M. 16 Oct 1675 in Boucherville, New France2
Wife: Jeanne Braconnier
D. 27 Oct 1711 in Montreal, New France3
Among the settlers in the early Montreal area was a shoemaker named Charles Edeline. And remarkably he helped plant a seed that became a modern urban cathedral.
The only information about Charles' origins came from his marriage record which stated that he was from the parish of Saint-Jaques-de-la-Boucheire in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France, and was the son of David Edeline and Noelle Lambert. Charles' birth year is estimated to be 1641.1 Nothing more is known about his childhood, or whether he had any brothers and sisters.
At some point, Charles migrated to New France. He wasn’t listed in the 1666 or 1667 censuses, but had settled in Montreal by 1669, where he was mentioned as a witness to a wedding.4 Charles made his living as a shoemaker. By 1675, he acquired land in Longueuil, which was across the river from Montreal.5 On October 16th of that year, he married Jeanne Braconnier,2 a pregnant woman who had recently lost her husband. Jeanne gave birth to a baby girl who was baptized in January.6 Two years later, Jeanne had her first child with Charles;7 between 1677 and 1693, they had a total of 10 children.
Charles played a role in the beginnings of the parish of Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil. During its first few years, Longueuil's inhabitants were served by the parish of neighboring Boucherville, and the parish in Montreal. When his first son was born in 1678, Charles feared the newborn baby would not survive a trip to another town, so a baptism was arranged at the house of Longueuil’s seigneur Charles Le Moyne. It was performed by a missionary priest and was the very first baptism in Longueuil.8 Charles Le Moyne was an important leader in early Montreal, who was the father of several prominent men, including the founder of New Orleans.9
At some point, Charles migrated to New France. He wasn’t listed in the 1666 or 1667 censuses, but had settled in Montreal by 1669, where he was mentioned as a witness to a wedding.4 Charles made his living as a shoemaker. By 1675, he acquired land in Longueuil, which was across the river from Montreal.5 On October 16th of that year, he married Jeanne Braconnier,2 a pregnant woman who had recently lost her husband. Jeanne gave birth to a baby girl who was baptized in January.6 Two years later, Jeanne had her first child with Charles;7 between 1677 and 1693, they had a total of 10 children.
Charles played a role in the beginnings of the parish of Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil. During its first few years, Longueuil's inhabitants were served by the parish of neighboring Boucherville, and the parish in Montreal. When his first son was born in 1678, Charles feared the newborn baby would not survive a trip to another town, so a baptism was arranged at the house of Longueuil’s seigneur Charles Le Moyne. It was performed by a missionary priest and was the very first baptism in Longueuil.8 Charles Le Moyne was an important leader in early Montreal, who was the father of several prominent men, including the founder of New Orleans.9
Charles LeMoyne (source: Jean Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The first chapel in Longueuil was built five years later, but the parish of Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil wasn’t officially established until 1698.10 Charles became the church’s beadle, a post he seems to have filled until his death.1 A beadle was a minor church officer who sometimes helped with services. Between 1701 (when the registers begin) and 1711, Charles’ name was given as a witness to many burials and a few marriages.
On February 20, 1711, Charles’ wife Jeanne died at the hospital in Montreal.11 Later that year, on October 27th, he died at the same place.3 Charles' name lived on in many descendants; some used the name Edeline, Edligne or Edline, but others altered it to Deline or Delisle.
As for the parish Charles had worked for, it later became Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, a Gothic revival structure built in the 1880s.10 It’s known for its collection of religious art and objects.
Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue in Longueuil.
Children:
1. Catherine-Therese Edeline — B. 15 Feb 1677, Longueuil, New France;7 26 Apr 1715, Montreal, New France;12 M. Bertrand DeBlunche dit La Serre (1675-1720), 24 Jul 1697, Boucherville13
2. Charles Edeline — B. 15 Nov 1678, Longueuil, New France;8 D. 3 Apr 1726, Longueuil, New France;14 M. Helene Charron (1682-1738), 7 Feb 1701, Longueil, New France15
3. François Edeline — B. 3 Aug 1680, Longueuil, New France16
4. Pierre-Jean Edeline — B. 9 Dec 1681, Longueuil, New France;17 D. 14 Dec 1681, Montreal, New France18
5. Pierre Edeline — B. 30 Jun 1683, Longueuil, New France;19 D. 18 Jun 1742, Vercheres, New France;20 M. Louise-Catherine Patenaude (1694-1742), 21 Feb 1718, Longueuil, New France21
6. Marie-Anne Edeline — B. 26 Jul 1685, Longueuil, New France;22 D. Feb 1739, L’Assomption, New France;23 M. (1) Etienne Parseillier dit LaChappelle (?-1713), 16 Oct 1702, LaPrairie, New France;24 (2) Louis Douvier dit LaMarche (?-1735), 20 Nov 1715, Repentigny, New France25
7. Angelique Edeline — B. 19 Apr 1687, Longueuil, New France;26 D. 8 Jun 1687, Boucherville, New France27
8. Agathe Edeline — B. 11 Aug 1688, Longueuil, New France;28 D. 22 Aug 1741, Montreal, New France29
9. Louis-Antoine Edeline — B. 22 Sep 1690, Longueuil, New France;30 D. 4 May 1758, Fort Detroit, New France;31 M. Marie-Madeliene Drousson (1689-1747), 15 Jan 1720, Longueuil, New France32
10. Jean-Baptiste Edeline — B. 3 Jan 1693, Longueuil, New France;33 D. 14 Aug 1715, Montreal, New France;34 M. Marie-Marguerite Benoit dit Livernois (1694-1734), 29 May 1712, Longueuil, New France35
Sources:
1 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Charles Edeline
2 Marriage record of Charles Edeline and Jeanne Braconnier, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Burial record of Charles Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
4 Marriage record of André Barsa and Françoise Pillois, Q., C. P. R.
5 Bénigne Basset dit Deslauriers, Acts, No. 801 and 1000, 25 Apr 1672 – 21 Feb 1674 (798 fichiers), pp. 492-494/798
6 Baptismal record of Jeanne Thuillier, Q., C. P. R.
7 Baptismal record of Catherine-Therese Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
8 Baptismal record of Charles Edeline (younger), Q., C. P. R.
9 Le Moyne d’Iberville, Dictionary of Canadian Biography
10 Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue (Wikipedia article)
11 Burial record of Jeanne Braconnier, Q., C. P. R.
12 Burial record of Catherine-Therese Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
13 Marriage record of Bertrand DeBlunche dit La Serre and Catherine-Therese Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
14 Burial record of Charles Edeline (younger), Q., C. P. R.
15 Marriage record of Charles Edeline and Helene Charron, Q., C. P. R.
16 Baptismal record of François Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
17 Baptismal record of Pierre-Jean Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
18 Burial record of Pierre-Jean Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
19 Baptismal record of Pierre Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
20 Burial record of Pierre Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
21 Marriage record of Pierre Edeline and Louise-Catherine Patenaude, Q., C. P. R.
22 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
23 Burial record of Marie-Anne Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
24 Marriage record of Etienne Parseillier dit LaChappelle and Marie-Anne Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
25 Marriage record of Louis Douvier dit LaMarche and Marie-Anne Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
26 Baptismal record of Angelique Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
27 Burial record of Angelique Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
28 Baptismal record of Agathe Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
29 Burial record of Agathe Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
30 Baptismal record of Louis-Antoine Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
31 Burial record of Louis-Antoine Edeline, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Family (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890
32 Marriage record of Louis-Antoine Edeline and Marie-Madeliene Drousson, Q., C. P. R.
33 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
34 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Edeline, Q., C. P. R.
35 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Edeline and Marie-Marguerite Benoit dit Livernois, Q., C. P. R.
