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I am trying to find details about a french canadian who died during ww2. I appologise for listing this in the records office when I have previously listed it on the tips board, but I thought more people on the records board would be able to help me.

I am trying to find out more information about an Ernest Pillotte or Pillotti who I am told was french canadian and was on his way "home" as he was living in Somerset somewhere. He was returning to his sweetheart who unknown to him was expecting his daughter, and was going to marry her. Unfortunately, he died in the English Chanel somewhere, we are not sure if the boat he was on was caught under friendly fire, or what type of boat he was on. ie. a war ship or passenger ship. All I know is that he was returning home.

I do not have access to USA records and cannot find his death record on ancestry in UK. He died in either 1941 or very early 1942 as February was when his daughter was born. There are also various spellings of his surname and christian name but we are pretty sure it is spelt Pillotte or Pillotti.

Can anyone help? We are trying to establish where he was from and if he had siblings who may have had children, who would be my friend's cousins.

Advice and help on this one would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Dee

nudge

I have been searching with no luck. The closest one that I can see is a Girard Pilotte who was in the Canadian Merchant Marine but he died in 1943.

Dee

I dont have time to read this at the moment but it might kick start the hunt


Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
about Ernest Pouliot Name: Ernest Pouliot
Event Year: 1920
Event: Naissance (Birth)
Religion: Catholique
Place of Worship or Institution: St-Moïse
Province: Québec (Quebec)

Father Charles Pouliot Mother Alma Otis

Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
about Charles Pouliot Name: Charles Pouliot
Spouse: Alma Otis
Event Year: 1908
Event: Mariage (Marriage)
Religion: Catholique
Place of Worship or Institution: St-Moïse
Province: Québec (Quebec)


Parents of the above

Ginny, I don't think this is who I am looking for, we are pretty certain that his name was spelt Pillotte/Pilotte/Pillotti/Pilotte

OK.....heres another stab in the dark!


Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
about J N A Ernest Pilotte Name: J N A Ernest Pilotte
Event Year: 1917
Event: Naissance (Birth)
Religion: Catholique
Place of Worship or Institution: Montréal (St-Pierre-Claver)
Province: Québec (Quebec)


But this guy married


Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
about J N A Ernest Pilotte Name: J N A Ernest Pilotte
[J N A Emest Pilotte]
Spouse: M C C Gisele Beauvais
Event Year: 1941
Event: Mariage (Marriage)
Religion: Catholique
Place of Worship or Institution: Montréal (St-Denis)
Province: Québec (Quebec)





Do you have any other info on him or his family?

mmmn interesting. This looks a possibility. I wonder if some tales have been told and she is trying to conceal that he was married.

Or....of course, this is not him.

Are you able to look at the United States Obituary collection. I noticed an Enis Pilotti listed but I cannot view them. Enis could have been mistaken for Ernest when she was talking about him, or am I just clutching at straws here?

I'm sorry Ginny, you have all I know. Which I realise is very little unless we can entice her into giving us some more. I only wish I knew if he was in RCAF and which squadron, where he was coming from when he was crossing the chanel. If only we could access military records. Where would his death be recorded? Lots of questions, but no answers:(

Yep, clutching at straws, that Enis was female!

oooops! wishful thinking - getting frustrated now!

The date of that marriage of J.N.A.Ernest Pilotte was le ving-deux fevrier, mil neuf cents quarante et un. ( 22 Feb. 1941)
Incidentally his full name was Joseph Napoleon Alexandre Ernest.

Just been going over my notes and I have written that he died "over the chanel" which could suggest air force.

I was looking at bases in Somerset/Berkshire and came across a reference to a Charmy Down airfield in Berkshire. In November 1941 No 417 squadon RCAF was being formed there. I wonder if he had anything to do with this. I'm not sure how or if it is worth taking a look at? They refer to test piloting.

Could he have been one of the test pilots "caught in friendly fire" which has been suggested by the family.

Does anyone know if any records of the pilots exsist?

U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995
about Ernest Edmund Pilotte Name: Ernest Edmund Pilotte
Age: 37
Birth Date: 12 Jan 1902
Issue Date: 20 Nov 1939
State: Massachusetts
Locality, Court: District of Masssachusetts, District Court



Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003
about Ernest E Pilotte Name: Ernest E Pilotte
Certificate: 000623
Death Place: Boston
Death Date: 24 Jan 1983
Birth Place: Canada
Birth Date: 12 Jan 1902



Im not sure how we can help without further info? Whats the US connection please or have I lost the plot!

Sorry Ginny,
All I know is that he was french canadian in WW2 and that he died sometime between June 1941 and before his daughter's birth in Feb 1942.
The Ernest you mention above cannot be him as he died in 1983.

I think I may have to wait and see if we can obtain any further information on him. But I am not sure when that will be as we have to tread carefully as not to upset my friends grandmother.

Do you know what? I wouldn't be suprised if I find out that Ernest was a middle name! It has been known for people to go by their middle names before, and it might be why we are drawing a blank!

The other thing which has been bugging me. Why, if the father was known, was his name not put on the birth cert of his daughter? I'm sure he wasn't married as the couple had plans to get married - he was coming home to her! If she loved him, why didn't she name him on the birth cert? It can't be because she wasn't married, surely not?

I've been wondering about that last name Pilotte. It's just that the french word for pilot is pilote, pronounced pilotte. Or am I clutching at straws now?

Would she be allowed to name him on the birth certificate if he wasn't present and she wasn't married to him?

Yes, i think you are MadBull
His surname definately was Pillotte. Lol.