COUILLARD, Guillaume
1588 - 1663 (74 years)
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Guillaume “Lord of L'Espinay” Couillard
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.
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Name COUILLARD, Guillaume Birth 11 Oct 1588 Sainte Croix de Saint Servan, Saint Malo, Ille et Vilaine, Brittany, France 
Gender Male Web Address http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/couillard_de_lespinay_guillaume_1E.html Web Address https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Couillard Occupation carpenter, seaman, and caulker Death 4 Mar 1663 Hôtel Dieu-de-Quebec, Quebec, Canada Person ID I20261 My Genealogy Last Modified 7 Jul 2024
Father Living Relationship natural Mother Living Relationship natural Family ID F13765 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family HEBERT, Marie Guillemette, b. Abt 1608, St Germain Des Pres, Paris, Ile-De-France, France d. 20 Oct 1684, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Québec (Salle des pauvres), Québec, Canada, Nouvelle-France (Age 76 years)
Children 1. COUILLARD DE BEAUMONT, Sieur de Islets, (1668: Lettre de nobl esse) ennobled by Louis XIV obtained the fief of Beaumont Charles-Thomas, b. 10 May 1647, Ville De Quebec, Quebec, Pq, Canada, d. 8 May 1715, Saint-Étienne-de-Beaumont, Bellechasse, Québec, Canada (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]▻ COUTURE, Louise m. 25 Jun 16862. COUILLARD, Louise, b. 30 Jan 1625, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F13763 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 7 Jul 2024
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Notes - Guillaume Couillard, born around 1591 in either Saint-Malo or Paris, arrived in New France about 1613. A skilled carpenter, seaman, and caulker, Couillard quickly became an integral part of the fledgling colony. His marriage to Guillemette Hébert, daughter of Louis Hébert, the first farmer in New France, in 1621 cemented his place in the colony's history.
Guillemette Hébert, born around 1606 in Paris or Dieppe, came to New France in 1617 with her parents, Louis Hébert and Marie Rollet. As one of the first European families to settle permanently in Quebec, the Héberts played a crucial role in the colony's early development.
The union of Guillaume and Guillemette on August 26, 1621, officiated by Father Georges, a Recollet priest, and witnessed by Samuel de Champlain, marked the beginning of one of New France's most influential families. They had ten children, whose numerous descendants would form the backbone of French-Canadian society.
Following Louis Hébert's death in 1627, Couillard inherited half of his father-in-law's estate. He expanded these holdings and continued Hébert's agricultural innovations. In 1628, Couillard became the first person to use a plough in New France, significantly advancing the colony's farming practices. By 1632, he had nearly 20 acres under cultivation and owned a flour mill by 1639.
Couillard's contributions to the colony were numerous and varied. He was appointed as a "clerk responsible for inspecting the sown lands and the food of the settlers of Quebec" in 1639. He also engaged in shipbuilding, lime production, and participated in the defense against Iroquois raids.
During the British occupation of Quebec from 1629 to 1632, the Couillards were the only complete family to remain in the colony, demonstrating their commitment to New France. Champlain entrusted them with the care of two young Indigenous girls he had adopted.
Guillemette was equally active in colonial life, serving as godmother to numerous children, both French and Indigenous, and participating in various social and religious activities. Her role in maintaining community cohesion during the colony's challenging early years was significant.
In recognition of his services to New France, Couillard was ennobled by the king in December 1654. His coat of arms, featuring a dove with an olive branch, symbolized his role as a peacemaker and pioneer.
Guillaume Couillard died on March 4, 1663, and was buried in the chapel of the Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec, honoring his contributions to that institution. Guillemette survived him by more than 20 years, continuing to manage their affairs and contribute to the colony's development. In 1666, she sold a significant portion of their land to Bishop Laval for the establishment of the Seminary of Quebec.
The legacy of Guillaume Couillard and Guillemette Hébert is immeasurable. Their efforts in agriculture, community building, and defense helped transform New France from a precarious outpost into a thriving colony. Today, their descendants number in the hundreds of thousands, and they are remembered as key figures in the founding of French Canada.
A statue of Guillaume Couillard stands near Louis Hébert's monument in Quebec City, a testament to their enduring importance in Canadian history.
- Guillaume Couillard, born around 1591 in either Saint-Malo or Paris, arrived in New France about 1613. A skilled carpenter, seaman, and caulker, Couillard quickly became an integral part of the fledgling colony. His marriage to Guillemette Hébert, daughter of Louis Hébert, the first farmer in New France, in 1621 cemented his place in the colony's history.
