The researches that Reverend Hector Besner, one of ours, has been carrying out for the past three years, gives us an irrefutable proof that ALL THE QUEBEC BORN BESNER FAMILIES who spoke French in 1900 are all related. They are all descendants of Jean Bézanaire , a French soldier who came here in 1752 and who remained here after the Conquest. He settled in Vaudreuil where only one of his grandsons (out of six who had descendants) succeeded him, the other five having settled in Coteau-du-Lac in the early 1830's.

Whether we be Paulais, Pascal, Benjamin, Pot-à-boire, or Prêt-à-boire, we are all more or less closely related, only four or five generations separating us from a common ancestor.

Those of you who are connected to the Internet or who have one or more relatives who are, only have to visit the web site that Hector Besner has constructed for this purpose at the following address

You will have access to a 500 page document on the history of the Besners, including the names of the ancestors in Saveres, in the diocese of Toulouse, department of the Haute Garonne, in the region of Midi-Pyrénées in France (formerly the province of Gascogne) pictures of their land, photos of their actual descendants, the history of the departure of the Bézanaire ancestor to New France, his life as a soldier under Louis XV and as a land-clearer settler in Vaudreuil, the origin of the nickname Prêt-à-boire , the complete genealogy of your family, copies of the first birth certificates, death or wills, the title-deed of the ancestral land in the the Seigniory of Vaudreuil, etcÉ You will be able to read and print this high quality document free of charge.

Since the 19th of March 2000, there now exists an ASSOCIATION OF THE BESNER FAMILIES. With the 250th anniversary of the arrival of our ancestor in Canada in 2002, the foundation of the association became a priority. We want to celebrate this anniversary with great festivities, the inauguration of commemorative plaques, a trip to France and the publishing of a book.

Having read this letter of information, we strongly encourage you to become a member of OUR association. This will allow you to be aware of our great projects.

You just need to fill in the attached registration form and to pay your first yearly subscription to the amount of 25 $.

Send the entirety according to the coordinates found in the heading, but make out your check to the present treasurer who happens to be Hector Besner.