LEMAIRE Nicole

Notes:

Immigration: 1635, Quebec, New France
Religion: Catholic

Nicole married BOUCHER Gaspard on 01 Jan 1619 in St-Langis-Les-Mortagne, France. Gaspard (son of BOUCHER Jacques and PAIGNE Francoise) was born in Mortagne, Perche, France; died after 20 May 1662 in Trois Rivieres, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Baptism: August 1, 1622 Notre Dame, Mortagne, Perche, France
Immigration: 1635, Quebec, New France
Occupation: Farmer; Soldier, Interpreter, Indian Agent
Education: Educated by the Jesuit missionary priests in New France
Religion: Catholic

PIERRE BOUCHER - FOUNDER AND GOVERNOR

The Sieur de Grosbois, son of Gaspard and Nicole Lemaire, holds a
place of prime importance in the history of French Canada. So many
historians and writers, such as Raymond Douville, Montarville Boucher
de la Bruere, Estelle Mitchell, Laure Conan, Alphonse Fortin,
Seraphin Marion and others, have recounted his exploits, that it
seems superfluous to add anything whatsoever. However, this recital
would be incomplete if we ignored him.

Pierre was baptized at Mortagne in Perche on 1 August 1622. As we
have seen, he was taken to New France by his parents who settled on a
farm arm of the Jesuits. A short time after his arrival, these
missionaries took him with them to Huronia where he helped with their
work, sharing in the native life and learning the customs and
dialects. At the same time, the good fathers were completing his
education. In 1640, he was seriously wounded in the arm during a
skirmish which came near to being tragic for Fathers Brebeuf and
Chaumonot.

Upon his return to Quebec in 1641, Pierre went into the service of
Governor Hualt de Montmagny as soldier, interpreter and Indian agent.
On 18 May 1642, he took part in the founding of Ville-Marie
(Montreal) and on the following 20 August, at the mouth of the
Richelieu, he fought against the Iroquois. In 1644 Pierre made his
official entry into Trois-Rivieres with the title of interpreter and
clerk at the fort. He lost no time in making himself indispensable,
such as in the defense of the town and in the negotiations with the
Mohawk chief, Kiotseueton in 1645. The following year he pursued the
Iroquois to the Puante River at Becancour. It was about this time
that his parents moved to Trois-Rivieres and from then on he
considered it his home.

Meanwhile on 6 June 1651, Pierre Boucher, who by now had shown
himself to be the true leader of the small community of Trois-
Rivieres, was named it's Commandant. On 19 August 1652, he fiercely
opposed the punitive expedition against the Iroquois decided upon by
Governor Duplessis-Kerbodet, but in vain. The ensuing defeat spread
panic throughout the entire colony. On 23 August 1653, six hundred
Iroquois surrounded the fort after having massacred or stolen the
livestock and burned the harvest and buildings outside the palisade.

With only about forty very young and very old men, the garrison
resisted the repeated attacks for nine days. When the Indians asked
for a truce, Pierre Boucher met them alone outside the fort and
persuaded the Indian Chiefs to return their prisoners, and to bring
gifts to Quebec for a meeting with the Royal Governor, which was
done. This exploit earned the title of Governor for Boucher, an
office from which he asked to be relieved in 1657 in order to retire
to his lands at the Cap.

On 31 August 1661, Governor Dubois Davaugour , who had just arrived,
was appalled to discover the deplorable state of affairs in which the
colony found itself. He lost no time in designating the local hero,
Pierre Boucher, to sail for France to plead the case of New France
with the Sovereign.

"Pierre Boucher, Sieur de Grosbois, sailed for Paris on 22 October,
with dispatches from the colony's governor, and an important letter
to the Prince de Conde", along with letters from the Jesuits to their
mother house. He was granted an audience with the king, during which
Louis promised to help the colony and place New France under his
protection. Grosbois also convinced the Prince de Conde and Colbert,
the minister of finance, of the colony's importance to France. He
left for home on 15 July 1662 with ships, soldiers and provisions.

The success of Pierre Boucher at the French court marks a turning
point in the history of New France. His mission resulted in
curiosity, sympathy, and increased interest in Boucher's adopted
country. It brought about the arrival of the Marquis de Prouville de
Tracy in command of the Regiment de Carignan-Salieres, comprised of
1,000 men and officers, and the first Intendant, Jean Talon. " (19)

On his return to the country, Pierre resumed the governorship of
Trois-Rivieres. In 1667, facing internal difficulties with citizens
who disregarded his directives, he finally gave up the post of
Governor and retired to his seigneury on the Ile Percees, a place
later renamed Boucherville. Pierre spent the last fifty years of his
life improving his lands and attracting colonists of his choice,
several of whom were recruited from Trois-Rivieres. He died in his
manorhouse at Boucherville on 19 April 1717, at the age of 95 years.

In 1668 the Boucher family was rendered a touching mark of
recognition by the Marquis de Denonville in a letter sent to the
Minister of Marine:

"They are the family which has worked best for the good of the
colony, neglecting nothing at all which is necessary for its
advancement. The father was one of the first founders of the colony
under M. d'Avaugour. Esteemed by your late father, he was for a long
time the Governor of Trois-Rivieres. His seigneury is one of the
finest in this country. "

THE BOUCHERS ADOPT SEVERAL SURNAMES

The sons of Pierre Boucher adopted diverse surnames: Grandpre,
Grosbois, Montarville, Montbrun, Montizambert, LaBroquerie, LaBruere,
LaPerriere and Niverville.

However, there are no less than thirty-nine other common variations
of Boucher found in North America:

Barbel, Belleville, Bocher, Boisbuisson, Boucha, Bouche,
Boucherville, Bouchet, Busha, Bushee, Bushey, Bushy, Cambray,
DeBonnecueil, DeBoucherville, DeGrosbois, DelaBruyere, DelaPierre,
DeMontarville, DeMontbrun, DeMontizambert, DeNiverville, DeSt-
Laurent, Desnois, Desroches, Desrosiers, DeVercheres, Dubois,
Dueuron, Grand-Pre, Lajoie, Lambert, Montbrun, Morin, Rouleau, Simon,
St-Armour, St-Martin and St-Pierre. (20)

END NOTES

19) J. Richard Lebel. "Je Me Souviens" , Journal of the American
French Genealogical Society, Spring 1982,
pages 3-7.
20) Taguay, Jette, et al.

Pierre married CHRETIENNE Marie on 08 Apr 1649. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Pierre married CREVIER Jeanne on 09 Jul 1652 in Quebec, QC. Jeanne (daughter of CREVIER Christophe and ENARD Jeanne) was born about 1636; died on 11 Dec 1727 in Boucherville, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Immigration: 1635 Quebec, New France

Notes:

Immigration: 1635 Quebec, New France

Marie married De LAFOND Etienne Pepin on 30 Jan 1645 in Quebec, QC. Etienne was born about 1615 in St-Laurent De La Barriere, Saintonge, France; died on 15 Sep 1665 in Trois Rivieres, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Immigration: 1635 Quebec, New France
Marguerite (1631-1669), was born at Mortagne, married Toussaint
Toupin, a master boatman, and died in the Quebec region.

Marguerite married TOUPIN Toussant on 25 Dec 1645 in Quebec, QC. Toussant was born about 1616; died on 10 Aug 1676 in Chateau Richer, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Immigration: 1635 Quebec, New France
Madeleine (1634-1691), was probably born during the Atlantic
crossing. In 1647 she married Urbain Baudry dit Lamarche, an edge-
tool maker and master blacksmith. They lived for a time in Quebec but
then lived in Trois-Rivieres for more than thirty years, where she
died.

Madeleine married LAMARCHE Urbain Beaudry Dit on 18 Nov 1647 in Trois Rivieres, QC. Urbain was born on 06 Jan 1615 in Luche Pringe, LaFleche, Anjou, France; died on 22 Aug 1682 in Trois Rivieres, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jacques lived only a few days and died as an infant.

Notes:

Pierre and Charlotte had 12 children

Pierre married DENIS Charlotte in 1683 in Quebec, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alias Marie-Ursule
Rene and Marie had 11 children

Marie married De VARENNES Rene Gauthier Sieur in 1667. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lambert married VAUVRIL Marie-Marguerite in 1693 in Quebec, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ignace married MARGANE Marie-Anne in 1694 in Montreal, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Pierre-Noel and Madeleine had 12 children

Madeleine married De TILLY Pierre-Noel Legardeur Sier in 1680 in Boucherville, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alias: Marie
Marguerite and Nicolas had 7 children

Marguerite married De MUY Nicolas Danieu Sieur in 1687 in Boucherville, PQ, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation: Catholic Priest
Religion: Catholic

Notes:

Jean and Franoise-Claire had 12 children

Jean married CHARET Francoise-Claire on 24 Nov 1692 in Lauzon, QC. Francoise-Claire was born on 04 Mar 1674 in Lauzon, QC; died on 19 Dec 1725 in Boucherville, QC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rene married MAILLOT Marie-Francoise in 1705 in Montreal, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jeanne and Jacques-Charles had six children

Jeanne married De BLEURY Jacques-Charles Sabrevios Sieur in 1695 in Boucherville, PQ, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation: Catholic Priest
Religion: Catholic

Notes:

Jeane-Baptiste and Marquerite-Therese had 12 children.

Jean-Baptiste married HERTEL Marguerite-Therese in 1710 in Chambly, PQ, New France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation: Ursuline Nun
Religion: Catholic
Genevieve became an Ursuline nun at Quebec in 1696.