TREPAGNY, Charles

Romain married DROUIN, GenevieveQuebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Genevieve (daughter of DROUIN, Robert and CLOUTIER, Anne) was born on 19 Oct 1643 in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; died on 4 Oct 1710 in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; was buried on 4 Oct 1710 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
• 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.

Robert married DUBOIS*, Marie in 1594 in Orne, Basse-Normandie, France. Marie was born on 1 Jul 1572 in Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 12 Jul 1637 in La Garenne, Nièvre, Bourgogne, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

HIGHLIGHTS:

In March 1634, Zacharie signed a contract with Robert Giffard, seigneur of Beauport, to work as a master carpenter and land clearer in New France for three years. This decision, likely influenced by the promise of land and opportunity,

Zacharie's skills as a carpenter were immediately put to use. He helped build Giffard's manor, the Château St-Louis (the official residence of the Governor of New France), a Jesuit presbytery, and numerous other structures essential to the growing colony.

By 1800, Zacharie had 10,850 married descendants, the most of any Quebec colonist according to the Historical Demography Research Program of the Université de Montréal.

The Cloutier name is commemorated throughout Quebec, with parks, streets, and even a type of cheese bearing Zacharie's name.

CONNECTIONS:

Zacharie Cloutier is Michelle's 10th GGF on the Laviolette side and Jim's 10th and 11th GGF on both the Dumas and Vermette/Gilbert lines.

LIFE STORY:

Zacharie Cloutier, born around 1590 in Mortagne-au-Perche, Normandy, France, was one of the most influential early settlers of New France. The son of Denis Cloutier and Renée Brière, Zacharie grew up in a family of nine children. His father was likely a joiner and ropemaker, skills that may have influenced Zacharie's future as a master carpenter.

On July 18, 1616, at the age of 26, Zacharie married Xainte (also known as Sainte) Dupont in the parish of Saint-Jean in Mortagne-au-Perche. Xainte, born around 1596, was the daughter of Paul-Michel Dupont and Perrine, and the widow of Michel Lermusier. This union would become one of the most significant in the history of French-Canadian genealogy.

The couple had six children in France: Zacharie (1617), Jean (1620), Xainte (1622, died in childhood), Anne (1626), Charles (1629), and Marie-Louise (1632). Their growing family would soon embark on a life-changing journey to the New World.

In March 1634, Zacharie signed a contract with Robert Giffard, seigneur of Beauport, to work as a master carpenter and land clearer in New France for three years. This decision, likely influenced by the promise of land and opportunity, would shape the future of countless French-Canadians.

The Cloutier family, along with fellow settler Jean Guyon du Buisson and his family, sailed from Dieppe and arrived in Quebec on June 4, 1634. They were welcomed by Samuel de Champlain himself, marking the beginning of their new life in the fledgling colony.

Zacharie's skills as a carpenter were immediately put to use. He helped build Giffard's manor, the Château St-Louis (the official residence of the Governor of New France), a Jesuit presbytery, and numerous other structures essential to the growing colony. His work was crucial in establishing the infrastructure of early Quebec.

On February 3, 1637, Zacharie and Jean Guyon officially took possession of their promised lands in Beauport. Zacharie's property, known as "La Clouterie" or "La Cloutièrerie," comprised 1,000 arpents (about 342 hectares). Despite being illiterate, Zacharie was meticulous about formalizing agreements, using a mark resembling an axe as his signature.

The Cloutier family's life in New France was not without challenges. In 1646, a dispute arose between Giffard and his recruits over feudal obligations. Zacharie and Jean initially refused to pay homage to Giffard, considering themselves equals. This conflict, which lasted for years, exemplified the tension between Old World hierarchies and New World realities.

By 1666, the first census of New France shows Zacharie and Xainte, now 76 and 70 years old respectively, living in Château-Richer. They had moved there sometime after 1652 when Zacharie was granted land by Governor Jean de Lauzon. In 1669, they signed over their possessions to their eldest son, Zacharie Jr., in exchange for care in their old age.

Zacharie Cloutier died on September 17, 1677, at the age of 87, and was buried in the church cemetery of Château-Richer. Xainte followed on July 13, 1680, at the age of 84. Their legacy, however, was just beginning.

The Cloutier family's impact on French-Canadian society is immeasurable. By 1800, Zacharie had 10,850 married descendants, the most of any Quebec colonist according to the Historical Demography Research Program of the Université de Montréal. Today, it's estimated that a significant portion of French-Canadians can trace their lineage back to Zacharie and Xainte.

Their descendants include numerous notable figures, from political leaders like Pierre and Justin Trudeau to entertainers such as Céline Dion, Madonna, and Jim Carrey. The Cloutier name is commemorated throughout Quebec, with parks, streets, and even a type of cheese bearing Zacharie's name.

Zacharie and Xainte Cloutier's story embodies the courage, resilience, and pioneering spirit of New France's earliest settlers. Their legacy lives on not just in the countless descendants who bear their genetic imprint, but in the very foundations of French-Canadian culture and society.

Zacharie married DUPONT, Xainte on 18 Jul 1616 in St Jean, Mortagne-au-Perche, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France. Xainte (daughter of Living and Living) was born in 1595 in Saint-Jean-Baptiste Parish Cemetery, Mortagne-au-Perche, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France; was christened in 1596; died on 13 Jul 1680 in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; was buried on 14 Juil 1680 in Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

Xainte Dupont, also known as Sainte or Xaintes, was born around 1596 in Saint-Jean-de-Mortagne, Perche, France. The daughter of Paul-Michel Dupont and Perrine Rousseau, Xainte grew up in a family with three siblings: Renée, Guillaume, and a younger sister who died in infancy. Her early life in France laid the foundation for a remarkable journey that would take her across the Atlantic to become one of the founding mothers of New France.

At the young age of 15, Xainte married Michel Lermusier in 1612. Tragically, this union was short-lived as Lermusier passed away shortly after their wedding, leaving no children. This early loss would have been a significant challenge for the young Xainte, but it also paved the way for her future role in the settlement of New France.

On July 18, 1616, Xainte married Zacharie Cloutier, a master carpenter, in the parish of Saint-Jean in Mortagne-au-Perche. This union would prove to be one of the most influential in the history of French Canada. Together, they had six children: Zacharie Jr., Jean, Sainte (who died in childhood), Anne, Charles, and Marie-Louise.

In 1634, Xainte's life took a dramatic turn when her husband signed a contract with Robert Giffard de Moncel to relocate to New France. Despite initial reservations about the move, Xainte joined her husband and children in this bold venture. Their journey was part of the first wave of Percheron immigration, aimed at expanding the French presence in North America.

Upon arrival in New France, the Cloutier family settled in Beauport, near Quebec City. Here, Xainte played a crucial role in establishing their new home while Zacharie worked as a master carpenter, contributing to the construction of essential buildings in the colony. Life in the New World was challenging, but Xainte's resilience and adaptability helped her family thrive in their new environment.

Over the years, Xainte witnessed and participated in the growth of the French colony. She raised her children, managed their household, and likely assisted other settlers as they arrived. In 1670, the family sold their property in Beauport and moved to Château-Richer, where they would spend the remainder of their lives.

Xainte outlived her husband by three years. Zacharie passed away in 1677, and Xainte followed on July 13, 1680, at the age of 84. She was buried alongside her husband in Château-Richer, leaving behind a legacy that would shape the future of French Canada.

Xainte Dupont's importance in Canadian history extends far beyond her role as Zacharie Cloutier's wife. As one of the earliest French women to settle in New France, she played a vital part in establishing the colony and ensuring its continuity through her children and their descendants. Her lineage, reportedly tracing back to Charlemagne, includes many notable figures throughout history.

Today, Xainte Dupont is remembered as a matriarch of New France. Her descendants number in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and include many famous individuals such as Céline Dion, Jack Kerouac, and Madonna. Her life story exemplifies the courage, resilience, and adaptability of the women who helped build the foundations of French-Canadian society.