France to USA -- Havier and Catherine GUERRE

It seems reasonable to devote my first blog entry to my oldest, currently identified, ancestors. They are Havier and Catherine GUERRE—two of my fourth great-grandparents.

Specifically, though verbosely, Catherine and Havier were my father’s, father’s, father’s, father’s, mother’s parents. The Guerres had, at least, a daughter—Frances (b:1798). She married Joseph WATTS (b:1796), and one of Frances and Joseph’s sons was John B. WATTS (b:1822). I do not know what towns, or regions, but all of the above-mentioned folks were born in France. In the early-to-mid 1830’s, Joseph, Frances, and John WATTS moved to the United States, and settled in Buffalo, NY. John B.’s children included, John W. WATTS, (b:1859) who, in turn, fathered Ralph WATTS (b:1896). Ralph’s second son, Eugene (b: 1923), was my father.

But, getting back to the Guerre family…as mentioned Catherine and Havier were French. Unfortunately, I know nothing about their lives in France. I do not even know Catherine’s maiden name.

What I do know is that, following their daughter’s example, Havier and Catherine emigrated to the USA in 1844. Apparently, they traveled on the S.S. Iowa, arriving in New York City on 26 September 1844.

That means that at ages seventy-seven (72) and sixty-six (66), Havier and Catherine traveled, and eventually settled, over 3,500 miles from home.

I believe that the transatlantic voyage would have taken roughly one month—just to arrive in NYC. Then they were on their way upstate. It is hard to imagine now, but in the 1840’s Western New York was largely “frontier.” If they were wealthy, Havier and Catherine could have taken a train. Just a year earlier, in 1843, Wells-Fargo Express began operating—the first express railroad service between Albany and Buffalo. As an express, it only took twenty-five (25) hours. Of course, the $11.50 fare may have been a bit steep. Perhaps Catherine and Havier traveled via the Eire Canal. Instead of twenty-five hours, barge would have been six days from Albany to Buffalo—most likely a total of nine days travel from NYC to Buffalo. So, the Guerres apparently left France in late summer, and arrived at their daughters’ home in mid-October. They arrived just in time for winter in Buffalo.

The 1848 Commercial Advertiser Directory for the City of Buffalo shows “Xavier” GUERRE living at 144 Ellicott Street (the same address as Joseph WATTS). Interestingly, the then seventy-six year old Havier/Xavier is listed as a “laborer.” At 148 Ellicott St., twenty-six year old carpenter, John WATTS lives next door to his grandparents and parents.

At the age of eighty-one, Havier passed away on 10 September 1853. He was buried at St. Joseph’s cemetery, and later reburied in United German and French R.C. Cemetery.

Catherine thrived another dozen years. She lived long enough to see, among many other things, a grandson and great-grandson return from the US Civil War. At age eighty-eight, Catherine died 12 April 1866.

As you can see above, I do not know much about my great-great-great-great-grandparents. I know they came from a place foreign to me, and at advanced age moved to a land foreign to them.