About CGMR

The One and Only Mauritian Genealogy Association

Who We Are

The Cercle de Généalogie Maurice – Rodrigues (CGMR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the exchange of genealogical and historical information.

It helps its members and Internet users in general with their genealogical research by building up databases derived in particular from the digitization of archival records (parish registers, civil status records and indexes, old notarial deeds, etc.).

Through its digitization operations, our association contributes to the preservation of these ancient documents, which under local climatic conditions and repeated handling are subject to accelerated ageing and deterioration.

Our Goals

Our Strategy

Our History Timeline

2005

The beginning of the road…

For many years Mauritian and expatriate amateurs genealogists, facing all sorts of difficulties in their research, had each in their own corner thought of regrouping themselves in an association to facilitate the proceedings and advance in their research. Further to the visit of Henri Maurel, who had met twelve amateur resident genealogists at La Mivoie, beginning of September 2005, some volunteers tried to set up a genealogical association in Mauritius.

2007

First attempts

For some reason, two attempts in 2005 and 2007 could not materialize despite numerous discussions and meetings with the authorities in charge of the Mauritian Archives, the Civil Status Department and the Nelson Mandela Cultural Centre. In September 2007, on the initiative of Henri Maurel, some volunteers formed the Dynarobin Group who obtained from the Mauritius Archives access to parish registers and civil status records of the French period (1722-1810). With the permission of the Archives, most of these registers have been digitized by Jérôme Giblot-Ducray, Philippe Chaperon, Gérard Yves Heeraman and Guillaume Devienne.

2008

Unsuccessful attempts

In August 2008, in order to continue the work of Dynarobin, the Association Maurice Archives (AMA) was created, a French association made up of expatriates. This association set branches in Mauritius as well as in Australia where the Mauritian diaspora count many amateur genealogists. One year later, further to issues concerning the management of the association and problems related to specific Mauritian rules governing archive documents, the president, Gérard Yves Heeraman, left the association, followed by several Mauritian residents and Australian citizens.

2010

Birth of the CGMR

On Friday 11th September 2009, a meeting of 9 former members of AMA including Gérard Yves Heeraman, took place at the Cercle de Rose-Hill, Beau-Bassin. This meeting laid down the foundation for the creation of the first genealogical association in Mauritius. On 12th December 2009 a first constitutive General Assembly was convened. After several rounds of discussions, the group decided on a name, motto and a logo for the new association. The new association was registered by the Registrar of Associations after having obtained from the Prime Minister’s Office the right to use the words Mauritius and Rodrigues in the association’s name. On 17th August 2010, we finally received the official registration certificate bearing number 11726 from the Registrar of Associations.

Today A very successful association. Since the 17th August 2010, our team has been very active to set up the core elements for a proper Mauritian genealogy association with a website, genealogical database and a discussion forum. Many volunteers have joined us, helping to boost the number of digitized documents and increase the amount of transcribed documents.

We are currently digitizing and carrying out transcriptions for several archive sources. We have also published, so far, transcriptions from the BMS’s of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Louis, of the Anglican Church of Mauritius, of the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius and those of Madagascar BMD’s on our online database and with their kind permission.

Hall Of Fame

Gérard Yves Heeraman (Late)

Gerard’s role in the creation of the association has been crucial. He wanted to create an association that would provide free genealogical services to Mauritian residents as well as to the diaspora and in the same breath help preserve the genealogical heritage of Mauritius. Betrayed by people whom he trusted, he has never let go. His perseverance led to the founding of CGMR. Gerard has also invested in the digitization of parish and civil status records for the French period and the KL series decennial tables (1861-1961). He has donated a complete set of digitization equipment to the CGMR. The photographic bench at the Mauritius Archives is also a donation from him. The CGMR pays tribute to him for his outstanding contribution.

Henri Maurel (Loulou)

It is on the initiative of Henri, that the Dynarobin group was created. Henri succeeded in obtaining the right to digitise documents from the Mauritius archives. Soon, he organised a group of volunteers to transcribe the digitised documents. He made extensive research on Mauritian families. His web site is a reference for all genealogists having ancestors from the Mascarene Islands. Henri has also entrusted most of the genealogical data on his website for publication by the CGMR. He is also actively involved in the transcription and administration of the transcription of archives documents, including notarial minutes of the French period. We thank him for the exceptional contribution he has provided to the association.

Philippe Chaperon

Philippe has been one of the first Dynarobin volunteers of the group; he has digitized the BMS records for Flacq, Moka, Plaines Wilhems, Riviere du Rempart, and part of Pamplemousses districts. He joined the CGMR since its creation and is actively involved in the transcription of digitised documents.

Claude Rossignol

Claude was born in Brittany, France, in the Gallo country. He retired in Réunion with his family, after a brilliant carrier as officer in the French Navy. It is natural that he is proud of his various origins, as well as those of his wife from Réunion Island. He is the creator of a section about the “First-Comers” of the Mascarene Islands: Réunion and Mauritius, on the Imaugen and Genbourbon forums.

Alain Bénard

Alain has helped to digitise documents at the ANOM (French National Overseas Archives) in Aix-en-Provence, France (including notary public minutes) and at the National Archives in Coromandel (Copies of Civil Status indexes from 1811 to 1880). He also photographed the epitaphs in three Anglican cemeteries as well as those of the catholic cemetery of Petite Rivière and the old cemetery of Saint Pierre-ès-Liens. Lately, he has been involved in the digitisation of the Catholic diocese parish records.

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