PARADIS, Pierre

Notes:

Pierre Paradis, born on July 18, 1604, and baptized two days later in Notre-Dame de Mortagne, Perche, France, was the son of Jacques Paradis and Michelle Pesle. He grew up to become a skilled cutler and gunsmith, trades that would serve him well in both the Old and New Worlds.

Barbe Guyon, baptized on April 19, 1617, in Saint-Jean de Mortagne, was the eldest daughter of Jean Guyon du Buisson and Mathurine Robin dite Boulé. Her godparents were Jean Pousset and Barbe, wife of Nicolas Poulard, sieur des Portes, from whom she received her name.

On February 11, 1632, in the parish of Notre-Dame de Mortagne, 27-year-old Pierre Paradis and 14-year-old Barbe Guyon entered into a marriage contract. The ceremony likely took place shortly after. This union, arranged when Barbe was so young, was not uncommon for the time and reflected the social norms and practical considerations of 17th-century France.

Barbe's trousseau, as detailed in the marriage contract, provides a glimpse into the material culture of the time. It included linens, furniture, kitchenware, and a modest sum of money, all of which would help the young couple establish their household. Pierre, for his part, was granted the use of tools and equipment for his trade for six years, enabling him to continue his work as a cutler and gunsmith.

The couple initially lived in Mortagne, first in Notre Dame (1634) and later in Ste. Croix (1643). They had eight children while in France. On March 20, 1651, they sold their property in Saint Croix, signaling their intention to embark on a new life across the Atlantic.

Pierre, Barbe, and their five children (Marie, Jacques, Pierre, Jean, and Guillaume) arrived in New France in 1652, joining Barbe's family who had immigrated earlier. They settled in Beauport, where Barbe's father, Jean Guyon, had been granted the fief Du Buisson. Here, Pierre continued his trade as a cutler while also engaging in farming. The 1667 census shows that he owned eight head of cattle and had 12 arpents under cultivation.

In New France, Pierre and Barbe had four more children, bringing their total to twelve. Their family became well-established in the colony, with their children marrying into other prominent settler families and spreading across the region.

Pierre Paradis made his will on May 28, 1670, while ill at the Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec. He passed away on January 29, 1675, at the age of 71, and was buried the following day in the church of Saint-Pierre on Île d'Orléans. His burial in the church, rather than the pauper's cemetery he had requested in his will, suggests he had achieved a certain status in the community.

After Pierre's death, Barbe moved to live with her son-in-law, Guillaume Baucher dit Morency, at Sainte-Famille, Île d'Orléans. She survived her husband by many years, passing away suddenly on November 27, 1700, at the age of 83. She was buried two days later in Saint-Pierre, Île d'Orléans.

Family/Spouse: GUYON, Barbe. Barbe (daughter of GUYON, Jean and ROBIN, Mathurine) was born on 18 Apr 1617 in Mortagne-au-Perche, Departement de l'Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 29 Nov 1700 in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada; was buried in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. PARADIS, Guillaume II was born on 26 Sep 1644 in Mortagne, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France; died on 13 Feb 1716 in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada; was buried in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada.