DROUIN, Robert
1607 - 1685 (77 years)
Set As Default Person 
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Photos 
Histories 
Robert Drouin pioneer Life of Robert Drouin
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 DROUIN, Robert [1, 2, 3] Birth 6 Aug 1607 Chartres, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France 
[1, 3] Gender Male Birth 6 Aug 1607 Le Pin-la-Garenne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France Death 1 Jun 1685 Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada [1, 2, 3] Robert Drouin Gravesite 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 Death 1 Jun 1685 Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada Burial 1 Jun 1685 Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada [1, 2] Patriarch & Matriarch 
DROUIN*, Robert, b. 1565, St Barthelemy, Orne, Basse-Normandie, Franced. 1 Jun 1617, La Garenne, Nièvre, Bourgogne, France (Age 52 years) (Father) 
DUBOIS*, Marie, b. 1 Jul 1572, Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, Franced. 12 Jul 1637, La Garenne, Nièvre, Bourgogne, France (Age 65 years) (Mother) Person ID I5177 My Genealogy Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
Father DROUIN*, Robert, b. 1565, St Barthelemy, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France d. 1 Jun 1617, La Garenne, Nièvre, Bourgogne, France (Age 52 years) Relationship natural Mother DUBOIS*, Marie, b. 1 Jul 1572, Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France d. 12 Jul 1637, La Garenne, Nièvre, Bourgogne, France (Age 65 years) Relationship natural Marriage 1594 Orne, Basse-Normandie, France Family ID F1393 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 CLOUTIER, Anne, b. 19 Jan 1626, Mortagne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France d. 3 Feb 1648, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 22 years)
Marriage 12 Jul 1637 Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada [3, 4] - 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.
Children 1. DROUIN, Genevieve, b. 19 Oct 1643, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada d. 4 Oct 1710, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada (Age 66 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. DROUIN, Agnes, b. 16 Jan 1641, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 31 Jan 1641, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. DROUIN, Anonyme, b. 8 Nov 1641, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 8 Nov 1641, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. DROUIN, Male, b. 22 Nov 1642, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 22 Nov 1642, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. DROUIN, Male, b. 1645, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 1645, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. DROUIN, Jeanne, b. 3 Feb 1647, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada d. 23 Jun 1732, Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 85 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]▻ MAHEU, Pierre Sieur Des Hazard m. 10 Nov 16597. DROUIN, Male, b. 1644 d. 1644 (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] Photos Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968 Family ID F1378 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
Family 2 CHAPELIER, Marie, b. 1621, Brie, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France d. 18 Mar 1697, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 76 years)
Marriage 29 Nov 1649 Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada [2] Children 1. DROUIN, Etienne, b. 1648, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. Abt 1732, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 84 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. DROUIN, Marie, b. 18 Sep 1650, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada d. 2 May 1664, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 13 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. DROUIN, Jean Baptiste, b. 13 Feb 1662, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 1681, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 18 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. DROUIN, Pierre, b. 1 Nov 1653, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 7 Oct 1723, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 69 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. DROUIN*, Marguerite, b. 23 Dec 1655, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 1 Jun 1692, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada (Age 36 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]▻ GAGNON, Jean m. 26 Oct 16706. DROUIN, Nicolas, b. 7 Jan 1652, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. Abt 1723, Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada (Age 70 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]7. DROUIN, Marie-Madeleine, b. 27 Nov 1664, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 3 Feb 1665, Montmorency, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]8. DROUIN, Catherine, b. 2 Jan 1660, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada d. 25 Mar 1734, Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada (Age 74 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]▻ SIMON DIT LAPOINTE, Guillaume m. 17 Nov 1688Photos Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Family ID F1394 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
Photos Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968 Family ID F1542 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
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Event Map 
Birth - 6 Aug 1607 - Chartres, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France 
Birth - 6 Aug 1607 - Le Pin-la-Garenne, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France 
Marriage - 12 Jul 1637 - Beauport, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada 
Marriage - 29 Nov 1649 - Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada 
Death - 1 Jun 1685 - Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada 
Death - 1 Jun 1685 - Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada 
Burial - 1 Jun 1685 - Chateau Richer, La Côte-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
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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.
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Sources - [S2137] Ancestry.com, Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;).
- [S1457] Ancestry.com, Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;), Volume: Vol. 3 Sect. 2 : Dej-Ezi; Page: 453.
Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 - [S1456] Ancestry.com, Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008;).
Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968 - [S1476] Genealogical Research Library, Ontario, Canada, Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;).
- [S2137] Ancestry.com, Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;).
