M. 17 Nov 1699 in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, New France2
Wife: Marie-Anne Gagné
D. 12 Dec 1749 in Montmagny, New France3
At a fairly young age, Denis Proulx became owner of a large strip of land south of the St. Lawrence River and north of Rivière-du-Sud near where he was born. Denis was the oldest child of Jean Proulx and Jacquette Fournier, and his mother was just 17-years-old at his birth. She descended from both Louis Hébert and Hèléne Desportes, giving Denis a somewhat illustrious pedigree among French Canadians. His date of birth was April 24, 1676; there wasn't yet a parish nearby, so his baptism took place nearly two weeks later on May 7th, administered by a missionary priest probably at his grandfather Guillaume Fournier’s home.1
Because of where they lived on the St. Lawrence, Denis’ father made a living as a fisherman as well as a farmer. When Denis was 20-years-old, Jean Proulx helped his son acquire his own land. The contract dated June 30, 1696 described the property as being 5 arpents by 40 arpents in depth.4 It fronted on the Rivière-du-Sud, a small tributary that ran parallel to the St. Lawrence and emptied into the larger river at Montmagny. Denis had a neighbor on one end of his property, but at the time of the purchase the other end bordered “not conceded lands.”
1709 map showing Denis' farm.
Three years later, Denis got married to Marie-Anne-Gagné, who was from the north shore of the St. Lawrence. Their wedding was celebrated in her home parish of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré on November 17, 1699.2 Afterwards, he brought her back to his farm where they started a family with the birth of son in 1701. They had six more by 1714, then several years followed before their youngest was born in 1723.
Little else is known about Denis’ life. He died n Montmagny on December 12, 1749 at the age of 73.3 His wife Marie-Anne survived him by little more than a year; she passed away in April 1751.5
Children:
1. Jean-Hiliare Proulx — B. 11 Apr 1701, Montmagny, New France;6 D. 3 Apr 1751, Montmagny, New France;7 M. Marie-Anne Migner (1720-1796), 15 Jan 1742, Montmagny, New France8
2. Marie-Madeleine Proulx — B. 26 Dec 1702, Montmagny, New France;9 D. 6 Jan 1709, Montmagny, New France10
3. Marie-Angelique Proulx — B. 11 Dec 1704, Montmagny, New France;11 D. 23 Aug 1791, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;12 M. Pierre Godin (1698-1765), 18 Jan 1725, Montmagny, New France13
4. Marie-Genevieve Proulx — B. 27 Jan 1707, Montmagny, New France;14 D. 19 Nov 1791;15 M. Pierre Duchesne (1702-?), 19 Nov 1731, Montmagny, New France16
5. Marie-Anne Proulx — B. 27 Mar 1709, Montmagny, New France;17 D. 29 Jan 1790, St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;18 M. Louis Destroismaisons (1701-1756), St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France19
6. Marie-Madeleine Proulx — B. 11 Mar 1712, Montmagny, New France;20 M. (1) Nicolas Baillargeon (1713-1740), 10 Nov 1737, Montmagny, New France;21 (2) Ignace Dessaint (1726-1808), 23 Feb 1745, Montmagny, New France22
7. Joseph Proulx — B. 1 May 1714, Montmagny, New France23
8. Augustin Proulx — B. about 1718, New France;24 D. 27 Feb 1791, Montmagny, Quebec;24 M. Marie-Françoise Fortin (1724-1774), 5 Jul 1745, L’Islet, New France25
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Denis Proulx, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Denis Proulx and Marie-Anne Gagné, Q.C.P.R.
3 Burial record of Denis Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
4 The Association of Proulx Families of America (website)
5 Burial record of Marie-Anne-Gagné, Q.C.P.R.
6 Baptismal record of Jean-Hiliare Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
7 Burial record of Jean-Hiliare Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
8 Marriage record of Jean-Hiliare Proulx and Marie-Anne Migner, Q.C.P.R.
9 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Proulx (older), Q.C.P.R.
10 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Proulx (older), Q.C.P.R.
11 Baptismal record of Marie-Angelique Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of Marie-Angelique Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
13 Marriage record of Pierre Godin and Marie-Angleique Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
14 Baptismal record of Marie-Genevieve Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
15 Burial record of Marie-Genevieve Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
16 Marriage record of Pierre Duchesne and Marie-Genevieve Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Marie-Anne Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Louis Destroismaisons and Marie-Anne Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
20 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Proulx (younger), Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Proulx (younger), Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Nicolas Baillargeon and Marie-Madeleine Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Joseph, Q.C.P.R.
24 Burial record of Augustin Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
25 Marriage record of Augustin Proulx and Marie-Françoise Fortin, Q.C.P.R.
