B. 23 Oct 1701, Neuville, New France
M. 4 Nov 1727 in Neuville, New France
Wife: Madeleine-Angelique Savarie
D. 19 Sep 1735 in Quebec City, New France
The life of Antoine Bordeleau seemed to end abruptly when he was in the prime of his life. He was born on October 23, 1701 in Neuville, a settlement on the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City. His parents were Antoine Bordeleau and Catherine Piché, and he was the fourth of their sixteen children. Both of Antoine’s grandmothers had been Filles du Roi.
When Antoine was 26-years-old, he married Madeleine-Angelique Savarie, with the wedding taking place in Neuville on November 4, 1727. Their first child was born in March 1728, and baptized in Neuville. Between 1730 and 1734, they had three more, all baptized in Quebec City, suggesting they had moved there. Then something happened to Antoine, causing his death on September 19, 1735.
Antoine’s funeral at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec took place on the same day that he died. The parish record of his burial noted that his death was mort subitement which translates as “sudden death.” This is an indication that he died so fast, he was unable to receive the last rites from a priest. It was important that a priest make every effort give the sacrament to a dying person, which is why a reason was shown in the record if they failed to do so. It’s possible that Antoine was killed in an accident, or that he drowned in the river, although he may have died in some other way.
Usually when a woman was widowed with small children, she would find a new husband, but Madeleine-Angelique never remarried. She likely lived under the roof of either Antoine’s or her own parents until her children came of age. She passed away at the age of 76 in 1782.
Children:
1. Marie-Madeleine Bordeleau — B. 26 Mar 1728, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec; D. 8 Nov 1800, Neuville, Quebec; M. François Grégoire (1726-?), 14 Dec 1746, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec
2. Antoine Bordeleau — B. 24 Mar 1730, Quebec City, Quebec; D. 29 Oct 1793, Vincennes, Northwest Territory; M. Marie-Catherine Caron (1738-~1793), 29 Jan 1759, Post Vincennes, New France
3. Jean-Marie Bordeleau — B. 24 Jul 1732, Quebec City, Quebec; D. (probably) young
4. Michel Bordeleau — B. 29 Sep 1734, Quebec City, Quebec; D. 19 Feb 1781, Ste-Genevieve-de-Batiscon, Quebec; M. Marie-Josephe Thiffault, 11 Apr 1768, Ste-Genevieve-de-Batiscon, Quebec
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
Les Causes de Décès aux XVIIe et XVIIIe Siécles d’Aprés Les Registres Paroissiaux Québécois, Yves Landry and Rénald Lessard, 1995
