M. about 1670 in St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, Auvergne, France1
Husband: Claude Caron
D. 18 Mar 1727 in Montreal, New France3
Madeleine Varennes was a wife and mother in New France, but late in her life, she seems to have been involved in some illegal behavior: providing alcohol to some Iroquois in exchange for goods. Madeleine was born in about 1640 in St-Jean d’Aubrigoux,1 France, a town in the southeast province of Auvergne. Her parents were said to be Claude Varennes and Claude Riberon, but this is uncertain.
In about 1670, Madeleine married a man named Claude Caron, with their wedding taking place at St-Jean d’Aubrigoux.2 It’s believed that Claude had migrated to New France a few years earlier, and returned to St-Jean d’Aubrigoux to marry Madeleine. After she gave birth to a daughter in 1671,2 they moved to the colony, settling near Montreal in the seigneury of La Prairie. Eight more children were born there by 1683, of which five died young.
There is a story that Madeleine almost lost her husband Claude in January 1681 when he came down with an illness and seemed to be near death. The family was gathered to say goodbye to him, but when the priest arrived to give the last rites, he suggested that Claude pray for a cure to a devout Indian woman who had recently died. A short time later, he was miraculously recovered. Claude lived many more years, which must have been a great relief to Madeleine.4
In January 1701, Madeleine got into trouble with the law.5 In New France, as with other American colonies, selling alcohol to Indians was prohibited, and this was strictly enforced by authorities. But those on the frontier often sought ways to make easy money. Somehow Madeleine conspired with three men, led by a Montreal blacksmith named Louis Badaillac dit Laplante, to offer brandy to some Iroquois in a trade. She wasn’t the one to conduct the actual transaction, but she was part of the ring, and when they all got caught, she was brought to court. Badaillac dit Laplante was fined 200 livres, and the others had to pay 50 livres each, including Madeleine; it was a lot of money for that time, and must have taken an effort for her to pay it, if she actually did.
1701 subpoena of Madeleine to answer charges against her. (Source: BAnQ)
At some point, Madeleine and her husband moved to Montreal, where Claude died on September 18, 1708. Madeleine survived him by 20 years, passing away on March 18, 1727.3
Children:
1. Louise Caron — B. about 1671, (probably) St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, Auvergne, France;2 D. 13 Apr 1703, Montreal, New France;6 M. Jean-Baptiste Tessier (1663-1734), 21 Apr 1688, La Prairie, New France7
2. Claude Caron – B. 1 Aug 1672, La Prairie, New France;8 D. 15 Jun 1759, Montreal, New France;9 M. (1) Élisabeth Perthuis (1677-1703), 20 Jun 1695, Montreal, New France;10 (2) Jeanne Boyer (1682-1762), 12 Nov 1703, Montreal, New France11
3. Vital Caron – B. 11 Aug 1673, La Prairie, New France;12 D. 20 Apr 1745, Lachine, New France;13 M. Marie Perthuis (1678-1766), 24 Jan 1698, Montreal, New France14
4. Madeleine Caron — B. 20 Oct 1674, La Prairie, New France;15 D. 30 Oct 1674, La Prairie, New France16
5. Jean Caron — B. 6 Oct 1675, La Prairie, New France;17 D. 12 Dec 1687, La Prairie, New France18
6. Jeanne Caron – B. 30 Nov 1677, La Prairie, New France;19 D. 16 Oct 1687, La Prairie, New France20
7. Mathieu Caron – B. 12 Jul 1679, La Prairie, New France;21 D. 18 May 1684, La Prairie, New France22
8. Marie Caron — B. 8 Oct 1680, La Prairie, New France;23 D. 6 Aug 1699, Montreal, New France;24 M. Urbain Gervaise (1673-1713), 1 Oct 1696, Montreal, New France25
9. Catherine Caron — B. 2 Jul 1683, La Prairie, New France;26 D. 18 Jan 1684, La Prairie, New France27
Sources:
1 Listing of Madeleine Varennes on Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française
2 Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
3 Burial record of Madeleine Varennes, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
4 “Kateri (Catherine) Teakwitha (Gah-deh-lee Deh-gah-quee-tah)”, Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 33, #4, October 2012
5 Court records of case against Madeleine Varennes and others, 2 Jan 1701 to 12 Feb 1701, BAnQ
6 Burial record of Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
7 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier and Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
8 Baptismal record of Claude Caron (younger), Q.C.P.R.
9 Burial record of Claude Caron (younger), Q.C.P.R.
10 Marriage record of Claude Caron (younger) and Élisabeth Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
11 Marriage record of Claude Caron (younger) and Jeanne Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
12 Baptismal record of Vital Caron, Q.C.P.R.
13 Burial record of Vital Caron, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of Vital Caron and Marie Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
15 Baptismal record of Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Jean Caron, Q.C.P.R.
18 Burial record of Jean Caron, Q.C.P.R.
19 Baptismal record of Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
20 Burial record of Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
21 Baptismal record of Mathieu Caron, Q.C.P.R.
22 Burial record of Mathieu Caron, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
24 Burial record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
25 Marriage record of Urbain Gervaise and Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
26 Baptismal record of Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
27 Burial record of Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
