M. 2 May 1707 in Quebec City, New France2
Wife: Marie-Madeleine Mingou
D. 2 Jan 1750 in Neuville, New France3
Pierre Savari left his mark on the world by fathering 18 children, and in the way he signed his name on many records. He was the oldest son of François Savari (also spelled Savary) and Catherine Pluchon, born on November 22, 1685 in Neuville, New France.1 Pierre had seven younger siblings, and he was the only son who lived to adulthood to carry on his father’s name.
On May 2, 1707, Pierre married 17-year-old Marie-Madeleine Mingou at Notre-Dame church in Quebec.2 It was in the parish register record for his marriage that Pierre’s distinct signature first appeared. Unlike the script others used when signing their name, Pierre wrote in large, careful block letters, much larger than anything else in the register book. It looked similar to the way a child would write; more than likely Pierre’s formal education had been very brief. It’s also possible that he never attended school and learned to write his name from a parent or relative.
Pierre's signature on his 1707 marriage record. (Source: FamilySearch.org)
The newlyweds settled in Quebec City, and in December of that year, their first child was born. Unfortunately the baby died two days later. Another was born in November of 1708, a healthy girl. The family then moved to St-Pierre on Île d’Orleans where three more children were added to their household. By the spring of 1712, Pierre was living on the south shore of the St. Lawrence and another daughter was baptized at Lauzon. Between 1716 and 1720, the family was back in Quebec City for the births of four more children. Finally in 1721, Pierre settled for good in the seigneury of Neuville, and over the next decade, another eight children were born. Of his eighteen children, only half were known to survive childhood, four boys and five girls.
When Pierre lived at Neuville, he became owner of the seigneury’s mills, which used wind and water power to grind wheat into flour. Records show that he operated the mills as early as 1730.4 Several times during the next ten years, other men in Neuville had disputes with him over payments. In 1733, Intendant Gilles Hocquart sent men to inspect Pierre’s facilities because of perceived issues with the way he measured things.5 Afterwards, Hocquart issued an order that Pierre should hire a “professional miller.” Whether this was done isn’t reported in the records.
Pierre continued writing his name in the Neuville parish register in baptisms, and later, the marriages of his children. On the marriage of his daughter Marie-Madeleine, her cursive signature appears side-by-side with his big block-lettered one.6
Signatures on Pierre's daughter's marriage record. (Source: FamilySearch.org)
The final appearance of Pierre's signature is for his daughter Marie-Louise’s wedding on March 4, 1737 when he signed with only his initials. He died at Neuville on January 2, 1750.3 His widow Marie-Madeleine lived many more years, and passed away in 1764.8
Children:
1. Marie Savari — B. 9 Dec 1707, Quebec City, New France;9 D. 11 Dec 1707, Quebec City New France10
2. Marie-Madeleine Savari — B. 4 Nov 1708, Quebec City, New France;11 D. 4 May 1782, Neuville, Quebec;12 M. Antoine Bordeleau (1701-1735), 4 Nov 1727, Neuville, New France6
3. Louise Savari — B. 7 Nov 1709, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France;13 D. 30 Jan 1710, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France14
4. Jean Savari — B. 7 May 1711, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France;15 D. 30 May 1711, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France16
5. Marie-Therese Savari — B. 5 Apr 1712, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France;17 D. 15 Jul 1799, Cap-Santé, Quebec;18 M. Ignace Giroux (1708-1769), 5 Feb 1731, Neuville, New France19
6. Marie-Josephe Savari — B. 15 Feb 1714, Lauzon, New France;20 D. 10 Nov 1767, Cap-Santee, New France;21 M. Jean-François Arbour (1705-1749)22
7. Marie-Louise Savari — B. 12 Mar 1716, Quebec City, New France;23 D. 20 Mar 1778, Yamachiche, Quebec;24 M. Jean-Baptiste Deveau (1709-?), 4 Mar 1737, Neuville, New France7
8. Marie-Angelique Savari — B. 30 Nov 1717, Quebec City, New France;25 D. 26 Dec 1717, Quebec City, New France26
9. Elisabeth Savari — B. 10 Feb 1719, Quebec City, New France27
10. Pierre Savari — B. 18 Jan 1720, Quebec City, New France;28 D. 8 Apr 1797, Neuville, Quebec;29 M. Elisabeth Bossu (1721-1793), 4 Jun 1742, Neuville, New France30
11. Louis-Joseph Savari — B. 4 Nov 1721, Neuville, New France31
12. Marie-Felicite Savari — B. 3 Feb 1723, Neuville, New France;32 D. 1 Mar 1723, Neuville, New France33
13. Jean-Baptiste Savari — B. 26 Mar 1724, Neuville, New France;34 M. Marguerite Bougret (1728-?), 19 Jan 1749, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, New France35
14. François Savari — B. 3 Mar 1726, Neuville, New France;36 M. Marie-Catherine Cadoret (1743-?), 15 Sep 1780, L’Assomption, Quebec37
15. Françoise Savari — B. 17 Jul 1727, Neuville, New France;38 D. 6 Oct 1805, Neuville, Quebec;39 M. Joseph-Antoine Harnois (1710-1781), before 175640
16. Charles Savari — B. 4 Sep 1728, Neuville, New France;41 D. 23 Oct 1728, Neuville, New France42
17. Angelique Savari — B. 21 Sep 1729, Neuville, New France;43 D. 30 Sep 1729, Neuville, New France44
18. Augustin Savari — B. 23 Oct 1730, Neuville, New France;45 D. 29 Jan 1787, Cap-Santé, Quebec;46 M. Marie-Louise Lefebvre (1725-1799), 5 Mar 1764, Cap-Santé, Quebec47
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Pierre Savari, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Pierre Savari and Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
3 Burial record of Pierre Savari, Q.C.P.R.
4 Order of Gilles Hocquart regarding Neuville’s mills, BAnQ
5 Order of Gilles Hocquart condemning Pierre Savary for how he measured grain, BAnQ
6 Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Marie-Madeleine Savari, Q.C.P.R.
7 Marriage record of Jean Baptiste Deveau and Marie-Louise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
8 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
9 Baptismal record of Marie Savari, Q.C.P.R.
10 Burial record of Marie Savari, Q.C.P.R.
11 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Savari, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Savari, Q.C.P.R.
13 Baptismal record of Louise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
14 Burial record of Louise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Jean Savari, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Jean Savari, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Marie-Therese Savari, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Marie-Therese Savari, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Ignace Giroux and Marie-Therese Savari, Q.C.P.R.
20 Baptismal record of Marie-Josephe Savari, Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Marie-Josephe Savari, Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Jean-François Arbour and Marie-Josephe Savari, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
24 Burial record of Marie-Louise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
25 Baptismal record of Marie-Angeleique Savari, Q.C.P.R.
26 Burial record of Marie-Angelique Savari, Q.C.P.R.
27 Baptismal record of Elisabeth Savari, Q.C.P.R.
28 Baptismal record of Pierre Savari (younger), Q.C.P.R.
29 Burial record of Pierre Savari (younger), Q.C.P.R.
30 Marriage record of Pierre Savari and Elisabeth Bossu, Q.C.P.R.
31 Baptismal record of Loius-Joseph Savari, Q.C.P.R.
32 Baptismal record of Marie-Felicite Savari, Q.C.P.R.
33 Burial record of Marie-Felicite Savari, Q.C.P.R.
34 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Savari, Q.C.P.R.
35 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Savari and Marguerite Bougret, Q.C.P.R.
36 Baptismal record of François Savari, Q.C.P.R.
37 Marriage record of François Savari and Marie-Catherine Cadoret, Q.C.P.R.
38 Baptismal record of Françoise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
39 Burial record of Françoise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
40 Marriage record of Joseph-Antoine Harnois and Françoise Savari, Q.C.P.R.
41 Baptismal record of Charles Savari, Q.C.P.R.
42 Burial record of Charles Savari, Q.C.P.R.
43 Baptismal record of Angelique Savari, Q.C.P.R.
44 Burial record of Angelique Savari, Q.C.P.R.
45 Baptismal record of Augustin Savari, Q.C.P.R.
46 Burial record of Augustin Savari, Q.C.P.R.
47 Marriage record of Augustin Savari and Marie-Louise Lefebvre, Q.C.P.R.
