|
On July 23, 1967, the Tricentenial of the Samson brothers' settlement at Pointe de Levis took place in Lauzon, Quebec, directly across the St. Lawrence river from Quebec City. Samsons from Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Michigan and New Hampshire were in attendance. At noon, a mass was celebrated in the church of St. Antoine de Bienville by four Samson priests: Henri, Jules, Real and Roger. On the same morning, a mass was also celebrated at St. Gatien-des-Bois, linking the Samsons of Canada and Normandy together in prayer. Following the religious ceremony, Ferdinand Samson, president of the organization unveiled at the site of the church (once occupied by Jacques Samson), a granite monument and bronze plaque, with the (translated) inscription:
|
 Soon after the reunion, a pamphlet was put together by genealogist, Marcel Samson and priest, Roger Samson (written in French) titled "Familles Samson, Tricentenaire au Canada". Their main sources were the writings of Father Archange Godbout, a Franciscan priest, and J. Edmond Roy, author of "Histoire de la Seigneurie de Lauzon". Their pamphlet includes the history of the two brothers, a description of the reunion and letters from the parish priest and mayor of St. Gatien-des-Bois. Most of the material within the pamphlet has been made available on this Samson Homepage. Marcel Samson also prepared genealogical charts of the early Samson descendants in Quebec and Acadia. |
|
Currently, another Samson family reunion is being planned and will take place in 2004 at the third Acadian World Congress (Congress Mondial des Acadien) in Nova Scotia. The reunion will most likely be held on Isle Madame in Cape Breton. |
|
Written by Charles Samson, March 1999. Sources: Honfleur (France) newspaper, dated August 2, 1967, and "Familles Samson, Tricentenaire au Canada" July 23, 1967; Roger And Marcel Samson |
