Anyone looking out for his ancestors having lived in the city of Montréal during the second half of the twentieth century cannot ignore the great resource that is the Lovell Directory (available online on the BANQ Website). This valuable research device helps us knowing people’s whereabouts between censuses.
The first time I have looked at the Lovell Directory many years ago, I couldn’t help noticing that a few Tourvilles stood out from the others. Charles Tourville was one of them. He was not a simple shoemaker, he actually was running a small business, namely the manufacturing of shoes and boots.
Born to Michel Tourville and Josephte Cantin, Charles was born on July 23, 1828, in Saint-François (Île Jésus). He was baptized on the same day at Saint-Joseph’s Parish in Rivière-des-Prairies, in Montréal. Thanks to the following censuses, we are lucky to know Charles’ whereabouts:
Census Year | Place |
---|---|
1831 | Île Jésus |
1842 | Montréal |
1861 | Montréal |
1871 | Montréal |
Charles married twice. First to Domithilde Ouimet on August 9, 1847, at Notre-Dame’s church in Montréal. Domithilde and Charles have had ten children during their 18-year marriage. Domithilde died on February 14, 1866, at age 37.
Out of these ten children, four died in infancy. Another one, Norbert, might have died young as I have lost his trace. Two daughters emigrated to the United States and another son was a painter. I will get back to these children in future posts.
Then, on December 26, 1866, Charles married Albina Maheux. They have had eleven children during their 12-year marriage! All these children died in infancy except for Alexina who passed away at age 14 a few years after her father’s death.
Charles died on February 2, 1879, in Montréal.
DEATH
In this city, on the second day of this month, at 51 years of age, Charles Tourville, shoemaker.
Funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, on the fifth day of this month. The funeral procession will leave his home, No. 708 St. Catherine Street, at 7:30 a.m., to go to Notre-Dame church, and from there to his resting place.
Relatives and friends are kindly requested to accept this invitation.
The fact that Charles’ obituary had been published in La Minerve‘s newspaper proves that Charles was more than a simple shoemaker.
Let’s get back to the Lovell.
Year | Information |
---|---|
1848 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, Montcalm near St. Catherine st. |
1850 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 38 Montcalm |
1852 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm |
1853 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm |
1854 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm |
1855-1856 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm |
1856-1857 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm |
1857-1858 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm |
1858-1859 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence |
1859-1860 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm |
1860-1861 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm |
1861-1862 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm |
1862-1863 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm |
1863-1864 | Tourville Charles, boot and shoe maker, 69 St Lawrence Main st. house 164 Montcalm st. |
1864-1865 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, h 164 Montcalm |
1865-1866 | Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 99 St Lawrence |
1866-1867 | Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 214 Montcalm |
1867-1868 | Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 45 St Lawrence |
1868-1869 | Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 45 St Lawrence |
1869-1870 | Tourville Charles, & Cie., manufacturer of boots and shoes, 45 St Lawrence |
1870-1871 | Tourville C., manufacturer of boots and shoes, wholesale and retail; all work made expressly for city trade, 293 Notre Dame, h 45 St Lawrence |
1870-1871 | Tourville Charles, & Co., dealers in boots and shoes, wholesale and retail, 45 St Lawrence |
1871-1872 | Tourville C., manufacturer of boots and shoes, wholesale and retail; all work made expressly for city trade, 293 Notre Dame, h 45 St Lawrence |
1871-1872 | Tourville Charles, & Co., dealers in boots and shoes, wholesale and retail, 47 St Lawrence, h 45 St Lawrence |
1872-1873 | Tourville, Chs., shoemaker, 570 1/2 St Catherine |
1873-1874 | Tourville, Chs., shoemaker, 552 St Catherine |
1874-1875 | Tourville, Charles, boots and shoes, 489 Mignonne |
1875-1876 | Tourville & Co., manufacturers of boots and shoes, 428 1/2 St. Catherine, h 428 St. Catherine |
1876-1877 | Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine |
1876-1877 | Tourville & Plante, boots and shoes made to order, 34 St-Vincent |
1877-1878 | Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine |
1877-1878 | Tourville & Plante, boots and shoes made to order, 34 St-Vincent |
1878-1879 | Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine |
1878-1879 | Tourville & Plante, boots and shoes made to order, 99 St. Lawrence |
At BANQ, I had consulted files containing legal company names in which I could learn more interesting facts about Charles’ business:
Date | Company Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
12 May 1868 | Charles Tourville & Cie | Albina Maheux declares doing business in this company with the consent of her husband Charles Tourville. |
15 December1871 | Charles Tourville & Cie | Albina Maheux stops doing business in this company. |
1st January 1873 | Charles Tourville & fils | Inception of the company. "Fils" means "Son". The son is Magloire Tourville. |
1st April 1875 | Charles Tourville & fils | The company ceases to exist. |
1st May 1875 | Charles Tourville & Compagnie | Inception of the company. |
30 May 1876 | Tourville & Plante | Domithilde Plante, single woman, declares doing business alone under that company's name. Did Charles Tourville sell her his shares in the company? |
Here is Charles in the 1861 Census :
And in the 1871 Census:
Have you noticed that a servant was living with the family in 1861? In 1871, their neighbour was a doctor.
Charles Tourville: Isn’t he a great candidate for a search in Montréal’s notarial records? As he conducted business, I am pretty sure I can find lots of documents regarding this family which will be featured in future posts.