Trois-Rivieres (Three-Rivers), the second oldest city in Canada, was named for the 3 channels at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River where it flows into the Saint-Lawrence River. It was founded in 1634 by Samuel de Champlain as a fur trading post. To assure success in the fur trade, Champlain formed an alliance with the native people, likely Algonquins.
The exact population of Trois-Rivieres in 1650 is difficult to determine. Between 1648 and 1651 it is reported that forty or so colonists established themselves at Trois-Rivieres. By the 1866 census, Trois-Rivieres has 602 people with the average age of the habitants being 13 years old.
The following is a 1650 map of the town of Trois-Rivieres giving the names of the residents and their location in the town. As you all know by now, I believe that all French-Canadians are related and this map supports that belief, as over a third of the people listed are either direct ancestors or siblings of those direct ancestors.
I’ve highlighted my ancestors and their associated property in the town.
Let me tell you a bit more about each of those I’ve highlighted and how they are related. I’ll use the numbers listed on the map for each one.
2. Mathurin Baillargeon (1626-1681) was married to Marie Metayer (1636-1687). They are my 7th and 9th great-grandparents on both the Vadnais and the Peltier sides of my family.
5. Gaspard Boucher (1599-1662) was married to Nicole Lemaire (1595-1662). They are my 10th great-grandparents on both the Vadnais and the Peltier sides of my family.
12. Antoine Desrosiers dit Dutremble (1617-1691) was married to Anne Le Neuf (1632-1711). They are my 8th great-grandparents on the Vadnais side of the family.
13. Sebastien Dodier (1609- ) was married to Marie Bellhomme ( – ). They are my 10th great-grandparents on the Vadnais side of the family.
15. Bertrand Fafard dit Laframboise (1629-1660) is my 9th and 10th great-granduncle on both the Vadnais and the Peltier sides of my family.
19. Pierre Guillet dit Lajeunesse (1626-1695) was married to Jeanne St. Pere (1627-1681). Jeanne St. Pere is my 9th great-grandaunt on the Peltier side of my family.
21, 22. Jacques Hertel Sieur de LaFreniere (1620-1651) was married to Marie Marguerie (1620-1700). They are my 8th, 10th and 11th great-grandparents on both the Vadnais and the Peltier sides of my family.
23. Guillaume Isabel ( -1652) was married to Catherine Dodier (1634-1673). Catherine was the daughter of Sebastien Dodier and Marie Bellhomme (number 13. shown above). They are my 9th great-grandparents on the Vadnais side of the family.
27. Pierre Lafebvre (1616-1670) was married to Jeanne Auneau (1621-1697). They are my 10th great-grandparents on the Peltier side of the family.
37. Gilles Trottier (1628-1658) is my 8th great-granduncle on the Vadnais side of the family.
Although the population of Trois-Rivieres is now about 140,000, it is still a great town, or should I say city, to visit with its well preserved historic part of town that dates as far back as the 17th century.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cynthia
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