M. 12 Feb 1721 in L’Ange Gardien, New France2
Wife: Marguerite Boutillet
D. 19 Mar 1765 in Lauzon, Lévis, Quebec3
When Joseph Turgeon lost both of his parents at a young age, his father's oldest brother became his guardian. Joseph was born on November 9, 1696 at Pointe-de-Lévy, located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River across from Quebec City.1 His parents were Pierre Turgeon and Marie-Anne Carrier, and he was the oldest of their two sons. The same day Joseph turned 3-years-old, his father died at the hospital in Quebec City.4 His mother remarried, and had one son with her second husband, but she passed away when Joseph was age 8.5
With both parents gone, Joseph was taken in by his uncle, Jacques Turgeon, who lived in nearby Beaumont.6 Turgeon had just gotten married for the first time at age 51, and his house was already crowded with four step-children when Joseph joined them. The family grew even more with the births of three more children (Joseph’s cousins) over the next few years.
The year Joseph turned 21, it was time for him to get out on his own. The legal system in New France considered him a minor until age 25, preventing him from receiving his inheritance.7 So he asked for a waiver, and authorities in Quebec City ordered “a meeting of relatives and friends to be convened” to decide if Joseph was “able to manage his property, including cattle and the necessary utensils to the cultivation of [a farm].” The result was that on May 10, 1718, the court ruled that Joseph could be “emancipated” from his uncle’s guardianship.6 The document shows how extended families took part in such matters, working together; besides his uncle Jacques, it was signed by two other uncles, Zacharie Turgeon, and Charles Carrier.
Record of meeting regarding Joseph's "emancipation." (Source: BAnQ)
Now that Joseph could establish himself, he looked to get married, and the woman he chose to be his wife was Marguerite Boutillet. Their wedding took place on February 12, 1721 in her home town of L’Ange Gardien, located on the north shore.2 You might say that Joseph “married up” because her father Jacques Boutillet was the captain of his seigneury’s militia, a civic office that made him a local leader.2 The marriage record was signed by both Marguerite and her father, but not Joseph, who appeared to be illiterate.Joseph and his wife settled near his birthplace in Pointe-de-Lévy, where they would stay for the rest of their lives. Between 17218 and 1738,9 they had ten children. The family lived through the hardships of war with England, who invaded New France in 1759, displacing people who lived in Joseph’s area; they probably had to take shelter somewhere inland for a time. A few years later, on March 19, 1765, Joseph died at Lauzon.3 Marguerite survived him, and passed away in 1783.10
Children:
1. Marie-Marguerite Turgeon — B. 13 Dec 1721, Lauzon, New France;8 D. 6 May 1768, Lauzon, New France;11 M. (1) Pierre Nault (~1717-1748), 12 May 1746, Lauzon, New France;12 (2) Joseph Poire (~1724-1818), 20 Apr 1751, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France13
2. Joseph Turgeon — B. 7 May 1723, Lauzon, New France;15 M. Marie-Anne Fournier (1731-1807), 7 Apr 1750, Beaumont, New France15
3. Marie-Josephe Turgeon — B. 12 Jun 1725, Lauzon, New France;16 D. 28 May 1764, St-Charles, Bellechasse, Quebec;17 M. Nicolas Gonthier (1726-?), 28 Oct 1749, Lauzon, New France18
4. Charles Turgeon — B. 6 May 1727, Lauzon, New France19
5. Marie-Catherine Turgeon — B. 26 Mar 1729, Lauzon, New France;20 D. 18 Nov 1765, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France;21 M. Jacques Fournier (1711-1779), 16 Jun 1749, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France22
6. Marie-Louise Turgeon — B. 6 Apr 1731, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France;23 D. 13 Sep 1733, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France24
7. Marie-Anne Turgeon — B. 7 Nov 1732, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France;25 D. 8 Sep 1733, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France26
8. Genevieve Turgeon — B. 26 Jul 1734, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France;27 D. 7 Apr 1814, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, Quebec;28 M. Louis Patry (1732-1803), 5 Nov 1754, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France29
9. Jean-Baptiste Turgeon — B. 10 May 1736, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France30
10. Marie-Charlotte Turgeon — B. 24 Aug 1738, St-Joseph-de-Pointe-de-Lévy, New France;9 D. 3 Mar 1799, Beaumont, Quebec;31 M. Alexandre Fournier (1735-1826), 14 Sep 1761, Lauzon, New France32
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Joseph Tuergeon, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Joseph Turgeon and Marguerite Boutillet, Q.C.P.R.
3 Burial record of Joseph Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
4 Burial record of Pierre Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
5 Burial record of Marie-Anne Carrier, Q.C.P.R.
6 Legal permission for Joseph Turgeon to manage his own property, 2 May 1718, BAnQ
7 Custom of Paris in New France (Wikipedia article)
8 Baptismal record of Marie-Marguerite Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
9 Baptismal record of Marie-Charlotte Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
10 Burial record of Marguerite Boutillet, Q.C.P.R.
11 Burial record of Marie-Marguerite Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
12 Marriage record of Pierre Nault and Marie-Marguerite Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
13 Marriage record of Joseph Poire and Marie-Marguerite Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
14 Baptismal record of Joseph Turgeon (younger), Q.C.P.R.
15 Marriage record of Joseph Turgeon (younger) and Marie-Anne Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
16 Baptismal record of Marie-Josephe Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
17 Burial record of Marie-Josephe Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
18 Marriage record of Nicolas Gonthier and Marie-Josephe Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
19 Baptismal record of Charles Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
20 Baptismal record of Marie-Catherine Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Marie-Catherine Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Jacques Fournier and Marie-Catherine Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
24 Burial record of Marie-Louise Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
25 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
26 Burial record of Marie-Anne Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
27 Baptismal record of Genevieve Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
28 Burial record of Genevieve Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
29 Marriage record of Louis Patry and Genevieve Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
30 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
31 Burial record of Marie-Charlotte Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
32 Marriage record of Alexandre Fournier and Marie-Charlotte Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
