M. about 1668 (probably) near Montreal, New France2
Wife: Marie Benoit
D. 26 May 1708 in Contrecœur, New France3
Soldiers who serve in the same unit often form lasting bonds with each other, and this was true for Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers. Although we know that Pierre was from France, his birthdate, birthplace and parents are unproven. The 1681 census of New France gave an age that suggested he was born in 1636.1 (There is a birth record of a Pierre Favreau born in Chatillon-sur-Marne on June 13, 1636 to Nicolas and Claude Favreau, which may or may not be him.)
Many young French men of the 17th century saw opportunity by joining the military. If by chance, their service happened around 1665, they were likely sent to Canada as part of the Carignan-Salières Regiment. Pierre was almost 30-years-old that year, and it isn’t known if he had previous service under his belt, but it’s somewhat likely. Whatever the case, he became part of the force sent to America to protect the colony along the St. Lawrence River from the aggressive activities of the Iroquois.2
The soldiers were organized into companies of 30 to 40 men, and Pierre found himself assigned to one headed by a man almost 70-years-old named Antoine Pécaudy de Contrecœur.2 The companies of the regiment were put on ships at La Rochelle; several were needed to transport the over 1,000 men. Pierre’s company, Contrecœur, boarded La Paix along with three other companies.2 After landing at Quebec on August 19th, they continued on small boats to the Richelieu River, where they joined others in building forts in raw wilderness.2 While some men stayed there, the Contrecœur company traveled to Montreal and set up camp for the winter.2 For the next three years, Pierre and his fellow soldiers were said to have participated in “various campaigns,” which likely took them to nearby areas.4
Nicknames of the soldiers in Pierre's company. He's the second on the list.
Pierre's new wife was Marie Benoit, a woman often credited with being one of the Filles du Roi, although there isn’t any documentation to verify this. There’s no record of their wedding, which likely took place in 1668. The couple’s first child was born in about 1669,5 and they had a total of 13 by 1693,6 of whom at least three died as infants. In about 1687, Pierre moved a little ways upriver to Boucherville.2
Pierre seems to have had a special relationship with one of the men he served with in the Contrecœur company: Antoine Emery dit Coderre. It’s easy to imagine they had a friendship from the time they sailed over together from France, and continued on as soldiers along the St. Lawrence. Both of them lived in the seigneury of Contrecœur, and they were godfathers at the baptisms of each other’s children;7,8 Pierre named his son Antoine and this was likely in honor of his friend. Emery dit Coderre also moved to Boucherville, and in June 1688, after his first wife had died, he married Pierre’s 16-year-old daughter Marie-Anne.9 Twelve years later, the old soldiers united at an event again when Pierre’s son Mathurin married Emery dit Coderre’s daughter Marie-Madeleine.10
By the end of his life, Pierre seems to have moved back to Contrecœur, where he died on May 26, 1708;3 curiously, his death record gave his age as 90 when he was actually about 72. His wife Marie survived him by many years, passing away in 1733.11 Today a plaque honors the men who first settled in Contrecœur. Pierre is listed along with his wife, but for some reason his name is written as “Pierre Carrot” instead of Pierre Favreau. He was the ancestor of June Foray, the voice of Rocky the Squirrel.
Plaque honoring pioneers in Contrecœur showing "Pierre Carrot."
1. Nicolas Favreau — B. about 1669, (probably) Contrecœur, New France;5 D. 11 Jan 1731, Boucherville, New France;5 M. (1) Catherine Picard (~1679-1699), 18 Oct 1694, Boucherville, New France;12 (2) Marie Meunier (1683-1742), 20 Apr 1700, Boucherville, New France13
2. Pierre Favreau — B. about 1670, (probably) Contrecœur, New France;1 D. before 21 Mar 16936
3. Marie-Anne Favreau — B. about 1672, (probably) Contrecœur, New France;14 D. 3 Apr 1737, Contrecœur, New France;14 M. (1) Antoine Emery dit Coderre (1643-?), 5 Jun 1688, Boucherville, New France;9 (2) Joseph Circe (1691-1754), 10 Feb 1716, Contrecoeur, New France15
4. Antoine Favreau — B. 26 Feb 1675, Contrecœur, New France;7 D. 6 Nov 1709, Montreal, New France;16 M. Anne Meunier (~1678-?), 11 Jan 1700, Boucherville, New France17
5. Mathurin Favreau — B. 16 Mar 1677, Contrecœur, New France;18 D. 27 Mar 1752, Boucherville, New France;19 M. Marie-Madeleine Emery (1678-1760), 11 Jan 1700, Boucherville, New France10
6. Marie Favreau — B. about 1679, (probably) Contrecœur, New France;20 D. 1 May 1703, Montreal, New France;20 M. François Picard (1673-1728), 18 Oct 1694, Boucherville, New France21
7. Jean Favreau — B. about 1681, (probably) Contrecœur, New France;1 D. 31 Oct 1747, Boucherville, New France;22 M. Jeanne Meunier (1685-1760), 23 Jan 1702, Boucherville, New France23
8. Joseph Favreau — B. 25 Mar 1683, Contrecœur, New France;24 D. (probably) young
9. Charles Favreau — B. 13 Feb 1685, Contrecœur, New France;25 D. 31 Oct 1764, Verchères, New France;26 M. Marie-Angelique Benard (1699-?), 11 Nov 1720, Boucherville, New France27
10. Genevieve Favreau — B. 4 Oct 1686, Contrecoeur, New France;28 D. before 5 Oct 1717, New France;29 M. Gabriel Giard (1675-1753), 21 Jul 1710, Contrecoeur, New France30
11, René Favreau — B. 25 May 1688, Boucherville, New France;31 D. 11 Apr 1689, Boucherville, New France32
12. Jacques Favreau — B. 28 Aug 1690, Boucherville, New France;33 D. 25 Sep 1690, Boucherville, New France34
13. Pierre Favreau — B. 21 Mar 1693, Boucherville, New France;6 M. Marie-Anne Perrault (1692-1730), 28 Jun 1716, Boucherville, New France35
Sources:
1 Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
2 Migrations: Compagnie Contrecœur (website)
3 Burial record of Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
4 Pécaudy de Contrecœur, Antoine,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography (website)
5 Burial record of Nicolas Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
6 Baptismal record of Pierre Favreau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
7 Baptismal record of Antoine Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
8 Baptismal record of Antoine Emery (younger), Q.C.P.R.]
9 Marriage record of Antoine Emery dit Coderre and Marie-Anne Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
10 Marriage record of Mathurin Favreau and Marie-Madeleine Emery, Q.C.P.R.
11 Burial record of Marie Benoit, Q.C.P.R.
12 Marriage record of Nicolas Favreau and Catherine Picard, Q.C.P.R.
13 Marriage record of Nicolas Favreau and Marie Meunier, Q.C.P.R.
14 Burial record of Marie-Anne Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
15 Marriage record of Joseph Circe and Marie-Anne Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
16 Burial record of Antoine Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
17 Marriage record of Antoine Favreau and Anne Meunier, Q.C.P.R.
18 Baptismal record of Mathurin Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
19 Burial record of Mathurin Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
20 Burial record of Marie Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
21 Marriage record of François Picard and Marie Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
22 Burial record of Jean Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
23 Marriage record of Jean Favreau and Jeanne Meunier, Q.C.P.R.
24 Baptismal record of Joseph Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
25 Baptismal record of Charles Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
26 Burial record of Charles Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
27 Marriage record of Charles Favreau and Marie-Angelique Benard, Q.C.P.R.
28 Baptismal record of Genevieve Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
29 Marriage record of Gabriel Giard and Suzanne Menard, Q.C.P.R.
30 Marriage record of Gabriel Giard and Genevieve Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
31 Baptismal record of René Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
32 Burial record of René Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
33 Baptismal record of Jacques Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
34 Burial record of Jacques Favreau, Q.C.P.R.
35 Marriage record of Pierre Favreau (younger) and Marie-Anne Perrault, Q.C.P.R.
