville, priest,
Quebec
TRANSLATER’S FOREWORD
My main motive in translating this booklet was to help weave another strand into the ties of cordiality that exist between English-speaking and French-speaking peoples: also to enable the English-speaking members of the "de Rainville" family to become aware of the heritage that is theirs. This pamphlet claims that our family has its roots in Norman Nobility, and even in English-speaking circles, we use the expression "Noblesse Oblige", Thus it behoves us, by God’s Grace, to rise to our full stature spritually, mentally, physically, and contribute our share in the formation of the Canadian and North American cultural patterns, by the fulfilment of the high ideals represented in the "de Rainville" Coat-of-Arms, and other sections of this work, which present examples worthy of emulation.
Sister Mary Vincent,
Congregation of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Perborgugh, Ontario.
Dear Cousins,
A group amongst our family is working at the writing of the family history and genealogy. So as to help us, please do not hesitate to forward at the mentioned name and address, all the informations, books, articles and old photos you may have in your possession; these will be returned at once, once we have taken knowledge.
Simon- Pierre Rainville.
1 Bretagne St.Beauport, Quebec 5.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
HONORARY PRESIDENTS.
Rev. Joseph Rainville
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
Consecrated priest in Nicolet, P.Q., he exercised his ministry in this diocese as curate and in San Antonio, Texas, as rector, chaplain, and member of the archbishopric staff.( page 3 )
Lt. Col. Gustave H. Rainville
Montreal, P.O., Canada,
An advised businessman, president and director of several companies, member of the Canadian Army since the 1914-18 War, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1939.
Joint Presidents: Mr. Armand E. Rainville, Montreal.
Rev. Marcel Rainville, Quebec
Adjoin! Presidents Mr. Marcel Drainville, Joliette.
Mr. Gu stave Rainville, Marieville.
Mr. Augustin Rainville, St. Prime.
Mr. Albert Rainville, St. "HSyacinthe.
Vice Presidents:Miss Yvonne Rainville, Montreal.
Dr. Rosaire Rainville, Quebec
Mr. Romeo Rainville, Montreal.
Secretary: Mr. Simon Pierre Rainville, Beauport
Publicist: Dr. Phileas Rainville, Quebec.
Treasurers:Mr. Leopold Rainville, Beauport.
Mr. Pierre Adolphe Rainville, Beauport.
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JOLIETTE COMMITTEE.
President: Mr. Marcel Drainvillel
Vice President: Mr. Roger Rainville.
Secretary: Mr. Herve Rainville,.
Treasurer: Rev. Father S. G. Rainville, C.S.V,
Directors:Rev. Gerard Drainville.
Mr. Gerard Drainville.
Mr. Albert Rainville.
Mr. Alexandre Rainville.
Mr. Calixte Rainville.
Mr. Roland Rainville.
Mr. Rosario Rainville.
( page 11 )
MARIEVILLE COMMITTEE.
President:Mr. Gustave Rainville.
Secretary: Mr. Valmor Rainville,
( page 11 )
LAKE ST. JOHN COMMITTEE.
President: Mr. Argustin Rainville.
Secretary:Mr. Rosario Rainville.
Treasurer: Mr. Alphonse Rainvillo,
( page 13 )
ST. HYACINTHE COMMITTEE.
President: Mr. Albert Rainville.
Secretary: Dr. J. H. Rainville.
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BEAUFORT COMMITTEE,
Honorary President: Rev. Joseph Rainville, San Antonio, Texas.
President:Rev. Marcel Rainville, Quebec
Vice President:Dr. Rosaire Rainville, Quebec.
Secretary:Mr. Simon Pierre Rainville, Beauport.
Treasurers: Mr. Leopold Rainville, Beauport.
Mr. Pierre Adolphe Rainville, Beauport,
Publicist: Dr. Pidleas Rainville, Quebec,
Official Photographer: Mr. Ernest Rainville, Beauport.
Directors:Mr. Alfred Rainville, Beauport.
Mr. Georges Rainville, Quebec.
Mr. J, Armand Rainville, Villeneuve.
Mr. J. C, Rainvillc, Quebec,
Mr. Leger Rainville, Quebec.
Mr. Rollard Rainville, Beauport.
( page 7 ) .
MONTREAL COMMITTEE,
Honorary President: Lt. Col. Gustave H. Rainville.
President: Mr. AmiaJid E. Rainville. Vice
Presidents: Miss Yvonne Rainville.
Mr. Romeo Rainville.
Secretary: Mr. Femand Rainville.
Correspondant Secretary: Miss Bernadette Rainville.
Treasurer: Mr. Gustave Menard.
Directors: Mr. Guy Drainville.
Mr. Albert Rainville.
Mr. Anatole Rainville .
Mr. Ernest Rainville.
Miss Gabrielle Rainville.
Mr. Guy Rainville.
Mr. Herve Rainville.
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P R 0 G R A M
September 4th, 1955.
10.30 a.m. Solemn Mass in BeauportChurch-
Celebrant: Rev. Clement Rainville, Valleyfield,
Deacon: Rev. Father Isidore Rainville, ofm,
Subdeacon: Rev. Gerard Drainvillo, Joliette(Sorel.
Preacher: Rev. Paul E. Rainville, rector of La Croche.
Presentors: Mr. Anatole Rainville, ShavoJiigan.
Mr. Augustin Rainvilie, St. Prime,
Soloist at rood-loft: Mrs. Simone Rainville
Caron, Quebec,
Organist: Mr. Claude Lavoie, Beauport.
At the sanctuary’s microphone: Rev. Marcel Rainville
Quebec.
11.30 a.m. Souvenir photography.
12.30 p.m. Official banquet in Beauport’s Armories.
President: Mr. Armand E. Rainville, Montreal.
Presentation of Longevity Diplomas and congratulations by
Dr. Phileas Rainville, Quebec.
3.00 p.m. Unveiling of the monument at the Beauport’s City Hall
Square.
Brief allocution by Rev. Marcel Rainville, Quebec.
3.30 p.m. Visits by group and at one’s choice:
Quebec City and it’s antique souvenirs;
Charlesbourg and it’s Zoo;
The Island of Orleans and it’s antique souvenirs;
MontmorencyFalls and Ste. Anne de Beaupre.
6.00 p.m. Supper free to take at one’s choice,
8.15 p.m. Evening rally in Beauport Parish Hall, near thechurch.
President: Mr. Armand E. Rainville, Montreal.
Singing Concert:
Mrs. Simone Rainville Caron, -Quebec,
Miss Solange Rainville, Montreal.
Family history by:
Mr. Simon Pierre Rainville for Beauport’s Pregency;
Miss Bernadette Rainville for Montreal’s Pregency;
Rev. Gerard Drainville for Joliette’s Pregency;
Rev. Clement Rainville for Eastern Township’s
Pregency;
Mr. Augustin Rainville for LakeSt.Jolm Pregency.
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THE NAME " de RAINVILLE ".
According to investigations made, the "de Rainville"
family seems to be descended from Norman nobility; however, it has been impossible to locate documents of ennoblement.
In the "Armorial General" or "Great Heraldry Book" of France, 1696-1707, for the Precinct (or District) of Caen, we find the title for N...... wife of Stephen de Rainville, otherwise Ranville.
Then a Count de Rainville, Officer of the famous Carignan Regiment came to serve under Montcalm and Levis in New France from 1758-1760. He returned to France after the surrender in 1760.
At the time of the siege of Paris by the Germans in 1870, there was a Count de Rainneville, Divisional Commander in the French Army under General McMahon.
In the century in which our ancestor, Paul de Rainville, Paul de Rainville lived, in the records of the Excise Court of Rouen, for January 10, 1669, there is a mention of a Nicolas de Rainville,
In the documents of the secular clergy of the Lower Seine, there is mention of a Sieur de Rainville of the Parish of Londinicres.
It was also revealed that a Rone A.C. de Rainville, writer, was born at Caen in l650.
Among other documents, mention is made of a Lieutenant de Rainville of Touques, the birthplace and home of our ancestor before coming to New France.
The research work done by Reverend Father Joseph Rainville of San Antonio, Texas, resulted in the discovery, in the great book of heraldry of France, of the coat-of-arms of Father Vincent de Rainville, registered in 1701. This latter was a contemporary, and perhaps a relative of our ancestor.
In the Department of Vosges, there is also a hamlet called "Rainville". This municipality is exceedingly old, its foundations dating back to Roman times.
Our ancestor and the members of his family always signed "de Rainville", both in France and in New France, a fact which implies that the "de Rainville" family was of noble origin, The disastrous wars which the Normans had to wage for the King’s benefit, ruined numerous noble families and relegated them to the middle-class.
It was not until after the English Conquest in 1760, that several began to write "Rainville", others "Drainville", and "Rinville", and even "Renville". Nevertheless, no matter which way we spell our name, we ought to be proud of it, because it is syonymous with dignity and courage.
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PAUL de RAINVILLE AND HIS FAMILY IN FRANCE,
We must not be surprised here at certain inaccuracies. Intervals of time are so great and places so distant, we could not procure all the desired documents.
It is certain, however, that our ancestor, Paul de Rainville was born in l6l9, in the Parish of Saint Thomas of Touques, in Normandy, in the north of France. His Father was Jean de Rainville, and hisMother was Jeanne Brechet. The certificate of his first marriage, that is with Polline Poete, could not be located, but all indications are that this marriage tooke place between the years 1633 and 1638,
Their eldest son, Jean, seems to have been born about l639. This was gleaned from John's age when the census was taken at the Seigniory of Beauport in l667 and again in 1681
Their eldest daughter was Marie. But it was impossible to find her Baptismal registration.
The first Baptismal information we have traced is dated February 20, 1646. It concerns the birth of a daughter, named Martha, who did not live. A daughter, born March 1, 1647, was named Martha too.
They lost another child baptized Charles, on September 21, 1649.
Their sixth child, also named Charles, did survive and was baptized January 21, 1652.
Jean, Marie, Martha, and Charles were the surviving children of our ancestor before he set out for the Now World.
The brothers and sisters of Sieur Paul de Rainville as well as those of his spouse, all lived at Touques. Our paternal ancestor had a brother, Jean, and two sisters, Martha and Marie. On her side, Polline Poete, had two brothers, Jean and Charles, and a sister, Isabelle. It was with these relatives, most of them married, that they severed ties, when they embarked for New France.
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THE COAT-OF-ARMS OF THE "de Rainville" FAMILY,
The investigations of Reverend Joseph Rainville of San Antonio, Texas, have disclosed the family coat-of-amrs, registered by the Reverend Father Vincent de Rainville, Parish Priedbof Sommesnil, Lower Seine.
Further, according to a Paris genealogist, this Father Vincent de Rainville was a close relative and also a contemporary of our ancestor.
We have at hand, a copy of the official act of registration of the escutcheon of the "de Rainville" family. It is dated March 18, 1701, and signed by Charles d’Hozier, at that time Royal Counsellor and Chief Custodian of the "Armorial General" of France, i.e." Book of Heraldry"of France. Without burdening you with all the verbose terminology of legal documents, we quote only the description and explanation of the family shield which you see elsewhere on this page:
" An azure-blue ground, with three golden acorns,
two above and one below."
In heraldry, gold is symbolic of generosity. In ancient times gold was the principal means of exchange. Even to-day do we not say that a generous persons has a heart of gold?
Azure-blue is the colour of the sky, and returning to its significance in heraldic art, it is the emblem of perfection, Let us not forget that the ancient coat-of-arms of France consisted of golden lilies ( fleurs-de-lis) on an azure-blue ground.
The acorn, fruit of the oak, is a symbol of strength and majesty, of grandeur and braveiy.
As we know a tree by its fruits, it is permissible to assume that our ancestors were among the number of those possessed of valiant hearts and great souls, because their works were marked by generosity, strength and courage. The facts prove that the family shield is very significant and appropriate,
May we be proud of our coat-of-arms, and may it ever contribute to the maintenance of our high ideals!
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T 0 U Q U E S.
Touque, the natal village of our ancestor, Paul de Rainville, and his wife, Polline Poete and their children, still exists in France,
Touques has a population of 1370 persons. It is situated in the Department of Calvados in the western part of Normandy, on the road that leads from Lisieux to Trouville, and is half way between this latter town and Pont-de Eveque. The Western (Ouest) Railway also passes through Touques. Two hundred years ago, Touques was quite an important town. It was then also a large fishing and shipping port and had its own harbour master.
In Touques, we find the Church of St. Peter, built in the
eleventh century, but it is not now used as a place of worship, but only considered as an historic monument. We also find there the Chateau de Bonneville-sur-Touques, built in the twelfth century, and replacing the fortress in which William the Conqueror and his sons lived. We still see the remains of the Chateau Lussey, as well as the Gate and Manor of Meautry, classed as historic monuments and once belonging to Baron Guy de Patschetd.
There is also the Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury of Touques. It was thus named because it was from the port of Touques that this Saint embarked for England. It is now a parish church. It was built in the fifteenth century, and the apse and main entrance are classed as "Historic Monuments", There are preserved the ancient marriage registers dating from 1628 to 1633 and from 1653 to 1667; also Baptismal registers dating from 1631 to June 1641 and from July 1664 to October 30, 1667.
Our forefather, Paul de Rainville, lived in this Parish of St. Thomas, as did his wife, Polline Poete. According to His Worship Charles Laine, the Mayer of Touques, there are no "de Rainvilles" living in Touques at present; and there has not been any there for more than a century.
PAUL de RAINVILLE IN CANADA,
In this the Tercentenary Year of the arrival of Paul de Rainville in New France, we have reason to be curious to learn, at least in outline, of the life and work of our ancestor in Canada.
We have already gleaned the information that he travelled from Touques to Beauport with his entire family, which included his wife, the former Polline Poete and their four children-John, Mary, Martha and Charles. This last-named was still quite young because he was born in January, l652 in the Parish of St. Thomas de Touques. The registration of this Baptism of young Charles is the last official paper in which mention is made in France of our forefather, Paul de Rainville.
In contrast with this, beginning with 1655, we frequently meet the name of Paul de Rainville in religious and civil documents of New France.
Grants of Land and Real Estate Transactions,
From a official act brought before the Notary Francis Badeau, and dated November 11, 1655, we learn that "Robert Giffard, Seignior of Beauport, granted to Sieur Paul de Rainviile, a piece of land, one arpent wide and ten arpents deep, situated at the edge of the Village of Fargy.
This land grant did not include a house; thus we have every reason to believe that the family lodged at first in the seigniorial manor as was the custom in those days. It was not until several years later, that our ancestor built his first house on the actual site of the present Town Hall of the Municipality of Beauport.
( This tract of land was later ceded to Paul de Rainville’s son-in-law, Nicholas Belanger, in l66l.)
On February 10, 1662, the Seignior Robert Giffard made a new grant of land to Paul de Rainville. It had a frontage of one arpent and was twenty arpents deep, and also located at the edge of the Village of Fargy. ( This was ceded to Jean de Rainville, in l672. )
August 26, 1667, his two sons, Jean and Charles, each obtained from Joseph Giffard a property concession which had a frontage of two arpents and a depth of twenty-two arpents, and situated in the Village of St. Joseph.
In 1668 Jean de Rainville constructed a stone residence which has always been considered as the ancestral home of the de Rainvilles. Let us note in passing that the house of Mr. Adelard Jobin, 41 St. Joseph Avenue, Beauport West, is
built on the very foundations of this ancestral home.
Further delving into legal documents revealed that in l674, Paul de Rainville acquired the property of Michel Lecourt, a house situated on the road that goes from the Village of Fargy to the "des Ecailles" creek.
In 1683, on August 12, his son, Jean de Rainville procured from the Gentlemen of the Seminary, a site located below the Sault-au-Matelot
From 1680 to 1685, Paul de Rainville went to live at Belle-chasse. After an exchange of residences with a nephew, Pierre Bazin, our ancestor returned to Beauport to live. Thus in l685 he was residing in a house on the road leading to the concession of St. Michel, to-day the property of the family of Joseph Mailloux.
Family Events,
Parallelling these real estate transactions, occurred a train of events which concerned the family of Paul de Rainville.
His children grew up. Weddings followed as attested by the records of Paul Vachon, then Notary of Beauport. Marie de Rainville and Nicholas Belanger became formally engaged (signed their marriage contract) November 12, l659. They were married January 11, 1660 at the Seignioral Manor of Beauport, by the Reverend Paul Ragueneau. In order to establish this new household on a firm basis, Paul de Rainville transferred to Nicholas Belanger, the title to his concession of l655 as related above.
On January 8, l662, his second daughter aged sixteen years and nine months, was married. Once again the wedding took place at the Manor - That morning Martha de Rainville married Pierre Marcoux, son of Claud Marcoux and Marie Juneau. This Pierre Marcoux is the ancestor of all the persons in Canada by the name of Marcoux.
Then July 26, 1665, it was Paul de Rainville’s eldest son's turn to wed. This time the ceremony took place in the first chapel of Beauport. The one who was to carry on the family name Jean de Rainville, at that time, married Susan Badeau. It was to this son that Paul de Rainville ceded in January l672 the land obtained in l662 as well as his lot and house in the Village of Fargy.