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Understanding Quebec Catholic Records (view source)

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===Events===
===Events===
====Baptisms====
====Baptisms====
The following information can be found in baptism records, depending on the time period of the record<ref>Bouchard, G. & LaRose, A. (1976). La réglementation du contenu des actes de baptême, mariage, sépulture, au Québec, des origines à nos jours. Revue d'histoire de l'Amérique française, 30(1), 67–84. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.7202/303510ar</nowiki></ref>, and also on the accuracy of the priest and how close he followed the rules. These rules were dictated by the Catholic Church itself and also by the Civil Authorities, like the King of France, and later on, the provincial government. Some information can nevertheless appear prior to the edict imposing the rule of priests.
The following information can be found in baptism records, depending on the time period of the record<ref>Bouchard, G. & LaRose, A. (1976). La réglementation du contenu des actes de baptême, mariage, sépulture, au Québec, des origines à nos jours. Revue d'histoire de l'Amérique française, 30(1), 67–84. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.7202/303510ar</nowiki></ref>, and also on the accuracy of the priest and how closely he followed the rules. These rules were dictated by the Catholic Church itself and also by the Civil Authorities, like the King of France, and later on, the provincial government. Some information can nevertheless appear prior to the edict imposing the rule to the priests.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+Information that can be found in baptism records, and the enabling rule, if applicable
!Information
!Information
!Ecclesiastical Rule
!Church Rule
!Civil Rule
!Civil Rule
!Remark
!Remark
|-
|-
|Date of birth
|Date of birth
|starting in 1614
|from 1614
|starting in 1539
|from 1539
|Priest are only referring to the date indirectly (today, yesterday, the day before yesterday), but sometimes with the day number.
|Priest are only referring to the date indirectly (today, yesterday, the day before yesterday), but sometimes with the day number.
|-
|-
|Date of baptism
|Date of baptism
|since 1563
|from 1563
|starting in 1795
|from 1795
|This is always the date of the baptism event, but sometimes the date it was registered (when the infant was baptized informally, or "ondoyé").
|This is always the date of the baptism event, but sometimes the date it was registered (when the infant was baptized informally, or "ondoyé").
|-
|-
|Place of birth
|Place of birth
|starting in 1973
|from 1973
|starting in 1941
|from 1941
|Most of the time, people were born at home, and the residence of the parents could be assumed as the place of birth (see the section on Places above).
|Most of the time, people were born at home, and the residence of the parents could be assumed as the place of birth (see the section on Places above).
|-
|-
Line 69: Line 69:
|
|
|The priests often travelled to people's home to perform the baptism, but sometimes the father has to bring the infant to the church (not always his official one).
|The priests often travelled to people's home to perform the baptism, but sometimes the father has to bring the infant to the church (not always his official one).
The place where the baptism was performed is not necessarily the parish of record; the curate of a neighboring parish
The place where the baptism was performed is not necessarily the parish of record; the curate of a neighboring parish could have performed the ritual in the absence of the curate of the parents' parish.
|-
|-
|"Ondoiement"
|"Ondoiement"
(domestic baptism)
(domestic baptism)
|starting in 1614
|from 1614
|
|n.a.
|When the baptism is performed by a non-religious person, the priest has to write down the reason for this, and the person who has performed the ritual.
|When the baptism is performed by a non-religious person, the priest has to write down the reason for this, and the person who has performed the ritual.
Since catholics were afraid that a non-baptized infant not be admitted in heaven (remaining in limbo), they urgently performed the ritual if there was a risk of death.
Since catholics were afraid that a non-baptized infant not be admitted in heaven (remaining in limbo), they urgently performed the ritual if there was a risk of death.
|-
|-
|Name of the child
|Name of the child
|since 1563
|from 1563
|starting in 1667
|from 1667
|Only the first name is mentioned, assuming that the surname would be that of the father.
|Only the first name is mentioned, assuming that the surname would be that of the father.
|-
|-
|Gender
|Gender
|starting in 1614
|from 1614
|starting in 1866
|from 1866
|The priest usually mentions that the infant is a son or a daughter. If the sex is not known (premature birth), the priest will use the generic term "un enfant" (a child).
|The priest usually mentions that the infant is a son or a daughter. If the sex is not known (premature birth), the priest will use the generic term "un enfant" (a child).
|-
|-
|Legitimacy
|Legitimacy
|starting in 1614
|from 1614
|not applicable
|n.a.
|Either the priest clearly states the the child is illegitimate, or mentions that he or she is born of unknown parents.
|Either the priest clearly states the the child is illegitimate, or mentions that he or she is born of unknown parents.
If it is not the case, he mentions that the child is from the legitimate marriage of his or her parents.
If it is not the case, he mentions that the child is from the legitimate marriage of his or her parents.
|-
|Names of parents
|from 1614
|from 1667
|The full names (including "dit" names) of the parents, for the mother, the maiden name, are mentioned.
|-
|Occupation of the father
|from 1703
|from 1795
|
|-
|Residence of parents
|from 1614
|from 1795
|The priest simply mentions that they are from his parish or from a different one, which is then named specifically.
|-
|Presence of the father
|from 1836
|
|The priest mentions this fact where he indicates if the godparents have signed the record or not.
|-
|Unknown parents
|from 1614
|from 1795
|It would have been very rare that the priests did not know who the parents were (only in the case of an abandoned baby). But they usually refused to name them if they were not married.
|-
|Names of the godparents
|from 1563
|from 1667
|Curiously, the Council of Trent concluded that it was more important to know the godparents, than the parents...
|-
|Father of the godfather
|from 1614
|
|Only if the godfather is minor.
|-
|Father or husband of the godmother
|from 1703
|
|If the godmother is minor, or for identification purposes.
|-
|Procurators of the godparents
|from 1836
|from 1866
|If the godparents cannot attend in person, they normally had to designate someone to represent them.
|-
|Occupation of the godfather
|from 1890
|from 1866
|
|-
|Residence of the godparents
|from 1614
|from 1866
|
|-
|Relationship with the baptized
|from 1919
|
|Priests took the habit of mentioning the relationship long before it was ruled compulsory.
|-
|Signatures
|from 1703
|from 1667
|The father was required to sign, unless he was not present. The priest always signed, and he had to indicate if the father and/or the godparents could not sign.
|}
|}
General formulation of the record
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+Typical formulation of the record (example)
!Information
!Information
!Original French
!Original French
Line 110: Line 175:
|nous, curé (prêtre) soussigné, avons baptisé...  
|nous, curé (prêtre) soussigné, avons baptisé...  
|we, undersigned curate (priest), have baptized...
|we, undersigned curate (priest), have baptized...
|The priest signs the form, usually only his last name.
|The priest always signs the record, usually only his last name with or without his initials.
|-
|-
|Gender of the child
|Gender of the child
Line 160: Line 225:
|selon l'ordonnance.
|selon l'ordonnance.
|according to the decree.
|according to the decree.
|Referring to the 1539 decree of King François the First of France.
|Referring to the 1539 decree of François 1<sup>er</sup>, King of France.
|}
|}


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