M. 3 Oct 1689 in Quebec City, New France2
Wife: Marie-Anne Bouvier
D. 13 May 1711 in Quebec City, New France3
Epidemics were a common cause of death in colonial times, and various indicators suggest that this is how Pierre-Jacques Custeau’s life came to an end. Pierre-Jacques was born in about 1663 in Loches, France,1 a community in the Tours region. His parents’ names were Louis Custeau and Renée Villeret, but all other facts about his origins, and when or why he came to New France are unknown.
Pierre-Jacques’ name first turned up in a marriage record to Marie-Anne Bouvier at Quebec City on October 3, 1689.2 She was the daughter of a Fille du Roi, and a native of Quebec City. Oddly, the parish register calls him “Jutreau,” not Custeau, but this seems to be a mistake. The couple settled in Ste-Foy, just upriver from Quebec City. By 1709, they had at least five children, and with the Ste-Foy parish records not beginning until 1699, there may have been others.
The parish at Ste-Foy was led by Father Charles-Amador Martin, son of Quebec pioneer Abraham Martin, who was one of the first native-born priests in New France. Father Martin was a central figure in the community, and he baptized Pierre-Jacques’ three youngest children. When a large amount of people died during the spring of 1711, he was the one who administered the last rites to each.4 Sadly, one of those people was Pierre-Jacques’ wife Marie-Anne, who passed away on April 26th.5 Just two weeks later, on May 13th, Pierre-Jacques also died, not at home, but as a patient in Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City.3
Burial record of Pierre-Jacques' wife Marie-Anne, signed by Father Martin. Within two months, both men were dead.
Although there is no report of a major epidemic in New France in 1711, it’s clear that Pierre-Jacques and his wife were victims of some sort of illness that swept through Ste-Foy. Both were in the prime of life at the time of their death, as were many of the others buried in the parish cemetery during that spring. In a biography of Father Martin, it was reported that on June 19th, he passed away during an epidemic of fièvre pourprée.6 This translates as “purple fever,” but the medical name of the disease isn’t clear. In modern times, purple fever is known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a disease transmitted by ticks.
When Pierre-Jacques died, he left behind an adult son and at least four underaged children. It isn’t known who took charge of the children, but they all later wound up in Montreal.
Children:
1. Jean-Baptiste Custeau — B. about 1690, (probably) Ste-Foy, New France;7 D. 20 Nov 1733, L'Ancienne-Lorette, New France;8 M. Catherine Fauteaux (1681-1749), 26 Jun 1718, L'Ancienne-Lorette, New France9
2. Jean Custeau — B. about 1699, (probably) Ste-Foy, New France;10 M. (1) Marie-Catherine Danis (1702-1739), 11 Sep 1724, Montreal, New France;11 (2) Marie-Charlotte Robitaille (1715-1796), 18 Nov 1743, Montreal, New France12
3. Therese Custeau — B. 29 Jun 1704, Ste-Foy, New France;13 M. Antoine Parent (1704-?), 26 Nov 1731, Montreal, New France14
4. Catherine-Angelique Custeau — B. 13 Mar 1707, Ste-Foy, New France;15 D. 26 Feb 1779, Montreal, Quebec;16 M. Gabriel Dumont-Poitevin (~1720-1770), 25 Nov 1743, Montreal, New France17
5. Marie-Louise Custeau — B. 16 Jan 1709, Ste-Foy, New France;18 D. 5 Jun 1761, Montreal, New France;19 M. Etienne-Louis Boulaguet (~1699-1776), 20 Nov 1731, Montreal, New France20
Sources:
1 Fichier origine listing for Jacques Custeau
2 Marriage record of Pierre-Jacques Custeau and Marie-Anne Bouvier, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Burial record of Pierre-Jacques Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
4 1711 burial records of the parish of Ste-Foy, Q.C.P.R.
5 Burial record of Marie-Anne Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
6 “Charles Amador Martin,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography (website)
7 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Jean-Baptiste Custeau
8 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
9 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Custeau and Catherine Fauteaux, Q.C.P.R.
10 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Jean Custeau
11 Marriage record of Jean Custeau and Marie-Catherine Danis, Q.C.P.R.
12 Marriage record of Jean Custeau and Marie-Charlotte Robitalle, Q.C.P.R.
13 Baptismal record of Therese Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of Antoine Parent and Therese Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
17 Marriage record of Gabriel Dumont-Poitevin and Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
18 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
19 Burial record of Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
20 Marriage record of Etienne-Louis Boulaguet and Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
3 Burial record of Pierre-Jacques Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
4 1711 burial records of the parish of Ste-Foy, Q.C.P.R.
5 Burial record of Marie-Anne Bouvier, Q.C.P.R.
6 “Charles Amador Martin,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography (website)
7 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Jean-Baptiste Custeau
8 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
9 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Custeau and Catherine Fauteaux, Q.C.P.R.
10 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Jean Custeau
11 Marriage record of Jean Custeau and Marie-Catherine Danis, Q.C.P.R.
12 Marriage record of Jean Custeau and Marie-Charlotte Robitalle, Q.C.P.R.
13 Baptismal record of Therese Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of Antoine Parent and Therese Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
17 Marriage record of Gabriel Dumont-Poitevin and Catherine-Angelique Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
18 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
19 Burial record of Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
20 Marriage record of Etienne-Louis Boulaguet and Marie-Louise Custeau, Q.C.P.R.
