M. 9 Aug 1618 in France
Husband: Jacques Gaudry
D. about 1683 in New France
A widow named Charlotte Chevalier took a path in life which brought her far from where she was born. And in the process, she left many descendants in her new home.
Charlotte was born to Gilles Chevalier and Nicole Pineau at about the beginning of the seventeenth century in Feings, France, a village in Perche. Her mother had a daughter from a first marriage and three daughters from her marriage to Chevallier, the youngest of which was Charlotte. Both of Charlotte’s parents died by the time she came of age.
On August 9, 1618, Charlotte married Jacques Gaudry, a tanner merchant, and they made their home in Feings. Charlotte inherited property that she brought into her marriage, and her name was on many real estate transactions along with her husband’s during the years 1622 to 1637. Some of the property included a mill, a dairy, several farms, a marsh pasture and a footpath to a “leper hospital.” It isn’t known if any or all of these contracts involved her inheritance.
Charlotte had two sons with her husband Jacques. The first was born in about 1620 and the second in 1637. Unfortunately, Jacques died on September 16th of that year. As a widow, Charlotte carried on with property transactions with her name appearing on several records until 1651.
In 1647, Charlotte’s older son Nicholas migrated to New France and about five years later, Charlotte and younger son Jean joined him. The decision to move may have been because Charlotte’s mother was related to two brothers who recruited many people to migrate, Jean and Noel Juchureau. Shortly after she arrived in New France, son Nicholas married Agnes Morin, the daughter of the first European born in Canada, Hélène Desportes, and Charlotte attended the wedding.
Little is known about Charlotte after she settled in New France but she was listed in the 1681 census of Quebec. It’s believed that she died within a couple years of that date. There is a stone plaque bearing her name at the Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais de Feings church. It also honors the sons who migrated with her, but Charlotte gets top billing. Among her descendants are Angelina Jolie, Jim Carrey, Julianne Hough, Madonna and Alex Trebek.
On August 9, 1618, Charlotte married Jacques Gaudry, a tanner merchant, and they made their home in Feings. Charlotte inherited property that she brought into her marriage, and her name was on many real estate transactions along with her husband’s during the years 1622 to 1637. Some of the property included a mill, a dairy, several farms, a marsh pasture and a footpath to a “leper hospital.” It isn’t known if any or all of these contracts involved her inheritance.
Charlotte had two sons with her husband Jacques. The first was born in about 1620 and the second in 1637. Unfortunately, Jacques died on September 16th of that year. As a widow, Charlotte carried on with property transactions with her name appearing on several records until 1651.
In 1647, Charlotte’s older son Nicholas migrated to New France and about five years later, Charlotte and younger son Jean joined him. The decision to move may have been because Charlotte’s mother was related to two brothers who recruited many people to migrate, Jean and Noel Juchureau. Shortly after she arrived in New France, son Nicholas married Agnes Morin, the daughter of the first European born in Canada, Hélène Desportes, and Charlotte attended the wedding.
Little is known about Charlotte after she settled in New France but she was listed in the 1681 census of Quebec. It’s believed that she died within a couple years of that date. There is a stone plaque bearing her name at the Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais de Feings church. It also honors the sons who migrated with her, but Charlotte gets top billing. Among her descendants are Angelina Jolie, Jim Carrey, Julianne Hough, Madonna and Alex Trebek.
Plaque in Feings, France. (Source: Perche-Quebec.com)
Children:
1. Nicholas Gaudry dit Bourbonniere — B. about 1620, Feings, Perche, France; D. 22 Jun 1669, Sillery, New France; M. Agnes Morin (1641-1687), 17 Nov 1653, Quebec City, New France
2. Jacques Gaudry dit Bourbonniere — B. about 1637, Feings, Perche, France; D. Mar 1691, Quebec City, New France; M. Anne Poirier (1656-1704), 6 Feb 1673, Quebec City, New France
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
“Jacques Gaudry, Sieur de la Bourbonniére,” French Canadian and Acadian Genealogical Review
