Zacharie Cloutier, a key figure in our history, it is shocking when a man agreed to marry off his own 10-year-old daughter. It made me wonder if I should stop digging, but this is the past which is like a foreign country they do thing differently there.
But among these puzzling stories, I found something fascinating. Back in the early 1600s, Cloutier, our ancestor, worked as a simple brick maker. Little did he know that centuries later, his descendants would help rebuild New Orleans. It’s a story of connections, where the past shapes the present. The bricks made in Bonfouca, Louisiana, ended up playing a big part in rebuilding the New Orleans after the great fires..
Zacharie Cloutier (1590 – September 17, 1677) was a French carpenter who immigrated to New France in 1634 in the first wave of the Percheron immigration from the former province of Perche, to an area that is today part of Quebec, Canada.
Zacharie Cloutier‘s daughter Anne’s marriage to Robert Drouin, and the subsequent generations’ involvement in the early colonization efforts in North America highlight the complex tapestry of European settlement in the New World.
Anne Drouin’s marriage contract at the age of 10 is indeed a striking reflection of the customs and practices of the time, shedding light on the early norms of colonial society in New France. The wedding took place one year later, but with the provision that relations were not to take place for two years
The fact that only two of Anne’s children survived to adulthood underscores the harsh realities of life in the 17th century, where disease, childbirth complications, and other challenges posed significant threats to survival.
Anne’s two daughters Genevieve (our ancestor) and Jeanne, were raised by their grandparents Zacharie and Xaintes, apparently because they (the grandparents) did not approve of Robert’s second wife.
Genevieve, the daughter who is our ancestor had a grandson, Claude Trepagnier, who was with Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville’s army in 1701 solidifying France’s claim to Louisiana. Claude is considered one of the founding colonists of New Orleans.
The connection to Claude Trepagnier’s involvement with Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville’s expedition to Louisiana adds another layer to the family’s history, showcasing their participation in the expansion of French colonial territories beyond Canada into the southern United States. Claude Trepagnier’s role as one of the founding colonists of New Orleans further underscores the enduring impact of this family’s legacy on the history of North America.
It’s remarkable to trace the lineage and contributions of individuals like Zacharie Cloutier, Anne Drouin, and Claude Trepagnier, whose actions helped shape the course of history in the regions where they lived and worked. Their stories provide valuable insights into the diverse experiences of early settlers in North America and the interconnectedness of different colonial ventures during this period.
O COMMEMORATE THE 350th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF
ZACHARIE CLOUTIER AND XAINTE DUPONT
WHO ESTABLISHED THEIR FIRST HOME ON THIS SITE
IN 1634. L’ASSOCIATION DES CLOUTIER D’AMÉRIQUE
ERECTED THIS MONUMENT IN JULY 1984.
Called Barkskins for a Reason
When I first discovered these ancestors it seems so long ago that surely there would not be much information about them. I do recall reading that Trepagnier was said to “chop the first tree down in the New France”.
I randomly googled “Claude Trepagnier” and a link to a TV series the “Barkskins” came up.
I was shocked when the trailer had a destinct sound of someone chopping a tree down then later calling out “Claude Trepagnier” (our ancestry “Romain D’Estrepagny” went by name “Claude Trepagnier” as did his grandson in Louisiana)