M. 22 Oct 1665, Château-Richer, New France2
Wife: Anne Girard
D. 24 Aug 1699 in La Pérade, New France1
During the middle of his life, Nicolas Daudelin seemed to be involved in plotting to steal a vast amount of money from an important man in New France. Nicolas had sketchy beginnings, said to be born in about 1635 in Rouen, France to parents Jacques Daudelin and Jeanne Lépine.2 He first turned up in Canada in a record dated January 21, 1665 working as farm laborer for Jean Migneault and Charles Cloutier, two early settlers of Beauport.3 The standard length of an engaged servant’s contract was three years, and this seemed to have been his final year of service, so Nicolas likely arrived from France in about 1663.
In the fall of 1665, Nicolas sought out a bride from that year’s shipload of Filles du Roi. He chose Anne Girard, who at age 35 was unusually old for a woman still single. Their marriage contract was signed on October 21st, and the wedding took place the next day at Château-Richer.2 The witnesses were Zacharie and Jean Cloutier, brothers of Charles, further establishing his connection to that family. Nicolas and Anne had their first two children in 1667, a set of twins. Two years later, another set of twins were born. Despite the encouragement by authorities to have large families, Nicolas only fathered these four children; perhaps Anne’s age was a factor in this.
The event that gives an impression that Nicolas wasn’t a lawful man happened in 1675.4 In June of that year, a trial took place at Quebec involving him and two others, Mathurin Tessier and Antoine Gaboury. The three were all accused of planning to make themselves rich by poaching goods from remote outposts. The idea was that they would travel into present-day New York, and on the way, pillage “the establishment of Charles Bazire,” a wealthy merchant who operated a post at the Rivière-du-Loup.5 They calculated that each participant in the crime would get 20,000 livres, an enormous sum of money. Nicolas had two farm laborers who worked for him also in on the plot, and it was these two who seemed to blow his cover, along with another settler invited to join them named Jean Briere.
Map showing location of Rivière-du-Loup.
When the accused men were brought to court, each of them denied it, pointing the finger at each other. Tessier claimed Nicolas was the ring leader, saying that he had cooked the whole thing up. Meanwhile, Briere testified that Tessier and Gaboury were to blame for talking Nicolas into their scheme. The records don’t reveal the outcome of the trial, but afterwards, Nicolas seems to have resumed his life as a farmer. The 1681 census showed that he had 37 arpents under cultivation and 19 cattle, both of which were signs of success.6 Soon after, the family relocated to the seigneury of La Pérade, located upriver from Quebec City.
Nicolas died at La Pérade on August 25, 1699. His wife Anne survived him and passed away in 1710.7
Children:
1. Marie-Anne Daudelin – B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;8 D. 1 Jul 1733, Vercheres, New France;9 M. René Provost (~1652-1734), 9 Jan 1684, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France10
2. Réne Daudelin – B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;12 D. 11 May 1719, Varennes, New France;13 M. (1) Marguerite Collette (1669-1703), 7 Jan 1687, Batiscan, New France;14 (2) Marie-Madeleine Abirou (1680-1736), 1 Dec 1703, Varennes, New France15
3. Madeleine Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France;16 D. 26 Apr 1750, Varennes, New France;17 M. (1) Jean-Baptiste Rougeau (1649-1718), 8 Feb 1684, La Pérade, New France;18 (2) Antoine Berthelet (1675-1755), 30 Jun 1732, Montreal, New France19
4. Marie Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France16
Sources:
1 Burial record of Nicolas Daudelin, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Nicolas Daudelin and Anne Girard, Q.C.P.R.
5 Charles Bazire (Wikipedia article)
6 1681 Census of New France
7 Burial record of Anne Girard, Q.C.P.R.
8 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
9 Burial record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
10 Marriage record of René Provost and Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
11 Baptismal record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
13 Burial record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marguerite Collet, Q.C.P.R.
15 Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marie-Madeleine Abirou, Q.C.P.R.
16 Baptismal record of Madeleine and Marie Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
17 Burial record of Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
18 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Rougeau and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
19 Marriage record of Antoine Berthelet and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
