A Quebec Farming Heritage — Joseph Mignault dit LaBrie

B. 9 Jun 1785 in L’Islet, Quebec
M. 19 Oct 1812 in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec
Wife: Marie-Charlotte Dubois
D. 15 Jul 1846 in St-Norbert, Quebec

In a story common to many 19th-century French-Canadians, Joseph Mignault dit LaBrie’s ancestors had farmed in Quebec for generations. But he was the end of the line, as none of his six sons carried on that tradition when they came of age. 

Joseph was born to François-Joseph Mignault dit LaBrie and Marguerite Chouinard, on June 9, 1785 in L’Islet, Quebec. His parents would have a total of 13 children, but only 3 survived childhood. Joseph was 27-years-old when he got married. His bride, Marie-Charlotte Dubois was only 15, and the wedding took place on October 19, 1812 in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy. 

For a few years, Joseph had a farm in the same community where he was married. By 1822, the family moved to Arthabaska, but in 1825, the census showed them back in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, living next to the households of Charlotte’s brother and uncle. The couple had a total of 12 children born between 1813 and 1838; only the first-born and the last-born children died young. 

1825 census showing Joseph fourth from the bottom on the page.

French-Canadians along the south shore of the St. Lawrence had made a living in agriculture for generations, in spite of the harsh climate. It was a hard life with practically no opportunity for upward mobility, not to mention the fact that the physical labor took a toll on people. Many began to seek new land, perhaps because the coast was being over-farmed. In about 1830, Joseph moved his family to a place near where he was born, in St-Jean, Dorchester County. The 1831 census indicated that he was the proprietor of a 60-acre farm, and he paid rent for it amounting to 3/8 of his earnings. His farm was under an antiquated tenant system where farmers leased their land from seigneurs (or landlords); within a generation, the system would be abolished. 

On 24 acres of his farm, Joseph produced 100 bushels of potatoes that year. While many of his neighbors grew wheat, oats and peas, potatoes were Joseph’s only crop. The farm also had 8 head of cattle, 2 horses and 4 pigs. Charlotte’s brother and uncle were living close to them just as they were in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy. Joseph and his family are missing from the 1842 census, likely because the original records have been lost for many communities in Quebec. 

Growing potatoes in Quebec. (AI-generated image)

Joseph died in St-Norbert on July 15, 1846 and was buried at the church cemetery there. His wife Charlotte passed away sometime before 1864. None of Joseph’s surviving sons remained in Quebec, with most of them ending up in the United States; if they became farmers, their land was far away from the fields their father had planted. 

Children:
1. Joseph LaBrie — B. 19 Sep 1813, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. 19 Dec 1820, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec

2. Genevieve LaBrie — B. about 1815, Quebec; D. 15 Mar 1881, West St. Paul, Minnesota; M. Flavien Roberge (1813-1894), 8 Nov 1834, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec

3. Louis LaBrie — B. Nov 1818, Quebec; D. 22 Feb 1903, Minneapolis, Minnesota; M. Julie Fortier (1821-1904), 14 Sep 1841, Sylvestre, Quebec

4. Henriette LaBrie — B. 9 Sep 1822, Arthabaska, Quebec; M. Jean-Baptiste Boucher dit Morency (1819-1873), 27 Apr 1841, Sylvestre, Quebec

5. Jean-Baptiste LaBrie — B. 9 Sep 1822, Arthabaska, Quebec; D. 13 Jun 1905, Barron County, Wisconsin; M. Perpetue Demers (1827-1899), 27 Feb 1843, Blandford, Quebec

6. Marie-Marguerite LaBrie — B. about 8 Mar 1826, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. about 1888; M. Olivier Demers (~1822-?), 12 Jan 1847, Arthabaska, Quebec

7. Francis LaBree — B. 15 Jan 1828, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. 27 Dec 1909, Minneapolis, Minnesota; M. Eliza Furlong (1830-1912), 23 Jan 1854, St. Paul, Minnesota

8. Benjamin LaBrie — B. (possibly) 1831, Quebec; D. (possibly) 19 Feb 1907, Arthabaska, Quebec; M. Marie Vachon (~1833-~1896), 3 Nov 1864, Tlingwick, Quebec

9. Marie-Adelaide LaBrie — B. 15 May 1832, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec; D. 24 Apr 1915, Yreka, California; M. François Dassisi LeMay (1820-1880), 7 Feb 1853, Ramsey County, Minnesota

10. Edouard LaBrie — B. about 18 Jul 1834, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec; M. (1) Catherine Couture, 24 Sep 1860, Tlingwick, Quebec; (2) Josephine

11. Marie-Heloise LaBrie — B. about 16 Oct 1838, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec; D. Jul 1839, Quebec

Sources:
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
U.S Federal Census records, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900
1825 and 1831 Canada census records
Canada Census (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) 1906
Find-A-Grave
Seigneurial System, The Canadian Encyclopedia (website)

Dutchman Imprisoned in New France — Denys Hegeman

B. 1658 in Flatbush, New Netherland
M. about 1680 in Maine
Wife: Grace Dollen
D. about 1702 in New York

The 17th-century in America included some interaction between European settlements, and by virtue of where Denys Hegeman was living, he found himself involved in three different colonies. Denys was born in about 1658 in Flatbush, New Netherland. His parents, Adrian Hegeman and Catharina Margetts, had migrated from Holland in about 1650. Denys had six brothers and one sister. Adrian became one of the early leaders in Flatbush, and was the area’s first teacher. 

In 1673, Denys was a private in Captain Stemnek's company of the Reformed Dutch Church in Flatbush. He moved to Pemaquid, Maine, possibly having been sent there as a member of the militia, and in about 1680, married Grace Dollen, a woman born to English settlers there. In a valuation made October 14, 1687, Denys had an estate in the town of Jamestown, Maine. Another undated document, supposedly about 1688, mention is made of "a Certaine Tract of upland lying upon ye westwards side of Pemaquid River between ye lotts of Henry Hedger & Denise Higaman."

Denys and Grace had four children born in Pemaquid between 1681 and 1688. Then on August 2, 1689, Pemaquid was assaulted by a band of Abenaki Indians, and among the inhabitants taken prisoner were Denys' wife Grace and their daughter Jane. It’s unknown what became of the child, but Grace was held captive by the Indians for three years. She was moved from place to place, then she was taken to New France and sold to the French, who held her in Quebec City for another two and a half years.

The fort at Pemaquid in 1691.

Meanwhile Denys Hegeman returned to New York, probably with the rest of their children; his name is on a document from April 16, 1690 regarding his mother's estate. In 1691, he obtained permission from New York's governor Henry Sloughter to make a trip to Pemaquid to see if he could make contact with Grace again. Soon after, Governor Sloughter arranged for a small ship to take Denys to Pemaquid. The intention was to find a way to deal with the Indians who took Grace. When he arrived, though, he was taken prisoner by a Frenchman and transported to Quebec City.

While Denys was in Quebec City, he was joined by Grace, and on March 4, 1693, their son Joseph was born. Denys was then moved to France, leaving his wife and son behind in New France. Later he wrote, in a petition to authorities to get Grace released, "I have been a prisoner in all said place about three years to the great hardship durance & damage of your petitioner who is a lame man having but one arm." It is not known when he lost his arm.

Denys was released from captivity in about 1694 and returned to Flatbush. Grace left Quebec City on September 4th, spent the winter in Port-Royal, Acadia, and made it to Boston in May 1695. She returned to Denys in Flatbush where they had a son Jacobus born in 1699. The family was listed in the census consisting of one man, one woman and five children.

Denys' signature on a 1699 document.

It is believed that Denys died in about August of 1702 because there is a record showing that money was paid for his shroud. Grace had a child born the following year and she named him Denys. On April 13, 1703, she filed a petition asking for money as a reward for the years of service of her late husband. Grace lived as widow for many years, and died in 1734. 

Children:
1. Dollens Hegeman — B. about 1681, Pemaquid, Maine; D. before 20 May 1760, (probably) Middlesex, New Jersey; M. Geertruy Bergen, 1703, Middlesex County, New Jersey

2. Adrian Hegeman — B. about 1683, Pemaquid, Maine; D. Aug 1762, Somerset County, New Jersey; M. (1) Elizabeth Van Wyck (?-1720), 15 Dec 1706, Flatbush, New York; (2) Sarah ______, before 1719

3. Catharina Hegeman — B. about 1688, Pemequid, Maine; M. (1) Hendrick Vonck (1681-bef 1735), 12 May 1706, Flatbush, New York; M. (2) Anke Lefferts Haughwot, 30 July 1735

4. Jane Hegeman — B. about 1687, Pemaquid, Maine; D. about 1699, (probably) Maine

5. Joseph Hegeman — B. 4 Mar 1693, Quebec City, New France; D. 31 Mar 1748, Flatbush, New York; M. Alida Andriesz (1699-?), 4 Jun 1714, Flatbush, New York

6. Jacobus Hegeman — B. 18 Jan 1699, Jamaica, New York; D. 25 Sep 1736, Hillsborough, New Jersey; M. Jannetje Van Vegten (1701-1778), 13 May 1721

7. Denys Hegeman — B. before 29 Jun 1703, (probably) Jamaica, New York; D. after 1762

Sources:
"The Tribulations of Denys Hegeman," Richard W. Cook, Genealogies of New Jersey Families: A-Z, pre-American notes on New Netherland families, 1996
Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, N.Y., Teunis G. Bergen
Genealogy website of John Blythe Dobson, which cites many sources

Founding a Colonial Tavern — John Lyman

B. 1 Aug 1660 in Northampton, Massachusetts
M. 19 Apr 1687 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Wife: Mindwell Shelton
D. 8 Nov 1740 in Northampton, Massachusetts

John Lyman not only passed his home to his descendants, he passed his profession as well. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on August 1, 1660, the oldest son in the family of John Lyman and Dorcas Plumb. The Lymans had settled in Northampton only a couple years before John’s birth; he had two older sisters and would have seven younger siblings. John’s father was a leader in the militia and was a lieutenant during King Philip’s War.

John married another Northampton resident, Mindwell Sheldon, on April 19, 1687; she had been previously married to John Pomeroy, who died two years earlier. The newlyweds settled at the southern end of Northampton in a place called South Farms, not far from Smith’s Ferry (the location is in present-day Holyhoke). Eleven children were born there between 1688 and 1713. Along with running a farm, John opened up his home to travelers coming and going to Northampton. It’s not known exactly when John began what became known as Lyman’s Tavern, but it was said that he operated it until the end of his life.

During the 1690s, John served in the militia and was involved in King William’s War. England and France were at war in Europe, which led to threats of invasion from New France. John was one of 19 men from Northampton who went to Deerfield, the northernmost town in western Massachusetts. On September 16, 1696, Indians who sided with the French raided settlers nearby, capturing and killing several people including women and children. John was very likely part of the force who pursued the attackers afterwards.

John returned home to South Farms and resumed his life as farmer and innkeeper. His son Phineas attended Yale in 1725, but he died while a student there. John’s wife Mindwell passed away in 1735, and John died on November 8, 1740. After his death, his son Elias took over the homestead, continuing as a tavern keeper, and when he died in 1790, his son Joel took over the business. It was said that Lyman’s Tavern remained in the family for over 125 years.

A piece of furniture connected to John has survived for three centuries. It's a wooden chest which was custom-made for his daughter Esther in preparation for marriage. There are several other similar chests in existence, presumably made by the same furniture maker in Northampton.

Esther Lyman's blanket chest, circa 1720.

John was the ancestor of Dr. Benjamin Spock.

Children:
1. Mindwell Lyman — B. 30 Aug 1688, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 4 Apr 1713, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Montague (1681-1722)

2. Dorcas Lyman — B. 11 Aug 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 15 Nov 1770, South Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Alvord (1685-1757), 29 Dec 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts

3. Hannah Lyman — B. 2 Apr 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts

4. John Lyman — B. 12 Oct 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Jan 1783, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. Abigail Moseley (1697-1750), 1 Jan 1717, Northampton, Massachusetts

5. Mary Lyman — B. 1696, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Nov 1778, Enfield, Connecticut; M. (1) John Pomeroy (~1695-?); (2) Samuel Dwight (1696-1763), 18 Jun 1719

6. Esther Lyman — B. 15 Feb 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 23 Aug 1736, Connecticut; M. Benjamin Talcott (1702-1785), 26 Aug 1724

7. Gideon Lyman — B. 19 Mar 1700, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Apr 1775, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) Esther Strong (1702-1740); (2) Catherine King (1701-1791)

7. Elizabeth Lyman — B. 8 Dec 1702, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 19 Apr 1778; M. (1) Abner Moseley (1699-1766), 5 Jun 1722, Glastonbury, Connecticut; (2) John Potwine (1698-1792), 1771

9. Phineas Lyman — B. May 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 10 Feb 1725, New Haven, Connecticut

10. Elias Lyman — B. May 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 17 Apr 1790; M. Hannah Allen (1714-1771), 1736

11. Gad Lyman — B. 13 Feb 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 24 Oct 1791, Goshen, Massachusetts; M. Thankful Pomeroy (1711-1790), 22 Jun 1738, Northampton, Massachusetts

Sources:
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
Antiquities, Historicals and Graduates of Northampton, Solomon Clark, 1882
Find-A-Grave.com

FamousKin.com listing for John Lyman

4th Generation Fur Trader — Charles Diel

B. 16 Oct 1746 in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, New France¹
M. about 1773 in (probably) Illinois Territory²
Wife: Elisabeth Clermond Dubord
D. 8 Jul 1813 in Vincennes, Indiana Territory³

Like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him, Charles Diel engaged in the fur trade in the Great Lakes region, and was also the fourth generation in a row with that name.

Charles was born on October 16, 1746 to Charles Diel and Felicite Sauve dit LaPlante in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue,¹ their first child and only son; he had three younger sisters. His father seems to have died in 1756,⁴ and his mother remarried, but she died when Charles was 13-years-old.⁵

On May 29 1765, Charles agreed to a fur trading contract to travel to Michilimackinac for one year,⁵ putting his X on the document (he likely had no education as a boy). He was to be paid 300 livres for his work and supplied with some clothing. The contract said Charles was to leave immediately, and he must have traveled by canoe in a convoy to the remote trading post. By this time, England had control over all of New France, but fur trade was still thriving in places like Michilimackinac, which was recovering from an Indian uprising two years earlier known as Pontiac’s Rebellion. 

A young voyageur. (AI-generated image)

After 1765, there is no record of Charles until ten years later when he turned up at Post Vincennes on a baptism for his own child.⁷ He had married Elisabeth Clermond Dubord, a native of Detroit, sometime before that date.² It may have been fur trading that brought Charles to Vincennes, but by there’s no evidence that he continued in that business, and most likely he supported his family as a farmer. He and his wife had eleven more children born between 1776 and 1798.

Charles was one of the men who made his mark on the Oath of Allegiance in Vincennes in 1778, pledging his support for the American side during the Revolution.⁸ Like all French people who lived in Vincennes, he was there when George Rogers Clark took charge of the fort in February 1779, and it’s likely that he helped the soldiers in some way. 

Charles' mark on Vincennes Oath of Allegiance. Gueille was a variation of Diel.

After the war, the French settlers were considered to be patriots, and anyone who could prove they were the head of a household in 1783 received land. But in 1790, when Charles wanted to formalize the title for 136 acres, his claim was rejected because he had only cleared about 4 acres and he hadn’t planted any crops there.⁹

On July 22, 1808, Charles was involved in another land claim, this one for his late father-in-law’s estate.¹⁰ Elisabeth had died by then, so he represented his children as partial heirs to 400 acres of land, and Charles made his mark on the petition to settle the title. It’s not known how this was resolved.

Charles died on in Vincennes on July 8, 1813, and he was buried at St. Francis Xavier church cemetery.³ The line of French fur traders named Charles Diel stopped here.

Children:
1. Charles Guiel — B. 5 Sep 1775, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;⁷ Marie Helen Jacqueau (?-1796) 4 Apr 1796, Vincennes, Northwest Territory¹¹

2. Genevieve Guiel — B. 21 Aug 1776, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory¹²

3. Eustache Guiel — B. 16 Sep 1778, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory¹³

4. Louis Guiel — B. 21 Sep 1781, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory¹⁴

5. Dominique Diel — B. 25 Jan 1784, Vincennes, Virginia Territory¹⁵

6. Ursule Diel — B. 25 Jan 1784, Vincennes, Virginia Territory¹⁶

7. Josephine Guiel — B. before 25 Sep 1786, Vincennes, Virginia Territory;¹⁷ M. François Turpin (1777-?), 14 Jul 1805, Vincennes, Indiana Territory¹⁸

8. Joseph Gaile — B. before 18 Nov 1788, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;¹⁹ D. May 1835, Lawrence County, Illinois;²⁰ M. Archange Baillargeon (1793-1849), before 18 Oct 1818, (probably) Vincennes, Indiana²¹

9. Françoise Diel — B. May 1791, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²² D. May 1791, Vincennes, Northwest Territory²³

10. Susanne Diel — B. 3 Jun 1794, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²⁴ D. after 4 Sep 1835, (probably) Vincennes, Indiana;²⁵ M. Dominic Legarde (1785-1835), Before 19 Oct 1815, (probably) Vincennes, Indiana²⁶

11. Marie Diel — B. 3 Oct 1796, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²⁷ D. 19 Oct 1848, Vincennes, Indiana;²⁷ M. Joseph Metteix (1789-?), 8 Nov 1813, Vincennes, Indiana Territory²⁸

12. Adelaide Diel — B. 6 Sep 1798, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²⁹ D. 30 Nov 1800, Vincennes, Indiana Territory²⁹

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Charles Diel, Quebec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Estimated marriage year based on birth of oldest child.
3    Indiana, Knox County: A Complete Survey of Cemetery Records, Vol. 5
4    Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Crete and Marie-Felicite Sauve on 8 Jan 1757, Q., C. P. R.
5    Burial record of Marie-Felicite Sauve, Q., C. P. R.
6    Fur trade contracts for men named Diel, Centre du patrimoine website
7    Christening record of Charles Guiel, Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933, FamilySearch.org
8    Vincennes Oath, 1778, Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, Illinois Library
9    American State Papers, Class 8, V. 2
10  Clermont, Widow petition of heirs to partition her land 1808, Indiana Memory Hosted Digital Collections
11  Marriage record of Charles Guiel and Marie Helen Jacqueau, Indiana, Marriages, 1780-1992, FamilySearch.org
12  Christening record of Genevieve Guiel, I., B. & C.
13  Christening record of Eustache Guielle, I., B. & C.
14  Christening record of Louis Guille, I., B. & C.
15  Christening record of Dominique Guiele, I., B. & C.
16  Christening record of Ursule Guiele, I., B. & C.
17  Christening record of Marie Josette Diel, I., B. & C.
18  Marriage record of François Turpin and Josephine Guelle, I. M.
19  Christening record of Joseph Diel, I., B. & C.
20  Death record of Joseph Gail, Ancestry.com
21  St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Records: Baptisms 1749-1838, Barbara Schull Wolfe, 1999
22  Christening record of Françoise Diel, I., B. & C.
23  Burial record of Françoise Diel, I., D. & B.
24  Christening record of Susanne Guielle, I., B. & C.
25  Death record of Dominic Lagarde, I., D. & B.
26  Christening record of Joanne Lagarde, I., B. & C.
27  Christening record of Marie Guele, I., B. & C.
28  Marriage record of Joseph Metai and Marie Guele, I. M.
29  Christening record of Adelaide Guele, I., B. & C.

Midwife in New France — Madeleine Bailly

B. about 1647 in Paris, France¹
M. (1) 5 Jul 1672 in Quebec City, New France²
Husband: Guillaume Vanier dit LaFontaine
M. (2) 27 Sep 1697 in Charlesbourg, New France³
Husband: Joseph Fernando
D. 26 Mar 1734 in Montreal, New France⁴

Madeleine Bailly was a woman from Paris whose life had many twists and turns. She was born about 1647 to Guillaume Bailly and Barbe Seillier in the parish of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie in the 4th arrondissement, which was in the heart of the city. Before she could find a husband, both of her parents died. Without many options, she signed up at age 24 for an opportunity to migrate to America as a Fille du Roi.¹

The ship that brought Madeleine to America was the Saint Jean-Baptiste, which sailed out from Dieppe at the end of June in 1671.⁵ Women who signed up to marry men in New France had been migrating there for seven years, and Madeleine was in one of the last Fille du Roi groups; there were about 120 women with her and many of them were from Paris. The 300-ton galleon also carried a hundred men, including a wealthy settler with servants, and below decks were 10 donkeys and 50 sheep, as well as goods and clothing needed in the colony.⁵ The ship landed at Quebec City on August 15th.⁵

Upon arrival, Madeleine had an obligation to find a husband. The prospective brides usually stayed together in a convent setting while the men came to them, and they would be engaged within a month or two. But Madeleine didn’t sign a marriage contract until April the following year when she hooked up with a man named Jean Briére. Something went wrong, and the arrangement was voided.¹ It took another few months before she finally married another man, a candle maker named Guillaume Vanier dit LaFontaine, on July 5, 1672.²

During Madeleine’s long wait for a suitable husband, she must had a lot of free time. Perhaps this is when she found a vocation as a midwife, although she may have had previous experience in Paris. Delivering babies was largely handled by women rather than male doctors, and it took some informal training to do so. It’s not known how many births she may have assisted in, nor how many years she worked, except that she was midwifing in 1681.⁶

Midwife at work in 17th century.

Madeleine gave birth to her first child in 1673,⁷ and over the next 15 years she had five more, one of whom died young. By then, she and her husband had moved to Charlesbourg,⁸ which was north of Quebec City. Then tragedy struck on August of 1687, when Guillaume was killed in an accident; his gun went off as he was returning from an expedition to fight the Iroquois.¹ He was buried at Montreal near where he died.

There is a mystery surrounding the next few years of Madeleine’s life. She became pregnant by an unknown man and gave birth to a daughter on February 20, 1692.⁹ The girl died at age three;¹⁰ neither her baptism nor her burial record revealed who the father was. The child may have been the result of an affair, or possibly a rape, but these details aren’t known.

Madeleine remained in Charlesbourg and married a second husband there on September 27, 1697.³ He was Joseph Fernando, a man serving in the French Navy; he was thought to be of Spanish or Portuguese heritage. The couple didn’t have any children together, but Madeleine at age 50 was probably past child-bearing age.

During her last few years, Madeleine lived with her husband in the Montreal area, where he died in 1718.¹¹ She passed away on March 26, 1734 at about the age of 87,⁴ a long life for the times she lived in. She was the ancestor of Ricky Gervais, Beyoncé and Ron Guidry.

Children by Guillaume Vanier dit LaFontaine:
1. Anne Vanier — B. 6 Apr 1673, Quebec City, New France;⁷ D. 6 Feb 1750, Montreal, New France;¹² M. Julienn Leblanc (1667-1756), 9 Jan 1689, Charlesbourg, New France¹³

2. Marie-Madeleine Vanier — B. 3 Jan 1675, Quebec City, New France;¹⁴ D. 10 Nov 1749, Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁵ M. (1) Jean-François Martel (1671-1715), 13 Feb 1695, Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁶ (2) Jean-François Barbeau (1684-?), 22 Oct 1718, Charlesbourg, New France¹⁷

3. Nicolas Vanier — B. Jul 1677, Quebec City, New France;¹⁸ D. 14 Jan 1680, Quebec City, New France¹⁹

4. Jean Vanier — B. 21 Jun 1681, Quebec City, New France;²⁰ D. 15 Mar 1746, Montreal, New France;²¹ M. (1) Marie Hotte (1679-1711), 18 Aug 1704, Charlesbourg, New France;²² (2) Marie-Charlotte Chamard (1693-1777), 13 Jun 1712, Charlesbourg, New France²³

5. Marie-Marguerite Vanier — B. 29 Mar 1684, Charlesbourg, New France;⁸ D. 18 Apr 1715, Charlesbourg, New France;²⁴ M. Charles Boyer (?-1727), 9 Feb 1699, Charlesbourg, New France²⁵

6. Pierre-Thomas Vanier — B. 8 Jun 1687, Charlesbourg, New France;²⁶ D. 20 Mar 1711, Charlesbourg, New France;²⁷ M. Marie-Anne Bourbeau (1690-1731), 9 Feb 1711, Charlesbourg, New France²⁸

Child by unknown father:
1. Marie-Jeanne Bailly — B. 20 Feb 1692, Charlesbourg, New France;⁹ D. Mar 1695, Charlesbourg, New France¹⁰

Sources:
1    King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000, pp. 61-62
2    Marriage record of Guillaume Vanier and Madeleine Bailly, Quebec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage record of Joseph Fernando and Madeleine Bailly, Q., C. P. R.
4    Burial record of Madeleine Bailly, Q., C. P. R.
5    Navires venus en Nouvelle-France (website)
6    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
7    Baptismal record of Anne Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie-Marguerite Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
9    Baptismal record of Marie-Jeanne Bailly, Q., C. P. R.
10  Burial record of Marie-Jeanne Bailly, Q., C. P. R.
11  Burial record of Joseph Fernando, Q., C. P. R.
12  Burial record of Anne Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
13  Marriage record of Julienn Leblanc and Anne Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
14  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
15  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
16  Marriage record of Jean-François Martel and Marie-Madeleine Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
17  Marriage record of Jean-François Barbeau and Marie-Madeleine Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
18  Baptismal record of Nicolas Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
19  Burial record of Nicolas Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
20  Baptismal record of Jean Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
21  Burial record of Jean Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
22  Marriage record of Jean Vanier and Marie Hotte, Q., C. P. R.
23  Marriage record of Jean Vanier and Marie-Charlotte Chamard, Q., C. P. R.
24  Burial record of Marie-Marguerite Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
25  Marriage record of Charles Boyer and Marie-Marguerite Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
26  Baptismal record of Pierre-Thomas Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
27  Burial record of Pierre-Thomas Vanier, Q., C. P. R.
28  Marriage record of Pierre-Thomas Vanier and Marie-Anne Bourbeau, Q., C. P. R.

Father of Fur Traders and Adventurers — Pierre Chauvin

B. 17 May 1635 in St-Vion, Sarthe, France¹
M. 16 Sep 1658 in Montreal, New France²
Wife: Marie-Marthe Autreuil
D. 4 Aug 1699 in Montreal, New France³

There may be something genetic behind the desire to be out on the frontier, because Pierre Chauvin had a multitude of sons who went to remote places. Perhaps it was a macho thing, or even a competitiveness among brothers, but it's possible that their attitude originated from their immigrant father Pierre.

Pierre was born on May 17, 1635 in St-Vion, Sarthe, France to René Chauvin and Catherine Avard De Solsne.¹ Little is known about his beginnings, except for that he learned to operate a mill,⁴ and because of this skill, he was recruited to migrate to New France. On April 4, 1653, he agreed to a contract to spend five years helping to settle the new town of Montreal as a part of an effort called Le Grand Recrue.⁵ Besides being a miller, he must have been healthy and strong, because he was expected to work clearing the wilderness to develop the settlement.

Monument depicting the arrival of Montreal settlers in 1653.

Pierre and about 100 other French men, along with a few French women, landed at Montreal on November 16th.⁵ The following year, he received a grant of land where he built his home.⁶ On September 16, 1658, he took a wife, Marie-Marthe Autreuil.² They had their first child, a daughter, in 1662,⁷ followed by eleven more born over the next 22 years. Two died young and another died at age 15, but the rest went on to lead full lives.

Pierre’s house was constructed of logs and had two stories; his property, land and possessions were said to be worth about 4,000 livres,⁸ a decent amount of wealth. Near the end of his life, Pierre made out his will from a hospital bed in Montreal.⁸ In the will, which was dated July 28, 1699, he bequeathed a horse to his son Jacques, and the offspring of that horse to son Louis as soon as it was born. His death came on August 4th of that year;³ his wife survived him and handled his estate before moving to Saint-François on the Île Jesus, where she died in 1714.⁹ Pierre was the ancestor of Tyrone Power.

Even while Pierre was still alive, his children started venturing out west. Oldest son Gilles was a fur trader who was on several rugged expeditions into Illinois country during the 1680s and 1690s.⁸ Sons Jacques, Joseph, and Nicolas all settled in Mobile (present-day Alabama), and later in Louisiana.⁶ The three went on an expedition to Texas in 1716.¹⁰ Son Joseph was said to be killed by Indians at Natchez in 1732.¹¹ Besides Pierre’s sons, his daughter Michelle married a man who took her to the Illinois country, but sadly she was killed by Indians at Kaskaskia along with her husband and three of their children.¹¹

A possible nickname

There is confusion about whether or not Pierre acquired the nickname “Le Grand Pierre.” The name had a bit of flair to it, suggesting Pierre had a status among his peers. But one source has claimed this was a different man who had the name "Pierre Cauvin," so this may not be a part of his story at all.⁶

Children:
1. Marie-Marthe Chauvin — B. 17 Jan 1662, Montreal, New France;⁷ D. 11 Feb 1728, Maskinongé, New France;¹² M. (1) Nicolas Baron dit Lupien (1645-1697), 16 Nov 1676, Montreal, New France;¹³ (2) Jean-Baptiste Fleury (1684-1768), 29 Apr 1706, Trois-Riviéres, New France¹⁴

2. Jean Chauvin — B. about 1664, Montreal, New France;¹⁵ D. before 1667, (probably) Montreal, New France¹⁶

3. Pierre Chauvin — B. Nov 1663, Montreal, New France;¹⁶ D. young¹¹

4. Barbe-Therese Chauvin — B. 18 Oct 1665, Montreal, New France;¹⁷ D. 19 Feb 1732, Montreal, New France;¹⁸ M. Ignace Hubert dit LaCroix (1656-?), 20 May 1687, Boucherville, New France¹⁹

5. Gilles Chauvin — B. 1 Jun 1665, Montreal, New France;²⁰ M. (1) Marie-Madeleine Cabazier (1674-1699), 21 Jan 1697, Montreal, New France;²¹ (2) Angelique Guyon (1683-1731), 24 Nov 1700, Montreal, New France²²

6. Michelle Chauvin — B. 21 May 1670, Montreal, New France;²³ D. 22 Jun 1722, Kaskaksia, New France;²⁴ M. Jacques Nepveu (1663-1722), 24 Oct 1695, Montreal, New France²⁵

7. Jacques Chauvin — B. 17 May 1672, Montreal, New France;²⁶ D. 1729, Louisiana;²⁷ M. Marie-Anne LaVergne, Post Mobile, New France²⁷

8. Joseph Chauvin de Léry — B. Apr 1674, Montreal, New France;²⁸ D. 19 Aug 1732, Natchez, Louisiana;²⁹ M. (1) Hypolite Mercier, 1709, Fort Louis, Post Mobile, Louisiana;²⁹ (2) Françiose-Laurence LeBlanc (~1713-1763), 27 May 1726, New Orleans, Louisiana²⁹

9. Nicolas Chauvin de LaFreniere — B. 19 Jan 1676, Montreal, New France;³⁰ D. 24 Jul 1749, New Orleans, Louisiana;³¹ M. Marguerite LaSueur (1699-?), Aug 1724³²

10. Louis Chauvin de Beaulieu — B. 17 Feb 1678, Montreal, New France;³³ D. 30 Jan 1730, Metairie, Louisiana;³⁴ M. Charlotte Orbanne Durel³⁴

11. Paul Chauvin dit Montpasir — B. 20 Feb 1680, Montreal, New France;³⁵ D. 4 Aug 1699, Montreal, New France³⁶

12. Jean-Baptiste Chauvin — B. 13 Jun 1684, Montreal, New France³⁷

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Pierre Chauvin
2    Marriage record of Pierre Chauvin and Marthe Autreuil Le H’Autreaux, Quebec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Pierre Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
4    Fichier origine listing of Pierre Chauvin
5    “Le Grande Recrue de 1653,” Louisiana Lineage (website)
6    WikiTree listing of Pierre Chauvin
7    Baptismal record of Marie-Marthe Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
8    Dictionnaire Biographique desAncêtres Québécois, Vol. 1, p. 415
9    Burial record of Marthe Autreuil Le H’Autreaux, Q., C. P. R.
10  “The Chauvin Brothers: Early Colonists of Louisiana,” Gary B. Mills, Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Spring, 1974), p. 123-124
11  The Family of Pierre Chauvin & Wife Marthe Autreuil Le H’Autreaux, Sadie Greening Sparks, 18 Oct 2000
12  Burial record of Marie-Marthe Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
13  Marriage record of Nicolas Baron dit Lupien and Marie-Marthe Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
14  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Fleury and Marie-Marthe Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
15  Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France
16  Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France
17  Baptismal record of Barbe-Therese Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
18  Burial record of Barbe-Therese Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
19  Marriage record of Ignace Hubert dit LaCroix and Marie-Marthe Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
20  Baptismal record of Gilles Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
21  Marriage record of Gilles Chauvin and Marie-Madeleine Cabazier, Q., C. P. R.
22  Marriage record of Gilles Chauvin and Angelique Guyon, Q., C. P. R.
23  Baptismal record of Michelle Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
24  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Michelle Chauvin
25  Marriage record of Jacques Nepveu and Michelle Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
26  Baptismal record of Jacques Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
27  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Jacques Chauvin
28  Baptismal record of Joseph Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
29  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Joseph Chauvin Delery
30  Baptismal record of Nicolas Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
31  Find-a-Grave listing of Nicolas Chauvin de la Freniere
32  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Nicolas Chauvin de Lafreniere
33  Baptismal record of Louis Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
34  Find-a-Grave listing of Louis Chauvin de Beaulieu
35  Baptismal record of Louis Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
36  Burial record of Louis Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.
37  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Chauvin, Q., C. P. R.

A Soldier Becomes a Canadian – Jean Daniau dit Laprise

B. about 1637 in St-André, Niort, France¹
M. (1) 10 Sep 1670 in Quebec City, New France²
Wife: Marie-Louise Michaud
M. (2) 7 Jun 1686 in St-Jean, Île d'Orléans, New France³
Wife: Françoise Rondeau
D. 6 Jan 1709 in La Durantaye, New France⁴

In 1665, the leadership in France was concerned that Iroquois were posing too much of a threat to their settlers along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. So a military force was raised, recruiting men from all over the country, and one of them was Jean Daniau dit Laprise.

Jean was born to Joseph Daigneault and Renée Brunet in about 1638 in the village of Niort, not far from La Rochelle, France.¹ That region was populated by many non-Catholics who were followers of the Calvinist religion, and Jean was baptized at one of their churches there. He had an older brother named Paul, but it’s unknown if he had other siblings.

In early 1665, Jean enlisted as a soldier assigned to the Carignan-Salières Regiment,⁵ which was being set up to deal with issues in the New France colony. It was thought that the only way to keep colonists from being wiped out by the Iroquois was to send over great numbers of soldiers, so more than a thousand men were put on ships bound for New France. Jean served in the La Fouille Company which left France on May 24th aboard the Saint-Sebastien, a ship that became infested with disease.⁵ Some men were then loaded onto another vessel, The Justice, and it’s not known which ship Jean actually arrived on. In any event, his voyage took several months and it was miserable. 

Uniform of the Carignan-Salières Regiment. (Source: Francis Back, Canadian Military History Gateway)

Upon arrival in New France, Jean's company went to the Trois-Riviére region where they built a fort at the mouth of the Loup River.⁵ His exact participation in this effort isn’t recorded, but he was likely stationed there, or nearby, for the three years he served as a soldier.

When his enlistment was up in 1668, he returned to the Quebec City area, looking to make a home in New France. Before he could marry a French bride, he had to change his religion, and on September 6, 1670, he renounced Calvinism to become a Catholic.¹ A few days later, on September 10th, he married Fille du Roi Marie-Louise Michaud at Notre-Dame de Quebec.² They settled In Berthier-sur-Mer, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River across from Île d'Orléans.⁶ Between 1672 and 1679, they had four children, but Marie-Louise died sometime during the 1680s.⁷

On June 2, 1686, Jean married a second wife, Françoise Rondeau,³ and they had eight children, with the youngest born in 1705.⁸ By this time, they had moved inland to the settlement of La Durantaye. Jean died there on January 6, 1709.⁴ His wife Françoise survived him and died in 1730.

When Jean set down his roots in North America, they grew to become a tremendous tree. It’s been estimated that Jean has up to 1,600,000 descendants living today, a large number even for a 17th century ancestor. Among his descendants were Ricky Gervais and Angelina Jolie.

Children by Marie-Louise Michaud:
1. Jacques Daniau dit Laprise — B. 12 Jan 1672, Berthier-sur-Mer, New France;¹⁰ D. 18 Jul 1751, St-François-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France;¹¹ M. Louise Destroismaisons (1680-1755), 3 Aug 1702, Montmagny, New France¹²

2. Marguerite Daniau — B. 11 Feb 1674, Berthier-sur-Mer, New France;¹³ D. 23 Dec 1708, Montmagny, New France;¹⁴ M. Arnault La Vergne (1672-1712), 25 Nov 1693, Montmagny, New France¹⁵

3. Marie-Françoise Daniau — B. 23 Jul 1676, Berthier-sur-Mer, New France;¹⁶ D. 18 Oct 1759, St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France;¹⁷ M. François Destroismaisons (1678-1749), 3 Nov 1700, Montmagny, New France¹⁸

4. Joseph Daniau — B. 19 Mar 1679, Berthier-sur-Mer, New France;¹⁹ D. before 1681²⁰

Children by Françoise Rondeau:
1. Jean-Baptiste Daniau dit Laprise — B. about 1687, New France;²¹ D. 19 Jun 1759, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France;²² M. (1) Marie-Françoise Guillemet (1685-1748), 7 Jan 1716, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France;²³ (2) Marguerite Malboeuf (1695-1766), 7 Oct 1748, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France²⁴

2. Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise — B. about 1689, New France;²⁵ D. 3 Feb 1761, New France;²⁶ M. (1) Genevieve Lamy (1705-1736), 3 Feb 1723, Montmagny, New France;²⁷ (2) Marie-Suzanne Dumont (1713-1743), 8 Oct 1736, Montmagny, New France;²⁸ (3) Jeanne Guimond (1699-1778), 14 Oct 1743, Montmagny, New France²⁹

3. François Daniau dit Laprise — B. 1692, New France;³⁰ M. Marie-Françoise Rousseau (1702-1774), 11 Feb 1725, New France³⁰

4. Laurent Daniau dit Laprise — B. before 18 Oct 1694, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France;³¹ D. 19 May 1715, Montmagny, New France³²

5. Pierre Daniau dit Laprise — B. 8 Nov 1699, La Durantaye, New France;³³ D. 18 Dec 1725, St-Vallier, New France³⁴

6. Joseph Daniau dit Laprise — B. about 1700, New France;³⁵ D. 22 Jul 1795, Montmagny, New France;³⁶ M. (1) Angelique Lepage (1693-1758), Montmagny, New France;³⁷ (2) Marie-Angelique-Genevieve Bilodeau (1731-?), 20 Nov 1758, Montmagny, New France³⁸

7. Françoise-Martine Daniau — B. 24 Mar 1702, La Durantaye, New France;³⁹ D. 14 May 1723, Montmagny, New France;⁴⁰ M. Claude Gendron (1693-1727), 18 Aug 1722, Montmagny, New France⁴¹

8. Augustin Daniau dit Laprise — B. 7 Feb 1705, La Durantaye, New France⁴²

Sources:
1    King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000, p. 410
2    Marriage record of Jean Daniau dit Laprise and Marie-Louise Michaud, Quebec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage record of Jean Daniau dit Laprise and Françoise Rondeau, Q., C. P. R.
4    Burial record of Jean Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
5    Migrations: compagnie la Fouille (website)
6    Baptismal record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
7    Burial record of Marie-Louise Michaud, Q., C. P. R.
8    Baptismal record of Augustin Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
9    Burial record of Françoise Rondeau, Q., C. P. R.
10  Baptismal record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
11  Burial record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
12  Marriage record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise and Louise Destroismaisons, Q., C. P. R.
13  Baptismal record of Marguerite Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
14  Burial record of Marguerite Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
15  Marriage record of Arnault La Vergne and Marguerite Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
16  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
17  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
18  Marriage record of François Destroismaisons and Marie-Françoise Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
19  Baptismal record of Joseph Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
20  Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
21  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Jean Daniau dit Laprise (his son)
22  Burial record of Jean Daniau dit Laprise (his son), Q., C. P. R.
23  Marriage record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise and Marie-Françoise Guillemet, Q., C. P. R.
24  Marriage record of Jacques Daniau dit Laprise and Marguerite Malboeuf , Q., C. P. R.
25  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise
26  Burial record of Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
27  Marriage record of Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise and Genevieve Lamy, Q., C. P. R.
28  Marriage record of Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise and Marie-Suzanne Dumont, Q., C. P. R.
29  Marriage record of Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise and Jeanne Guimond, Q., C. P. R.
30  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of François Daniau dit Laprise
31  Baptismal record of Laurent Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
32  Burial record of Laurent Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
33  Baptismal record of Pierre Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
34  Burial record of Pierre Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
35  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Joseph Daniau dit Laprise
36  Burial record of Joseph Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.
37  Marriage record of Joseph Daniau dit Laprise and Angelique Lepage, Q., C. P. R.
38  Marriage record of Joseph Daniau dit Laprise and Marie-Angelique-Genevieve Bilodeau, Q., C. P. R.
39  Baptismal record of Françoise-Martine Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
40  Burial record of Françoise-Martine Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
41  Marriage record of Claude Gendron and Françoise-Martine Daniau, Q., C. P. R.
42  Baptismal record of Augustin Daniau dit Laprise, Q., C. P. R.