M. about 1651 in Saintes,Saintonge,France2
Husband: Simon Chapacou
D. after Jun 1700 in (probably) Longueuil, New France3
Punishment for a crime in colonial times could be brutal, and Marie-Vincente Pacaud experienced this firsthand in 17th-century New France. She was born in about 1624, most likely in Saintes, France,1,2 which was a city in not far from La Rochelle. Nothing is known of her family or her childhood, but she must have had enough education to be able to read and write. In about 1651, she met and married Simon Chapacou,2 also from Saintes, where they would make their home. By the end of 1658, she gave birth to at least two children.4,5
In about 1663, Vincente migrated to America with her husband and children, settling just outside of Quebec City in Côte Saint-Michel de Sillery.1 She had four more children, with the youngest born in 1670;6 one of the four died as an infant.7 Vincente played an unusual role in the family because her husband was deaf, as well as illiterate, and she handled the family’s business dealings. Presumably, Simon worked their farm, while she dealt with others in transactions involving products, supplies or property. For example, a contract dated February 11, 1675 showed that she represented her husband in a sale of land.8
During 1675, Vincente seems to have also been involved in other business — selling the sexual services of other women.9 Although there are no details in the records, it sounds like she was operating a brothel. She was arrested for that crime and also for trafficking stolen goods. Another man named Raymond dit Deslauriers got caught for a burglary of Hôtel-Dieu, and items stolen there were discovered in her possession. She was arrested along with her husband Simon, Deslauriers and another accomplice, and all were tried for their crimes. They were each found guilty, except for Simon, who was thought to be incapable of wrongdoing because he was deaf. Vincente faced severe punishment, though; she was fined 20 livres and ordered to be publicly whipped.9
Criminal law was different in 17th century New France from anything we have today. Those accused of crimes had little or no rights, and they were presumed guilty until proven innocent. Likewise, the punishment was more severe than now. The thinking in those days was that it was necessary to make criminals suffer for small crimes as a deterrent to keep others from committing the same offense.
In Vincente’s case, her punishment was to be marched down the streets of Quebec City with a sign pinned to her forehead that said, “MAQUERELLE,”9 French slang for a woman running a brothel. As crowds watched and jeered, she was stopped at each intersection and struck ten times with a rod. As for Deslauriers, he escaped from jail for a time, but after he was recaptured, his punishment was execution. The order colorfully stated that he would be "led to the front of the door of the church of the Hôtel-Dieu, naked in a shirt, the cord around the collar, and holding in hand a fiery torch, asking forgiveness from God…" The other accomplice was forced to stand at the foot of the gallows, also wearing a noose, as his friend Deslauriers was hung, then the man was set free afterwards. This was justice in Quebec of 1675.
Document describing Marie-Vincente's sentence. (Source: BAnQ)
Five years later, Vincente was charged with a second incident of theft. On April 18, 1680, orders were given to arrest her along with Simon for taking items out of the home of Jacques Daigre.10 What makes this interesting was that as executioner of Quebec, Daigre was the man who had carried out Vincente’s whipping. Was revenge for her humiliation the motive for the alleged theft? Maybe, but this is only speculation. It’s unclear from the records how long she was imprisoned, or if she was convicted of the second crime.
Sometime later, Vincente and Simon moved from Quebec City to the settlement of Berthier, located between Trois-Riviéres and Montreal. They later settled in Longueuil, where Simon died on June 3, 1690.11 Marie-Vicente died on an unknown date after June 1700.3
Marie-Vincente had some important descendants: Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau and Justin Bieber.12 Impressive for a woman who was once whipped on the streets of Quebec.
Children:
1. Louis Chapacou — B. 23 Nov 1653, Néré, Charente-Maritime, France;4 M. Marie-Madeleine Poudret (~1668-1696), 24 Nov 1681, Sorel, New France13
2. Marie Chapacou — B. 29 Dec 1658, Néré, Charente-Maritime, France;5 D. 24 Dec 1733, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France;14 M. René Maillot dit Laviolette (~1644-?), 28 Oct 1671, New France15
3. Laurent Chapacou — B. 9 Feb 1665, (probably) Sillery, New France;16 D. 13 Feb 1665, (probably) Sillery, New France7
4. Marie-Agathe Chapacou — B. 7 Feb 1666, Côte St-Michel, New France;17 D. 28 Sep 1687, Montreal, New France18
5. Marie-Angelique Chapacou — B. 22 Mar 1668, (probably) Côte St-Michel, New France;19 D. 11 Nov 1746, Longueuil, New France;20 M. (1) André Bouteiller (1650-1699), 1 Sep 1686, Boucherville, New France;21 (2) André Lemarre (~1670-1756), 8 Jun 1700, Longueuil, New France22
6. Jean-Joseph Chapacou — B. 16 Apr 1670, Côte St-Michel, New France;6 D. 23 Mar 1693, Longueuil, New France;23 M. Marie Poutre (1672-1759), 28 Apr 1688, Sorel, New France24
Sources:
1 Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France
2 Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Marie Pacaud
3 Inventaire des greffes des Notaires du Régime français, V. 6, p. 29
4 Baptismal record of Louis Chapacou, Fichier Origine
5 Baptismal record of Marie Chapacou, Fichier Origine
6 Baptismal record of Jean-Joseph Chapacou, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
7 Burial record of Laurent Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
8 Inventaire des greffes des Notaires du Régime français, V. 3
9 Judgement against Marie Pacaud and others, 22 Aug 1675, BAnQ
10 Court records of case of Jacques Daigre vs. Simon Chapacou and Marie Pacaud, Apr 1680, BAnQ
11 Burial record of Simon Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
12 FamousKin.com listing of Simon Chapacou
13 Marriage record of Louis Chapacou and Marie-Madeleine Poudret, Q.C.P.R.
14 Burial record of Marie Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
15 Marriage record of René Maillot and Marie Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
16 Baptismal record of Laurent Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Marie-Agathe Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Marie-Agathe Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
19 Baptismal record of Marie-Angelique Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
20 Burial record of Marie-Angelique Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
21 Marriage record of André Bouteiller and Marie-Angelique Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of André Lemarre and Marie-Angelique Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
23 Burial record of Jean-Joseph Chapacou, Q.C.P.R.
24 Marriage record of Jean-Joseph Chapacou and Marie Poutre, Q.C.P.R.
