Hi everyone, I'm looking for more information about Pierre Arpin (b. ca 1820) and his wife Catherine Roy (b. ca 1822).

http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?pid=138842&partID=138843

I have an ancestor named Hilaire Arpin/Harpin (Sept. 17, 1868 - Aug. 11, 1918), also known as Eli Harper, who was born and lived in the Ware/Brookfield area of Massachusetts. Hilaire married Celina Dumas in Ware, MA on June 8, 1885. The marriage record states that Hilaire's parents were "Peter Harper" and "Kate Harper". I have come across information indicating that a Peter Harper was born in 1820 in St. Ours, Richelieu, Quebec and died in 1902 in Ware, MA.

I'm trying to determine whether Pierre Arpin and Catherine Roy changed their names to Peter and Kate Harper. Moreover, are Pierre Arpin and Catherine Roy the parents of Hilaire? I'd really appreciate any help anyone might have, as I've hit a wall with this one.

The last recorded baptism for a child of Pierre Arpin and Catherine Roy in Québec was in 1862. If they had a son named Hilaire born in 1868, they must have lived in the United States by then.

When Pierre Arpin re-married in 1871 in Saint-Ours, he was said to be of this parish, but I cannot find him in either the 1861 or 1871 Census.

Yes, Pierre Arpin and Catherine Roy are Eli parents.  And, yes, it looks like they change their names.  Here'e Eli's birth declaration in Mass. :

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXZV-Q28

Yves

Thank you for your reply, Gilbert. Intriguing that you see a baptismal record for 1862. What is the child's name?

The 1870 U.S. census shows a Peter and Kate Harper with four children, but only the second oldest, Delia, is listed as born in Canada. Interestingly enough, she is listed as being 7 years old, which could be in line with the 1862 baptismal record.

1870 census:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQZ-SBP

Thanks for your input, Yves. Regarding the document you posted, I wonder if the listing of Eli's place of birth as Canada was a mistake. Eli's marriage record states he was born in East Brookfield, MA: https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AEli~%20%2Bsurname%3AHarper~%20%2Bmarriage_place%3A%22Ware%2C%20MA%22~

Also, how can we be sure that Peter and Kate Harper really are Pierre Arpin and Catherine Roy?

Yes, Marie Dalia, born October 12^th 1862, baptised the next day in Saint-Ours. This really confirms that they are the same people.

Wow, fantastic! Thank you so much for your help!  :)

What are the 3 other children's name on the 1870 census ?  Pierre and Catherine had children in St-Ours in 1843, 1845, 1848, 1850, 1855 and 1862.

Pierre get married with Marie-LouiseDaigle in St-Ours on September 12th, 1871. 

Yves

Here's a death document for Cleophas Harpin in Ware :

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWT3-6QZ

Cleophas was born in St-Ours on February 24th, 1848, baptized on the 25th.

Yves

The other children's names are Lewis (age 10), Eliza (age 5), and Eli (age 1), all born in Massachusetts. There is also a John Harper (age 87) living with them, and he was born in Canada. I'm guessing that he's Peter's (Pierre's) father, Jean-Baptiste-René Arpin.

Furthermore, in the 1880 U.S. census, Peter Harper is now married to a Louise Harper, born in Canada, so I'm guessing she might be Marie-Louise Daigle?

1880 census: 

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBX-HWP?mode=g&i=22&wc=QZ2W-LJB%3A1589405656%2C1589405800%2C1589406277%2C1589403360%3Fcc%3D1417683&cc=1417683

Wow, that death certificate is convincing. What a great find you made! This is very helpful, thank you so much.

Jean-Baptiste was born in 1785.  So, you're right about John on the census.

Pierre's file is on this site :  http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?pid=138842

So you can surf up to your ancestors that arrived in Nouvelle-France.

Yves.

Already looked through the tree extensively on several occasions, but was never quite sure if I was related. Now I know! Will submit information so the profile owners can update the files.

Yves, On Pierre and Catherine's page, it has Marie-Louise Daigle listed as the mother of many of the children. I believe Catherine Roy was the mother. Can we update this based on the baptismal records you found?

My error.  Corrected now.

Yves.

The 1871 date of death for Catherine Roy on her file here...do we have any source for that? I couldn't find any death certificate for Catherine Roy/Kate Harper.

You said that we can read her name on the 1870 census.  And Pierre re-married in september 1871.  This is why this year appears on her file.  I searched on Family search for her death but found nothing.

Yves.

Okay...safe to assume I suppose. Makes sense!