M. 22 Nov 1663 in Château-Richer, New France2
Wife: Marie Targer
D. before 17 Feb 1676 in Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France3
In New France records, out-of-wedlock children were sometimes openly identified in baptisms, and in this way we know that Jean Royer fathered a baby with a woman who wasn’t his wife. Jean was a recent migrant to the colony from Perche, France; he had been baptized there in the village of Saint-Cosme-de-Vairais on March 29, 1634.1 His parents were Jean Royer and Marie Pais, and he had at least two younger sisters.
Jean was mentioned in New France records for the first time when he was confirmed on August 10, 1659.4 On that day, François de Montmorency-Laval administered the sacrament at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec to 177 people. How and why Jean arrived in the colony is unknown.
François de Montmorency-Laval, who confirmed Jean in 1659.
The next time Jean appeared in records was on January 3, 1661 when he received a concession of land at Ste-Famille on Île d’Orleans.1 It was sometime during that year that he became involved with a single woman who was newly arrived in the colony. Her name was Madeleine Dubois, and in about late spring or early summer, she became pregnant with Jean’s child. The details of their relationship are a mystery, but it didn’t result in a trip to the altar, and during her pregnancy, Madeleine married another man. She gave birth to the baby, a healthy girl, on February 7, 1662.5 Jean was likely not present at her baptism, and the child later took her step-father’s name. Madeleine went on to raise a large family with her husband in the seigneury of Beauport.
In September 1663, the very first ship of women who were later called Filles du Roi landed at Quebec City, and from this small group, Jean found a wife. She was Marie Targer, who was born in LaRochelle in 1642, and the couple married in Château-Richer on November 22nd.2 They seemed to have lived there for a couple of years, having two children born during that time. Then Jean and his family moved to Île d’Orleans for good, and five more children were born. Sadly, four of their seven children seem to have died as infants.
Not long after his youngest child’s funeral on March 4, 1675, Jean passed away.3 There’s no burial record for him which may indicate he drowned, but this is speculation. His widow Marie remarried on February 17, 1676;6 she died in 1712.7
Child by Madeleine Dubois:
1. Marie-Madeleine Baugis — 7 Feb 1662, Quebec City, New France;5 D. 23 Mar 1743, Beauport, New France;8 M. Jacques Menard dit Deslauriers (~1653-1716), 28 Nov 1680, Beauport, New France9
Children by Marie Targer:
1. Jean Royer — B. 28 Sep 1664, Château-Richer, New France;10 D. before 6 Nov 1671, New France11
2. Marie-Anne Royer — B. 21 Aug 1665, Château-Richer, New France;12 D. 11 May 1746, Repentigny, New France;13 M. René Alaire (1635-1709), 14 Apr 1681, Neuville, New France14
3. Madeleine Royer — B. 18 Oct 1666, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;15 D. (probably) young
4. Pierre Royer — B. 6 Nov 1667, (probably) Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;16 D. (probably) young
5. Isabelle-Elisabeth Royer — B. 14 Sep 1669, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France;17 D. 22 Jun 1715, Montreal, New France;18 M. (2) Pierre Blais (1639-1700), 5 Jun 1689, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France;19 (2) Robert Pepin (1678-1754), 16 Nov 1700, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France20
6. Jean Royer — B. 6 Nov 1671, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;11 D. 5 Apr 1743, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France;21 M. Catherine Dumont (1675-1757), 19 Oct 1694, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France22
7. Therese Royer — B. 21 Feb 1675, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;23 D. 4 Mar 1675, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans24
Sources:
2 Marriage record of Jean Royer and Marie Targer, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Burial record of Jean Royer, Q.C.P.R.
4 Confirmations à Percé et Québec en 1659 (blog), Guy Perron, 2015
5 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Royer, Q.C.P.R.
6 Marriage record of Robert Tournerouche and Marie Targer, Q.C.P.R.
7 Burial record of Marie Targer, Q.C.P.R.
8 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Baugis, Q.C.P.R.
9 Marriage record of Jacques Menard and Marie-Madeleine Baugis, Q.C.P.R.
10 Baptismal record of Jean Royer (older son), Q.C.P.R.
11 Baptismal record of Jean Royer (younger son), Q.C.P.R.
12 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Royer, Q.C.P.R.
13 Burial record of Marie-Anne Royer, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of René Alaire and Marie-Anne Royer, Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Madeleine Royer, Q.C.P.R.
16 Baptismal record of Pierre Royer, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Isabelle-Elizabeth Royer, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Isabelle-Elizabeth Royer Royer, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Pierre Blais and Isabelle-Elizabeth Royer Royer, Q.C.P.R.
20 Marriage record of Robert Pepin and Isabelle-Elizabeth Royer Royer, Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Jean Royer (younger son), Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Jean Royer and Catherine Dumont, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Therese Royer, Q.C.P.R.
24 Burial record of Therese Royer, Q.C.P.R.
