M. 17 Sep 1685 in Charlesbourg, New France2
Wife: Anne Bruneau
D. before 28 Jan 1698 in New France3
Some New France settlers hoped to make a better life for themselves, only to have their labor fall short, and Jean Mingou was one such person. He was born in about 1660 at Villeneuve-la-Comtesse,1 a small village in the west of France. His parents were André Mingou (also spelled Mingot) and Andrée Auché, and he had at least one brother born in 1662.1 Nothing else is known about Jean’s early years except for that he seems to have had no education, and probably had no secure future in France. On October 28, 1683, Jean agreed to a contract to work in New France,1 and soon after, he boarded a ship in La Rochelle to fulfill his commitment.
After Jean landed at Quebec, he wound up in the seigneury of Charlesbourg located just northeast of the city. He first turned up in records when he agreed to a marriage contract on August 19, 1685.4 His bride, Anne Bruneau, was just 15-years-old. Jean was described as a habitant of Petite Auvergne, a section of Charlesbourg where Anne’s family also lived. The village had a unique layout, with lots that radiated out from a single point, a pattern that still exists on today’s maps.
Records indicate that Jean seemed to have had a relationship with an older resident of Petite Auvergne, a man named Clement Guerin. He was one of the witnesses at Jean’s wedding, and when his first child was baptized in April 1687,5 the baby was named Clement with Guerin as its godfather. Guerin had a large farm and no sons to help with the labor, so perhaps Jean worked for him when he first arrived.
1687 baptism of Clement Mingou showing godfather, Clement Guerin. (Source: FramilySearch.org)
By the end of 1691, Jean and wife Anne had two more children. Sadly, only a daughter survived, with two boys dying as infants. Then on December 1, 1692, Jean was treated for some ailment at Hotel-Dieu in Quebec City;6 the records didn’t indicate how serious it was, or if he spent time in the hospital. After that date, Jean seems to have moved his family into Quebec City, said to be living near the residence of the Intendant of the colony,7 the authority figure who looked out for the needs of the people of New France. There’s no indication how Jean made his income because it wasn’t a place for farms. Two more daughters were born, one in 16937 and the other in 1695.8 His wife Anne became pregnant one more time during 1697, but before the child was born on January 28, 1698, Jean died.3
Unfortunately, the final baby was another son who lived only a week,9 leaving no one to pass along Jean’s name. His three daughters had many children, though, so at least his bloodline carried on. His widow Anne remarried in October of 1698;10 she died in 1726.11
Children:
1. Clement Mingou — B. 28 Apr 1687, Charlesbourg, New France;5 D. 1 May 1687, Charlesbourg, New France12
2. Jean Mingou — B. 19 Dec 1689, Charlesbourg, New France;13 D. 15 Jan 1690, Charlesbourg, New France14
3. Marie-Madeleine Mingou — B. 24 Sep 1691, Charlesbourg, New France;15 D. 9 Nov 1764, Cap-Santé, Quebec;16 M. Pierre Savari (1685-1750), 2 May 1707, New France17
4. Marie-Angelique Mingou — B. 19 Oct 1693, Quebec City, New France;7 D, 17 Oct 1766, Quebec City, Quebec;18 M. Jean-Baptiste Dassylva (1692-1761), 23 Nov 1716, Quebec City, New France19
5. Marie-Jeanne Mingou — B. 14 Nov 1695, Quebec City, Quebec;8 D. 30 Aug 1768, St-Augustin, Quebec;20 M. (1) Pierre Dassylva (1690-1715), 2 May 1713, Quebec City, New France;21 (2) Charles Laine (1696-?), 18 Nov 1720, Quebec City, New France22
6. Pierre Mingou — B. 28 Jan 1698, Quebec City, New France;3 D. 4 Feb 1698, Quebec City, New France9
Sources:
1 Fichier Origine listing for Jean Mingou
2 Marriage record of Jean Mingou and Anne Bruneau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Baptismal record of Pierre Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
4 Inventaire des contrats de mariage du Régime français conservés aux Archives judiciaires de Québec, V.1, Pierre Georges Roy, 1937
5 Baptismal record of Clement Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
6 Registre Journalier des Malades de L’Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec, Marcel Fournier and Gisèle Monarque, 2005
7 Baptismal record of Marie-Angelique Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
8 Baptismal record of Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
9 Burial record of Pierre Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
10 Marriage record of Jean Lamothe and Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
11 Burial record of Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of Clement Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
13 Baptismal record of Jean Mingou (younger), Q.C.P.R.
14 Burial record of Jean Mingou (younger), Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
17 Marriage record of Pierre Savari and Marie-Madeleine Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Marie-Angelique Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Dassylva and Marie-Angelique Mingour, Q.C.P.R.
20 Burial record of Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
21 Marriage record of Pierre Dassylva and Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Charles Laine and Marie-Jeanne Mingou, Q.C.P.R.
