Damien Arsenault

Born on 4 July 1848, Damien Arsenault was the son of Vital Arsenault and Natalie Barriault. On 24 November 1874 he married Emilie Gaudet, daughter of Leon Gaudet and Balthilde DesRoches, of Miscouche. Emilie was born on 26 September 1846.

Bf Emilie Gaudet (1846-1927). Born in @ Miscouche, she married Damien Arsenault amin 1874.

When the 1881 census was taken, Damien and Emilie were living in Maximeville with Damien's parents, Vital and Natalie who were 60 and 62 years old respectively. The young couple had four children: Balthilde (5 years old), Dina (4 years old), Agnés (2 years old) and Léon (5 months old). The extended family also included three of Damien's bachelor brothers, that is Olivier (35 years old), Joseph (28 years old) and Paul (24 years old).

Damien was sometimes nicknamed "Tribourgue" because of an expression he often used. He enjoyed holding children on his knees and singing them this song about a toad:

Crapaud grillé

Dit qu'il a fort a faire

Par rapport a sa grand-mére

Dit qu'il a ben de la misére.

Tous les soirs apres souper

Il peut pas aller danser,

Il peut pas aller danser

Avec les gornouilles, nouilles, nouilles.

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