Other Events:

• _FSFTID: L2Q8-1CR
• _UID: B63C58012E8D694DBB52D033DB8D2BFD5C22

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: L5BG-ZNF
• _UID: 76047D1EA5AA3F4DB3789E30DF8FA3B3ADD3
• Baptism: 13 Mar 1656, Québec, Canada, New France

Pascal married Cloutier, Marie Ann 11 Nov 1681, Château-Richer, Montmorency Co, QC, Canada. Marie (daughter of Cloutier, Jean and Martin dite l'Ecossois, Marie Anne) was born 30 May 1659, Québec, Canada, New France; died 21 Aug 1714, Canada, New France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: L2Q8-1WD
• _UID: E5AA7D161CB1094383E968E9C38E4305918F
• Baptism: 29 juin 1659, Québec, Québec, Québec, Canada

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: LVZM-7FG
• _UID: BB60158B75751149A40EF96B1467235C0FD9
• Occupation: 25 février 1647, Tourouvre, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; Engagé comme manoeuvre par Noël Juchereau

Notes:

OCCUPATION: Laborer
IMMIGRATION: 1647; 60 month contract 5 Mar 1647 Notary Choiseau; annual salary 75 poinds

JULIEN MERCIER from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest

On his return, from the Eternal City (Paris), the Honorable Honore Mercier, who was the Prime Minister of the Province of Quebec, in 1891, wished to visit Tourouvre, France, the cradle of his ancestors. This town was in the ancient Province of Perche, now in the Orne in Basse, Normandy. One could not dream of a better occasion for the unveiling of a two-part stained glass window.

The first window represented the emigrant colonists who, before their departure, received these words of benediction from their pastor: "Never forget neither God nor France".
The second window shows us the pilgrim of Tourouvre in person. The Honorable Mercier professing his faith and patriotism, with fervor said: "We have not forgotten either God or France".

According to Robert Hollier, historian, Tourouvre, the capital of the Canton, in the District of Mortagne, was the point of departure for Canada for the eighty families who came from Perche. From this single spot, came the families Crete, Gagnon, Giguere, Guimont, Tremblay and of course Our Ancestor, Julien Mercier. Among the dozen French families named Mercier, who came to Canada, we must count at least three women. One of which was Catherine Mercier, wife of Jean Boudard (captured by the Iroquois, on May 3, 1651). Julien was the only one originally from Tourouvre.

A HUMBLE LINEAGE
Madame Pierre Montagne in her book "Tourouvre et les Juchereau" has charted the paternal predecessors of the parents of Julien. Jean Mercier, the husband of Thienete, was the father of Marin Mercier, the future husband of Jeanne Brisson. Their marriage took place at Grand Pre de Tourouvre on December of 1571. From plowman Marin, his son, Francois, was born. The latter, a laborer, became the husband of Roberte Cornilleau about 1605 and the father of Ancestor Julien, the youngest of the family. Julien had several brothers and sisters. Julien was born, on February 27, 1621. His parents disappeared in January of 1627. He was orphaned at the age of 6 years old. A bill of sale passed between Jean Giguere and Jean Mercier, on September 15, 1630. It tells us, with certainty that, Francois Mercier was dead.

Jean Mercier, Julien's brother and the eldest child, was a laborer and resident of La Grandiniere, parish of Tourouvre. He tried, as best he could, to support the family. Between 1632 and 1644, we see him appearing before a notary six times. In 1641, he decided to divide up the family land into four lots in the name of the four living children. Julien was assigned the third part, which contained "a barn and a fourth part of a yard and garden, located in Grandiniere".

As for Roberte Cornilleau, on the maternal side, we discover a tiny bit of nobility. The 23rd of July, 1576, a statement about the fief Cornilleau or La Tessonniere, assigns it to Messieur Alexandre de la Voye, seigneur of Tourouvre and the fief of Autheuil. Roberte Cornilleau had one known brother, a tailor named Marin.

THE CROSSING
Julien was two days short of his 26th birthday when he signed a contract on February 25, 1647 to go to Canada. For three years, he would be in the service of Noel Juchereau, Sieur des Chalets, of Quebec, through the intermediation of his brother Pierre Juchereau, Sieur de Molineaux, presently at Tourouvre.

Laborer Julien would receive 75 livres per year in salary, of which 24 was payable in advance. This was to be deducted, within the first year, plus a pair of shoes. His passage, to Canada and from Canada, if need be, was assured. Room and board would be provided by the employer.

When did Julien leave port? On which ship? It is difficult to find an answer. Between February 12 and April 10, 1647, under the same conditions, a dozen men were signed up like Julien, in the service of Noel Jucjereau. We may cite: Jacques Roy/Le Roy, Jacques Poupar, Pierre Aloignon, Jacques Loiseau, Martin Huan and Pierre Tremblay. It seems that these men endured the crossing together.

On June 21, the Journal of the Jesuits tells us that Captain Feure is at Perche and that five ships came from France that year. It was this ship of Feure's which carried the first horse to Canada, as a gift to Governor de Montmagny. In the month of August, the same religious chronicler spoke, of the ship of Monsieur Godefroy and of one other named the ANGE-GARDIEN, a 70 ton caravelle, which left this port in Aunis after June 6, 1647 with Julien Mercier and his companions aboard. The owners of this ship were Pierre LeGardeur and Noel Juchereau. If we may believe the good Jesuits, these ships from France arrived at Quebec on August 6, 1647. The crossing had taken less than two months.

THE NEWCOMER
On arrival at Quebec, Julien took stock of the current situation in the colony. It was not exactly one of security and peace. Isaac Jogues and Jean de la Lande had been martyred. And how many more tragic events were related? Julien would be party to some others as well.

Did Noel Juchereau take Julien Mercier into his service? We believe so, without being able to fix exactly the sort of work that he did. Juchereau, Commissioner-General of the Communaute des habitants founded in 1644, returned to France that same autumn that saw the arrival of his workers. The following year, before July 31, 1648, Noel died in France. His successor was not sent to Canada before 1649. This was the same year that Julien, on July 22, contracted to work for the account of Michel Huppe dit Lagroix. He was already a 3 year resident of the Seigneurie of Notre-Dame-des Anges near Quebec. But, as of October 18, Julien and Michel parted company on a friendly basis. Huppe compensated Mercier with a letter of credit which enabled him to buy 60 livres-worth of goods. Father de la Place, S.J. co-signed the letter. Following this up until 1651, we cannot tell what Julien Mercier was doing.

THE PROPERTY OWNER ON THE COAST
In 1651, the few property owners on the Beaupre Coast, today Sainte-Anne, were Louis Gagne', Claude Bouchard, Julien Fortin, Pierre Picard and Etienne Racine. With what joy that they greeted the new concessionnaires, Etienne Lessard, Robert Giguere and Julien Mercier, who took their lots in the order named, from west to east, from the edge of the location of the future church. On October 15, Julien obtained a concession from Olivier Letardif, located to the east of the "reduit" and of Robert Giguere. The size of the property was five arpents in frontage, by a league and a half in depth.

The sale by Julien "of an arpent and a half, of frontal land, on the river " to Pierre Maufils shotened his property, but he improved his financial conditions in the sense that he would have less rent to pay to the Seigneurs. Each year, Maufils remitted 31 sols, six deniers and a live capon. On October 1, 1671, Msgr. de Laval saw fit to increase the property of Julien Mercier by two perches.

HOME ON THE COAST
Mercier set himself to the task of building his cottage and clearing a patch of land by the pick and sowing it to grain. Did he also participate in the voluntary work program? He borrowed what shelter there was, while waiting to be under his own roof. It was an heroic epoch! Julien, who did not possess the strength of a Samson, was not able to progress as rapidly as his neighbors.

On October 7, 1652, Julien Mercier signed a marriage agreement with Marie Poulin, the daughter of Claude. The future Father-in-law promised "to build a barn for him, 40 by 20 feet, with an eight foot henhouse". Marie would bring with her "linens and pots of their choice". The witnesses at the Poulin house were Charles Boivin and Guillaume Pepin. These nuptials did not take place until 1654: "The 18th of January, after publication, of the three bans, the 28th of December, the 4th of January and the following 11th". Father Paul Rageuneau, S.J., who wrote the record, at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, went on to say that he solemnized the marriage of Julien and Marie "in the house of Robert Giguier".

The Carpenter, Claude Poulin, father of the bride, the son of Pascal Poulin and Marie Levert, of St.-Maclou de Rouen, arrived in Quebec on June 11, 1636 on the ship of Sieur Coupon. Before Nicolas Adam, S.J., on August 8, 1639 at Quebec, Claude was married to Jeanne Mercier, whose parentage in France, we are not able to determine. The Poulin couple returned to France in 1641 and about 1648, they came back, to Canada. On September 18, 1651, just about the same time as Julien Mercier arrived. Also about that time, Claude Poulin bought the land of Julien Perrault at Sainte-Anne. It was already cleared and had some buildings on it. For all of this, he paid but 50 livres. Poulin was a generous man, active and resourceful.

In the space of 23 years, 10 children came to liven the Mercier home:
1) Pascal was born on March 7, 1656 and baptized six days later, at Quebec. He married Anne Cloutier, daughter of Jean and Marie Martin, on November 11, 1681, at Chateau-Richer. They had four children, all boys.
2) Charles was born on September 1, 1658 and baptized 15 days later, at Quebec. He married Anne Berthelot, the daughter of Andre and Marie Gagne, on November 8, 1691, at Beaupre. They had ten children, two boys and eight girls.
3) Louis was baptized in 1661, at Chateau-Richer. He married three times. First to Marguerite Rabouin, daughter of Jean and Marguerite Ardion, on October 1, 1685, at Quebec. They had a single child named Louis. Marguerite died sometime before her inventory, on May 17, 1689, at Quebec. His second marriage was to Anne Juchereau, the daughter of Jean and Catherine Guillot, on June 6, 1689, at Quebec. They had seven children, four boys and three girls. Anne died and was buried, on February 4, 1703, at Quebec. Louis' last wife was Louise Simon, daughter of Hubert and Marie Vie, on April 30, 1703, at Sainte-Foy. They had six children, five boys and a girl. Louis sired 14 children, ten boys and four girls.
4) Julien was born on February 29 and baptized March 1, 1664, at Chateau-Richer. He died and was buried, at Beaupre, on December 29, 1684.
5) Jeanne was born on December 1, 1666 and baptized the following day, at Chateau-Richer. She did not live to see the census of 1667.
6) Jean was baptized in November of 1667, at Beaupre. He married Barbe Montminy, the daughter of Charles and Marguerite Auollee, on February 25, 1691, at Beaupre. They had four children, two boys and two girls.
7) Pierre was born and baptized on January 11, 1671, at Beaupre. He married Marie-Catherine Chamberland, daughter of Gabriel and Catherine Allaire, on April 7, 1717, at Sainte-Famille, Ile d'Orleans. They had five children, two boys and three girls.
8) Marie-Madeline was born on March 9, 1674 and baptized two days later, at Beaupre. She married Andre Berthelot, the son of Andre and Marie Gagne and brother to Anne, who was married to Charles on February 18, 1692, at Beaupre. They had no children. Andre died, on August 20, 1699 and buried the next day, at Beaupre. Next, she married Etienne Giguere, son of Robert and Aimee Miville, on June 21, 1701, at Beaupre. They also had no children.
9) Marguerite, a twin to Angelique, was born on February 1, 1677 and baptized six days later, at Beaupre. She married Marin Patenaude, himself a twin and son of Nicolas and Marguerite Breton, on November 11, 1698, at Beaupre. They had seven children, three boys and four girls.
10) Angelique, a twin to Marguerite, was born on February 1, 1677 and baptized the same time and place, as Marguerite. She married Joseph Giguere, also a twin and son of Robert and Aimee Miville and brother to Etienne, who was married to Marie-Madeleine, on November 11, 1698, at Beaupre, the same day as Marguerite!! This couple had ten children, six boys and four girls.

Louis deserves special consideration. Not only did he marry three times and father 14 children, but he was the most reputable and skilled master locksmith of his day. He trained at least six apprentices between 1685 and 1694. Louis lived on the Rue de la Montagne at Quebec. This able artisan was found frozen on the Beauport Road in February of 1728, at the age of 67 years old. Three of his sons became priests.

POSTSCRIPT
After several years of marriage, when he was 40 years old, Julien Mercier felt his strength abandon him. He suffered from an illness which dried him out. He put himself in the hands of Sainte-Anne and so, he wrote the parish priest, Father Thomas Morel: "After making several Masses, in her honor....not being subject to any human help, he received a perfect cure".

The year 1661 was good to Julien Mercier, but for the parish, which had decided to rebuild the church of 1658 because it had been all but destroyed by high tides and ice, it was tragic! Louis Guimond and Louis Gagne', two favorite parishioners, were captured by the Iroquois on June 18th and died an inhumane death. Rene Poulin, 11 years old, disappeared, on January 27, 1651. He was either devoured by wolves or carried off, by the Iroquois. What anguish for all relatives!

That year, Julien gave the church some corn, peas and barley, worth 18 livres. From 1669 to 1671, he was a warden and donated six livres and four sols, to the church.
Old Julien had obtained 15 years of relief from his ailments until death came to him on October 18, 1676. He left a beauiful family and a young widow, pregnant with twins, who were born four months later when, their mother was 36 years old. Her husband had lived for 55 years. Father Francois Fillon presided at the funeral ceremony the next morning, October 19th.

LIKE THE BEES
After the death of their father, the Mercier children, like bees, clustered around the queen of the hearth, their mother Marie Poulin or more precisely Marie-Jeanne. After six years of widowhood, Madam Mercier decided to remarry. On November 5, 1682, she took an inventory of her wealth, assisted by Etienne Lessard and Robert Giguere. Notary Claude Auber recorded the list of real and personal property. The animals, four oxen, four cows, one calf and eight pigs. In the granary were 150 minots of grain and 14 of peas. An appraisal of the land and buildings valued them at 2000 livres.

After the inventory came the marriage contract with Charles Montminy dit Jouvent, master locksmith, of Quebec. He was known, for the first time, in Canada at Champlain where he sold some land on November 9, 1667. By his first wife, Marguerite Auollee, in 1673 he had one daughter, Barbe, the future wife of Jean Mercier. Marie and Charles received their nuptial benediction from Father Louis Soumande on November 10, 1682.

The new couple lived for several years at Sainte-Anne up until the baptism of their only child, Louis, on July 29, 1685. Then they lived at Quebec for many years, as is attested to by the large numbers of contracts. At Quebec, Charles owned a house and lot. In 1698, he took Charles Guenet as valet and apprentice locksmith.

Charles and Marie returned to Sainte-Anne in 1703 for the funeral of their 18 year old son, Louis. Following this, on July 14 of the same year, Charles Robitaille, locksmith and edgetool maker of Neuville, declared himself obliged to send them 200 livres because of the purchase and delivery of tools and utensils coming from the Montminy shop of Quebec. In 1706, some notarial acts called Charles Montminy the locksmith of Sainte-Anne.

This magmanimous step-father treated the Mercier children as if they were his own. One day came the great separation. On July 3, 1716, Charles died. The next day, his widow was at the funeral Mass celebrated by the pastor, Antoine Chabot. Some days later, Marie Poulin fell seriously ill. Having died the night before, she was buried on July 17, 1716 at the age of 75 years.

FAMILY NAME VARIATIONS
Variations of the name Mercier are as follows: Codbec, Colbec, Lajpie, Laviolette, Lespine and Messier.

This biography was taken from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest; Volume 3- Chapter 20- Page 175 [3-7-98, James Gagne http://www.jamesgagne.net]

Julien married Poulin, Marie 18 Jan 1654, Notre Damn de Quebec, QC, Canada. Marie (daughter of Poulain, Claude Basile Joseph and Mercier, Jeanne) was born 25 May 1640; died 17 Jul 1716, St. Anne-de-Beaupre, QC, New France; was buried 17 Jul 1716, Québec City, QC, New France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: LRXS-MMB
• _UID: 6FC206504FFA3946B282AB59A809ECD2F616
• Baptism: 1 Jan 1641, Trois-Rivières, QC, New France

Notes:

FamilySearch showed this additional information:
Birth - Date: 01 Jan 1641 Place: Trois-Rivi?res, Saint-Maurice, Quebec, Canada

Other Events:

• AFN: 8XXD-XK
• Occupation: Charpentier
• _FSFTID: LRYK-8QX
• _UID: 42969E2EB3A62F429A7E388BD32231D847C7
• _UID: D8EF9DE61F343943A0A5EFE2343DDCF470C4
• Baptism: 13 May 1620, St. Jean, Mortagne, Chartres, Perche, Orne, France
• Baptism: 13 May 1620

Notes:

During the 1681 census he is found at the seigneurie de Beaupré. Jean was a carpenter like his father. It was Jean's descendants who kept the ancestral home for nearly three centuries.

CENSUS - 1667: Recesements (census) annotes de la Nouvelle-France (Québec) page 251 Coste de Beaupré (Château-Richer) Jean Cloustier 49 ans (years) 12 betes 22 arpents Marie Martin sa femme (wife) 32 ans 8: enfans Jean, 15: Marie,12: Marguerite, 11: Louise, 10: Anne 8,: Sanité, 6: Joseph, 4: Pierre, 4 mois.

OCCUPATION: Charpentier (carpenter), ship wright

Jean married Martin dite l'Ecossois, Marie Anne 21 Jan 1648, Québec City, QC, Canada. Marie (daughter of Martin dit l'Ecossois, Abraham and Langlois, Marguerite) was born 10 Apr 1635, Québec, Canada, New France; died 25 Apr 1699, Château-Richer, Canada, New France; was buried 26 Apr 1699, Château-Richer, Canada, New France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: LRTN-8JX
• _UID: 239733ACF7C06A4E816CCF0E598DDD61F687
• _UID: 97E8D560A78D554AA5A8A2603DB6AA9306C6
• Baptism: 10 Apr 1635, Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Notes:

OCCUPATION: Ménagère

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Marie

Other Events:

• Occupation: Tourouvre, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; Manoeuvre à la Gardinière
• _FSFTID: LVZM-QQL
• _UID: 942B4ED5663838499545E5E8B64608D985CF

François — Cornilleau, Roberte. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 072733149D63BD448409FDE7926806482F8E

Other Events:

• Baptism: St. Maclou Church, Rouen, France
• Occupation: Carpenter
• Occupation: Charpentier
• _FSFTID: LLHC-L5D
• _UID: 9CF6B4E5E99B944EA24EE77ACD644462B906
• Baptism: 26 janvier 1616, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
• Immigration: 11 Jun 1636, Canada

Notes:

There were three Poulain's who emigrated from France to Quebec in the 17th century, and had male offspring: Claude, Maurice, and Jean. They were not brothers. Claude came from Rouen, and was the son of Pascal and Marie Levert, and most North American Poulin's are descendents of Claude. Maurice Poulain was from Villebadin and his parents were Pierre and Anne Plomelle. Jean Poulain was from Meun (or Meru), Beauvais in Picardie, and was the son of Jacques and Marie Violette. He married Louise Pare at Ste. Anne in 1667

Claude Poulin and his wife are buried in the cemetery in Ste. Anne de Beaupre, next to the reconstructed stone church and directly across the street (north) from the current Basilica. The grave is in the first row closest to the street and to the old church. A new marker was erected in 1989 on the 350th anniversary of their marriage.

From 1632 to 1662, the colony of Canada is managed by the "Company of the Hundred Associates" (Compagnie des Cent Associés). Each year the Company sends a fleet to Canada, to bring settlers, supplies and for commerce. Also a few independent ships, mostly after 1641 for the colony of Montréal, and a few vessels from the Royal Navy of France (Marine Royale) come to Canada. There are very few sources of information for the period prior to 1641. (http://www.geocities.com/~carignan/01_navires_pre_1666/E1navires.html)

Three ships left france around January 15, 1636 and arrived on June 11, 1636 led by Duplessis Bochart, captain Savinien Courpon de la Tour and the ship Saint Joseph.
Charles Huault de Montmagny was the first Governor of the colony of New France. He was on captain Savinien Courpon de la Tour's ships that cast anchor before Quebec on the night of June 11, 1636

In 1636, the fleet arrives from France on June 11th. It comprises of three or four ships among them
the Saint-Joseph. She has 100 people on board of which 91 are immigrants. Among them Marcel
Trudel names Sainte Dupont and her children Jean, Anne, Charles and Louise. See TRUDEL, Marcel,
Catalogue des immigrants 1632-1662, Éditions Hurtubise HMH, Montréal, 1983, page 53.

Claude arrived at Quebec on the 11th of June 1636 aboard a vessel carrying 45 people. The captain of that vessel was Savinien Courpon de la Tour...who would become the Admiral of the Fleet the following year. Some names of the other passengers were: Charles Huot de Montmagny, Champlain's successor, Achille Brehant dit Deslisle, 7 Jesuits and numerous other Frenchmen and their families.

CLAUDE POULIN from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest

The first Frenchman with the name of Poulin to come to New France was a young Recollect priest names Guillaume. After his arrival in Canada in June of 1619, he took charge of the mission at Trois-Rivieres. He was captured by the Iroquois near the falls of Saint-Louis in 1622. He was tied to a stake for torture. When his fellow priests were informed of his capture, they had him exchanged for some Iroquois prisoners. Freed, the father pursued his priestly course, as if nothing had happened.

Four others with the same last name walked the paths, of our country, but they left no descendants. Jean Poulin, the husband of Anne Robin, settled, at Rimouski about 1690. Jacques Poulin married Marie-Therese Marchand on November 23, 1739. He was a citizen of Pointe-Levy. Joseph Poulin was a bird of passage. Philippe Poulin married Marguerite Bluteau, from Cap-Saint-Ignace, on July 17, 1742.

Those who had offspring were Maurice Poulin, Sieur de Lafontaine. He married Jeanne Jaleau, at Trois-Rivieres and they had five children. Maurice was of noble lineage. Jean Poulin, the son of Jacques and Marie Violette, married Louise Pare on November 14, 1667 at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. And finally, Claude Poulin, the subject of this story.

Poulin, Poullin, Poulain and Poullain are surnames meaning "a lively man, quick like a young poulain-colt" according to Dauzat (?).

SAINT-MACLOU IN ROUEN
Claude Poulin, the son of Pascal and Marie Levert, was presented for baptism at the church of Saint-Maclou in the city of Rouen, in Normandy, on January 26, 1616. Serving as his godparents were Claude Levert, undoubtedly an uncle and Marie Leclect. A known older brother, Jean, had been baptized in the same place on July 23, 1612. Was Claude Poulin a relative of Daniel Poullain, a captain in the King's navy? The same, who received a sum of money, on December 22, 1601, from nobleman Perrin Bezau to help pay for a voyage to Peru, on the ship PETITE MARIE, under the command of Poullain? The archives gave no more information about this Normand mariner.

Claude attended school and wrote his name as "Poullain". Some forty Canadian Ancestors were natives of Rouen. Coming, from Saint-Maclou, in particular, were Rene Lavoie, Etienne Leveille, Louis Lefebvre dit Batanville and Pierre Boivin. Was Claude Poulin one of the first from this town, to emigrate to Canada? A pertinent question which requires an answer.

FIRST DAY
In 1960, Monsieur J. Philippe Poulin, based on the Relations des Jesuits and the opinion of historian J. B. Antoine Ferland, stated that his Ancestor arrived at Quebec on the afternoon of June 11, 1636, the feast of Saint-Barnabe, on the ship belonging to Sieur Courpon. History does not explicitly mention the name of Claude Poulin. This hypothesis deserves respect and here is the reason.

Claude Poulin was married at Quebec on August 8, 1639. He must have been in the country for a certain time, possibly three years, according to the method of indenture which would become the custom. At that time, the large seaports from which French ships left for the great crossing of the Atlantic were Dieppe or Honfleur. Where did Claude work? Was it Quebec or Trois-Rivieres? You be the judge. The witnesses at his marriage on August 8, 1639 were surgeon, Seigneur Robert Giffard, and Guillaume Boivin, a "donne" of the Jesuits also known as a "gray brother", originally from Rouen, Normandy. The conclusion is obvious that Claude Poulin was the protege of Giffard at Beauport. The Jesuit priest, Nicolas Adam, blessed his union, with Jeanne Mercier.

Jeanne Mercier was the sister of Denise Mercier who had married Francois Baugis about 1637 at Les Sables d'Olonne, in the Vendee of Poitou. This couple went to Canada before 1641 and lived at Beauport. We are unaware of the names of the parents of Ancestress Jeanne Mercier. However, Father Archange Godbout has found in the registry of Saint-Jean de Mortagne a Jeanne Mercier, the daughter of Loup and Jeanne Gaillard, baptized on November 25, 1621, which corresponds with the age of Claude Poulin's eighteen year old wife. Was Jeanne Mercier a Percheron (Perche is a province in France) by birth? Perhaps.

As for Claude Poulin, the most surprising thing is that he went to live with his beloved at Trois-Rivieres. Did the Percheron Robert Giffard only appear at Claude's wedding out of respect to Jeanne Mercier who was from his native province? Had Claude been working at Trois-Rivieres, for a few years? We know that he had talent as a carpenter. Was he in the service of the Compagnis des Habitants or other people? Here are some facts. Claude and Jeanne had a child, named Marie. She was baptized at Trois-Rivieres on the first of January, 1641. The godfather, Jacques Hertel de la Fresniere, was the owner of two hundred arpents of land at that place since December 16, 1633. Godmother, Marie Leneuf, the wife of Jean Godefroy de Linctot, who was a seigneur since the first of December, 1637. Claude Poulin, also respected by the Jesuit Joseph Poncet, was asked to be the godfather of the little Amerindian, Rose Quenebechimouxour, on January 14, 1641.

The homesickness took hold of Jeanne and Claude. They gathered up their few belongings and their child and went to see their native Normandy, it's sky and it's people, once again. A Poulin son and daughter, Pascal and Madeleine, were born at Saint-Maclou in 1645 and 1646. Would we ever see these kindly people again?

THE RETURN
Claude Poulin and Jeanne Mercier were homesick, for the new country, free and immense. A country to be built. In 1647, the Poulin family, now composed of five members, reserved a small space on a ship and crossed the ocean once more. Was this a short-lived sentimental attack?

No, it was not! On April 17, 1646, at Paris, Olivier Tardif had signed a deed in the presence of Notary Le Vasseur by which he ceded six arpents of frontal land to Claude Poulin in the Seigneurie of Beaupre. Claude Poulin now saw himself as the owner of a certain piece of property in New France.

Where did the Poulins stay on their arrival? At Quebec or on the Beaupre Coast? We know that Marie Couillard, the daughter of Guillaume, was the godmother of Martin Poulin at Quebec on October 17, 1648. As for Martin Grouvel, the godfather, a carpenter and barge master, he was everywhere at once in the region. One fact is certain, the Poulin family was on the Beaupre Coast on November 8, 1650 when Claude Poulin and Abel Benoit accepted from Olivier Tardif, procurer general of the Compagnie de Beaupre, a small farm called "Toussaincts" adjoining the
Saint-Charles Farm at Saint-Joachim. The two contracting parties committed themselves, beginning on November 11, 1650, to work this portion of land together for six years.

In 1651, Tardif granted deeds to twenty inhabitants, including Claude Poulin, on the first of September. This land, with six arpents of frontage by a league and a half (about 4.5 miles) deep, was situated to the west of that of Etienne Lessard. Jean Bourdon had acquired it, from the Breton Julien Pacault on October 20, 1648 and ceded it, in a private agreement, to the Fabrique Notre-Dame de Quebec. The property had "buildings, cleared lands and cleared wood". Claude delivered fifty French livres into the hands of Pierre Gagnon for the church. The contract was signed, at Fort Saint-Louis, at Quebec. The Poulin family then settled at this place which would become Sainte-Anne-du-Petit-Cap, then much later on it became Sainte-Anne-de Beaupre.

SECOND STAY
The first pioneer of the territory of Sainte-Anne was Julien Pecault. His property passed to the Fabrique de Quebec. The church of Sainte-Anne would be built on this land, which became the Poulin property. Etienne Lessard also contributed a large portion of his concession to the church. Claude Poulin and his family still lived at Sainte-Anne and were witnesses to its inception from the very beginning.

Claude was godfather to the first child baptized and recorded in Sainte-Anne's registry. He was Claude Pelletier, the future Brother Didace, the first Canadian Recollet. In 1661, the head of the family gave sixteen livres for the church, worth sixteen days of work by an ordinary man, a royal gift at that time. Between 1662 and 1666, Our Ancestor gave the fabrique (church trustee) the sum of eight livres, seven minots of wheat, a minot of peas and one of corn (1 minot = 3 bushels). On the other hand, in 1633, he received twenty-two livres and nine sols for "the scroll on the door of the church and for a piece of wood and a pint of eau-de-vie".

On June 7, 1665, Poulin ceded to Abel Benoit seven perches (1 perch= 5.5 yards) of frontage in low land and two arpents (1 arpent = 85% of an acre) in high land. The census of 1666, reported that Claude Poulin was a carpenter. The census of 1667 tells us that he had eight head of cattle and twenty arpents of land under cultivation. Robert Foubert and Urbain Jamineau, close to Elie Godin, were his neighbors.

Claude obtained additional income by putting his talents as a woodworker to profit. In 1678, he worked to strengthen the bell in the church tower. In 1679, Madame Poulin provided food to the roofers of the church. The pastor paid her three minots of wheat and twelve pounds of butter.

The census takers in 1681 forgot to record the livestock on the Poulin farm and the size of the land under cultivation. Was it an error or was the property in decline?

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Hope is for those who live and for those who will live. The Poulin family property was lit nine times with rays of new life.
1) Marie (1) was baptized, on January 1, 1641 at Trois-Rivieres. She married Julien Mercier, the son of Francois and Roberte Cornilleau, on January 18, 1654 at Quebec. Marie was thirteen years old. They had ten children, six boys and four girls. Julien passed away on October 18, 1678 and buried the next day, at Beaupre. Marie remarried for a second time to Charles Montminy on November 10, 1682 at Beaupre. Charles was the widower of Marguerite Auolle, parents unknown. Marie and Charles had one child, Louis.
2) Pascal was baptized, on February 15, 1645 at Saint-Maclou, Rouen, Normandy. He was captured by the Iroquois, some time before 1661. Nothing else is known of him.
3) Madeleine was baptized, on June 27, 1646 at Saint-Maclou, Rouen, Normandy. She married Pierre Maufils. He was from Honfleur, Normandy. They were married, on November 19, 1659 at Quebec. They had five children, two boys and three girls.
4) Martin was born, on September 26 and baptized October 17th, 1648, at Quebec. He took, for his wife, Jeanne Baret, the daughter of Jean and Jeanne Bitouset, on January 21, 1688, at Beaupre. They had nine children, three boys and six girls. Martin died on January 15th and buried the next day, 1710, at Beaupre. Jeanne married again to Etienne Drouin, the son of Robert and Marie Chapelier on April 13, 1711, at Beaupre. They had no children.
5) Rene was born, on January 27, 1651 and baptized February 2nd at Quebec. Rene and his brother Pascal (#2) have a very tragic story. In the spring of 1661, the Beaupre Coast was shuddering under the impact of raids carried out by the hostile Iroquois who were creating havoc in the countryside. Louis Guimond and Louis Gagne' disappeared mysteriously and also these two Poulin sons. Pascal was sixteen and Rene was ten years old. The Journal des Jesuits, in June, of 1661, read: "The news of it was brought on the 18th, during the night, by the return of the aforementioned crew & at the time that from Trois-Rivieres where the enemy had killed 3 men from Cap. And that, of the two children of Cl. Poulin lost in the woods or taken by the Iroquois". What cruel anguish!! So many bitter tears at the Poulins!!
6) Ignace was born on December 19, 1655 and baptized February 2nd at Quebec. He married Marguerite Pare, the daughter of Robert and Francoise Lehoux on August 23, 1683 at Beaupre. They had seven children, four girls and three boys.
7) Marguerite was born on October 4th and baptized the 18th 1658 at Quebec. She made, as her lifetime partner, Jean Amiot, the son of Masse and Perrine Volant, on August 7, 1673 at Beaupre. They had ten children, seven girls and three boys.
8) Marie (2) was born and baptized May 25, 1661 at Beaupre. She married Etienne Lessard, the son of Etienne and Marguerite Sevestre, on April 17, 1679 at Beaupre. They also had ten children, four boys and six girls.
9) Pierre was born, on August 7, 1664 and baptized the next day at Chateau-Richer. He walked down the aisle with Anne Giguere, the daughter of Robert and Aimee Miville on November 13, 1689, at Beaupre. They too had ten children, six boys and four girls.

The Poulin family was a happy and prolific one, with its sixty-one grandchildren. The great and terrible ordeal was the silent and brutal disappearance of Pascal and Rene.

AT THE END OF THE HORIZON
The founding Poulin family were hardworking, social, lively and intelligent people. Jeanne Mercier, the courageous Ancestress, died on December 14, 1687. She was buried at Sainte-Anne, near the church which witnessed the wonders of the miracle-working saint for two hundred years. Three days after her burial, on Wednesday, December 17, Claude went to rejoin her and his children, Pascal and Rene, on the fields of Paradise, at the end of the horizon. The children gave seventy-two livres to the church "for burial and services of Claude Poulin and Jeanne Mercier".
The descendants of Claude and Jeanne quickly spread everywhere in Quebec, especially in Beauce where, they are an active multitude. As Louis Frechette (?) wrote: "these children of the furrows founded an empire".

FAMILY NAME VARIATIONS
Considering how many ancestors went by the name of Poulin, it is not surprising that there are many variations today. Among them, we may find: Alair, Courval, Cresse, De Courval, De Cresse, De Francheville, De Fontaine, Fafard, Francheville, Lafontaine, Nicolet, Paulin, Paulent, Paulint, Poland, Polin, Poling, Poller, Poolin, Pooler, Poolr, Poulain, Poulan, Pouline, Poullain, Poullin and Terrier.

This biography was taken from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest; Volume 12- Chapter 18- Page 179 [4-22-98, James Gagne http://www.jamesgagne.net/contents.html]

Claude married Mercier, Jeanne 8 Aug 1639, Our Lady of Recouvrance; Quebec City, QC, New France. Jeanne (daughter of Mercier, Jean Loup and Gaillard, Jeanne) was born 21 Nov 1621, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Lucon, Poitou, France; died 14 Dec 1687, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada; was buried 21 Dec 1687, St. Anne-De-Beaupre, QC, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _FSFTID: LVSW-6D3
• _UID: 8062E060C5D3DD43B35E147608406BD4FCA2
• Baptism: 14 mars 1615, Tourouvre, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France
• Immigration: 1634, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Notes:

Claude Poulin and his wife are buried in the cemetery in Ste. Anne de Beaupre, next to the reconstructed stone church and directly across the street (north) from the current Basilica. The grave is in the first row closest to the street and to the old church. A new marker was erected in 1989 on the 350th anniversary of their marriage.

THE FOUNDING OF QUÉBEC CITY AND OF NEW FRANCE (http://pages.infinit.net/cloutijr/Arrivee_des_Cloutier.a.pdf)
The settlement established by Samuel de Champlain in Québec had a slow and difficult
beginning. The first family among settlers was that of Louis Hébert, a Parisian apothecary, in
1617. This Hébert has previously spent some time in Acadia with Champlain and knew him
well. This time Hébert had his wife Marie Rollet, his son Guillaume and his daughters
Guillemette and Anne with him. Champlain granted him land in 1623 in the upper town of
Québec city. However, he did not enjoy it very long as he died at the beginning of January
1627 from an accident. His only son, Guillaume, married Hélène Desportes in 1634 and they
had two daughters and one son, Joseph who married Marie-Charlotte de Poitiers in 1660.
Iroquois killed Joseph the next year leaving just one son who died early. So, our first settler did
not pass on his surname to descendants. However, his daughter Guillemette married in
Québec city in 1621 to Guillaume Couillard and has had numerous descendants. Her sister
Anne died giving birth to her first child whom did not survive.
In 1627, the colony comprised of about sixty men, five women and six young girls.
During this time, Champlain, a cartographer, explored the country as much as he could,
going as far west as Lake Huron and Lake Ontario and to Lake Champlain to the south. Only
the already hostile Iroquois prevented him from going further.
In 1629, the three Kirke brothers captured Québec city that was without decent protection, in
the name of the British3. Most of the settlers then returned to France except Guillaume
Couillard, his family, his mother-in-law Marie Rollet, in all, about twenty people. In 1632, the
Saint-Germain-en-Laye Treaty ended the British occupation. When Champlain returned in
1633, he had to start from scratch as the British had killed all the livestock, brought away all
supplies and destroyed all the structures.
Another Frenchman Robert Giffard, master surgeon and apothecary had already visited in
Québec city for the Compagnie des Cent-Associés. He had spent the 1625-26 winter there
and had taken a liking to the country. He was back again in 1629 but was caught by the
British4. Back in his native Perche, he planned and organized a project. He became associate
with Pierre Le Bouyer, Sieur de Saint-Gervais, an advisor to the king, in order to set up trade
and a settlement in New France. In 1634, he arrived in Québec city with about forty people
coming from the Perche region. The “Percherons” do not have the reputation of being
adventurers, but they seem to have the qualities sought by Giffard5. The group had six
families with many children in each. Of these people was Jeanne Mercier. She married Claude Poulin, a carpenter, in Québec city in
1639. This couple had nine children: Marie, Pascal, Madeleine, Martin, René, Ignace,
Marguerite, Marie (a second one) and Pierre.

Jeanne is also noted as being on of the 262 "Filles a Marier" - "Marriageble Gilrs" that emigrated to New France between 1634 and 1663. These women represented one quarter of all the single girls arriving in New France through 1673. They were recruited and chaperoned by religious groups or individuals who had to assure and account for their good conduct. In general, they were poor, although there were some members of the petty nobility among their ranks.

FamilySearch showed this additional information:
Birth - Date: avant 14 mars 1615 Place: Tourouvre, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France

FamilySearch showed this additional information:
Burial - Date: 15 Dec 1687 Place: Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada

Other Events:

• Fact 3 (2): 2058
• _UID: 15468986342824489CD58ECE032B8E25E0A9
• Immigration: 8 Aug 1634, New France

Notes:

[Br?derbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #4512, Date of Import: Nov 12, 2000]

He originated from Mortagne au Perche, France where he married Zainte Dupont.
They came to the New World on 8 August 1634 with their five children. They
settled at Beauport in 1644 at the Manor of Robert Giffard and later moved to
Chateau-Richer where he died. _Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties_, Oliver.

Zacherie married Dupont, Zainte 18 Jul 1616, Mortagne Perche, France. Zainte was born Abt 1600, France; died WFT Est 1635-1695. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Fact 3 (2): 2059
• _UID: E7465BBA58177042A1D5C4DCF6D56D40F1F5
• Immigration: 8 Aug 1634, New France

Notes:

[Brderbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #4512, Date of Import: Nov 12, 2000]

birth estimated
First name also writen as: Xaintes

Other Events:

• Occupation: pilote royal
• _UID: 302C36AD98A65040A1C78BDBD3FEEC25BD38
• _UID: 742211F2F453A6479FC53457F208031CD5BA

Notes:

IMMIGRATION: 1620
OCCUPATION: Riverboat pilot

Martin arrived in New France with his wife, Marguerite Langlois, her sister Françoise and brother-in-law Pierre Desportes (the parents of Hélène Desportes) about 1620. Martin may have been of Scottish descent or he might have used the sobriquet if he had been enrolled in military service or had been a member of an illegal organization: such names were used to avoid detection by officials looking for deserted soldiers or in case the records of an illegal organization were seized. It is also possible that he acquired the name because he had made several voyages to Scotland as a young man. There is some question as to whether Martin was really an official pilot or not, although he was referred to as "king's pilot" in his own day. However, he did fish well down into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is presumed that the Plains (or Heights) of Abraham are named after Martin. It is picturesquely said that the "Côte d'Abraham" was the path that Martin used to descend to the St. Charles River to water his animals. His property amounted to 32 acres in all, 12 received from the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France in 1635 and 20 as a gift from Sieur Adrien Du Chesne, ship's surgeon to Pierre Legardeur de Repentigny in 1645. This land was sold by the Martin family to the Ursulines in 1667. It is possible that this is the same Martin who was employed by Jean de Biencourt and Du Gua de Monts as navigator on the coast of Acadia, although he would have been very young at that time. When David Kirke captured Quebec in 1629 and left his brother Lewis as governor until 1632, Martin and his family stayed on. In his later years Martin fell in the estimation of his fellow citizens when he was accused of improper conduct with regard to a young girl in Québec. He was imprisoned for this on 15 Feb. 1649.

SOURCE: Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, http://www.biographi.ca/EN/

-------------

Sieur L'Ecossais

This is the Abraham Martin after whom the "Plains Of Abraham" were named.

Arrived from France on sailboat "LeSallemonde" at Tadossac on 30 August 1620 with wife and daughter Anne. Received concession of ground that formed a plateau where Wolfe and Montcalm fought the battle of Québec.This area is known as "les plaines d'Abraham" (the plains of Abraham).

Abraham went to France after the taking of Québec by Kirk on 24 July 1629, and returned to Québec in 1633/34. He was a master pilot.

On 19 January 1649, a young girl of 15 or 16 years became the first woman in Québec to be executed. It is not clear exactly what she was accused of but one possibility was "Thievery". We do know that Abraham Martin was accused of raping (indecent liberties?) with the same girl around this time.

Was known as the Scotchman. He donated the land known as the Plains of Abraham, site of the battle of Québec.

SOURCE: Denise Caron, "Caron Braun Family Tree", http://www.ancestry.com

---------------

Abraham Martin, Galleran's son, arrived in 'New France' on the sailboat LeSallemandie at Tadoussac on August 30, 1620. His wife Marguerite Langlois, was sister to Françoise Langlois who was married to Pierre Desportes (parents of Helene Desportes who was the first European person born in Canada ). After the take-over of Québec by Kirke, they were turned over to France, then in 1633, returned to Québec. He was thus back, with his family including a daughter named Anne, working as a River pilot, ploughman and fisherman. Abraham is often noted as Abraham Martin 'dit' l'Ecossais, meaning Abraham the Scot.

At this point we need to consider the possibility that there were two Anne Martins. One of them was a kid sister to Abraham and born about 1617, the other was Abraham’s daughter, born on March 23, 1621. Both are presented as both have credibility and of being the Anne Martin who married Jean Côté . Both Annes were born in Perche Province in France. Also, the assumption is held that Abraham married Marguerite Langlois in France on Oct 24, 1621, leaving Anne to have been born before the marriage in both cases.

In the case of the Anne that was Abraham’s sister, she was born 1617, and would have been 28 years junior to Abraham. Her Mother would have been about 50 at the time of her birth. She could have met Jean while in France and then came over on one of the several ships that arrived from France in 1635 and at the time would have been 18 or so. She might also have came over as a guest of her brother with the idea of seeing what might develop with Jean.

In the case of the Anne that was Abraham’s daughter, she was born 1621 and would have been 15 at the time of her arrival from France and her marriage to Jean. While this is possibly more credible than the first scenario, it conflicts with the data that Abraham and Marguerite had another Anne that was born in 1645.

...we will be holding to the idea that the Anne that married Jean was the one that was Abraham’s daughter, unless some other data comes to light that causes us to consider otherwise.

SOURCE: Tom Thievin, "Our Cote Genealogy",http://www.thievin.net/CoteHistory.html

--------------

SOURCE: Jane Goodrich from http://www.electracat.com/Linda2/f383.htm

Abraham Martin, called l'Ecossais and Master Abraham was probably a complex personality. There are many unanswered questions about this man. Why did they call him the Scotsman? Of the various theories proposed, the most intriguing is based on evidence found in Dundee, Scotland. "Here lies one godly and virtuous woman, Sarah Auchinleck, spouse of Abraham Martine Frenchman, chirugeon barber; who departed life July 25, 1665. Of her age 40. Here also lies one honest man, Abraham Martine Frenchman, chirugeon barber, lawful son of Abraham Martine, merchant, burgess of the city of Metz in Loraine; who departed life in June 13, 1673 of his age 57." If the father of the man in this grave is our Abraham Martin, that would have placed him in Scotland in 1616, near the age of 27 years, clearly possible. In 1619 or 1620 he arrived in Québec with his wife Marguerite Langlois, her sister Françoise Langlois and her husband Pierre Desportes.

Abraham is an unusual name for a good French Catholic of that era, although sometimes Old Testament names were used ( such as by his friend, Samuel de Champlain). It is possible though, that Abraham was of Hugenot birth.

The Plains of Abraham was the scene of a famous battle in 1759. In the 17th century it had been the meadow of Abraham Martin. He had 32 arpents in all, 12 from the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France in 1635. The other 20 was a gift from Sieur Adrian du Chesne in 1645. Du Chesne was ship's surgeon to Pierre Lagardeur de Repentigny. Master Abraham's descendants sold the land in 1667 to the Ursulines, a religious order.

The Kirk brothers conquered Québec in 1629 and sent most of the inhabitants back to France. Rene Jetté includes Abraham Martin and his family in those sent back, but many references have him amongst the few who stayed on. There is no record of Martin children being born during the years of this occupation. He clearly was at Québec both before and after the Kirk brothers incursion.

His son, Eustache was the first French boy child born in New France. His daughter Helene Martin was the god-daughter of Samuel de Champlain.

Champlain's wife seems the likely connection between his and the Abraham Martin family. Helene Boulle, the wife of Samuel de Champlain did not adapt well to frontier living and only spent four years in Québec. She found solace and companionship with Abraham's wife Marguerite and her sister Françoise Langlois who bore the first French child born in New France, another relative, Helene Desportes. When Samuel de Champlain died he left a legacy to Marguerite Martin, another daughter to help her "marry a man of Canada", and he left money to Abraham Martin "to be spent for clearing land".

Contemporaries called Abraham Martin a king's pilot, leading to the conclusion that he was the first river pilot of Canada. Although he was illiterate he associated with Champlain and Pierre Desportes, both literate and well born individuals. He did much more than just leave his name to the Plains of Abraham.

SURNAME: Also shown as Martin dit L'Ecossais

BIRTH: Also shown as Born 1585

Abraham married Langlois, Marguerite Bef 1620, France. Marguerite (daughter of Langlois, Guillaume and Mallet, Jeanne) was born 18 Feb 1592, St-Xiste, Montpellier, Languedoc, France; died 17 Dec 1665, Québec City, QC, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 3ADC7B3855152C4889B11B438866B2361535
• _UID: A3B8A8F3F8942045B147977D231D97723C1F

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born 1600