Margaret Coffin was the Matron of all the Bechervaise family in Canada. She was apparently a very outstanding person for the work she accomplished at a very young age is remarkable. You just have to look at what she calls her “Account Book” to recognize her talents. It is in no way an account book but a textbook of the different systems of weights and measure that were in vogue at the time.

The oral story goes that, after having finished his 5 yr. apprenticeship as a Ship Builder at Paspébiac in 1808, our Phillip decided, against his fathers recommendation, (see the 1808 letter) to return to Jersey. But before leaving Gaspé; he saw a young girl, Margaret Coffin, still in the cradle at four months of age, and commented that he would be back to marry her. (this is a story that my father, George Bechervaise, recounted to me many times)

As it turned out, as his father had predicted, he was captured by the French (it was the time of the Napoleonic wars) and he spent 10 yrs. In confinement in France before getting back to Gaspé. Once he returned, he must have hooked up with Margaret quite rapidly for she wrote her “Account Book” two years later, in 1820, at he age of 12.  When she turned 16 in 1824, they procured a license to be married (see copy of their marriage license on this site) and their first child, Phillip, was born in 1825. From 1818, when Margaret was 10 yrs. old, till 1820 Phillip must have been training her in order for Margaret to be able to produce this piece of work. (Remember that there was no formal schooling at the time)

This text has just recently come to light as did Phillips “Notebook from his time in prison”. They are treasures that confirm the stories that I was told from the oral history. Their relationship is a true ‘Love story’ for they died within three months of each other in 1879 after having raised fourteen children.

For more info on the Coffin Family see the link on this site under “Other Histories”

 

Lynden Bechervaise, 2019