September of 1658 in Montreal

An interesting series of events occurred in Montreal during September of 1658 which historians have failed to adequately document. The men of the Grand Recrue who had signed 5 year commitments with Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve now found themselves in Montreal and at the end of their contract term. Most of these men would settle in New France and marry. Apparently, many of those men were eagerly awaiting the end of their employment as the month of September saw a sudden increase in the number of marriage contracts notarized in Montreal. I stumbled upon this when documenting my 9th great-grandmother Marthe Autreuil’s first marriage to Pierre Chauvin, a member of La Grand Recrue. In the office of Notarie Benigne Basset dit Deslauriers on the 15^th of September 1658 can be found the contract of marriage (no. 45) between Pierre Chauvin and Marthe le hautreux [Autreuil] . Witnesses to this event were Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust (L.), Jeanne Mance, B DeBoullongne, P Gadoys, Gilbert barbier, Simon depres, Jean Lemercher, L. Closse, Basset. Mentions were also made of: Jean Gervaise, T. Ragideau.

Jeanne Mance was the co-founder of Montreal [Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve being the other co-founder], and founder and director of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal.

B. DeBoullongne was Marie-Barbe DeBoullongne, wife of Governor Louis D’Ailleboust, and co-founder of the Confrérie de la Sainte-Famille at Montreal and benefactress of the Hôtel-Dieu at Québec.

P. Gadoys was Pierre Gadoys [Gadois], and this almost certainly is the Pierre Gadoys [sr.] who was considered the first farmer of Montreal and the churchwarden at Ville-Marie.

Gilbert barbier was Gilbert Barbier dit Minime, a master carpenter at Montreal who was responsible directly or indirectly for most of the buildings built at Ville-Marie.

Simon depres  was Simon Despres dit Berri, also a member of La Grand Recrue of 1653.

Jean Lemercher was Jean Lemercher dit Laroche, also a member of La Grand Recrue of 1653.

L. Closse was Raphaël Lambert Closse, the Sergeant Major of the garrison of Ville-Marie.

Basset was Bénigne Basset Des Lauriers the notarie for the contract.

Mention is made of two additional individuals in the contract, that of Jean Gervaise and P. Raguideau (Pierre Raguideau dit St-Germain) both of them members of La Grand Recrue of 1653.

This series of contracts for marriage between men of the Grand Recrue and Montreal girls and women began on 1st September 1658:

1 September 1658

No. 35

Contract de mariage entre Jean Pichard et Louisa garnier – signent : Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, Jeanne Mance, Bde boulongne, Marie pournin, L. Closse.

9 September

No. 38

Contract de mariage entre honnore dasny (Honoré Danis dit Tourangeau) et Marie Bidart – signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, Jeane Mance, Johan Gervaise, Bde Bourlongne, L. Closse, J. Vailliquet, Nicolas Gode, Jean Lemercher, Gilbert barbier, Marque du st. de la Vigne, P. Desautels, Marin Jannot, U. Brossard, Basset.

No. 39

Contract de mariage entre Paul Benoist et Elisabeth Gobinet (Paul and Elisabeth are my 9th great-grandparents) – signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, B. DeBoullongne, Jobart, L. Closse, Gilbert barbier, J. Desautels, Jean Gervaise, U. Brossard, Nicol gode, J. Valliquet, Marin Jannot, marque V du S de la Vigne, Chartier, Jean Obuchon, Basset.

14 September

No. 41

contract de mariage entre Michel Louvrard meusnier et Francoise Jacqueline Nadreau. signent : Paul de Chomeday, (Louis) Dailleboust, B de Boullongne, Jobart, L. Closse, C. LeMoyne, Gilbert barbier, marin Jannot, Chartier, Dela Laridrage, maturin Jode, Nicolas Gode, P. Jadois, P. Desautels, J. Tavernier, Basset.

No. 42

Contract de mariage entre Simon LeRoy et Jeanne Godart. signent: Paul de Chomeday, (Louis) Dailleboust, B de Boullongne, gilbert barbier, P. Godard fils, Dela Saudraye, l. Closse, P. Desautels, J. Tavernier, Basset.

15 September

No. 43

contract de mariage entre forques Mousseaux (Jacques Mousseau dit Laviolette) et Marguerite Soviot. signent: Paul de Chomeday, J. Mousseaux, Louis) Dailleboust, Jeanne Mance, gilbert Barbier, B de Boullongne, L. Closse, P Gadoys, Mathurin Langevin, Simon depres, Dollard Chartier Duboi (?), Basset.

No. 44

contract de mariage entre Michel Theodore et Jacqueline Lagrange (Jacqueline is my 7th great-grandmother, I descend from her 2nd marriage to Laurent Glory Labrière). signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust, B deboullongne, Jeanne Mance, gilbert barbier, U. Brossard,  J. Vallicquet, L. Closse, P. Gadois, Jan Obuchon, Chartier, Basset.

No. 45

Contract de mariage entre Pierre Chauvin et Marthe Le hautreux (Pierre and Marthe are my 9th great-grandparents). signent: Paul de Chomeday, Dailleboust (L.), Jeanne Mance, B DeBoullongne, P Gadoys, Gilbert barbier, Simon depres, Jean Lemercher, L. Closse, Basset. mentionnes: Jean gervais, P. Ragideau.

20 September

No. 46

Contract de mariage entre Jean Valliquet et Renee Loppé (Jean and Renee are my 10th great-grandparents). signent: J. Valliquet, Paul de Chomeday, Marie pontonie, Dailleboust (L.), B de Boullongne, P. Gadois (fils), P. Raguideau, L. Closse, Besnard, Jean LeMercher, jacques Dore, J. Guyet, Marguerite Picard, C Robutel, Chartier, Mousnier, Basset. mentionnes: sebastien Odiot, Jacques Vautier, sergent enladger, rene Besnard, Jean diot, caporaux, Jacques Laval, soldat.

22 September

No. 48

Contract de mariage entre Leger Aguenier [Haguenier] et marie frie [Frit]. signent: Marie Frie, Paul de Chomeday, Nicolas Gode, Dailleboust (L.), B de Boullongne, C. Robutel, Jacques dela porte, Basset. mentionnes: Nicolas Gode de la Montagne, Mathruine Gode vestere, L. Closse.