The Burke Family

The Burke Family
of
L'Ardoise, Cape Breton
by Patrick 'Sonny' Burke

From whom did we the "Burke Clan" of L'Ardoise originally descend? The answer to this question is indeed very illusive and at this point in time may never be fully answered. What I have been able to determine is as follows.

Our "Burke" family surname first appears in the records of this quaint, little fishing community in the year of 1830. On 22nd February 1830, my great-great grandaunt Ruth Burke married Charles Mombourquette. The Mombourquette family had it's roots deeply buried in L'Ardoise. Charles' parents were Justé and Dorothée Mombourquette. His grandparents were Antoine Mombourquette and Charlotte Samson. Antoine Mombourquette had come to L'Ardoise in or about the year of 1763 and the Samson family even earlier about the year of 1765 from Port Toulouse [St. Peters, Cape Breton].

Although the Burke surname does not appear in L'Ardoise until February of 1830 there are records that are held and maintained by the Louisbourg Archives Society of Cape Breton Island, "Nominal Lists" that indicate that as early as 1758 there were several persons known by the surname "Burke" being victualled, that is "being supplied with provisions" at Fortress Louisbourg, Cape Breton, NS by the English. There was listed one John Burke, one Thomas Burke, a Walter Burke, a William Burke and last but not least one David Burke. Records also indicate that one Richard Burke did work on at least two ships plying their trade between the city of Cork, Ireland and Cape Breton. These ships were the Hannah in September 1764 and the Brig. Freemason in December of 1764.

One of the Burke men listed above is without doubt one of our forefathers, but which one cannot be proven, today. I can, however, trace our ancestral roots in Cape Breton, back to one William Michael Burke. I believe the Burke men listed above were in someway connected. Further I believe that William Michael Burke [Ruth Burke's father] b. 1751 was a child of one of the above, and as stated the forefather of all the Burke Families of Little Loran, Cape Breton.

The Burke Family of L'Ardoise

The first of our line to be identified with complete certainty in L'Ardoise, Cape Breton is Ruth Burke. Today I can only speculate as to the reasons, ways, and means of how Ruth came to be living at L'Ardoise. In any case, Ruth Burke [1808 -1838] of generation [3] three of the Burke line and daughter of Michael and Sarah [O'Neil/O'Neill] Burke of Little Loran was born abt. 1808 at Little Loran, Cape Breton and died between January 25 and March 31, 1838 in L'Ardoise, Cape Breton. We know the time line because record of Ruth's death, and the baptism of her youngest daughter are on file at Holy Guardian Angels' parish in L'Ardoise, Cape Breton N.S..

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On 25 January 1838 Ruth gave birth to daughter Maria, but when Maria was baptized on 01 April of that same year Ruth is recorded as being deceased.

On 22 February of 1830 Ruth Burke married Charles Mombourquette b.1808. Left is a treasured copy of their marriage certificate. Charles by the way, was the eldest son of Justé Mombourquette and Dorothée Fougère of L'Ardoise. Charles is listed as being a fisherman on the 1838 L'Ardoise, Richmond County census. Charles died in the year of 1842 in L'Ardoise.

Ruth and Charles during their short eight year marriage had four children.

[i.] Michel Mombourquette
Michel, the oldest of Ruth and Charles' children, as can be seen left on a reproduction of his birth certificate, was born on 05 April 1831. Michel, I believe, was named after his grandfather, Michael Burke. Michel, listed as being a fisherman on the 1871 census married one Anne Martell of L'Ardoise around the year 1857, and together they had a total of ten children. This family can be found with the Mombourquette genealogy.

[ii.] Sabine Dorotheé Mombourquette
Sabine Dorotheé Mombourquette, Ruth and Charles' second child, as seen left on a reproduction of her birth certificate, was born on 04 September 1833. Sabine, I believe, was named after her aunt Sabine Mombourquette, and her grandmother Dorotheé (Fougère) Mombourquette. Sabine did not live very long, for we find one short year late, Sabine and her uncle Abraham Mombourquette aged 11, both died. Reasons unknown at this time.

[iii.] Sabine Dorotheé Mombourquette
Sabine Dorotheé Mombourquette (2), Ruth and Charles' third child, as seen left on a reproduction of her birth certificate, was born 22 October 1835. Sabine, I believe, was named after her sister Sabine who had died the previous year. To date I have failed to find anything further on Sabine Dorotheé.

[iv.] Marie Mombourquette
Marie Mombourquette Ruth and Charles' fourth child, as seen left on a reproduction of her birth certificate, was born on 28 January 1838. Maria, and her siblings were raised by Angélique (Samson) Mombourquette whom Charles married circa the year of 1840. Angélique and Charles had one child together a son whom they named Charles. On 01 February 1853 Marie who also was nicknamed Ann married Justinien Samson of L'Ardoise. Justinien born 17 May 1825 was the son of Martin and Genèvievé (Le Cointe) Samson of L'Ardoise. Marie and Justinien would raise their family while living out their lives in L'Ardoise. As of 1871 they had five (5) known children. Their family can be found with the Samson line.

Great great grandfather John Burke
Generation [3]

John Burke, my generations great-great grandfather is recorded as being in L'Ardoise as early as 1830. It is at that time that John is recorded as being a witness at his sister Ruth's wedding to Charles Mombourquette. Many theories have been put forth as to why John and Ruth Burke may have moved to L'Ardoise from Little Loran but today it is impossible to prove or disprove any and all of these theories. My favorite is as follows:

The only connection that I have been able to find between the Burkes of Little Loran and the Village of L'Ardoise is Margaret Ann Burke, Ruth and John's grandaunt. Margaret Ann had married one Henry Groves in 1816 and they had moved to L'Ardoise. I believe that when their parents Michael and Sarah Burke had died that the oldest son William inherited the family farm in Little Loran and that Ruth and John the youngest of Michael and Sarah's children moved to L'Ardoise to live with their grandaunt Margaret Ann.

In any event great-great grandfather John Burke as of 22 February 1830 was a resident of L'Ardoise. I do not want to turn this web page into a book and therefore shall try to keep my narration short. By whatever means great-great grandfather John became a fishermen having his own gear, boat and home, by January of 1838.

On 09 January of 1838 great-great grandfather John married Henrietta Samson a native of L'Ardoise. In fact Henrietta's family roots were those of one of the founding fathers of L'Ardoise Mr. Mathieu Samson. Mathieu it is believed came to L'Ardoise at some point in time of the year of 1765. In any event John and Henrietta were married for over 26 years, in fact until great great grandfather John's death on 26 October of 1864.

In order to keep this site readable I shall post a copy of one of these certificates and that is the one of my Great-grandfather Michael Valère Burke. The descendents of John Burke as I know them, can be found through the following link.

Descendants of John Burke (PDF Format)

Note: The genealogy link to John Burke's descendants will be updated on a regular basis, as new information becomes available, this introductory page appears as Patrick Burke wrote it and last update on Nov 14, 2003.