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Discover the remarkable journey of Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers and Marie Madeleine Benoit in the rugged landscape of New France. Their story, deeply rooted in the military and social fabric of the 17th century, highlights Pierre's transition from a soldier in the Carignan-Salières Regiment to a pioneering settler, and Marie Madeleine's role as a young Fille du roi.

Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers was born circa 1636 in France. His parents and exact origins are unknown. [This is due to the fact that no marriage contract or record exists for him, which would normally provide this information. This year of birth is based on the age recorded on the 1681 census.]  

Pierre left his homeland from the port of La Rochelle, France, on May 13, 1665. He arrived in Québec on August 19, 1665, aboard the ship La Paix. He was a soldier in the Contrecœur Company in the Carignan-Salières Regiment, led by Captain Antoine Pécaudy de Contrecœur.

In early September 1665, the Contrecœur company travelled from Québec to the Richelieu River to help with the construction of Fort Sainte-Thérèse. At the end of that fall, several companies, including Contrecoeur, headed to Fort Saint-Louis, then on to Montréal for the winter. Several Contrecœur soldiers participated in campaigns against the Mohawks.

After their military service was over in 1668, the Carignan-Salières soldiers had the choice to return to France or remain in the new colony. Authorities offered the soldiers incentives to stay, such as land grants along the St. Lawrence River or marriages to the Filles du roi.  

Of the 1,200 to 1,300 soldiers that arrived in New France, roughly 350 men died, about 350 returned to France in 1668 and at least 446 decided to stay, with an additional 100 soldiers remaining in the army of the colony. The main reason for settling was likely economic in nature—the chance to have a small plot of land to farm close to a home, something that would be practically impossible for soldiers belonging to the lower class in France. 

Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers was among the soldiers who decided to stay.  

Marie Madeleine Benoit was born circa 1653 in France. Her parents and exact origins are unknown. [This year of birth is based on the age recorded on the 1681 census.]   

At a very young age, perhaps having lost her parents, Marie Madeleine decided to leave her home and embark on the adventure of New France. She crossed the Atlantic in 1667, at the age of about 14. She was a "Fille du roi.”

Marriage

Unfortunately, no marriage contract or record exists for Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers and Marie Madeleine Benoit. Based on the births of their children, we can conclude that they married sometime before 1668. Pierre would have been about 32 years old; Marie Madeleine was likely 15 or younger.

Pierre and Marie Madeleine had at least 13 children:

1. Nicolas

2. Pierre

3. Marie Anne

4. Antoine

5. Mathurin

6. Marie

7. Jean

8. Joseph

9. Charles

10. Geneviève

11. René

12. Jacques

13. Pierre

On June 7, 1678, Pierre purchased a plot of land located in the seigneurie of Contrecœur from Nicolas Bounain dit St-Martin. The agreement was drawn up by notary Ménard dit St-Onge.

In November of 1681, a census was conducted in New France. Pierre and Marie Madeleine were enumerated in the seigneurie of Contrecœur with their seven children. Pierre owned five arpents of cleared land and three head of livestock.

The Favreaus remained in Contrecœur until 1688. On April 10th of that year, Pierre affixed his mark on a farm lease (as he could not sign his name) with Pierre Boucher, the seigneur of Boucherville. The farm was located on land called “terre de Saint-Joseph,” situated on “Grande Île” (present-day Île Bouchard). The agreement was drawn up by notary Michel Moreau, in the name of Pierre “Favraux” and his sons Pierre and Nicolas.

A very similar farm lease was drawn up by the same notary in 1694 between Pierre Boucher and Pierre and Nicolas Favreau. This contract most likely pertains to Pierre Jr., and not his father.

Illnesses and Deaths

Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers died at the age of about 72 on May 26, 1708. He was buried two days later in the parish cemetery of Sainte-Trinité in Contrecœur. The burial record states that he was 90 years old. [Ages on burial records are often erroneous.]  

On March 5, 1720, Marie Madeleine, widow of Pierre “Febros dit Delorier,” had her last will and testament drawn up by notary Marien Tailhandier dit LaBeaume. The testament states that Marie was “lying sick in bed” in a furnished room with a stove. Marie Madeleine requested that all her debts be paid if any existed. She requested to be buried in the parish of her death, in a solemn service.    

In her testament, Marie Madeleine donated the following:

• Four livres to the poor of Boucherville

• Ten livres to the Hôtel-Dieu of Montréal [hospital] for the poor

• Her bed, bedding, linens and several items of clothing and shoes to her daughter-in-law Marie Meunier for the “good service and care she provided and will provide in the future” [it’s unclear whether “Marie Meunier” is Anne Meunier dite Lapierre, wife of Antoine Favreau, or Jeanne Anne Meunier dite Lapierre, wife of Jean Favreau.]

• A “calamander” petticoat to Isabelle Favreau.

• A pot full of butter to the wife of her son Pierre (Marie Anne Perrault dite Desrochers)

• A tablecloth and a pig to her daughter Marie Anne, which were already in her possession

• Four cloth duvets to Mrs. Chicard of Contrecœur

Marie Madeleine also declared that her son Mathurin owed her 200 livres in card money, which she requested in order to pay her outstanding debts and for the execution of the testament. She asked that 60 livres be paid for the reading of a mass for the repose of her soul. [Playing-card money was a type of paper money used periodically in New France from 1685 to the British Conquest in 1763. Playing cards issued by the king—later replaced with white cards cut to various shapes—held values equivalent to French livres.]

As for the remainder of her assets, movable and immovable, Marie Madeleine requested that they be shared between her children according to the Coutume de Paris.

Marie Madeleine named Maurice Bénard dit Bourjoly, “her good friend,” as executor of her will.

Despite being afflicted by a mysterious illness in 1720, Marie Madeleine persevered and went on to live an additional 13 years.

Marie Madeleine Benoit died at the age of about 80 on December 11, 1733. She was buried two days later “with all the sacraments” in the parish cemetery of Sainte-Trinité in Contrecœur.

The lives of Pierre Favreau dit Deslauriers and Marie Madeleine Benoit epitomize the resilience and adaptability required to succeed in New France. Pierre, transitioning from a soldier to a settler, and Marie Madeleine, embracing her new life as a Fille du roi, contributed to the development of the colony through their marriage and the establishment of their family. Their story underscores the critical role of Carignan-Salières soldiers and the Filles du roi in laying the foundations of French-Canadian society.

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Sources:

• "Recensement du Canada fait par l'intendant Du Chesneau," Library and Archives Canada (https://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ : accessed 6 Mar 2024), entry for Pierre Favrot, 14 Nov 1681, Québec, Finding aid no. MSS0446, MIKAN no. 2318858, page 198; citing original data: Centre des archives d'outre-mer (France) vol. 460.

• "Actes de notaire, 1681-1698 : Michel Moreau," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5F-SPR6?i=2353&cat=427715 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), farm lease between Pierre Boucher, seigneur of Boucherville, and Pierre Favraux, 10 Apr 1688, images 2354 to 2362 of 3080, film 1419869, Image Group Number (DGS) 8272716; citing original data : Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

• Ibid. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5F-STT3?i=2942&cat=427715 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), farm lease between Pierre Boucher, seigneur of Boucherville, and Pierre and Nicolas Favreaux, 3 Apr 1694, images 2943 to 2946 of 3080, film 1419869, Image Group Number (DGS) 8272716

• "Actes de notaire, 1699-1730 : Marien Tailhandier," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5F-CC79?i=506&cat=529348 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), testament of Marie Benoit, 5 Mar 1720, images 506 to 509 of 2906, film 1464548, Image Group Number (DGS) 8272948; citing original data : Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

• Parchemin, notarial database of ancient Québec (1626-1801), Société de recherche historique Archiv-Histo (www.Archiv-Histo.com : accessed 6 Mar 2024), "Vente d'une terre située en la seigneurie de Contrecœur ; par Nicolas Bounain dit St Marthin, de Contrecoeur, à Pierre Favreau dit Delorier, de Contrecœur," notary Ménard dit Saint-Onge, P. (1673-1693), 7 Jun 1678.

• “Le LAFRANCE (Baptêmes, Mariages, Sépultures)," database and digital images, Généalogie Québec (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/90666 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), burial of Pierre Favrau Deslauriers, 28 May 1708, Contrecœur (Ste-Trinité). 

• Ibid. (https://www.genealogiequebec.com/Membership/LAFRANCE/acte/182106 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), burial of Marie Benoits, 13 Dec 1733, Contrecœur (Ste-Trinité). 

• Université de Montréal, online database, Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH) (https://www-prdh-igd.com/Membership/fr/PRDH/Famille/2414 : accessed 6 Mar 2024), dictionary entry for Pierre FAVREAU DESLAURIERS & Marie Madeleine BENOIT, union #2414.

• Peter Gagné, Kings Daughters & Founding Mothers: the Filles du Roi, 1663-1673, Volume One (Orange Park, Florida : Quintin Publications, 2001), 84.

• André Lachance, Vivre, aimer et mourir en Nouvelle-France; Juger et punir en Nouvelle-France: la vie quotidienne aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles (Montréal, Québec: Éditions Libre Expression, 2004), 124-128.