The French side

Thanks to Jean for the link to the Archives.

Log into the Archives of Haut-Marne.You will have to search a little.  I searched under Graffigny-Chemin and eventually cam across a listing for inhabitants during Napoleon's reign.  Here is a listing of the Chevalliers born (noms et prenoms des nouveaux nee) in Graffigny-Chemin in and around 1809.

Claude Alexander born 19 Fevrier 1810
Elizabeth Chevallier born 4 Novembre 1812
Elizabeth Victoria born 8 Frumaire 1814
Hypolite Chevallier born 23 Aout 1812
Marie Anne born 9 Fevrier 1809
Marie Anne born 21 April 1811
Marie Elizabeth 20 Novembre 1810
Piere Victor born 4 Avril 1809
Virgina Chevallier 19 Janvier 1809


Deceased

Elizabeth Victoria Chevallier died 1 Aout 1809
Jopesph Chevallier
Marie Anne died 20 Mai 1809
Marie Martha Chevallier
Nicholas Chevallier

For Jean, there are also many Jaquots and Marchals listed in Graffigny-Chemin.

Who was first?

An O'Farrell Family History gives an extensive listing of relatives including many Pearsons.

There is another Pearson line, but it is uncertain how these Pearsons connect up to our family. One can also do a research of Pearsons in England.




Bishop John Pearson (February 28, 1612 – July 16, 1686) bishop of Chester. Was he the father of Bishop John Pearson (1636 - 1716)? Who knows?

My grandfather was James Madison Pearson of Tallapoosa, Alabama. His family came from Georgia. His family tree goes like this:

Bishop John Pearson – great x 6 grandfather (1636? – 1716?)


Edward Pearson – great x 5 grandfather (1661? – 1746?)


Enoch Pearson – great x 4 grandfather (1682/3 - 1758)


John Pearson – great x 3 grandfather (1728 - 1815)


Enoch Pearson - great great grandfather (1757 - 1831)

William Head Pearson - great grandfather (1780 - 1841)

James Madison Pearson - grandfather (1817 - 1909)

Benjamin Rush Pearson - father of James Madison Pearson

postcards from graffigny

Old postcards of Graffigny-Chemin

Voici une collection de cartes postales du début du siècle de Graffigny-Chemin.

Certaines des cartes postales célébrer la fête de Jeanne d'Arc du 29 Avril au 9 Mai.Le festival marque le siège de 1428-1429, quand Jeanne d'Arc ont aidé à libérer la ville d'Orléans des Anglais.L'année 1909 marque la béatification de Jeanne d'Arc par l'Église catholique.

These postcards are scenes of Graffigny-Chemin at the turn of the century. The scene shown is taken from the main church in Graffigny. The building shown on the left of the photo behind the wall is the carriage house of my great grandmother Laura Chevallier Meine.

Thanks to Jean-Marie for this postcard and another of the church at the Rue de Four. Other images from delcampe.net.

Qui est cette - Who is this?

Here is a one of the few family photos that I have from my grandmother Marguerite.

She was French and her family name was Chevallier. She grew up with her mother and sister in the village of Graffigny-Chemin, near Bourmont. Her father died when she was still young. She married my grandfather shortly after the First World War and left Graffigny. Her mother lived in Graffigny until her death.

Who is this? What are the medals? Can someone determine the unit he was from and rank?




Qui est le soldat sur la photo?

Ma grand-mère était française. Le nom de famille était Chevallier. Elle a habité à Graffigny-Chemin, près de Bourmont, France. Je crois que son père est mort avant la Première Guerre mondiale. Ma grand-mère Marguerite a épousé mon grand-père, un officier américain, après la guerre. Mon arrière grand-mère a vivre dans Graffigny jusqu'à sa mort.

July 22, 1944

World War II touched the small village of Graffigny-Chemin on the night of July 22 1944 war.

A British Lancaster airplane returning from a bombing mission crashed in a thick fog into the hills outside of Graffigny. Thirteen airmen died in the crash and were buried later in the village cemetery. Three airmen survived the crash. Two were seriously wounded and treated by a doctor from the neighboring town of Bourmont. As their wounds were serious, they were taken to the Germans in hopes with the hope they would be treated well. The two airmen were never heard from again.

A third airman Canadian Paul Bell was hidden in the village of Graffigny-Chemin. He was then escorted to Switzerland by the French. He returned to England and rejoined his unit. Sadly, he died in the liberation of Holland.

Although the plane burned on impact, its radio transmitter, weapons, and some explosives remained intact. Villagers of Graffigny-Chemin removed these before the Germans arrived. On discovering this, the German commander took hostages and threatened to execute the hostages and burn the village if the plane's contents were not returned.

Living in Graffigy-Chemin was the widow of a German colonel who had died in 1913. She interceded with the German commander for the return of the hostages and cancellation of the order to destroy the village.

The story is by way of Dominique Martin.

Perdu dans la traduction

Je m'excuse pour les peu entrées au cours des quelques derniers mois. Je suis retourné à l'école pour apprendre le français. Alors que le français est une langue belle, elle est pour moi celui qui est difficile à prononcer. Je ferai de mon mieux.

Postcards Graffigny-Chemin, l'eglise de St Elophe and St Christophe de Graffigny

 L'eglise de St Élophe et St Christophe a Graffigny

church of Saint Élophe and St Christophe in Graffigny, 1909

This 1909 postcard celebrates the beatification and festival of Jeanne d'Arc  by Pope Pius X. Pictured is the church of Saint Élophe and St Christophe in Graffigny, two unidentified girls stand watching a group of men.

The church is named for the saints, Saint Élophe and St. Christophe. The statutes to the left and right of the entrance are respectively, St. Elophe and St. Christopher. Saint Élophe was a French martyr of the 4th century who was decapitated. St. Christopher is remembered for his act of carrying Jesus across a dangerous river, and, so became the patron saint of travelers. The church is located on the ancient Roman Way (Voie Romaine), travelling north toward Toul, one arrives at the way-station, Soulosse-sur-St-Elophe.

My grandmother was French and she grew up in the village of Graffingy-Chemin, in a house across the street from the church of St. Elophe and St. Christopher. Marguerite Chevallier Meine and her sister Paula grew up in Graffigny.  I am not certain about the birth year, but think that Maurguerite was born in 1890 and Paula in 1888.[Check this.]

The First World War came to Graffigny-Chemin in 1914. My grandfather Madison Pearson came in January of 1918 as part of the American Expeditionary Force and the Second Division. He was billeted in the village, injured near there, and nursed back to health by my grandmother.

They fell in love, married, and returned to the United States.