Family Matters: February 2014

A Valentine from the Past

There was a stack of old letters tied together with a note in Grandma's hand: "Cards and remembrances to me from Dad, through the years. Kathryn" This Valentine from George Morin to his wife Kathryn in 1919 is lovely, and she kept it until she died in 1972.

The "Proof" of our Spanish Royalty

Today a third cousin in Massachusetts sent me an article printed in The Evening Bulletin on June 12, 1925. We all know if something is printed in the newspaper that it is actually true. Now there is no doubt that our ancestry can be traced to Spanish royalty. Oh, but wait, where are the documents? Did Arthur Noel give them to Aunt Ida? Who did she give them to? There must be a probate file somewhere ...

Article transcribed:

Miss Ida Morin, prominent in social and business circles of Woonsocket, claims she is able to trace her ancestry back to a nephew of King Ferdinand VI, of Spain, who reigned from 1746 to 1750. "'There are many people claim to be of noble blood, but they have no documents to substantiate their contentions,' she declares."

According to documents in the possession of her father, Arthur N. Morin, a Woonsocket realtor, Laurent de Soly, nephew of King Ferdinand, was born in Spain in 1721, near the French border. He married Marie Deligni [Deligny] about the time of King Ferdinand's accession, but she died shortly afterward.

Laurent was banished from the country when he disagreed with the new policies of the King, one of the Bourbons, described as "anxious-minded and weakly." but who, nevertheless, instigated a period of reform in Spain and started the country on a career of prosperity.

Laurent went to Canada, settled at St. Charles du Richelieu, P.Q., where he married Marie Clemence Guiette [Guillet], a native. A son, Pierre, was born in 1783. Pierre married and had 14 children, among them Marguerite de Soly, mother of Mr. Morin. In 1760 the King died, and Laurent, who would have been welcomed by the new King, Charles III, was persuaded by his wife not to return.

Laurent's wife burned the deed to the baronial estate when he attempted to return, 20 years later at the instance of a French priest, to claim his lands.

In St. Charles du Richelieu, both Laurent and Pierre were known as "L'Espagnol," which means "The Spaniard." Laurent died Jan. 6, 1786, and Pierre March 10, 1900 [1860]. Mr. Morin believes there is now no hope of ever obtaining the lost Spanish estate.

"We don't believe in the monarch," he said "America is our country, and we are satisfied to remain here. One of my sons [George Arthur] was in the Spanish American War fighting against Spain, and I was proud to have him fight for America."

Are We There Yet? - The First Morin Cars

Grandmother Kathryn Dillon Morin came from a family of blacksmiths and wagon makers and made the transition to modern transportation when she married a man who loved the automobile. It is apparent from the many cars George Morin owned and the road trips they took. Their summer trips took them from Chicago to Mt. Vernon, Virginia, and Pittsburgh to Newport Beach, Rhode Island as well as Lexington, Massachusetts. There were also regular visits from grandparents Arthur and Azilda Morin who traveled from Rhode Island to Pittsburgh. Is it any wonder we love travel today?