DESPORTES, Pierre-Philippe
1594 - 1629 (35 years)
Set As Default Person 
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Photos 
Albums Founding Families of New France (2)
New France, or Nouvelle-France in French, was an extensive area in North America colonized by France. It began with Jacques Cartier's exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1534 and ended in 1763 when it was ceded to Great Britain and Spain under the Treaty of Paris. The territory stretched from Newfoundland to the Rocky Mountains and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, including the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley.
The most developed part of New France was Canada, divided into Québec, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal districts. The French colonization was driven by trade (notably fur), religious missions, and the ambition to expand France's influence. The French Crown significantly shaped New France's development, particularly in 1663 when King Louis XIV integrated it into the royal domain and established the French West India Company.
New France operated under the seigneurial system, where settlers farmed land granted by a seigneur and paid dues. Despite its vast territory, New France's population was sparse compared to English colonies, partly due to limited economic reasons for French peasants to emigrate and the French Crown's focus on other colonies.
Culturally, New France was predominantly French-speaking and Catholic, maintaining its civil code and religious practices even after British conquest. This heritage strongly influenced the culture of Quebec, blending European traditions with North American elements and emphasizing the preservation of the French language and identity.
There were 17 families settled in Quebec City from the establishment of the city by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 until his death in 1635. This era marks the formative years of New France and the foundation of French-Canadian culture. By the end of 1636 there were 47 families living in the colony. We can trace our ancestry directly to 10 of the original 17 (58%) families and a total of 18 of the 47 (38%).
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Name DESPORTES, Pierre-Philippe Birth 1594 Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France 
Gender Male Differentiator Among the first 17 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain Death 18 May 1629 Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Person ID I14701 My Genealogy Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
Family LANGLOIS, Françoise, b. 13 Jun 1580, Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France d. 21 Apr 1632, Richelieu, Rouville, Quebec, Canada (Age 51 years)
Marriage 1620 Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France Children 1. DESPORTES, Helene, b. 7 Jul 1620, Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France d. 24 Jun 1675, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 54 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]▻ MORIN, Sieur de St-Luc Noel I Sieur de St-Luc m. 9 Jan 1640; HÉBERT, Guillaume m. 1 Oct 1634Family ID F12108 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
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Event Map 
Birth - 1594 - Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France 
Marriage - 1620 - Lisieux, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France 
Death - 18 May 1629 - Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
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Notes - HIGHLIGHTS:
Their daughter Hélène, born on July 7, 1620, was the first European child born in what would become Canada. Hélène's godmother wasHélène Boullé, the wife of Samuel de Champlain.
Pierre wore many hats in the struggling colony. He managed a warehouse for storing fur pelts destined for export, served as the settlement's baker, and as he was one of the few literate settlers, was even involved in correspondence with France regarding the colony's condition.
CONNECTIONS:
Jim's 10X and 11X GGF on the Vermette/Gilbert branch.
LIFE STORY:
Pierre Desportes, born around 1594 in France, was one of the earliest settlers in Samuel de Champlain's vision for a New France. Though his exact origins are unclear, Pierre was known to be literate, suggesting he received some education - a rarity for his time. He married Françoise Langlois, likely between 1617 and 1620 in France, before embarking on their life-changing journey to the New World.
The couple arrived at the fledgling Habitation de Quebec in 1619, accompanied by Françoise's sister Marguerite and her husband Abraham Martin. In this remote outpost on the St. Lawrence River, Pierre and Françoise became integral members of the small community. Their importance was underscored when Françoise gave birth to Hélène on July 7, 1620 - the first European child born in what would become Canada. Hélène's godmother was none other than Hélène Boullé, the wife of Samuel de Champlain himself.
Pierre wore many hats in the struggling colony. He managed a warehouse for storing fur pelts destined for export, served as the settlement's baker, and was even involved in correspondence with France regarding the colony's condition. His literacy made him valuable in a community where few could read or write. Pierre was also associated with the Company of One Hundred Associates, though his exact role remains debated by historians.
Life in New France was challenging. By 1625, only seven families resided in the settlement. The Desportes family's time in Quebec came to an abrupt end in 1629 when English forces led by David Kirke captured the outpost. Along with most other colonists, Pierre, Françoise, and young Hélène were forcibly repatriated to France via England.
Tragically, neither Pierre nor Françoise would return to the land they had helped pioneer. Pierre is believed to have died in Dieppe, France between 1629 and 1634, while Françoise passed away in 1632. Their daughter Hélène, however, would return to New France, likely under the guardianship of her aunt and uncle, Marguerite Langlois and Abraham Martin.
Despite their brief time in New France, Pierre and Françoise left an enduring legacy. Through Hélène's two marriages, first to Guillaume Hébert and then to Noël Morin, they became the ancestors of numerous individuals in North America, including several notable figures in entertainment, politics, and other fields.
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