| 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]
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1621 - 1676 (55 years)