Necessity Breeds Love ........ Sometimes

Louis David Chevalier

My great-great grandfather Louis David Chevalier of Riviere Ste. Paul, Quebec, was twice married.  His second wife was a young woman he employed to look after his children upon the death of his first wife, Catherine Kendall.

The young woman was Bridget Sisk from Ferryland, Newfoundland and I am supposing that she was contracted for the position through a Mr. Thomas Wright.  A Jerseyman, Mr Wright was found to be in both Ferryland and Labrador and may have acted as an intermediary in such matters

It was not long before the young woman and the gentleman 17 years her senior found each other romantically.  It was Quebec's Lower North Shore after all, not the bustling cities of Montreal or London or even St. John's.

Bridget gave birth to their first child, John Joseph, in 1871 but they were not married until August of 1872 on the same date that their child was baptised.  Like most from the Southern Shore, she was a devout Irish Catholic.  Louis recognized how important her religion was to her and although he was a Protestant, Louis made sure she remained true to her faith.  There were many times that he readied his horses and carriage when the weather allowed and brought her to the nearest Roman Catholic church to attend mass  He clearly respected her beliefs and in this case necessity did breed love.

Bridget and Louis spent almost a dozen years together until her death in 1879.  It was on December 3rd of that year that she gave birth to a daughter.  Like so many women of her time, Bridget developed an infection from childbirth and died a couple of weeks later.  Something that a simple antibiotic could cure today cost Bridget her life.  That little girl, my great-grandmother, became her namesake, Bridget Chevalier (m. Salter).

Louis David Chevalier and 

2 unknown women.