The first Land of Ville Marie

The first Land of Ville Marie - The first concession granted by de Maisonneuve

210, Place d'Youville, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2B4

In undertaking this research, I did not make me well aware of the "can of worms" which I was facing. Who would have thought that the foundation of Montreal was full of bigamy, witchcraft, love affairs? But I'll try to sort it all and tell you a story that stands ...

Pierre Gadoys and Louise Mauger

Pierre Gadoys (Gadois, Gadoua, Gadouas, Godoy) was born about 1594 at Saint-Martin d'Ige, in Perche. Around the 1620s, he married Louise (Louyse) Mauger who was born around 1598, also in Saint-Martin d'Ige. The couple settled in Saint-Martin d'Ige, where he has two children: Roberte (1628-1716) and Pierre (1631-1714), before embarking in April 1634 in Dieppe for Quebec where they arrived June 4, 1634. They had signed a three-year commitment with Robert Giffard was the first "seigneur" of colonial "Nouvelle-France". During this engagement, the "seigneur" would provide, food and basic necessities, his commitment. Most settlers incurred by Robert Giffard, whose family Gadoys Pierre, came from Perche in France.

Order to fulfill its commitment, Pierre settled with his family in the seigneurie of Beauport. They had been preceded in 1634 by Zacharie Cloutier and Jean Guyon, for the opening of the seigneurie. Have not yet church, the land remained in the parish of Notre-Dame of Quebec. On December 2, 1636, Louise Mauger gave birth to François (that is all that is known about him - Act of Baptism in the December 2, 1636). On June 26, 1638 Jeanne was born but not survived its first day. On September 28, 1639 is the birth of Joseph who will die within a month after. In 1641, after his contract with Giffard, we find the family at Sainte-Foy, where their sixth child was born, Jean-Baptiste (1641-1728) and in 1643 Pierre was hired by the "Société de Notre-Dame de Montréal pour la conversion des Sauvages de la Nouvelle-France", for whom he worked in Sainte-Foy until 1645. He lived in the house Saint-Michel, which had stayed Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve during the winter season of 1641-1642, made available by the "Société de Notre-Dame..." by Pierre de Puiseaux Sieur de Mont-Renault. The family had to suffer many Hurons and Algonquins attacks, which was enough to convince Pierre and Louise to moved to Ville-Marie, which was already the sister of Pierre.

On 4 January 1648, the governor of Montreal, Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, concedes to him the first land granted to a settler in Montreal. The sulpician François Dollier de Casson then gave him the title of "premier habitant" (read "first farmer") of Ville-Marie. This land of 40 acres stretched around the current Saint-Paul Street north to the "Petite Rivière" (Little River) between Saint-Pierre (who was named in his honor in 1672) and Bleury. Of course the layout of the streets was not defined at this time, but from the first concession was directed the urban layout of Montreal that still prevails today.

In 1660, Pierre Gadoys became the fourth warden of the church of Notre-Dame in Montreal. The first three were Louys Prud'homme (who married the daughter of Pierre), Jehan Gervaise and Gilbert Barbier dit Le Minime, elected in 1657. In March 1661, then aged 66 years, Pierre lent assistance to settlers and Charles Le Moyne who were attacked by the Iroquois. In 1666, he was granted another 60 acres of land.

Children of Pierre Gadoys and Louise Mauger :

• Roberte (1628-1716), married with Cesar Leger (1644), married with Louys Prud'homme (1650), married with Pierre Verrier (1673);
• Pierre (1631-1714), married with Marie Pontonnier (1657), married with Jeanne Benard (1665);
• Francois (1636-XXXX);
• Jeanne (1638-1638);
• Joseph (1639-1639);
• Jean-Baptiste (1641-1728), married with Marguerite Gervaise (1669), married with Marie Baudreau (1693).

After an eventful life, Pierre died in Montreal on October 20, 1667, on his land. Louise survived him until March 18, 1690, when she had no idea we still speak of her 324 years later ...

Françoise Gadoys-Godé

Françoise (1593-1689), the sister of Pierre (father) Gadoys, joined them in August 1641, with her ​​husband, the master carpenter Nicholas Gode (Godet), have signed an engagement with the "Société de Notre-Dame de Montréal pour la conversion des Sauvages de la Nouvelle-France" for the settlement of Montreal. Nicholas and Françoise and their children: François (1621-XXXX), Nicholas (1629-1697), Françoise (1631-1715) and Mathurine (1637-1672), were all present at the founding ceremony of Ville-Marie in May 1642. This made ​​them the first family of settlers on the island of Montreal.

While her step-sister Louise Mauger, was caring for her last offspring which was barely a year, Françoise proposed to take with her the young Pierre, aged 11 years to the founding ceremony of Ville-Marie. So alone, the Godé and Gadoys, had no fewer than seven of 56 people present at the celebration.

Françoise was undoubtedly a brave woman. She had to care for her children when there was no accommodation in Ville-Marie. Territory, barely cleared, was surrounded by the "sauvages" who generally saw a very dim view of these foreigners to clear skin came to settle in their ancestral lands.

The word "sauvage" is not used here in a pejorative way. Do not have to agree or disagree with the way our ancestors that had to name the First Nations of America, I'm just reporting. One day, perhaps, I will share my feelings about the theft of aborigines societies land and the rights that provide to the strongest to write history ...

On October 25, 1657, Françoise lost her husband, Nicholas Godé, his son in law, Jean de Saint-Père (husband of his daughter Françoise) the first Registrar and the first notary of Ville-Marie, their servant, Jacques Nail, are killed by the Iroquois as they repaired the roof of their house. She never remarried and died a centenarian in Pointe-Aux-Trembles of Montreal in 1689.

Nicholas Godé dit Gaudet de Marantay

Nicholas (Nicolas) Godé (Godet, Gaudet) was born about 1590, according Dollier Casson at the founding of Ville-Marie in 1642, at Saint-Martin d’Igé, in Perche , son of Jean Godet Saint-Martin. Around 1620, in Saint-Martin d’Igé, he married Françoise Gadoys (1593-1689) with whom he has four children : François (1621-XXXX), Nicholas (1629-1697), Françoise (1631-1715) et Mathurine (1637-1672). In 1641, he signed a commitment with Jérôme Le Royer de la Dauversière for "Société de Notre-Dame de Montréal pour la conversion des Sauvages de la Nouvelle-France" as a master carpenter, and on May 9, 1641 , sailed with his family to "Nouvelle-France". The ship departed from Dieppe few weeks before that one of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and that one of Jeanne Mance, both had left from La Rochelle. There were, in addition to the crew 13 passengers, ten men and three women (at that time they did not include children accompanying their parents). They arrived in Quebec in late summer, but must wait about Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance to continue their travel to Ville-Marie. They take the opportunity to renew with Pierre Gadoys and Louise Mauger, who had immigrated a few years ago.

The Jeanne Mance's boat arrived in Quebec on August 8, 1641, while that one of de Maisonneuve arrives only around September 20 at Tadoussac. The season is already too far advanced to allow the installation of suitable winter quarters in Montreal, travelers are forced to spend the winter in Quebec city. The founding of Ville-Marie is postponed until the following spring.

On May 8, 1642, Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve orders that travel to Montreal. But it was not until 17 May, after 9 days of sailing against the current, the pioneers arrive. They immediately organized a ceremony for the official founding of Ville-Marie to the "Pointe-A-Callière", the area cleared thirty years earlier by Samuel de Champlain. To ensure the safety of its settlers, Maisonneuve was quickly erect a stockade around the small camp and houses to accommodate all its people ... In the summer of 1642, Gilbert Barbier dit Le Minime et Le Nivernais came to give them a helping hand as a carpenter.

On January 2, 1649, de Maisonneuve grants Nicholas, in front of his future son-in-law, the notary Jean de Saint-Père, a land in the north of the current Saint-Paul Street, near the present Saint-François-Xavier street in Old Montreal. He hastens to clear the land and build a house with the help of his brother-in-law, Pierre Gadoys, Louys Prud'homme (Louis Preudhomme), and his future son-in-law, Jean de Saint-Père.

During an attack, a group of Oneida (Iroquois), described as treacherous, Nicholas was killed with his valet and his son in law ... I'll let the Sulpician François Dollier de Casson tell you this story, which was also reported by Marguerite Bourgeoys and François Vachon de Belmont :

Cet "...man as strong piety, a mind as sharp and all together [...] with an excellent judgment as we have seen here " came to a tragic end on 25 October 1657. So that peace reigned recently between the French and the Iroquois, an Oneida group presented itself at Nicolas Godé's home, which was busy with his son in law, Jean de Saint-Père, and their servant, Jacques Noël, to build a house. the French received civilly the visitors, giving them something to eat. Coming under the cover of peace and friendship, but feeding perfidious designs, Iroquois waited for their guests, reassembled on the roof, were within reach of their muskets to make "falling like sparrows". Completing their work, Oneida scalped Godé and Noël, but cut off the head of Saint-Père they carried it "for his beautiful hair".

In this episode is connected a curious story, reported by Dollier de Casson, Marguerite Bourgeoys and Vachon de Belmont. While the Iroquois fled with their sad trophy, the Saint-Père's head began to speak - in a very good Iroquois, although during his lifetime, Saint-Père had always ignored this language - blaming them for their perfidy: "You kill us, you make us a thousand cruelties, you want to destroy the French, you do not come to end, they will one day be your master and you will obey them [...]". Although the Iroquois had away the head, hide or bury it, the vengeful voice continues to be heard. Having finally got rid of the skull, but they retains the hair, the Iroquois not less heard on the side where they kept the scalp, the Saint-Père's voice.

These phenomena ensures Dollier de Casson, were told by the Iroquois themselves to trustworthy persons; Sister Bourgeoys further asserts that Mr. Cuillerier, at that time was an Iroquois' prisoner, testified the truth of this fact.

Dictionary of Canadian Biography,  "Jean de Saint-Père" - www.biographi.ca/en/bio/saint_…

This story, although told by people of "trusts" loses what little credibility she could find when we see that the notorious prisoner René Cuillerier, that spoken by Sister Bourgeoys, was not in "Nouvelle-France" at that time.

René Cuillerier arrived in Nouvelle-France on September 7, 1659. He had signed an engagement with sister Judith Moreau de Brésoles, superior of the Hôtel-Dieu of Montreal, before Notary A. Demontreau in La Rochelle, on June 8, 1659. By this act, he became a servant of the hospital of Ville-Marie in an annual salary of 75#. In the fall, he was in Montreal, on October 25, 1661, with some settlers assisted by members of the garrison and directed by Father Guillaume Vignal, he went to the "île à la Pierre" in Saint-Laurent, and extract materials for the completion of the contruction of the first seminar of Montreal. Mal took him as the Iroquois, who were prowling around, attacked workers, killed some, wounded some others and captured Vignal, Claude de Brigeac, Cuillerier and Jacques Dufresne.

Dictionary of Canadian Biography,  "René Cuillerier" - www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cuille…

... unfortunate, because the legend was more strange ...

Roberte Gadoys (1628-1716)

Roberte (Roberde) Gadoys (Gadois Gadoua, Gadouas, Godoy) was born about 1628 at Saint-Martin Ige, in Perche and baptized 15 September 1628 in the same parish, daughter of Pierre Gadoys and Louise Mauger. On May 18, 1644, Roberte passes at the notary Guillaume Tronquet of Quebec, a marriage contract with César Léger, a master toolmaker of Ville-Marie, in the presence of witnesses Pierre de Puiseaux Sieur de Mont-Renault and Jean-Paul Godefroy. On May 22, in the Chapel of Saint-Michel, the marriage is formalized by the priest P. Jacques De Laplace and Roberte moved to Ville-Marie with her husband. On August 26, 1647, César takes a second wife in Quebec. It is with Marguerite Bénard (Besnard - 1626-1697) he shall be guilty of bigamy. It knows no offspring from César Léger, seems to have disappeared after this episode. At that time, the person convicted of bigamy saw his marriage annulled and was expelled from the community. On November 30, 1650 in his marriage certificate with Louys Prud'homme, written by the famous Father Lalement (1592-1673), we find confirmation of the annulment of marriage with César. Louys, a master brewer and "habitant", son of Claude Prudhomme et d’Isabelle Aliomet, was born around 1604 at Pomponne near Lagny-sur-Marne. The couple had seven children :

• Francois-Xavier (1651-1741);
• Paul (1654-1681);
• Marguerite (1656-1725);
• Pierre (1658-1703);
• Catherine (1661-1736);
• Élizabeth (1663-1744);
• Jeanne (1667-XXXX).

Louys had a special relationship with bigamy. It was him who denounced to the Governor of Chomedey de Maisonneuve, bigamy his neighbor, Michel Chauvin whom he knew a wife in France and who had married Anne Archambault in 1647 in Quebec City. So churchwarden of Notre-Dame in Montreal, he was appointed thereafter militia captain by de Maisonneuve.

Having survived a few years of famine raging in Montreal those years, Louys died in 1671 in Ville-Marie, at the age of 67 years. Finding herself a widow, Roberte began a relationship with Pierre Verrier dit Lasolaye, Soldier and Master Carpenter of Ville-Marie. He was 8 years younger than her. They were married January 21, 1673 at Notre-Dame in Montreal. The couple had no children and Pierre died on October 30, 1704, while Roberte survived him until September 14, 1716.

Louys Prud’homme

Louys (Louis) Prud'homme (Preudhomme, Prudhomme), son of Claude Prudhomme and d’Isabelle Aliomet, born around 1604 at Pomponne near Lagny-sur-Marne, Ile-de-France. He settled in "Nouvelle-France", in Quebec city, between 1636 and 1641. It is one of the 56 first "Montréaliste", arrived in Montreal with de Maisonneuve in 1642. Surrounded by gentlemen, pious ladies, worker and farmers, Prud'homme is a master brewer.

He lives the fort (Pointe à Callière) in community with other settlers for several years, Louys passes on October 22, 1650, at the notary Jean de Saint-Père, a marriage contract with Gadois Roberte, daughter of Pierre Gadoys (Gadois gadoua, Godoy) and Louise Mauger, arrived in Ville-Marie shortly after the foundation of the post. Roberte's dowry given to Louys Prud'homme is 500 livres, lined by Mr. Governor of Montreal (Maisonneuve), in addition, a feather bed, a bolster, fifty alder, a cow with her calf, ten dishes, six plates and a tin pot it delivered the day after the wedding ceremony. The espousals are of people at ease for the time. In addition, he received from the hands of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the tenth concession of the Island of Montreal :

Ledit sieur gouverneur de Montréal au nom des messieurs les associés pour la conversion des sauvages de la Nouvelle France en ladite Isle de Montréal et seigneur dicelle en faveur du dit mariage futur, a donné et donne, par le présent contrat auxdits future espoux la quantité de trente arpents de terre mesurée du pied à raison de cent perches pour arpent et dix part aux terres de la Brasserye, d’autre part à Michel Chauvin dit Sainte-Suzanne lesdites terres communicant vingt perches de large, sur le bord de la commune, et continue par cette largeur vers la montagne de l’Île tirant au nord-ouest quart d’ouest jusqu’à ladite quantité desdits trente arpents de terre pour en jouir par lesdits futurs espoux et leurs successeurs et ayants cause à perpétuité aux charges, clauses et conditions qui s’ensuivent et non autre rendu témoin.

Louys Prud’homme
Pierre Gadoys
Charles d’Ailleboust
Jeanne Mance
Paul de Chomedey
Gilbert Barbier
Lambert Closse
Jean de Saint-Père

The said Mr. Governor of Montreal on behalf of the gentlemen associated in the conversion of the Indians of "Nouvelle-France" in the said island of Montreal and "seigneur" the said in favor of future marriage, gave and gave, by this contract to the said future married the amount of thirty acres of land measured from the foot due to one hundred poles for an acre and ten part in the lands of the Brewery, secondly to Michel Chauvin dit Sainte-Suzanne the said communicating land twenty rods wide, on the edge of the town, and continues this width to the mountain of the island continuing northwest quarter west to said amount of said thirty acres of land to be enjoyed by those future married and their successors and assigns in perpetuity to the charges, terms and ensuing conditions and not made ​​another witness. (free translation)

By signing this document, Louys obliged himself to establish his family on the island of Montreal, unless special permission from the governor agrees to build a house and to pay annually, to the lords of Montreal, a three deniers censives by acre concession and accept all the terms. On November 30, 1650 Louys Prud'homme (42) and Roberte Gadois (24 years) marry in the church of Notre-Dame in Montreal. The ceremony was officiated by Father Hiésrome Lallemant (Jérôme Lallemant, Jérôme Lalement - 1592-1673) in the presence, among-other, the Sieur Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Nicholas Godé dit Gaudet de Marantay, Sieur Charles Daillebout des Musseaux.

At the time of settling on his new land, Louys notes and denounces to the Governor Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the bigamy of his neighbor, Michel Chauvin who he conaissait a wife in France and who had married Anne Archambault in 1647 in Quebec. Chauvin saw his second marriage be declared void in 1651, and was banished from Ville-Marie by Maisonneuve. Louys was appointed first captain of militia in Ville-Marie. Louys Prud'homme familiar with the subject, since his wife, Roberte, had seen his first marriage with César Léger, be canceled due to bigamy by César.

Then aged 67, Louys Prud'homme died in Ville-Marie in 1671.

Pierre Gadoys (son)

Pierre Gadoys (son) was born November 17, 1631 at Saint-Martin d’Igé, in Perche, son of Pierre Gadoys (c. 1594-1667) and Louise Mauger (c. 1598-1690). In April 1634 he sailed with his parents and his sister Roberte, to Quebec. In 1642, then aged 11 and a half years, he accompanied his aunt Françoise at the founding ceremony of Ville-Marie. He learned the armorer-arquebusier job and moved to Ville-Marie, where on August 12, 1657, he married Marie Pontonnier (1637-1718), daughter of Félicité Jamin and Urbain Pontonnier, born about 1637 and baptized on January 22 1643 at St Vincent de Lude, La Fleche, at Angers in Anjou, coming from France shortly after the death of her father in 1656. On May 06, 1657, the notary Jean de Saint-Père established a marriage contract between Marie and Pierre Gadois son, in front of Barbe de Boulogne, Jeanne Mance and the Major Lambert closse. Made aware of this contract, René Besnard, a former wooing, spurned by Mary, disappointed not to have been chosen, claiming that he is a sorcerer, he announces that he will throw a curse on her upcoming wedding by "nouant l’aiguillette" (tie the aiguillette) and that the union will be sterile.

Despite this, the "nulloque legitimo impedimento detecto" (no legitimate impediment detected) was proclaimed by the priest Claude Pijart, and the wedding seemed to proceed normally. The celebrant having been made ​​aware of the spell thrown by Besnard asked Pierre to recite Psalm 50 in Latin during Mass to ward off the spell :

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
Ecce enim in inquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.
Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.
Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.Psaume 50

There were many people present at the wedding, because that day was also celebrated the union of Major Lambert closse with Élisabeth Moyen. Among the most famous, we could count the Governor Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance, the notary Bénigne Basset, Barbe de Boulogne, Mathurin Langevin Sieur de La Croix et Charles Lemoyne. René Besnard had two good reasons to be present there :

1. he is Corporal of the garrison of Ville-Marie, to attend the wedding of his superior, Major Lambert closse with Élisabeth Moyen;
2. being a spurned lover of the bride, to curse the marriage of Pierre Gadoys and Marie Pontonnier.

The marriage lasted until August 30, 1660. August 31, after the period of three years after the marriage, as prescribed by the sacred canons Catholic, Bishop François de Montmorency-Laval declared null and void the marriage of Pierre Gadois et Marie Pontonnier "à cause d’impuissance perpétuelle causée par maléfice obstruant l’orifice, et permit aux partyes de se marier" (because of perpetual impotence caused by Hex obstructing the orifice, and allowed the partyes to marry).

Marie remarried on November 3, 1660 with Pierre Martin dit La Rivière (1636-1661), who had no chance to see the birth of his daughter Marie, because he was killed during an Iroquois attack on March 24, 1661. For the third time, Mary tied her destiny. This time it's Honoré Langlois dit La Chapelle to be the chosen one. The wedding will be celebrated on 5 December 1661 in Ville-Marie. Three husband almost 15 months ... if it is not a record ... this is a good average ... Still, Marie and Honoré had 9 children, so the sterility of his first marriage was not the fact of Mary ... She died on January 7, 1718 in Pointe-aux-Trembles in the east end of the Island of Montreal.

As for Pierre, he waited until April 20, 1665, to remarry. At age 33 he married Jeanne Bénard, daughter of Rolin Bénard and Gabrielle Vitaille, born about 1642 in Paris. The couple had 14 children, so the sterility of his first marriage with Mary was not his fault ... Strange!

René Besnard dit Bourjoly

René Besnard (Bénard, Ménard, Bernard) dit Bourjoly (Bourg Joly Bourjoli) was born on February 6, 1625 and baptized the same day in the parish of Saint-Pierre, in Villiers-au-Bouin in France, son of Jean Bernard and Madeleine Maillard. He joined the French army and was posted to "Nouvelle-France" in what has been called the "recrue de 1653" (rookie of 1653) to defend Ville-Marie against Iroquois attacks. On June 20, 1653, in Nantes, he embarked on the "Saint-Nicolas" captained by Pierre Le Besson, chartered by the "Société Notre-Dame" and on which also took up Marguerite Bourgeoys (first teacher of Montreal), boarded a few days earlier in Saint-Nazaire.

To demonstrate the stubbornness of René Besnard, in his historical novel, André Charbonneau make told by the notary Jean de Saint-Père :

On m'a raconté que, sur le bateau qui l'amena en ce pays en 1653, il était déjà entiché de Marie, qui n'était pourtant qu'une enfant e dix ans. Il se serait même battu avec Urbain Brossard, qu'il avait surpris tenant la fillette sur ses genoux. Cette réputation de bagarreur, il l'a entretenue depuis.
I was told that on the boat that brought him to this country in 1653, he was already infatuated with Mary, who was yet a child of ten. He would even fight with Urbain Brossard, he surprised holding the girl on his lap. The history of fighting, he has maintained since. (free translation)
Mystères à Ville-Marie, André Charbonneau, Édition FIDES, 2002 (p. 110)

Although it is under the guise of writing a fictionalized, it appears that the author has cut corners. It is true that René Besnard and Urbain Brossard are on board the same ship in 1653, but in the case of Mary Pontonnier she only arrived in "Nouvelle-France" in 1656, after the death of his father. Perhaps he has confused "Marie Pontonnier" with "Marie Dumesnil" who was ten at the time and was on that ship? Maybe he was a little twisted history to get a better scene to tell? Moreover, another error, which is not the fact of Mr. Charbonneau, appears to be spreading among historians: Mary Pontonnier must have 18 or 19 at this crossing. That assigned 1643 as the year of her birth as it is the year of her baptism. She was born around 1637. In order of age, 13 women aboard the "Saint-Nicolas" :

• Marie Dumesnil, also known as Marie du Mans, 10 years, de La Flèche, évêché d'Angers, Anjou;
• Catherine Hurault, 14 years, from La Flèche, diocese of Angers, Anjou;
• Marie Lorgueil, 15 years, from Cognac;
• Jeanne Vedié ou Voidy, 15 years, from St-Germain-du-Val;
• Jeanne Rousillier, 17 years, from Maeze, near Brouage;
• Jeanne Mairé ou Merrin, 18 years, from St-Michel de Poitiers;
• Marie Renaudin, baptized on December 17, 1633 in Ste-Croix de Nantes, Bretagne (so about twenty years on this trip);
• Marie Renault, 20 years, from St-Paul d'Orléans;
• Jeanne Soldé, 21 years, from La Flèche, diocese of Angers, Anjou;
• Michelle Artus, 24 years, from Bousse;
• Marie-Marthe Pinson, from La Flèche, diocese of Angers, Anjou, died in Ville-Marie on January 23, 1663 at the age of 35 years (so about 25 years at the crossing);
• Périnne Mousnier (Meunier), 32 years, came with her husband Julien Daubigeon;
• Marguerite Bourgeoys, 33 years, first teacher of Ville-Marie (Montréal).

I do not wish here denigrate the work of André Charbonneau. Despite some inaccuracies, his novel "Mystères à Ville-Marie" is an excellent chronic allowing us a glimpse of life at the time of the founding of Ville-Marie (Montreal).

Back to René Besnard dit Bourjoly. He arrived in Ville-Marie on 16 November 1653 and takes its corporal position stationed at Fort Ville-Marie, the current Pointe à Callière in Old Montreal. He led a life without major stories until 1656, with the arrival of the young Marie Pontonnier, old of 18 years ago, and like him, of Angevin origin. Immediately Jeanne Mance, administrator of the Hotel-Dieu Hospital of Montreal, takes Marie under her wing. She often had to accompany his protector during the visit of Mademoiselle Mance at the Fort Ville-Marie.It is probably during these visits that René Besnard took the opportunity to make his courting to the young Mary. At eighteen, she was probably pleased that attention could grant him a man, so she played the game of flirtations. But the boy in question was a man in his thirties who thought that a serious relationship ... The following year, René found completely shocked when he heard the approaching marriage of his beloved with Pierre Gadoys, an armourer of Ville-Marie, age 26.

This is where the story takes a turn for the less "interesting". He tried in vain to regain the heart that escaped him, and probably he had never belonged. He tried to explain that their common origins Anjou was a guarantee of success, he made her shine his military merits and career which was to guard against the need, etc ... Can not achieve its goals by the finesse, he tried to less conventional means. He gave Mary a thinly veiled threat. "Je suis un sorcier et je sais nouer l'aiguillete..." (I'm a sorcerer and I know the tie the aiguillette ...). If she does not put an end to his marriage plans with Gadoys, he threatened to make this sterile union for the 17 coming years.

The damsel Pontonnier, put into a tizzy by this threat, hastened to warn her fiancé and the priest Claude Pijart. The wedding will take place, despite everything, on August 12, 1657. They take all available measures to counter this spell : prayers, blessings, etc ...

After many attempts of the couple, the hope of offspring is still pending. After several weeks, the couples will consult the priest Pijart. At that time, the parish priest was often the last resort available to the highly Christian inhabitants of the colony. He advised them to go to Quebec to make their union blessed by Bishop François de Montmorency-Laval, who had obtained the post of "apostolic vicar" in the new "Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-France", canonically erected on April 11, 1658 by Pope Alexander VII. Despite this pilgrimage to Quebec, the couple remained infertile ...

In Ville-Marie, as in most of the colony is the main topic of conversation. The populace is in turmoil ... Charges for use of witchcraft were brought against René Besnard dit Bourjoly that on November 2, 1658, had to appear before the seigniorial justice of Montreal.

"...pour respondre sur les faits et charges, contenues aux plaintes faictes à l’encontre de luy par Pierre Gadois armurier et Marie Pontonnier, sa femme; Jeanne Godard, femme de Simon Le Roy et Marie (Bidard) femme d’Honoré Dausny, pour les avoir sollicitées et attenté à leur honneur..."
... to answer about the facts and charges contained in complaints made against him by Pierre Gadois armorer and Marie Pontonnier, his wife; Jeanne Godard, wife of Simon Le Roy and Marie (Bidard) spouse of Honoré Dausny for having sought and taken their honor ... (free translation)

During the trial, Besnard demonstrated a selective memory. He remembers having to speak with Marie Pontonnier there a few weeks ago, but has no memory of what he could say. When the questions are about his statements to the girl Pontonnier, shortly before his wedding, he said "know the tie aiguillette", it alleged, without being believed, it was the cords of his shoes ... A little later, on the same subject, the minutes of the court told : "...s’estoit pour la faire condescendre à son dessein, et de ce qu’il s’estoit venté, de savoir nouer l’esguillette, qu’il entendoit l’esguillette de ses chausses..." (it was to be condescending to his purpose, and that it was windy, know the tie esguillette, he heard the aiguillette of his shoes). So how could he deny having uttered such threats and then say that he had the intention to make it sensitive to its demands? René Besnard went to say that Mary would offer him his favor against the "dénouage de l'aiguillete" (untying of the aiguillette). Mary, meanwhile, defended herself by accusing Besnard of being blackmailed against her virtue, and if she accepted his advances he would untie the aiguillette ... On November 4, 1658, Besnard was punished with a fine of 300 livres, by the seigneurial justice of Montreal, for an attempt on the virtue of Mary. The sieur de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, who officiated as magistrate sentenced René Besnard dit Bourjoly to prison and then exile him for the use of spells. It was expelled "manu militari" of the territory of the Government of Montreal ...

René will settle in the area of the Trois-Rivières where, February 2, 1661, he married Marie Sédillot (Sédilot), daughter of Louis Sédillot and Marie Charier. The couple had eight children: Anne (1661-1719), Joseph (1662-1736), Marie-Jeanne (1664-1681), Élizabeth (1664-XXXX), Marie (1665-XXXX), Maurice (1666-XXXX), Isabelle (1668-XXXX), René (1670-XXXX). The family settled in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, near Trois-Rivières. In 1667, when a census reveals that René had nine cattle and forty-five acres of land in value, and in 1681 its assets were: two guns, twelve cattle and sixty acres of land value.

Marie Pontonnier

Marie was born about 1637 and baptized 22 January 1643 in St-Vincent Le Lude, La Fleche in Anjou, daughter of Urbain Pontonnier and Félicité Jamin. In 1656, following the death of her father, she undertakes the trip that had led her to the Nouvelle-France and his new life. Upon arrival, Jeanne Mance took her under her protection. Her presence is more than appreciated when on January 28, 1657, in the return of the Mass, Jeanne Mance fractured right arm and dislocated wrist slipping on a patch of ice. Shortly after, she became involved in a relationship that will turn stormy with Corporal of Garrison René Besnard dit Bourjoly. The latter was greatly desolate when he heard the approaching marriage of Marie with Pierre Gadoys, he threatened the young girl he cast a spell making that union sterile.

During the three years following the wedding, the couple made ​​many attempts to have a child, even going so far as to bless their union in Quebec, but nothing helped. After a period of three years prescribed by the Catholic sacred canons, on August 31, 1660, the marriage was canceled due to "evil spell" and allowed Pierre Gadois and Marie Pontonnier remarry each on his side.

Two months later, Marie threw her sights on Pierre Martin dit La Rivière (1636-1661). They were married on November 3, 1660, and Mary became pregnant very quickly. Unfortunately, Pierre was killed on March 24, 1661, in a skirmish with Iroquois, without being able to see his daughter Marie born November 9, 1661.

Less than a month after the birth of her daughter Marie, Marie remarried on December 5, 1661, with Honoré Langlois dit La Chapelle (1631-1709), son of Jean Langlois and Jacquette Charpentier. The couple settled in the Pointe-aux-Trembles of Montreal where he will have 10 children: Jeanne (1664-1719, Honoré (1665-1666), Anne-Thérèse (1669-1745), Jean (1672-XXXX), André (1675-1751), Françoise (1678-1713), Antoine (1681-1684), Joseph (1684-1684), Antoine (1685-1688).

Marie and her husband will live happily until the death of Honoré, on December 12, 1709, in their home at Pointe-aux-Trembles of Montreal. Marie remained there until his death on January 7, 1718.

Tying the aiguillette

"The Curse of "knotting the aiguillette" has survived through the centuries. Incidentally of the bridal procession or during the Mass, the caster, hiding his hands inside his hat, tied a rope as many times the husband will strive in vain to consummate the marriage. the same operation can be done at night, in a cemetery. At Pamproux (Deux-Sèvres), indicates the folklorist Souché in the late 19th century, they knotted strap of a shoe, and then thrown into a puddle of water. The husband is powerless unless someone unravels the belt before it rots."

Biography Pontonnier Marie - www.nosorigines.qc.ca/biograph… (in french only)

Biography Gadois Pierre - www.nosorigines.qc.ca/biograph… (in french only)

Nouement de l'aiguillette (knotting the aiguillette)

"Qu'on prenne la verge d'un loup nouvellement tué; qu'on aille à la porte de celui qu'on veut lier, et qu'on l'appelle par son propre nom. aussitôt qu'il aura répondu, on liera la verge, avec un lacet de fil blanc, et le mari sera aussi impuissant qu'un chatré, à l'acte de vénus."
Whether we take the penis of a newly killed wolf, that we go to the door that that we want bind, and to be called by his own name. as soon as he replied, it will bind the penis, with a white lace over, and the husband will be as helpless as a castrated in the act of Venus. (free translation)

Le petit Albert

"En europe méridionale, la sorcière devait utiliser le cordon de la braguette utilisé par l'homme qu'elle voulait rendre impuissant, et y faire 3 noeuds rituels en sortant par une porte. Puis des esprits étaient invoqués, parfois en regardant une étoile. Contre ce dernier rituel, le seul remède est de faire le rituel à l'envers, ce qui n'est plus possible si le cordon a été brûlé."
In southern Europe, the witch had to use the power of the codpiece used by the man she wanted to make powerless and have it 3 knots rituals out through a door. Then spirits were raised, sometimes upon a star literary. against the latter ritual, the only remedy is to do the ritual in reverse, which is not possible if the cord was burned. (free translation)

Magie et sorcellerie en europe, Robert Muchembled, Armand Colin.

Contre l'aiguilette nouée (against the knotted aiguilette)

"On prévient ce maléfice en portant un anneau dans lequel soit enchassé l'oeil droit d'une belette ou en mettant du sel dans sa poche, lorsque l'on sort du lit pour aller à l'autel ou selon Pline, en frottant de graisse de loup le seuil et les poteaux de la porte qui ferme la chambre à coucher des époux."
This evil spell can be prevented by wearing a ring which is embedded in the right eye of a weasel or putting salt in his pocket when out of bed to go to the altar or according to "Pline", rubbing wolf grease the threshold and the posts of the door that closes the bedroom of the spouses.

Dictionnaire infernal

"Monument" at the 350th anniversary of Montreal in 1992

Too bad this "monument" is more like concrete blocks, which are typically used to block access to raw land, as a true monument that pays a serious tribute. Maybe they think there one day ... After all, it only highlights the first "habitant" (farmer) in Montreal and is only there for over twenty years. As I've said for Paschal Persillier La Chapelle ( fav.me/d5cty26 et fav.me/d5cty1v ), "Montreal is known to recognize and honor our builders ..."

Texts of the marker :

"C'est d'ici que, le 4 janvier 1648, Maisonneuve détermina les bornes de la première concession accordée à Pierre Gadoys. Il fixait ainsi l'orientation des rues de la future ville."
It is from here that on January 4, 1648, Maisonneuve determined the boundaries of the first concession to Pierre Gadoys. He stared and street orientation of the future city. (free translation)

"Borne érigée le 8 octobre 1992 dans le cadre des fêtes du 350e anniversaire de la ville de Montréal."
Monument erected October 8, 1992 as part of celebrations of the 350th anniversary of the city of Montreal. (free translation)

"Stèle érigée grâce à l'Orde des Arpenteurs-Géomètres du Québec. À l'Association des Détaillants de Monuments du Québec. Aux Archives Nationales du Québec. Aux Productions d'Amérique Française et au Groupe de Recherche Raymond Dumais Archiviste."
Stele erected thanks to Orde des Arpenteurs-Géomètres du Québec. To the Association des Détaillants de Monuments du Québec. To Archives Nationales du Québec. To Productions d'Amérique Française and to Groupe de Recherche Raymond Dumais Archiviste. (free translation)

"Emplacement du pont qui enjambait la Petite Rivière en 1648 Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve s'en servit comme point de départ du terrier de Montréal."
Location of the bridge over the Petite Rivière in 1648 by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve used it as a starting point of the terrier of Montreal. (free translation)

Need I say more on this "masterpiece"?

Who said that Montreal was an ordinary city? Since its founding, it was the scene of intrigues and stories among the most exciting ... Today, this kind of stories may still occur, but they are lost in the mass ...

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