GUYON DION, Marie Anne

Jean married PEPIN, Marie Madeleine on 25 Oct 1688 in Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada. Marie (daughter of PEPIN DIT LACHANCE, Antoine and TESTE, Marie) was born on 26 Mar 1670 in Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada; died about 12 Jul 1754 in Saint-François, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: husband of Fille a Marier Before the King's Daughters, Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers
• Arrival: 1634, Canada; Came as a young boy with his family
• Residence: 1655, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada; Lived in a house behind the present-day Hotel de France
• Residence: 1663, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada

Claude married COLIN, Catherine on 7 Feb 1655 in Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Catherine (daughter of Living and Living) was born about 1637 in Saint-Germaine-l'Auxerrois, Paris, Île-de-France, France; died on 10 Jan 1688 in Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Fille a Marier Before the King's Daughters, Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers
• Fille a Marier: Yes
• Arrival: 1654, Canada
• Residence: 1663, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada

Notes:

Married:
married at the home of Claude's parents; Catherine could not sign the marriage contract but Claude could

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers

Antoine married TESTE, Marie on 24 Nov 1659 in Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, Papineau, Quebec, Canada. Marie (daughter of Living and Living) was born about 1640 in Angoulême, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France; died on 11 Sep 1701 in Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Fille a Marier Before the King's Daughters, Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers
• Fille a Marier: Yes
• Arrival: 1659, Canada

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Among the first 17 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain, common ancestor Jim & Michelle
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Guyon
• Occupation: Master Mason

Notes:

HIGHLIGHTS:

Jean was a master mason and before emigrating worked on notable projects such as the staircase in the Saint-Aubin de Tourouvre church steeple and the restoration of Mortagne's fortifications.

Once in Quebec, he contributed to the construction of a small mill, Giffard's seigneurial manor, the governor's residence (Fort Saint-Louis), and the parish church of Notre Dame de Québec.

Jean and Mathurine had 14 children, with 10 surviving to adulthood. By 1729, just a century after their arrival, the couple had 2,150 North American descendants. This number has since grown exponentially, with an estimated 123,800 descendants by the early 21st century.

CONNECTIONS:

Jean Guyon is Michelle's 11th and 12th GGF through two branches originating on the Laviolette line and Jim's 10th GGF on 3 lines through the Vermette/Gilbert branch.

LIFE STORY:

Jean Guyon du Buisson, baptized on September 18, 1592, in Tourouvre, Perche, France, was a key figure in the early settlement of New France. Born to Jacques Guyon and Marie Huet, Jean honed his skills as a master mason in France, contributing to notable projects such as the staircase in the Saint-Aubin de Tourouvre church steeple and the restoration of Mortagne's fortifications.

On June 2, 1615, Jean married Mathurine Robin dite Boulé. The couple had 14 children, with 10 surviving to adulthood: Barbe, Jean Jr., Simon, two daughters named Marie, Claude, Denis, Michel, Noël, and François.

In 1634, Jean Guyon's life took a significant turn when he signed a three-year contract with Robert Giffard de Moncel, agreeing to settle in New France. As part of this agreement, Guyon was granted a one-thousand-arpent arrière-fief in Beauport, near the Rivière du Buisson. This land grant would later give rise to his title "du Buisson."

Guyon arrived in New France in 1634, though accounts differ on whether he came alone or with his family. He was part of a group of French pioneers that included his friend Zacharie Cloutier, Marin Boucher, and others who would form the core of the early French-Canadian community.

In New France, Guyon's skills as a master mason were put to good use. He contributed to the construction of a small mill, Giffard's seigneurial manor, the governor's residence (Fort Saint-Louis), and the parish church of Notre Dame de Québec. These projects were often undertaken alongside his friend and fellow settler, Zacharie Cloutier.

Guyon's relationship with the seigneurial system was not without conflict. He and Cloutier engaged in a nine-year dispute with Giffard over seigneurial rights, refusing to pay annual taxes or perform the traditional "foi et hommage" (faith and homage) ceremony. This resistance to feudal obligations was a common theme in early New France, eventually requiring intervention from the colonial governor.

Jean Guyon's legacy in New France was significantly enhanced through his children's marriages and descendants. His eldest son, Jean Jr., became a royal surveyor and married Élisabeth Couillard, connecting the Guyon family to some of the most prominent early settlers of New France.

The Guyon family tree has since grown extensively. By the end of the 19th century, Jean Guyon had 9,674 married descendants, making him one of the most prolific ancestors in French-Canadian genealogy. Today, it's estimated that about three out of four Québécois can trace their lineage back to Jean Guyon. His descendants are known by various surnames, including Dion, Despres, Dumontier, and Lemoine.

Interestingly, genetic studies have traced cases of Friedreich's ataxia, a rare inherited disease, through 12 generations of French-Canadians back to Jean Guyon and Mathurine Robin, highlighting the far-reaching impact of early settlers on the genetic makeup of the French-Canadian population.

Jean Guyon died on May 30, 1663, in Château-Richer, New France. His life and legacy exemplify the challenges and triumphs of the early French settlers in Canada, and his descendants continue to play significant roles in French-Canadian and North American society.

Jean + ROBIN, Mathurine. Mathurine (daughter of Living and Living) was born on 18 Oct 1599 in Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 16 Apr 1662 in Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada; was buried in Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Among the first 17 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain; common ancestor Jim & Michelle

Notes:

Mathurine Robin, born around 1593 in Saint-Jean de Mortagne, Perche, France, was a pivotal figure in the early settlement of New France. The daughter of Eustache Robin dit Boulé and Mathurine Avrard, she grew up in rural France, developing skills that would prove invaluable in the New World.

On June 2, 1615, Mathurine married Jean Guyon in Mortagne, beginning a partnership that would leave an indelible mark on French-Canadian history. In 1635, the couple embarked on a life-changing journey to New France, accompanied by five of their children: Simon, Marie, Claude, Denis, and Michel. This migration was part of the broader colonization efforts led by Robert Giffard de Moncel.

Mathurine's role in the fledgling colony was crucial. As the wife of a master mason, she managed their household in Beauport, Quebec, while supporting her husband's work in constructing vital buildings and fortifications. Her responsibilities extended beyond domestic duties; she was instrumental in raising their large family and ensuring their survival in the challenging New World environment.

The Robin-Guyon family grew to include ten children, all of whom survived to adulthood. Mathurine's maternal influence and household management skills were key to their family's success and, by extension, the colony's growth. By 1729, just a century after their arrival, Mathurine had 2,150 North American descendants. This number has since grown exponentially, with an estimated 123,800 descendants by the early 21st century.

Mathurine's legacy is not just in numbers but in the resilience and adaptability she instilled in her family. Her descendants have played significant roles in shaping French-Canadian society and culture.

While often overlooked in historical narratives that focus on her husband's achievements, Mathurine Robin's contributions to the establishment and growth of New France were equally vital. Her life exemplifies the crucial role women played in colonization efforts, managing households, raising families, and building communities in challenging frontier conditions. Today, Mathurine is remembered not only as the matriarch of a vast French-Canadian lineage but as a founding mother of Quebec, whose strength and perseverance helped lay the foundations for the vibrant French-Canadian culture that exists today.

Living + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]