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 Léonard Leblanc & Marie Riton

A Master Mason and His Family in New France

Léonard Leblanc, son of Léonard Leblanc and Jeanne Fayande, was born circa 1626 in the old province of Marche, in central France. His exact place of birth remains uncertain, as a baptismal record has not yet been found.

The exact date of Léonard's arrival in Canada is unknown. The earliest record documenting his presence in New France dates to his marriage in 1650. If Léonard immigrated under a typical indenture agreement, as many colonists did, he likely would have arrived around 1647. However, no records of him appear in parish, court, or notarial documents during the intervening years.

Léonard's future wife, Marie Riton, was born about 1623 in Le Bourg-sous-la-Roche, Poitou, France, to parents Robert Riton and Marguerite Guyon. Today, Le Bourg-sous-la-Roche is part of La Roche-sur-Yon, a town of approximately 50,000 residents, known as Yonnais. Situated in the Vendée department, La Roche-sur-Yon lies roughly sixty kilometres northwest of the historic port city of La Rochelle.

Marie eventually made her way to the La Rochelle area. On November 6, 1644, she baptized a daughter named Marie in the parish church of Sainte-Étienne in Ars-en-Ré. The child’s father was Abraham Brunet. As her parents were unmarried, Marie was a “natural,” or illegitimate child. Both parents were recorded as residents of La Rochelle, and Abraham was noted as belonging to the religion prétendue réformée (the “so-called reformed religion”). Perhaps Marie had travelled to Ars-en-Ré, on the island of Ré, to have her baby in relative anonymity. Regardless of their relationship, Abraham married another woman ten years later and started a new family. Marie’s daughter, however, never reappeared in the public record and likely died as an infant or young child, either in France or during the passage to Canada.

Given the absence of a baptism record for Marie Riton herself, her religious background is uncertain. At the time of her daughter’s Catholic baptism in 1644, Abraham was explicitly identified as Protestant, but Marie’s religion was not stated. This omission leaves three possible interpretations:

• Marie may have been Catholic at the time of her daughter’s baptism and later converted to Protestantism.

• She may have been Protestant but agreed to a Catholic baptism for her child, a practice not uncommon in 17th-century France.

• Her religious affiliation might have been fluid or uncertain during this period.

On June 29, 1645, however, Marie’s religious identity was clearly Protestant. On that date, she publicly declared her Protestant faith in La Rochelle:  

Contradictions in Faith

Marie’s 1645 profession of Protestant faith in La Rochelle raises questions about her religious motivations and upbringing. Depending on her original baptism, her declaration could reflect one of two scenarios:

• If Marie had been raised Protestant, her public profession may have been an affirmation or a reaffirmation of her faith. Given the recent Catholic baptism of her illegitimate daughter, Marie might have made this declaration to publicly distance herself from Catholicism and maintain her acceptance within the Huguenot community.

• If Marie was originally Catholic, her 1645 profession would signify a formal conversion to Protestantism, possibly influenced by Abraham Brunet or by the strongly Protestant environment of La Rochelle. This act would represent a deliberate break from Catholicism and her acceptance into the Reformed Church.

Journey to New France

Between her profession of faith in 1645 and the summer of 1650, Marie emigrated from France to Canada, likely departing from the port of La Rochelle. She joined the ranks of the Filles à marier, courageous young women who immigrated to New France between 1634 and 1663, preceding the better-known Filles du roi. Unlike the latter, the Filles à marier did not receive financial assistance or dowries from the French crown. They were instead recruited by merchants, seigneurs, or religious organizations, often arriving as contracted servants without guarantees of a return voyage. Driven by the promise of a better future, these women took substantial personal risks and played vital roles in establishing and sustaining the colony's early settlements.

 Motives for Emigration

Several factors might have influenced Marie’s decision to leave France for New France:

• Social Stigma: Having given birth to an illegitimate child in 1644, Marie likely faced social ostracism. Emigration offered her an opportunity to escape stigma and begin anew.

• Economic Opportunity: Canada represented a chance for economic stability or even advancement, appealing especially to a woman who may have struggled to support herself alone in France.

• Personal Tragedy: The absence of her daughter from later records suggests that the child likely died young, either in France or during the Atlantic crossing. Such a profound loss could have driven Marie to seek a fresh start.

• Conditions for Huguenots: Although La Rochelle had historically been a Protestant stronghold, by the mid-17th century, conditions had deteriorated significantly for Huguenots, who faced increasing social, economic, and legal discrimination. Conversions to Catholicism were encouraged, sometimes forcefully.

However, because emigration to strictly Catholic New France was generally prohibited to Huguenots, Marie would likely have had to convert—either genuinely or nominally—before leaving France or shortly after her arrival. Alternatively, her Protestant background may have simply remained unknown, enabling her to integrate quietly into the Catholic community.

A New Life in New France

On August 23, 1650, Léonard Leblanc and Marie Riton married at the home of Robert Giffard, seigneur of Beauport, New France. According to their marriage record, Léonard was from the pays de la Marche, though the specific parish name is unclear. The PRDH (Programme de recherche en démographie historique), transcribed his birthplace as "Blanset," a name that doesn't correspond exactly to any known location in France. Marie was clearly identified as originating from "Bourg sur la Roche en Poitou." Present at their wedding were notable settlers, including Robert Giffard, Jean Juchereau de la Ferté, and Nicolas Juchereau, sieur de St. Denys.

Léonard’s Uncertain Origins

Determining Léonard’s exact birthplace has proven challenging. No known commune named "Blanset" exists in historical records. Within the region of Marche during the 17th century, the closest matches to the recorded name are Blanzac (in the department of Haute-Vienne) and Blanzay (in the department of Vienne).

The PRDH currently lists Léonard’s birthplace as the parish of Saint-Martin in Blanzac, Haute-Vienne. In contrast, genealogists Peter Gagné and René Jetté previously identified his birthplace as Blessac in the department of Creuse. While the PRDH continuously updates their database with the latest research findings, the publications by Gagné and Jetté are static sources, possibly reflecting earlier interpretations.

Ultimately, Léonard’s parish of origin remains uncertain, leaving researchers with three plausible possibilities: Blanzac, Blanzay, or Blessac.

Léonard and Marie went on to have at least seven children, six of whom were daughters:

1. Marie Thérèse (1651–1729)

2. Noël (1653–1686)

3. Louise (1654–1732)

4. Marguerite (1656–1725)

5. Marie Élisabeth (1658–1727)

6. Marie Jeanne (1659–1739)

7. Marie Françoise (1662–1745)

Léonard Leblanc’s Masonry in New France

Notarial deeds drawn up in the early 1650s provide insight into Léonard’s occupation in New France: he was a mason.

On July 16, 1651, Louis d’Ailleboust, Governor of New France, hired Léonard along with three other Québec masons—Maurice Arrivé, Pierre Tourmente, and Jean Neveu—for a construction project at Coulonge la Magdelaine. According to the agreement drawn up by notary Guillaume Audouart at Fort of St. Louis in Québec, the masons were to be paid six livres per toise (approximately one square metre) constructed. The specifications required walls three feet thick up to ground level, thinning to two feet from ground level to roof height. Governor d’Ailleboust agreed to supply all necessary materials and scaffolding. The men promised exclusive service until completion of the masonry, beginning in spring 1652. As additional compensation, each mason received a pair of French shoes, and the group shared ten pots of brandy. Léonard declared that he did not know how to sign his name.   

Later that same year, on December 3, 1651, Léonard entered another contract, this time directly with Jean Juchereau de Laferté, after gaining permission from Governor d’Ailleboust. Though identified again as a mason, Léonard agreed to serve in a broader capacity, performing general labour for Juchereau and his wife until September 1, 1652. The arrangement also mentions two canoes owed by Léonard to Juchereau, suggesting that part of this agreement may have been intended to settle his debt. During this time, Juchereau was responsible for providing Léonard’s meals.

By August 10, 1653, Léonard had resumed specialized masonry work, entering into a joint contract with fellow mason Benoit Ponsard. They agreed to construct a house for Jean Gloria at the cost of 300 livres. The planned dwelling measured approximately 20 feet, including a foundation two-and-a-half feet high, a chimney and gable, as well as a drainage gutter. The agreement also called for the masons to build a stone hearth and apply masonry finish to the walls.

Land and Life in Beauport

On June 7, 1654, Léonard received a concession of ten arpents of wooded land near the newly founded village of Fargy from Robert Giffard, seigneur of Beauport. While the original deed no longer survives, details of this land grant are preserved in a 1669 court decision.

On October 15, 1655, the lands at Fargy were formally surveyed, documenting each settler’s holdings. Léonard’s concession measured five arpents and ninety-two perches. His neighbours included Pierre Lefebvre, René Grialia, Paul Vachon, Michel Baugy (Baugis), Toussaint Giroux, Jean Crête (Creste), Pierre Marcoux, Nicolas Bélanger, and Michel Lecours (Le Court)—all recorded as habitants. The term habitant referred specifically to settlers who had cleared and permanently established themselves on their concessions, building homes and cultivating the land. Their plots, known as habitations, formed the core of the emerging rural community.

Marie’s Faith

On February 24, 1660, at the parish church of Notre-Dame in Québec, Marie was officially confirmed into the Catholic faith by François de Montmorency-Laval, along with sixty-five other individuals. She was recorded as being twenty-two years old—although later census data suggests she may have been as old as thirty-seven—and as originating from the bishopric of Luçon. Interestingly, despite her Protestant background in La Rochelle, no formal record of her abjuration (renunciation) of Protestantism in New France has yet been found.

Léonard’s Legal Challenges

Several years later, Léonard may have faced financial difficulties, as documented in court records. On June 28, 1664, he was summoned before the court by Mathurin Morisset over an unpaid debt. The court ruled:

Léonard’s financial challenges continued later that year. On November 8, 1664, Léonard, along with neighbours Pierre Lefebvre and Nicolas Bélanger from the côte de Lauson, was ordered by the Sovereign Council to pay fees owed for their fishing farms. Paul Chalifour had raised a complaint regarding unpaid dues on these fisheries, which were located on uncleared and uninhabited land. Governor Augustin de Saffray de Mézy ruled in accordance with a royal decree (dated March 3, 1663) and a previous declaration (dated August 8, 1662), requiring the farmers—including Léonard—to settle their debts directly with the council clerk. The King's Attorney General also intervened to prohibit the seigneurs from leasing land or fisheries on areas that had not yet been cleared, thus preventing the seigneurs from profiting from undeveloped concessions.

Despite these financial struggles, Léonard continued to acquire land, perhaps in an effort to improve his circumstances. On August 20, 1665, Léonard received a new concession in the seigneurie of Lauson, shared with master carpenter Paul Chalifour. The original deed for this concession, however, could not be located.

Léonard and Marie in Census Records

The Leblanc family appears in the censuses of New France taken in 1666 and 1667, residing in Beauport. Léonard is identified as a “habitant mason.” By 1667, the family had sixteen arpents of cleared land and owned three farm animals. Prior to the 1666 census, their two eldest daughters, Marie Thérèse and Louise, had already left the family home.

Land Disputes in Fargy

On July 22, 1669, Léonard became involved in a significant legal dispute concerning land use in the village of Fargy. Marie Regnouard, widow of Robert Giffard, along with their son Joseph Giffard, brought a case against several Fargy villagers, including Léonard. The Giffards claimed ownership of village lands and demanded that each dwelling’s property be reduced to one arpent, that fences exceeding this boundary be removed, and that excess lands remain communal until new settlers arrived. The Sovereign Council ruled in favour of the Giffards, reaffirming their ownership and ordering villagers to reduce their plots accordingly, relocate fences, and contribute financially to communal amenities such as a market and oven. Habitants who did not continue clearing their land risked losing their communal rights. 

The 1669 ruling provided valuable historical detail regarding Léonard’s property transactions in Fargy:

• Initial concession (June 7, 1654): Léonard Leblanc received a concession of ten arpents of wooded land near the village of Fargy from Robert Giffard.

• Second concession (December 28, 1664): Léonard was granted another concession of ten arpents in addition to the first.

• Sale of half a barn and a plot of land (December 1, 1656): Léonard and Marie sold half a barn and land to Gabriel Roulleau for 15 livres, with Robert Giffard’s consent.

• Deed of June 10, 1658: Giffard granted Léonard special rights to a plot within Fargy, explicitly permitting resale or disposition, except for public roads.

• Sale to Pierre Lefebvre (August 4, 1659): As a result of the previous deed, Léonard sold Lefebvre a small parcel of land measuring two perches by one-and-a-half perches. 

Léonard’s Continuing Work and Real Estate Activity

Amidst legal and financial challenges, Léonard continued practicing his trade. On March 25, 1670, Léonard, alongside mason René Le Chevalier, agreed to build a windmill tower in côte Saint-Jean for Mathurin Morisset, a master carpenter and mill entrepreneur. The windmill was owned by Charles Aubert de la Chesnaye, seigneur and prominent colonial merchant.

Later that same year, Léonard participated in two further property transactions:

• August 18, 1670: Léonard sold half an habitation located on the côte de Lauson to Paul Chalifour, master carpenter and habitant. Notably, this is the first record explicitly identifying Léonard as a “master mason.” The property, likely related to their joint 1665 concession, included six arpents of frontage facing the St. Lawrence River, along with hunting and fishing rights. The payment agreed upon was nine barrels of salted eels.

• September 15, 1670: Léonard received yet another concession from Joseph Giffard, located along the boundary line of the village of Fargy. He agreed to pay a lease of 50 sols annually. 

The 1673 Fence Dispute

In early 1673, Léonard again found himself involved in legal troubles, this time relating to village maintenance. A dispute arose between Jean Galaup and several Fargy villagers, including Léonard, concerning the upkeep of fencing around village plots. In May 1672, the seneschal of Beauport had initially ordered Galaup to raise fencing at his own expense, imposing a fine of five livres (dedicated to building the Beauport church) and legal fees. Galaup appealed to the Sovereign Council, and the other villagers, including Léonard, requested the rejection of his appeal.

On January 16, 1673, the Sovereign Council overturned the seneschal’s initial decision but modified it significantly. The council ordered that all Fargy landowners be responsible for fencing off their land, each at their own expense. Jean Galaup was ordered to fence his land before June, on pain of losing his right to occupy it. Legal costs were distributed evenly among the parties involved.

Death of Marie Riton

Marie Riton died sometime between April 16, 1674, when she dictated her last will and testament, and November 4, 1674, when a posthumous inventory of her property was drawn up—both documents prepared by notary Paul Vachon. Although the inventory explicitly references Marie’s testament of April 16, the original document appears to be missing from Vachon’s notarial records.

The inventory offers important insights into Léonard and Marie’s household at the time of her death, noting damage from a recent house fire that likely destroyed some of their possessions. The surviving items enumerated in the inventory included:

• Household objects: a cooking pot, a pail, four old axes, three old blankets, and remnants of a burnt bed;

• Agricultural tools: a plough with ploughshare and chain, a mowing tool, and an old barn;

• Farm animals: two working oxen, one dairy cow, a sow, a bull, a heifer, and seven pigs;

• Stored provisions: forty minots of wheat, twenty minots of peas, and three [cords?] of firewood;

• Land: a concession measuring about fifty arpents in the village of Fargy, valued at 1,050 livres

The inventory also listed Léonard’s nineteen outstanding debts, amounting to 589 livres plus four minots of wheat, indicating ongoing financial stress for the family.

Community Contributions and Later Legal Issues

On June 14, 1676, Léonard and other residents of Fargy in Beauport participated in a collective donation of six arpents of land to the Fabrique of the parish of La-Nativité-de-Notre-Dame-de-Beauport. According to the deed drawn up by notary Paul Vachon, the donated land was already the site of ongoing construction of a new parish church and cemetery, with additional plans for a presbytery, yard, and garden. In return for this donation, the churchwardens committed to “have a low mass said on the day after the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, feast of the said parish, for all the needs, both corporal and spiritual, of the said lessors [donors].”

Despite his involvement in community affairs, Léonard continued to face financial and legal challenges. On July 15, 1678, Michel Guyon Durouvray filed a lawsuit against Léonard. The court ruled in Durouvray's favour, fining Léonard four livres and ordering him to provide Durouvray two rowboat oars worth three livres, in addition to covering legal costs.

Léonard’s Later Life and Arrangements with His Son

On April 15, 1679, Léonard, approximately 53 years old, made formal arrangements with his only son, Noël, through a notarial deed by Paul Vachon. Léonard transferred all of his movable and immovable property to Noël, who agreed in exchange to assume his father's outstanding debts. Noël promised to provide Léonard with housing, food, warmth, a bed, and care in times of sickness or infirmity for the remainder of his life. He also committed to arranging prayers, masses, and services for the repose of Léonard’s soul after his death.

Two years later, in the 1681 census of New France, Léonard was recorded living alone in the seigneurie of Beauport, identified as a 55-year-old mason. He owned one gun, nine head of cattle and thirty arpents of cleared land. 

Léonard Leblanc’s Work on the General Hospital

In the early 1680s, Léonard was hired, along with other skilled craftsmen, by the Récollet priests to construct a new wing for what would later become the Hôpital général de Québec. This large stone dormitory, known as the Récollet building or Récollet wing, also housed key monastic spaces, including the west gallery of the cloister, the fathers’ refectory, the kitchen, and various service areas. Construction took place in phases over four years, from 1680 to 1684, with contracts documenting the progress and those involved.

The new wing was built adjacent to the church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, constructed by the Récollets between 1670 and 1673. In 1692, Bishop Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier acquired the Récollet estate to establish the colony’s first general hospital. The following year, the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus, already responsible for the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, were entrusted with its management. This hospice served the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly.

The construction projects during this period, including the work Léonard participated in, were essential in transforming the former building into a functional hospital to serve the needs of New France's population.

On November 24, 1680, Léonard and fellow master mason Louis Lévesque entered into an agreement with the Récollet priests. Under the terms of the contract, they were to receive four livres and five sols per toise of masonry, with lodging and meals provided in exchange for their labour. The agreement specified that their work would begin the following summer and include the cutting and shaping of stone “for the doors, corners and windows.”

Further construction took place in 1683. On October 28 of that year, Léonard and his son-in-law, Pierre Morel, also a mason, signed a new contract for additional masonry work on the Récollet building, continuing their contributions to the hospital’s expansion.

A Legacy in Stone

The Hôpital général de Québec remains a significant historical landmark, reflecting the craftsmanship of early masons in New France. A 2022 study analyzed the construction materials of the Monastère de l’Hôpital général de Québec, revealing that elements from the original 1620 convent were reused in later reconstructions, including the major rebuild of 1671. The report highlights the expertise of 17th-century masons, who sourced and prepared building materials locally, ensuring the durability of their work.

For a more in-depth look at the building’s materials and construction techniques, a report (available in French only) provides valuable insights into the construction techniques of the period.

Illness and Death of Léonard Leblanc

In 1691, Léonard fell ill. A hospital record from the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec indicates that the 65-year-old resident of Beauport was admitted as a patient on May 1 and remained under care for nearly a month before being discharged on May 29.

Sensing that his time might be limited, Léonard formalized his affairs later that year. On September 28, 1691, he had notary Paul Vachon draft a donation deed in favour of his son-in-law, Pierre Morel. His only son, Noël, had died in 1686 at the age of 33. The agreement granted Morel half of everything that Léonard owned, including a house, barn, stable, canoe, garden, arable land, woodlands, livestock, and household furniture. In return, Morel promised to provide for his father-in-law’s needs—ensuring his food, clothing, and humane treatment—for the remainder of his life.    

Léonard’s health continued to decline. On November 1, 1691, he was admitted once again to the Hôtel-Dieu, where he remained for six days before passing away on November 6. He was buried the same day in the hospital cemetery. The hospital record listed him as a 63-year-old habitant of Beauport.

Legacy

While Léonard and Marie's only son, Noël, did not leave surviving descendants, their six daughters established extensive lineages that have contributed significantly to the population of New France and beyond. Today, many individuals of French-Canadian descent can trace their ancestry back to this pioneering couple, underscoring their lasting impact on the heritage of North America.

Sources:

• "Ars-en-Ré, collection communale, baptêmes 1638-1648," digital images, Archives départementales de Charente-Maritime (http://www.archinoe.net/v2/ark:/18812/a37c8ec57106d5f6988f47f8302c76e3 : accessed 14 Feb 2025), baptism of Marie [daughter of Abraham Brunet and Marie Riton], 16 Nov 1644, page 111 of 176.

• "La Rochelle, collection du greffe, abjurations 1643-1648," digital images, Archives départementales de Charente-Maritime (http://www.archinoe.net/v2/ark:/18812/8119437a1841f049567638e1d9771b2d : accessed 14 Feb 2025), abjuration of Marie Riton, 29 Jun 1645, page 2 of 5.

• “Le LAFRANCE (Baptêmes, Mariages, Sépultures)," database and digital images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/66394 : accessed 14 Feb 2025), marriage of Leonard Leblanc and Marie Riton, 23 Aug 1650, Beauport [record is in the register of Québec (Notre-Dame-de-Québec)]; citing original data: Drouin Collection, Institut Généalogique Drouin.

• "Registre des confirmations 1649-1662," digital images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/membership/fr/fonds-drouin/REGISTRES : accessed 19 Feb 2025), confirmation of Marie Riton, 24 Feb 1660, Québec; citing original data: Registre des confirmations, Diocèse de Québec, Registres du Fonds Drouin.

• “Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968,” digital images, Ancestry.ca (https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_31480050?pId=30792497 : accessed 24 Feb 2025), entry for leonar le blanc, May 1691, Québec (Hôtel-Dieu); citing original data: Drouin Collection, Institut Généalogique Drouin.

• Ibid. (https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_31480060?pId=30792497 : accessed 24 Feb 2025), entry for leonar le blanc, 6 Nov 1691, Québec (Hôtel-Dieu).

• "Actes de notaire, 1634, 1649-1663 : Guillaume Audouart," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVN-32C1?cat=1171569&i=442&lang=en : accessed 18 Feb 2025), contract for the masonry of a house between masons Maurice Arrivé, Pierre Tourmente, Jean Nepveu, Léonard Leblanc and Louis Dailleboust, governor of New France, 16 Jul 1651, image 443 of 2,642 ; citing original data : Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

• Ibid. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVN-3LQ3?cat=1171569&i=510&lang=en : accessed 18 Feb 2025), contract between Léonard Leblanc and Jean Juchereau de Laferté, 3 Dec 1651, image 511 of 2,642.

• Ibid. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVN-3KQ1?cat=1171569&i=778&lang=en : accessed 18 Feb 2025), contract between masons Léonard Leblanc and Benoit Ponsart, and Jean Gloria, 10 Aug 1653, image 779 of 2,642.

• "Actes de notaire, 1665-1682 : Romain Becquet," digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4064890?docref=nrneblGRTQvxIJQ3w5DG0Q : accessed 18 Feb 2025), masonry contract between Léonard Leblanc and René Lechevalier, and Mathurin Morisset, 25 Mar 1670, image 308-309 of 921.

• Ibid. (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4064890?docref=c7ud2feoNULfeOrU7G2xNw : accessed 18 Feb 2025), sale from Léonard Leblanc to Paul Chaillifou, 18 Aug 1670, image 508-513 of 921.

• "Actes de notaire, 1655-1693 : Paul Vachon," digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4215635?docref=-FCrfKCv3LObkT5Pz9kulw : accessed 18 Feb 2025), land concession to Léonard Leblanc, 15 Sep 1670, images 511-513 of 1,169.

• Ibid. (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4215636?docref=q8LFjdEgFunHnXEMBmzC7Q : accessed 18 Feb 2025), inventory of Léonard Leblanc and Marie Riton, 4 Nov 1674, images 229-236 of 1,185.

• Ibid. (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4215636?docref=35B7UKqBGBkFaPxoz1d_Wg : accessed 19 Feb 2025), donation by the seigneur and residents of Fargy to Fabrique de la paroisse La-Nativité-de-Notre-Dame-de-Beauport, 16 Jun 1676, images 521-522 of 1,185.

• Ibid. (https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4215636?docref=hZi-xqe3tG4-_TmOnbK-Uw : accessed 19 Feb 2025), donation by Léonard Leblanc to son Noël Leblanc, 15 Apr 1679, images 1,009-1,012 of 1,169.

• Actes de notaire, 1663-1687 : Pierre Duquet," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-P9RJ-J?cat=1175224&i=970&lang=en : accessed 19 Feb 2025), masonry contract between the Récollets and Léonard Leblanc and Louis Levesque, 24 Nov 1680, image 971 of 2,640 ; citing original data : Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

• Parchemin, notarial database of ancient Québec (1626-1801), Société de recherche historique Archiv-Histo (https://archiv-histo.com : accessed 18 Feb 2025), " Concession de terre située en la côte et seigneurie de Lauson; par Charles de Lauson, seigneur de Charny et prêtre, procureur de Jean de Lauson, conseiller du Roi en ses conseils d'état privé, tuteur des enfants de feu Jean de Lauson, grand sénéchal de la Nouvelle-France, à Léonard Leblanc, maçon et Paul Chalifour, maître charpentier," [deed drawn up 20 Aug 1665], notary P. Vachon, 22 Apr 1668.

• Ibid., "Marché de maçonnerie entre Léonard Leblanc, de Beauport, et Pierre Morel, maçon, son gendre; et les Récollets," notary P. Duquet de Lachesnaye, 28 Oct 1682.

• "Fonds Conseil souverain - Archives nationales à Québec," digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/400411 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), "Arrêt qui maintient Marie Regnouard, veuve de Robert Giffard, écuyer, sieur de Beauport et de Fargy et son fils Joseph en la possession du fond du village de Fargy," 22 Jul 1669, reference TP1,S28,P646, Id 400411.

• Ibid. (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/401826 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), "Jugement condamnant Léonard Leblanc à payer la somme 20 livres à Mathurin Morisset, sans quoi il est permis à ce dernier de l'engager," 28 Jun 1664, reference TP1,S28,P1737, Id 401826.

• Ibid. (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/399369 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), “Arrêt ordonnant à Pierre Lefebvre, Nicolas Bélanger, Catherine et Léonard Leblanc, habitants de la Côte de Lauzon de payer au greffier du Conseil leurs fermes et pêches sur la Côte de Lauzon," 8 Nov 1664, reference TP1,S28,P240, Id 399369.

• Ibid. (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/400411 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), "Arrêt qui maintient Marie Regnouard, veuve de Robert Giffard, écuyer, sieur de Beauport et de Fargy et son fils Joseph en la possession du fond du village de Fargy," 22 Jul 1669, reference TP1,S28,P646, Id 400411.

• Ibid. (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/400690 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), "Appel mis au néant de la sentence du Sénechal de la seigneurie de Beauport, rendue le 16 mai 1672, entre Jean Galaup et quelques habitants du village de Fargy; corrigeant la sentence, le Conseil ordonne que le village de Fargy sera fermé de clôtures par les propriétaires des emplacements," 16 Jan 1673, reference TP1,S28,P786, Id 400690.

• "Collection Pièces judiciaires et notariales - Archives nationales à Québec," digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/401826 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), "Dénombrement des terres du bourg (village) de Fargy, et des emplacements détaillant la superficie des terres de Léonard Leblanc, Pierre Leblanc, René Grialia, Paul Vachon, Michel Baugy (Baugis), Toussaint Giroux, Jean Crête (Creste), Pierre Marcoux, Nicolas Bélanger et Michel Lecours (Le Court), habitants," 15 Oct 1655, reference TL5,D32,P5, Id 393701.

• “Fonds Prévôté de Québec - Archives nationales à Québec," digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/380598 : accessed 19 Feb 2025), "Cause entre Michel Guion (Guyon) de Rouvray (Durouvray), demandeur, et Léonard Leblanc, défendeur ; un défaut est accordé au demandeur à l'encontre du défendeur, défaillant, lequel est condamné à 4 livres d'amende et à donner deux avirons de chaloupe valant 3 livres, avec dépens," 15 Jul 1678, reference TL1,S11,SS1,D12,P348, Id 380598.

• “Fonds Cour supérieure. District judiciaire de Québec. Insinuations - Archives nationales à Québec,” digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/81475 : accessed 24 Feb 2025), donation by Léonard Leblanc to Pierre Morel, 28 Sep 1691, reference CR301,P345, Id 81475.

• "Recensement du Canada, 1666," Library and Archives Canada (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?idnumber=2318856&app=fonandcol : accessed 18 Feb 2025), household of Leonard Leblanc, 1666, Beauport, page 69 (of PDF), Finding aid no. MSS0446, MIKAN no. 2318856; citing original data: Centre des archives d'outre-mer (France) vol. 460.

• "Recensement du Canada, 1667," Library and Archives Canada (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch/Pages/record.aspx?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2318857&new=-8585951843764033676 : accessed 18 Feb 2025), household of Leonard Leblanc, 1667, Beauport, page 56 (of PDF), Finding aid no. MSS0446, Item ID number: 2318857; citing original data: Centre des archives d'outre-mer (France) vol. 460.

• "Recensement du Canada fait par l'intendant Du Chesneau," Library and Archives Canada (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch/Pages/record.aspx?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2318858&new=-8585855146497784530 : accessed 19 Feb 2025), household of Leonard Leblanc, 14 Nov 1681, Beauport, page 271 (of PDF), Finding aid no. MSS0446, MIKAN no. 2318858; citing original data: Centre des archives d'outre-mer (France) vol. 460.

• Benoît Grenier, "Beauport Seigneurie," Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America (http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-365/Beauport_%C2%ABSeigneurie%C2%BB.html : accessed 25 Feb 2025).

• “Monastère des Augustines de l’Hôpital général de Québec : étude de l’évolution historique et caractéristiques architecturales du bâtiment," La Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines (https://monastere-hgq.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2018_monastere_des_augustines_de_hopital_general_de_quebec-etude_de_evolution_historique_et_caracteristiques_architecturales_du_batiment.pdf : accessed 24 Feb 2025), Apr 2018, page 66.

• Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec, Hôpital général de Québec (https://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=92547&type=bien# : accessed 25 Feb 2025), Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.