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Gary-Mialocq.com  MAISON MIALOCQ (1700's) Sainte-Suzanne, Aquitaine, France "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon.
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 I spent the first 67 years of my life thinking that I had no relatives on my father's side -- and I had virtually no knowledge of my French ancestry and culture. Then it happened. This is the story of my search that will eventually lead to my... Finding My Way Home...  Jean Jacques Mialocq (1859-1917) I was born in 1942 in San Francisco during World War II. My father, known affectionately to everyone as "Frenchy", had never known his own father who had died when my dad was only three (3) as a result of a fall from a ladder that led to peritonitis progressing into into his lungs, which was eventually fatal. All I ever knew about Grandpa Jean was that he was 6'4" way back when (a giant of a man), who was an excellent dancer, a florist, and who hailed from the south of France. I knew nothing more about him. Then a few months back I received an email from Jean-Claude Mialocq of Jurancon, France, who indicated that we may be related and asked if I would be interested in exploring this. I said I would and started my search, joining Ancestry.com. Jean-Claude and I exchanged pictures and family information and he impressed me as a very nice man who spoke very good English, and who was genuinely interested in finding out what happened to the Mialocq who had left for America. He remembered conversations between his father and his grandfather in which they discussed their interest in finding out what had happened to him. Jean-Claude, like me, wondered if he had relatives in America from our branch of the family. And were we related at all?  
Jean-Claude Mialocq, Jurancon, Aquitaine, France
Then it happened. One night I watched the new show, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE. It featured Brooke Shields and her search for her own roots. At the beginning of the show the narrator said.
"You don't know who you are until you know where you came from."
That message struck my heart like cold steel. It was true and my quest began. This will change my life forever.I logged in to Ancestry.com and searched the Birth and Death Records without success. I then searched the 1910 Census and BINGO! There it was!   Then, I found out that my grandfather had arrived in San Francisco in 1884, but returned to France in 1906 and came back to San Francisco with his new wife, Catherine, in 1908. Here is how they got here:   Ship Information Ship Name: La Provence Years in service: 1905-1916 Funnels: 2 Masts: 2 Shipping Line: Cie Generale Transatlantique Ship Description: Built by Chantiers & Ateliers de la St. Nazaire (Penhoet), France. Tonnage: 13,753. Dimensions: 602' x 64' (624' o.l.). Twin-screw, 21 1/2 knots. Triple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels. History: Launched, March 21, 1905. Passengers: 422 first, 132 second, 800 third. Maiden voyage: Havre-New York, April 21, 1906. Considered a fast liner when built. Converted to armed merchant cruiser and renamed Provence II in 1914. Torpedoed and sunk by submarine in Mediterranean, February 26, 1916, with great loss of life. She had been on voyage from Toulon to Salonica with a large number of troops.  I was unaware that there were even thousands of Frenchmen in the Bay Area at the turn of the 20th Century. As I continued to read the article, there was Grandpa. He stood 6'4", which at that time made him somewhat of a giant and my cousin, Aleda, who is ten years older than I, said that she had been told he was an excellent dancer. He was involved in the activities as a member of the Dancing Committee.  Sure enough, there in the bottom left hand corner of the article is my Grandpa. My cousin remembers that she was told that Grandpa not only owned a florist shop on Bush Street, his shop delivered city wide. He also owned several homes in the Richmond District in the Clement Street area where his employees lived and would grow mushrooms and raise snails that were supplied to the numerous French restaurants and hotels in San Francisco. This sparked my curiosity even more and I wanted to learn how much influence the French actually had in San Francisco in the early days. This led to another discovery, an article from the San Francisco Examiner written on December 16, 1923 by a Robert H. Willson. Here it is in its entirety: To get a full appreciation for what San Francisco was like in those days, you need only take a street car ride on Market Street during those exciting times: This was getting exciting. I learned that my grandpa was a successful business owner and civic leader who had been accidentally killed in a fall in San Francisco. I knew he was buried in San Francisco at Holy Cross Cemetery and learned that his date of birth was October 11, 1859 and that he died on June 30, 1917. My next job was discover evidence of his birth and from where he came. Was he a city dweller from Paris, or a country bumpkin? Now I needed to find where he came from and are there any relatives living currently in France? My old friend, GOOGLE, served me well. I did exhaustive research on births, marriages and deaths in France without success. Then, I found it:  This was a genealogical website that included births, deaths and marriages in these communes in Southern France over several centuries. I started clicking on the links and when I reached Maslacq, I struck gold:  There he was. I had found him. He was born on October 11, 1859 in Maslacq, Aquitaine, France. His parents were Jean Mialocq and Marie Cambran. And, he had a younger brother, Jacques, born in 1862, who died in Sauvelade in 1944, two years after I was born. Now there was so much more I needed to learn. Grandpa had left France for the United States, but what about Jacques. Was he married and did he have children? If so, are they still around and where are they. I may have cousins. But first I needed to learn about his father, Jean, my great grandfather, and his wife Marie Cambran. I continue my research of the records. I learned that old great grandpa Jean was an interesting character. It seems he was married twice and had two families. He was first married to a lady named Marie Cassou on Feb. 23, 1826, and later to Marie Cambran in 1863.  Further research revealed that he married Marie Cassou when he was 27 (he was born in 1798), and they had three children: Catherine, a son Pierre, and a son Jean. Nobody seems to know what happened to Jean who was born in 1833 and seems to have disappeared after that. Pierre, however, was busy. He fathered NINE (9) children including a son named Andre, born on 30 Nov 1963. That rang a bell. Apparently, Marie Ann Cassou had passed away in 1837 at the age of 34, leaving Jean with three young children to raise. After his children had grown and I'm sure he was kept busy with his son's nine children, he apparently met a young Marie Cambran who was 35 years his junior and already the mother of a 4-year old son, Jean Cambran. Whether or not Grandpa was actually young Jean's father we will never know. They had two children together, my grandpa Jean in 1859, and his brother, Jacques in 1862. He married Marie on Dec. 10, 1863. I guess Marie must have put her foot down.  To date, I have been unable to determine what happened to Jean Mialocq and Marie Cambran. I have been unable to locate any death notices on either one. My next assignment: Find out about Jacques and his descendants and see if I have living relatives in France. Then look up my great grandfather's parents, Jean Mialocq and Catherine Lagarde. It occurs to me that there must have been more names available than just "Jean". So the search continues... As my research continued and the family tree rapidly spread its branches, it became apparent that Jean-Claude and I were cousins. Grandpa's brother Jacques, was Jean-Claude's great grandfather. That means that both Jean-Claude and I are descended from Jean Mialocq and Marie Cambran. We are second cousins, once removed. Frankly, I am ecstatic. These are the descendants of Jacques, most of whom are alive, and all of whom are cousins, etc. Jean-Claude MIALOCQ b. 5 Nov 1944 & Christiane CARRERE b. 1942 Christophe MIALOCQ b. Jun 1967 & Francoise BUSQUE b. 1969 Manon MIALOCQ b. 1992 Dorian MIALOCQ b. 1997 Philippe MIALOCQ b. Nov 1970 |& Stephanie b. 1974 Alienor MIALOCQ b. 1999 Clara MIALOCQ b. 2003 Michele MIALOCQ b. Dec 1942 & G. ESCOURES b. May 1942 d. Feb 2000 Cathy MIALOCQ b. Jan 1971 & G BOLASQUE Maxine BOLASQUE Raphael BOLASQUE Dominique MIALOCQ b. Feb 1948 & P. DOUSTE Pascale MIALOCQ b. Feb 1969 & S BORDENAVE Clement MIALOCQ Paul MIALOCQ Martin MIALOCQ Frederic MIALOCQ b. Apr 1970 & R DUVGIRA Kevin MIALOCQ Chloe MIALOCQ Sylvie MIALOCQ b. Apr 1949 & D CASANAVE Valerie CASANAVE b. Aug 1970 & M CRUZ Melanie CRUZ Bastine CRUZ Theo CRUZ Ines CRUZ Jerome CASANAVE b. Jul 1976 & Estelle ? Nadine MIALOCQ b. Mar 1955 & N. ROUSSILLE Lucas ROUSSILLE Jonas ROUSSILLE b. 16 Sep 1997        I now have approximately 40 living relatives that I didn't know I had just a couple of months ago. My online research has been eye-opening. To those relatives whom I will meet who never had the pleasure or the opportunity to meet my grandmother, Katie, and my uncle Alfred and my father, Urbain Leopold, here is a picture:  A Proud and Loving Grandma Katie with her sons, Alfred (my uncle), and Urbain, my father. Aquitaine  Jurancon - The Wine Country of Aquitaine I grew up within a short drive of Sonoma and the Napa Valley, California's famed wine district. Now I would have an opportunity to see just what Pau and the famed wine district of Jurancon are like. The location of Aquitaine is in the lower left hand corner of this map:  Aquitaine is one of the great historic regions of France; it is also one of the largest and most varied regions of France, stretching from the foothills of the Massif Central in the north, to the Spanish border in the south, a distance of over 300 km. In the Middle Ages, Aquitaine was allied with the Plantagenet kings of England, and the region has many historic connections with the British Isles, notably through the wine trade.
On account of its size, Aquitaine is a very varied region; the northwest part of Aquitaine, comprising the departments of the Dordogne (24) and the Lot et Garonne (47)
is made up of gentle hill country, with large areas of vineyards in the
lower lying areas, and woodland and mixed farming in the hillier north
east. The Dordogne area is famous for its rurality, its gentle valleys
and villages, which seem to outsiders to be lost in time, and have
become very popular with second-home buyers from the UK and the
Netherlands in particular. The area is also famous as one of the oldest
centres of known human habitation in Europe, and many prehistoric sites
can be found round the area of Lascaux (remarkable caves, a UNESCO
world heritage site) and Les Eyzies. Within France, the Dordogne
department is more famous for its gastronomic specialities, truffles,
foie-gras, walnuts and other mouth-watering delicacies, and is often
referred to as "le Périgord", the area around the departmental capital
of Périgueux.
The middle band of the region, following the line of the Gironde
estuary, is low-lying land, and one of the most famous wine-producing
areas in France. Bordeaux, regional capital and capital of the Gironde (33)
department, is a magnificent city lying at the lowest bridging point on
the Garonne river. it is one of France's great seaports, and its
historic wealth is reflected in the many fine buildings of the old
city, such as the unique eighteenth-century theatre. North of Bordeaux,
to the west of the Gironde estuary, lies the area of Médoc, the most
prestigious of the regions wine-producing areas; other famous vineyard
areas can be found all round Bordeaux, and notably along the valley of
the Garonne and its tributaries. The area around the small historic
city of St. Emilion is another
famous vineyard area. Further inland, the area between Marmande and
Agen supports a busy fruit and vegetable industry. On the coast, the
resort of Arcachon is very
popular, on account of its sheltered anchorage, favoured by yachtsmen,
and the proximity of the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe.
The southern part of Aquitaine is made up of two distinct areas, the
departments of les Landes (40) and the Pyrénées Atlantiques (64). Les Landes is
the most heavily forested area of Europe; a low lying area with sandy
soil, almost the whole department is covered with pine forests
interspersed with small areas of heath and farmland. The forests are
popular with nature lovers, ramblers and hunters, and support a major
timber industry. Outside the few towns and seaside resorts, the
department of les Landes is one of the least densely populated areas of
France. It is also a department where almost a quarter of all dwellings
are second homes. The coastline of les Landes is a long almost unbroken
stretch of sandy beach, much of it virtually empty.
The department of Pyrénées Atlantiques (64)
is essentially composed of the former province of Bearn and the Basque
country. It is a very attractive department, offering everything from
Atlantic surf on the beaches around St Jean de Luz and Biarritz,
to good skiing on the slopes high up in the Pyrenees. The foothills of
the Pyrenees are a delightful area, benefiting from a very mild
climate, and sufficient rainfall to remain green and luscious through
many months of the year. Pau,
the departmental capital, is an elegant city that was very popular with
the British in the nineteenth century as a thermal resort, and even
boasted at one time an English hunt, complete with hounds and
redcoats. THIS IS THE PART OF AQUITAINE IN WHICH THE MIALOCQS HAVE
LIVED.
This exciting journey has taken a few mere months and I have learned that I am not only NOT one of the few Mialocqs in the world, but that I have 40 living relatives in the Aquitaine region of southern France, especially in Jurancon, where my cousin Jean-Claude resides. I have learned that the Mialocq ancestors were present in Sainte Suzanne, the birth site of many, that my grandfather was born and raised in Viellegegure, and that my grandmother was born and raised in Aucun. Now my investigation begins into just what these places are like. We will start with Pau and the Aquitaine region. I located a website entitled FRENCH CHARACTER HOMES and this is what I found out about the Aquitaine region and the city of Pau. Aquitaine The South West of France is renowned for its crystal clean air, great climate, superb food and wines and endless culture. The countryside is safe and idyllic, planted with vines, splashes of waving corn and bright sunflowers. There are traditional markets held in fortified villages selling fresh organic produce, homemade honeys, cheeses and pates. There are an abundance of night markets where locals jostle together around stalls of producers. One can explore the garlic and cheese festivals, the music and cultural events, or simply stroll around the historic chateaux, estates, abbeys and museums. For the more energetic, the Pyrenees mountain range offers a host of exciting activities from canoeing, rafting and kayaking to hand-gliding, rock climbing and horse-riding. For winter sports, the Pyrenean summits boast hundreds of kilometers of ski runs, which meander beneath branches of pine trees. There are several summits topping 3000metres, including Pic du Montcalm (3077m), Pic du Balaitous (3146m), and the famous Pic du Midi (2872m). Along the Atlantic coast, water-sports are of abundance. Biarritz has a strong surfing culture, which is of world class standard. The region hosts numerous festivals; notably centered around food and drink ! These include garlic, cheese, melon, wine and beer festivals. Each town hosts its own festival; Pau, for example, has a three week festival which is an extravaganza of dance, music and theatre. It also hosts its own Formula 3000 Grand Prix and the Classic Car Grand Prix, which runs through the city streets over the Pentecost weekend. The Tour de France has for many years, completed the mountain stage in the town centre of Pau. Culinary Delights Whether you choose to eat on the terraces of small restaurants or dine in the elegance of grand restaurants, France prides itself in its gastronomic delights. Among the specialties are foie gras, Toulouse style "cassoulet", confit de canard, magret, and naturally a vast range of charcuteries and local cheeses. To accompany the renowned French cuisine, the choices of wines are plentiful. Perhaps the best known in the area are Bergerac, Gaillac, Madiran, Buzet, Cahors and Jurançon. Armagnac is also a favourite beverage and is one of the oldest French ‘eau de vies’! The Climate The South West of France boasts an average of 2000 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest regions of France. Temperatures exceed 25C between 60 and 80 days of the year. Spring comes early and has a feel of summer. Winters can be cold, but this provides enough snow for skiers extending the season from December to April. All I can say is WOW! No wonder that my Mialocq ancestors stayed in this part of the world for centuries! Homes in the area are absolutely stunning. Views are fantastic and the region is one of the most beautiful in the world. I will publish pictures of individual homes. You merely have to click on the picture to be taken to a magical world. Enjoy. I know I will when I travel to see this gorgeous place.
    There are literally hundreds more, but it is apparent that the homes in the area of Jurancon and Pau are fabulous, that the area is green and lush, and that the views are sensational. Here are some photos of the city of Pau:
*************************************************************************  After seeing Pau, Jurancon, and the surrounding area, I can hardly wait to visit in person and to experience the land of my forefathers. Three more stops: 1) Sainte Suzanne, residence of many of the Mialocqs; 2) Viellesegure, where grandpa was born and raised, and 3) Aucun, the birthplace of my grandmother, which I know absolutely nothing about.  VIELLESEGURE       Way to go, Grandpa.  AUCUN Finding Aucun was not easy. It is one of hundreds of French villages, this one located in a National Park. In this case, Aucun is located in Pyrenees National Park, at the southern border of France at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. It is very close to Lourdes and many hotels in the Aucun area serve as stopping off points for the millions who travel to Lourdes from around the world seeking its miraculous features. It is spectacular. This is where my Grandmother was born and raised.    No wonder Grandma lived to be 99. She said that her ancestors lived into their 100s and I can see why. Now we proceed to the place of miracles: LOURDES.   There is nothing left to say...    Wow is all I can say. Am I lucky! My family could have been from Iceland or Bulgaria. This adventure started with an email from a man whom I now know to be my cousin, Jean-Claude Mialocq asking me if I was interested in exploring the possibility that we may be related. It picked up steam when I saw the television program, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, which featured Brooke Shields. Brooke's parents broke up when she was just 5 months old and all she knew was that her mother had a mean mother, and that her father was Italian, well-to-do, and lived in Miami. Her adventure, which led her to Italy and its palaces and royalty, and to France, Henry IV, and eventually to a saint was an event that struck a nerve of curiosity in me that led to my amazing discovery. I went in a short time from having practically no family or relatives to speak of and little knowledge of my grandfather, who he was or where he came from, to now having 40 living relatives in France who are wonderfully friendly and warm and who make me proud to carry the name, MIALOCQ. Here is a photo of just a few relatives in France, Jean-Claude's immediate family:   I am excited to meet them. Here is a link to my immediate family in America. Vive le France!  Here is the Family Tree as it exists today on Geneanet.com
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GARY MIALOCQ, Ph.D.
Copyright @ 1998-2011
All Rights Reserved