Midwife and Iroquois Victim — Marie-Denise Lemaître

B. about 1635 in Paris, France¹
M. (1) 26 Jan 1660 in Montreal, New France²
Husband: Pierre Perras
M. (2) Oct 1684 in La Prairie, New France³
Husband: François Cael
D. 29 Oct 1691 in La Prairie, New France⁴

Among the women who migrated to America from France in the 17th century, few had a more adventurous story than Marie-Denise Lemaître. In spite of many hardships in her life, she learned to be a midwife and practiced her skills in a dangerous frontier community.

Denise was born in Paris in about 1635 to Denis Lemaître (or Lemaîstre) and Catherine Decharme (or Deharme).¹ Little is confirmed about her childhood and family, but it’s thought that she lived in what is today the 4th arrondissement. At some point, she was sent to Pitié-Salpêtrière, a Paris hospital run by nuns that took in girls and young women. It was here that she got instruction on caring for the sick, with a special interest in helping women through childbirth. In the spring of 1659, Pitié-Salpêtrière was visited by Jeanne Mance, a nurse who had started a hospital in Montreal. She was recruiting women to work for her who would also be willing to marry a settler, and Denise signed up.⁵

Jeanne Mance (Source: BAnQ)

The ship that took Denise to America, Le Saint-André, sailed out of La Rochelle July 2nd with 200 passengers.⁵ It was a very rough crossing because disease broke out and many people became seriously ill. About 18 people died at sea,⁵ which was a high mortality rate even in the 17th century. Several storms contributed to the rough conditions; food and fresh water had to be rationed because of delays caused by the weather. The vessel finally arrived at Quebec City on September 7th,⁶ and Denise then boarded a smaller boat to complete the journey to Montreal.

Less than a week after Denise arrived in Montreal, she accepted a proposal of marriage. On October 5th, she signed a contract to become the wife of André Heurtebise,⁶ who had arrived in La Grand Recrue of 1653. In the meantime, she worked at Jeanne Mance’s hospital, Hospitalieres de St-Joseph. Sadly, the marriage never happened. André was seriously injured in a fight with the Iroquois and he was brought to the hospital. He died on December 2nd — supposedly in Denise’s arms.⁷

After André’s burial, Denise made another match fairly quickly, signing a marriage contract on January 10, 1660 with Pierre Perras, a Montreal barrel maker.⁶ The wedding took place on January 26th with Jeanne Mance in attendance; also listed in the record as witnesses were a doctor, Louis Chartier, and a merchant, Jacques Le Moyne.² Denise settled in Montreal with her new husband and gave birth to her first child by the end of the year.⁸ Within ten years, she had six more children, including twin girls born at the end of 1665;⁹ unfortunately one of the twins lived only a week.¹⁰ Then in 1671, the family moved across the St. Lawrence to La Prairie, where Denise had three more children.^11,12,13

La Prairie was located just across the river from Montreal, but was much less populated because of its proximity to the Iroquois, who continued to be hostile to French settlers. Denise and Pierre’s farm was a long distance from the nearest church, and without roads, it was difficult to travel to Sunday services. So in 1675, they donated a straw-roofed building on their property for use as a chapel.⁷ In the 1681 census, Denise and her husband were shown to have a farm with ten arpents under cultivation and six head of cattle.¹ Two of their sons were already involved in the fur trade, making expeditions that took them far from home.¹⁴

Denise’s husband Pierre died on April 30, 1684,¹⁵ leaving her with several underaged children to support and the challenges of living in a rugged, remote place. Six months later, she married a second husband, François Cael.³ By now she was almost 50-years-old, and the two of them had no children together. Her second marriage was short because François died on November 18, 1687.¹⁶ After his death, Denise was said to have practiced as a midwife in order to make ends meet.⁶ There’s evidence that she owed money to a merchant who had her brought to court charged with non-payment; it’s unclear if this was for items she had purchased, or if the debt was leftover from one of her husbands.¹⁷

A couple of years later, La Prairie was threatened by more violence from the Iroquois, and this wrote the final chapter in Denise’s life. In August of 1691, a force led by colonists from New York plus their Indian allies came to attack the settlement; this was in retaliation for French aggression on them. Everyone who lived in the area gathered inside a garrison for protection while a battle took place. The French suffered casualties, but the defense of La Prairie held. Denise was presumably in the fort during the fight. Trouble lingered in the aftermath, though, and on October 29th, she was brutally killed in an Iroquois raid.⁴

Denise's death record (Source: FamilySearch.org)

Denise left many descendants, and among them are Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau and Madonna.¹⁸ She also has a street named after her in present-day La Prairie.



Children (all by Pierre Perras):
1. Pierre Perras — B. 31 Oct 1660, Montreal, New France;⁸ D. 23 Aug 1687, Montreal, New France¹⁹

2. Jacques Perras — B. 24 Apr 1663, Montreal, New France;²⁰ D. 25 Mar 1688, La Prairie, New France²¹

3. Marguerite Perras — B. 27 Dec 1665, Montreal, New France;⁹ D. 15 May 1708, Montreal, New France;²² M. (1) Pierre Poupart (~1650-1699), 11 Aug 1682, La Prairie, New France;²³ (2) Joseph-Marie Demers (1658-1728), 20 Sep 1699, La Prairie, New France²⁴

4. Marie Perras — B. 27 Dec 1665, Montreal, New France;⁹ D. 3 Jan 1666, Montreal, New France¹⁰

5. Catherine Perras — B. 24 Feb 1667, Montreal, New France;²⁵ D. 16 Mar 1667, Montreal, New France²⁶

6. Jean Perras — B. 28 Aug 1668, Montreal, New France;²⁷ D. 13 Oct 1736, La Prairie, New France;²⁸ M. (1) Marguerite Tetu (1679-1699), 7 Jun 1698, La Prairie, New France;²⁹ (2) Marie-Madeleine Roy (1684-1726), 25 Oct 1701, La Prairie, New France³⁰

7. Catherine Perras — B. 9 Jun 1670, Montreal, New France;³¹ D. 7 Jan 1750, Longueuil, New France;³² M. Eustache Demers (1661-1707), 21 Apr 1688, La Prairie, New France³³

8. Marie-Jeanne Perras — B. 10 Jul 1671, La Prairie, New France;¹¹ D. 30 Oct 1718, La Prairie, New France;³⁴ M. (1) Claude Faye (~1662-1708), 25 Oct 1688, La Prairie, New France;³⁵ (2) Pierre Voisin (~1678-1721), 23 Dec 1709, La Prairie, New France³⁶

9. Marie Perras — B. 2 Feb 1673, La Prairie, New France;¹² D. 9 May 1736, La Prairie, New France;³⁷ M. Antoine Boyer (1671-1747), 4 Feb 1690, La Prairie, New France³⁸

10. Pierre Perras — B. 24 Jun 1674, La Prairie, New France;¹³ D. 1 Aug 1699, La Prairie, New France;³⁹ M. Marie-Marguerite Diel (1678-1715), 18 Nov 1696, La Prairie, New France⁴⁰

Sources:
1    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
2    Marriage record of Pierre Perras and Marie-Denise Lemaitre, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage record of François Cael and Marie-Denise Lemaitre, Q.C.P.R.
4    Burial record of Marie-Denise Lemaitre, Q.C.P.R.
5    Navires venus en Nouvelle-France en 1659  
6    Les Filles à Marrier listing for Marie-Denise Lamaitre on Migrations.com 
7    Minnesota Eh? A Foley/Perras Family History, Gerald Foley, 2010
8    Baptismal record of Pierre Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
9    Baptismal record of Marguerite and Marie Perras, Q.C.P.R.
10  Burial record of Marie Perras, Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Marie-Jeanne Perras, Q.C.P.R.
12  Baptismal record of Marie Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Pierre Perras (youngest), Q.C.P.R.
14  Ripples from La Prairie Voyageur Canoes (blog), 4 Mar 2017  
15  Burial record of Pierre Perras, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of François Cael, Q.C.P.R.
17  Court records of case involving François Cael and Denise Lemaitre, BAnQ  
18  FamousKin.com  
19  Burial record of Pierre Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Jacques Perras, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Jacques Perras, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Marguerite Perras, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Pierre Poupart and Marguerite Perras, Q.C.P.R.
24  Marriage record of Joseph-Marie Demers and Marguerite Perras, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Catherine Perras, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Catherine Perras, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Jean Perras, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Jean Perras, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Jean Perras and Marguerite Tetu, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Jean Perras and Marie-Madeleine Roy, Q.C.P.R.
31  Baptismal record of Catherine Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
32  Burial record of Catherine Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Eustache Demers and Catherine Perras, Q.C.P.R.
34  Burial record of Marie-Jeanne Perras, Q.C.P.R.
35  Marriage record of Claude Faye and Marie-Jeanne Perras, Q.C.P.R.
36  Marriage record of Pierre Voisin and Marie-Jeanne Perras, Q.C.P.R.
37  Burial record of Marie Perras (younger), Q.C.P.R.
38  Marriage record of Jacques-Antoine Boyer and Marie Perras, Q.C.P.R.
39  Burial record of Pierre Perras (youngest), Q.C.P.R.
40  Marriage record of Pierre Perras and Marie-Marguerite Diel, Q.C.P.R.

A Choice Made By Many Brides — Anne-Jeanne Poitreau

B. about 1652 in La Rochelle, France¹
M. 17 Sep 1668 in Quebec City, New France²
Husband: René Bruneau dit Jolicoeur
D. before 29 Oct 1703 in (probably) New France³

Anne-Jeanne Poitreau had a story shared with many women who settled in Canada in the 1660s: she was a Fille du Roi who married a Carignan-Salières Regiment soldier. Anne-Jeanne was from La Rochelle, a major port city on the west coast of France, born there in about 1652.¹ Her parents were Pierre Poitreau (also spelled Poitraud) and Jeanne Brelle. The circumstances which led to her migration to America are lost to history.

The government had been supplying marriageable girls to the colony for five years when Anne-Jeanne signed up as a Fille du Roi. In the spring of 1668, the ship La Nouvelle France was loaded with 81 women and girls, and it arrived in Quebec City on July 3rd.⁴ Anne-Jeanne was just 16-years-old, but this wasn’t that uncommon, and others on the ship were even younger. Once in Quebec City, the process of making a match began, with men coming to court the women, and Anne-Jeanne signed a marriage contract in September.

Anne-Jeanne’s marriage took place at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec on September 17, 1668.² Her husband was René Bruneau dit Jolicoeur, a 27-year-old former Carignan-Salières Regiment soldier. There is a long list of Filles du Roi who made the same decision as Anne-Jeanne. The military force that arrived in Quebec in 1665 had a thousand young men with three-year contracts of service. Most of them ended their term the same year that Anne-Jeanne arrived, and about 35 of her shipmates also chose soldiers as husbands. All totaled, about 162 of the Filles du Roi who arrived between 1667 and 1673 became wives of the Carignan-Salières Regiment recruits during their first few months in New France.

René took Anne-Jeanne to live in the seigneury of Charlesbourg; his farm was located in a section called Petite-Auvergne. Her first child, a boy, was born over a year later on October 3, 1669.⁵ Since there wasn’t a church nearby, she and her husband traveled to Quebec to have him baptized. This was a trip they made four more times over the next seven years. Unfortunately, only one of the five children lived past infancy. After a parish was built at Charlesbourg, Anne-Jeanne gave birth to five more children, and of these, three survived. None of her sons lived to adulthood, but her four healthy daughters would provide many descendants.

On April 22, 1696, Anne-Jeanne was treated at the hospital in Quebec for an illness or injury.⁶ Later that year, she and her husband sold their concession, and moved elsewhere, possibly Quebec City. It’s unknown when Anne-Jeanne and René died, but they were both deceased by their daughter Marie-Charlotte’s wedding on October 29, 1703.³

Children:
1. Robert Bruneau — B. 3 Oct 1669, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France;⁵ D. 21 Dec 1669, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France⁸

2. Anne Bruneau — B. 21 Dec 1670, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France;⁹ D. 2 Mar 1726, Quebec City, New France;¹⁰ M. (1) Jean Mingou (~1660-?), 17 Sep 1685, Charlesbourg, New France;¹¹ (2) Jean Lamothe (~1664-1724), 14 Oct 1698, Quebec City, New France¹²

3. Louis Bruneau — B. 27 Dec 1673, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France;¹³ D. 14 Feb 1674, Quebec City, New France¹⁴

4. Nicolas Bruneau — B. 12 Feb 1675, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁵ D. 13 Mar 1675, Quebec City, New France¹⁶

5. Marie-Madeleine Bruneau — B. 29 Oct 1676, (probably) Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁷ D. 25 Aug 1687, Quebec City, New France¹⁸

6. Jeanne Bruneau — B. 16 Aug 1679, Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁹ D. 6 Jan 1746, Quebec City, New France;²⁰ M. (1) François Duclas (1668-1708), 16 Oct 1697, Quebec City, New France;²¹ (2) Alexandre Derny Larose (1676-?), 23 Mar 1713, Quebec city, New France²²

7. Marguerite Bruneau — B. 21 Nov 1681, Charlesbourg, New France;²³ D. 12 Apr 1718, Sainte-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;²⁴ M. (1) Charles Giroux (~1669-1714), 23 Feb 1699, Quebec City, New France;²⁵ (2) Hiliare Martin (1692-1756), 8 Nov 1714, Quebec City, New France²⁶

8. Marie-Charlotte Bruneau — B. 19 Dec 1683, Charlesbourg, New France;²⁷ M. (1) Simon Didier Parisien (~1669-1710), 29 Oct 1703, Montreal, New France;³ (2) Claude Laspron dit Lacharité (1679-1739), 7 Jan 1712, Trois-Rivières, New France²⁸

9. René Bruneau — B. 25 Mar 1687, Charlesbourg, New France;²⁹ D. 5 Apr 1687, Charlesbourg, New France³⁰

10. Nicolas Bruneau — B. 20 Oct 1689, Charlesbourg, New France;³¹ D. (probably) young

Sources:
1    Migrations.fr listing for Anne Poitreau  
2    Marriage record of René Bruneau and Anne-Jeanne Poitreau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage record of Simon Didier Parisien and Marie-Charlotte Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
4    Migrations.fr listing for ship La Nouvelle France 1668 
5    Baptismal record of Robert Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
6    Registre Journalier des Malades de L’Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec, Marcel & Gisèle Monarque, 2005
7    Inventaire des greffes des notaires du Régime français, Vol. VII, p.114
8    Burial record of Robert Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
9    Baptismal record of Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
10  Burial record of Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
11  Marriage record of Jean Mingou and Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of Jean Lamothe and Anne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Louis Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Louis Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Nicolas Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Nicloas Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
17  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Jeanne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Jeanne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of François Duclas and Jeanne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Alexandre Derny Larose and Jeanne Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Marguerite Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Marguerite Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Charles Giroux and Marguerite Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Hiliare Martin and Marguerite Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Marie-Charlotte Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Claude Laspron dit Lacharité and Marie-Charlotte Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of René Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
30  Burial record of René Bruneau, Q.C.P.R.
31  Baptismal record of Nicolas Bruneau (younger), Q.C.P.R.

Bringing a Family to New France — Pierre Saint-Denys

B. about 1625 in (probably) Dieppe, France¹

M. about 1645 in (probably) Dieppe, France²
Wife: Vivienne Bunel
D. 12 Sep 1686, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France¹

Most French colonists arrived in America as individuals, but Pierre Saint-Denys brought his wife and children. He was born in about 1625 in Normandy, France, likely in Dieppe.¹ No documentation of his parents have survived, and his own marriage record is lost. The first event that mentions his name was the baptism of a daughter Marie on March 13, 1647 at St-Jacques parish in Dieppe.² His wife was Vivienne Bunel, and based on the fact that they had an earlier child, their marriage date was about 1645. A third child was born in about 1650, and a fourth child was baptized at the same church on August 21, 1652,² but this one seems to have died young.

St-Jacques church in Dieppe, France, where Pierre's first three children were baptized.

During mid-17th century, Dieppe was the port city where the majority of ships left for New France, and those seeking recruits to move there actively signed up people who lived nearby. This is likely how Pierre joined the migration, but it isn’t clear exactly when he did. With a gap of almost 10 years between the births of his known children, he may have initially gone to the colony by himself. His name was said to have appeared in Quebec City on April 28, 1659 in some unspecified record,³ and on May 3, 1662, he was the godfather in a baptism there.⁴ Then on February 6, 1663, a child was born to Pierre and Vivienne at Château-Richer,⁵ followed by two more in 1664 and 1665.^6,7 Sadly, none of these babies lived more than a few days.

Pierre and his family seemed to have lived in the seigneury of Château-Richer from about 1662 to 1679. He was listed in the 1666⁸ and 1667⁹ censuses with his wife and adult children, although his two daughters were soon married off, and in 1667, he had two men working for him. Younger daughter Anne got into some trouble in 1667 in a strange incident involving three other young wives.¹⁰ A man named Nicolas Huot dit Saint-Laurent had delivered firewood to the women, and after they discovered it was too green to use, they went back to him to complain. Tempers flared and the women attacked Huot with sticks. It wasn’t a smart move because he was the local bailiff, and he didn’t hesitate to take them to court. Pierre testified on his daughter’s behalf, but the women were found guilty and sentenced to make a public apology on the church steps.

In 1679, Pierre and Vivienne moved to Île d’Orleans, where he purchased a concession on September 3rd.¹¹ The farm was 3 arpents wide and was located on the north shore towards the middle of the island. He had agreed to pay 200 livres for it, but was later said to be delinquent about paying it. The 1681 census showed that he owned eight heads of cattle and had 15 arpents under cultivation.¹²

Pierre died on September 12, 1686 and was buried at the church in Ste-Famille. His wife Vivienne continued on at the farm for over 12 more years, and passed away in 1699.¹³ They were both ancestors of Jack Kerouac, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Chloë Sevigny, Dan Aykroyd, and Julianne Hough.¹⁴

Children:
1. Pierre Saint-Denys — B. about 1646, (probably) St-Jacques, Dieppe, France;¹⁵ D. 11 Dec 1696, Ste-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹⁵ M. Madeleine Thivierge (~1651-1700), 13 Sep 1670, Château-Richer, New France¹⁶

2. Marie Saint-Denys — B. about 13 Mar 1647, St-Jacques, Dieppe, France;² D. 23 Jan 1705, Rivière Ouelle, New France;¹⁷ M. Pierre Boucher (1639-1707), 4 Apr 1663, Château-Richer, New France¹⁸

3. Anne Saint-Denys — B. about 1650, (probably) St-Jacques, Dieppe, France;¹⁹ D. 16 Oct 1674, Beaupré, New France;¹⁹ M. Laurent Migneron (1640-1705), 7 Sep 1666, Château-Richer, New France²⁰

4. Andre Saint-Denys — B. about 21 Aug 1652, St-Jacques, Dieppe, France;² D. young, (probably) St-Jacques, Dieppe, France

5. Charles Saint-Denys — B. 6 Feb 1663, Château-Richer, New France;⁵ D. 8 Feb 1663, Château-Richer, New France²¹

6. Angelique Saint-Denys — B. 26 Nov 1664, Château-Richer, New France;⁶ D. 28 Nov 1664, Château-Richer, New France²²

7. Louise Saint-Denys — B. 22 Dec 1665, Château-Richer, New France;⁷ D. 27 Dec 1665, Château-Richer, New France²³

Sources:
1    Burial record of Pierre Saint-Denys, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    FichierOrigine listing for Marie St-Denis/St-Denys  
3    Généalogie du Québec et d’Amérique française listing for Pierre St-Denis  
4    Baptismal record of Guillaume Rouleau, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Charles Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of Angelique Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Louise Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
8    Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France
9    Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France
10  Court record for case involving Anne Saint-Denis and others, BAnQ  
11  Rapport de l’Archiviste de la province de Québec, 1953-1954 et 1954-1955, p. 12
12  Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
13  Burial record of Vivienne Bunel, Q.C.P.R.
14  Famouskin.com listing for Vivienne Bunel 
15  Burial record of Pierre Saint-Denys (younger), Q.C.P.R.
16  Marriage record of Pierre Saint-Denys (younger) and Madeleine Thivierge, Q.C.P.R.
17  Burial record of Marie Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Pierre Boucher and Marie Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
19  Burial record of Anne Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Laurent Migneron and Anne Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Charles Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Angelique Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Louise Saint-Denys, Q.C.P.R.

Settling Down in His Forties — Pierre Pluchon

B. about 1617 in Champ-Dolent, France^1,2,3
M. 28 Nov 1662 in Quebec City, New France³
Wife: Marie Grignault dit Ledoux
D. 1 Oct 1699 in Ste-Foy, New France⁴

Pierre Pluchon was an early settler along the St. Lawrence River who seemed to arrive there in his middle-age. His birth year is a mystery because his age was reported differently at various times of his life. It’s likely that he was born in about 1617;^1,2 his birthplace was Champ-Dolent,³ a village in Normandy, and his parents were François Pluchon (sometimes spelled Peluchon) and Lousie Relin. Nothing else is known of Pierre until he was at least 45-years-old.

It seems that Pierre migrated to New France just before his name showed up on a land transaction on September 24, 1662.⁵ He purchased a concession not far upriver from Quebec City between Cap-Rouge and Sillery. The plot was a typical ribbon farm, but was narrower than most at only 2 arpents wide.

1663 map showing Pierre's farm.

Just a couple of months later, Pierre got married to Marie Grignault dit Ledoux, a woman from Brittany who was 20 to 25 years younger than he was. Their wedding took place at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec on November 28, 1662,³ then he presumably settled into a life of farming and raising a family.

Between 1664 and 1676, Pierre became a father seven times, although four children died young, probably as infants. He was listed in both the 1666⁶ and 1667¹ census, but it’s strange that his age was substantially older in the second year. By 1681, he seems to have moved up the river to he seigneury of Maure.² Of the 37 families that lived in his community, Pierre was the oldest person, at a listed age of 68. His farm production was smaller than most, likely due to being elderly and having only one son to help plant and harvest his crops.

Pierre lived a very long life. He passed away on October 1, 1699, and his burial took place at Ste-Foy,⁴ so he likely relocated there late in life. The priest who presided over his funeral was Charles Amador Martin, the son of Abraham Martin. Oddly, the parish record exaggerated Pierre’s age to 100-years-old at his death, suggesting that he must have looked ancient to the people around him. Pierre’s wife Marie survived him and died in 1706 at the age of 70.

Children:
1. Pierre Pluchon — B. 19 Feb 1664, Sillery, New France;⁷ D. 11 Oct 1723, Neuville, New France;⁸ M. Jeanne Lauriot (1671-1742), 7 Jan 1687, Neuville, New France⁹

2. Françoise Pluchon — B. 16 Jul 1666, Sillery, New France;¹⁰ D. before 1667¹

3. Catherine Pluchon — B. 26 Feb 1668, Sillery, New France;¹¹ D. 8 Feb 1743, Quebec City, New France;¹² M. (1) François Savari (~1658-1715), 26 Jul 1683, Neuville, New France; (2) Jean-Baptiste Marchet (1666-1732), 26 Aug 1715, Quebec City, New France¹⁴

4. Joseph Pluchon — B. 14 Jan 1671, Sillery, New France;¹⁵ D. before 1681²

5. Marguerite Pluchon — B. 20 Dec 1672, Sillery, New France;¹⁶ D. before 6 Nov 1676, (probably) Sillery, New France²⁰

6. Jeanne Pluchon — B. 17 Jan 1674, Sillery, New France;¹⁷ D. 12 May 1729, Quebec City, New France;¹⁸ M. Florian de la Citière, 10 Nov 1687¹⁹

7. Marguerite Pluchon — B. 6 Nov 1676, (probably) Sillery, New France;²⁰ D. after 1681

Sources:
1    Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France
2    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
3    Marriage record of Pierre Pluchon and Marie Grignault dit Ledoux, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
4    Burial record of Pierre Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
5    Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, Pierre Georges Roy and Antoine Roy, V. 27, p. 109
6    Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France
7    Baptismal record of Pierre Pluchon (younger), Q.C.P.R.
8    Burial record of Pierre Pluchon (younger), Q.C.P.R.
9    Marriage record of Pierre Pluchon and Jeanne Lauriot, Q.C.P.R.
10  Baptismal record of Françoise Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Catherine Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
12  Burial record of Catherine Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
13  Marriage record of François Savari and Catherine Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Marchet and Catherine Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Joseph Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Marguerite Pluchon (older), Q.C.P.R.
17  Baptismal record of Jeanne Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Jeanne Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Florian de la Citière and Jeanne Pluchon, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Marguerite Pluchon (younger), Q.C.P.R.

Following His Son to America — Thomas Crosby

B. about 1575 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹
M. 19 Oct 1600 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹
Wife: Jane Sotheron
D. before 6 May 1661 in Rowley, Massachusetts²

It was unusual for an Englishman of means to migrate to America in the 1630s, and even more so to do it in their old age, but this was exactly what Thomas Crosby did. He was born in about 1575 to Anthony and Alison Crosby in the Yorkshire village of Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor.¹ Thomas’ family had lived in that area for over 100 years, and probably longer. While not at the top level of society, the Crosbys acquired more land with each generation, which gave them some status in their community.

When Thomas was about 24, his father died, leaving him a 100-acre farm,¹ and about a year later, he got married. His bride was Jane Sotheron who was from another prominent Yorkshire family; her grandfather was said to be “the wealthiest resident of the parish.” The wedding took place in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor on October 19, 1600.¹ Over the next few years, they had four children, all boys. Later, when third son William died at age 30, grandson Anthony was taken in by Thomas and Jane, who raised him like their own child.¹

For nearly 40 years, Thomas lived the life of a yeoman farmer. His name turned up in several lawsuits involving property transactions where he and various parties disputed payments between each other; some of the cases involved his wife’s family. Thomas and his youngest son Simon assumed a mortgage on a large piece of property owned by the local nobility. The action was dated September 17, 1632 and included five houses.¹ Six months later, the noble family took back ownership of the land by paying £400 to Thomas.¹

Thomas' signature, 1632.

During Thomas’ lifetime, Yorkshire was a hotbed of non-conformists, and it’s believed that he became a follower of Puritan minister Ezekiel Rogers; circumstances would suggest this because of where he settled in America. Thomas’ son Simon, who was also a Puritan, left for Massachusetts in 1635, bringing his wife and infant child to the colony.¹ It isn’t known exactly when Thomas, Jane and young Anthony migrated as well. It’s been speculated that they were on the ship John of London with Reverend Rogers and a group of his parishioners in 1638, but their names weren’t listed among the passengers. Perhaps they traveled on another ship around that time.

By 1639, Thomas joined his son Simon in Cambridge, probably living under his roof.¹ Sadly, Simon died in September of that year. It’s believed that Thomas continued to live in Simon’s house until his widow remarried in 1645. During this time Thomas was said to help out financially in support of a printing press in Cambridge, the first one in the New England colony. It had been brought over from England on the John of London, and he may have even paid for its purchase, although this fact isn’t confirmed. Interestingly, Thomas bought 60 acres outside of town from the man who operated the press, Stephen Daye; the sales transaction happened on April 16, 1640.¹

After his daughter-in-law left Cambridge with her new husband, Thomas needed a place to live, and on July 20, 1645, he bought a house and outbuildings on seven acres located at the corner of present-day Ash Street and Brattle Streets.¹ He remained there for the next four years until his friend, Reverend Thomas Shepard died in 1649. Then he moved to the town of Rowley, where many of his acquaintances had moved, including Reverend Rogers. When he was a settler in Rowley, he received allotments of land when the town divided up new property at various times. He bought a home in Rowley on April 30, 1656 from John Hazeltine. This included a house, barn, orchard, “planting” lot and meadows.¹

By the end of Thomas’ life, all of his sons had passed away, so his grandson Anthony, now a doctor, became his sole heir. He deeded the young man everything before he died, signing the document in February 1659 as a joint decision with his wife Jane.¹ The document stipulated that Anthony continue to pay his grandparents £20 per year for their support. Thomas died at Rowley in May of 1662,² and Jane passed away about one year later.²

Children:
1. Anthony Crosby — B. about 1602, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ D. Jun 1632, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹

2. Thomas Crosby — B. about 1604, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ D. Dec 1658, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ M. Prudence, about 1633, (probably) Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England¹

3. William Crosby — B. about 1606, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ D. Jun 1636, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ M. Ann Wright (?-1636), Seaton, Yorkshire, England, 2 Apr 1636¹

4. Simon Crosby — B. about 1608, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England;¹ D. Sep 1639, Cambridge, Massachusetts;¹ M. Ann Brigham (~1606-1675), 21 Apr 1634, Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire, England³

Sources:
1    Simon Crosby the Emigrant: His English Ancestry And Some of His Descendants, Eleanor Davis Crosby, 1914
2    Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Ancestry.com
3    Marriage of Simon Crosby and Ann Brigham, England Parish Register, FindMyPast.com

Puritan Mother of Thirteen Children — Mary Woodford

B. about 1636 in (probably) Roxbury, Massachusetts¹
M. about 1653 in Hartford, Connecticut²
Husband: Isaac Sheldon
D. 17 Apr 1684 in Northampton, Massachusetts³

Mary Woodford spent thirty years of her life, from age 18 to age 48, raising a large family in the early settlements of the Connecticut River valley. No record survives of her birth, but it’s believed that she started out in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1636.¹ Mary’s parents were Thomas Woodford and Mary Blott, and she was their oldest child; only two sisters are known to be her siblings. Her father was one of the founders of Hartford, Connecticut, and she was brought there as a baby.¹

When Mary was about 17, she got married to a man named Isaac Sheldon.² For the first couple of years of their marriage, they lived in the town of Windsor, Connecticut, and Mary gave birth to her first child there in September of 1654.³ Then the family joined a migration up the river to the new settlement of Northampton, Massachusetts.³ Mary’s father relocated there as well, and both of the men’s names can be found in many of the town’s early documents.

Mary and her husband lived next door to her father, and she seems to have maintained a close relationship with him. At his death in 1667, she was bequeathed many of his household possessions.⁴ Besides a cupboard, a large pewter platter, and his own bed, his will stated that she was to have his “great kettle,” but instructed that her younger sisters would be able to use it, too, until “they can provide one for themselves.” In a Puritan New England home, a large cooking pot would have been essential to a woman in her everyday life.

A "great kettle" in a colonial home

During Mary’s years in Northampton, she gave birth to twelve children, making for a total of thirteen. The older ones were all healthy, but child number ten died as an infant. At the time of her final pregnancy, she was in her late 40s, and that child died soon after it was born. Mary likely never recovered from the ordeal of childbirth at her age, and she passed away two months later on April 17, 1684.³

Mary was a direct ancestor of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Frances Cleveland, Nancy Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, J.P. Morgan, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Dr. Benjamin Spock, John Lithgow, Harry Chapin, Kate Upton, and Matt Damon.⁵

Children:
1. Mary Sheldon — B. 4 Sep 1654, Windsor, Connecticut;³ D. 20 Apr 1728, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁶ M. John Bridgman (1645-1712), 11 Dec 1670, Northampton, Massachusetts⁷

2. Isaac Sheldon — B. 4 Sep 1656, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁸ D. 29 Mar 1712, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁹ M. Sarah Warner (1667-1701), 25 Nov 1685, Northampton, Massachusetts¹⁰

3. John Sheldon — B. 5 Dec 1658, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹¹ D. (possibly) 1733, Hartford, Connecticut; M. (1) Hannah Stebbins (1664-1704), 5 Nov 1679, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹² (2) Elizabeth Lee (1669-1758), 20 Apr 1708, Hartford, Connecticut¹³

4. Thomas Sheldon — B. 6 Aug 1661, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁴ D. 7 Jun 1725, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. Mary Hinsdale (1665-1738), 25 Nov 1685, Northampton, Massachusetts¹⁶

5. Ruth Sheldon — B. 27 Aug 1663, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 16 May 1728, Massachusetts;¹⁸ M. (1) Joseph Wright (1657-1697), 6 Nov 1679, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁹ (2) Samuel Strong (1652-1732), 28 Oct 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts²⁰

6. Thankful Sheldon — B. 27 Aug 1663, Northampton, Massachusetts;²¹ D. 1741, Northampton, Massachusetts;²² M. Benjamin Edwards (1652-1724), 23 Feb 1680, Northampton, Massachusetts²³

7. Mindwell Sheldon — B. 24 Feb 1666, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. 8 Apr 1735, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁵ M. (1) John Pomeroy (1662-1685), 30 Apr 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁶ (2) John Lyman (1660-1740), 19 Apr 1687, Northampton, Massachusetts²⁷

8. Joseph Sheldon — B. 1 Feb 1668, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁸ D. 2 Jul 1708, Suffield, Connecticut;²⁹ M. Mary Whiting, 8 Sep 1695, Westfield, Massachusetts³⁰

9. Hannah Sheldon — B. 29 Jun 1670, Northampton, Massachusetts;³¹ D. 27 Jan 1742, Springfield, Massachusetts;³² M. (1) Samuel Chapin (1665-1729), 24 Dec 1690, Springfield, Massachusetts;³³ (2) Thomas Terry (1665-1760), 22 Mar 1735, Springfield, Massachusetts³⁴

10. Eleazar Sheldon — B. 4 Aug 1672, Northampton, Massachusetts;³⁵ D. before 26 Jan 1701, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts³⁶

11. Samuel Sheldon — B. 9 Nov 1675, Northampton, Massachusetts;³⁷ D. 31 Mar 1745, Boston, Massachusetts;³⁸ M. Mary Warner (~1677-?), 1695, Hadley, Massachusetts³⁹

12. Ebenezer Sheldon — B. 1 Mar 1678, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁴⁰ D. 18 Mar 1755, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁴¹ M. Mary Hunt (1680-1767), 16 Dec 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts⁴²

13. Mercy Sheldon — B. 4 Feb 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁴³ D. 4 Feb 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts⁴⁴

Sources:
1    The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, pages 2057-2060, 1995
2    “Isaac Sheldon of Windsor, Conn.,” NEHGR, V. 117, Charlotte Alling Hunt, Apr 1963
3    Sheldons in America (website)
4    Our Woodford (website)
5    FamousKin.com
6    Death record of Mary (Sheldon) Bridgman, Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, FamilySearch.org
7    Marriage record of John Bridgman and Mary Sheldon, Massachusetts Marriages, FamilySearch.org
8    Birth record of Isaack Shelding, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, FamilySearch.org
9    Death record of Isaac Sheldon (younger), Mass. D.&B.
10  Marriage of Isaac Sheldon and Sarah Warner, Mass. Marriages
11  Birth record of John Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
12   Marriage record of John Sheldon and Hannah Stebbins, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
13  Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850, Northampton, Vol. 1, AmericanAncestors.org
14  Birth record of Thomas Sheldon, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, FamilySearch.org
15  Find-a-Grave listing for Thomas Shelden
16  Marriage record of John Sheldon and Mary Hinsdale, Mass. Marriages
17  Birth record of Ruth Sheldon, Mass. B. & C.
18  Find-a-Grave listing for Ruth Sheldon Wright Strong
19  Marriage record of Joseph Wright and Ruth Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
20  Marriage record of Samuel Strong and Ruth Sheldon, Mass. Marriages
21  Birth record of Thankful Sheldon, Mass. B. & C.
22  Death record of Thankful Edwards, Mass. D.&B.
23  Marriage record of Benjamin Edwards and Thankful Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
24  Birth record of Mindwell Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
25  Death record of Mindwell Lyman, Mass. D.&B.
26  Marriage record of John Pomeroy and Mindwell Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
27  Marriage record of John Lyman and Mindwell Pomery, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
28  Birth record of Joseph Sheldon, Mass. B. & C.
29  Death record of Joseph Sheldon, Connecticut Vital Records Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
30  Wikitree listing for Joseph Sheldon https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sheldon-153
31  Birth record of Hannah Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
32  Find-a-Grave listing for Hannah Sheldon
33  Marriage record of Samuel Chapin and Hanah Shelden, Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, FamilySearch.org
34  Marriage record of Thomas Terry and Hannah Chapin, Mass. S.V.R.
35  Birth record of Eleazar Sheldon, Mass. B. & C.
36  Death record of Eleazar Sheldon, Mass. D.&B.
37  Birth record of Samuel Sheldon, Mass. T.C.V.&T.R.
38  Death record of Samuel Sheldon, Mass. D.&B.
39  Christening record of Sam Sheldon (younger), Mass. B.&C.
40  Birth record of Ebenezer Sheldon, Mass. B.&C.
41  Find-a-Grave listing for Ebenezer Sheldon
42  Marriage of Ebenezer Sheldon and Mary Hunt, Mass. Marriages
43  Birth record of Mercy Sheldon, Mass. B. & C.
44  Death record of Mercy Sheldon, Mass. D.&B.

Along the Rivière-du-Sud — Jacques Daniau dit Laprise

B. 12 Jan 1672 in Berthier-sur-Mer, New France¹
M. 31 Aug 1702 in Montmagny, New France²
Wife: Louise Destroismaisons
D. 18 Jul 1751 in St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France³

The Rivière-du-Sud provided an inland waterway for early settlers near the St. Lawrence River, and this was where Jacques Daniau dit Laprise made his home. He was born in Berthier-sur-Mer on January 12, 1672.¹ Jacques was the oldest child of a Carignan-Salières Regiment soldier, Jean Daniau dit Laprise, and a Fille du Roi, Marie-Louise Michaud. After giving birth to four children, his mother died, and his father remarried in 1686, having 8 more children.⁴ The family moved to the seigneury of La Durantaye sometime during the 1690s.⁵

Jacques didn’t get married until he was 30-years-old. His bride was Louise Destroismaisons, who lived with her family on the Rivière-du-Sud. The wedding took place on August 31, 1702 at St-Thomas church in Montmagny,² which was at the mouth of the river. Louise had given birth the year before to an out-of-wedlock child she had with her sister’s stepson, but the baby died soon after birth.^6,7 Curiously, the stepson’s father, Alphonse Morin, was a witness at Jacques and Louise’s wedding. Jacques’ signature appeared in the parish register of his wedding, showing that had enough education to sign his own name.

During the years 1703 to 1718, Jacques and Louise became the parents of nine children, and all except the last two were baptized at St-Thomas church. Meanwhile, the family lived upriver from Montmagny on several farms along Rivière-du-Sud. The earliest of these can be seen on a 1709 map of the region with Jacques’ land positioned on the south side of the river before it curves and turns to the west.⁸

Location of Jacques' farm in 1709 (Source: BAnQ)

After that date, Jacques' name appeared in several records of transactions as he bought and sold his concessions. In June 1713, he sold a ribbon farm that was 5 by 40 arpents to a carpenter in Montmagny for 180 livres.⁹ Other later transactions were a purchase of land in 1721,⁹ another purchase in 1733,⁹ a sale of land in 1735,⁹ a purchase in 1736,⁹ and finally a sale in 1742.⁹ This final transaction happened after he was 70-years-old and all of his children were married.

The last record showing Jacques still alive was the marriage contract of his granddaughter, Claire Daniau dit Laprise, dated July 6, 1749.⁹ The marriage took place the following day at St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud and he was likely in attendance. Jacques died two years later on July 18, 1751.³ His widow Louise lived another four years and passed away in 1755.¹⁰

Children:
1. Jacques Daniau — B. before 11 Sep 1703, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹¹ M. Marie-Anne Cluseau (~1710-?), 7 Jan 1730, Quebec City, New France¹²

2. Jean-Baptiste Daniau — B. before 25 Mar 1705, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹³ D. 4 Nov 1705, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France¹⁴

3. Jean-Baptiste Daniau — B. 25 Mar 1707, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁵ D. 2 Jan 1792, St-François-de-la-Rivière, Quebec;¹⁶ M. (1) Marie-Claire Blanchet (1705-1746), 21 Nov 1727, New France;¹⁷ (2) Madeleine Plante (1729-1808), 3 Jul 1747, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France¹⁸

4. Philippe Daniau — B. 27 Mar 1710, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁹ M. (1) Elisabeth Buteau (1716-?), 27 Dec 1734, Detroit, New France;²⁰ (2) Josephte-Anne Picard (1715-?), 26 Jul 1742, Montreal, New France²¹

5. Pierre Daniau — B. 13 May 1711, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²² D. 1 Jun 1711, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France²³

6. Joseph Daniau — B. 16 Jul 1712, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁴ D. 20 Jun 1782, Montreal, Quebec;²⁵ M. Marie-Josephte Grefferd (1711-1777), 25 Oct 1735, St-Jean, Île d’Orleans, New France²⁶

7. Genevieve Daniau — B. 15 Feb 1714, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁷ D. 11 Sep 1792, Montmagny, Quebec;²⁸ M. Louis Boulay (1704-1779), 5 Nov 1731, Berthier-en-Bas, New France²⁹

8. Marguerite Daniau — B. about 1716, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³⁰ D. 17 Aug 1788, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;³¹ M. Antoine Morin (1704-1776), 25 Oct 1734, St-François-de-la-Rivière, New France³²

9. Marthe Daniau — B. about 1718, (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³³ D. 12 Mar 1786, St-Mathias, Pointe-Olivier, Quebec;³⁴ M. Etienne Fontaine (1686-1764), 19 Aug 1737, St-François-de-la-Rivière, New France³⁵

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise and Louise Destroismaisons, Q.C.P.R.
3    Burial record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise, Q.C.P.R.
4    Marriage record of Jean Daniau dit Laprise and Françoise Rondeau, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Laurent Daniau dit Laprise (Jacques’ half-brother), Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of Alexandre-Joseph Morin, Q.C.P.R.
7    Burial record of Alexandre-Joseph Morin, Q.C.P.R.
8    1709 map of New France, BAnQ  
9    Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, Pierre Georges Roy and Antoine Roy, V. 22
10  Burial record of Louise Destroismaisons, Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Jacques Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of Jacques Daniau and Marie-Anne Clussaeu, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau (older), Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau (older), Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau and Marie-Claire Blanchet, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Daniau and Madeleine Plante, Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Philippe Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Philippe Daniau and Elisabeth Buteau, Parish Registers of Sainte-Anne-de-Détroit, Family History Library
21  Marriage record of Philippe Daniau and Josephte-Anne Picard, Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Pierre Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Pierre Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Joseph Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
25  Burial record of Joseph Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Joseph Daniau and Marie-Josephte Grefferd, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Genevieve Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Genevieve Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Louis Boulay and Genevieve Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
30  Baptismal record of Marguerite Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
31  Burial record of Marguerite Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Antoine Morin and Marguerite Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
33  Baptismal record of Marthe Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
34  Burial record of Marthe Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
35  Marriage record of Etienne Fontaine and Marthe Daniau, Q.C.P.R.

Cloth Maker in Elizabethan England — Francis Littlefield

B. about 1565 in (probably) Hampshire, England¹
M. (1) before 1592 in (probably) Titchfield, England¹
Wife: Mary ______
M. (2) 14 Jul 1606 in Titchfield, England¹
Wife: Agnes ______
D. after 21 Oct 1618 in Titchfield, England¹

A generation before his oldest son founded a family in America, Francis Littlefield operated a fulling mill in late 16th century England. His origins are sketchy, but he was thought to have been born in about 1565 in Hampshire, England.¹ Although his parents’ names are unknown, he had at least one brother named James who lived in Droxford in 1618.¹

The earliest record of Francis was for the baptism of his son Edmond in the parish records of the village of Titchfield dated June 27, 1592.¹ The records began in 1589, so there may have been other children before that date, as well as a marriage to his wife who is only known as Mary. There were four other children that followed, but three of them died as infants. When the last infant was buried on October 29, 1605,¹ Mary was as well, so she likely died because of the childbirth. Francis then married a widow named Agnes Wygg on July 14th of the following year,¹ and they had two children, both of them sons.

The village of Titchfield is located near the south coast of England near Southampton, and it has ancient origins.² During Francis’ time, it was dominated by Titchfield Abbey, the manor house of the Earl of Southampton, who was a patron of Shakespeare.² The region had a large cloth-making industry, and this was how Francis made a living with his own mill. The geography of Hampshire offered many small streams with the right sort of water flow for fulling.³ The process involved machinery that pounded wool with wooden hammers, working it into a finished product.⁴

Fulling mill machinery (Source: Wikipedia)

In October 1618, Francis dictated his will, and he died soon after.¹ The details in the will and the inventory taken of his possessions gave a sense of what his life was like. He left his fulling mill to his second oldest son, James, who was age 23; the building was said to be adjoining his house, which was designated for his wife Agnes. He seems to have had enough wealth to afford a maid, and must have had a good relationship with his brother because he he bequeathed him “my best doublet and breeches.” The inventory of his estate listed large quantities of green, blue and black wool, product that was likely being made ready to sell.

Agnes died within a year after Francis did.¹ At least three of his four surviving children took up the cloth-making business to some extent, although oldest son Edmond moved to America sometime during the 1630s to began a new life there.¹ Francis was the ancestor of President Millard Fillmore⁵.

Children by Mary:
1. Edmond Littlefield — B. before 27 Jun 1592, Titchfield, England;¹ D. Dec 1661, Wells, Maine; M. Agnes Austin (1597-1678), 16 Oct 1614, Titchfield, England¹

2. Nicholas Littlefield — B. before 21 Jul 1595, Titchfield, England;¹ D. before 12 Aug 1595, Titchfield, England¹

3. James Littlefield — B. before 18 Jun 1598, Titchfield, England;¹ M. Joane Jeffrey, 17 Jan 1619, Titchfield, England¹

4. Anne Littlefield — B. before 3 Apr 1601, Titchfield, England; D. before 10 Apr 1601, Titchfield, England¹

5. Frances Littlefield — B. before 6 Oct 1605, Titchfield, England;¹ D. before 29 Oct 1605, Titchfield, England¹

Children by Agnes:
1. Nicholas Littlefield — B. before 28 Aug 1608, Titchfield, England;¹ D. 23 May 1677, Titchfield, England¹

2. John Littlefield — B. before 13 Jan 1611, Titchfield, England¹

Sources:
1    “Genealogical Research in England,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 37-52, 1913
2    Titchfield (Wikipedia article) 
3    “Ancient Mills of Hampshire,” T.W. Shore, The Antiquary: A Magazine Devoted to the Study of the Past, Vol. 24, 1891
4    Fulling (Wikipedia article) 
5    FamousKin.com