• a Bachelor1683, p 3

• [excerpts] …and the other, Charles Doyon, was in the painful need to be able to develop his property that the sheriff sold to Jonathan Eckart, an Englishman, of Quebec.
The manorial history from the beginnings of St-Georges demonstrated that the Eckart, Skene and Grant were owners in St-Georges, not in a purpose of colonization but in view of speculation only, because they had neither mill nor residence.3938, p 4

• Perhaps the Jonathan Eckart who arrived in New York in 1769.3937

• I read there were only 300 Protestants in Quebec in 1770 (prior to the arrival of German troops); it looks like they were all merchants or traders. It appears that several of the Reinharts in Quebec City worked for Eckart…I can’t determine whether they had earlier military connections. I have notes that they were “youths (age 14) during the 1775 blockade” — perhaps in Quebec with their father.3938, p 5

• One word about another element—a law-abiding one—in our complex population, felt, but whose origin remains yet to be enquired into by our ethnologists: the German element. Whence and at what date came among us these notable men—the Wurtele, Hoffman, Hesse, Ampleman, Ruthven, Von Koenig, Von Iftiand, De Rottenburg, Idler, Seybauld, Bowen, Stcepleben, Eeinhart, Colback, Hind, Wolff, Eckhart? How many of them can seek for their ancestors amongst the Brunswickers and Hessians, who landed at Quebec in 1776 under Baron Rediesel and with the various shiploads of Germans, chiefly from Wurtemburg, who emigrated to Canada to escape conscription during the early Napoleonic wars and previous. The Pozer family dates back to old George Pozer, the millionaire, as he was styled, but he did not come direct from Germany; he had first settled in New York and then returned to England, landing at Quebec in 1791.3938, p 6

• In 1789, we witnessed the seizure of the assets of Charles Doyon whose fief Saint-Charles-de-la-Belle-Alliance is awarded to John[sic] Eckart, merchant of Quebec.3939

• 2 June 1794 – Burial of Jonathan Eckart “Tobacconist, aged 60 years and 27 days.” Note of A. E. Edwards: Undoubtedly related to William Roberts Eckart. Probably a great-uncle and probably the first of this Eckart family in North America.1477, p 1, note 1

• Several members of the Wurtele family immigrated to the province of Quebec in the 1780s. Some chose to settle in Montreal but Josias, like his brother John, picked Quebec where his uncle Jonathan Eckart, who sold tobacco and sundries, was living. Eckart owned a house and retail business on Rue Buade which Josias inherited in 1795.3940, p 1

• I think that your information on Jonathan Eckart are not right. He had no child and it’s the reason why it is Josias Wurtele who inherited a part of his fortune when he died in 1795. He had another nephew of the name of Eckart who lived in Quebec and who inherited a part of his fortune. Maybe this one is your ancestor. Josias’s mother was Elisabeth Eckart.1680

• ECKART, Jonathan. Quebec. Notice re settlement of estate of late J. Eckart, Tobacconist, Quebec. Quebec Gazette, 26 Jun 1794.1481, p 2; Index #1512

• Be it remembered that on the Sixteenth day of June in the Thirty fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, King of Great Britain….Jonathan Eckart, John Rheinhart, Christian Rapp, and John Frederick Rheinhard, all of the City of Quebec…for the purpose of choosing a Curator to the vacant Succession of the late Jonathan Eckart, and having been severally duly sworn, after due deliberation, thy chose and nominated the above named Jonathan Eckart, of the City of Quebec, tobacconist, to be Curator, which nomination we have confirmed, and the said Jonathan Eckart, having accepted thereof was duly sworn to discharge his duty as Curator to the said Succession of Jonathan Eckart deceased to the best of his skills and knowledge and as the Law directs.
/s/ Jonathan Eckart
Josias Wurtele
George Wurtele
John Reinhart
Frederick Reinhart
John Wurtele
Christian Rapp1681, pp. 2-3

• I, Jacques Denechaux, Justice of Peace, master surgeon, Quebec and Trois Riviers, declare that during 5-6 weeks of his care, Jonathan Eckert, seeing and visiting, Merchant/Tobacconiste, in his house 11 St Jean Street, at the beginning of his illness and during his illness, Ms Jonathan Eckert 
a souvent de au deposant qu'll travaillait et soupoit a disposer a ses biens par testament en faveur de ses parents et de ceux qui avaient travaille pour lui and avec lui. que specialement le mecredi le vingt huitieme jour du mois de mai dernier, entre dix and onze hueres du matin, lui deposant alla voir le dit Sieur Jonathan Eckhart  ... maison en cette ville situee rue st jean numero onze, qu'el entrat dans sa chambre, ayant vue sur la rue St Jean. Qu'en entrant il vit le dit Sieur Eckart avec Monsieur Pierre Louis Deschenaux, Notaire Public ce cette province, tous deux au pres d'un table. Que le dit Sieur Deschenaux le noit ? une feuille de papier dans sa main paroifsant parler avec le dit Sieur Eckart. Que lui deposant apres avoir fait quelques questions avec Sieur Eckart concernant l'etat
often has to the applicant qu'll worked and has supped have a property by will in favor of his parents and those who work for him and with him. specially that the Wednesday the twenty eighth day of May, between ten and eleven hueres morning, he went to the depositor Sir Jonathan Eckhart said ... house situated in this street st jean number eleven, El enter his room city, with views of the St John. What he saw entering the Sieur Eckart said with Pierre Louis Deschenaux, Notary Public that this province, both in near a table. The Sieur Deschenaux said noit? a sheet of paper in his hand paroifsant talk with Sir Eckart said. That depositor him after doing some questions about the state Sieur Eckart
Que lui deposant apres avoir fait quelques questions avec Monsieur Eckart concernant l'etat de sa sante, il dit Je vais vous ??? je vois que vous ete en arrangement d'aiffaires - a quoi le dit Monsieur Eckart repondait - Je suis apres arrange mes affaires et donner mes intentions a monseiur le notiaire par precaution, apres quoi le deposnant ??? et le deposant ne dit plus rien. 
That applicant after making him a few questions with Mr. Eckart about the state of his health, he says I will?? I see you been in the aiffaires arrangement - however said Mr. Eckart was responding - after I arrange my business and my intention was to give the monseiur notiaire as a precaution, after which the deposnant?? and the applicant did not say anything.1681, p 4 & p 14

• Pierre Louis Deschenaux , Justice of Peace, states that on Wednesday, 28 May, Christian Rapp, living in the house of Jonathan Eckart, went to Deschenaux saying that Jonathan Eckart wanted to see him. Eckart was between Deschenaux and the window overlooking Rue St Jean... said he had been feeling indisposed several weeks, and wanted to arrange his affairs and will. ... Then Jonathan Eckart took a key out of his pocket and opened the bureau ... took out paper... dictated ... added that he hoped that his parents in Germany and legataires in Germany (inheriters) would be content with their disposition.
d'autant mieux que la providence l'avait mis en etat d'envoyer to his parents in Germany, ... douze cents au deux mille 'pounds' sterlng et qul 
set to send to His relatives in Germany, ... twelve hundred to two thousand 'pounds' sterlng and ... that he would give them 1400 pounds sterling in his will.
Added that he hoped to send it himself to them in Germany this autumn, .. didn't want to wait until he was dead. 
Gave the paper to Deschenaux who asked him several questions... Eckart said that he was giving his intentions to Deschenaux as a precaution. 
Eckart said that he was naming as his executors monsieur? Jonathan Eckart, Christian Rapp, John Reinhart, and none else.1681, p 7

• …to his parents in Germany [parentes en Allegmagne]1681, p 9

• [excerpt] To Jonathan Eckart, my nephew; John Reinhart; Christian Rapp; John Frederic Reinhart: all in Quebec as it is my intention that these four should carry on the tobacco manufacture Jointly, in case that it should please God to take me from thence, I give to these four Jointly to each one fourth part of all the Stock in trade, manufactured & un-manufactured Tobacco.1681, p 11

• [excerts} To the Honorable the Judges of His Majesty’s Court of Common Pleas for the District of Quebec.
The Petition of Jonathan Eckart, John Reinhart, Christian Rapp and John Frederick Reinhart, SHEWETH
That Jonathan Eckart. late of the City and District of Quebec, Tobacconist, died on the thirty first of May last, leaving divers Effects and Estate in the said District.
That the said Jonathan Eckart in his life time, during his last illness, and a very short time before his decease, did cause the substance of his Will and Testament, and the particular appropriation & intended bequest of this Estates, Real and Personal, to be set down in writing. AND
That the said deceased, a few days before his Death, did declare him mind and will, and impress (?) the several bequests of his Estate to Certain Legatees, and thereupon direct Peter Louis Dechanaux Esq. a Notary Public to draw and ___?___ for more formal examination, in the usual mode of Testamentary Conveyance the same several Legacies and the disposition of his said Estate, according to a writing then settled approval and delivered by the said decease to the said Notary for the purposes aforesaid.1683, p 2

• The history of the Eckart family begins in the Duchy of Württemberg, at a time when Europe was undergoing profound transformation. Martin Eckart (1697–1775) and his wife, Anna Katharina Jentz, formed the bedrock of this lineage in Endersbach.
It was in this home that Jonathan Eckart was born on May 5, 1734. The seventh child in a large family, young Jonathan grew up in an environment shaped by the artisanal traditions of his native region. However, while several of his siblings settled permanently in Württemberg—such as his brother Martin (1728–1805) or his sister Elisabetha, who married into the Würtele family—Jonathan turned his gaze toward the Atlantic horizon.
The Rise of a Merchant in Quebec
It was at the turn of the years 1769–1770, shortly after the British Conquest, that Jonathan Eckart undertook the great transatlantic crossing. He chose to settle in Quebec City, a vital hub of colonial trade. Possessing a natural aptitude for business, he established himself as a tobacconist and opened his shop on the prestigious Rue Saint-Jean.
In the 18th century, Rue Saint-Jean was the beating heart of commerce in Quebec City. It was divided into two sections: the area within the city walls (the Upper Town) and the suburb lying outside them.
Jonathan Eckart established his tobacco business in the Upper Town, the most prestigious district. At that time, being a “tobacconist” meant not merely selling tobacco, but often processing it as well—grating the leaf for use as snuff or pressing it into plugs. His shop was situated in close proximity to other influential merchants, and not far from the market and the military barracks—an ideal clientele for a tobacconist.
His business prospered rapidly, earning him a reputation as a respected figure within the merchant community. Jonathan played a role in founding the Quebec Benevolent Society, a mutual aid fund for merchants and citizens in cases of illness or old age.
Jonathan Eckart served as a mentor to his nephew Josias Würtele (the son of his sister Elisabetha), welcoming him into his home on Saint-Jean Street upon his arrival from Germany. It was thanks to Eckart’s network that the Würtele family went on to become one of the most influential families in Lower Canada.
The Succession: The Fate of the Two Jonathans
Despite his material success, Jonathan led a private personal life; he never married and left no direct descendants. As he approached his sixties, this lack of a natural heir became a central concern regarding the continuity of his fortune and his name in the New World.
Sensing his end was near, Jonathan Eckart carefully arranged his succession. He turned his attention to his family, and more specifically to his nephew—the son of his brother Martin. This nephew, born in Endersbach on June 29, 1770, bore the very same first name as his uncle: Jonathan.
On June 2, 1794, the uncle passed away in Quebec City at the age of 60.
Following the death of Jonathan (the uncle), his nephew Jonathan took over the premises. Records indicate that the family maintained a strong commercial and real estate presence in this sector well into the early decades of the 19th century.
Jonathan Eckart’s (the uncle’s) estate was the subject of precise notarial acts that bear witness to his great prosperity in Quebec City.
An *Inventory After Death* was drawn up on June 24, 1794, by notary P. L. Deschesneaux in Quebec City. This inventory reveals that his residence on Saint-Jean Street was one of the most comfortable in the city. A rarity for the era, his home was heated by five Carron stoves (from a renowned Scottish foundry), each fitted with six pipes to maximize heat—a sign of ostentatious wealth and a commitment to modern comfort.
In addition to his nephew Jonathan, who inherited the business, his will mentions several other family members bearing German surnames (Bauer, Würtele, Reinhart), underscoring his role as a pillar of Quebec’s German immigrant community.
This information reveals that the 1794 estate settlement was not merely a transfer of assets, but the transmission of genuine social capital that enabled his heirs and allies (such as the Hannas and the Würtele family) to gain access to the highest echelons of 19th-century Quebec society.
It is fascinating to note that the structure of the estate allowed for a transformation—from a solitary German immigrant (Jonathan the uncle) to a family fully integrated into Quebec’s British elite—in the span of just two generations.
A Perpetuated Legacy
The nephew fully embraced his role as successor. Not only did he take up the mantle of the family business, but he also firmly anchored the Eckart lineage within Quebec society through his marriage to Elisabeth Roberts. Unlike his uncle, he raised a large family that forged alliances with prominent local families.
Although Jonathan the Younger died prematurely in 1812 at the age of 42, his uncle’s transition led to establish the Eckart as a family of influential merchants, whose influence would extend over generations across Lower Canada.
Although they came from Württemberg (Lutherans), the Eckart of Quebec approached the Anglican or Presbyterian Church, as evidenced by burial sites and third-generation marriages.473

• Based upon birthplace of his nephew, Josias Wurtele, the family could have been from Strümpfelbach, Württemberg, Germany. The are two such towns, both near Stuttgart.3941

• Look for his will in the Parchemin project.3942