Joseph Roussel 1857 Hull, Quebec, Canada

[chinakay]

Here's a pretty good article on dit names. Ronin is correct in that "dit" is the masculine form, and "dite" the feminine. It's actually a [usually] geographic appellation to differentiate between various branches of families with the same surname.

http://genealogy.about.com/b/2010/07/08/understanding-dit-names.htm

When you have a family with a dit name (not many had them) sometimes the dit part got transposed with the actual name, so if the name is (for example) Beaugrand dit Chapelle, you may find the family listed under either one. Or even Chapelle dit Beaugrand. Sometimes the dit name actually became the family name.

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

Here's a start:
On the 19th of October 1857, I the undersigned priest with care of this parish, baptised Joseph, born yesterday to the lawful marriage of Joseph Roussel dit Davia, farmer, and Emily Hudon dite Beaulieu of this parish. Godfather Achille Hudon dit Beaulieu, godmother Philomêne Roussel dite Davia, who have not ........ Father absent.
(Signed) Ch. Bégin (?)....

I couldn't make out the bit at the end which seemed to relate to the godparents, and I'm not 100% sure of the surnames, but hopefully this will help a bit.

Arthur

Here's the last little bit,  " have not signed". Usually it says "who have declared that they cannot sign". Can't make out the last word, it's not what you usually see.

Cheers,
China