Wedding Bells.


Marriage of Jacques and Jacqueline.

Jacques Saint-Yves was 29 when he wed Jacqueline Chartier, 17, on 26 November 1681 in the stone church Saint-Enfant-Jésus-de-la-Pointe-aux-Trembles. The ceremony was performed in the presence of Marie Facon (her mother?), Joseph de Montenon, Gilles Marin, Pierre Robert, François Janot, and Elisabeth Charly.

Founded in 1674 to the east of Montréal, Pointe-aux-Trembles, was distinguished by a three-story tall windmill built in 1719 which dominated the landscape. The village took its name from the aspen trees, or trembles, growing in the area.

Researcher Bob Bernth tells us that in 1683, Jacques became engaged in a fight with Pierre Chartier's boss. Apparently Jacques held back the old man while Pierre punched the boss' son. Both young men "became temporary residents of the local jail for a few days...".

Jacqueline bore 16 children over the course of their 36 year marriage, though several died in infancy. Our ancestor Joseph Saint-Yves was born in 1692.

Their first-born son Pierre was 12 when he was sent to work in 1695 for Nicolas Brazeau and his brother who were also wheelwrights. He was engaged by them for two years, taking care of their livestock and other chores. His parents would receive 80 livres and he, at the end of his service, would receive a cloak and vest. Sylvain, 12, and Jacques, 10, were likewise put in service in 1698. Sylvain would receive the most goods: cloak, stockings, shoes, shirts, cap and a one-year old steer. Joseph too, was hired out for three years.

The King of France encouraged large families to help populate the colony, even offering a stipend for a time to those who had 10 or more children. Even so the harsh living on the frontier sometimes made it difficult to care for all their children. By finding the child a post parents could receive some necessities and they were assured the child would be fed, housed and "treated humanely" while perhaps learning a trade.

At the End.

Jacques died at age 57 on 20 October 1709 and was buried from Notre-Dame de Montréal. Jacqueline lived another eight years, passing on 4 August 1717. She was 52.

Notarial records provide evidence that their sons became voyageurs (fur traders), spending much of their time "out West", which from their perspective was just beyond Détroit. Death records have not been located for several of them implying that they perhaps stayed in the west trapping and dealing with the tribes in the region.