M. 15 Oct 1669 in Quebec City, New France2
Wife: Pérette Hallier
D. 18 Sep 1717 in Neuville, New France3
During the 1660s, when ships arrived in New France filled with marriageable women, it was the habit of the men of the colony to visit Quebec City to make a match. Usually, they came as individuals, but in October 1669, Antoine Bordeleau seemed to be among a group of men who all knew each other.
Antoine was born in Dompierre-sur-Boutonne, a village in western France, baptized there on December 22, 1633.1 His parents were Jean Bordeleau and Marie Villain, but nothing else is known of his family. Antoine next turned up in records as a soldier, part of the Carignan-Sallieres Regiment sailing to New France in 1665.4 He served in a company of 50 men who boarded the ship Le Vieux Simeon, and they arrived at Quebec on June 19th after a voyage that took two months. About a month later, Antoine’s company traveled up the St. Lawrence to the Richelieu River. Their mission was to build a fort, then camp there that winter.4
For the next couple of years, Antoine remained stationed at the fort. A soldier’s term was usually for three years, but he seems to have been released by March of 1667, suggesting he had already served at least a year of duty in France. On the 20th of that month, Antoine received a concession of land in the settlement of Neuville (also known as Dombourg),5 located on the north coast of the St. Lawrence, a little upriver from Quebec. The seigneur of Neuville was Jean-François Bourdon, who was actively recruiting young men to populate his land. Forty-three men signed contracts that day, and many had been soldiers like Antoine. Their concessions would be reconfirmed 5 years later.
Seigneur Bourdon wanted to see that those who settled his land would raise families there. In 1668, his mother, Anne Gasnier, took an active role in this task; conveniently, she had been appointed by authorities to visit France and recruit young women to become Filles du Roi. And when she returned from France in 1669 with a ship of young ladies, her son joined her in Quebec City.6 It seems that he brought with him several single men from Neuville, including Antoine. As the Neuville men signed marriage contracts, Anne Gasnier and Seigneur Bourdon witnessed them. Six of the men had their weddings on October 15th. One of those who married that day was Antoine.2 His bride was named Pérette Hallier, who at age 18, was about half his age.
Witnesses to Antoine's wedding included Bourdon, and another Neuville groom, Leonard Faucher.
After the ceremony, the young couple presumably got in a small boat or canoe and traveled back to Neuville to begin their life together. But things didn’t play out like they were supposed to. Instead of having a large family, Antoine and Pérette only produced two children, which was unusual among New France settlers; they had a son born in 16737 and a daughter born in 1676.8 And there was trouble with one of the neighbors. In 1675, a woman of the farm next door, Agathe Merlin, seems to have had an altercation with Pérette.9 Merlin landed in jail, causing her husband, Jean Loriot, to win her release. This must have caused friction for Antoine with his neighbor.
After the 1681 census, Pérette left Antoine and returned to France.9 Were there problems with their relationship? Or was she just not cut out for a life in the rugged colony? There’s no way of knowing, but Antoine likely never saw his wife again. He lived the rest of his life alone, dying on September 18, 1717 at Neuville.3 The parish record of his burial claimed he had been 100-years-old, but he was actually about 84.
Children:
1. Antoine Bordeleau — B. 18 Dec 1673, Neuville, New France;7 D. 4 May 1758, Portneuf, New France;10 M. Catherint Piché (~1677-?), 5 Mar 1696, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France11
2. Marie-Louise Bordeleau — B. 15 Aug 1676, Neuville, New France;8 D. 1 Jul 1720, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, New France;12 M. Louis Croteau (1672-1747), 22 Nov 1695, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France13
Sources:
1 Listing for Antoine Bordeleau on Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française
2 Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Pérette Hallier, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Burial record of Antoine Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
4 Navires venus en Nouvelle France (website)
5 Our French-Canadian Ancestors, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
6 WikiTree listing for Anne Gasnier https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gasnier-23
7 Baptismal record of Antoine Bordeleau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
8 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
9 King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, p. 297, Peter Gagne, 2000
10 Burial record of Antoine Bordeleau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
11 Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Catherine Piché, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
13 Marriage record of Louis Croteau and Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
