Welcome to the Blais world

2025 Blais Gathering

«CONNECTING WITH OUR HISTORY»

Starting in 1695, the children of our ancestor Pierre settled on this land of Côte-du-Sud when they flew away from the familial nest at the Île d’Orléans. Here, some 330 years later, we gather today to perpetuate the Blais history of America.

“Perpetuate the history of the Blais d’Amérique”

The 2025 gathering is an occasion to express our gratitude towards these pioneers who worked so hard to ensure Blais perennity in America. We are also here to express our pride in belonging to this great family of valiant “cathedral builders”.

We first accept the message of solidarity that drives our association, and we establish links with those who came before us through the richness of our genealogical heritage.

On these roads, where the first generations of Blais ancestors traveled, we will discover together the cathedrals they built throughout the years. We will retrace their steps leading them from Berthier to Saint-Pierre and Saint-François on the shores of the Rivière du Sud.

Louis Philippe Bonneau and Jacques Blais in “Les familles Blais de la Côte-du-Sud” wrote: “As soon as the 5th generation, the Blais were almost innumerable!

For this 2025 gathering in Berthier-sur-Mer, come with guests, young Blais and others of our age who have not yet discovered the Association des Blais d’Amérique. There are many stories to be told.


2025 Program             Accommodation    

Registration

DISCOUNT 

10$ off per person - Early-bird registration - Valid until July 15th

Cruise expedition - registration forms and payment before May 1st



Registration deadline: July 31st, 2024

Thanks to our collaborators

Our Ancestor Pierre Blais

Ancestry

Pierre Blais was born around 1641 in Hanc, France, in the Deux Sèvres département. He is the son of Mathurin Blais and Françoise Pénigault.

He arrived in Nouvelle-France on May 25, 1664 on the “Le noir de Hollande”, and spent his early years on Île d'Orléans as a hired hand. On June 22, 1667, he settled in Saint-Jean Île d'Orléans on a land granted by Mgr. François Montmorency de Laval.

First marriage

On October 12, 1669, he married Anne Perrot, a “Fille du Roy”, daughter of Jean Perrot and Jeanne Valta of the parish of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. Nine children had already been born to this union when Anne died giving birth to the tenth on June 29, 1688. She was buried the following day in Saint-Jean, Île d'Orléans.

Here are the names of the couple's children;
  • Martin Blais (1670-1681)
  • Pierre Blais (1673)
  • Marie-Anne Blais (1675)
  • Antoine Blais (1677)
  • Joseph Blais (1678)
  • Jacques Blais (1681)
  • Jean-Baptiste Blais (1685)
  • Marguerite-Ursule Blais (1687)
  • Anonymous (1684, died at birth)
  • Marguerite Blais (1689, died young)

Second marriage

After the death of his first wife Anne Perrot in 1688, Pierre married Élizabeth Royer on June 5, 1689 in Saint-Jean Île d'Orléans. Élizabeth was born on September 14, 1669 in Sainte-Famille Île d'Orléans, the daughter of Jean Royer and Marie Targer. Élizabeth died on June 21, 1715 in Montreal. 

The couple had five children:
  • Alexis Blais (1690)
  • Gabriel Blais (1692)
  • Marie-Anne Blais (1694)
  • Louis Blais (1696)
  • An anonymous child, who died at birth in 1699.
Pierre Blais died on February 16, 1700 in Saint-Jean, Île d'Orléans at the age of about 60, and was buried on February 18 in the same parish.

Note: In a book published by Michel Blais in 2022 in the “Les cahiers des Blais” collection, it is mentioned that all the children of Pierre Blais and Anne Perrot occupied land on the Côte-du-Sud as early as 1695, in the seigneuries of La Durantaye and Bellechasse. This book is available in the Boutique section of our website (No. 5).

L'association des Blais d'Amérique

Historical Background


The Association obtained its letters patent on October 15, 1999, less than a year following the proposal of a Blais meeting (November 1998) and less than five months after the idea of creating an association (May 1999).

Members

Any descendant, direct or through marriage, of the pioneer ancestor Pierre Blais or any other person interested carrying on the objectives of the Association, can become a member.

Partners

The Association des Blais d'Amérique invites business people and professionals of the greater Blais family to become partners.

Our Mission

"To Perpetuate the history of the Blais d’Amerique"

Objectives

  • To promote attachment and pride among all the descendants of Pierre Blais (1664)
  • To maintain permanent genealogical and historical archives specific to the Blais d’ Amerique.
  • To encourage the organization of gatherings and other activities that create ties between the Blais
  • To publish and disseminate research and other family historic records
  • To be recognized as the best reference source by all members of the Blais community in America

Inscription à l'Infolettre

Vous êtes invités à vous abonner à l'infolettre de l'Association des Blais pour recevoir régulièrement, et gratuitement, des nouvelles de cette communauté.

Online store


Do you collect pins or key rings?


Would you want to purchase one of the Cahiers des Blais?


You can get all of this, and more, through our online store (See top menu) or use this link:


Go to the Online Store

Members only section contains...

335

Ancestry

83

Biographical profiles

73

Journal des Blais

Membership categories

Regular
$90/3 yearsor $35 / year
  • Receive the
  • Journal des Blais
  • (3x per year)
  •  
  • Your Blais ancestry
  •  
  • Reduced price for activities
  •  
  • Genealogical help
  •  
  • Right to speak and vote at member meetings

 

Register
Spouse
$45/3 yearsor $17.50 / year
  • Same privileges as regular members
  • (except the Journal)
  •  
  • The person must be the spouse of a person already a member of the Association and reside at the same address to be eligible for this category

 

Register
Youth
$30/3 yearsor $15 / year
  • Same privileges as regular members
  •  
  • The person must be 25 or younger to be eligible for this category

 

Register
Sustaining
$175(spouse $87.50)
  • Same privileges as regular members
  •  
  • The mention
  • "Sustaining member"
  • will be written on the membership card
  •  
  • The membership card will be valid for a period of 3 years

 

Register
Lifetime
$700(spouse $350)
  • Same privileges as regular members
  •  
  • The life member will receive a
  • "Life member"
  • certificate and will be exempt from paying an annual membership fee

 

Register
* Membership begins in the month the person becomes a member and ends 12 months later (36 months in the case of a 3-year subscription).

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