Charles Joseph Peltier and Mathilde (Mathilda) Domitille Garceau
It has taken some time to find records associated with Charles and (Mathilde) Domitille, my 2nd great-grandparents on my paternal grandmother’s side. While researching for this story, I encountered a variety of spellings for Peltier including: Pelletier, Pelties, Pilkey, Peckay, Pelley, Speltear, Pelky, Pelltier, Pettier, Pelkie and Peltrez. In pursuit of their records I learned a lot about using the backdoor because standard search methods often led to a dead end.
A portrait is the only picture I know that exists of Charles. It is the one that family members, upon seeing it, often remark that “we must have Indian blood in us.” I have to agree that he does have characteristics that might make one wonder about our bloodline, but I can reassure you that he is as French-Canadian as they come, as was his wife, Domitille.
Charles was born to Charles Pelletier and Marie Rose Perrault (3rd great-grandparents) on August 3, 1825 at Saint-Sulpice, L’Assomption County, Quebec, Canada. His father was 26 years old and his mother 23 years old. They had been married just over 2 years when Charles joined his older sister Rosalie who had been born on June 24, 1824.2 There would be 2 other siblings born after Charles: his sister Sophie born on February 20, 1827 and his sister Henriette born on January 24, 1829.3, 4
Translation:
“B” for Baptism
of Charle[s] Peltier
“45” signifies that his was the 45th baptism of the year at Saint-Sulpice
The third of August 1825 by we the undersigned priest was baptized Charles today from the legitimate marriage of Charles Peltier and Rose Peraut [Perrault] the father and mother of this parish. The godfather – Charles Robitaille and the godmother Marie Parizeau Pereut [Pariseau Perrault] of this parish, who anointed that the father declared that they did not know how to sign.
End of translation.
I believe the godmother, Marie Parizeau Pereaut was Rose’s mother. Her maiden name was Pariseau. I am not sure who Charles Robitaille was to the family. Very often you find that the godparents are members of the extended family.
As a side note, Saint-Sulpice is a small community on the north shore of the St. Lawrence just 29 miles below Montreal. The first pastor was assigned in 1706 and the parish of Saint-Sulpice was formed in 1722. In 2016 its population was 1,753.
Charles’ mother passed away on January 27, 1830 when Charles was 4 years old.5 In 1831 Charles’ father married Melitilde Emilie Hetu. The couple was blessed with 15 more children between 1832 and 1852.
Translation:
“S.4” signifies that it is the 4th burial (sepulture) of the year from Saint-Sulpice
Rose Perrault Pelletier
The 29th of January 1830 we the undersigned priest have buried in the cemetery of this parish Rose Perrault wife of Charles Pelletier farmer died the day before yesterday age of 28 years present with ____ and friends Bonaventure Pichi and Pierre Bourdon and others.
Signatures of Bonaventure Pichi
& Pierre Bourdon
Signature of parish priest
End of translation.
Charles came to Minnesota sometime before 1850. I have to wonder if maybe he felt as if he did not belong to his father’s second family and that is why he left. I’ve not found any records that show other family members who immigrated with him. He is enumerated as a laborer in St. Paul in the 1850 U.S. census and is also listed that same year as a resident of St. Paul in the book, The History of the City of Saint Paul.6, 7
Not showing, but the place of birth is Canada.
Mathilde Domitille Garceau was born May 1, 1834 at Yamaska, Pierre-De Saurel County, Quebec, Canada, a small farm community. Many of our ancestors emigrated from the Yamaska area. Domitille, I’ll refer to her as Mathilda from here on, was baptized at Saint-Michel-d’Yamaska the same day she was born.8
Translation:
The first of May 1834 by we the undersigned priest of this parish was baptized Domitille born today of the legitimate marriage of Jean Garceau farmer of this said parish and of Marie Gingras. Godfather Jean Baptiste Lemoine, godmother Theotiste Vadenais ——- that the father declares not knowing how to sign.
Priest’s signature
End of translation.
Mathilda’s godparents are familiar to me. Theotiste Vadenais is my 3rd great- grandaunt and Jean Baptiste Lemoine is her husband. This is an interesting early connection between the Vadnais and Peltier sides of our family tree long before Adlore Vadnais and Ellen Peltier married.
With their parents Jean Garceau and Marie Anne Gingras (3rd great-grandparents), Mathilda and her 8 other siblings immigrated to Minnesota in 1846. The Garceau family arrived in St. Paul on June 7, 1846 with all of $9 and the intent of going west to Oregon where Marie Anne’s brother had a sheep ranch. Unrest in the west caused them to settle in Minnesota where 3 more siblings were eventually added to the family.9
Charles must have been a persistent man. There is a story that while courting Mathilda, Charles proposed to her three times and each time she turned him down. He then proposed to her a fourth time and she accepted.10 He truly must have been smitten with her.
Charles and Mathilda were married November 23, 1852.11 He was 27 years old and she was 18 years old. Family documents show that “they were married in the first church [St. John’s] built in Little Canada, a log church that her father [Jean Garceau] helped build in 1851.”12 Whether or not this is true, I don’t know. Based on their marriage certificate I do know that they were married by Father Fayolle.
It reads:
On the 23rd day of November in the year of our Lord 1852. I Father Fayolle [a Catholic priest] underscribed have joined in the sacred bonds of matrimony Charles Pelletier with Mathilda Garceau in presence of Edward Bibo [Bibeau] and Lauesens [maybe Lawrence] Saint Martin witnesses.
F Fayolle
Credentials recorded in the District Court Ramsey County Minnesota Territory
——————-
______ “Filed Nov 29th 1852”
“ Sherwood Hough Dept Clk [Department Clerk]”
End of transcription.
August 15, 1854 Charles was issued a land grant.13 The location is described as “the North West quarter of the South West quarter of Section 29, in Township 30 North, of Range 22 West, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Stillwater, Minnesota Territory, containing thirty-nine acres and ninety-seven hundredths of an acre.” It is upon this land that Charles and Domitille built their first home. It is possible that the home was built first and the land grant followed. I only bring this up because their first child was born in 1853 and supposedly all of their children were born on this property.
The home located in White Bear Township was about 1 mile north of Lake Vadnais on the Kohler Road. The following map shows the exact location.
Their first four children: Damas (Charles Thomas), Mathilda, Marie (Mary) and Sophie where all born in this home.16, 17, 18, 19 A second home was built next to the first about 1860. The first child to be born in it was Joseph Albert (my great-grandfather),20 followed by Leon, Jean Baptiste, Antonie Henry, Merance, Joseph Eusebius and lastly, Samuel Onesime.21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 In total, I have found records for 11 children. There may have been more.
The 1860 U.S. census imparts some interesting information about Charles. He is enumerated as “Charles Peckay”. It shows that he is a farmer, age 31, real estate value of $400, personal estate value of $150 and that he cannot read or write. Also in the household are Matilda (26), James [Damas] (6), Matilda [Mathilda] (5), Mary (3), Sophia [Sophie] (2) and Elbar [Albert] 5/12.27
By the time the 1880 U. S. census was taken Charles is 53 years old, Mathilda is 46 years old and their sons: Damase, Leon, Jean Baptiste, Antoine, Joseph and Onesime all reside with them. Interestingly there is also a 14 year old girl named Merance LeMay listed in the household as a servant.28
Depending on the document you look at, Mathilda passed away at 53 years old on either December 30 or 31, 1887.29,30 She was buried in the second oldest cemetery in Minnesota, St. John’s Cemetery in Little Canada on January 2, 1888.31 Her marker shows an incorrect birth year of 1833.
Her marker shows an incorrect birth year of 1833.
Charles is listed as a farmer on all census records from 1857 up to 1900. The 1900 U.S. census record shows Charles with his son Leon as the only residents of the Kohler Road property.33
On June 28, 1904 Charles Peltier, one of the early pioneers in Minnesota, passed away at age 83 from senile gangrene (gangrene due to lack of blood supply resulting from sclerosis of blood vessels).34, 35
Charles was laid to rest on July 1, 1904 alongside his wife at St. John’s Cemetery. His grave is the first one on the left as you enter the cemetery.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cindy
© 2021 Copyright by Cynthia Vadnais, All Rights Reserved
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