Pierre Pantaléon dit Leclerc
The descendants are positive that their ancestor, Pierre Pantaléon, had been adopted by a Leclerc family. Impossible till now to trace his history. Since we cannot find any reference of an adoption in the archives of his ancestor's family, we have decided to classify him as one of a Leclerc ancestor.
A baptismal certificate of the Notre-Dame de Québec parrish bearing number 1032 with a note in the margin: "Pierre Pantaléon illegitimate", tells us very little on his origins. We can read:"On the eighteen day of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, we, priest curate undersigned have baptized Pierre Pantaléon, born yesterday of unknown parents and dropped the same day at the ''Tour de l'Hôtel-Dieu". Godfather Louis Bergeron and Godmother françoise Leclerc who both declared not being able to sign. Viau, priest.
At this stage of our researches, it does not seem that Louis Bergeron and Françoise Leclerc were husband and wife. Furthermore, they did not know how to write, and cannot estimate their age, neither identify them with certainty to their own family. We can imagine several possibilities regarding the child adoption or the godmother's role in his patronimic Leclerc. The baptismal certificate states "Tour de l'Hôtel-Dieu". It was some kind of a revolving cylinder, allowing a person to put a baby in it and turn the device so the infant would be warm inside the building. This device also permitted the carrier to remain anonymous.
At the 1851 census of the parrish St-Gervais et Protais, a man registered as Pierre Leclerc could be Pierre Pantaléon, who is stated a servant, born in St-Charles, of Roman Catholic faith and who will be 27 years old on his next birthday. He his unmarried and not a member of the family where he stayed. His employers are Jacques Lavoie, 40 years old and his wife Anastasie Langlois 31 years old, parents of four young children. It is obvious that this family is not the one that adopted Pierre Pantaléon.
On September 28, 1852 at St-Charles de Bellechasse's parrish, he got married to Louise Lemelin, daughter of Pierre Lemelin and Marie-Louise Roy. The document written by the priest omitted the name of Pierre's parents. From this union, six children were born. On the baptism records, there is no indication of a Leclerc relationship. Marie-Louise Lemelin did in Buckland on November 26 1863 at the age of 35. A second marriage is recorded on November 13, 1865 at Notre-Dame-Auxiliatrice's parrish in Buckland, with Marie Audet dite Lapointe, daughter of Jean Audet dit Lapointe and Anastasie Côté. The priest wrote Pierre's name as Pierre Pantaléon widower of Marie-Louise Lemelin, Pierre also signed Pierre pantaléon, omitting the patronimic Leclerc. From this union, four children were born. All the descendants of Pierre Pantaléon bear the patronimic Leclerc.
We do not know where, neither the date, the couple Leclerc/Audet dit Lapointe's died. According to several of the children baptismal certificates, Pierre Pantaléon was farmer. So, there should be somewhere some notary contracts, of purchase,sales, possibly marriage, will, etc. Theorically, there is still a possibility to find out his biological parents but the chances are very thin.
This case is a challenge to our genealogists. We hope to learn more about him in a near future as well as to satisfy of our members interest who wish to know more about their ancestors. Our best regards to Robert # 56, Michel # 286, Diane # 425 and Monique # 1078, descendants of this Leclerc's ancestor.
Writer Gilles P. Leclaire and Maurice Leclerc (055) (review)
Translated by André Bourgeois