Clerk
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Le Clerc | The Cleric or Clerk
The term clerc has two different meanings:
The clerc, or cleric, was a man who had received the tonsure and aspired to the ecclesiastical state. The clerics or ecclesiastics, when put together, form a body called the clergy. Among them there are different degrees to distinguish them, from the simple tonsured clerc to the priest. These different degrees among the clerics make up what is called the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
In the Middle Ages, the term cleric was synonymous with “scholar”, or “literate”.
The clerc, or clerk, was also a common title given to several offices, commissions and functions relating to the administration of justice and the police. Most commonly, a clerk worked in a notary’s office, where he was also called a “greffier”. While the notary’s functions were to keep court registers, listen to witness testimonies, issue copies of depositions and investigations, the clerk’s main responsibilities were similar to that of secretary or court clerk.
In the parishes, it could also be a general term for someone who took care of certain aspects concerning the parish.
"Tonsure" (1980 drawing (artist unknown) from the book The Clip Art Book compiled by Gerard Quinn, Wikimedia Commons.
Young clerk ("Young Man Writing a Letter", circa 1658 oil painting by Gabriël Metsu, Wikimedia Commons).
Known persons who had the role of cleric: Martin Boutet, Louis Castonguay, Jean Girard, Jacques Guyon Fresné, Jean-François Laurent
Known persons who had the role of clerk: Edward Barnard, Pierre Bédard, Jean-Jacques Bollogne, Louis-Benjamin Delagrave, Lecompte Dupré, Pierre-Charles Gauvreau, Louis Hayet, Jean-Baptiste Lachaise, Jean Marchand, John-Samuel McLord, Jean Mornay, Guillaume Roger, Stanislas Roy dit Lauzier
Known persons who had the role of counselor-clerk: Chartier de Lotbinière, Joseph-Marie de Lacorne, Joseph de Lacolombière, Bertrand de Latour, Jean-Baptiste Gauthier, Elzéard Pallier, François-Elzéar Vallier
Sources:
Denis Diderot, Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Tome troisième (Paris, 1751-1765), digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (https://gallica.bnf.fr/conseils/content/lencyclop%C3%A9die-de-diderot-et-d%E2%80%99alembert), 523-524.
Claude Lemay, "Fonctions et métiers délaissés", l'Ancêtre, number 281, volume 34, winter 2008, and number 280, volume 34, winter 2007; electronic edition, Société généalogique de Québec (www.sgq.qc.ca/images/_SGQ/R_LAncetre_plus_libre/ENT-FONCTIONS-METIERS-DELAISSES.pdf).