TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS OF VILLE-MARIE
This page is to pay tribute to the settlers and pioneers of Ville-Marie who figured prominently in the last chapter of this novel. While their actions and words as described in this novel are ficticious, the main events of their lives were as recorded in history.
Bourgeoys, Marguerite (Sister): (1620 – 1700). Born in Troyes, Champagne. Arrived in New France, then in Ville-Marie in 1653. Founded the Notre-Dame Congregation in Ville-Marie. Opened Ville-Marie’s first school in 1658. Went back to France in 1659 to recruit three more nuns for her congregation and returned to Ville-Marie.
de Chomedey, Paul, Sieur de Maisonneuve: (1612 – 1676). Born in Neuville-sur-Vanne. Arrived in New France in 1641. Founded Ville-Marie in 1642. Recalled to France in 1665 after falling out of favor with the Governor of New France. Died in anonymity in Paris.
Closse, Lambert: (? – 1662). Born in Trèves, Lorraine. Squire and sergeant-major of the garrison of Ville-Marie. Arrived in Ville-Marie in 1647. Married Élisabeth Moyen in 1657, had two children. Killed in combat by the Iroquois.
Hubert, Nicolas: (1609 – 1687). Unknown place of birth. Master tailor. Arrived in 1649 in New France. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. Married Marguerite Landreau in 1652, had six children.
Landreau, Marguerite: (1631 – 1680). Unknown place of birth. Arrived with husband Nicolas Hubert in Ville-Marie in 1654. Had six children.
Lemoine, Charles, sieur de Longueuil: (1626 – 1685). Born in Dieppe, Normandie. Squire, Royal Prosecutor, Lord of Longueuil. Arrived in 1641 in New France. Arrived in 1647 in Ville-Marie. Married Catherine Thierry in 1654, had fourteen children.
Lorgueil, Marie: (1638 – 1700). Born in Saintes, Angoulème. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. Married Toussaint Hunault in 1654, had ten children.
Lorion, Catherine: (1637 – 1720). Born in La Rochelle. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. First marriage with Pierre Vilain in 1654, no children. Second marriage with Jean Simon in 1655, one child. Third marriage with Nicolas Millet in 1657, eight children. Fourth marriage with Pierre Desautels in 1676, two children.
Mance, Jeanne: (1606 – 1673). Born in Langres, Haute-Marne. Arrived in 1641 in New France. Arrived in Ville-Marie in 1642, helping to found the town. Founded in 1645 l’Hôtel-Dieu, the first hospital in Ville-Marie.
Merrin, Jeanne: (1635 – 1711). Born in Poitiers, Poitou. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. First marriage with Éloi Jarry in 1654, three children. Second marriage with Henri Perrin in 1661, five children. Third marriage with René Moreau (sieur Dubreuil) in 1672, two children.
Morin, Jacques: (1628 – around 1699). Unknown place of birth. Farmer. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie.
Renaud, Marie: (1633 – 1673). Born in Saint-Paul, Orléans. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. Married Mathurin Langevin in 1654, no children.
Rousselier, Jeanne: (1636 – after 1686). Born in Saintes, Saintonge. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. Married Pierre Godin in 1654, had nine children. Emigrated to the Acadie around 1677.
Simon, Jean: (? – 1656). Born in Saint-Saturnin, Limoges. Arrived in 1654 in Ville-Marie. Married Catherine Lorion in 1655, one child. Drowned.
History is not only the stories of various kings, emperors and conquerors. It is the sum of the lives of billions of anonymous people who loved, hoped, toiled, suffered and without whom all those kings and emperors would have accomplished nothing.