Placide Samson

   Placide Samson was born in April 1836 in River Bourgeois, Richmond County, a small community on Cape Breton Island in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. He was the fifth of seven children of Jean Samson (1796 - 1881) and Marguerite Landry (1801 - ?) who were also born in "French Canada."

    Placide was married twice. His first bride was Marie Boucher, daughter of Basile Boucher and Juliene Mombourquette. They were married at St. John the Baptist Church in River Bourgeois on 2 Feb 1863. They had two children: Tranquille Adolphe Samson, born 1 Dec. 1863, and Alexander, born 16 Nov. 1865. Marie died in childbirth. 

    Placide's second marriage took place almost exactly nine years after his first, also at St. John the Baptist in River Bourgeois. On 5 Feb 1872, he exchanged vows with Alexandrine Beranger, daughter of Jean Bruno Beranger and Olive Landry. They had five children: Marie Olive, born 5 Apr. 1874, she died the following year; John, born in 1874, who also died at a young age; John Ernest, 22 Nov. 1878; Mary Delphine, 15 May 1881; Placide Jr. 7 Jul 1883. Placide and Alexandrine, along with their son John Ernest Sampson, appear on the 1881 Census at River Bourgeois. Placide's occupation was a fisherman. They were also in the 1891 census at River Bourgeois.

    In 1896, Placide and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Boston area. Placide was listed as a sailor in the 1900 US Census, residing at 17 (rear) Beech Street, Newton, Middlesex, Mass. He was unable to read or write or to speak English; Alexandrine is shown as unable to read or write but could speak English.

    Placide was known as Captain and for a time delivered mail by schooner between Halifax and St. Pierre et Miquelon, the islands north of Nova Scotia under French possession, under a contract with the French government for which he was paid in gold coin.

    Placide died in 1917 in the city of Newton, Mass., at the age of 81. Alexandrine lived on for 20 years, dying at the age of 90 in Newton in 1937.