Words of a Woman Held Captive — Grace Dollen

B. 1659 in Pemiquid, Maine¹
M. about 1680 in (probably) Maine¹
Husband: Denys Hegeman
D. 1 Jan 1734 in Flatbush, New York²

There are several unique things about Grace Dollen. She was someone who lived in three different American colonies in her lifetime. She bravely faced being torn away from her family and taken prisoner for several years. And her dramatic story survives in her own testimony.

Grace started out life in New England, born in the remote outpost of Pemaquid, Maine in 1659.¹ Her father was John Dollen, and it’s believed that her mother was Sarah Gridley. During some of this time, John Dollen lived on an island called Monhegan where he operated a tavern.³ When Grace was growing up, these were dangerous places; the frontier was vulnerable to attacks from Indians, who were often spurred on by the French. During King Philip’s War, Pemaquid was attacked and burned — Grace must have been in the middle of all this as a teenager.

In about 1680, Grace married a Dutchman from New York, Denys Hegeman,¹ who was in Pemaquid as a soldier. Between 1681 and 1688, they had four children. But the challenges of where they lived finally had a direct affect on Grace. On August 2, 1689, the Indians attacked Pemaquid and took around 50 settlers captive. Grace and her young daughter Jane were two of them; it’s likely that Jane was killed.⁴

The places where Grace lived during her life.

After Grace was returned from captivity many years later, she gave testimony describing her ordeal. This was sometimes done by authorities in New England to extract information about the behavior of those who threatened their colony:

“The day when Pemaquid was assaulted and taken by ye Indians, I was there taken prisoner and carried away by them; one Eken, a Canada Indian pretending to have a right in me, and to be my master. I apprehend that there were between two and three hundred Indians at that assault (and no French) who continued there for two days, and then carried myself and other captives (about fifty in number) unto the Fort at Penobscot.

“I continued there about three years, removing from place to place as the Indians occasionally went, and was very hardly treated by them both in respects of provisions and clothing, having nothing but a torn blanket to cover me during the winter seasons, and oftentimes cruelly beaten. After I had been with the Indians three years, they carried me to Quebec, and sold me for forty crowns unto the French there, who treated me well, gave me my liberty and I had the King’s allowance of provisions, as also a room provided for me, and liberty to work for myself.

“I continued there two years and a half, during which time of my abode there, several of the Eastern Indians came, viz., Bomaseen, Moxis his son, and Madockawondo’s son and diverse others, and brought English prisoners and scalps, and received as the French told me for each scalp (being paid by the intendent) twenty French crowns, according to a declaration which the governor there had emitted for their encouragement, and the captives they sold for as much as they could agree with the purchasers.

“The Indians also had a reward allowed them for bringing intelligence from time to time. Soon after the submission made by the Indians at Pemaquid in 1693, Bomaseen came to Quebec and brought a paper containing the substance of the articles of submission which he showed unto me, and told me that the governor of Canada said to him, that he should not have made peace with the English and he seemed to be much displeased for their having so done, however said they might carry it friendly to the English, till they should meet with a convenient opportunity to do mischief.”⁴

Grace’s husband Denys made an effort to get her released in 1691 and in the process, was captured himself. In this way, they were reunited for a time in Quebec, and on March 4, 1693, Grace gave birth to a son they named Joseph.⁵ Denys was given his freedom before Grace; she left Quebec on September 4, 1694, spent the winter in Port Royal, Acadia, then made her way to Boston, arriving in May of 1695.⁶ She then was reunited with her husband and children at his home in Flatbush, New York.

Baptism of Joseph Hegeman in the New France Catholic parish registers.

Remarkably, for someone who had gone through so much, Grace was able to return to a normal life. She and Denys had another child in 1699,² but it appears that Denys died in 1702 before their last child was born.⁶ Now a widow, on April 13, 1703, Grace filed a petition asking for money as a reward for the years of service of her late husband, and she was awarded £50.⁵ By this time she had become a part of the Dutch community and took on the name “Lucretia.”

Grace probably never went back to her place of birth. She died January 19, 1734 in Flatbush at the age of 75.² Her lines of descent lived in New York, New Jersey, and later spread across the country — the legacy of a woman who had lived in so many places.

Children:
1. Dollens Hegeman — B. about 1681, Pemaquid, Maine;⁷ D. before 20 May 1760, (probably) Middlesex, New Jersey;⁸ M. Geertruy ______, 1703, Middlesex County, New Jersey⁷

2. Adrian Hegeman — B. about 1683, Pemaquid, Maine;⁷ D. Aug 1762, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁷ M. (1) Elizabeth Van Wyck, 15 Dec 1706, Flatbush, New York;⁷ (2) Sarah ______, before 1719⁹

3. Catharina Hegeman — B. about 1688, Pemequid, Maine;⁷ M. (1) Hendrick Vonck (1681-?), 12 May 1706, Flatbush, New York;⁷ M. (2) Anke Lefferts Haughwot, 30 July 1735⁷

4. Jane Hegeman — B. about 1687, Pemaquid, Maine;⁴ D. about 1689, (probably) Maine⁴

5. Joseph Hegeman — B. 4 Mar 1693, Quebec City, New France;⁹ D. 31 Mar 1748, Flatbush, New York;¹⁰ M. Alida Andriesz (1699-?), 4 Jun 1714, Flatbush, New York¹¹

6. James Hegeman — B. 18 Jan 1699, Jamaica, New York;² D. 25 Sep 1736, Hillsborough, New Jersey;² M. Jannetje Van Vechten (1701-1778), 31 May 1721²

7. Denys Hegeman — B. before 29 Jun 1703, (probably) Jamaica, New York;¹¹ D. after 1762¹²

Sources:
1    WikiTree listing of Grace Lucretia (Dollen) Hageman  
2    Transcript of the bible of James and Jannetje Hegeman  
3    Genealogy Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, Vol. 2, Charles Thornton Libby, 1929
4    Ten years at Pemaquid: sketches of its history and its ruins, John Henry Cartland, 1899, pp. 141-150
5    Baptismal record of Joseph Hegeman, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
6    Henry Cobb Stryker and Amanda Rosetta Walker Their Ancestors and Descendants, Daisy Belle Wikberg, 1971, p. 93
7    “The Tribulations of Denys Hegeman,” Richard W. Cook, Genealogies of New Jersey Families: A-Z, pre-American notes on New Netherland families, 1996
8    Probate record of Dolleus Hegeman, Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. 23, Vol. III of Calendar of Wills
9    Probate record of Adrian Hegeman, Collections of the NY Historical Society, Vol. 30, 1897, p. 171
10  Find-a-Grave listing of Joseph Hegeman
11  The Hegeman Family of New Netherland, John Blythe Dodson  
12  Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, N.Y., Teunis G. Bergen, p. 136

Wheel Maker in Early Massachusetts — Richard Kimball

B. 1595 in Rattlesden, England¹
M. (1) before 1615 in England¹
Wife: Ursula Scott
M. (2) 23 Oct 1661, (probably) Essex County, Massachusetts¹
Wife: Margaret Cole
D. 22 Jun 1675 in Ipswich, Massachusetts¹

When Richard Kimball arrived in the Massachusetts colony, he brought a large family and a valuable skill: the ability to construct wooden wheels for carts. This would be needed by many of his fellow settlers as they built communities out of raw wilderness.

Richard was born in Rattlesden, England in 1595.¹ It’s likely that his parents were Richard and Elizabeth Kimball, but there is also speculation that they were Henry Kimball and Joann Eisely. Whoever his parents were, many in the Kimball Family around Rattlesden were craftsmen such as wheelwrights, and this is the trade that Richard chose to follow.¹

Richard married Ursula Scott before 1615, probably in Rattlesden.¹ Between 1615 and 1639, they had at least eleven children; there may have been additional children who died young. All but the youngest three children were born in England.

Rattlesden was located in Suffolk, England. This was a region known as East Anglia, which supplied many Puritans to Massachusetts. In April 1634, Richard and his family joined the migration by boarding the ship Elizabeth, which arrived in Boston a couple of months later.¹ Also aboard the ship were his brother Henry Kimball, his brother-in-law, Thomas Scott and his mother-in-law, Martha Scott.²

Richard and his family settled in Watertown, Massachusetts.¹ His reputation as someone who knew how to make wheels must have spread to other towns, because a couple of years later, the leaders of Ipswich asked him to settle there. They needed a wheelwright, and they offered him a town lot with a house, plus 40 acres of land for a farm,² so Richard moved his family to Ipswich and set up his shop. In order to have the materials to work with, the town gave him permission to cut down 20 white oak trees for that purpose.² One of Richard’s sons, John, also became a wheelwright.²

How wooden wheels for carts were made.

Richard’s name appeared in many town records in Ipswich, some involving disputes with his neighbors. It was also noted that in 1647, he was paid £2 for killing some foxes;² New England towns often rewarded men for shooting animals who were predators on the community.

Wife Ursula died, and on October 23, 1661, Richard took a second wife, Margaret Cole, who was the widow of a man named Henry Dow.¹ Richard passed away on June 22, 1675 in Ipswich.¹ He left a detailed will mentioning his living children, some of his grandchildren, and his second wife’s three living children.² Margaret died on March 11th of the following year.¹

As a 17th century immigrant to America, Richard had many noteworthy descendants, including women’s right advocate Lucretia Mott, first lady Edith Roosevelt, Rowland H. Macy (founder of Macy’s), John Sargent Pillsbury (founder of Pillsbury Company), William Robbins Barnes (co-founder of Barnes & Noble), James Taylor, O. Henry, and actors William H. Macy, Mickey Rourke, Kristen Wiig, Ann B. Davis, John Lithgow, Elisabeth Shue, Dan Aykroyd, and Amy Poehler.³

Children (all by Ursula Scott):
1. Henry Kimball — B. before 12 Aug 1615, Rattlesden, England;⁴ D. before 17 May 1676, Wenham, Massachusetts;⁵ M. (1) Mary Riddlesdale (1622-1672), 1640, Wenham, Massachusetts;¹ (2) Elizabeth Black¹

2. Abigail Kimball — B. before 5 Nov 1617, Rattlesden, England;⁶ D. 17 Jun 1658, Salisbury, Massachusetts;⁷ M. John Severance (1615-1682), about 1637, New England⁸

3. Elizabeth Kimball — B. about 1619, Rattlesden, England;¹ D. after 5 Mar 1675¹

4. Richard Kimball — B. about 1623, Rattlesden, England;¹ D. 26 May 1676, Wenham, England;⁹ M. (1) Mary _____ (?-1672);¹ (2) Mary Morris, after 2 Sep 1672¹

5. Mary Kimball — B. about 1625, Rattlesden, England;¹ D. 12 Jul 1686, Ipswich, Massachusetts;¹⁰ M. Robert Dutch¹

6. Martha Kimball — B. about 1629, Rattlesden, England;¹ M. Joseph Fowler (1622-1676)¹

7. John Kimball — B. about 1631, Rattlesden, England;¹ D. 6 May 1698, Ipswich, Massachusetts;¹ M. Mary Bradstreet (1633-1690)¹

8. Thomas Kimball — B. about 1633, Rattlesden, England;¹ D. 2 May 1676, Bradford, Massachusetts;¹ M. Mary Smith (~1635-1688)¹

9. Caleb Kimball — B. about 1635, Massachusetts;¹ D. before 23 Sep 1682, (probably) Ipswich, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Anna Hazeltine (1640-1688), 7 Nov 1660, Ipswich, Massachusetts¹

10. Benjamin Kimball — B. about 1637, Massachusetts;¹ D. 16 Jun 1696, Bradford, Massachusetts;¹² M. Mercy Hazeltine (?-1707), 16 Apr 1661, Salisbury, Massachusetts¹

11. Sarah Kimball — B. about 1639, Watertown, Massachusetts;¹ D. 12 Jun 1690, Suffield, Connecticut;² M. Edward Allen, 24 Nov 1658, Ipswich, Massachusetts²

Sources:
1    The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
2    History of the Kimball Family in America From 1634 to 1897, Leonard Allison Morrison and Stephen Paschall Sharples, 1897
3    FamousKin.com listing of Richard Kimball
4    Baptismal record of Henry Kemball, Notes on the History of the Church and Parish of Rattlesden, 1900
5    Probate inventory of Henry Kimball, Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Ancestry.com
6    WikiTree listing of Abigail (Kimball) Severans
7    Death record of Abigail Severans, Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
8    Marriage record of John Severance and Abigail Kimball, U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Ancestry.com
9    Death record of Richard Kimball, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
10  Death record of Mary Dutch, Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, Vol. 2, 1910
11  Probate record of Caleb Kimball, Essex County, Massachusetts Probate File Papers, 1638-1674, AmericanAncestors.org
12  Find-a-Grave listing of Benjamin Kimball 

Grandfather’s Gift Buys Homestead — Abraham Dumont

B. April 25, 1706 in Somerset County, New Jersey¹
M. August 10, 1733 in Somerset County, New Jersey²
Wife: Mattie Bergen
D. August 7, 1787 in Somerset County, New Jersey¹

Abraham Dumont was given money by his grandfather at age 21, and he turned it into a property that remained in the family for generations to come. Abraham was born on April 25, 1706 in Somerset County, New Jersey to Peter Dumont and Femmetje Janse Van Middleswart.¹ He had two older brothers, one of whom died as an infant, but Abraham’s mother died when he was a small infant.¹ His father remarried twice,¹ and he had nine younger half-siblings.

On August 10, 1733, Abraham married Mattie Bergen (also spelled as Meetje),² who was the daughter of Hans Jorise Bergen and Sitje Van Wycklen. Abraham and Mattie had four children born between 1734 and 1747.

Abraham and his family lived on a farm of about 500 acres directly south of Somerville, New Jersey, on the road toward Harlingen.¹ He had acquired the property using money that was given or bequeathed to him by his grandfather, Jan Teunise Van Middleswart.³ Abraham and his brother John each received money from their grandfather when they came of age. Abraham’s farm including the house he built became the family homestead, which survived among his descendants at least until 1912.¹

Typical farm in colonial New Jersey.

Mattie passed away on February 13, 1768,¹ and Abraham died on August 7, 1787;¹ both were buried in the Dumont Burying Ground in Hillsborough. The inventory for Abraham's will showed that his personal property was valued at over £462, not including his land.¹ He owned at least one slave, which he left to his son Peter.

Children:
1. Peter Abraham Dumont – B. 11 Jul 1734, Hillsborough, New Jersey;¹ D. 7 Jul 1818, Hillsborough, New Jersey;¹ M. (1) Abigail Tunnison (?-1761), 6 Dec 1757;¹ (2) Sarah Hegeman (1744-1820), 23 Feb 1763, Somerset County, New Jersey¹

2. Sitie Dumont – B. before 7 May 1737, New Utrecht, New York;² M. Hendrick Probasco (1730-1801)¹

3. John Dumont – B. 10 Jan 1740;¹ D. 3 May 1758¹

4. Phebe Dumont – B. before 13 Sep 1747, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁴ M. (1) Frederick Ditmars (1743-?);¹ (2) Thomas Drew (1740-?), 24 Aug 1781, Somerset County, New Jersey¹

Sources:
1 “Wallerand Dumont and his Somerset County Descendants,” John B. Dumont, Somerset County Quarterly, Volume 1, 1912
2 "The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt,” Harry Macy Jr., New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 128, no. 2, 1997, p. 81
3 “An Interesting Document of 1727,” Somerset County Quarterly, Volume 7, 1918
4 Baptismal record of Femmetie De Mon, New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980, FamilySearch.org 

Speaking Up for a Servant Woman — Elinor _______

B. about 1620 in England¹
M. about 1640¹
Husband: Henry Glover
D. 1 Mar 1698 in New Haven, Connecticut²

In Puritan New England, sex outside of marriage was strictly forbidden, and those found guilty of such an act could be brutally punished. Elinor Glover came to the defense of an unmarried woman in her community to escape a public whipping.

Elinor was born in about 1620 somewhere in England;¹ nothing is known of her exact origins. Even her first name is not proven. On various records she is called Elinor, Helena, Ellin and Ellen. There has been heavy speculation about her maiden name, and no definitive proof exists for any of her supposed relations. Elinor first turned up in records, along with her husband Henry Glover, at the baptism of their daughter Mary in June 1641 in New Haven colony.³ Elinor and Henry had at least six more children, with the youngest born in 1655.⁴

New Haven colony in the 17th century.

Elinor’s husband held several offices in the community,⁵ and both of them were involved in probate matters of relatives,⁶ but there was one time that Elinor was mentioned in her own right in town records. This was concerning a sensational court case of a young woman named Mary Hitchcock, a servant who willfully had sex with another servant named Richard Matticks.⁷ The affair took place in 1660 and the couple admitted that they slept together several times. Mary Hitchcock was found guilty of having sex outside of marriage, and she was sentenced to be publicly whipped.

Since Mary said she might be pregnant, her punishment was delayed for several months. Then on September 2, 1662, a hearing was held to decide if she should be given a lesser punishment. Elinor was one of the women who came forward to testify on her behalf, partly because she was an acquaintance of Mary’s mother. Elinor told the court that although Mary had done something bad, she felt there was “something of repentance begun in her” and that the woman should be fined and not whipped.⁷ The court took the suggestion of Elinor and the other women who testified, reducing Mary’s punishment to a fine of £4.

Other than this brief appearance of Elinor in the New Haven town records, little else is known about her life. Her husband Henry died on September 2, 1689, and Elinor passed away on March 1, 1698.² She left no formal will, but had written something “which conveyed her testamentary wishes” that her children used to divide up her estate, valued at £123.⁶

Probate document of "Helena" Glover in place of having a written will.

The list of Elinor’s notable descendants is quite impressive; they include Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, Ernest Hemingway, Norman Rockwell, William Tecumseh Sherman, Declaration of Independence signer Lyman Hall, and Clint Eastwood.⁸

Children:
1. Mary Glover — B. about Jun 1641, New Haven, Connecticut³

2. Mercy Glover — B. about Aug 1643, New Haven, Connecticut;⁹ D. after 15 Feb 1686, (probably) New Haven, Connecticut;¹⁰ M. Moses Manfield (~1640-1703), 5 May 1664, New Haven, Connecticut¹¹

3. Hannah Glover — B. 23 May 1646, New Haven, Connecticut;¹² D. 7 Jun 1727, Westfield, Massachusetts;¹² M. David Ashley (1642-1718), 24 Nov 1663, New Haven, Connecticut¹³

4. John Glover — B. Oct 1648, New Haven, Connecticut;¹⁴ D. 29 Jan 1680, New Haven, Connecticut;¹⁵ M. Joanna Daniel (1652-1702), 7 Dec 1671, New Haven, Connecticut¹⁶

5. Abigail Glover – B. 29 Apr 1651, New Haven, Connecticut;¹⁷ D. 20 Aug 1651, New Haven, Connecticut¹⁸

6. Abigail Glover – B. 31 Jul 1652, New Haven, Connecticut;¹⁹ D. about 1720, Fairfield, Connecticut;²⁰ M. Daniel Burr (1642-1695), 11 Dec 1678, New Haven, Connecticut²¹

7. Sarah Glover – B. about Dec 1655, New Haven, Connecticut;⁴ D. 22 Nov 1730, East Haven, Connecticut;²² M. John Ball (1649-~1731), 11 Dec 1678, New Haven, Connecticut²³

Sources:
1    Elinor’s estimated birth date and marriage date are based on birth of oldest child Mary.
2    The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
3    Birth record of Mary Glover, New Haven, CT: Families of Ancient New Haven, AmericanAncestors.org
4    Birth record of Sarah Glover, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch.org 
5    A Genealogical Dictionary of the First settlers of New England: D-J, James Savage, 1860, p. 261
6    New Haven Probate Records, Vol. 1-2, 1647-1703, FamilySearch.org 
7    New Haven Town Records, 1649-1684, Volume 2, 1919
8    FamousKin.com listing of Henry Glover
9    Birth record of Mercy Glover, Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. III, Donald L. Jacobus, 1931
10  Find-a-Grave listing of Jonathan Mansfield (Mercy’s youngest known child) 
11  Marriage record of Moses Mansfield and Mercy Glover, Connecticut Vital Records, Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org  
12  Find-a-Grave listing of Hannah (Glover) Ashley 
13  Marriage record of David Ashley and Hannah Glover, Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, FamilySearch.org  
14  Christening record of John Glover, Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. III, Donald L. Jacobus, 1931
15  Death record of John Glover, Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934, FamilySearch.org
16  Marriage record of John Glover and Joanna Daniel, C. V. R., P. to 1850 
17  Birth record of Abigail Glover (older), C. B. & C. 
18  Death record of Abigail Glover (older), C. D. & B. 
19  Birth record of Abigail Glover (younger), C. B. & C. 
20  Death record of Abigail Glover (younger), Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. III, Donald L. Jacobus, 1931
21  Marriage record of Daniel Burr and Abigail Glover, C. V. R., P. to 1850 
22  Death record of Sarah Ball, Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. I, Donald L. Jacobus, 1929
23  Marriage record of John Ball and Sarah Glover, Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org 

A Seigneur in Early Quebec — Guillaume Fournier

B. about 1620 in Coulmer-Argentan, Orne, Normandie, France¹
M. 20 Nov 1651 in Quebec City, New France²
Wife: Marie-Françoise Hébert
D. 24 Oct 1699 in Montmagny, New France³

Guillaume Fournier gained status by marrying into Quebec’s oldest family, and became of patriarch of a significant family of his own. He was born about 1620 in Coulmer-Argentan, France, which was in Normandie.¹ His parents were Gilles Fournier and Noelle Gagnon, but nothing else is known of his early years.

The early settlers' plaque on the Louis Hébert Monument in Quebec City lists Guillaume as having arrived in 1634, but there is no evidence that he was there before 1651. On November 20th of that year, he married Marie-Françoise Hébert,² the 13-year-old daughter of Hélene Desportes and Guillaume Hébert. Two years later, they had their first child, a boy who died as an infant.^4,5 They would have 14 more children, the youngest being born in 1680.⁶

Marriage record of Guillaume Fournier and Marie-Françoise Hébert

Through his marriage, Guillaume became a seigneur, or feudal lord.⁷ Land in New France belonged to the king and it was divided into seigneuries. Guillaume was granted a seigneury, and he presided over the habitants who lived on subdivisions of the land. The habitants were required to pay Guillaume a percentage of what they produced from the land, while Guillaume was required to build a gristmill for the habitants' grain.

In 1668, Guillaume acquired his first seigneury through litigation against his wife’s family.^7,8 The land, which was located in Sault-au-Matelot, had been granted to Louis Hébert as the very first seigneury in New France. Françoise’s aunt Guillemette Hébert held the seigneury along with her husband, and since Guillaume's wife was also an heir of Louis Hébert, he felt he was entitled to a portion of it as well. The case was ruled in Guillaume's favor and he became co-seigneur. Later, the wife of Françoise’s late brother Joseph, Charlotte de Poitiers, claimed some of the land was rightfully hers, and Guillaume had to concede a good portion of his seigneury.⁸

By the early 1670s, Guillaume’s seigneury was in what was becoming the heart of Quebec City. The new administrative leader sent over from France, Jean Talon, acquired the entire seigneury, and Guillaume received another seigneury in a different location away from Quebec City.⁸ The grant was given on November 3, 1672, described as “ thirty acres on the river, two leagues in depth in the neighborhood of L'Islet, on the south shore of the St Lawrence.”⁸ This would be incorporated as the town of Montmagny in 1678.

Guillaume’s house on his new seigneury was described as being “built of squared beams,” and was 22 feet by 18 feet, single story plus an attic.⁷ It had two windows and a door on the north side, and one window on the south side. Mass was held in Guillaume’s house until they could build a church, and on December 21, 1685, Guillaume gave 3 or 4 acres of deforested land for it. This would become the St-Thomas-de-la-Pointe-à-la-Caille parish, and Guillaume is given credit as being its founder.⁹

St-Thomas church as it looked during the 18th century.

Guillaume died at Montmagny on October 24, 1699,³ and was buried in Saint Odilon de Montmagny Cemetery. His wife Françoise survived him by many years, passing away on March 16, 1716.¹⁰ They were the distant ancestors of Celine Dion, Jack Kerouac, Jim Carrey, Ricky Gervais, Chloë Sevigny, and Bridget Fonda.¹¹

Children:
1. Gilles Fournier — B. 26 Nov 1653, Quebec City, New France;⁴ D. 31 Dec 1653, Quebec City, New France⁵

2. Marie-Anne Fournier — B. 5 May 1655, Quebec City, New France;¹² D. 13 Nov 1717, Saint-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France;¹³ M. Pierre Blanchet (1646-1709), 17 Feb 1670, Quebec City, New France¹⁴

3. Agathe Fournier — B. 9 Apr 1657, Quebec City, New France;¹⁵ D. 8 Jun 1743, Lauzon, New France;¹⁶ M. Louis Gesseron (1642-1712), 28 Sep 1671, Quebec City, New France¹⁷

4. Jacquette Fournier — B. 9 Apr 1659, Quebec City, New France;¹⁸ D. 22 Jan 1736, Montmagny, New France;¹⁹ M. Jean Proulx (1646-1703), 5 Jun 1673, Quebec City, New France²⁰

5. Joseph Fournier — B. 12 Jul 1661, Quebec City, New France;²¹ D. 9 Dec 1741, Montmagny, New France;²² M. Barbe Girard (1667-1737), 25 Jun 1684, Quebec City, New France²³

6. Marie-Madeleine Fournier – B. 17 Jul 1663, Quebec City, New France;²⁴ D. 8 Oct 1664, Quebec City, New France²⁵

7. Jean Fournier — B. 18 Mar 1665, Quebec City, New France;²⁶ D. 17 Sep 1735, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, New France;²⁷ M. Marie-Jeanne Roy (1664-1751), 2 Jun 1686, Cap-St-Ignace, New France²⁸

8. Simon Fournier — B. 20 Apr 1667, Quebec City, New France;²⁹ D. 8 Dec 1749, Saint-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France;³⁰ M. Anne-Catherine Rousseau (1668-1749), 12 Nov 1691, St-Pierre-Ile ‘d Orleans, New France³¹

9. Pierre Fournier— B. 23 Apr 1669, Quebec City, New France;³² D. 22 Aug 1750, Montmagny, New France;³³ M. Marie Isabelle (1675-1754), 24 Nov 1695, Montmagny, New France³⁴

10. Françoise Fournier— B. 30 Apr 1671, Quebec City, New France;³⁵ D. 15 Jul 1734, Montmagny, New France;³⁶ M. Jacques Boulay (1664-1738), 21 Apr 1686, Saint-Thomas, New France³⁷

11. Louis Fournier — B. 20 Apr 1673, Quebec City, New France;³⁸ D. 17 Jun 1721, Montmagny, New France;³⁹ M. Marie-Jeanne Caron (1678-1724), 19 Nov 1696, Cap-St-Ignace, New France⁴⁰

12. Madeleine Fournier — B. 3 Aug 1675, Quebec City, New France;⁴¹ M. Pierre Laporte (~1675-1757), 2 May 1707, St-François-de-Sales, New France⁴²

13. Charles Fournier — B. 20 Jun 1677, Quebec City, New France;⁴³ D. 9 Sep 1739, Montmagny, New France;⁴⁴ M. Elisabeth-Agnes Bouchard (1677-1758), 13 Jul 1699, Cap-St-Ignace, New France⁴⁵

14. Baby Fournier — B. 2 Aug 1679, Montmagny, New France;⁴⁶ D. 2 Aug 1679, Montmagny, New France⁴⁶

15. Jacques Fournier — B. 17 Aug 1680, Montmagny, New France;⁶ D. 17 Apr 1681, Montmagny, New France⁴⁷

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Guillaume Fournier 
2    Marriage record of Guillaume Fournier and Marie-Françoise Hébert, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Guillaume Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
4    Baptismal record of Gilles Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
5    Burial record of Gilles Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of Jacques Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
7    Our French-Canadian Ancestors, V. 27, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
8    L’Association des Fournier d’Amerique: Ancestors (detailed history)  
9    Nos Racine: l’histoire vivante des Québécois, No. 16, 1996, pp. 55-56
10  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Hébert, Q.C.P.R.
11  FamousKin.com listing of Guillaume Fournier  
12  Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of Marie-Anne Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Pierre Blanchet and Marie-Anne Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Agathe Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Agathe Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Louis Gesseron and Agathe Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
18  Baptismal record of Jacquette Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
19  Burial record of Jacquette Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Jean Proulx and Jacquette Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
21  Baptismal record of Joseph Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Joseph Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Joseph Fournier and Barbe Girard, Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
25  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
26  Baptismal record of Jean Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
27  Burial record of Jean Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Jean Fournier and Marie-Jeanne Roy, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of Simon Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
30  Burial record of Simon Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
31  Marriage record of Simon Fournier and Anne-Catherine Rousseau, Q.C.P.R.
32  Baptismal record of Pierre Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
33  Burial record of Pierre Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
34  Marriage record of Pierre Fournier and Marie Isabelle, Q.C.P.R.
35  Baptismal record of Françoise Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
36  Burial record of Françoise Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
37  Marriage record of Jacques Boulay and Françoise Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
38  Baptismal record of Louis Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
39  Burial record of Louis Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
40  Marriage record of Louis Fournier and Marie-Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
41  Baptismal record of Madeleine Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
42  Marriage record of Pierre Laporte and Madeleine Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
43  Baptismal record of Charles Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
44  Burial record of Charles Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
45  Marriage record of Charles Fournier and Elisabeth-Agnes Bouchard, Q.C.P.R.
46  Burial record of Baby Fournier, Q.C.P.R.
47  Burial record of Jacques Fournier, Q.C.P.R.

A Soldier and a Weaver – Charles Pimparé dit Tourangeau

B. 6 Apr 1696 in Tours, France¹
M. 18 Jul 1724 in Montreal, New France²
Wife: Marie-Louise Bourg
D. 16 May 1777 in Montreal, New France³

During the years following the initial phase of the French colony in Canada, migration from France slowed to a trickle. No one was actively recruiting new people to settle there, so most of the fresh inhabitants were from a single source: the French military. And this was the case with Charles Pimparé dit Tourganeau, who came to America in the early 18th century.

Charles was born in Tours, France on April 6, 1696 to Pierre Pimparé and Anne Chaquenau.¹ He was likely their first child, although Pierre had been married before and may have had other children. The Pimparé family lived in the St-Symphorien district, now a part of the larger city of Tours. It’s easy to imagine that Charles had an apprenticeship to learn the trade of weaving, which he took up later in life.⁴ When Charles came of age, he became a soldier, and found himself being shipped to Canada. This would change the course of his life.

The first known record of Charles was in Montreal on July 18, 1724, when he married Marie-Louise Bourg, a native of Charlesbourg, New France.² It would appear that Marie-Louise was pregnant when they married because their first child was born a couple of months later.⁵ They went on to have a total of 15 children, six of whom died young.

At the time of his marriage, Charles was serving in the company of Constant le Marchand de Lignery.¹ Lignery was involved in several campaigns of the Fox Wars as an effort to keep French control of fur trading in the Great Lakes area. It isn’t known how much Charles was present on these campaigns, but it’s almost certain that he saw some of the action. Lignery’s expeditions against the Meskwaki tribe (also called the Foxes) took place in the years 1716, 1722 and 1728. The fighting involved attacks on fortified native villages in present-day Wisconsin.⁶

At some point, Charles left the service and settled in Laval on Île Jésus,⁷ just north of Montreal. Along with farming, he also became a weaver during this time.⁴ Charles seems to have kept a low profile, only appearing in records as a witness in a couple of court cases. In October 1729, he testified at the trial of a man accused of killing three pigs belonging to another man.⁸ And in September 1745, he again testified in a trial of a man accused of “having made and distributed false navy orders.”⁴

October 1729 testimony showing Charles' signature.

Charles lived a long life in his adopted home, and he passed away in Montreal on May 16, 1777 at the age of 81.³ His wife Marie-Louise died two years later on October 6, 1779.⁹ There is a street today in Laval, Quebec called Rue Charles Pimpare. This may have been the area where he lived. 

Children:
1. Marie-Louise Pimparé — B. 15 Sep 1724, New France;⁵ D. 10 Jan 1735, (probably) Île Jesus, New France¹⁰

2. Marie-Thérèse Pimparé — B. 17 Nov 1725, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;¹¹ M. Louis Plichon (1719-?), 6 Nov 1747, Montreal, New France¹²

3. Charles Pimparé — B. 18 May 1727, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;¹³ D. 16 Aug 1728 (probably) Île Jesus, New France¹⁴

4. Charles Pimparé — B. 17 Oct 1728, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;¹⁵ D. 22 Apr 1730 (probably) Île Jesus, New France¹⁶

5. Jean-Baptiste Pimparé — B. 3 Feb 1731, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;¹⁷ D. 1 Apr 1808, Montreal Quebec;¹⁸ M. Jeanne Langevin dit Lacroix (1734-?), 7 Jan 1755, Montreal, New France¹⁹

6. Joseph-Amable Pimparé — B. 25 Oct 1732, Île Jesus, New France;²⁰ D. 19 May 1808, St-Benoit, Quebec;²¹ M. Marie-Madeleine Langevin dit Lacroix (1735-?), 25 Nov 1754, Montreal, New France²²

7. Jean-Augustin Pimparé — B. 5 Jul 1734, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;²³ M. Marie-Charlotte Goulet, 24 Sep 1769, Lachenaie, Quebec²⁴

8. Marie-Louise Pimparé — B. 15 Jul 1735, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;²⁵ M. Denis-Joseph Mailly dit Couture (~1729-?), 4 Nov 1755, Montreal, New France²⁶

9. Louis Pimparé — B. 18 Aug 1737, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;²⁷ D. 8 Sep 1808, St-Martin, Quebec;²⁸ M. (1) Marie-Thomas Boulard, 27 Aug 1764, Montreal, Quebec;²⁹ (2) Marie-Louise Lavergne, 15 Oct 1781, Montreal, Quebec³⁰

10. Marie-Françoise Pimparé — B. 24 May 1739, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;³¹ M. Basile Marois (1698-?), 4 Oct 1756, Fort Detroit, New France³²

11. Baby Pimparé — B. 4 Oct 1740, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;³³ D. 4 Oct 1740, (probably) Île Jesus, New France³³

12. Marie-Anne Pimparé — B. 9 Dec 1741, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;³⁴ M. Pierre Jacome, 21 Feb 1757, Montreal, Quebec³⁵

13. Charles Pimparé —B. 8 May 1744, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;³⁶ D. 25 May 1744, (probably) Île Jesus, New France³⁷

14. Marie-Françoise Pimparé — B. 13 Apr 1746, (probably) Île Jesus, New France;³⁸ D. 29 Apr 1746, (probably) Île Jesus, New France³⁹

15. Marie-Charlotte Pimparé — B. 17 Nov 1747, (probably) Île Jesus, New France⁴⁰

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Charles Pimparé Tourangeau 
2    Marriage record of Charles Pimparé and Marie-Louise Bourg, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Charles Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
4    Trial agains Michel Senneville de Bussy, 5 Sep 1745, BAnQ 
5    Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Pimparé (older), Q.C.P.R.
6    Constant le Marchand de Lignery (Wikipedia article)
7    Baptismal record of Joseph-Amable Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
8    Trial between Charles Dazé and Athanase Gravel, 9 Oct 1729, BAnQ
9    Burial record of Marie-Louise Bourg, Q.C.P.R.
10  Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Marie-Therese Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of Louis Plichon and Marie-Therese Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Charles Pimparé (older), Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Charles Pimparé (older), Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Charles Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Charles Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
17  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
19  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Pimparé and Jeanne Langevin dit Lacroix, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Joseph-Amable Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Joseph-Amable Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Joseph-Amable Pimparé and Marie-Madeleine Langevin dit Lacroix, Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Jean-Augustin Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
24  Marriage record of Jean-Augustin Pimparé and Marie-Charlotte Goulet, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Denis-Joseph Mailly dit Couture and Marie-Louise Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Louis Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Louis Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Louis Pimparé and Marie-Thomas Boulard, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Louis Pimparé and Marie-Louise Lavergne, Q.C.P.R.
31  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Pimparé (older), Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Basile Marois and Marie-Françoise Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
33  Burial record of Baby Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
34  Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
35  Marriage record of Pierre Jacome and Marie-Anne Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.
36  Baptismal record of Charles Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
37  Burial record of Charles Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
38  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
39  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Pimparé (younger), Q.C.P.R.
40  Baptismal record of Marie-Charlotte Pimparé, Q.C.P.R.

Scotsman Makes a Home in New Hampshire — John Bell

B. about 1696 in Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland^1,2
M. before about 1721 in (probably0 Londonderry, Ireland³
Wife: Katherine __________
D. 2 Feb 1763 in Bedford, New Hampshire¹

During the early 18th century, a migration took place which brought a hardy breed of people to the English colonies in America — the Scots-Irish. Primarily they came to the middle-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania and Virginia, but some landed in New England as well. This was the course taken by John Bell, who was one of the earliest settlers of Bedford, New Hampshire

John was born in about 1696 in Coleraine, Ireland,^1,2 a town near the northern coast. It had been populated by Scottish settlers in the early 17th century, among whom were John’s ancestors. As John came of age, there was turmoil among the Catholics and Protestants, and this drove many people to leave. By 1721, John married a woman named Katherine, whose last name is unknown.³ They had at least four children, born between the years 1722 and 1732.

Map showing Coleraine, Ireland, where John was born.

In about 1736, John boarded a ship bound for America.³ His wife and children were left behind, and they would join him three years later. John likely landed at Boston, and made his way to New Hampshire within a year or two. The place he settled was still raw wilderness, as many of his former countrymen were building cabins on unsettled land. John’s new home became part of the town of Bedford.³ After the rest of his family came over from Ireland, they lived in a place alongside an orchard that likely produced crops for their needs.³ They later moved to another location before settling in an area that would be called Bell Hill.³ Sadly, Katherine passed away on January 4, 1746, and she was buried in the town cemetery, one of its earliest graves.⁴

Bedford’s Scots-Irish immigrants were mostly Presbyterians. After the town was incorporated, the brethren needed to decide where to build their church, and this demonstrates how the community solved such issues. On January 24, 1750, a committee of men gathered at the barn of one congregant and voted that the church should be constructed at Bell Hill.³ This meant that either John or his neighbor, John McLaughlin, had to give up 2 acres of land. It seemed neither wanted to do it, so some neutral men were appointed to decide which land was a better location. They chose McLaughlin’s property, but then dragged their feet on following through with it. So the committee met again in 1755, this time in John’s barn, coming to the conclusion to build in another part of town.³

John lived only another few years, and he died in Bedford on February 2, 1763.¹ He was buried next to Katherine, and a double tombstone was erected over their graves. The inscription reads in part, “Our bodys [sic] turned are to dust, our dust it shall arise.” John’s legacy lives on with a street in present-day Bedford called Bell Hill Road. 

The grave of John and Katherine Bell.

Children:
1. Mary Bell – B. about 1721, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland;³ D. 7 Jan 1813, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁵ M. Gawn Riddle (~1700-1779), about 1745³

2. Susanna Bell – B. about 1722, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland²

3. Joseph Bell – B. about 1723, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland²

4. John Bell — B. about 1732, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland;³ D. April 1804, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁶ M. (1) Jane Carr;³ (2) Sarah Bell (?-1786), about 1755, New Hampshire³

Sources:
1    Gravestone of John Bell, Find-a-Grave.com  
2    The Bells in U.S.A. and Allied Families, 1650-1977, Getha Gina Bell, 1977, p. 377
3    The History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737, Rumford Printing Company, 1903, p.869
4    Find-a-Grave listing of Katherine Bell
5    Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Bell) Riddle  
6    History of the Bell family of Bedford (website) 

Captain at Fort Frontenac — Joseph Levron dit Metayer

B. about 1691 in Port Royal, Acadia¹
M. (1) 12 Sep 1722 in Boucherville, New France²
Wife: Rose Veronneau
M. (2) 26 Jan 1750 in Fort Frontenac, New France¹
Wife: Catherine Brunet
D. after 17 Jan 1752, (possibly) Fort Frontenac, New France³

As a person born in Acadia during the late 17th century, Joesph Levron dit Metayer was destined for a future struggling under the thumb of British rule. But instead he took a different course as a sea captain, bringing him far away from his native colony.

Joseph was born at Port Royal, Acadia in about 1691 to François Levron dit Nantois and Catherine Agnes Savoie,¹ one of nine children. This was during a period of hardship for Acadians, as they faced repeated aggression from the English. Census records indicated that Joseph’s family had a thriving farm in 1700,⁴ but sometime after that date, seemed to have lost that status. This may have been because of an invasion of Port Royal in 1707, with houses burned and livestock destroyed. By 1710, the English fully took over the colony, and the Acadian ties with France were permanently severed.

As he came of age, Joseph must have sought a way to escape living under English authority. He likely began working as a seaman when he was a young man in Port Royal. It was common for a sailor to have a layover in a distant place that turned into resettlement, and Joseph eventually put down roots along the St. Lawrence River near Montreal. On September 12, 1722, he married Rose Veronneau, a native of Boucherville,² a town which became his new home base.

The places Joseph lived during his life.

 
In the early 18th century, Montreal was the launching point for French fur traders who did their business on the American frontier, and Joseph became captain of a ship that served the trade. Joseph and Rose had five children between 1724 and 1738, and the gaps in their ages suggest that he was away from home for extended periods of time. Further evidence of this is in a contract dated June 15, 1741 where Joseph agreed to bring a load of goods to Pointe Chequamegon and remain there for two years in return for 700 livres.⁵ This was a trading post that was very remote — a bay on the southern shore of Lake Superior in present-day Wisconsin. At the time it was the only post in the region.

Joseph’s wife Rose died in Boucherville on December 27, 1748,⁶ and not long after, he relocated to another outpost, Fort Frontenac. He seems to have taken his youngest daughter with him, and his married son Joseph spent time there as well. Fort Frontenac was located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario and was populated with less than 150 people, 50 of whom were part of the military. By this time, it was mainly used as a supply depot and a stopping place for vessels passing through.

1750s layout of Fort Frontenac.

On January 26, 1750, Joseph married a second wife, Catherine Brunet,¹ who was a widow. The wedding took place at Fort Frontenac. Two years later, Joseph’s daughter, Marie-Josephte, also married at the fort.³ Although the parish register said that she was about 17, she was actually just 13-years-old. The marriage record described her father Joseph as a captain in the service of the king, which may denote some sort of military status involving the ship he operated.

This was the last known record of Joseph, and it’s assumed he passed away within a few years. Fort Frontenac was captured by the British in 1758, and his death may have been related to that. If so, it’s a sad commentary that the same force who attacked his community during his childhood finished him off in the end. 

Children (all with Rose Veronneau):
1. Anne Levron — B. 31 Oct 1724, Boucherville, New France;⁷ D. 24 Feb 1754, Varennes, New France;⁸ M. Jacques Lussier (1720-1778), 13 Jan 1744, Boucherville, New France⁹

2. Joseph Levron dit Metayer — B. 18 Jun 1728, Boucherville, New France;¹⁰ D. 29 Jan 1771, Vincennes, Illinois Territory;¹¹ M. Josephe-Amable Cousteau (1728-?), 7 Feb 1747¹¹

3. Louis Levron — B. 31 May 1731, Boucherville, New France¹²

4. Pierre Levron — B. 28 Jan 1736, Boucherville, New France¹³

5. Marie-Josephte Levron – B. 22 Sep 1738, Boucherville, New France;¹⁴ D. 24 Mar 1807, La Malbaie, Quebec;¹⁵ M. Joseph Mercier (1725-1803), 17 Jan 1752, Fort Frontenac, New France³

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Joseph Levron  
2    Marriage record of Joseph Levron and Rose Veronneau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Marie-Josephte Levron  
4    1700 Port Royal List of Inhabitants http://www.acadian-home.org/census1700.html
5    Online database of voyageurs contracts, Centre du patrimoine, Saint-Boniface, Manitoba
6    Burial record of Rose Veronneau, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Anne Levron, Q.C.P.R.
8    Burial record of Anne Levron, Q.C.P.R.
9    Marriage record of Jacques Lussier and Anne Levron, Q.C.P.R.
10  Baptismal record of Joseph Levron dit Metayer, Q.C.P.R.
11  Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Joseph Levron (younger)  
12  Baptismal record of Louis Levron, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Pierre Levron, Q.C.P.R.
14  Baptismal record of Marie-Josephte Levron, Q.C.P.R.
15  Burial record of Marie-Josephte Levron, Q.C.P.R.

A Fresh Start in New France — Anne Girard

B. before 3 Feb 1630 in St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France¹
M. 22 Oct 1665, Château-Richer, New France²
Husband: Nicolas Daudelin
D. 23 Aug 1710, Varennes, New France³

It’s easy to romanticize the story of the Filles du Roi — young women of France who signed up to become brides to strangers in colonial America. But in reality, this was a choice often made in desperation; those who took this course usually had no other option in life.

Such was likely the case for Anne Girard. She was born in 1630 to Michel Girard and Françoise de Giffard, and was one of five children. Anne was baptized on February 3rd at the parish of Cyr-du-Vaudreuil in Normandy along with a twin brother named Gilles.⁴ Anne’s mother was also a twin,⁴ and this seems to have been a genetic trait. It's interesting that the name “de Giffard” suggests she had a higher social status — Anne’s baptism designated her as demoiselle, which was also an indicator of rank.

Anne’s father didn't seem to share his wife's status because records show that he made a living as a cart maker.⁴ When Anne was 7-years-old, her mother died,⁴ and her father remarried, having five more children with his second wife.⁴ Later, her father was again widowed and married a third time.⁴

There's something of a mystery in the fact Anne didn’t get engaged to be married until she was 29-years-old. Her husband-to-be was named Nicolas Loton, but before they were married, she became pregnant by him. Anne gave birth to a girl on February 28, 1660 who died within a couple of days.⁴ Loton seems to have backed out of marrying Anne, and nothing more is known of him. Anne’s father passed away in 1661,⁴ and this likely left her without much of a means of support. And since she had the stigma of an out-of-wedlock child, it may have been extremely challenging to attract someone who would marry her. 

Baptismal record of Anne's out-of-wedlock child. (Source: Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 28)

Then in 1665, Anne found a new chance in life by migrating to America as a Fille du Roi. In New France, the social norms tended to be looser (she also may have been able to hide her past). After Anne arrived, she was soon under contract to marry Nicolas Daudelin, with the wedding taking place on October 22nd in Château-Richer.² The couple settled in Beaupré where Nicholas was a farmer. Like her mother, Anne gave birth to twins, and did it twice — in 1667^5,6 and 1669.^7,8 These were Anne and Nicolas’ only children.

The 1681 census showed that Anne’s family had 37 arpents under cultivation and 19 head of cattle,⁹ so they seemed to be living well. Soon after, they moved to La Pérade, which was west of Quebec City. Nicolas died there on August 25, 1699,¹⁰ and afterward, Anne moved to the Montreal area to be near her children. She passed away at the age of 80 on August 23, 1710 in the seigneury of Varennes.³ Three of Anne's children carried on her bloodline with many descendants (including Leo Durocher) — the legacy of a woman given a second chance as a Fille du Roi.

Children by Nicolas Loton:
1. Marguerite Loton — B. 28 Feb 1660, St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France;⁴ D. 1 Mar 1660, St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France⁴

Children by Nicolas Daudelin:
1. Marie-Anne Daudelin — B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;⁵ D. 1 Jul 1733, Vercheres, New France;¹¹ M. René Provost (~1652-1734), 9 Jan 1684, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France¹²

2. Réne Daudelin — B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;⁶ D. 11 May 1719, Varennes, New France;¹³ M. (1) Marguerite Collet (1669-1703), 7 Jan 1687, Batiscan, New France;¹⁴ (2) Marie-Madeleine Abirou (1680-1736), 1 Dec 1703, Varennes, New France¹⁵

3. Madeleine Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France;⁷ D. 26 Apr 1750, Varennes, New France;¹⁶ M. (1) Jean-Baptiste Rougeau (1649-1718), 8 Feb 1684, La Pérade, New France;¹⁷ (2) Antoine Berthelet (1675-1755), 30 Jun 1732, Montreal, New France¹⁸

4. Marie Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France⁸

Sources:


1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Anne Girard
2    Marriage record of Nicolas Daudelin and Anne Girard, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Anne Girard, Q.C.P.R.
4    “My Journey to a Fille du Roi: Anne Girard, wife of Nicolas Daudelin,” by Patricia A. Brundirks, Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 28, January 2007
5    Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
9    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
10  Burial record of Nicolas Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
11  Burial record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of René Provost and Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marguerite Collet, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marie-Madeleine Abirou, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Rougeau and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Antoine Berthelet and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.