Census Information

1850 Federal Census (Saranac)

Francis Savage, 46, Farmer
Matilda, 25(?)
Mitchell, 18, male
Francis, 16, male
Mary E., 11, female
Eunice, 9, female
Peter, 7, male
Lewis, 5, male
Charles, 4, male
Matilda, 2mo., female
Alexander Bessette, 26, male
(I do not know if this Alex is the son of Jean Marie Bessette and Marie Gelineau, but I'm about 99% sure it is.  Our Alex was born about 1824 making this Alexander the same age.  Our Alex was also married twice, and his first marriage was to Caroline Sauvage, and I assume Alex was living with her family.  Perhaps she died before 1850 which is why she is not shown here.)

1857 St. Peter's Census

#311
Bessette, Jean, 61, Village of Plattsburgh
Gelineau, 50
Catherine, 27
Celina, 24
Gideon, 23
Cyrille, 18
Philomene, 14
Johnie, 10
Claire, 8

#312
Bessette, Noel, 21, Village of Plattsburgh
Senecal, Philomene, 18

1860 Federal Census - June 17th (Plattsburgh)

Bassette, John, 65, born in Canada
Mary, 50, born in Canada
Silas, 24, Day Labourer, born in NY
Leon, 27, Day Labourer, born in NY

Also there is a John Bessette in Plattsburgh, living in the home of Hiram H, Haile, who was listed as an Express Agent.  John is listed as an Hired Boy, but also that he had been in school in the past year.  I believe this is probably the son of Jean Marie and Marie and it leads me to believe that he lived at home with his family during the school year, but worked for Mr. Haile during the summer.

1865 St. Peter's Census - January 19th

# 328
Besset, Jean Marie, 69, Village of Plattsburgh
Gelineau, Marie, 57
Christine, 35
Celina, 33
Johney, 18
Cleinre (?), 16

#198
Besset, Noel, 29
Senecal, Philomene, 26
Noel, 4
Josephine, 1
Lalumiere, Julie (widow of Senecal)

#145
Laforce, Eusebe, 25
Besset, Philomene, 23
Francis, 5
Marie, 3
Josephine, 1

#154
Besset, Cyrille, 27
Laforce, Tharsille, 29
Girard, Adeline, 19
Renaud, Celeste

#286
Besset, Leon, 29
Gendron, Flavie, 23
Gedeon, 8 mo.

1870 Federal Census

#368 - Saranac
Bessett, Joseph, 40, White, Farmer, born in Canada, value=2000
Laplante, Julie, 39, White, Keeper House, born in NY
Emma, 11, female
Joseph, 7, male
Julie J., 5, female
Burznite (Bernard), 3, male
Charles, 1, male
(It is noted that neither Joseph or Julie could read or write)

#370 - Saranac
Bessette, Alexander, 44, White, Farmer, Canada, value=2000
Rosella, 33, female, White, Keeper of House
Newell, 15, male
Silas, 14, male
Julie, 11, female
Delia, 9, female
John, 2, male
(Alex is listed as not being able to read or write, Rosella is listed as not being able to read, but it appears that she may have been able to read)

Plattsburgh
John Bessett, 73, Ladder Maker, born in Canada
Mary, 61
Lelinda, 38, Dress Maker
John, 23, Cabinet Maker
Almira, 21

Zeb. Laforce, 28, Butcher, Canada
Philomen, 26, Canada
Francis, 11, female
Mary, 8, female
Alvina, 2, female
Nellie, 4 months
Gero, Ellen - domestic Servant

Tharsil Bessett, 34, born in NY
Arthur, 3, born in NY
Celeste Laforce, 70, born in Canada

1880 Federal Census (Saranac)

#161
Bessett, Alexander, 55, Farmer, Born in Canada
Rosa, 42, Keeping House
Julie, 21
Delia, 18
John, 12
George, 9
Celia, 2

#163
Bessett, Joseph, 50, Farmer
Julia, 39, Keeping House
Joseph N., 17
Josephine, 15
Silas, 13
Charles, 11
Mary J., 8

1881 St. Peter's Census

Bessette,  Noel, 40
Senecal, Phil., 38
Noel, 19
Josephine, 17
Napoleon, 14
Marie, 12
Cornelia, 3
Charles, 5 months

Bellanger, Jean Baptiste, 53
Bessette, Christine, 47
Marie, 24
Mathilde, 22
Virginia, 19
Julie, 17
(These children must be the children of JB Bellanger's first marriage)

Bessette, John, 34
Trembly, Olive, 34
Celina, 5
Edouard, 4
Napoleon, 18 months
Jean Baptiste Henry, 5 months

Bessette, Leon, 48
Gendron, Flavie, 38
Josephine, 14
Johny, 9
Ida, 6
George, 4
Gedeon, 20 months
Marie Helene, 3 months