In the Company of Soldiers — Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers

B. about 1636 in France¹
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. 

The assignment of the Contrecœur company to Montreal seems to have shaped the future for many of its members. When the regiment was disbanded in 1668, many of the company leaders returned to France, but Pécaudy de Contrecœur chose to stay by settling on the shore of the St. Lawrence south of Montreal.² Pierre seemed to follow his lead, carving out a farm near Pécaudy de Contrecœur, and getting married at about the same time.² He wasn’t the only man of the Contrecœur company to do so — at least three others made their homes in the same place. In fact, of the 35 or so members of the company, only about three or four returned to France, and most of those who stayed, settled in the Montreal region.² On October 29, 1672, Pécaudy de Contrecœur was granted a seigneury, and the place where Pierre lived was thereafter called Contrecœur.²

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."

Children:
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.

Married to a Cheating Wife — Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine

B. about 1636 in LaFontaine-Milon, Angers, France¹
M. 26 Oct 1671 in Quebec City, New France²
Wife: Marie-Therese Viel
D. 3 Oct 1700 in Quebec City, New France³

When men in New France made matches with the Filles du Roi, not every bride turned out to be virtuous, and such was the case for Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine. He was born in about 1636 in Lafontaine-Milon, a village in Angers, France.¹ Étienne’s parents were Claude Boyer and Sébastienne Raveneau, and he was one of at least six children. His father was a butcher, but died when Étienne was a baby;¹ then his mother, a brother and a sister all died in 1639.

After Étienne came of age, he enlisted in the military, and was part of the Carignan-Salières Regiment that was sent to protect New France in 1665.¹ On May 24th of that year, he boarded the ship Saint-Sebastien, and after a crossing that took months, he landed at Quebec City on September 12th.⁴ Soon after, his company led by La Fouille made their way to the mouth of the Rivière-du-Loup on Lac Saint-Pierre, where they spent the winter.⁴ Étienne helped build a fort, and presumably he was stationed there for some of his service. At the end of three years, Étienne’s term was up, and he became one of about 400 soldiers who decided to make their civilian life in the colony.

After being released from service, Étienne seems to have lived in the Quebec City area. In the fall of 1671, he decided to seek a wife from the Filles du Roi who had just arrived from France. A 20-year-old woman named Marie-Therese Viel must have caught his eye, and on October 20th, a contract of marriage was signed.⁵ The wedding took place at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec on the 26th,² and Therese was soon pregnant. Three sons were born between 1672 and 1675, but sadly only the third one survived.

Etienne and Marie-Therese's marriage contract. (Source: BAnQ)

By this time, Étienne had acquired a concession in a place located north and west of Quebec City. (His land was on a bend in the Charles River, which was said to be the site of Maison O'Neill, a landmark house that was built in about 1860.⁶) In early 1676, a matter came up that had Therese making a trip back to France;⁴ such journeys were rare among colonists, and more unusual for a woman to travel alone. Étienne stayed behind with their very young son and waited for her return.

When Therese came home months later, she was quite pregnant.⁴ Étienne was said to have refused to take her back,⁴ and it’s easy to imagine he was angry and embarrassed over it. Her claim was that she got seduced by a powerful man, Médard Chouart des Groseilliers, a French-Canadian fur trader who was also visiting France when he came into contact with her in La Rochelle.⁴ By the time Therese gave birth to her illegitimate baby on January 14, 1677,⁷ Étienne chose to believe her story and they got back together.⁴ Later that year, he tried to sue Chouart des Groseilliers, who denied being the baby’s father, but the court decided in Étienne’s favor. The plaintiff had to pay him 200 livres; the only stipulation on Étienne’s part was that he was ordered to raise the child.⁴

Pregnant wife returns home. (AI-generated image)

After that, Étienne resumed normal relations with Therese. Together, they had ten more children, with the youngest born in 1691.⁸ The following year, Étienne was said to have sold his concession.⁶ The family seems to have moved to the Charlesbourg area because Therese was involved in an incident there with another woman in 1699.⁹

Étienne died on October 3, 1700 at Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City.³ His widow Therese seems to have been left with a number of underaged children of which only one showed up in later records of New France. She herself was thought to have moved back to France; it’s very possible that many, or all, of the younger children went with her. Étienne and Therese were the ancestors of Ricky Gervais.

Children:
1. Réne-Louis Boyer — B. 9 Sep 1672, New France;¹⁰ D. 11 Sep 1672, New France¹¹

2. Hugues Boyer — B. 7 Sep 1673, New France¹²

3. Charles Boyer — B. about 1675, New France;¹³ D. 18 Mar 1727, Chambly, New France;¹³ M. (1) Marie-Marguerite Vanier (1684-1715), 9 Feb 1699, Charlesbourg, New France;¹⁴ (2) Marie-Madeleine Vivier (1688-1729), 19 Aug 1715, Charlesbourg, New France¹⁵

4. Jean-Louis Boyer — B. 31 Dec 1678, New France;¹⁶ M. Marie-Renée Chrétien, 9 Feb 1699, New France¹⁷

5. Jean-Étienne Boyer — B. 10 Aug 1680, Quebec City, New France;¹⁸ D. 21 Apr 1750, Lachine, New France;¹⁹ M. Barbe Lemoureux (1685-1770), about 1707, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, New France²⁰

6. François Boyer — B. Mar 1681, L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²¹

7. Jacques Boyer — B. 18 Apr 1683, L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²²

8. Louis Boyer — B. 7 Jun 1684, L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France;²³ D. Jun 1684, L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²⁴

9. Élisabeth Boyer — B. 10 Jul 1685, (probably) L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²⁵

10. Pierre-Augustin Boyer — B. 28 Aug 1686, (probably) L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²⁶

11. Jean-Baptiste Boyer — B. about 1688, (probably) L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France;²⁷ D. 23 Oct 1750, Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, New France;²⁷ M. Marie-Madeleine Bonnier Lapierre (1693-1785), 28 Jul 1710, New France²⁸

12. Jean-François Boyer — B. 12 Jun 1690, (probably) L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France²⁹

13. Pierre Boyer — B. 24 May 1691, L’Ancienne-Lorette, New France⁸

Sources:
1    Fichier Origine listing for Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine  
2    Marriage record of Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine and Marie-Therese Viel, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine, Q.C.P.R.
4    Compagnie La Fouille, Migrations.fr (website)  
5    Marriage contract of Étienne Boyer dit Lafontaine and Marie-Therese Viel, BAnQ
6    Ville de Québec l’accent d’Amerique (website) 
7    Baptismal record of Jeanne-Élisabeth Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Pierre Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
9    Court record of incident between Mare-Therese Viel and Madeleine Bailly, BAnQ  
10  Baptismal record of René-Louis Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
11  Burial record of René-Louis Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
12  Baptismal record of Hugues Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of Charles Boyer dit LaFontaine, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Charles Boyer dit LaFontaine and Marie-Marguerite Vanier, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Charles Boyer dit LaFontaine and Marie-Madeleine Vivier, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Jean-Louis Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Jean-Louis Boyer and Marie-Renée Chrétien, Q.C.P.R.
18  Baptismal record of Jean-Étienne Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
19  Burial record of Jean-Étienne Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Jean-Étienne Boyer and Barbe Lemoureux, Q.C.P.R.
21  Baptismal record of François Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Jacques Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Louis Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Louis Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Élisabeth Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
26  Baptismal record of Pierre Augustin Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
27  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Boyer and Marie-Madeleine Bonnier Lapierre, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of Jean-François Boyer, Q.C.P.R.

Settling Down at Age 35 — Jacques Ménard dit Deslauriers

B. about 1644 in Brittany, France^1,2
M. 28 Nov 1680 in Beauport, New France²
Wife: Marie-Madeleine Baugis
D. 27 Nov 1716 in Beauport, New France³

Jacques Ménard dit Deslauriers followed the same course as many soldiers who became a settlers in New France. When his service was over, he acquired a farm along the St. Lawrence and raised a large family, but the difference in his story was that he waited well over a decade before he got married. Jacques began life in Brittany, France, born there to parents Jean and Marie-Louise Ménard.¹ Later documents indicated he was from a place called “St-Sabin du bourg des Marchis,” an area outside the city of Nantes, but it’s uncertain if this was his birthplace, or a place where he lived.

When Jacques was about 20-years-old, he became part of the Carignan-Salières Regiment, a massive military force sent to New France to secure the colony against Iroquois aggression. He was in the company led by Captain Duprat, which boarded the ship Saint-Sebastien on May 24, 1665,⁴ along with three other companies. After a long, difficult crossing, the ship arrived at Quebec City on September 12th,⁴ with some of the men very sick. Jacques seemed to remain healthy, though, and joined others in receiving the sacrament of confirmation on September 21st.⁵ A couple of weeks later on October 2nd, his company took small boats up the St. Lawrence to a place in the wilderness along the Richelieu River, where they helped build a fort called Ste-Therese.⁶

Map showing location of forts built along the Richelieu River in 1665. (Source: BAnQ)

Jacques’ company stayed at Fort Ste-Therese that winter, but Captain Duprat died, and was replaced by the unit’s second in command, Captain de Portes.⁶ For the next couple of years, the men were stationed there, then in 1668, the regiment was disbanded. Each soldier was given a choice to return to France, or remain in New France as a settler. Like many, Jacques chose to stay, but his exact whereabouts for the next seven years is a mystery. It wasn’t until 1675 that he was recorded as a godfather on a baptism in the settlement of Beauport.⁷ It’s likely that he had moved there soon after his military service ended, but this isn’t verified.

It wasn’t until 1680 that Jacques finally decided to take a wife. As was often the case with men in New France, his bride was much younger than he was. Her name was Marie-Madeleine Baugis, a 17-year-old girl who had been born out-of-wedlock,⁸ and took the name of the stepfather who raised her. Michel Baugis was generous to the newlyweds, offering them a place to live in the village of St-Michel-de-Beauport, and 200 livres worth of “old clothes, furniture, and animals.” This was written into the marriage contract dated November 28th,⁵ which both Jacques and Madeleine were able to sign, showing that they were both literate. Their wedding was held the following day.³

Jacques and Madeleine spent the rest of their married life in Beauport raising a large family; their ten children were born between 1681 and 1702, with one who died young⁹ and another at age 18.¹⁰ Other than a renewal of the farm lease on May 10, 1686,⁵ there is little documentation of Jacques during that time. He was noted as being a patient at Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City for nine days starting on July 2, 1693.¹¹

Living in a broken down house. (AI-generated image)

On November 27, 1716, Jacques died at Beauport.³ Although the parish record said he was 78 when he died, other records would indicate that he was really about 72.¹ An inventory was taken of his estate, and at the end of his life, he seemed to live in a broken down house.⁵ The home was 18’ by 16’ with a straw roof, but the clay chimney was “threatening ruin” and was given no value on the probate inventory. Jacques’ wife Madeleine lived as a widow many years, passing away in 1743.¹²

Children:
1. Marguerite Ménard — B. 8 Nov 1681, Beauport, New France;¹³ D. 25 Dec 1761, Beauport, New France;¹⁴ M. Andre Paradis (1676-1745), 7 Jan 1697, Beauport, New France¹⁵

2. Jean Ménard — B. 3 May 1684, Beauport, New France;¹⁶ D. 15 Dec 1770, Beauport, Quebec;¹⁷ M. Françoise Vachon (1689-1749), 11 Jan 1712, Beauport, New France¹⁸

3. Marie-Anne Ménard — B. 18 Apr 1686, Beauport, New France;¹⁹ D. 20 Jul 1770, Beauport, Quebec;²⁰ M. Nöel Dupras (1681-1743), 4 Jun 1715, Beauport, New France²¹

4. Jacques Ménard — B. 23 Sep 1688, Beauport, New France;²² D. 12 May 1754, Quebec City, New France;²³ M. Angelique Deslisle (1696-1769), 13 Feb 1719, Quebec City, New France²⁴

5. René Ménard — B. 16 Nov 1690, Beauport, New France;²⁵ D. before 3 Mar 1697, (probably) Beauport, New France⁹

6. Pierre Ménard — B. 27 Dec 1691, Beauport, New France;²⁶ D. 4 Aug 1766, Lauzon, Quebec;²⁷ M. Therese Giroux (1694-1774), 8 Nov 1717, Beauport, New France²⁸

7. Michel Ménard — B. 20 Jun 1694, Beauport, New France;²⁹ M. Madeleine Papillion (1705-1771), 26 Aug 1723, Neuville, New France³⁰

8. René Ménard — B. 3 Mar 1697, Beauport, New France;⁹ D. 26 Jan 1715, Beauport, New France¹⁰

9. Madeleine Ménard — B. 30 Apr 1699, Beauport, New France;³¹ D. 18 May 1743, St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec;³² M. Nöel Maheu (1690-?), 8 Nov 1717, Beauport, New France³³

10. Charles Ménard — B. 16 Aug 1702, Beauport, New France;³⁴ D. 30 Jul 1769, Quebec City, Quebec;³⁵ M. Genevieve Belanger (1709-1782), 5 Nov 1736, Beauport, New France³⁶

Sources:
1    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
2    Marriage record of Jacques Ménard dit Deslauriers and Marie-Madeleine Baugis, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Jacques Ménard dit Deslauriers, Q.C.P.R.
4    Navires venus en Nouvelle France (website)  
5    Our French-Canadian Ancestors, V. 19, pp. 173-182, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
6    Compagnie Duprat, Migrations.fr (website)  
7    Baptismal record of Claude-Philiberte Chrétien, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Royer, Q.C.P.R.
9    Baptismal record of René Ménard (younger), Q.C.P.R.
10  Burial record of René Ménard (younger), Q.C.P.R.
11  Registre journalier des malades de l'Hotel-Dieu de Quebec, p. 190, 2005
12  Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Baugis, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Marguerite Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Marguerite Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of André Paradis and Marguerite Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Jean Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
17  Burial record of Jean Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Jean Ménard and Françoise Vachon, Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Marie-Anne Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Nöel Dupras and Marie-Anne Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Jacques Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Jacques Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
24  Marriage record of Jacques Ménard and Angelique Deslisle, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of René Ménard (older), Q.C.P.R.
26  Baptismal record of Pierre Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
27  Burial record of Pierre Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
28  Marriage record of Pierre Ménard and Therese Giroux, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of Michel Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Michel Ménard and Madeleine Papillion, Q.C.P.R.
31  Baptismal record of Madeleine Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
32  Burial record of Madeleine Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Nöel Maheu and Madeleine Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
34  Baptismal record of Charles Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
35  Burial record of Charles Ménard, Q.C.P.R.
36  Marriage record of Charles Ménard and Genevieve Belanger, Q.C.P.R.

Among a Group Seeking Wives — Antoine Bordeleau

B. before 22 Dec 1633 in Dompierre-sur-Boutonne, Saintonge, France¹
M. 15 Oct 1669 in Quebec City, New France²
Wife: Pérette Hallier
D. 18 Sep 1717 in Neuville, New France³

During the 1660s, when ships arrived in New France filled with marriageable women, it was the habit of the men of the colony to visit Quebec City to make a match. Usually, they came as individuals, but in October 1669, Antoine Bordeleau seemed to be among a group of men who all knew each other.

Antoine was born in Dompierre-sur-Boutonne, a village in western France, baptized there on December 22, 1633.¹ His parents were Jean Bordeleau and Marie Villain, but nothing else is known of his family. Antoine next turned up in records as a soldier, part of the Carignan-Sallieres Regiment sailing to New France in 1665.⁴ He served in a company of 50 men who boarded the ship Le Vieux Simeon, and they arrived at Quebec on June 19th after a voyage that took two months. About a month later, Antoine’s company traveled up the St. Lawrence to the Richelieu River. Their mission was to build a fort, then camp there that winter.⁴

For the next couple of years, Antoine remained stationed at the fort. A soldier’s term was usually for three years, but he seems to have been released by March of 1667, suggesting he had already served at least a year of duty in France. On the 20th of that month, Antoine received a concession of land in the settlement of Neuville (also known as Dombourg),⁵ located on the north coast of the St. Lawrence, a little upriver from Quebec. The seigneur of Neuville was Jean-François Bourdon, who was actively recruiting young men to populate his land. Forty-three men signed contracts that day, and many had been soldiers like Antoine. Their concessions would be reconfirmed 5 years later.

Seigneur Bourdon wanted to see that those who settled his land would raise families there. In 1668, his mother, Anne Gasnier, took an active role in this task; conveniently, she had been appointed by authorities to visit France and recruit young women to become Filles du Roi. And when she returned from France in 1669 with a ship of young ladies, her son joined her in Quebec City.⁶ It seems that he brought with him several single men from Neuville, including Antoine. As the Neuville men signed marriage contracts, Anne Gasnier and Seigneur Bourdon witnessed them. Six of the men had their weddings on October 15th. One of those who married that day was Antoine.² His bride was named Pérette Hallier, who at age 18, was about half his age.

Choosing a bride. (AI-generated image) 

After the ceremony, the young couple presumably got in a small boat or canoe and traveled back to Neuville to begin their life together. But things didn’t play out like they were supposed to. Instead of having a large family, Antoine and Pérette only produced two children, which was unusual among New France settlers; they had a son born in 1673⁷ and a daughter born in 1676.⁸ And there was trouble with one of the neighbors. In 1675, a woman of the farm next door, Agathe Merlin, seems to have had an altercation with Pérette.⁹ Merlin landed in jail, causing her husband, Jean Loriot, to win her release. This must have caused friction for Antoine with his neighbor.

After the 1681 census, Pérette left Antoine and returned to France.⁹ Were there problems with their relationship? Or was she just not cut out for a life in the rugged colony? There’s no way of knowing, but Antoine likely never saw his wife again. He lived the rest of his life alone, dying on September 18, 1717 at Neuville.³ The parish record of his burial claimed he had been 100-years-old, but he was actually about 84. Antoine was the ancestor of Emeril Lagasse.

Children:
1. Antoine Bordeleau — B. 18 Dec 1673, Neuville, New France;⁷ D. 4 May 1758, Portneuf, New France;¹⁰ M. Catherint Piché (~1677-?), 5 Mar 1696, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France¹¹

2. Marie-Louise Bordeleau — B. 15 Aug 1676, Neuville, New France;⁸ D. 1 Jul 1720, St-Antoine-de-Tilly, New France;¹² M. Louis Croteau (1672-1747), 22 Nov 1695, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France¹³

Sources:
1    Listing for Antoine Bordeleau on Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française  
2    Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Pérette Hallier, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Antoine Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
4    Navires venus en Nouvelle France (website)  
5    Our French-Canadian Ancestors, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
6    WikiTree listing for Anne Gasnier https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gasnier-23
7    Baptismal record of Antoine Bordeleau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
9    King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, p. 297, Peter Gagne, 2000
10  Burial record of Antoine Bordeleau (younger), Q.C.P.R.
11  Marriage record of Antoine Bordeleau and Catherine Piché, Q.C.P.R.
12  Burial record of Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.
13  Marriage record of Louis Croteau and Marie-Louise Bordeleau, Q.C.P.R.

Leaving Debt to His Kids — René Maillot dit Laviolette

B. between 1637 and 1644 in Castet-Arrouy, France
M. after 28 Oct 1671 in (probably) Sillery, New France
Wife: Marie Chapacou
D. between 1715 and 1722 in (probably) Deschallions, New France

René Maillot dit Laviolette went to New France as a soldier, deciding to make his life there, but he struggled to accumulate any wealth. He was born in Castet-Aurroy, located in the southern part of France. His parents were René Maillot and Catherine Berger; everything else about his origins is sketchy, including his birth year which was sometime between 1637 and 1644.

During the 1660s, René joined the military, and found himself among the Carignan-Saliéres Regiment that was sent to the French colony in America. He was a member of the company led by Captain Duprat, which boarded the St-Sebastien at La Rochelle on May 24, 1665. The ship was crowded with soldiers, and the trip took several months, arriving at Quebec on September 12th. One week later, René received the Scapular of Mount Carmel in a ceremony at Quebec City (a scapular is a pair of small squares of cloth worn around the neck under a shirt). On October 2nd, the soldiers traveled west to the Richelieu River on a mission to build several forts; René’s company helped construct Fort Ste-Thérèse, then were assigned to stay there. Captain Duprat died over the winter and was replaced by a Captain de Portes.

Example of a scapular.

René likely served three years in the region around the Richelieu River, then in 1668, became one of many soldiers who not decided to return to France when the regiment disbanded. He seems to have moved as far west as Varennes in 1669 where he appeared on a record of a land sale. René next showed up back in Quebec, signing a marriage contract on October 28, 1671. His bride was a 13-year-old girl named Marie Chapacou, whose family had a farm at Côte Saint-Michel de Sillery. The record of their wedding is lost, but it likely took place within a few months of the contract.

René and Marie settled in Grondines, located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Trois-Rivières. They had 11 children born between about 1673 and 1695, with only one who seems to have died young. The 1681 census showed that they had only 5 arpents of cleared land and two cattle. In 1698, René sold his property in Grondines and moved to the newer settlement of Deschallions, which was near Grondines on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. The land he acquired in 1701 had 4 arpents of river frontage.

It isn’t known exactly when René died. He was known to be living at the time of his son François’ marriage on December 30, 1715, and he was deceased by his daughter Genevieve’s marriage on October 26, 1722. His wife Marie passed away in 1733. The knowledge that he died in debt came from a report several years later; on February 27, 1742, his nine surviving children gave up “all the rights coming to them by [their father’s] legacy” in order to pay the money that he owed others at the time of his death. It was declared that the church in Deschallions would receive title to René’s estate in return for unpaid rent.

Children:
1. Marie-Rose Maillot — B. about 1673, Grondines, New France; D. before 1700, New France; M. Raymond Chaine (1658-?)

2. Pierre-René Maillot — B. about 1675, Grondines, New France; M. Françoise-Marguerite Gauron (1683-?), 2 Feb 1702, Deschallions, New France

3. Marie-Simone Maillot — B. 1677, Grondines, New France; D. 25 Jan 1746, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France; François Guibault

4. Jean Maillot — B. abt 1679, Grondines, New France

5. Guillaume Maillot — B. 31 Dec 1680, Grondines, New France; D. 20 Apr 1718, Montreal, New France; M. Marie-Anne Masse (1684-1721), 16 Jan 1704, Montreal, New France

6. Marie-Louise Maillot — B. about 1684, Grondines, New France; D. 19 Feb 1713, Château-Richer, New France; M. Pierre Matteau (1677-1741), 10 May 1706, Château-Richer, New France

7. Louis Maillot — B. 4 Jan 1689, Grondines, New France; D. 30 Nov 1760, Deschaillons, New France; M. Madeleine Houy (~1698-1763)

8. Jacques Maillot — B. about 1691, (probably) Grondines, New France; D. 24 Oct 1753, Lotbinière, New France; M. Angelique Houy (1696-1753)

9. Geneviève Maillot — B. 12 Jun 1692, Grondines, New France; D. before 26 Nov 1733, New France; M. Antoine Godard (1698-1754), 26 Oct 1722, Château-Richer, New France

10. François Maillot — B. 15 Jan 1695, Grondines, New France; D. 8 Dec 1758, St-Pierre-les-Becquets, New France; M. Marie-Charlotte Gauron (1689-1769), 30 Dec 1715, New France

11. Marie-Anne Maillot — B. 15 Jan 1695, Grondines, New France; D. 10 Feb 1747, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France; M. Antoine Thibault (1690-?)

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Our French-Canadian Ancestors, Gerard Lebel (translated by Thomas J. Laforest), 1990
WikiTree

Supplier to the Fur Trade — Pierre Perthuis dit Lalime

B. 18 Feb 1645 in Amboise, Touraine, France
M. (1) 10 Dec 1668 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Claude Damise
M. (2) 13 Feb 1707 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Françoise Moisan
D. 16 Apr 1708 in Montreal, New France

During the late 17th century, Montreal was a center of the fur trade business, and Pierre Perthuis dit Lalime seized upon the opportunity to make a living there as a merchant and supplier. He was born on February 18, 1645 to Sylvain Perthuis and Mathurine Racicot in Amboise, Touraine, France. It’s known that Pierre had at least one older brother and one younger sister, and that his father was a merchant, which perhaps rubbed off him a bit.

By age 20, Pierre joined the military, which was organizing an effort to send about 1,000 soldiers to New France. The force was divided into 12 companies and Pierre found himself in the one headed by the leader of the entire regiment, Henri de Chastelard de Salières. Soldiers often acquired nicknames, and Pierre was known as “Lalime,” although it’s not clear why. The men were stationed at Fort Barraux between Grenoble and Chambery before leaving for New France. The Saliéres company boarded the ship L'Aigle d'Or which departed La Rochelle on May 13, 1665; the ship was barely seaworthy, and made it to Quebec on August 19th after a journey of over three months.

Soon after their arrival, Pierre’s company was sent into Iroquois country where the soldiers constructed a wooden palisade called Fort Sainte-Therese, one of three such forts along the Richeleau River. Then they went to Montreal, and were based there until the soldiers’ terms of service were up in 1668. Many chose to return to France, but Pierre and others decided to stay. On December 10th, he married Claude Damise, one of the Filles du Roi who had arrived that year. The couple settled in Montreal, and Pierre became a fur trading merchant.

By the late 1660s, Montreal had a marketplace of men who supplied expeditions to the trading posts around the Great Lakes. Those venturing out west needed merchandise to trade with the Indians, as well as provisions for their trips. And on their return, they had to have someone who would buy their pelts for export back to France. It was said that Pierre was successful partly because he had a network of relatives and contacts in France who helped him. Over his life he built up a decent amount of wealth; he was described as a “bourgeois merchant,” and as being in "the second stratum of merchant-outfitters.”

17-century fur trade market in Montreal.

Pierre and his wife Claude started their family with the birth of a daughter in 1670, which was followed by two more children within a couple of years, one of whom died young. In about 1675, they moved to the new settlement of Pointe-aux-Trembles located to the north of Montreal. While Pierre was away on a trip, Claude became pregnant by another man, giving birth to a baby boy in March of 1676. How Pierre reacted to this isn’t known, but the child was adopted by another couple far away in Beauport. A year later, Pierre and Claude resumed having children together, eventually totaling 12, with the last one born in 1691.

Pierre’s name turned up in several court cases, some where he was owed money as a merchant. In one court record dated July 1694, he sued a man based in Quebec City named Jean Jung who was supplying goods from his father in France. The complaint stated that some of the barrels that were delivered by Jung were only half full and Pierre demanded a settlement. In 1686, Pierre testified in a scandalous murder trial. Jean Aubuchon was a Montreal merchant who was found dead in his bed. His wife accused her lover, Jacques Paillerault, of killing her husband. Pierre was one of many colleagues who testified at the trial; it took 3 years, but the man was acquitted.

On October 6, 1705, Pierre’s wife Claude died, and he remarried to a woman named François Moisan on February 13, 1707 in Montreal. Their time together was short because Pierre passed away April 16th of the following year. The value of his estate was about 50,000 livres, a substantial amount of money. Pierre was an ancestor of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Alex Trebek, Ricky Gervais and Tyrone Power.

Children (all by Claude Damise):
1. Catherine Perthuis — B. Jan 1670, Montreal, New France; D. 17 Feb 1736, Riviére-des-Prairies, New France; M. Pierre Maguet (1663-1725), 7 Jan 1686, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France

2. Jean Perthuis — B. Feb 1672, Montreal, New France; D. (probably) young

3. Jeanne Perthius — B. Dec 1673, Montreal, New France; M. Nicolas Deroche (1652-1737), 22 Nov 1688, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France

4. Élisabeth Perthius — B. 7 Feb 1677, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 23 Apr 1703, Montreal, New France; M. Claude Caron (1672-1759), 20 Jun 1695, Montreal, New France

5. Marie Perthuis — B. 8 Sep 1678, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 23 Dec 1766, Chateauguay, Quebec; M. Vital Caron (1673-1745), 24 Jan 1698, Montreal, New France

6. Geneviéve Perthuis — B. 17 Oct 1680, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 28 Aug 1774, Montreal, Quebec; M. (1) Urbain Gervaise (1673-1713), 19 Mar 1701, Montreal, New France; (2) Louis Renaud (1683-?), 5 Apr 1717, Lachine, New France

7. Marguerite Perthuis — B. 23 Jul 1682, Montreal, New France; D. 11 Mar 1703, Montreal, New France

8. Angélique Perthuis — B. 1 Jan 1684, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 25 Apr 1755, Montreal, New France; M. Louis Lefebvre dit Duchouquet (~1672-1741), 28 Sep 1700, Montreal, New France

9. Anne-Françoise Perthuis — B. 26 Jan 1685, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 31 Jan 1685, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France

10. Pierre Perthuis — B. 16 Apr 1686, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 1708, Deerfield, Massachusetts

11. François Perthuis — B. 1 Oct 1688, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France

12. Pierre Perthuis — B. 19 May 1691, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France; D. 6 Dec 1758, Pointe-Coupée, Louisiana, New France; M. (1) Angélique Caron (1690-1715), 24 Jan 1713, New France; (2) Catherine Mallet

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)

Habitants and Merchants in Seventeenth-Century Montreal, Louise Dechêne, 1993WikiTree
Bibliotheque et Archives nationales, Quebec (website)

A Cheerful Soldier — René Bruneau dit Jolicoeur

B. 9 Jun 1641 in Poiters, France
M. 17 Sep 1668 in New France
Wife: Anne-Jeanne Poitreau
D. before 29 Oct 1703

Nicknames were a way to distinguish between many of the settlers of New France, and when René Bruneau came over with the Carignan-Salières Regiment in 1665, his fellow soldiers gave him one that may have reflected his personality. 

René was born on June 9, 1641 in Poiters, France, to Georges Bruneau and Blaisette Martin. Nothing is known of his childhood or whether he had any siblings. At some point, probably in his early 20s, René joined the French military, and in 1665, he was sent to New France as part of the Carignan-Salières Regiment. René was assigned to the company of Grandfontaine, which departed on the ship L’Aigle d’Or on May 13th, arriving at Quebec City on August 18th. From there, his company was sent to the Richelieu River in an effort to construct three forts. René was assigned to help with the middle one, Fort Sainte-Therese, which was completed on October 15th.

While in the military, René was given the nickname “Jolicoeur,” which translates as “joyful heart.” French soldiers had nicknames because they believed that when you joined the service, you were leaving your past—and your name—behind. Often the names referenced a physical quality or personality, so it can be inferred that René was a likable, friendly guy.

Carignan-Salières Regiment soldiers. (Source: BAnQ)

In 1666, René was released from further military service, suggesting that he had probably served for a few years before coming to New France and his enlistment was up. René received a concession of land from the Jesuits at Petite-Auvergne in Charlesbourg on March 18th, and he was listed in the census of that year working as a linen weaver.

Wanting to find a wife, René went to Quebec City the following year, and signed a contract on September 29th to marry a Fille du Roi named Marie-Madeleine Ouache. But the contract was cancelled 5 days later; there is no further record of Marie-Madeleine.

In 1668, René again sought a bride among the newly arrived Filles du Roi, and found one in Anne-Jeanne Poitreau, whom he married on September 17th. They produced ten children born between 1669 and 1689; sadly six of them died young. The four who survived to provide grandchildren were all daughters, so René’s name didn’t get passed down.

René and his wife sold their house and property back to the Jesuits on October 23, 1696. This was the last record where his name appeared and it isn’t known when he died, but it was before his daughter Marie-Charlotte’s wedding on October 29, 1703.

Children:
1. Robert Bruneau — B. 3 Oct 1669, Quebec City, New France; D. 21 Dec 1669, Quebec City, New France

2. Anne Bruneau — B. 21 Dec 1670, Beauport, New France; D. 2 Mar 1726, Quebec City, New France; M. (1) Jean Mingou (~1660-?), 17 Sep 1685, Charlesbourg, New France; (2) Jean Lamothe (~1664-1724), 14 Oct 1698, Quebec City, New France

3. Louis Bruneau — B. 27 Dec 1673, Quebec City, New France; D. 14 Feb 1674, Quebec City, New France

4. Nicolas Bruneau — B. 12 Feb 1675, Quebec City, New France; D. 13 Mar 1675, Quebec City, New France

5. Marie-Madeleine Bruneau — B. 29 Oct 1676, Quebec City, New France; D. 25 Aug 1687, Quebec City, New France

6. Jeanne Bruneau — B. 16 Aug 1679, Charlesbourg, New France; D. 6 Jan 1746, Quebec City, New France; M. (1) François Duclas (1668-1708), 16 Oct 1697, Quebec City, New France; (2) Alexandre Derny Larose (1676-?), 23 Mar 1713, Quebec city, New France

7. Marguerite Bruneau — B. 21 Nov 1681, Charlesbourg, New France; D. 12 Apr 1718, Sainte-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France; M. (1) Charles Giroux (~1669-1714), 23 Feb 1699, Quebec City, New France; (2) Hiliare Martin (1692-1756), 8 Nov 1714, Quebec City, New France

8. Marie-Charlotte Bruneau — B. 19 Dec 1683, Charlesbourg, New France; M. (1) Simon Didier Parisien (~1669-1710), 29 Oct 1703, Montreal, New France; (2) Claude Laspron dit Lacharité (1679-1739), 7 Jan 1712, Trois-Rivières, New France

9. René Bruneau — B. 25 Mar 1687, Charlesbourg, New France; D. 5 Apr 1687, Charlesbourg, New France

10. Nicolas Bruneau — B. 20 Oct 1689, Charlesbourg, New France; D. (probably) young

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)

WikiTree
Carignan-Saliéres Regiment (Wikipedia article)
Fort Sainte Thérèse (Wikipedia article)

Helping to Build a Fort — Julien Dubord dit LaFontaine

B. about 1636 in Thiviers, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
M. after 12 Feb 1670 in Champlain, New France
Wife: Catherine Guerard
D. 12 Apr 1705 in Champlain, New France

As a soldier, Julien Dubord dit LaFontaine built a fort in New France; as an ex-soldier, he built a new life there. He was born in about 1636 in Thiviers, France, a village located in the Aquitaine region. His parents were Louis Du Bord and Catherine de la Brugiere, but nothing else is known of his family. Julien seems to have been at least somewhat educated in that he could sign his name. 

Location of Thiviers, France.

It’s likely that Julien enlisted to be a soldier during the late 1650s or early 1660s. The timing of this meant he was part of the French military when forces were needed to defend New France from Iroquois aggression. The Iroquois were not only threatening the French settlers, but also the tribes to the north who were supplying furs for trading. In 1665, the Carignan-Salières Regiment was formed, and Julien was among the about 1,200 soldiers sent to New France. They were transported on seven ships; Julien’s company was divided between two them, the Saint Sébastien and Le Justice, and it’s believed he was on the second ship. After a crossing that took 112 days, the two ships arrived in Quebec City with many of the men very sick from disease onboard.

Julien was part of the La Fouille company, which was sent upriver to establish a camp at the mouth of Rivière-du-Loup, not far from the settlement of Trois-Rivieres. This was unlike anything the soldiers experienced in France; the men had to chop down trees in raw wilderness and construct a fort. The 4 officers and 32 soldiers somehow managed to do this before winter set in. The structure was known as Fort de la Rivière-du-Loup, and no trace of it remains today.

Soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment.

After serving for three years, Julien’s enlistment was up, but he decided not to return to France. He settled in the new community of Champlain, east of Trois-Riviéres, and on February 12, 1670, he agreed to a contract to marry a Fille du Roi, Catherine Guerard. Between 1671 and 1694, they had ten children. The census of 1681 listed him as a tailor with 10 arpents of land and one cow.

Julien died on April 12, 1705 at Champlain. His wife survived him by many years, passing away in 1727.

Children:
1. Pierre Dubord dit LaFontiane — B. 1671, Champlain, New France; D. 12 Nov 1756, Champlain, New France; M. Marie-Claire Rheault (~1679-1756), 9 Jan 1702, Champlain, New France

2. Maxmin Dubord dit LaFontaine — B. about 1674, Champlain, New France; D. 18 Jun 1683, Champlain, New France

3. Marie-Étiennette Dubord dit LaFontaine — B. about 1676, Champlain, New France; D. 1 Jun 1768, Berthier-en-Haut, Quebec; M. Pierre Houray (~1679-~1762), 3 Nov 1701, Champlain, New France

4. Joseph-Dominique Dubord dit LaFontiane — B. about 1679, Champlain, New France; D. 31 Jan 1759, Champlain, New France; M. Françoise Turcot (1691-1749), 22 Nov 1714, Champlain, New France

5. Charles Dubord dit Clermond — B. 16 Aug 1681, Champlain, New France; D. 30 Oct 1749, Grondines, New France; M. Marie Ripault (1693-1759), Jan 1712, Grondines, New France

6. Jean-Baptiste Dubord dit LaFontiane — B. 2 Nov 1683, Champlain, New France; D. 7 May 1764, Berthier-en-Haut, Quebec; M. Marie Aure (1688-1761), 11 Feb 1709, Champlain, New France

7. Michel-Juelien Dubord dit LaFontaine — B. 12 Jul 1689, Champlain, New France; D. 15 Dec 1687, Champlain, New France

8. Daniel Dubord dit LaFontaine — B. about 27 Oct 1688, Champlain, New France

9. Marie-Madeleine Dubord dit LaFontiane — B. 23 Mar 1692, Champlain, New France; M. Alexis Turcot (1682-1730), 12 Jan 1709, Batiscan, New France

10. Balthasar Dubord dit LaFontiane — B. 18 Dec 1694, Champlain, New France; D. 16 Sep 1765, Lavaltrie, Quebec; M. Marie-Josephe Ripault (1699-?), 30 Jan 1720, Grondines, New France

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Fort de la Rivière-du-Loup (Louiseville) (Wikipedia article) 
Navires venus en Nouvelle-France (website)
Carignan-Salières Regiment (Wikipedia article)
WikiTree

Finding Opportunity as a Fur Trader — Charles Diel

B. about 1653 in Normandy, France
M. (1) 31 Aug 1676 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Marie-Anne Picard
M. (2) 17 Apr 1702 in Montreal, New France
Wife: Marie-Françoise Simon dite Lapointe
D. after 18 Nov 1725 in New France

As a boy, Charles Diel traveled to New France with the French army, then he made a career in the wilderness. He was born in about 1652 somewhere in Normandy, France to Phillipe Diel and Marie Anguetin. There are different towns named on each of his marriage records: Ste-Colombe near Rouen, and St-Rémy near Dieppe, and it's not known which was his birthplace. His father was said to be a laborer, and Charles likely received no education.

When Charles was 13-years-old, he boarded the ship Saint-Sebastien traveling with the Carignan-Sallières Regiment to America. Charles may have been a soldier (boys were sometimes enlisted as drummers or helpers), but he also may have been an indentured servant. The trip was difficult as the ship broke down along the way, and it took 112 days to arrive at their destination. Charles acquired the nickname “Lepetit Breton,” which likely referred to his youth among the older men around him.

Soldiers of the Carignan-Sallières Regiment in Canada. (drawing by Francis Back)

The activities of Charles’ first few years in New France are sketchy. He was said to be attached to the La Foulle Company of the Carignan-Sallières Regiment, which was sent to build forts in the Trois-Rivieres area, and Charles might have participated in that work. His name appeared among the 400 men who decided to remain in New France when the army was shipped back to Europe in 1668. In 1672, Charles was mentioned in a record which showed he was a resident of La Prairie, a settlement near Montreal. He had land there in a seigneury run by the Jesuits; his plot was 20 arpents deep with 4 arpents of river frontage. The settlers in La Prairie farmed their land during the day, but had their homes inside the fort, where they were protected from possible Iroquois attack.

On August 31, 1676, Charles married Marie-Anne Picard, daughter of Montreal pioneer, Jacques-Hugues Picard. At the time of the wedding, Charles was 24-years-old and his bride was not yet 13. She gave birth to their first child, a girl, in 1678, and they had eight more children, with the youngest born in 1695.

There is evidence that Charles was making trips out west as early as 1677. The first record of him at a French outpost was on a census taken that year at Fort Frontenac; he was listed as a man who “brought supplies” there. It’s likely he made several trips to Fort Frontenac and/or other places in the Great Lakes region during those years. The French had been pushing into the interior of North America to do business with various tribes; the Indians brought furs to gathering sites where the French would offer up beads, mirrors, metal tools, and other goods in exchange. 

Delivering supplies by canoe. (AI-generated image)

Charles had enough fur trading experience under his belt to organize an expedition with two partners in 1684. On September 23rd, a contract was drawn up spelling out the arrangement of a trip to Michilimackinac with Antoine Cailler and Pierre Lefebvre. The three men were authorized for over 2,616 livres of credit to pay for the goods they brought with them. Michilimackinac was at the point where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan; Charles and his partners had never been there and hired a guide for the journey.

In 1688, Charles was known to go on another fur trading expedition, this time to “the Outaouais country,” which was up the Ottawa River. He seems to have partnered again with same two men, plus one other partner, Andre Denny. Their credit agreement was for 1,063 livres, less than half of what they paid for goods four years earlier.

Between his long trips, he continued to spend time with his wife and children in La Prairie. His oldest son Pierre was kidnapped by Iroquois sometime during the late 1680s or early 1690s, and the boy never returned to the family, growing up among the Indians. Sadly, on February 4, 1697, Marie-Anne died at the age of 33. Five years went by before Charles married again, to Marie-Françoise Simon dite Lapointe. The wedding took place in Montreal on April 17, 1702, and they had four children born between 1705 and 1710.

Charles seems to have been involved in a custody arrangement for one of his granddaughters, Marie-Anne Bory. The child was born in Lachine on June 13, 1706 to Charles’ daughter, Marie-Anne, but sadly the young mother passed away just two years later, and in 1711, the child’s father died as well, leaving her an orphan. In a meeting held on November 24, 1712, Charles was given the girl to raise. But the following year on May 15th, he was summoned by the court to hand over his granddaughter to François Lesaulnier, who claimed he had a verbal agreement to be guardian for Marie-Anne. There is no further mention of this in any records, nor of the girl herself. 

Court summons for Charles Diel in case involving custody of his granddaughter.

It’s not known exactly when Charles died. In his later years, his name appeared on several transactions of property and other records, with a final mention that he was alive at the time of his daughter Françoise’s marriage contract on November 18, 1725. He was certainly dead by the late 1730s. His widow Marie-Françoise died in 1757.

Children by Marie-Anne Picard:
1. Marie-Marguerite Diel — B. 18 Apr 1678, Montreal, New France; D. 26 Jul 1715, Montreal, New France; M. (1) Pierre Perras (1674-1699), 18 Nov 1696, Laprairie, New France; (2) Julien Bariteau Lamarche (1672-1736), 13 May 1700, La Prairie, New France

2. Pierre Diel — B. 24 Nov 1680, Montreal, New France

3. Jacques Diel — B. 2 Mar 1683, La Prairie, New France; D. young

4. Marie-Anne Diel — B. 7 May 1684, La Prairie, New France; D. 9 Dec 1684, La Prairie, New France

5. Marie-Anne Diel — B. about 1685, La Prairie, New France; D. 15 May 1708; M. François Bory (1676-?), 27 Oct 1704, La Prairie, New France

6. Charles Diel — B. 5 Aug 1688, La Prairie, New France; D. 20 Jun 1734, Longueuil, New France; M. (1) Marie-Jeanne Boyer (1694-1730), 17 Feb 1716, La Prairie, New France; (2) Marguerite Robert (1683-1766), 9 Sep 1732, Boucherville, New France

7. Marguerite Diel — B. 14 Jun 1691, La Prairie, New France; D. 25 May 1763; M. Jean Lacombe, 3 Feb 1711

8. Jacques Diel — B. 2 Feb 1693, La Prairie, New France; M. Marie-Anne Crepin, 13 Jul 1715

9. Catherine Diel — B. 9 Aug 1695, La Prairie, New France; D. 10 Aug 1695, La Prairie, New France

Children by Marie-Françoise Simon dite Lapointe:
1. Marie-Josephte Diel — B. 1705, St-Vincent-de-Paul, Laval, New France; D. 13 Jun 1775, St-Vincent-de-Paul, Laval, New France

2. Therese Diel — B. 1707; D. 6 Sep 1777, St-Vincent-de-Paul, Laval, New France

3. Marie-Françoise Diel — B. 19 Jan 1708, Montreal, New France; M. René Lariviere, 1 Dec 1725

4. Jean-François Diel — B. 24 Dec 1710, Montreal, New France; M. Françoise Potier, 2 Jun 1738, Kaskaskia, New France

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)

Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
Charles Diel, Our First Canadian Ancestor (website)
A Drifting Cowboy (website) 

A Soldier Becomes a Canadian – Jean Daniau dit Laprise

B. about 1638 in Niort, France
M. (1) 10 Sep 1670 in Quebec City, New France
Wife: Marie-Louise Michaud
M. (2) 7 Jun 1686 in St-Jean, Île d'Orléans, New France
Wife: Françoise Rondeau
D. 6 Jan 1709 in La Durantaye, New France

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. 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, 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. 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. 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. A few days later, on September 10th, he married Fille du Roi Marie-Louise Michaud at Notre-Dame de Quebec. They settled In Berthier-sur-Mer, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River across from Île d'Orléans. Between 1672 and 1679, they had four children, but Marie-Louise died sometime during the 1680s.

On June 2, 1686, Jean married a second wife, Françoise Rondeau, and they had eight children, with the youngest born in 1705. By this time, they had moved inland to the settlement of La Durantaye. Jean died there on January 6, 1709. 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; D. 18 Jul 1751, St-François-de-la-Riviére-du-Sud, New France; M. Louise Destroismaisons (1680-1755), 3 Aug 1702, Montmagny, New France

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

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

4. Joseph Daniau — B. 19 Mar 1679, Berthier-sur-Mer, New France; D. before 1681

Children by Françoise Rondeau:
1. Jean-Baptiste Daniau dit Laprise — B. about 1687, New France; D. 19 Jun 1759, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France; M. (1) Marie-Marthe Lamy (1692-?), 1715; (2) Marie-Françoise Guillemet (1685-1748), 7 Jan 1716, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France; (3) Marguerite Malboeuf (1695-1766), 7 Oct 1748, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, New France

2. Guillaume Daniau dit Laprise — B. about 1688, New France; D. 3 Feb 1761, New France; M. (1) Genevieve Lamy (1705-1736), 3 Feb 1723, Montmagny, New France; (2) Marie-Suzanne Julienne Dumont dite Lafleur (1713-1743), 8 Oct 1736, Montmagny, New France; (3) Jeanne Guimond (1699-1778), 14 Oct 1743, Montmagny, New France

3. François Daniau dit Laprise — B. 1692, New France

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

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

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

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

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

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
King’s Daughters and Founding Mothers—1663-1673, Peter Gagne, 2000
La cie de La Fouille à Louiseville (website)
WikiTree