Some of you may recall that I sent a request to a French genealogists to find out if they could help us find the French roots of our Dumas family. This is what I wrote to the genealogists:
My great-grandfather was Pierre Julian Dumas. He came to Mexico around 1864 as a soldier with Napoleon III's army. After the French troops left Mexico around 1866, Pierre did not return to France with them. The troops disembarked from a French naval vessel at Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Pierre married a Mexican woman and had three son's. I am descended from one of those sons. I would like to find evidence of Pierre's presence on a French naval vessel, membership in the French Army of that time and a possible connection with his roots in France. These words come down to us from family members: "... French "Pacfic fleet" was sent to Sonora with French troops under General Castagny. On the 29th of March, 1865, the warships, "Lucifer", D'Assas", "Cordeliere" and "Pallas" arrived in Guaymas. The city was occupied and the troops in Guaymas were under Colonel Garnier. There is a strong possibility that [Pierre] Julian Dumas was one of those soldiers." Let me know if you can do anything for me and an estimate of how much it would cost.
This is the reply that I received:
Dear John
Sorry for answering now to your enquiry.
Yes, I belive this is possible to find somthing about your ancestor, but it takes time and I don't know when I finish this research. So I do my best to locate documents if you agree to my proposal fee for this work.
I propose you a day work for 220€. Tell me, please, if you are OK.
Kind regards
Catherine CLAUSSE
ETUDE GENEALOGIQUE CELTIC CIRCLE GENEALOGY
GENEALOGIE TRADITIONNELLE - RECHERCHE D'HERITIERS
FRANCE & ETRANGER
71, rue de Verdun - FR-95260 BEAUMONT SUR OISE
TEL/FAX : (33) 01.34.70.03.98 - Mobile : 06.19.17.88.37
E-mail : celtic.circle-genealogy@orange
4 comments:
This is the latest correspondense from the french genealogist:
Dear John
Do you have a death certificate for Pierre DUMAS or a approximative date of birth in France ? A numerized document about him (certificate of death for him or birth certificate for his children)
Kind regards
Catherine CLAUSSE
généalogiste"
The only item among the things that she (the genealogist) has requested that we can give her about Pierre Julian Dumas is an approximate date of birth. To make this estimate I will need some help from some of you. Perhaps Martha Dumas de Romano knows something. Martha: If your father, Cruz was born in 1883, Pierre Julian Dumas was still alive in that year. When do you think the frenchman was killed by the Yaquis? And how old was he when he died? - Juan
El único elemento de las cosas que ella (el genealogista) ha solicitado que podemos darle sobre Pierre Dumas Julián es una fecha aproximada de nacimiento. Para hacer este cálculo voy a necesitar algo de ayuda de algunos de ustedes. Tal vez Marta de Dumas Romano sabe algo. Martha: Si tu padre, Cruz nacio en 1883, Pierre Julian Dumas todavía estaba vivo en ese año. ¿Cuándo cree que el francés fue asesinado por los yaquis? Y que edad tenia el cuando se murio? - Juan Dumas
Mary Lydum Uncle Johnny, just saw your email about an approximate date of Pierre Julian's birth and death. Do you know if we have a birth certificate for your great uncle Cruz? Also, I was thinking maybe there is some sort of historical society in Sonora that might know about the deaths of Pierre Julian and the other men that were killed in the ambush at the same time. I'm glad we are getting closer to finding our ancestors! :D
Martha Dumas de Romano tells us that Cruz was born in 1883. I would like to have some idea how long after that that Pierre Julian died. With that and other stories about his age we might make a good estimate. As far as historical societies in Sonora maybe someone in the Los Primos Dumas group can help us with that. I do know of a man in Guaymas who is a historian. His name is Horacio Vasquez del Mercado. I will try to contact him and ask that question.
Reply sent to our French genealogist on 2/28/2012:
Dear Catherine,
We have none of the specific information that you requested. My family and I are trying to get a good estimate as to when Pierre Julian Dumas was born. He was born in the early half of the 1800s for sure and most likely around 1830. But this is could have been born as early as 1820. We have found at the site "Service Historique de la Defense" (http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/contenu/img-viewer/numerisation/INV_GR/Yf/4Yf/4Yf_004/viewer.html , page 133) some mention of 3 Pierre Dumas that may fit our dates. Would these men likely have taken part in the French intervention in Mexico?
John Dumas
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