B. about 1645 in Fontaine-le-Bourg, France
M. 18 Nov 1669 in Château-Richer, New France
Husband: Philippe Destroismaisons
D. after 20 Aug 1716 in St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France
Martine Crosnier arrived in Quebec during one of the peak years of the Filles du Roi program, on a boat that carried over 100 prospective brides. Martine was born in about 1645 in Fontaine-le-Bourg, France, a small village north of Rouen. Her parents were Pierre Crosnier and Jeanne Rotreau, but nothing else is known of her childhood or family.
Whatever the circumstances of Martine’s life, at about age 24 she was a prime candidate to be recruited as a Fille du Roi. For the past six years, young women seeking a secure future had been opting for a life in America. The effort had been supported by the monarchy of France, which was trying to boost the population of New France, and thereby protect their long-term investment in it. The program was seen as a big success, and in early 1669, a request was put out by authorities in Quebec to send over a large crop of women that year.
This initiated the signing up of more Filles du Roi, one of whom was Martine. She joined at least 108 women onboard the ship Saint-Jean-Baptiste, which started out in Dieppe, then left from La Rochelle on May 15, 1669. Nearly half of the women were from Paris, and most of the others were from Normandy, with one said to be from Belgium. Accompanying them was a chaperone, Anne Gasnier, who had a great deal of involvement in the program over the years, frequently as witness to their marriage contracts. The ship also transported two stallions and twelve mares, also desperately needed by the men in New France; it was reported that one horse died during the voyage.
Upon arrival at Quebec City on June 30th, Martine and the other women were taken to a place where men could come to court them. This is where she met her husband, Phillippe Destroismaisons, a shoemaker originally from Picardie. Besides whatever personal qualities Martine had, she also brought a dowry of 200 livres, and an additional 50 livres directly from the King’s treasury.
Martine’s wedding took place on November 18, 1669 in the settlement of Château-Richer. The newlyweds acquired land there the following year, and Martine gave birth to her first child in October. She would have a total of twelve by January 1691, only losing one son who died at age 10. The family moved to Sainte-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River in 1679.
The death records of both Martine and Philippe are mysteriously missing. The last known date when she was alive was February 9, 1713 when both of their names appeared on “an act of donation to their son Jacques.” Martine was a distant ancestor of Madonna.
Children:
1. Angelique Destroismaisons — B. 26 Oct 1670, Château-Richer, New France; D. 26 Feb 1744, Montmagny, New France; M. (1) Alphonse Morin (1650-1711), 24 Nov 1692, Montmagny, New France; (2) Jean-François Langlois (1667-1715), 30 Apr 1714, Montmagny, New France
2. Marie Destroismaisons — B. 2 Jun 1672, Château-Richer, New France; D. 11 Feb 1757, Montmagny, New France; M. Jean Rousseau (~1662-1713), 22 Jun 1699, Montmagny, New France
3. Françoise Destroismaisons — B. 1 Jan 1674, Château-Richer, New France; D. 22 Jan 1715, Montmagny, New France; M. Charles Langelier (1670-1717), 2 Jun 1692, Château-Richer, New France
4. Marguerite Destroismaisons — B. 14 May 1675, Château-Richer, New France; D. 2 Apr 1703, Château-Richer, New France; M. Jean-Baptiste Malboeuf (~1665-1733), 18 Feb 1692, Montmagny, New France
5. Philippe Destroismaisons — B. 9 May 1677, Château-Richer, New France; D. 6 Jan 1688, Montmagny, New France
6. François Destroismaisons — B. 22 Nov 1678, Château-Richer, New France; D. 29 May 1749, St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France; M. Marie-Françoise Daniau dite Laprise (1676-1759), 3 Nov 1700, Montmagny, New France
7. Louise Destroismaisons — B. 3 Apr 1680, Montmagny, New France; D. 30 Jun 1755, St-François-du-Sud, New France; M. Jacques Daniau dit Laprise (1672-1751), 31 Aug 1702, Montmagny, New France
8. Genevieve Destroismaisons — B. 8 Jun 1682, Montmagny, New France; D. before Jan 1711, Montmagny, New France; M. Robert Vaillancourt (1678-1749), 28 Sep 1704, Montmagny, New France
9. Charles Destroismaisons — B. 22 May 1684, Montmagny, New France; D. 13 Apr 1750, Montmagny, New France; M. (1) Marie-Madeleine Blanchet (1676-?), 27 May 1709, Montmagny, New France; (2) Marie-Madeleine Boulay (1699-?), 30 Sep 1721, Montmagny, New France; (3) Marie-Anne Fontaine (1707-1783), before 1733, New France
10. Anne Destroismaisons — B. 20 Apr 1686, Montmagny, New France; D. 4 Apr 1721, Berthier-en-Bas, New France; M. Michel Chartier (1667-1750), 7 Jan 1704, Montmagny, New France
11. Jacques Destroismaisons — B. 2 Sep 1688, Montmagny, New France; D. 17 Apr 1756, St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France; M. Marie-Madeleine Pelletier (1694-1776), 30 Oct 1710, St-Pierre de Île d’Orleans, New France
12. Agathe Destroismaisons — B. 16 Jan 1691, Montmagny, New France; D. 14 Sep 1730, New France; M. Pierre Proulx (1681-1757), 8 Jun 1711, Montmagny, New France
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000
Navires venus en Nouvelle-France (website)
King’s Daughters (Wikipedia article)
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