Michel Tourville Welcomes Home Agathe Bertrand

Michel Tourville (1787-1860), son of Michel Tourville and Catherine Marié, just like his brother Jean-Baptiste, made frequent visits to public notaries. One of them occurred at Notary Public Toussaint Limoges’ on February 9, 1828, and caught my eye—for a good reason that is. He took care of my 4th Great Grandmother, Agathe Bertrand.

Why, I asked myself, would Michel Tourville (who is not my direct ancestor) accommodate 72-year-old Agathe? Then it all made sense. Continue reading

#52Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #19 Josephte Cantin (1799-1857)

The burial register of Montréal’s Notre-Dame Church contains very laconic entries. However, sometimes, we are in for a surprise, such as the reading of the one of July 3, 1857 regarding Josephte Cantin. Continue reading

From the Archives: Petit Manuel des associés de l’Union de prières et de La Bonne Mort (1873)

Was one of your ancestors a member of the Union de prières et de La Bonne Mort [Union of prayers and of the “good death”]?

Founded in 1851 in Montreal, this association’s objective was to prepare their members for the after-life and help them save their soul. In 1873, it has no less than 50,000 members. Continue reading