The Shoemaker: Charles Tourville (1828-1879)

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.

M930.50.5.142

Link to McCord Museum: http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/imagedownload.php?accessNumber=M930.50.5.142&Lang=2&imageID=161403&format=large

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 YearPlace
1831Île Jésus
1842Montréal
1861Montréal
1871Montréal

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.

YearInformation
1848Tourville Charles, shoemaker, Montcalm near St. Catherine st.
1850Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 38 Montcalm
1852Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm
1853Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm
1854Tourville Charles, shoemaker, head of Montcalm
1855-1856Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm
1856-1857Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm
1857-1858Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 164 Montcalm
1858-1859
Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence
1859-1860Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm
1860-1861Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 69 St Lawrence, house 164 Montcalm
1861-1862Tourville 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
1865-1866Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 99 St Lawrence
1866-1867Tourville Charles, shoemaker, 214 Montcalm
1867-1868Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 45 St Lawrence
1868-1869Tourville Charles, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 45 St Lawrence
1869-1870Tourville 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
1870-1871Tourville 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
1871-1872Tourville Charles, & Co., dealers in boots and shoes, wholesale and retail, 47 St Lawrence, h 45 St Lawrence
1872-1873Tourville, Chs., shoemaker, 570 1/2 St Catherine
1873-1874Tourville, Chs., shoemaker, 552 St Catherine
1874-1875Tourville, Charles, boots and shoes, 489 Mignonne
1875-1876Tourville & Co., manufacturers of boots and shoes, 428 1/2 St. Catherine, h 428 St. Catherine
1876-1877Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine
1876-1877Tourville & Plante, boots and shoes made to order, 34 St-Vincent
1877-1878
Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine
1877-1878Tourville & Plante, boots and shoes made to order, 34 St-Vincent
1878-1879Tourville, Charles of Tourville & Plante, 708 St. Catherine
1878-1879Tourville & 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:

DateCompany NameNotes
12 May 1868Charles Tourville & CieAlbina Maheux declares doing business in this company with the consent of her husband Charles Tourville.
15 December1871Charles Tourville & CieAlbina Maheux stops doing business in this company.
1st January 1873Charles Tourville & filsInception of the company. "Fils" means "Son". The son is Magloire Tourville.
1st April 1875Charles Tourville & filsThe company ceases to exist.
1st May 1875Charles Tourville & CompagnieInception of the company.
30 May 1876Tourville & PlanteDomithilde 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 :

Charles in the 1861 Canadian Census with his family.

Charles in the 1861 Canadian Census with his family.

The Shoe Store of Charles in the 1861 Canadian Census.

The Shoe Store of Charles in the 1861 Canadian Census.

And in the 1871 Census:

1871 charles familleHave 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.


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