GRENIER, Jean Baptiste

Charles married MAHEU, Angelique on 15 Jan 1691 in L'Ange-Gardien, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. Angelique (daughter of MAHEU, Pierre Sieur Des Hazard and DROUIN, Jeanne) was born on 6 Jun 1671 in L'Ange-Gardien, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; died on 1 May 1717 in Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles + VEZINA VESINA VESINAT, Marie Louise. Marie was born on 9 Aug 1652 in Saint Rogatien, La Rochelle, Manche, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 1 Dec 1714 in L'Ange-Gardien, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Pierre married DROUIN, Jeanne on 10 Nov 1659 in Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Jeanne (daughter of DROUIN, Robert and CLOUTIER, Anne) was born on 3 Feb 1647 in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; died on 23 Jun 1732 in Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Among the first 47 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain; common ancestor of Jim & Michelle
• Web Address: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/drouin_robert_1E.html
• Web Address: https://robertdrouin.blogspot.com/
• Occupation: Brick Maker
• Birth: 6 Aug 1607, Le Pin-la-Garenne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France
• Death: 1 Jun 1685, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada

Notes:

HIGHLIGHTS:

The story of Robert and Anne's marriage is notable for several reasons. Their marriage contract, signed on July 27, 1636, in the home of Seigneur Giffard, is the oldest surviving marriage contract drawn up in New France. What makes this contract particularly remarkable is that Anne was only 10 years old at the time of signing.

The actual wedding ceremony took place a year later, on July 12, 1637, at Notre-Dame de Québec. However, due to Anne's young age, the contract included a provision that marital relations were not to take place for two years. This arrangement reflected the complex realities of life in the early colony.

Robert and Anne's union produced six children. Tragically, their first child, Agnes, born in January 1641, lived for less than a week. Only two of their children, Geneviève and Jeanne, survived to adulthood.

Anne died at only 22 years old. Following Anne's death, their daughters Geneviève and Jeanne were raised by their grandparents, Zacharie and Xainte Cloutier. This arrangement was reportedly due to the grandparents' disapproval of Robert's second wife, Marie Chapelier, whom he married in November 1649. Robert had 8 more children with Marie.

CONNECTIONS:

Michelle is descended (9th GGF) from Robert and Anne's daughter Genevieve and Jim is descended (9th and 10th GGF) through Jeanne on the Dumas and Vermette/Gilbert branch. Jim and Michelle are also descnded from Robert and his second wife, Marie Chapelier (9th GGF).

LIFE STORY:

Robert Drouin, born in 1607 in Le Pin-la-Garenne, Perche, France, was among the early settlers of New France. A skilled brick maker, he was part of the Percheron migration that played a crucial role in establishing the French colony in North America. In 1635, Robert arrived in New France, where he began working for Seigneur Robert Giffard in Beauport.

Anne Cloutier, born on January 19, 1626, in Mortagne-au-Perche, France, was the daughter of Zacharie Cloutier and Xainte Dupont. She arrived in New France with her family in 1634 at the age of eight. The Cloutiers were also part of the Percheron migration and became close associates of Seigneur Giffard.

The story of Robert and Anne's marriage is notable for several reasons. Their marriage contract, signed on July 27, 1636, in the home of Seigneur Giffard, is the oldest surviving marriage contract drawn up in New France. What makes this contract particularly remarkable is that Anne was only 10 years old at the time of signing.

The actual wedding ceremony took place a year later, on July 12, 1637, at Notre-Dame de Québec. However, due to Anne's young age, the contract included a provision that marital relations were not to take place for two years. This arrangement reflected the complex realities of life in the early colony.

Robert and Anne's union produced six children. Tragically, their first child, Agnes, born in January 1641, lived for less than a week. Only two of their children, Geneviève and Jeanne, survived to adulthood. Michelle is descended through Genevieve and Jim is descended through Jeanne (on the Vermette/Gilbert branch).

Anne's life was cut short at the young age of 22. She died on February 3, 1648, in Château-Richer. Her funeral, as described in the Jesuit Relations, was a solemn affair that involved the entire community. The description provides a vivid glimpse into the funeral customs of early New France, highlighting the challenges posed by the harsh winter conditions and the limited resources of the colony.

Following Anne's death, their daughters Geneviève and Jeanne were raised by their grandparents, Zacharie and Xainte Cloutier. This arrangement was reportedly due to the grandparents' disapproval of Robert's second wife, Marie Chapelier, whom he married in November 1649.

Robert Drouin continued to play an active role in the development of New France. He remained in his trade as a brick maker, contributing to the construction of many early buildings in the colony. He also engaged in fur trading and farming. Robert lived to the age of 78, passing away on June 1, 1685, in Château-Richer.

The story of Robert Drouin and Anne Cloutier exemplifies the challenges and complexities of life in early New France. Their marriage, arranged when Anne was still a child, reflects the strategies employed by early settlers to establish and strengthen the colony. Despite the hardships they faced, including the loss of children and Anne's early death, their legacy lived on through their surviving daughters and numerous descendants.

Robert married CLOUTIER, Anne on 12 Jul 1637 in Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Anne (daughter of CLOUTIER, Zacharie and DUPONT, Xainte) was born on 19 Jan 1626 in Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 3 Feb 1648 in Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada; was buried in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Among the first 47 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain; common ancestor of Jim & Michelle
• Arrival: 1636, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada

Notes:

Anne Cloutier, born on January 19, 1626, in St-Jean-de-Mortagne, Perche, France, was one of the earliest settlers of New France and a pivotal figure in the colony's early history. The daughter of Zacharie Cloutier, a master carpenter, and Xainte Dupont, Anne's life story encapsulates the challenges and realities faced by the first generation of French-Canadian settlers.

At the age of eight, Anne embarked on a life-changing journey across the Atlantic with her family. They arrived in New France on June 4, 1634, as part of Robert Giffard's recruitment of skilled artisans to establish the Beauport settlement near Quebec City. The Cloutiers were among the vanguard of the Percheron migration that would significantly shape the demographic and cultural landscape of New France.

Anne's childhood in the colony was likely filled with the daily challenges of frontier life. While her father worked on constructing essential buildings and fortifications, Anne would have assisted her mother in managing their household in the harsh New World environment.

Perhaps the most notable event in Anne's short life was her marriage to Robert Drouin. On July 27, 1636, at just ten years old, Anne was betrothed to Drouin, a bricklayer and employee of Robert Giffard. Their marriage contract, signed in the home of Jean Guyon, holds the distinction of being the first recorded in New France. Due to Anne's youth, the contract included provisions postponing the consummation of the marriage.

The actual wedding ceremony took place a year later, on July 12, 1637, at the Church of Notre-Dame de Quebec. Even then, the couple was required to wait two more years before living together as husband and wife. This arrangement reflects the complex realities of life in the early colony, where marriages often served strategic social and economic purposes.

Despite her young age at marriage, Anne bore several children with Robert Drouin. Their first child, Agnes, was born in 1641 but sadly died within a week. Anne would go on to have five more children, though only two daughters, Geneviève and Jeanne, survived to adulthood. Notably, Michelle is descended through Anne's daughter Geneviève, while Jim's lineage traces back to Jeanne through the Vermette/Gilbert branch.

Tragically, Anne's life was cut short at the age of 22. She passed away on February 3, 1648, in Quebec City, leaving behind her husband and young children. Her funeral, as described in the Jesuit Relations, provides a poignant glimpse into the communal nature of life and death in early New France.

Though her life was brief, Anne Cloutier's story is a testament to the resilience and fortitude of the women who helped establish New France. Her early marriage, her role as a mother in a challenging frontier environment, and her position as a daughter of one of the colony's founding families make her an important figure in the early history of French Canada.

Notes:

Married:
The oldest marriage contract drawn up in New France. Anne was only 10 years old, but with the provision that no marital relations were to take place for two years.