M. (1) 16 October 1670 in Quebec City, New France2
Husband: Jean Guay
M. (2) 20 Nov 1679 in Quebec City, New France3
Husband: Martin Guédon
D. before 13 Nov 1709 in (probably) Lauzon, New France4
A woman who was suddenly widowed in 17th century America faced serious hardships. This may have been why Marie Briere wasted no time arranging for a new mate to take the place of her deceased husband. She had been born about 1645 in Pont-l’Eveque, France,1 a village in Normandy that was known for its soft cheese. Her parents were François Brière and Louise Trajan, but nothing else is known of her family.
When Marie was 19, after both of her parents had died, she became one of the many women from Normandy to sign up as a Fille du Roi. The ship she sailed on was called La Nouvelle-France, which arrived at Quebec City on July 31, 1670 with at least 108 women aboard.5 Two and a half months later on October 16th, Marie got married at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec to Jean Guay2, who had arrived about five years earlier, also from Normandy. Jean had settled across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec in Lauzon, and this is where he took Marie to begin their life together.
During their marriage, Marie gave birth to six children in the space of eight years. The last was a baby girl who was baptized on August 7, 1679 with Jean in attendance.6 This was the last time he appeared in records, and less than two weeks later, Marie agreed to a contract to marry another man, Martin Guédon.7
Baptism showing Marie's first husband just before he died. (Source: FamilySearch.org)
How did this happen so suddenly? Jean must have tragically died in some way very soon after the baptism. The fact no burial seems to have taken place would suggest that he drowned in the St. Lawrence. In any event, an offer of marriage came to Marie, now with six fatherless children under age 8, and she agreed to it.
Marie’s second marriage was on November 20, 1679 at the same place as her first wedding.3 Her new husband Martin was a hat maker originally from Rouen, and he had never been married before; they had one child together born in 1681.8 After attending the wedding of her daughter on January 18, 1695,9 there was no further mention of Marie in the records. Martin seemed to be a widower in a document dated November 13, 1709,4 so she died between those two dates.
Children by Jean Guay:
1. Alexis Guay — B. 4 Sep 1671, Lauzon, New France;10 D. before 28 Jul 1710, New France;11 M. Elisabeth Dizy (~1672-1703), 26 Jan 1698, Champlain, New France12
2. Rosalie Guay — B. 26 Mar 1673, Lauzon, New France;13 D. 22 Jan 1749, Baie-du-Febvre, New France;14 M. (1) Silvain Duplais (1670-?), 28 Jun 1694, Quebec City, New France;15 (2) Julien Laniel (~1663-1726), 28 Aug 1703, Quebec City, New France16
3. Marie Guay — B. 19 Dec 1674, Lauzon, New France;17 D. 19 Sep 1747, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, New France;18 M. François Dubois (1668-1714), 18 Jan 1695, Quebec City, New France9
4. Catherine Guay — B. 24 May 1676, Lauzon, New France19
5. Jean-Baptiste Guay — B. 23 Jun 1678, Lauzon, New France;20 D. 5 Aug 1705, Montreal, New France21
6. Marie-Angelique Guay — B. 6 Aug 1679, Lauzon, New France;6 D. 8 Oct 1704, Quebec City, New France;22 M. Jean Boucher (1671-?), 16 Oct 1696, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, New France23
Children by Martin Guédon:
1. Martin Guédon — B. 1681, Lauzon, New France
Sources:
1 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Marie Brière
2 Marriage record of Jean Guay and Marie Brière, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3 Marriage record of Martin Guédon and Marie Brière, Q.C.P.R.
4 Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec des origines à 1730, René Jetté, 1983, pp. 538-539
5 Migrations.fr listing for voyage of the ship La Nouvelle France in 1670
6 Baptismal record of Marie-Angelique Guay, Q.C.P.R.
7 Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, Pierre Georges Roy and Antoine Roy, V. 27, BAnQ
8 Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
9 Marriage record of François Dubois and Marie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
10 Baptismal record of Alexis Guay, Q.C.P.R.
11 Document dated July 28, 1710 regarding guardianship of Alexis Guay’s children, BAnQ
12 Marriage record of Alexis Guay and Elisabeth Dizy, Q.C.P.R.
13 Baptismal record of Rosalie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
14 Burial record of Rosalie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
15 Marriage record of Silvain Duplais and Rosalie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
16 Marriage record of Julien Laniel and Rosalie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Marie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Marie Guay, Q.C.P.R.
19 Baptismal record of Catherine Guay, Q.C.P.R.
20 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Guay, Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Guay, Q.C.P.R.
22 Burial record of Marie-Angelique Guay, Q.C.P.R.
23 Marriage record of Jean Boucher and Marie-Angelique Guay, Q.C.P.R.
