M. 29 Jan 1758 in Post Vincennes, New France2
Husband: Antoine Bordeleau
D. between 1779 and 1793 in (probably) Vincennes, Northwest Territory3
This is the story of an 18th century girl born in a remote French outpost, who as a teen, moved to another outpost that was even more remote. Marie-Catherine Caron was born at Detroit on April 23, 1738 to Vital Caron and Madeleine Pruneau.1 She was the second of seven children, one of whom died as an infant. Marie-Catherine’s father was a merchant in Detroit, and he died when she was about 8-years-old.4 The family lived on a farm in a house near the present-day corner of Lafayette and 6th Street in downtown Detroit.
During the early 1750s, Marie-Catherine’s mother died,5 leaving the teenaged girl with younger siblings to look after. The decision was made to relocate to Vincennes, and along with her brother Jean Baptiste (b.1746), her sister Louise (b. 1741), they likely joined a group of relatives and friends to make the journey.6 Since Marie-Catherine was under age, presumably there were adults among the group, and one of them may have been Charles-Louis Oliver Santier, who was a cousin.7
To get from Detroit to Vincennes, the only mode of travel was by canoe. During that time, canoes were made of birch bark and varied in size; the largest ones could hold up to 3,000 lb. Each canoe would need at least 4 voyageurs to row it. The exact number of people who traveled with Marie-Catherine when she made the trip to Vincennes is unknown, but there were probably two or more canoes.
It was said that a canoe could go 50 miles per day. Each night of Marie-Catherine’s journey, the canoes were brought up on shore and unloaded at the place where they camped overnight. The route they took began on the Detroit River, continuing on into Lake Erie. Then they entered the Maumee River, traveling down its length until they reached the point that wasn't navigable, at present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana. From there, the canoes had to be carried nine miles to the Wabash River, with the passengers, including Marie-Catherine and her young siblings, on foot carrying their possessions. Once they were on the Wabash, it was a journey of several more days to reach Vincennes.
The route of Marie-Catherine's canoe trip.
Men carrying a canoe.
Children:
1. Catherine Bordeleau — B. 23 Dec 1759, Post Vincennes, New France;10 M. Antoine Mallet (~1742-?)11
2. Marie-Madeleine Bordeleau — B. 23 Oct 1761, Post Vincennes, New France;12 D. 21 Feb 1819, Vincennes, Indiana;13 M. Jean-Baptiste Renaud dit Deslauriers (1754-1834), 9 Jul 1779, Vincennes, Virginia Territory7
3. Antoine Bordeleau — B. 22 Sep 1763, Post Vincennes, New France14
4. Michel Bordeleau — B. about Nov 1765, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;15 M. Ursula Le Cointe, 3 Jul 1786, Vincennes, Virginia Territory16
5. Archange Bordeleau — B. Jun 1767, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;17 M. Alexander Sanson (~1765-1803), 3 Oct 1785, Vincennes, Virginia Territory18
6. Therese Bordeleau — B. 3 Jun 1769, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory19
7. Jean-Baptiste Bordeleau — B. 30 Apr 1770, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory20
8. Charles Bordeleau — B. 10 Jun 1772, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory21
9. Pierre Bordeleau — B. 16 Jul 1774, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;22 M. Julie Poitevin, 7 Oct 1827, Vincennes, Indiana23
10. Angelique Bordeleau — B. 16 Apr 1777, (probably) Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory24
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Marie-Catherine Caron, parish register of Ste. Anne, Detroit
2 Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Catherine Caron, “Records of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Vol. 12, 1901, p. 45
3 Death date is believed to fall between the marriage of her daughter on July 9, 1779 and the death of her husband on October 29, 1793
4 Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region, 1701-1936, Christian Dennison, 1987, p. 225
5 Catherine Caron was in Vincennes by 1755 and there are no records indicating Madeleine Pruneau ever lived there.
6 Jean-Baptiste and Louise Caron both ended up in Vincennes, with Louise marrying at the age of 16 in 1757.
7 Marriage record of Jean Baptiste Renault Deslauriers and Marie Magdaleine Bordeleau, “Records of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Vol. 12, 1901, p. 55
8 Baptismal record of Catherine Crepeau, “Records of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Vol. 12, 1901, p. 322
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Antoine Bordeleau
10 Baptismal record of Catherine Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
11 Baptismal record of Catherine’s son Antoine Mallet, Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933, FamilySearch.org
12 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
13 Death record of Madeleine Renaud, A complete survey of cemetery records, Knox County, Indiana, collected and compiled by Mrs. Alta Amsler
14 Baptismal record of Antoine Bordeleau (younger), R. of the P. of S.F.X.
15 Baptismal record of Michel Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
16 Marriage record of Michael Bordeleau and Ursule Lecointe, Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992, FamilySearch.org
17 Birth record of Archange Bordeleau, Roster of Soldiers & Patriots in the American Revolution in Indiana, compiled and edited by Mrs. Roscoe C. O'Byrne, 1938-1966
18 Marriage record of Alexander Sanson and Archange Bordeleau, R. OF S.& P. in the A.R.
19 Baptismal record of Therese Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
20 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
21 Baptismal record of Charles Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
22 Baptismal record of Pierre Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
23 FamilySearch listing of Pierre Bordeleau
24 Birth record of Archange Bordeleau, R. of the P. of S.F.X.
