Moving to a Connecticut Town — Zachariah Boynton

B. before 20 Jul 1690 in Rowley, Massachusetts¹
M. 15 Nov 1715 in Newbury, Massachusetts²
Wife: Sarah Wicom
D. 30 Dec 1750 in Coventry, Connecticut³

Zachariah Boynton was part of a generation of New Englanders who left the towns founded by their progenitors, and moved to new towns of the early 18th century. He was born in about 1685 in Rowley, Massachusetts to Joshua Boynton and Hannah Burnap, the third of their five children. Zachariah’s birth is missing from the records, but he was said to be baptized on July 20, 1690 in Rowley.¹ His death record later gave his age as 65,³ and this would make his birth year about 1685.

Zachariah was in his late 20s when he married Sarah Wicom, the youngest daughter of a man who had died a few months earlier. The wedding took place in the town of Newbury, just north of Rowley, on November 15, 1715.² This was the last record of Zachariah living in Massachusetts, and by October 1718, he was in Coventry, Connecticut.⁴ Established in 1711, Coventry was located about 20 miles east of Hartford.

Why did Zachariah move so far from home? Probably it gave him an opportunity to own land, which he couldn’t get near Rowley with the Massachusetts coast becoming more densely populated. Another factor in his move may have been that as the third son, he wasn’t going to inherit his father’s estate. In his father’s will, which was probated in 1736, his older brother received the homestead while Zachariah was given just 5 shillings, although the will also said that he had been given something from his father earlier.⁵

Part of Zachariah's father's will bequeathing him 5 shillings.

Between 1718 and 1732, Zachariah and Sarah had seven children, all born in Coventry, only three of whom are known to have survived to adulthood. Zachariah wasn’t prominent in town records, and was only mentioned in 1725 as being hired to supply the minister with firewood.⁶ For this job, he was to be paid £6 a year, a substantial amount of money, but he would have to chop and deliver the wood at least once a week, and during the winter, the weather could make this hard work.

Zachariah was about 65-years-old when he made out his will on Christmas Day 1750.⁷ He died in Coventry five days later on December 30th.³ It isn’t known when his wife Sarah passed away.

Children:
1. John Boynton — B. 9 Oct 1718, Coventry, Connecticut;⁴ M. Tabithy Daves (1720-?), 6 Nov 1740, Coventry, Connecticut⁸

2. Hannah Boynton — B. 30 Dec 1720, Coventry, Connecticut⁹

3. Joshua Boynton — B. 26 Feb 1723, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁰ D. 16 Oct 1752, Coventry, Connecticut;¹¹ M. Rachel Carpenter (1729-1816), 9 Nov 1749, Coventry, Connecticut¹²

4. Sarah Boynton — B. 23 Apr 1724, Coventry, Connecticut;¹³ D. 6 Oct 1724, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁴

5. Mehitable Boynton — B. 21 Mar 1726, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁵

6. Abigail Boynton — B. 17 Jun 1729, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁶ D. 5 Mar 1814, Amherst, Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. (1) John Palmer, 7 Sep 1748, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁸ (2) James Chamberlain, 27 Jan 1757, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁹

7. Wicom Boynton — B. 28 Jul 1732, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁰ D. 7 Nov 1742, Coventry, Connecticut²¹

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Zachariah Boynton, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Zachariah Boynton and Sarah Wicom, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, FamilySearch.org
3    Death record of Zachariah Boynton, Connecticut Vital Records, Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
4    Birth record of John Boynton, C.V.R.
5    Probate record of Joshua Boynton, Essex, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1648-1840, FamilySearch.org
6    Coventry, Connecticut Town Records, 1692-1853, FamilySearch.org 

7    Probate record of Zachariah Boynton, Connecticut, Probate Records, 1719-1880, FamilySearch.org 
8    Marriage record of John Boynton and Tabithy Daves, C.V.R.
9    Birth record of Hannah Boynton, C.V.R.
10  Birth record of Joshua Boynton, C.V.R.
11  Death record of Joshua Boynton, C.V.R.
12  Marriage record of Joshua Boynton and Rachel Carpenter, C.V.R.
13  Birth record of Sarah Boynton, C.V.R.
14  Death record of Sarah Boynton, C.V.R.
15  Birth record of Mehitable Boynton, C.V.R.
16  Birth record of Abigail Boynton, C.V.R.
17  Find-a-Grave listing for Abigail (Boynton) Chamberlain  
18  Marriage record of John Palmer and Abigail Boynton, C.V.R.
19  Marriage record of James Chamberlain and Abigail Boynton, C.V.R.
20  Birth record of Wicom Boynton, C.V.R.
21  The Boynton family: A genealogy of the descendants of William and John Boynton, John Farnham Boyton, 1897

His Father’s Favorite Son — Joseph Dakin

B. 21 Jan 1669 in Concord, Massachusetts¹
M. 16 Jul 1696 in Massachusetts²
Wife: Dorothy Worcester
D. 13 Mar 1744 in Concord, Massachusetts¹

Even though Joseph Dakin was the youngest child in his family, his father seemed to have a closer bond with him than his siblings. Joseph was born on January 21, 1699 in Concord, Massachusetts to Thomas Dakin and Susanna Stratton,¹ one of their four known children. Joseph’s father was among the earliest settlers in Concord, Massachusetts, and the family was said to live in the southern part of town, near “Flint’s Pond.”³ 

Flints Pond in Concord, Massachusetts.

On July 16, 1696, Joseph married Dorothy Worcester at Concord;² the ceremony was performed by Reverend Joseph Estabrook, who was newly installed as Concord’s minister. The date of their first child's birth has been transcribed as June 1st of that year,⁴ which may be a mistake because it’s before their marriage date (the birth record transcription describes them as being husband and wife). Whether or not that’s an error, by 1715, Joseph and Dorothy had nine children in their family, with two or three of them dying young.

Joseph lived his entire life on the land he was born, because in 1708, he inherited the bulk of his father’s estate.⁵ When Thomas Dakin had made out his will 10 years earlier, he didn’t hide a preference for his youngest son. He left only small bequests to his son John and daughter Mary, and he completely cut out son Simon, expressing displeasure that he had moved to South Carolina, so Joseph was given nearly everything. His father wrote, “The reason why I give to my son Joseph Dakin so much is for the comfort of my life and my wife’s life. Therefore I charge you all my children to rest in it and live in peace, that the God of peace may be to you.” This seems to indicate that Joseph had taken care of his aging parents, and he was paid back with ownership of the family homestead.

In addition to managing his property, Joseph worked as a carpenter who built houses.³ He also served his community as church deacon, and was a constable in 1712, a selectman (member of the town council) in 1716, and a surveyor of highways and bridges in 1720.³ A deed dated April 13, 1722 showed that Joseph sold some land that seemed to have come to him from his wife’s dowry. Dorothy’s approval of the sale is mentioned in the document.

Joseph’s signature

Joseph made out a will on May 8, 1739 leaving most of his property and possessions to his one surviving son Simon, and smaller gifts to each of his daughters.⁶ He added this personal message to the document: “And now my children I charge you all to live in love with another considering that love is the fulfilling of the law, and that God is love, then love one another and your neighbors as yourselves, for charity is a superior grace, carrying in it much of the image of God and Christ.” Joseph passed away on March 13, 1744 at his home in Concord.¹ It isn’t known when his wife Dorothy died.

Children:
1. Mary Dakin — B. (possibly) 1 Jun 1696, Concord, Massachusetts;⁴ D. after 26 Oct 1725;⁷ M. Timothy Worcester, 5 Dec 1717, Middlesex County, Massachusetts⁸

2. Dorothy Dakin — B. 5 Aug 1698, Concord, Massachusetts;⁹ D. 4 Apr 1769, Worcester, Massachusetts;¹⁰ M. Daniel Hubbard (1694-1784), 5 Dec 1717, Concord, Massachusetts¹¹

3. Samuel Dakin — B. 23 Sep 1700, Concord, Massachusetts;¹² D. 20 Jul 1758, Lake George, New York;¹³ M. Mercy Minot (1702-1793), 13 Dec 1722, Concord, Massachusetts¹⁴

4. Sarah Dakin — B. 4 Jul 1702, Concord, Massachusetts¹⁵

5. Hannah Dakin — B. 23 Oct 1704, Concord, Massachusetts;¹ D. 3 Jul 1784, Concord, Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. Thomas Brooks (1701-1790), 24 Jun 1725, Concord, Massachusetts¹⁸

6. Rebecca Dakin — B. 8 Mar 1707, Concord, Massachusetts;¹⁹ D. 24 Dec 1717³

7. Dinah Dakin — B. 25 Apr 1709, Concord, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. Samuel Mead (1706-1788)²¹

8. Beulah Dakin — B. 26 Mar 1712, Concord, Massachusetts;²² D. 22 Jan 1733, Concord, Massachusetts;²³ M. Peter Holdin²³

9. Henry Dakin — B. 8 Mar 1715, Concord, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. 30 Apr 1717³

Sources:

1    Find-a-Grave listing for Joseph Dakin  
2    Marriage record of Joseph Dakin and Dorothy Worcester, Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    Descendants of Thomas Dakin of Concord MA, Albert Dakin, 1948
4    Birth record of Mary Dakin, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
5    Will of Thomas Dakin, January 20, 1698  
6    Will of Joseph Dakin, May 8, 1739, FamilySearch.org  
7    Mary (Dakin) Worcester gave birth to youngest child Timothy on 26 Oct 1725, M.B. & C.
8    Marriage record of Timothy Worcester and Mary Dakin, M.V. & T.R.
9    Birth record of Dorothy Dakin, M.B. & C.
10  Find-a-Grave listing for Dorothy (Dakin) Hubbard  
11  Marriage record of Daniel Hubbard and Dorothy Dakin, M.V. & T.R.
12  Birth record of Samuel Dakin, M.B. & C.
13  Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel Dakin  
14  Marriage record of Samuel Dakin and Mercy Minot, M.V. & T.R.
15  Birth record of Sarah Dakin, M.B. & C.
16  Birth record of Dorothy Dakin, M.B. & C.
17  Find-a-Grave listing of Hannah (Dakin) Brooks  
18  Marriage record of Thomas Brooks and Hannah Dakin, M.V. & T.R.
19  Birth record of Sarah Dakin, M.B. & C.
20  Birth record of Dinah Dakin, M.B. & C.
21  Birth record of Dinah Mead (Dinah Dakin’s first child), M.B. & C.
22  Birth record of Beulah Dakin, M.B. & C.
23  Find-a-Grave listing of Beulah (Dakin) Holdin  
24  Birth record of Henry Dakin, M.B. & C.

Raising a Family in Exile — Françoise Chiasson

B. about 1668 in (probably) Port-Royal, Acadia¹
M. 8 Nov 1682 in Beaubassin, Acadia²
Husband: Pierre Morin
D. after 7 Jan 1727 in (probably) St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France³

As a young mother, Françoise Chiasson was kicked out of her native land of Acadia for actions she had nothing to do with. In spite of that, she managed to take care of a family that grew as they moved from place to place.

Françoise was born in about 1668 to Port-Royal farmer Guyon Chiasson dit Lavallée and his wife Jeanne Bernard, the second of seven children.¹ By 1671, her family was thought to be among 13 people living at Mouscoudabouet, a tiny settlement on the south shore of Acadia.⁴ Mouscoudabouet was isolated, and must have given Françoise very little contact with anyone outside her family during her early childhood. The family was known to be living there in October 1674;⁴ then about two years later, they moved to Beaubassin,⁴ located on the isthmus that joins present-day Nova Scotia to New Brunswick.

After living in Mouscoudabouet, Beaubassin must have seemed like a city to Françoise, but during the time she was there, the population only consisted of about 20 families.⁴ Her future husband was among them, a man named Pierre Morin, whom Françoise married at age 14 on November 8, 1682.² Around this time, her mother died and her father remarried, eventually giving her at least four half-sisters.

Françoise settled into married life as the wife of a farmer, and by about 1687, she had three children. Then an event happened which completely uprooted her. The teenaged daughter of the wealthiest man in Beaubassin gave birth to an out-of-wedlock child, and Françoise’s brother-in-law was named as the father. For this act, it was decided the whole family would be banished from the settlement, including Françoise, her husband, and their young children.⁵ She had to say goodbye to her father and siblings; her father died in Beaubassin in 1693.⁶

The family needed a place to live, and they received help from Richard Denys, the brother-in-law of the man who had them banished.⁵ Denys had a home on Chaleur Bay, an inlet on the Atlantic Ocean north of Acadia and south of the mouth of the St. Lawrence. The outpost was known as Restigouche, but it was hardly a village, and much like Mouscoudabouet, had only a handful of people living there. The family stayed there through 1692, and in that time, a son was born to Françoise.⁷ It must have been very rough circumstances to go through the experience of childbirth, and seems a miracle that a baby would survive, but he went on to live a normal life.

Chaleur Bay, near where Françoise was in exile. (Source: busand2003, CC BY 3.0)

Françoise’s family decided to leave Restigouche, this time moving all the way to Quebec City.⁸ They were likely aided by Denis Riverin, an important man in Quebec who had fishing interests that may have taken him to Ristigouche. In August 1694, Françoise gave birth to a son at Quebec whom they named Denis, and Riverin was the baby’s godfather.

By March 1697, the family was established at Montmagny, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, and Françoise gave birth to another child.⁹ In about 1699, they moved once again to another remote place, the fishing village of Mont-Louis, and Françoise had another son.¹⁰ Their stay in Mont-Louis only lasted a couple of years, and in 1702, they were back in Montmagny;¹¹ Françoise had her final four children there, with the last one born in 1709.¹²

As far as the records show, Françoise never again returned to Acadia. It isn’t known exactly when she died, but it was sometime between the marriages of son Michel on January 7, 1727 and son Charles on October 21, 1731.^3,13 Her husband Pierre survived her, dying in 1741.¹⁴

Children:
1. Pierre Morin – B. 23 Dec 1683, Beaubassin, Acadia;¹⁵ D. 4 Feb 1767, Montmagny, Quebec;¹⁶ M. Marie Boulé (~1686-1764), 10 Jan 1707, Montmagny, New France¹⁷

2. Barbe Morin – B. about 1685, Beaubassin, Acadia;¹⁸ D. 29 Jan 1753, (probably) New France;¹⁸ M. Michel Harbour (1674-1758), about 1701, (probably) Mont-Louis, New France¹⁸

3. Marie Morin – B. about 1688, (probably) Beaubassin, Acadia;¹⁹ D. after 25 Jan 1728, (probably) Quebec City, New France¹⁹

4. Sébastien Morin – B. about 1692, Restigouche, New France;⁷ D. Nov 1756, St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France;⁷ M. (1) Françoise Blanchet (1694-1742), 3 Nov 1717, Montmagny, New France;²⁰ (2) Marie-Anne Frégeau (1700-?), 25 Feb 1743, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France²¹

5. Denis Morin – B. Aug 1694, Quebec City, New France;⁸ D. 20 Sep 1768, St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, Quebec;²² M. Madeleine Boulet, 20 Nov 1718, New France²³

6. Agathe Morin – B. about Mar 1697, Montmagny, New France;⁹ D. Jul 1733, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁴ M. Jacques Boulet (1689-1771), 6 Jan 1715, Montmagny, New France²⁵

7. Michel Morin – B. about 1699, Mont-Louis, New France;¹⁰ D. Jun 1767, Kamouraska, Quebec;²⁶ M. Marie Frégeau (1702-1797), 7 Jan 1727, Montmagny, New France²⁷

8. Jean-Baptiste Morin – B. 22 Apr 1702, Montmagny, New France;¹¹ D. 19 Apr 1782, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;²⁸ M. Félicité Lemieux (1720-1786), 25 Jun 1739, Cap-St-Ignace, New France²⁹

9. Antoine Morin – B. Oct 1704, Montmagny, New France;³⁰ D. 3 Mar 1776, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;³¹ M. Marguerite Daniau (~1716-1788), 25 Oct 1734, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France³²

10. Charles Morin – B. Jan 1707, Montmagny, New France;³³ D. 17 Dec 1786, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;³⁴ M. Claire Destroismaisons (1710-1787), 21 Oct 1731, St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France¹³

11. Marie-Françoise Morin – B. May 1709, Montmagny, New France;¹² D. 6 Apr 1783, Montmagny, Quebec;³⁵ M. Joseph Coté (1704-1777), after 22 Nov 1734, (probably) St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France³⁶

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Françoise Chiasson  
2    Marriage record of Pierre Morin and Françoise Chiasson, La Visitation de Notre-Dame de Château-Richer Religious Records, 1661–1702, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage record of Michel Morin and Marie Frégeau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
4    Acadians in Gray (website)  
5    "The Morins of Acadia," French-Canadian and Acadian Genealogical Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1968
6    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Guyon Chiasson  
7    Burial record of Sébastien Morin, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Denis Morin, Q.C.P.R.
9    Baptismal record of Agathe Morin, Q.C.P.R.
10  Baptismal record of Michel Morin, Q.C.P.R.
11  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Morin, Q.C.P.R.
12  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
13  Marriage record of Charles Morin and Claire Destroismaisons, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Pierre Morin, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Pierre Morin (younger), L.V.d. N.D.d.C.R.R.R.
16  Burial record of Pierre Morin (younger), Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Pierre Morin and Marie Boulé, Q.C.P.R.
18  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Barbe Morin  
19  Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Marie Morin  
20  Marriage record of Sébastien Morin and Françoise Blanchet, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Sébastien Morin and Marie-Anne Frégeau, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Denis Morin, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Denis Morin and Madeleine Boulet, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Agathe Morin, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Jacques Boulet and Agathe Morin, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Michel Morin, Q.C.P.R.
27  Marriage record of Michel Morin and Marie Frégeau, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Morin, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Morin and Félicité Lemieux, Q.C.P.R.
30  Baptismal record of Antoine Morin, Q.C.P.R.
31  Burial record of Antoine Morin, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Antoine Morin and Marguerite Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
33  Baptismal record of Charles Morin, Q.C.P.R.
34  Burial record of Charles Morin, Q.C.P.R.
35  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
36  Marriage contract of Joseph Coté and Marie-Françoise Morin

A Farmer and an Eel Fisherman — Jacques LeMarié

B. about 1630 in Angouleme, Charente, France^1,2
M. 1652 in Angouleme, Charente, France²
Wife: Marie Morin
D. 7 May 1708 in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Portneuf, New France¹

Like many men who came to New France, Jacques LeMarié used more than one resource to make a living. He was born in about 1630 in the town of Angouleme, France,^1,2 located a little south and inland from La Rochelle. His parents' names are unknown. In about 1652, he married a woman named Marie Morin,² and they had a son born in about 1653.³

Nothing else is known of Jacques until he appeared on the baptism record of another son in Quebec City on May 3, 1661.⁴ The record stated that the child was born a week earlier on April 25th. There’s no indication of when Jacques arrived in America. The fact there were seven years between the births of his two boys suggests that Jacques may have come over by himself for a few years, then returned for his family. This is only speculation, though, and they may have all migrated on the same ship.

By 1662, Jacques settled just downriver from Quebec City in Beauport,⁵ where he and his wife Marie had seven more children; at least one died as an infant. The 1667 census showed that he operated a farm that had 80 arpents of land and 19 head of cattle;⁶ the family also had a house in the village of Fargy on 10 arpents of land. Jacques was able to have a 24-year-old man working for him, probably doing farm labor.

The location of his property allowed him to engage in fishing. Records showed that in September of 1672, he sold 6,000 green eels to Philippe Gaultier de Comporté,⁷ a government official who bought products from colonists to ship back to France. It isn’t known if Jacques made any other money selling eels, but it’s likely that he did.

Eel fishing involved setting traps, then harvesting the catch.

Jacques turned up as a defendant in several court cases between 1670 and 1700, and it suggests that he encountered disagreements in several business dealings. The first litigation concerned money he owed to Paul Chalifour, who sued Jacques for non-payment. The ruling made on February 10, 1670 stated that he was to pay Chalifour “the sum of 18 livres, or 6 bushels of green peas.”⁸ In a similar matter brought to court in 1678, Jacques was ordered to pay Jean Picard, a bourgeois merchant, 12 livres.⁹ A third case in 1682 involved both Jacques and his oldest son, Michel, who seemed to renege on an agreement with a settler to supply a large quantity of wood.¹⁰ And in 1700, Jacques was described as the man who ran the grist mill in St-Augustin-de-Desmaure, and this time, a Quebec City baker sued him.¹¹

Presumably Jacques paid his debts, although that detail isn’t part of the records. He lived at St-Augustin-de-Desmaure for the rest of his life. His wife Marie died in 1702,¹² and Jacques passed away on May 7, 1708.¹ He was the ancestor of Leo Durocher.

Children:

1. Michel LeMarié — B. about 1653, Charente, France;³ D. 25 Oct 1727, St-Nicolas, New France;¹³ M. Françoise Briere (1661-1739), 27 Feb 1680, Neuville, New France¹⁴

2. Thomas LeMarié — B. 25 Apr 1661, Quebec City, New France;⁴ D. 7 Dec 1722, Montreal, New France;¹⁵ M. (1) Louise Sedilot (1669-1700), 27 Mar 1685, Sillery, New France;¹⁶ (2) Jeanne Labadie (1674-1746), 6 Jul 1700, Ste-Foy, New France¹⁷

3. Charles LeMarié — B. 3 Dec 1662, Beauport, New France;⁵ D. 2 Jun 1711, Ste-Foy, New France;¹⁸ M. Françoise Sedilot (1667-1743), 27 Mar 1685, Sillery, New France¹⁹

4. Jacques LeMarié — B. 29 Sep 1664, Beauport, New France;²⁰ D. 10 Dec 1687, Neuville, New France²¹

5. Marie-Madeleine LeMarié — B. 4 Sep 1667, Quebec City, New France;²² D. 12 Feb 1668, Quebec City, New France²³

6. Jean LeMarié — B. 16 Mar 1669, Quebec City, New France;²⁴ D. 18 Nov 1687, Neuville, New France²⁵

7. Marie-Elisabeth LeMarié — B. 30 Mar 1671, Quebec City, New France;²⁶ D. 12 Mar 1751, Quebec City, New France;²⁷ M. (1) Denis Briere (~1659-1718), 23 Nov 1688, Neuville, New France;²⁸ (2) Jacques Amelot (~1667-1729), 27 Nov 1719, Quebec City, New France²⁹

8. Robert LeMarié — B. 13 Apr 1672, Quebec City, New France;³⁰ D. before 1681³¹

9. Antoine LeMarié — B. 1674, New France;³² D. 10 Apr 1742, Quebec City, New France;³² M. (1) Jeanne Dore (1676-1700), 12 Oct 1699, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, New France;³³ (2) Therese-Elisabeth Tinon (1680-1712), 1701, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, New France³⁴

Sources:
1    Burial record of Jacques LeMarie, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Jacques Marier 
3    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing of Michel Marier  
4    Baptismal record of Thomas LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Charles LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
6    Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France
7    Histoire de la seigneurie de Lauzon, Vol. 1, Joseph Emond Roy, 1897
8    Order to hear appeal of case of Paul Chalifour vs. Jacques LeMarie, BAnQ  
9    Court records of case of Jean Picard vs. Jacques LeMarie, BAnQ  
10  Judgment condemning Jacques and Michel Lemarié to pay Pierre Normand Labrière, BAnQ  
11  Court record of appeal of case Louis Prat vs. Jacques LeMarie, BAnQ  
12  Burial record of Marie Morin, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of Michel LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Michel LeMarie and Françoise Briere, Q.C.P.R.
15  Burial record of Thomas LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
16  Marriage record of Thomas LeMarie and Louise Sedilot, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Thomas LeMarie and Jeanne Labadie, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Charles LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
19  Marriage record of Charles LeMarie and Françoise Sedilot, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Jacques LeMarie (younger), Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Jacques LeMarie (younger), Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine LeMarie , Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Jean LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
25  Burial record of Jean LeMarie , Q.C.P.R.
26  Baptismal record of Marie-Elisabeth LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
27  Burial record of Marie-Elisabeth LeMarie , Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Denis Briere and Marie-Elisabeth LeMarie , Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Jacques Amelot and Marie-Elisabeth LeMarie , Q.C.P.R.
30  Baptismal record of Robert LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
31  Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
32  Burial record of Antoine LeMarie, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Antoine LeMarie and Jeanne Dore, Q.C.P.R.
34  Marriage record of Antoine LeMarie and Therese-Elisabeth Tinon, Q.C.P.R.

From a Flatbush Farm — Aucke Reyniersen Van Henglen

B. before 1672 in (probably) Flatbush, New York¹
M. 1695 in Long Island, New York²
Wife: Ida Vonck
D. before 20 Jan 1740 in Somerset County, New Jersey³

Centuries before Brooklyn was a patchwork of ethnic communities, it was a patchwork of farms, and Aucke Reynierssen Van Henglen was born on one of them. His parents were Reynier Arents and Jannetje Aukes Van Nuys, who had been married in 1666.¹ The date of his birth isn’t known, but Aucke was old enough to take the oath of allegiance to England in 1687, so he must have been born before 1672.¹ He was likely named for his maternal grandfather, Aucke Janse Van Nuys, who would have been part of his childhood. Aucke had ten siblings, plus one older half-brother (several of the children seem to have died young).

When Aucke came of age, his name appeared on a 1692 land transaction, purchasing some property in nearby Bushwick,¹ the northernmost of the “six towns” of Brooklyn. In 1695, Aucke married Ida Vonck,² a young woman who was from Southampton. Between about 1697 and 1721, they had a dozen children. On October 20, 1700, Aucke bought a second farm, this time from his father.¹ The land included some “salt meadows” in a place referred to as “Keuters-Hook,” which is today in the East New York section of Brooklyn. A salt meadow was land that would sometimes be flooded by seawater, so this property must have been next to Jamaica Bay, near where JFK Airport is today.

Marsh near JFK Airport as it looks today. (Source: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sometime during the early 18th century, Aucke moved to Somerset County, New Jersey,³ a place where many of the Dutch of Brooklyn were migrating. He acquired a vast amount of land of over 250 acres on both sides of the Millstone River where he operated a farm into the 1730s.³ Some of his married children moved there with their families as well.

Aucke made out his will on June 9, 1738,³ and died around the beginning of 1740. His will was proved on January 20th, and an inventory was taken on March 6th.³ At the time of his death, he owned three slaves worth a total of £140; he also had many heads of cattle and some horses. His wife and all of his children seemed to survive him; it isn’t known when Ida died.

Children:
1. Reynier Van Henglen — B. about 1697, Long Island, New York;⁴ D. before 10 Jan 1774, Hillsborough, New Jersey;⁵ M. Geertje Volleman (~1709-?), 1726, Long Island, New York⁵

2. Magdelena Van Henglen — B. before 23 Oct 1698, Long Island, New York;⁵ D. after 1769;⁶ M. Christoffel Van Arsdalen (~1696-1769), about 1717, in New York or New Jersey⁷

3. Hendrick Van Henglen — B. before 11 Aug 1700, Long Island, New York⁵

4. Tryntje Aukes Van Henglen — B. before 12 Jul 1702, New York⁸

5. Cornelius Van Henglen³

6. Aernout Van Henglen³

7. Catherine Van Henglen³

8. Maritje Van Henglen³

9. Femmetje Van Henglen³

10. Ida Van Henglen — B. about 1710;⁹ D. 23 Jun 1803;⁹ M. Cornelius Jacobse Wyckoff (1709-1737)⁹

11. Alida Van Henglen — B. about 1712;¹⁰ D. about 1784;¹⁰ M. Paulus Amerman (1712-~1781), about 1740¹⁰

12. Ouke Van Hanglen — B. before 8 Oct 1721, New Utrecht, New York¹¹

Sources:
1    “Notes of the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 5., p 286
2    WikiTree listing of Auke Rynierse van Henglen  
3    Probate record of Ouke Reynierse, Documents Related to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol.XXX, pp. 395-396
4    Rough age based on marriage date
5    “Notes of the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 6., p. 55
6    A Genealogy of Reyniersen Family, Peter M. Rinearson and Arthur P. Rynearson, 1997
7    “Christoffel Van Aersdalen," Charles R. Vanorsdale, The Vanguard, Vol. III, No. 2, December 2000
8    Baptismal record of Trijntie Ouke, New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, FamilySearch.org
9    WikiTree listing of Idah (Reyniersen) Wyckoff  
10  WikiTree listing of Alida Aukes van Henglen  
11  Baptismal record of Auken V Hengelen, N.Y.B. & C.

An Unknown Route to Vincennes — Nicolas Baillargeon

B. 24 Mar 1740 in St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France¹
M. 24 Jul 1778 in Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory²
Wife: Françoise Plichon
D. 6 May 1803 in Vincennes, Indiana Territory³

Most early French settlers of present-day Indiana followed a progression of migration from the Montreal and the Great Lakes areas. But Nicolas Baillargeon, who was born near Quebec City, left no records in either of those places.

Nicolas began life in St-Pierre-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, a settlement on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. He was born there on March 24, 1740, the second child of Nicolas Baillargeon and Marie-Madeleine Proulx.¹ Through his mother he descended from the founders of Quebec, including Louis Hebért and Hélène Desportes. Nicolas’ father tragically drowned near their home when he was just a baby,⁴ and his mother remarried to a man named Ignace Dessaint.⁵ That marriage gave Nicolas two half-brothers, then his mother died when he was about 13-years-old.⁶

What Nicolas did for the next 20 years is a mystery. He would have come of age about the time England took over Quebec during the French and Indian War; perhaps he fought among the French, and afterwards, sought to make a life on the frontier. He turned up in Post Vincennes by the beginning of 1773, where he was named as godfather to a child of Louis Victor Edeline on January 23rd of that year.⁷ The infant was also named Nicolas, suggesting Nicolas may have been close friends with Edeline.

1773 baptism in Vincennes. (AI-generated image)

During the 1760s and 1770s, Vincennes’ fort was manned by British forces, who let the French settlers continue much as they had been under French rule. But the presence of the Catholic church was diminished, and the church had no permanent priest. Settlers had to wait for the priest from nearby Kaskaskia, Father Pierre Gibault, to make a visit in order to receive the sacraments. So when Father Gibault came to Vincennes during the summer of 1778, Nicolas was able to get married. His bride was Françoise Plichon, the 18-year-old daughter of a Detroit farmer, and the wedding took place at St. Francis Xavier Church on July 24th.²

Father Gibault had come to Vincennes for another reason: he wanted to get the support of the French people for the Americans who were fighting for independence in the East.⁸ He was convinced that if the Americans won, the right of the settlers to practice the Catholic religion would be protected. During his visit, he asked all of the men to sign an oath of allegiance, pledging their support for the Americans, and Nicolas put his mark on the document, an act which qualified him as a patriot. The following February, a force under George Rogers Clark successfully captured Fort Vincennes with the help of the people who lived there.

In December 1779, Nicolas saw the birth of his first child.⁹ Over the next twenty years, he became a father ten more times, but six of the children seem to have died young. During the prime of his life, Nicolas owned a lot of land in and around Vincennes. At some point early on, he was granted 300 acres, part of which was likely where he operated his farm.

In 1790, the U.S. government gave 400 acres of land to anyone who had been head of a family in Vincennes at the end of the American Revolution.¹⁰ Nicolas was awarded property on the Embearas River (in present-day Illinois), but the title was disputed years later after he sold it someone else.¹¹ In 1806, the government was invalidating land claims if there was no proven development of the land. During the investigation, a woman testified that in about 1784, Nicolas had gone out to his tract, built a cabin, and cleared an acre of land. Unfortunately for the new owner, the testimony was ruled to be hearsay and the title was rejected.

Nicolas died on May 6, 1803 at the age of 63,³ leaving behind his wife Françoise with a couple of young daughters. She lived on for many years as a widow, passing away in 1837.¹²

Children:
1. Françoise Baillargeon — B. 14 Dec 1779, Vincennes, Virginia Territory;⁹ M. Charles Moyse, 23 May 1796, Vincennes, Northwest Territory¹³

2. Nicolas Baillargeon — B. 10 Feb 1782, Vincennes, Virginia Territory;¹⁴ M. Pelagie Vallé, 23 May 1808, Vincennes, Indiana Territory¹⁵

3. François Baillargeon — B. 21 Jan 1784, Vincennes, Virginia Territory¹⁶

4. Barbe Baillargeon — B. 20 Jan 1786, Vincennes, Virginia Territory;¹⁷ D. 1 Aug 1850, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁸ M. André Lacoste (1788-?), 1 Oct 1810, Vincennes, Indiana Territory¹⁹

5. Eustache Baillargeon — B. 2 Feb 1788, Vincennes, Virginia Territory;²⁰ D. 18 Sep 1788, Vincennes, Virginia Territory²¹

6. Archange Baillargeon — B. 21 Oct 1789, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²² D. before 11 Dec 1793, Vincennes, Northwest Territory²³

7. Victoire Baillargeon — B. Jun 1790, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²⁴ D. 20 Feb 1793, (probably) Vincennes, Northwest Territory²⁵

8. Archange Baillargeon — B. 11 Dec 1793, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²³ D. 28 May 1849, Vincennes, Indiana;²⁶ M. (1) Joseph Sansouci, 1 Oct 1810, Vincennes, Indiana Territory;²⁷ M. (2) Joseph Gaile, about 1817, Vincennes, Indiana²⁸

9. Jean Baillargeon — B. 11 Dec 1793, Vincennes, Northwest Territory²⁹

10. Marie-Josephe Baillargeon — B. 6 Feb 1797, Vincennes, Northwest Territory³⁰

11. Victoire Baillargeon — B. 8 Nov 1799, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;³¹ M. Isadore Cartier, 25 Apr 1820, Vincennes, Indiana³²

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Nicolas Baillargeon, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Nicolas Baillargeon and Françoise Plichon, Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992, FamilySearch.org
3    Find-a-Grave listing of Nicholas Baillargeon  
4    Burial record of Nicolas Baillargeon (his father), Q.C.P.R.
5    Marriage record of Ignace Dessaint and Marie-Madeleine Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
6    Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Proulx, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Nicolas Edeline, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Records: Baptisms 1749-1838, Barbara Schull Wolfe, 1999
8    Pierre Gibault (Wikipedia article)  
9    Baptismal record of Françoise Baillargeon, Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933, FamilySearch.org
10  American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Part 8, Volume 7, 1860, p. 678
11  American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Part 8, Volume 7, 1860, p. 687
12  Burial record of Françoise (Plichon) Baillargeon, Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993, FamilySearch.org
13  Marriage record of Charles Moyse and Françoise Baillargeon, I.M.
14  Baptismal record of Nicolas Baillargeon (son), I.B.& C.
15  Marriage record of Nicolas Baillargeon and Pelagie Vallé, I.M.
16  Baptismal record of François Baillargeon, I.B.& C.
17  Baptismal record of Barbe Baillargeon, I.B.& C.
18  Burial record of Barbe (Baillargeon) Lacoste, A complete survey of cemetery records, Knox County, Indiana, collected and compiled by Mrs. Alta Amsler
19  Marriage record of André Lacoste and Barbe Baillargeon, I.M.
20  Baptismal record of Eustache Baillargeon, I.B.& C.
21  Burial record of Eustache Baillargeon, Roster of Soldiers & Patriots in the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, 1938
22  Baptismal record of Archange Baillargeon (older), I.B.& C.
23  Baptismal record of Archange Baillargeon (younger), I.B.& C.
24  Baptismal record of Victoire Baillargeon (older), I.B.& C.
25  Burial record of Victoire Baillargeon, Indiana, Knox County: A Complete Survey of Cemetery records, p. 276
26  Death Record of Archange (Baillargeon) Gaile, Ravellettes from Indiana Roys, Griffith, etc., www.genealogy.com
27  Marriage record of Joseph Sansouci and Archange Baillargeon, I.M.
28  Marriage date of Joseph Gaile and Archange Baillargeon based on baptismal record of oldest child Marie, I.B.& C.
29  Baptismal record of Jean Baillargeon, I.B.& C.
30  Baptismal record of Marie-Josephe Baillargeon, I.B.& C.
31  Baptismal record of Victoire Baillargeon (younger), I.B.& C.

32  Marriage record of Isadore Cartier and Victoire Baillargeon, I.M.

Taking a Side in Revolutionary War — Alexandre Fournier

B. 26 Feb 1735 in Lauzon, New France
M. 14 Sep 1761 in Lauzon, New France
Wife: Marie-Charlotte Turgeon
D. 5 Jan 1826 in Lauzon, Quebec

There was an interesting dynamic among the people of Quebec during the American Revolution. Do the French Canadians' sympathies lie with England, or with the American colonies? For some men, like Alexandre Fournier, the choice was to side with the British.

Alexandre Fournier was born on February 26, 1735 in Lauzon, New France, across the water from Quebec City. He came from a very large family of 15 children and he was the youngest of the brood; his parents, Jacques Fournier and Marie-Françoise Blanchon, were 51 and 45 when he was born. Alexandre was treated at Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City twice during his youth, on June 9, 1752 and February 11, 1753. It isn't known what sort of sickness or injury he had, or if the two visits were related to each other.

At age 26, Alexandre married Marie-Charlotte Turgeon, with the wedding taking place at Lauzon on September 14, 1761. They were known to have nine children, born between 1762 and 1777. A tenth child who was unnamed in their 1779 burial record was probably a stillborn baby.

Alexandre’s marriage was a couple of years after the British takeover of Canada, and that event affected everyone who lived through it. One aspect was what it did to the churches along the south shore of the St. Lawrence, especially where the Fournier family lived in Beaumont. After England officially took control in October 1763, many members of the clergy returned to France, and Beaumont’s church, St-Etienne, seems to have lost their priest. For this reason, most of Alexandre’s children were baptized at St-Michel-de-Bellechasse. The lack of a priest didn’t prevent the parishioners from holding funerals at St-Etienne. Alexandre played a role in this by witnessing dozens of burials; he was likely some sort of voluntary officer working with whoever was running the church.

1766 parish register for Beaumont showing numerous burials with Alexandre’s name.

The French settlers had an uneasy relationship with the new English authority, and worried that there would be a crackdown on Catholicism. But the overall economy improved under the British, making it easier for the people to support themselves. And when the Quebec Act of 1774 protected their religion, many of their fears were alleviated.

The Quebec Act was actually a move by England to get the French settlers on their side so they wouldn’t join the rebellion forming in the colonies to the south. When the American Revolution began a year later, the Continental Army sent an invasion force to Canada. Some of the army arrived near Beaumont in November 1775, and set up camp there. The British began recruiting the French men to fight against the Americans; meanwhile, the Americans were also trying to enlist the French to help their cause, and some men did.

It isn’t known exactly when Alexandre joined his local militia in Beaumont, but his name appeared in the notes for a review of the troops, and he was one of two sergeants in his unit. The inspection took place at 10:00 am on July 6, 1776 with 71 soldiers present. After shouts of “Hurrah!” and “Long live the king!” a review was given of their recent action. That March, some of the Beaumont men had marched to the next town and arrested a French man who had been spying for the Americans. Shortly afterwards, there was a battle downriver at the town of Saint-Pierre, with many French fighting for the British side being captured by the rebels. It isn’t known if Alexandre took part in these actions, but the fact he was a sergeant suggests that he was likely involved.

Capturing a spy working for the Americans. (AI-generated image)

The Americans retreated from Quebec by the end of the year, and presumably Alexandre returned to his civilian life as a farmer. His wife Marie-Charlotte passed away on March 4, 1799. Alexandre survived her by many years, and he died at the age of 90 on January 5, 1826.

Children:
1. Marie-Charlotte Fournier — B. 3 Jul 1762, Beaumont, New France

2. Alexandre Fournier — B. before 20 Jul 1765, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec; M. Marguerite Turgeon (~1775-?), 27 Jan 1794, Beaumont, Quebec

3. Joseph-Amable Fournier — B. 7 Dec 1766, Beaumont, Quebec  M. Marie-Elisabeth Roy (~1772-1824), 20 Jan 1800, Beaumont, Quebec

4. Antoine Fournier — B. before 4 Jan 1768, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec; D. before 28 Jul 1773, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec

5. Jean-Baptiste Fournier — B. before 4 Jan 1770, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec; D. 5 Jul 1770, Beaumont, Quebec

6. Jean-Baptiste Fournier — B. before 12 Jul 1771, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec  M. Marguerite Roy (~1780-?), 18 Apr 1803, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Quebec

7. Antoine Fournier — B. before 28 Jul 1773, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec  M. Judith Nadeau (1784-?), 10 Jan 1802, Beaumont, Quebec

8. Jacques Fournier — B. Feb 1775, (probably) Beaumont, Quebec  D. 15 Sep 1860, St-Laurent, Quebec; M. (1) Genevieve Roy (1780-?), 1 Feb 1802, Beaumont, Quebec; (2) Marie-Hermine Chabot (1815-?), 25 Aug 1840, St-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Quebec

9. Marie-Joseph Fournier — B. 23 Jun 1777, Beaumont, Quebec; D. 8 Nov 1856, St-Chrysotome, Levis, Quebec; M. (1) Michel Dubois (1774-1809), 4 Jul 1796, Beaumont, Quebec; (2) Laurent Gosselin (1787-1858), 19 Oct 1812, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de Lévy, Lauzon, Quebec

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
1689-1760 Registre journalier des malades de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec, Marcel Fournier, 2005
Quebec Act (Wikipedia article)
Blockade of Quebec in 1775-1776 by the American revolutionists, Frederick Christian, 1905
Rapport de l’Archiviste de la province de Québec, 1927
Battle of Saint-Pierre (Wikipedia article)