On 18 jan, 19:26, edsm...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> The first 10 years or so of St-Jacques parish register in Montreal
contain=
s,
> almost exclusively, the baptisms of children of "unknown" parents. =A0A
> child's surname appears only rarely. =A0It's rather difficult to
understan=
d
> how many presumably illegitimate children or, perhaps, orphans could
have
> been brought to the baptismal font year after year, in this one parish.
=
=A0Is
> there a reason for this? =A0A priest with a very narrow view of what he
wo=
uld
> accept as "known" parents perhaps? =A0Or some other explanation?
> Ed
Possibly one reason why there is so much unkown children in the parish
is that the "H=F4pital de la Mis=E9ricorde" is situated in that parrish.
This hospital was held by nuns and was specialised in helping
unmarried women to have their children.
St-Jacqus st. was at the corner of Ste-Catherine st and St-Denis st,
and the Hospilal at the corner of Ren=E9 L=E9vesque (Dorchester) and St-
Hubert st. in Montr=E9al.
For you information.
P. B=E9nard
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