The exact origin of this branch of the Tardif families is unknown. At the time of the marriage of Jean-Baptiste Tardy to Léocadie Marin in Rimouski, on the 20th of August 1833, the pastor of the St-Germain parish in Rimouski, in his marriage register, did not mention the name of the bridegroom's parents as he should have done. This often indicates a particular situation which is better not revealed. Here is the marriage record in its entirety:
"On the twentieth of August 1833, having thrice published at the prone of our parish masses the banns of marriage on three consecutive Sundays, between Jean-Baptiste Tardy, of age, domiciled in the parish of Ste-Cécile on the one part, and Léocadie Marin, daughter of age of Bernard Marin, farmer and of deceased Modeste Duplessis, her father and mother of the parish of Ste-Cécile on the second part, the consent of the parents having been obtained and having found no impediment to their marriage, we the undersigned priest-pastor of Rimouski have received their mutual consent, according to the form prescribed by our Mother the Holy Catholic Church, in the presence of Jean-Charles Pelletier and of Hyacinthe Côté, friends of the bridegroom, and of Pierre Michaud, cousin of the bride, who have declared with the contracting parties that they could not sign.
Michel Ringuet, Fr.
It is noted in this marriage certificate that the consent of the parents had been obtained. On the other hand, not only are Jean-Baptiste's parents not mentioned, but in addition there are no other Tardif relatives as witnesses.
This couple has had at least seven children as follows:
- Jean-Baptiste: born on 31-08-834. Godfather: Jean-Baptiste Marin; godmother: Esther Bourque.
- Théodore: born on 31-07-1836. Godfather: Nicolas Bouchard; godmother: Célestine Parent. Deceased on the 26 and buried on 28-04-1837. Witnesses: Hyacinthe Côté et Louis Desrosiers.
- Thomas: born on 29-04-1838. Godfather: ? Rivard; godmother: Marie Langis. (It is indicated that the father was absent and the name is given as Tardy)
- Fortunat (Ferdinand): born on 20-10-1840. Godfather: Sifroy Marin; godmother: Marie Gagnon.
- Alexandre: born on 01-09-1843. Godfather: Alexandre Pineau; godmother: Esther Fortier.
- Marie-Caroline: born on 06-01-1847. Godfather: Firmin St-Jorre surnamed Sergerie; godmother: Marie Rouleau.
- Marie-Hermine: born on 28-04-1850. Godfather: Joseph Ouellet; godmother: Domitille Devaux. Deceased on the 17 and buried on the 19-11-1861 in St-Cécile-du-Bic, aged eleven. Witnesses: Arthur Chamberland and Alphonse Pinel.
One notices surprisingly that no Tardif or Tardy was godfather or godmother of any of the children of Jean-Baptiste Tardy.
For the purpose of clearing up this question, the marriage certificates of his children and a few notary deeds passed by him have been examined in the hope of finding other indications about his Tardif family. Here is the result:
- 20/06/1859: marriage of Thomas Tardif, son of minor age of Jean-Baptiste Tardif and Léocadie Marin. No Tardif was a witness.
- 10/01/1865: marriage of Ferdinand Tardif, son of age of Jean-Baptiste Tardif, labourer, and Léocadie Marin of this parish. No Tardif was a witness.
- 11/10/1865: marriage of Thomas Tardif, widower of the late Henriette Beaulieu No Tardif was a witness.
- 25/04/1870: marriage of Alexandre Tardif, son of age of Jean Tardif and Léocadie Marin. Witness: Jean (Jean-Baptiste) Tardif.
- 21/05/1870: rehabilitation of the marriage of Alexandre Tardif and Elisabeth Litalien, a 3 to 4 consanguinity relationship having been discovered between the parties. No Tardif was a witness.
- 13/08/1874: marriage of Ferdinand Tardif, widower of age of Obéline Deschênes. No Tardif was a witness.
- 19/08/1878: marriage of Caroline Tardif daughter of age of Jean-Baptiste Tardif, labourer, and of Léocadie Marin. Witness: Jean-Baptiste Tardif, father of the bride.
It thus appears that no Tardif other than Jean-Baptiste himself was an official witness in these seven other ceremonies. He himself is a witness only twice in 1870 and in 1878. Where was he for the baptism of his children and for the marriage of Thomas (1859), Ferdinand (1865), Thomas (1865), Alexandre (rehabilitation 1870), Ferdinand (1874)? It seems reasonable to conclude that he must have been alone with no Tardif relatives in the area.
As far as notarial deeds are concerned, only one has been found related to his transactions. This deed - Vente de droits successifs mobiliers by Jean-Baptiste Tardif, Léocadie Marin and others to Bernardin Marin - was passed in the presence of Pierre Gauvreau, notary, who exercised his profession in Rimouski between the years of 1822 and 1861. There is no mention of any Tardif in this deed either. Several others deeds were passed by another Jean-Baptiste Tardif, married to Josephte Dubé on 27/10/1834, also of St-Germain de Rimouski. This Jean-Baptiste was the son of Raphaël Tardif and Judith Boucher of Kamouraska and not the same person in whom we are interested here.
It should be mentioned also that only in his marriage record and that of the baptism of his son Thomas do we see their name spelled as Tardy. In all other certificates, he and his children are named Tardif.
Based on the information discussed above it must be concluded that it is impossible at this time to find the origins of this Jean-Baptiste Tardif married to Léocadie Marin. It can hardly be stated that he was adopted by a Tardif family, for in that case there would certainly have been some Tardifs from the adoptive family as witnesses to the various civil and religious ceremonies which have marked his life and that of his children. He may be a descendant of Olivier but it is also very possible that he might be an outsider who had adopted the name of Tardif.
