[Research Journal #7, Entry #2]
Unbeknownst to me, Boisvert was a common surname on the East Coast and even more so in Canada. It wasn’t going to be easy sorting them out from the other families. My brother-in-law’s mother knew very little about her family. She knew that her grandfather was name Philias, but wasn’t sure about her grandmother.
Since I really didn’t know where to look, I decided to check the Social Security Death Index for Alphonse Boisvert. He died in New York in the 1970s, so he should have been listed.
I found an Alphones [sic] Boisvert who seemed to match. I ordered the Social Security Application form. I’d never seen one so I was curious what details it would have on it.
The card arrived and gave me something to work with. It had place of birth, residency at the time of application, employer, and parent’s names. His parents were Philias Boisvert and Elzyre Duclos. The application said that he was born in Lowell, MA. However, the family didn’t seem to remember this bit of information.
Mel,
I don’t have any idea what relationship you have to Alphonse Boisvert but I believe that he was my maternal grandfather. My name is Patty Sheridan Vargo and my mother is Dorothy Rose Boisvert Sheridan from Schnectady New York. She was one of 4 girls – Father, Alphonse, and mother Kate Murphy from Lowell (her mother ran a boarding house there) -He died in the 70’s in Schnectady, NY. I was in the 8th grade when we had the funeral and many relatives from Canada came to the funeral. If you want to email me or talk, I would love to hear from you! Patty Vargo – 440 552 2325 or email pattyvargo@yahoo.com
PS If you are a relative, I have to tell you that you look alot like my mother, Dorothy Boisvert Sheridan