In 2019 I received a correction for one of my Findagrave memorials. It was in French but I was able to answer by using Google Translate. The sender, Jean-Marie Guillaume, was tracing his family, and others, who had moved from to Rosiere, NY from Rosieres-sur-Mance, Departement de la Haute-Saône, Franche-Comté, France in the early 1800.
The story he told involved France, the settling of Cape Vincent and James Le Ray de Chaumont. As I live only a few miles from Rosiere and inside Penet Square, this was all very interesting to me. Interesting also to Richard Lawrence, a descendent of the French settlers, who was also in contact with Jean-Marie. Rick's daughter Marsha and husband Dave Koumbadinga live in France. They attended the Cocagne-Lawrence family gathering in June 2018 and 2019 at Rosieres-sur-Mance. Let Jean-Marie start the story in his own words.
In some of the sources found here, the towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme seem to be used interchangeably. The area containing both towns was separated from the Town of Brownville in 1818. The Town of Cape Vincent was separated from the Town of Lyme 10 April 1849. Most of the French settlers came to the Town of Lyme and later found themselves in the Town of Cape Vincent. In 1809, there were grist and saw mills in Chaumont.
The family story of some of the French settlers by Jean-Marie and Rick Lawrence
James D. Le Ray De Chaumont was a big player in the early history of Jefferson County. He held large tracts of land, including Penet Square, and encouraged French settlers to come here. Vincent Le Ray was the son of James Le Ray de Chaumont and for whom the Town of Cape Vincent was named.
PDF file: Encouragement to move to America
Rick Lawrence has roots in France through the Edus, Borcey, Docteur, LaPlace (Place), Favry (Favert), Vauthrin (Votra) and Laurent (Lawrence) families. This is the story of their journey to Rosiere, why they left France, the journey across the sea and what they found when they arrived.
PDF File: The Edus family story
The John Bedford Journal was written by one of the early residents of the Town of Lyme. It was found and copied by Phyllis Putnam. Copies are for sale from the Lyme Historical Society, 3 Mile Bay, NY. A few pages are included to give some idea of how the people already in the Rosiere area viewed the French settlers.
PDF File: Excerps from the Bedford Journal
Jean-Marie Guillaume has created a French website containing his research. He also has generously send a PDF file containing an English translation of most of the information from the site.
PDF: DE ROSIERES SUR MANCE (English)
While researching this project, I found several newspaper clipping that shed light on the people and events in Cape Vincent and Rosiere. There are transcribed here.
Copyright 2020 Jefferson County NYGenWeb — a member of the NYGenWeb Project
If you have any questions or comments about this page, please contact,
County Co-Coordinator Bruce Coyne.