After the passing of Charles’ wife Elisabeth just two months shy of her 39th birthday, the 40-year-old Charles had to pick up the pieces of his life and keep living. He had six children in his care. The oldest, Jean-Charles was not yet 12 and the youngest was just short of her 2nd birthday. Both of Charles' parents were dead as well as his mother-in-law. His father-in-law, Jean Garneau, would die the following year in November 1749 at the age of 74.
The first evidence of Charles' activities as a widower appears in a Proces-Verbal dated 24 September 1749. A Proces-Verbal is a written report recording the facts of a particular matter. According to the archivist's notes this document "directly concerns: Joseph Renaud; Charles Renaud; Louis Renaud; Pierre Veret (Verret, Verrette) and indirectly a neighboring owner: Pierre Bernard. The document includes a report and a plan of the lots located in the Saint-Barthélemy concession of the Saint-Gabriel seigneury. The latter shows the Saint-Charles River, the size of the lots as well as the names Joseph Renaud, Charles Renaud, Louis Renaud and Pierre Verret." The surveyor, Ignace Plamandon, was marking out the boundaries of the land of those mentioned above. Charles appears to have had 2 acres of land along fronting the St. Charles River and 25 acres of land in total.[1]
In addition to consolidating and improving his economic situation after the death of his wife Elisabeth, Charles also sought out another wife. While Charles' father and grandfather were blessed with long marriages, Charles was not so fortunate. With the comparatively high death rates, it was quite common for widows and widowers to remarry, some rather quickly after becoming a widow or widower. For Charles, it took two years between the death of Elisabeth and his second marriage.
The prospective wife must have been identified early in 1750 if not sooner, as in March of that year, Charles made a request "to summon the parents and friends of Charles, Marie-Madeleine, Marie-Josèphe, Marie-Louise, Élisabeth and Marie Renaud, minor children of his marriage with the deceased Élisabeth Garneau, with the aim of having a guardian elected for the said minor children."[2]
It was a common practice whenever there was a blending of families, to lay out the rights of each interested party, especially when minor children were involved. Naming guardians to protect the interests and rights of all minor children was one of the signatures of French law at the time. Though it seems odd to us that this would be necessary since Charles' was the father. However, given the intent would be to have additional children with his next wife which would entitle her and potentially her existing family with claims on Charles’ estate, he had to make provisions for his and Elisabeth's children. Charles made the request which was recorded on March 31, 1750 for a guardian and substitute guardian be named for the children. Permission was granted that same day by the Provost Judge Paul-Antoine-François Lanouillier (Lanouillier) and recorded by the notary Andre Geneste. Once again, it is indicated that Charles', like his father Louis but unlike his grandfather Guillaume, could not sign his name.
The assembly occurred at 10 AM the following day on April 1, and in one of the peculiarities of French law, Charles had to be formally recognized as the guardian of his own children! His brother-in-law and maternal uncle for the children, Jean Garneau, would serve as the backup guardian should Charles be unable to fulfill his responsibilities for any reason. Among those in attendance were Charles' younger brother Jacques, Pierre Bedard, Paschal Soulard and Jean-Charles Verret.[3]
With his children from his first marriage taken care of, Charles married Marie-Jeanne Giroux on 7 April 1750.[4] Marie was born 22 May 1714 and baptized 23 May 1714 in L'Ange Gardien the daughter of Louis Girou (Giroux) and Angelique Garnier (Grenier). The godfather was Jean-Francois Girou but the godmother's surname is indecipherable though her given name was likely Marie-Jeanne.[5] Louis and Angelique had 12 children with not all of them surviving very long after birth. Louis' father was Michel Giroux and his mother was Marie-Therese Provost (Prevost). Angelique was the daughter of Charles Garnier and Louise Vézina.[6]
Just three months later Charles appeared before the provost judge Paul-Antoine-François Lanouillier to petition to summon the parents and friends of his minor children from his marriage with Elizabeth Garneau to authorize the sale of land located on the Saint-Bonaventure coast in the seigneury of Saint-Ignace. The purpose of the sale was to pay off a debt associated with the heirs of his father-in-law, Jean Garneau, who had died about 9 months earlier on 26 November 1749. As Guardian for his children, Charles was responsible for carrying out all legal responsibilities. As named heirs of Jean Garneau, his children appear to have inherited the debt of 122 livres 14 sols and 5 derniers. Charles is described in the archivist notes as "a residuary (person who owes money after the closure of an account) in the name of the said minor children." Charles is also described in the document as a "resident of the Côte de l'Ormière."[7]
The permission to summon the stakeholders was granted and it was decided the land auction would proceed after publication of the event for three consecutive Sundays at the door of the Charlesbourg church according to the custom.[8]
With this obligation behind him, Charles seems to have been left to focus on his new wife and they got back to the business of producing more subjects to the French Crown. On August 10, 1751, a child was born but did not survive. The baptismal record indicates the child was baptized "ondoyé" and then buried. So, either the child was still born or died quickly after birth.[9]
It is not until June of 1753 that Charles shows up in the public record again though this time, he is not the focus but rather just one of the many participants with connections to the Garneau family. The case focused on Joseph Touchet who is described as a "resident of Charlesbourg, plaintiff, widower of the late Marie-Marguerite Garneau" versus several "defendants" (défendeurs) of which Charles, "widower of the late Élisabeth Garneau, guardian of her minors,” was just one. The driver for this case was to get all the affairs related to Joseph Touchet's marriage to Marie-Marguerite Garneau who had passed on 5, January 1753 so he could marry Marie-Anne Gauvin on 21 August of that year. Much like what Charles’ went through three years earlier, all the rights of the interested parties from Joseph's first marriage needed to be addressed before he could remarry. This action documented the judgment that the said marriage contract between Joseph and Marie-Marguerite "will be executed according to its form and content, the said applicant will enjoy all the movable and immovable property" from his marriage to his deceased wife.[10]
Just a few months later, on 16 October 1753, Charles and Marie Jeanne, welcomed another child, Marie-Thérèse. The godfather was "Loüis Garnaut garçon" and the godmother was Thereze Giroux "fille tante".[11] Unfortunately, Marie-Thérèse died just 24 days later and was buried on 10 November 1753 in Charlesbourg.[12]
Charles life had taken a turn from one dominated by a growing family and fortune to one predominantly of loss. To some extent Charles’ life mirrored the fortunes of his country. He had lived through what was perhaps the most successful period of New France which had grown commercially and in population. However, the following year would mark the resurgence of hostilities between France and Great Britain which this time would have a profound effect on New France and the Renaud family. While New France had grown to a healthy population of over 55,000 people, it was dwarfed by the growing North American colonies of their rival which boasted well over a million people in 1754. With the sparse presence of the French and their Indian allies along the western edges of the American colonies, the land hungry Americans were anxious to lay claim to the vast expanses of open land.
[1] Manuscript, Procès-verbal et plan figuratif de chaînage de la profondeur de deux concessions sur la ligne qui sépare la seigneurie de Saint-Gabriel du fief Saint-Ignace, à partir de la côte Saint-Antoine jusqu'à la rivière Saint-Charles, et de chaînage de quatre terres à partir de ladite ligne seigneuriale, lesquelles terres étant situées dans la seigneurie de Saint-Gabriel. 24 September 1749. [2024/09/22]. BAnQ Québec Fonds Cour supérieure. District judiciaire de Québec. Greffes d’arpenteurs 03Q, CA301, S43, P176 https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3413630
[2] Manuscript, Requête de Charles Renaud, habitant de la seigneurie Saint-Gabriel, demandant la permission de faire comparaître les parents et amis de Charles, Marie-Madeleine, Marie-Josèphe, Marie-Louise, Élisabeth et Marie Renaud, enfants mineurs issus de son mariage avec la défunte Élisabeth Garneau, dans le but de faire élire un tuteur pour lesdits enfants mineurs. 31 March 1750. [2024/09/22]. BAnQ Québec Pièces judiciaires et notariales. 03Q, TL5, D3023-1, https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3351522
[3] Manuscript, Acte de tutelle concernant les enfants mineurs de Charles Renaud, habitant de la paroisse de Charlesbourg en la seigneurie Saint-Gabriel, et de la défunte Élisabeth Garneau, ledit Renaud étant nommé tuteur et Jean Garneau, oncle maternel desdits enfants mineurs, étant nommé subrogé tuteur. 1 April 1750. [2024/09/22]. BAnQ Québec Pièces judiciaires et notariales. 03Q, TL5, D3024, https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3351524
[4] Ancestry.com. Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. L’ange-Guardien, 1750-1754, image 5 of 38. This document is very difficult to decipher and there are a mix of dates mentioned in the document but the generally recognized date of the marriage is 7 April 1750. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d1p_31490951?pId=105216594
[5] Ancestry.com Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Author: Gabriel Drouin, Comp. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967. Ancestry.com. Operations Inc., 2008. Provo, UT, USA. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d1p_31490833?pId=15224826
[6] PRDH-IGD -- Family # 9615.
[7] Manuscript, Requête de Charles Renaud, habitant de la côte de l'Ormière de la paroisse de Charlesbourg en la seigneurie Saint-Gabriel, tant en son nom que comme tuteur des enfants mineurs issus de son mariage avec la défunte Élisabeth Garneau, demandant la permission de faire comparaître les parents et amis desdits enfants mineurs pour autoriser la vente d'une terre située dans la côte Saint-Bonaventure en la seigneurie Saint-Ignace, et dont le montant de la vente servira à acquitter la somme de 122 livres 14 sols et cinq deniers envers les héritiers du défunt Jean Garneau, beau-père dudit Renaud, et pour lesquels ledit Renaud se trouve reliquataire (personne qui doit de l'argent après la clôture d'un compte) au nom desdits enfants mineurs. 23 July 1750, [2024/09/29] BAnQ Québec, Pièces judiciaires et notariales, 03Q, TL5, D3029-1, https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3351534
[8]Manuscript, Permission accordée par le juge prévôt Paul-Antoine-François Lanouillier (Lanoullier), sieur Desgrandes (Desgranges), à Charles Renaud, habitant de la paroisse de Charlesbourg en la seigneurie Saint-Gabriel, tant en son nom que comme tuteur des enfants mineurs issus de son mariage avec la défunte Élisabeth Garneau, après délibérations des parents et amis desdits enfants mineurs, de vendre une terre située dans la côte Saint-Bonaventure en la seigneurie Saint-Ignace appartenant auxdits enfants mineurs, afin que l'argent recueilli serve à payer la somme de 122 livres dont ledit Renaud se trouve reliquataire (personne qui doit de l'argent après la clôture d'un compte), et ordonnance à l'effet que la vente de ladite terre se fera suivant la coutume par trois criées et avec publication trois dimanches consécutifs à la porte de l'église de Charlesbourg. 23 July 1750. [2024/09/29] BAnQ Québec, Pièces judiciaires et notariales, 03Q, TL5, D3029-3. https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3351536
[9] Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Author: Gabriel Drouin, Comp. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2008, Provo, UT, USA. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_30991381?pId=14959042
[10] Manuscript, Registre civil de la Prévôté de Québec, no 100, 20 juillet 1752 au 7 août 1753. [2024/09/29]. BAnQ Québec, Fonds Prévôté de Québec, 03Q, TL1, S11, SS1, D100. Image 359-360. https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3339031?docref=kyhXr7tX6ek-e3JB981X8A
[11] Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Author: Gabriel Drouin, Comp. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2008. Provo, UT, USA. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_30991402?pId=14959186
[12] Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Author: Gabriel Drouin, Comp. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2008. Provo, UT, USA. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_30991403?pId=14959207