B. abt 1699 in New France
M. (1) 11 Sep 1724 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Marie-Catherine Danis
M. (2) 18 Nov 1743 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Marie-Charlotte Robitaille
D. 2 Jun 1769 in Montreal, Quebec
Jean Custeau worked as a carpenter in colonial Montreal during a time when it was rapidly growing into a city. He was born about 1699 to Pierre-Jacques Custeau and Marie Bouvier, one of five children. Jean’s parents were married in 1689 at Quebec City, and this may have been where he was born, but no baptism has been found in the records. By 1707, the family lived in Ste-Foy, which was near Quebec City. During the spring of 1711, Jean’s mother died, followed by his father about two weeks later. They left behind several underage children, including Jean who was about 12-years-old, and it’s unknown who cared for them.
When Jean was in his 20s, he turned up in Montreal. On September 11, 1724, he married Marie-Catherine Danis, the daughter of a man who had been recently murdered. The couple had two daughters born in about 1728 and 1731.
Jean was said to be a maître-menuisier, which translates as “master carpenter.” This occupation was useful in 18th century Montreal, which had a great need for new construction. The town had a population of about 1,000 in 1700, and by 1740 it had grown to 4,200. A visitor in 1749 commented that “some of the houses are built of stone, but most are built of timber.” It isn’t known what specific projects Jean may have worked on, but it’s likely that he had a hand in building some of those houses.
On August 21, 1737, Jean’s wife Marie-Catherine died. It was several years before he married again, this time to Marie-Charlotte Robitaille, a woman from a settlement near Quebec City. The wedding took place in Montreal on November 18, 1743. Between 1745 and 1755, they had four daughters; Jean had no boys to carry on his name.
Jean died in Montreal on June 2, 1769 at the age of about 70. Marie-Charlotte survived him, passing away in 1796.
Children by Marie-Catherine Danis:
1. Marie-Josephe Custeau — B. about 1728, (probably) Montreal; D. after 15 Jan 1773, (probably) Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory; M. (1) Joseph Levron dit Metayer (1728-1771), 7 Feb 1747, Fort Frontenac, New France; (2) André La Coste, 15 Jan 1773, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory
2. Catherine Custeau — B. before 15 Aug 1731, Montreal, New France; D. 6 Apr 1775, L’Assomption, Quebec; M. François Pepin (1717-1776), 27 Jul 1748, (probably) New France
Children by Marie-Charlotte Robitaille:
1. Marie-Josephte Custeau — B. 22 Sep 1745, Montreal, New France; M. Nicolas Valde (1720-1792), 30 Jun 1769, Montreal, Quebec
2. Amable Custeau — B. about 1749, (probably) Montreal, New France; M. Jean-Baptiste Tessier (~1747-?), 7 Nov 1768, Montreal, Quebec
3. Françoise Custeau — B. 7 Feb 1752, Montreal, New France; D. 7 Jul 1823, Montreal, Quebec; M. Joseph Biard (1746-1819), 7 Nov 1774, Montreal, Quebec
4. Madeleine Custeau — B. 13 Feb 1755, Montreal, New France; M. Joseph Audet (1751-1825), 4 Nov 1777, Montreal, Quebec
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
WikiTree
Revue d’histoire de l’Amérique française, George F.G. Stanley, 1954
Timeline of Montreal history (Wikipedia article)
The Canadian Encyclopedia (website)
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Records Baptisms, 1749-1838, compiled by Barbara Schull Wolfe
