B. about 16 Apr 1604 in Dieppe, France
M. (1) 24 Nov 1625 in Ocqueville, France
Wife: Catherine Prévost
M. (2) 7 Nov 1663 in Quebec City, New France
Wife: Anne LeMaître
D. between 1681 and 1684 in New France
In 2013, when a micro-brewery in Île d’Orleans wanted to name their products for early settlers, they selected Adrien Blanquet dit Lafougère for a pale ale. This was in spite of the fact that he spent most of life in France, only migrating to New France in late middle-age.
Adrien was born in Dieppe, France to Andrieu Blanquet and Perette Caperon, baptized there on April 16, 1604. Nothing is known of his childhood. He married a woman named Catherine Prévost on November 24, 1625 in the village of Ocqueville, which was not far from the coast in Normandy. There he farmed, and at some point, acquired the trade of sallier, someone who makes saddles and harnesses. The time with his wife was short—after giving birth to their only child, a baby girl, Catherine died a few weeks later on September 20, 1631.
There are no records of the next 25-plus years of Adrien’s life. At some time he acquired the nickname “Lafougère,” which means “the Fern.” It doesn’t seem that Adrien remarried while in France. His daughter, Marie-Madeleine, grew up and found a husband in Jean Leclerc, then the three of them decided to start a new life in America. Adrien was in Quebec by July 29, 1658, being mentioned in a purchase of land, although it isn't known if his daughter and son-in-law had arrived with him.
In August of 1662, Adrien acquired property in Île d’Orleans, along with his daughter’s husband. The following year, at the age of 59, he contracted to marry a widow, Anne LeMaître; the wedding took place on November 7, 1663 at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec. Anne was also from Dieppe, and she had come over from France with her son and daughter-in-law. Although she was younger than Adrien, she was almost past child-bearing age, and the couple had no children together.
Adrien farmed his land in Île d’Orleans well into his 60s. He was listed in the 1667 census as having 12 arpents of land and five cattle; it’s believed he was still making saddles and harnesses at this time. Then the following year, he seems to have helped a woman manage the fruit production on her farm after her husband died. (Thomas Douaire de Bondy had drowned; the records said that he was denied a “Christian burial” and he was “buried like a dog" because he was drunk at the time.) The role Adrien played by helping the widow was described as “guardian of the fruits of the house.”
It isn’t known exactly when Adrien died. He was listed in the 1681 census, but was deceased by August 6, 1684. He left half of his estate to daughter Marie-Madeleine; upon her death, this inheritance went to her son. Adrien’s widow Anne was buried October 1, 1718 at St-Pierre on Île d’Orleans. Adrien was the ancestor of Ricky Gervais and Emeril Lagasse.
The honor of having a beer named for him happened over three centuries after Adrien died. The Microbrasserie de l'Île d'Orléans selected him for an American pale ale that has “citrus and tropical fruits aroma,” a nod to his work helping the widow with her farm. Bottles of the special brew are sold from a pub next to the Maison de nos Aïeux, a museum dedicated to the early settlers of Île d’Orleans.
Child by Catherine Prévost:
1. Marie-Madeleine Blanquet — B. 31 Aug 1631, Rouen, France; D. 10 Sep 1709, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France; M. Jean-Baptiste Leclerc (1635-~1680), before 31 Dec 1657, France
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Our French-Canadian Ancestors, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000
