The exact origin of another group of Tardif descendants has yet to be clearly established. This lineage traces back to Edouard Bélanger, who married Olympe Portuguais on January 28, 1845. Interestingly, Edouard Bélanger was buried under the name Edouard Tardif on March 29, 1859.
Their marriage record states:
« On January 28, 1845, after the publication of three marriage banns during the parish masses in Quebec, between Edouard Bélanger, cart driver, of legal age, and Olympe Portuguais, of legal age, daughter of François Portuguais and the late Victoire Petitclerc, and considering that both parties were domiciled in the parish of Quebec, we, the undersigned parish priest of Quebec, received their mutual consent to marriage and gave them the nuptial blessing in the presence of Joseph Plante, friend of the groom, and François Portuguais, father of the bride, who, along with the spouses, declared they could not sign. »
Chl.F. Baillargeon, priest.
This civil record reveals that Edouard, a cart driver by trade, was of legal age, but his parents’ names were not recorded, as they should have been. Consequently, several other records were examined to verify whether his parents or other Tardifs were mentioned. The relevant findings include:
- January 28, 1845: Marriage of Edouard Bélanger, cart driver, and Olympe Portuguais.
- July 18, 1847: Baptism of Edouard (Bélanger), son of Edouard Bélanger and Olympe Dasylva.
- June 21, 1849: Baptism of Georges-Alfred, son of Edouard Tardif and Olympe Dasylva.
- May 23, 1851: Baptism of Marie-Olympe (Tardif dit Bélanger), daughter of Edouard Tardif dit Bélanger and Olympe Dasylva dit Portuguais. Godparents: Abraham Tardif and Judith Amiot.
- August 18, 1852: Burial of Marie-Olympe (Bélanger), daughter of Edouard Bélanger and Olympe Portuguais.
- March 29, 1859: Burial of Edouard Tardif, cart driver, husband of Olympe Portuguais, aged 38.
- August 10, 1868: Marriage of Joseph Edouard Tardif, son of the late Edouard Tardif and Olympe Dasylva dit Portuguais.
- July 1, 1872: Marriage of George Alfred Tardif, son of the late Edouard Tardif and Olympe Dasylva dit Portuguais.
Edouard and Olympe had at least three children: Marie-Olympe, Joseph-Edouard, and Georges-Alfred. Their records consistently list their father as Edouard Tardif dit Bélanger or Edouard Tardif, while Olympe is referred to as Portuguais, Dasylva, or Dasylva dit Portuguais.
Only one record mentions other Tardifs—the baptism of Marie-Olympe, where Abraham Tardif and Judith Amiot were godparents. Could Abraham be related to Edouard? Was Edouard adopted by Abraham Tardif? If so, why was Abraham not a witness at Edouard’s wedding?
So far, no definitive information has been found to answer these questions. What is certain is that Edouard and Georges-Alfred married under the name Tardif, and their descendants continue to bear the Tardif name.