Philadelphia · Research lead
Nicolas and the crossing
Family accounts place his arrival in America around 1740. A passenger list mentions a Johan Nicolaus Heppel, though his connection to the family remains unconfirmed.
Family memory Since 1998
The Heppells
of America.
Find your ancestors, trace the family’s history and explore the places and photographs that tell its story.
Tribute to Gaston Heppell
Welcome to the Heppell family website
My father created this site in 1998. He was passionate about genealogy and wanted to give Heppells across the Americas and beyond a place to connect and share.
Starting in 1991, he devoted much of his time to tracing our family history. Over the years, he gathered an impressive collection of genealogical information, photographs and documents. His research led him to explore our family’s origins, including the story of Nicolas Heppell, who is believed to have arrived in the United States around the 1740s, and to trace branches of the family that settled around the world.
A legacy to preserve and build on
My father is no longer with us, but he left us a priceless legacy built on more than 30 years of research, patience and passion.
To honour him and preserve this immense body of work, I set out to modernize his website so that people could explore it more easily and have better access to the valuable information he gathered.
Above all, I hope this new version gives Heppells from every corner of the world a chance to contribute to our shared family story.
Whether you have photographs, documents, anecdotes or genealogical information, every contribution is welcome. Together, we can carry on the work he started in our own way.
I know how much this project meant to him, and I like to think he would be happy to see his work live on and continue bringing generations together.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to his research and to everyone who will help build on this legacy.
In memory of my father, whose passion and perseverance help us better understand our roots and our history.
01 / Genealogy
Trace the thread
of generations.
A name, a place, a date: each clue can help you trace a family branch. Explore the research on Nicolas and Jacob, or sign in to view the family tree in GeneWeb.
02 / History
From one generation to the next
From stories passed down through the family to the traces it left on the Quebec landscape.
The Heppell story in seven milestones
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Read about the early ancestors
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Rimouski · July 19, 1790
Jean-Jacob and Agnès
On July 19, 1790, Jean-Jacob Heppell married Agnès Lavoie at Saint-Germain parish in Rimouski. Their son Joseph was baptized there on the same day.
Read about the early ancestorsAccording to the family account, Jacob settled near Rimouski. Several of his descendants went on to live in the Saint-Anaclet area.
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Causapscal · Matapédia Valley
The Heppells settle in Causapscal
Explore the history of the siteThe bridge history places Ferdinand Heppell’s arrival in Causapscal in 1877. The hamlet account dates the move of Ferdinand, Claire Pineau and their children from Saint-Anaclet to Les Fourches, now Causapscal, to July 1878.
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Causapscal · 1909
A bridge that bears the name
Read the bridge’s historyBuilt at Ferdinand Heppell’s initiative with the help of relatives and nearby farmers, the covered bridge connects the family’s history with that of the Matapédia Valley.
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Rimouski · Saint-Germain Street
Heppell Market
Explore the photo archivesA photograph taken around 1950 shows Heppell Market on Saint-Germain Street in Rimouski. The sign recalls the family’s presence in the city.
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Genealogy · 1998
Gaston launches the Heppell website
Read the tribute and welcome messageGaston Heppell began researching the family genealogy in 1991. In 1998, he created the website to bring together Heppells across the Americas and pass their stories on to future generations.
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Causapscal · August 8–10, 2009
The bridge centennial
See the centennial photosFrom August 8 to 10, 2009, Causapscal celebrated the bridge’s 100th anniversary. Sculptor Denys Heppell’s monument depicts the three generations involved in building it.
03 / Archives
Memory in photographs
Shops, homes and scenes of working life: a glimpse into the family collection.
Heppell MarketRimouski · Around 1950
The Familex shopRimouski · 1951
The flour millFamily collection · Date unknown
04 / Contribute
A memory to share?
Help enrich the Heppells of America website! Have photographs, information about a place or details to add to our archives? Create an account and have your access approved, then apply to become a contributor. Your submissions will be reviewed before publication.