M. (1) 19 Apr 1702 in Montreal, New France2
Husband: Pierre Clement dit La Rivière
M. (2) 3 Feb 1728 in Pointe-Claire, New France3
Husband: Alexis Bigras
D. 1 Sep 1763 in Pointe-Claire, New France4
Among the twists and turns in the life of Marie-Catherine Prezeau was that she chose a much younger man as her second husband, and he was by extension, her relative. She was born on April 1, 1679 in Lachine, New France, to Michel Prezeau and Marie Chansy, the second of their six children.1 Catherine’s childhood was filled with tragedy, with the early deaths of three of her siblings. Then at age 10, the family were victims of the Lachine massacre. Early in the morning of August 5, 1689, a band of Iroquois entered the community, invading homes, and slaughtering people. Both of Catherine’s parents are believed to have died that day, along with her 4-year-old sister, Madeleine.5 Somehow, though, Catherine and another sister, Marguerite, escaped harm.
For the next 12 years, Catherine’s whereabouts are uncertain; either another family or an extended family member likely took her in. On April 19, 1702, she got married at Notre-Dame-de-Montreal to Pierre Clement dit La Rivière,2 a man from France who probably came to the colony as a soldier. Catherine seems to have had a baby boy who was born the year before her wedding, but it’s uncertain if Pierre was the father or not. Nine more children were born to Catherine between 1703 and 1722, three of whom seemed to have died young.6,7
Catherine’s family eventually settled in Pointe-Claire, where her husband Pierre died on October 11, 1725.8 She managed to get by for a few years without a man to support her, until remarrying on February 3, 1728.3 Her new husband, Alexis Bigras, was 26 years younger than she was. More unusual than that, he was the younger brother of the man who had married her daughter Angelique in 1722.9 The couple had no children together, perhaps because Alexis spent time away from home on fur trade expeditions; he signed up for trips to the Great Lakes area at least once while married to Catherine.10
Catherine lived a long life, passing away in Pointe-Claire on September 1, 1763.4 Alexis survived her by many years, and died in 1791.11 Catherine was the ancestor of Liza Minelli.
Church at Pointe-Claire built in 1750.
Child by uncertain father:
1. Bernard Clement — B. about 1701, New France;12 D. 11 Apr 1791, Vaudreuil, Quebec;12 M. (1) Marie Messaguier (1696-1750), 8 Jan 1721, Lachine, New France;13 (2) Ursule Lalande (1715-1799), 17 Aug 1750, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, New France14
Children by Pierre Clement dit La Rivière:
1. Marie-Louise Clement — B. 17 Mar 1703, Montreal, New France;7 D. 21 Nov 1784, Pointe-Claire, Quebec;15 M. Raymond Labrosse (1695-?), 9 May 1724, Pointe-Claire, New France16
2. Angelique Clement — B. 18 Nov 1705, Lachine, New France;17 D.23 Aug 1784, Detroit, Northwest Territory;18 M. (1) Jacques Bigras dit Fauvel (1696-1751), 13 Apr 1722;10 (2) Jean Brisard (~1705-?), 7 May 1752, Detroit, New France19
3. Antoine Clement — B. 6 Feb 1708, Lachine, New France;20 D. 2 May 1774, Pointe-Claire, Quebec;21 M. Marie-Anne Bourdon (1712-1782), 21 Apr 1727, Pointe-Claire, New France22
4. Pierre Clement — B. 13 Dec 1710, Lachine, New France;23 D. (probably) young
5. Marie-Joseph Clement — B. about 1712, New France;24 M. Jean-Baptiste Gemme (1711-?), 6 Apr 1728, Pointe-Claire, New France24
6. Marie-Charlotte Clement — B. 24 Aug 1717, Pointe-Claire, New France;25 D. 15 Mar 1795, Montreal, Quebec;26 M. Joseph Proulx (1718-?), 10 Feb 1738, Pointe-Claire, New France27
7. Marie-Madeleine Clement — B. 1 Dec 1719, Pointe-Claire, New France;28 D. 7 Dec 1719, Pointe-Claire, New France29
8. Thomas Clement — B. 1 Dec 1719, Pointe-Claire, New France;30 D. (probably) young
9. Jean-Baptiste Clement — B. 19 May 1722, Pointe-Claire, New France;8 D. 24 Mar 1799, Pointe-Claire, Quebec;31 M. Monique Pilon (1725-1804), 26 Feb 1743, Pointe-Claire, New France32
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Marie-Catherine Prezeau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Pierre Clement dit La Rivière and Marie-Catherine Prezeau, Q.C.P.R.
3 Marriage record of Alexis Bigras and Marie-Catherine Prezeau, Q.C.P.R.
4 Burial record of Marie-Catherine Prezeau, Q.C.P.R.
5 L’autre Marie Morin: une femme abandonnée en Nouvelle-France, Marcel Myre, 2004
6 Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Clement, Q.C.P.R.
7 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Clement, Q.C.P.R.
8 Burial record of Pierre Clement dit La Rivière, Q.C.P.R.
9 Marriage record of Jacques Bigras and Angelique Clement, Q.C.P.R.
10 Voyageur Database, La Société historique de Saint-Boniface
11 Burial record of Alexis Bigras, Q.C.P.R.
12 Burial record of Bernard Clement, Q.C.P.R.
13 Marriage record of Bernard Chambly and Marie Messaguier, Q.C.P.R.
14 Marriage record of Bernard Clement and Ursule Lalande, Q.C.P.R.
15 Burial record of Marie-Louise Clement, Q.C.P.R.
16 Marriage record of Raymond Labrosse and Marie-Louise Clement, Q.C.P.R.
17 Baptismal record of Angelique Clement, Q.C.P.R.
18 WikiTree entry for Angelique Clement
19 Marriage record of Jean Brisard and Angelique Clement, Q.C.P.R.
20 Baptismal record of Antoine Clement, Q.C.P.R.
21 Burial record of Antoine Clement, Q.C.P.R.
22 Marriage record of Antoine Clement and Marie-Anne Bourdon, Q.C.P.R.
23 Baptismal record of Pierre Clement, Q.C.P.R.
24 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Gemme and Marie-Joseph Clement, Q.C.P.R.
25 Baptismal record of Marie-Charlotte Clement, Q.C.P.R.
26 Burial record of Marie-Charlotte Clement, Q.C.P.R.
27 Marriage record of Joseph Proulx and Marie-Charlotte Clement, Q.C.P.R.
28 Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Clement, Q.C.P.R.
29 Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Clement, Q.C.P.R.
30 Baptismal record of Thomas Clement, Q.C.P.R.
31 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Clement, Q.C.P.R.
32 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Clement and Monique Pilon, Q.C.P.R.
