Marie Masson Lombard

I don’t usually explicitly look for French photos simply for the reason that my French skills are very limited. But since more and more French birth, marriage and death records are available on the big international genealogy platforms, it makes research a lot easier.

This beautiful woman has been identified as Marie Masson Lombard, the mother of Marcelle and Georges.

I figured either Masson or Lombard was her maiden name, and that the photo was taken in the 1880s. And I found her in the records.

Marie Odile Lombard was born on August 16, 1864 in Xivray Dans Leur Maison, Xivray-et-Marvoisin, Meuse, in France, to Marie Emélie née Soulier and her husband Henry Joseph Lombard. I wish I understood if her birth record mentions her father’s profession.

Marie married Louis Eugène Guillaume Masson on September 4, 1886 in Xivray-et-Marvoisin. Again, I wish I understood enough French to read if their marriage record mentions their professions. The MyHeritage family trees for Louis and Marie mention that Louis was a “manoeuvre” (a technical operator?) and Marie “Couturière” (a seamstress?).

Marie gave birth to at least 5 children. I then sadly learnt the devastating facts that Marie and Louis lost 3 of their children as babies:

1. Marie Victoire Masson, born on Febr 27, 1888. She died just 3 days later.

2. Germaine Marcel Masson, born on Sept 23, 1889. Sadly, baby Germaine died at just 2 weeks of age.

3. Marguerite Louise Masson, born on August 26, 1890. She married Henri Briey in December 1910 and had 10 children. She passed away in 1968.

4. André-Jules Masson, born on March 2, 1893. Baby André-Jules died four months later.

5. Marcel Maurice Masson, born April 4, 1899. He married Gilberte Alexandrine Monin in November 1921 in Paris and they had a son Rene. Marcel passed away in 1976.

I have not found a record for a child named Georg (or Georges).

I don’t know much else about the life of the Lombard-Massons. I find Marie and Louis in the 1931 Census, still living in Xivray-et-Marvoisin. But I don’t know when they passed away.

I hope to make contact with the descendants of the 11 grandchildren of Marie. Let's hope this photo goes home soon!