The Genealogical Gems in Quebec Marriage Records • Tracing my French Canadian Ancestry • Part II

In Part I of this French Canadian saga, I introduced you to my great-great-grandfather, Alex Gardner, who I discovered was actually born Joseph Alexandre Toussaint Desjardins. Now, if you know anything about Roam Your Roots, you know that my niche - or might I say my obsession - is geographic genealogy. While many genealogists are name collectors, I would consider myself a place collector, because my ultimate goal is to retrace my ancestors’ footsteps and experience the places they once called home.

Alex’s baptism record indicated he was baptized in the parish of Notre Dame in Montreal, likely at the famous Basilique du Notre Dame, and this detail became the foundation by which I was able to trace farther and farther back and build out an incredible multilayered map detailing the places where I could retrace my ancestors’ lives. In large part, my ability to do this was due to the unparalleled level of detail I found in parish marriage records, beginning with the marriage record of Alex’s parents, Toussaint Desjardins and Adele Létoile dit L’Italien.

And that is where we start today’s story.

Unlike US marriage records from this time period (mid 19th century), which will oftentimes only manage to give a maiden name if you’re lucky, Quebec marriage records are a genealogical gold mine of information. Maybe it was because these were branches on my tree that I hadn't really looked into yet and thus knew virtually nothing about, but even so, I was blown away with what I found after I spent the time translating Toussaint and Adele’s marriage record from French to English (thanks, Google translate!).

Let’s take a look.

The 8th of July, 1861, after the publication of the three marriage banns without hindrance nor opposition, the priest, undersigned, (?) to this effect having then the mutual consent by word of prayer by Toussaint Desjardins, carpenter, domiciled in this parish, adult son of Paul Desjardins and of Marguerite Christie of the parish of Pointe Aux Trembles on the one hand, and by Magdeleine Létoile L'Italien, domiciled in this parish, adult daughter of Charles Létoile dit L'Italien, laborer, and of Scholastique Rollin, of the parish of Ste Genevieve on the other hand, married them according to the laws and customs observed in the Holy Church in presence of George Groves, undersigned with the husband, of Charles Bourbeau, brother-in-law of the wife, and of Charles Létoile dit L'Italien, father of the wife.

Even reading it now, I can't believe how detailed it is. It gives all four parents' names. It gives professions. It gives names of associates - the brother-in-law of the wife, which we can use to further research into the wife's family, and of George Grover, who I can only assume was a close friend to Toussaint. And, most importantly to me, it gives locations.

It indicates that Toussaint and Magdeleine (Adele, as she was called) both lived in the parish of Notre Dame, and it notes where Toussaint and Adele’s parents lived! Toussaint's parents, Paul Desjardins and Marguerite Christie, were from Pointe-Aux-Trembles, today a neighborhood in north Montreal, annexed in 1982. Adele's parents, Charles Létoile dit L’Italien and Scholastique Rollin, lived in the parish of Ste Genevieve, today a part of southwest Montreal.

So now, not only do I have Alex's birthplace (Notre Dame parish), his parents, Toussaint and Adele's, residence at the time (also Notre Dame parish) but I also have their parents' locations: the Desjardins in Pointe-Aux-Trembles and the Létoiles in Ste Genevieve.

Now are you starting to understand how remarkably valuable Quebec parish records can be?!

In the next blog, I’ll use this information to find Toussaint and Adele’s parents’ marriage records and baptism records, and continue to trace my French Canadian ancestry back, one generation at a time.