M. 16 Oct 1675 in Boucherville, New France
Wife: Jeanne Braconnier
D. 27 Oct 1711 in Montreal, New France
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. 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. Charles made his living as a shoemaker. By 1675, he acquired land in Longueuil, which was across the river from Montreal. On October 16th of that year, he married Jeanne Braconnier, a pregnant woman who had recently lost her husband. Jeanne gave birth to a baby girl who was baptized in January. Two years later, Jeanne had her first child with Charles; 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. Charles Le Moyne was an important leader in early Montreal, who was the father of several prominent men, including the founder of New Orleans.
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. Charles made his living as a shoemaker. By 1675, he acquired land in Longueuil, which was across the river from Montreal. On October 16th of that year, he married Jeanne Braconnier, a pregnant woman who had recently lost her husband. Jeanne gave birth to a baby girl who was baptized in January. Two years later, Jeanne had her first child with Charles; 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. Charles Le Moyne was an important leader in early Montreal, who was the father of several prominent men, including the founder of New Orleans.
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. Charles became the church’s beadle, a post he seems to have filled until his death. 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. Later that year, on October 27th, he died at the same place. 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. 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; 26 Apr 1715, Montreal, New France; M. Bertrand DeBlunche dit La Serre (1675-1720), 24 Jul 1697, Boucherville
2. Charles Edeline — B. 15 Nov 1678, Longueuil, New France; D. 3 Apr 1726, Longueuil, New France; M. Helene Charron (1682-1738), 7 Feb 1701, Longueil, New France
3. François Edeline — B. 3 Aug 1680, Longueuil, New France
4. Pierre-Jean Edeline — B. 9 Dec 1681, Longueuil, New France; D. 14 Dec 1681, Montreal, New France
5. Pierre Edeline — B. 30 Jun 1683, Longueuil, New France; D. 18 Jun 1742, Vercheres, New France; M. Louise-Catherine Patenaude (1694-1742), 21 Feb 1718, Longueuil, New France
6. Marie-Anne Edeline — B. 26 Jul 1685, Longueuil, New France; D. Feb 1739, L’Assomption, New France; M. (1) Etienne Parseillier dit LaChappelle (?-1713), 16 Oct 1702, LaPrairie, New France; (2) Louis Douvier dit LaMarche (?-1735), 20 Nov 1715, Repentigny, New France
7. Angelique Edeline — B. 19 Apr 1687, Longueuil, New France; D. 8 Jun 1687, Boucherville, New France
8. Agathe Edeline — B. 11 Aug 1688, Longueuil, New France; D. 22 Aug 1741, Montreal, New France
9. Louis-Antoine Edeline — B. 22 Sep 1690, Longueuil, New France; D. 4 May 1758, Fort Detroit, New France; M. Marie-Madeliene Drousson (1689-1747), 15 Jan 1720, Longueuil, New France
10. Jean-Baptiste Edeline — B. 3 Jan 1693, Longueuil, New France; D. 14 Aug 1715, Montreal, New France; M. Marie-Marguerite Benoit dit Livernois (1694-1734), 29 May 1712, Longueuil, New France
Sources:
“My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue (Wikipedia article)
